iPad

I have been exploring the iPad recently. You can find thousands of educational apps in the iTunes App Store (www.itunes.com), some of them free. You can also download free ebook reading apps such as iBooks or the Kindle app from iTunes. Libraries have many books that can be electronically checked out or books that you want in your permanent collection can be purchased at a variety of sources, such as Barnes & Noble (http://www.barnesandnoble.com/), Amazon (www.amazon.com), and others you can find with a simple Google search. I also found a site (http://drscavanaugh.org/ebooks/classroomapplications.htm)with some good information. It has links for book lists for students, classroom ideas, and other resources. Check it out!

Audacity

I recently completed my master's degree in Educational Technology. My capstone project involved using the free program Audacity to create podcasts with students in a second grade classroom to improve their reading fluency. Not only did the children enjoy the activity, but all of those involved did improve their fluency. Here is a site I found with more great ideas for using Audacity in the classroom: http://kerileebeasley.com/2009/04/08/10-great-ways-to-use-audacity-with-your-students/

Creating Podcasts

I just completed a project for my grad school class involving creating podcasts to improve reading fluency. First I downloaded Audacity, a free software, from http://audacity.sourceforge.net/
After downloading, this software runs without being connected to the internet. I also purchased an inexpensive headset microphone. Not only does this eliminate any classroom background noise, but the students can listen to their podcast without disturbing others.
I examined the students' most recent fluency test scores, then had them read a grade level appropriate passage into the microphone while I recorded it using the Audacity program. I then saved it as a WAV file. (Another option is to save it as an MP3 file.) That way, you can play it on a computer that does not have the Audacity program. The children then listened to themselves and self-evaluated. The rest of the week, they practiced reading the same passage and recorded it again. Each podcast was used to obtain another fluency score of the words read correctly in one minute. The week concluded with a final fluency test. Every student involved in this activity continued to improve their fluency socres with every reading.
I found some research by Vasinda and McLeod (2011) in an article entitled "Extending Readers Theatre: A Powerful and Purposeful Match Wtih Podcasting" that supports repeated reading, podcasts and fluency. In this study, they did not test for fluency, rather they had the students create Reader's Theatre podcasts. These were highly motivating for the students and improved their fluency considerably. Additionally, they were posted online for family and friends to enjoy.
What a great and inexpensive way to improve your student's reading skills!

Earth Day

Here is an interactive site for kids in grades K-3 to help them learn more about how to take care of the earth. There are links for the environment, garbage & recycling, air & water, plants & animals, and the future. There is also a link called Eeko Exchange where kids can post their ideas on how to help the environment and another one called Eeko House where kids make choices about the best ways to complete various household tasks. http://pbskids.org/eekoworld/index.html

Decorah Eagles

I wish I would have heard about this site sooner. In case you haven't heard about it, this site shows a live video feed of an eagle family in Decorah, Iowa. I love how they have footage available to watch the hatching in case you missed it. There are FAQs about eagles and you can log in to participate in a chat about the eagles. Very cool! http://www.ustream.tv/decoraheagles

Google Docs

Have you explored Google Docs (www.docs.google.com)yet? Not only is it free, but there are a lot of great things you can do with it in the classroom. You can create documents, presentations, forms and spreadsheets. You as the teacher are the creator and can allow as many or as few people access to the documents as you want. You can select the option of simply viewing or give them editing privileges. When you allow others editing rights you also get a record of who did what and when. This is a great tool for collaborative projects and a great way to share completed work with parents. The document option is very similar to the Word program and the presentations are similar to Power Point. Some ideas for creating forms include student, parent, or coworker surveys, or practice tests. These can all be posted to blogs and teacher web pages upon completion. Some ways to make the teacher's life easier include using the spreadsheet option to create your own grade book or creating a document for lesson plan templates. All of these things are stored on the internet "cloud" and can be accessed from any computer that is connected to the internet. Here is another link with additional information for educators: http://www.google.com/educators/p_docs.html

Facebook

Think Facebook is just a social networking site? Not so!
This web page gives you 100 ways that you can use Facebook with your students. Check it out!
http://www.onlinecollege.org/2009/10/20/100-ways-you-should-be-using-facebook-in-your-classroom/

Groundhog Day

Did you make your predictions for Groundhog Day yet? This site shows videos of Punxsutaney Phil and his handlers. You will also find some lesson plans, game ideas, and frequently asked questions about Groundhog Day. Here's hoping for an early spring!

http://www.groundhog.org/groundhog-day/videos/

Brain Boosters

What a great activity for the kids to work on when they come into the classroom in the morning or when they come back from lunch. These Brain Boosters work on logic, categorization, lateral thinking, number and math play, reasoning, spacial awareness and word and letter play. Luckily they also include the answers! :)

http://school.discoveryeducation.com/brainboosters/

SMART Boards

Are you lucky enough to have a SMART Board? Here is a list of interactive sites for you to use with your students:
http://www1.center.k12.mo.us/edtech/resources/SBsites.htm

Teaching 'N Technology: Flip Video Cameras in the Classroom

Lots of great ideas here for using a Flip Video Camera in the classroom. The only thing teachers need to keep in mind is getting the permission of the parents prior to videotaping the children.
Teaching 'N Technology: Flip Video Cameras in the Classroom

Martin Luther King Jr.

Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday is right around the corner. Here is a web site that links you to many other sites with activities for learning about Martin Luther King Jr.
http://holidays.kaboose.com/martin-luther-king-jr-day.html