Multiplication in Life

Multiplication in Life



This video was used with Animoto!

Animoto

Click the picture to check out the Animoto Website!

Animoto is a fun way to create videos on-line by combing pictures from Facebook, your computer, and other photo apps, with music and background designs. You can try it out for free and create a short 30 second video. If you want to create longer videos, there is a small fee. The process to create a video is very simple. Choose your design, upload photos, decide what order and which photos you would like to add, choose the music (unless it was already chosen with your design), and publish your video for all to enjoy! You can then share the link to your video with others. As an educator, you can sign up for a free edition to create longer videos. To try this out, click here! You can also add students to your account so that they may create videos also. This would be a fun way to get to know your students and their families at the beginning of the school year. It would also be a great visual to introduce concepts or skills. Another idea would be to upload photos of multiplication fact cards to create a video with. Then have your students shout out the answer to each fact card as it appears in the video! I have already created a multiplication video of my own. Check it out by clicking here! For more information on Animoto, and how to use it in your classroom, click here.

Search Engine Secrets

I previously spoke of Google being an "all-knowing genius"; however, I had no idea then about all of its best kept secrets! This search engine is way more knowledgeable than I had given it credit for. Google can not only answer my questions, but the famous search engine can also define words and allow me to search for a specific type of file, book or site. Google can also become a calculator! Just type your mathematical equation into the search engine and it produces an answer--just like a genie granting your wish! Check out the video below for search options. For even more ideas on how to use Google as a search engine, click here. 

But wait--there is another! (Say WHAT!?) That's right, Google has a competitor in the race of being the most intelligent search engine there is! Have you ever heard of WolframIAlpha? If not, check it out now! You can literally enter any question and receive not only an answer, but an analysis made up of human experts instantaneously! You can learn about fractions, unit conversions, state facts, vocabulary definitions, what a prefix, suffix or dumbo octopus is! (Yes there is such a thing as dumbo octopus--look it up on WolfraIAlpha, I know you are dying to now!) This search engine is perfect for students--or parents--who need help on an assignment or research project. All the knowledge you could ever ask for, at the click of a button! Watch the Youtube videos below so you can see it to believe it!

Pinterest

For those of you that have hours in your day with nothing to do, this post is for YOU (Or for those of us that need a creative outlet that have 30 minutes before bed--like me)! Honestly though, I could (and often do in the Summer) spend FOREVER On Pinterest! Pinterest is the latest craze, giving you more DIY ideas, style tips and educational ideas than your brain can even handle! All you have to do is sign up for an account, type your interest into the search engine on Pinterest and BAM-- thousands of pictures, websites and ideas for you to "pin". Pinning is pretty easy, just like a thumb tack. Click the pin button, choose what board you want the pin to go to and it is saved. Pinterest is essentially an on-line bulletin board or file folder. I cannot wait to have my students try idea #4 shown below--taking a virtual field trip to learn about a state. I will then have them report back, share their boards and get others excited to visit their state! You can also follow others on Pinterest who share your interests and have pins and boards you enjoy. I have compiled a short list of people to follow below. Pinterest can also give you great bulletin board ideas, lesson plans and games to try, as well as much more! I thought I knew all there was about Pinterest, until I checked out the awesome video below and now have even MORE stellar ideas to try out in the classroom.

If you are still want more ideas of how to use Pinterest in your school, check out these websites!

1. New Pinterest and Education – Stephen's Lighthouse
2. 30 Inspiring Pinterest Pins for Teachers
3. 37 Ways Teachers Should Use Pinterest

Now, if you're new to Pinterest, or have never heard about Pinterest, you may want to check out the two videos below to help get you started. 

There are also some great people to follow on Pinterest! I have added their names below. Once you have an account, simply click on the link and check out their boards and pins! 

• Vicki Davis (coolcatteacher)
• Eric Sheninger (esheninger)
• Karen Steffensen (kstef2)
• Debbie Fucoloro (debbiefuco)
• Shannon Smith (shannoninottawa)
• Shelly Terrell (shellyterrell)

Google Drive

At this day and age, I am sure you are all familiar with the ever famous search engine genius, Google. 

Google is widely known as a one stop shop to answer your questions, connect with others, buy online, view images and much more! I learned recently, however, that by signing up for a Gmail account, there are even greater ways to connect and share with the world we live in! Although Gmail is most widely used as an email account through Google, the creators of Google have also added "apps" to all email accounts--for FREE! 
As an educator, I am always collecting and creating various documents to use with my students or share with my coworkers. Google has made it easier than ever to share all kinds of files on-line! This wonderful app is known as Google Drive. With Google Drive, you can say goodbye to printing and filing away a piece of paper only to have that paper never be found again. With a click of a button you can now share documents, presentations, forms, spreadsheets, videos and drawings with those you know. You can then decide if you want others to simply view your marvelous creation, or edit it as well. Google Drive and all other apps from Google can be found by clicking on an icon of 3-by-3 squares beside your name, located at the top right hand side of your Gmail home page. My personal favorite feature of Google Drive is knowing that all my work is instantly saved. Another great aspect of Google Drive is the ability to easily upload files on your computer to Google Drive so you can access them anywhere you go--even on your smart phone! For all of you visual learners like myself, check out the video below.
                                            


 At my current school, we use Google Drive to share the morning announcements, student behavior plans, lesson plans, data meeting notes and staff phone numbers. My school has also used Google Drive as a method for teachers to sign up for various activities. In my classroom, I like to create forms as a quick way to assess all students knowledge on the standard we are currently working on. Feel free to check out my Simile form by clicking here! Just be sure to add a question where each student can fill in their first and last name. 
Google Drive also has a feature that allows you, the creator, to view all responses.  The first video below will give you the basics on creating your form and the second will guide you through the steps of seeing responses to your form. 

Once you are able to create a form, check out Flubaroo! This website can easily be synced with Google Drive and will grade your forms for you! The link above will take you to a user friendly guide that will walk you through the steps to access and use Flubaroo in Google Drive. Flubaroo is free, it's easy and the user guide comes equipped with directions and pictures galore to help you start using Flubaroo with Google Forms in your classroom today! No more grading, waiting in line in at the printer or organizing the endless piles of paper on your desk--what more could a teacher ask for! 

Diigo

 Have you ever found a website, saved it to your bookmarks, and then tried to retrieve it from another computer, only to remember you saved it under a bookmark on a different computer!!? Then you can't remember the name to the website and it because a HUGE fiasco. The horror, the sadness, the pain...
Okay, that may be stretching it a little bit. But you know the feeling. If this HAS happened to you before though, you know how frustrating it is. Now, for quite some time, I have been using a tool called LiveBinders. I have loved this tool. It's really just like the name says. Livebinders is a system of online "binders". When you have a document or a website you want to save, at a location that you can access ANYWHERE, you put it into LiveBinders. You can also check out some other folks' Binders to see if they have anything of interest for you to add. My binders, because I am an educator, are coded by subject. I also have a binder labeled General, with a large variety of free teacher websites. Feel free to check it out! 
Now, don't get me wrong, I do love LiveBinders. It will forever have a piece of my heart. But recently, I kind of started cheating on LiveBinders--don't tell him!! I found out a great new resource called Diigo. It's has essentially all of the functions that LiveBinders does, BUT it's even better. It's like upgrading your ex boyfriend! Check out the YouTube video to learn more about it. Teachers can also sign up for a FREE educators account.

What I love most about Diigo is that when I am on a website, I can click my Diigo icon on my toolbar and simply add it to my Library! You can also join groups in Diigo, make your own groups and share websites in the groups your are a part of. I will be adding all of my students to a group, and then sharing websites with them that we will use throughout the year. No more copying down the website in each of their folders to remember! Woohoo! You can also highlight websites and add sticky notes, that will remain on your saved website when you hit the highlight icon again! Now for those of you using CCSS based curriculum, with all of the fun annotating, this is perfect! There are numerous other ways to use Diigo in your classroom. Check out this website for more! Or if you are more of a visual person, check out the YouTube below. 

Edmodo

If you got as excited as I did about the Facebook groups for educators, just WAIT until you hear about what I have to tell you next! This week, I learned that there is an entire "Facebook" world out there specifically for educators. You haven't heard of such a world before you say?? Check out Edmodo and you will be transported to a whole new world of free lesson plans, ideas, on-line tools, and educators galore waiting to answer your questions.  For a quick tutorial on Edmodo, check out the YouTube Video below.

With Edomo, you can join group made by other teachers or communities that are area specific. A few of my favorite are Brain Break, Grades 1-3 (because I teach 3rd grade), Computer Technology, Classroom Inc., and Hooda Math. Honestly though, there is a group for anyone--art teachers, social studies teachers, technology teacher, administrators and more! You can also create your own group. I recently created a group specifically for my third grade team. With Edmodo, we can now share resources and post about other great websites, links, or ideas. When you create your own group, you must send others the link and code to join. If you join another group, you must send a request to be a part of that group. For a complete list of teacher created groups, click here. The video below will show you how to join groups.

I will also be implementing Edmodo with my students and parents next year. After entering all students, they will each be given a code to my group. That way, I can post to parents about any upcoming dates, reminders, or important information. I can also add resources to the group library for easy access to all parents with internet. With students, I can post polls, quizzes and resources for them to use as well. 
What are you waiting for? Explore this new world now!

Social Networking

I have always had mixed feelings about social networks. For some, social networks have become a place to find out "Who's cheatin' who, who's being true, and who don't even care anymore. It makes you wonder who's doing right with someone tonight...". Not that Alan Jackson was thinking about social networks when he wrote that song, but you get the point. Recently, however, I have discovered a better way to use social networks. Instead of making the online tools a way to socialize or "find dirt", why not make it your very own PLN. Now for those of you that are not up to date with all of the lingo, a PLN is short for a Personal Learning Network. The two YouTube Videos below will you give a glimpse of what a PLN is, how it works, and explore just a few that are out there. Personal learning networks allow you to connect with others around the globe, become a lifelong learner, understand trends and resources available, and give you FREE resources for your classroom! Now who doesn't like FREE!?

I also recently discovered that there are some GREAT, resourceful groups on Facebook for educators. The first is under the name Technology in Education. Often times the website will post free apps, or apps that would be very beneficial in your classroom at a low cost that you may have never heard of. The post goes into detail about the app and what it could be used for. I have seen anything from writing apps to matching animals apps and everything in between! Another great one is The Network for Public Education. There, you can find a ton of great articles related to the struggles, concerns, and triumphs in education today. One of my favorites--simply because I loved bringing home the Scholastic book orders every month in elementary school-- is Scholastic Teachers. Although you would typically think a Scholastic group was limited to reading, they post all sorts of helpful tools, tricks, and articles on their page. On one post, the taught educators how to turn old rackets and measuring cups into meaningful items for their classroom. The group also looks in to Common Core, world wide holidays, and more! 

Now, as if your not already incredibly excited with all this new information, there's more! I for one have never been a fan of Twitter. I don't need to spend my time reading up on what celebrity is where, who they are dating, or what they are eating for lunch. But, once I realized I can follow other educators who post about today's topics in educator, free resources, and other items of interest I was hooked! I could go on and on with a list of who to follow and what they offer, but to save some time, i'll just give you a few. If you are reeling for more in the end, simply search for #education or other education related to terms to find others who are tweeting things of interest to you. The first person to follow is Lloyd Dean. He tweets daily, if not more than once a day, with useful links and resources for additional information related to education today. You can also find him on Facebook! A few of his recent tweets included the e-agenda, education papers, and conferences to join to listen in on. Another great person, or group shall I say, to follow is Flip Your Classroom. If your not sure what it means to flip your classroom (and no I don't mean turning over the desks to confuse your students), then check them out and find out how you too can flip your classroom! I won't go into detail on the rest--mainly because I want you to check them out for yourself-- but do keep in mind they are related to education. The following people are suggestion on who to look up on Twitter: Wendy Thomas, Diane Main, Helen Crompton, and Laura Deisley. Trust me when I say, the list goes on! If you have a Google account, check out this ginormous compilation of others to follow! Click here for a list of names of other educators to follow. After you're done looking into those stellar people, check out some of my favorite PLNS listed below. Each one is unique, but to just give you the tip of the iceberg, they include free lesson plans, awesome educators around the world to connect to, places to sell and buy items for your classroom, job postings, classroom projects, and much, much more!

Classroom 2.0

For all of the tricks and tips on how to use Classroom 2.0, click on the link "Tour of Classroom 2.0" under the welcome header.

          SMART Board Revolution  

You must have a Google account to view SMART Board Revolution. If I haven't enticed you already, you should PROBABLY sign up for a Google account now. The possibilities are endless! A recent post includes my Professor, Marica Jeans, highlighting her new book Creating Smart Board Lessons, which can now be found at Barnes and Nobles! 

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