Ask Jeeves for Kids

A companion site to the regular Ask Jeeves web site, AskKids.com focuses specifically on kids' questions. It's fun and educational and provides a good start for school projects. All kids have to do is key in a question and follow the links to the answers. The ability to peek at what kids are asking right now is another neat feature. It allows you to see what kids are asking and follow the links they are given to answer their questions.

Annick LIVEbrary

The LIVEbrary is an innovative program that brings together well-known authors, experts, students, and teachers as they discuss curriulum-related books in a secure online environment. Designed not only to provide young teens with relevant educational content, the LIVEbrary is also an excellent platform from which to train students in the responsible use of new technology.

Digging Deep

Jackie Applin and her third grade class, the Applin Dumplin' Gang, at Newberry Elementary School in Newberry, MI, conducted a project in which they learned about decomposition of waste and the life cycle by creating and maintaining "worm bins." The project gave them an opportunity to collaborate and learn with students at another school in Michigan. For more on the Applin Dumplin' Gang's experiences with the worm bin project, you can read on in this unit to learn how you can do a worm bin project.

Inspiration

Do you believe?

Data Management

Looking for a new way to keep track of those grades. Why not download the Microsoft Electronic Teacher Gradebook? This template uses points as an input and returns a student's Total Points and Percentage score, which is then translated into a letter grade.

Give it a try and see if you like it.

Geography Geocache

Ever heard of Geocaching? Geocaching is a high-tech treasure hunting game played throughout the world by adventure seekers equipped with GPS devices. The basic idea is to locate hidden containers, called geocaches, outdoors and then share your experiences online.

Consider placing a trackable item (geocoin or travel bug) in a cache as part of your geography lesson. You class can watch it online as it travels around the world. Cachers can also be asked to take pictures along the way. Or, as an alternate idea, organize your own class cache. An excellent way to get students motivated. Read about how other pupils track travelbugs' adventures.

For more information, visit www.geocaching.com or contact me (I am a cacher myself!).

Starfall

Starfall

Starfall's primary colours, great graphics and really nice interactive features are perfect for young children.  In Let's Get Ready to Read, kids learn letters and hear how a word is pronounced.  This section also includes sign language section where you learn how to sign a letter as well as it's pronunciation.  You'll also find a really cool tool that helps children sound out words and sentences and another section that helps them make words from letters.

(Taken from Professionally Speaking - March 2009)

Read, Write, Think

Read, Write, Think

The National Council of Teachers of English and the International Reading Association have created this information-packed site.  There are well-developed, detailed lesson plans and resources searchable by grade.  See also the extensive list of student materials - including the drama map, circle plot diagram and comic creator.

(Taken from Professionally Speaking - March 2009)

Virtual Museum of Canada

Discover Canada's museums and culture online!

Through online exhibits, free games and images, the Virtual Museum of Canada (VMC) bring together art, culture, and heritage from Canadian museums.  Take the VMC into the classroom with interactive lesson plans and learning resources for teachers and students.  Make the VMC your travel guide with listings of museums and events from across Canada.  Or just browse the site and enjoy the treasures of Canada's museums. 

Access the new VMC Teacher's Centre

Standing room only...

An interesting low-tech idea.

Children without chairs: A standing room only classroom - article

Facelift for America's classroom - video

BoardMaker Printables

Here's a timesaver.  Already made and printable BoardMaker templates.

Cool Tools

Cool Tools for Online Teachers

Free online tools to make your life easier and more exciting

Missing You...

Wow, it's been a long time since my last post.  Things have been pretty busy this January.  I guess my blogging time has been taken up with baby, sewing and skiing.

Anyway, here is a quick tip about Microsoft Word that you might find useful:

To alphabetize a list you've typed in Word, make sure you have typed each list item on a separate line.  Then click Table > Sort and OK.  If text other than the list appears on your page, highlight the list before sorting.  

Until next post...

National Film Board

In celebration of their anniversary, The National Film Board of Canada is providing the chance to view hundreds of their cinematic treasures.  From the Log Driver's Waltz to The Sweater, these short films can be viewed online free of charge.  A great supplement to any curriculum.

Click here for The National Film Board of Canada

Computer Lab Tips

Here are a few tips for making the most of your time in the computer lab (courtesy of your wcdsb IT department).

1. Procedures for demonstrating to the whole class:  Consider introducing a web site or software program as a whole class with the lab monitor or projector before having student work on their own.  If you have a student operate the PC, you can be free to walk around.  This is also a way to preview problems students may have with the site or program.
   
2. Prepare students for what they will be learning and what will be expected of them.
3. Designate students to be lab assistants for certain projects.
4. Have a procedure for distributing CD's, memory sticks, etc., if they are needed.
5. Any students who abuse their privilege at the computer should immediately be removed from the computer for a period of time.  This will only have to happen a few times for student to know that you mean it!
6. Assign a couple of students to give the lab a final check when your class leaves (chairs pushed in, programs/internet closed, CD's returned, log-in screen up.
7. Have a clear and acceptable method for students to get your attention: 

• each student gets a red plastic cup and when they are in trouble, they are to put it on top of the monitor so you can clearly see who needs your help;
  
• students are to ask their neighbour or class monitor for assistance;
• ASK-3B4-ME may be a policy to introduce if you want to encourage this.

Integrating Technology

Technology should not be a subject taught in isolation.  Instead, technology needs to be integrated within the context of the Ontario Curriculum.  There are several expectations in the curriculum, which clearly require the use of technology.  As well, there are other expectations that could be taught by integrating technology.  The following is a list of steps that teachers might consider following when planning to integrate technology into their lessons:

1. Choose the topic of your lesson while referring to the related curriculum document.  You may also choose an existing lesson.
2. Decide on the expectations that will be taught in the lesson.
3. Identify the expectations to be taught that require the use of technology.  As well, determine whether or not there are other expectations that could be taught by using technology.
4. Decide on the type of technology to be used as well as the instructional strategies to be used.  (i.e. Will the teacher being demonstrating a concept on the LCD projector or will every student be working on their own individual computer?)  The Curriculum Link to Ministry Software may be useful when gathering your resources.
5. Refer to the board's Technology Literacy Continuum, which states technology expectations for each grade level.  Decide on the technology expectations that you will be addressing and/or evaluating in your lesson.
6. Decide on the series of steps that will be used to teach the lesson.  Be sure to consider your assessment, as well as accommodations and modifications.
7. After teaching the lesson, reflect on the strengths and weaknesses of the lesson.  (i.e. Will you use technology to teach this lesson in the future?)

Happy New Year!

Welcome back everyone! I hope you enjoyed your time with family and friends.

I am working on the final week of my computer course (yea!), and it has got me thinking. How do you use your one (or two) computer classroom? It is time to blow the dust off the keyboard or do you use your computers in a creative way that helps to motivate your students? The internet can be a great resource when planning how to use technology in your classroom. Just google "one computer classroom" to get started, or check our my links below. Make it your New Years Resolution to incorporate computer technology into your lessons as least one time this month. Good luck!

http://eduscapes.com/tap/topic84.htm

http://webtech.kennesaw.edu/jcheek3/onecomputer.htm

http://www.uen.org/utahlink/tours/tourFames.cgi?tour_id=13812

Webquests - The future of online learning

What is a Webquest you ask?

A Webquest is an online learning activity used by educators.  During this activity learners read, analyze, and synthesize information using the World Wide Web.  Webquests can be created and customized to fit your current unit of study.  Want to learn more?  Check-out the Webquest Resource Page or read about the creator of Webquests Bernie Dodge for more insight.

Looking for some Professional Development for your staff.  Try this at your next meeting.

A Webquest about Webquests.

Sample Webquests:

Children of the Holocaust

Endangered Animals

Ancient Egypt

ProProfs Quiz School

In just minutes you can create online quizzes for your students that are both fun and challenging. Best of all, it's FREE!

Just like real-life classroom tests, ProProfs Quiz School quizzes can be configured to reveal scores, correct answers with explanations, or both to the student upon completion of the quiz. If you prefer, create practice quizzes that display answers right beside the questions. Further reduce stress by disabling scoring altogether on the quiz so that students can focus on knowledge instead of results. See more features of ProProfs Quiz School for your classroom.

Just for fun, I have created a quiz to give you a taste of what your students can expect. Have fun!

Take my test - Click Here

Ontario Educational Resource Bank

The Ontario Educational Resource Bank contains thousands of learning objects (from lesson plans to multi-media files) for teachers to access and incorporate into their daily curriculum.


Our school board has signed a contract in order for teachers to access the resource bank. Please make sure that you keep all resources withing the OERB or your teacher folder.

Teacher login – wcdsbteacher - password - oerbt

Student login – wcdsbstudent - password - oerbs


Instructions on how to download OERB resources
OERB Manual
K-3
Grades 4-6
Grades 7-8