Throwback Thursday: Amazing Websites

                                    

I am excited to participate in the first ever Throwback Thursday with Creative Teacher Resources. Check out more links by clicking HERE.

The purpose of this link up is looking back at old blog posts.  I am always looking for something new to try in my classroom.  Because of this, I will sometimes forget things that I have tried in the past. This link up got me reading many of my old blog posts.

Check out this blast from the past...Amazing Websites for Teachers.  Some of the websites are the tried and true ones I love and use everyday.  Yet, as I reviewed the list, I found a couple I had forgotten how valuable they were.

Check the link for some Amazing Websites you can use in your classroom!

Five for Friday - Teacher Appreciation, Math, and More

  

Happy Teacher Appreciation!  Thank you for all that you do!  Happy Five for Friday!

1

Teacher Appreciation - To thank the teachers that I know, I made labels to attach to popcorn, gum, and candy.  If you would like your own free download, click here.

                                                                                        

2

Math - I must admit that I love the end of the year, because I am really free to experiment with new ideas.  I'm not beholden to a test.  My big experiment now is math.  I threw out our textbook.  Instead, I have my students spend 15 minutes of fact practice, hold a math meeting, and then work in groups on a topic they choose.  For example, my students get to choose from addition, multiplication, fractions, area/perimeter, and geometry for the area they wanted to focus.  From there, I came up with different activities, homework, and an assessment for that group.  Each day, I pull groups that I want to work closely with.

Tomorrow is our big assessment.  I am hoping to see the results.  My students are excited, because as one boy said, "I love groups, because we learn so much."  I love that they are choosing what they want their focus to be.

Next week, I will introduce a new group but keep some of the old ones.  It's been a lot of trial and error to find what works.  At least I feel like giving my students a choice will help them to be more aware and interested in their learning.

                                         

3

Curriculum Corner - I am always on the lookout for interesting websites.  My new favorite is Curriculum Corner.  I really love it, because everything is free!  There are so many amazing resources to check out.  Click here to visit this site!

4

Fitbit - I have been good all year (so far) and walked my 10,000 steps each day.  To reward myself (and stay motivated), I decided to upgrade my old Fitbit.  Check out my affiliate link if you are interested in getting your own.

I love the look of this one.  I also love how there is a clock feature on it.  

My old Fitbit.  This is a great one to get you started on a more healthy lifestyle.

I can't wait to really break in my new one this summer.  I think I am going to try to up my steps.

5

Fat Ass 5K - Sorry if this has seemed to be such a random hodge-podge of ramblings.  I am getting ready to walk in the Fat Ass 5K (and school today).  It's a charity walk where the focus is not on walking but on food.  I am sure that it will be interesting!

Happy Mother's Day!  Enjoy your weekend!

Feeling Productive

I have been feeling very productive.  I am in "Getting Ready for School" mode.  I have been busy getting books ready for my classroom library, exploring websites, starting to get birthday treats ready (I will post a pic when they are finally done), and making some file folder games.

I signed up for some great websites.  First I signed up for Bloomz.  This is a great one stop website for your classroom.  I need to do more work on my page.  At least I got through the demo class information.  I also signed up for Epic.  This is an awesome app that allows teacher to have free books in the classroom.  I signed up and read some books.  I loved the selections.

The file folder games I made are really generic game boards.  I can use them for my early finishers.  I just need to give them dice and game pieces.  The questions I give could be as simple as answering sight words or math flash cards.

Amazing Websites for Teachers

I follow We Are Teachers on Facebook (highly recommend it).  They sent a link to many other websites that can be used in a classroom.  Click here to get the list of websites.  My favorite websites include

1.  Pinterest - I love this site!  I don't think that I have an original idea anymore.  Why rack my brain when I could just go there for new ideas.

2.  Teachers Pay Teachers - Great spot to get ready made resources.

3.  Common Core Sheets - Free resources aligned to common core.

4.  FCRR - Centers that can be printed and ready to go.

5.  Free Rice - Choose the subject, answer questions, and rice gets donated to needy areas for each correct answer.

Edmodo Buddies

I know that I have written about Edmodo in the past.  I love Edmodo.  Now that we are back from Spring Break and done with PARCC testing (for now), I am excited that we can go back to working with our Edmodo buddies.

Our class has partnered with a high school class.  Each student has a buddy in the other class.  The high school buddies write math questions for my students.  My students answer the questions.  It is up to the high school students to tell them if they are right or wrong.  If the students are wrong. the high school students provide hints and 'teach' a mini lesson.  The only thing I have to do is monitor the questions and responses - making sure everything is appropriate.

We have Skyped with our buddies.  Our plan is to have the high school students visit at the end of the school year for a picnic.  Even if our schools were not nearby, it would be easy to have Edmodo buddies.  The teachers can both be set to teach a class.  Small groups could be made for each of the buddies.  I love technology!

Colar

Snow Day - Day 5 - This is now just getting ridiculous.  Oh well, it got me to think about other things to do in the classroom.  Here's one thing.

I went to a workshop at the beginning of the year.  One website that was suggested was Colar. Here's how to use Colar.

1.  Teachers can download specifically designed coloring sheets.
2.  Students then color them.
3.  With a phone, tablet, or iPad, download the Colar app.
4.  Scan the picture and it will become 3-dimensional for the students.

                                                     

This makes a fabulous writing activity for the students.  The look on their faces when their picture comes to life is incredible.  Now, I just need to work on a Donors Choose project where I can get tablets or iPads for my classroom.  This way, I do not need to use my personal tablet or phone.  Until then, I will make do.

Inferencing and Easy to Make Free Reading Centers

Today was a bit crazy.  First of all, I had to get back in the swing of things after having 3 snow days. Then I get to school only to find out we have a 9:00 assembly about train safety.  Hmmm...time to be flexible!  I totally threw my plans out the window (basically the same ones I planned for last week).  I thought, with a lot less time for reading (I stole our Social Studies time - shhh), I would just focus what time was left in the morning on inferences.  My students have had a lot of trouble with identifying them.

To practice inferences, I use my Scholastic book.  This is great practice - my go to series.  I use this series for main idea, facts/opinions, etc.  The book below is the cover if you are interested.

 

I then passed out my inference game from fcrr.  If you have not heard of fcrr, you are missing out. Fcrr is the Florida Center for Reading Research.  They have created tons (and I do mean tons) of free reading games/activities that you can use for whole group instruction or as a center.  My plan is to have my students complete the Text Analysis Incredible Inferences game as a center.  If you have not been to the fcrr, please do so.  You're life will be so much better when you do!

My kiddos were really engaged in this activity!

Reddit Gift Exchange

This year marks the third year of Reddit Gift for Teachers exchange.  Last year was the first year that I participated.  I saw that a Facebook friend had signed up for it and recommended it.  I signed up and forgot about it.  Then, about a month later, I received a box of school supplies in the mail!  I signed up again this year and recommend that you do too.  Click here to get to the website.

My Favorite Blogs

I truly am trying to get myself inspired to get some actual teacher prep done before next school year begins.  I know I have plenty of time, but I do have some big plans.  Next Friday, I am having a group of teachers over to my house for a fun Make and Take gathering.  We started this last year.  It was a big hit.  This year, our numbers our growing.  Until then, check out some of my favorite blogs below.

Teacher Idea Factory

The Teaching Tribune

Bunting, Books, and Bright Ideas

Remind 101

I am actually really excited to try a new form of parent contact next year - Remind 101.  This is a website that allows users to create a free account that they can use to text messages to parents without having to share your personal phone number.  I will be able to send home reminders as needed in a convenient way. Hopefully, this will let more parents become active in my classroom.

                                        

Educents

Another great website I want to tell you about, Educents.  Educents is similar to Groupon only it sells educational products at huge discounts.  They send you an email with their deals.  I did a quick browse through today and found two items that were at a 100% discount!  I downloaded them and now have some great new resources!  I love free!

                     

Class Dojo

Last month, another teacher presented on the program Class Dojo at our professional development.  Class Dojo is a free website that allows teachers to track positive and negative behaviors.  I set up my classroom on the site but did not touch it until I decided to try it out today. 

Wow!  That one word described my day.  Behavior was excellent!  The students were so excited to see their points go up.  The promethean board would ding whenever a point was awarded.  I was able to control the points from an app on my phone.   Anywhere we went, I was able to give points.  There are still a few minor kinks I need to work out. 

I highly recommend this site.  Check it out at http://www.classdojo.com/.

Exercise in the Classroom

A lot of my students are out of shape.  They would complain anytime they would have to exert themselves a little bit.  It doesn't help that they only get gym 1 day a week and most students do not get to run around after school.  For me the final straw was when my students would huff and puff just walking up the stairs to our classroom on the second floor. 

I found a great website that helps with getting the kids moving.  Www.adventuretofitness.com is a free website that teachers can sign up for.  The episodes last about 30 minutes.  Each adventure takes the kids somewhere new (like Ancient Greece or into the Mayan Civilization).  I like it because there is a great educational component.  The students learn some great new facts along the way.  My favorite thing about doing this each week is the comments I hear from my students.  My favorite comment was one girl upon getting to the top of the stairs.  She said, "I'm not huffing and puffing anymore thanks to you, Miss Barker!"

Websites

Tonight was technology night at school.  With that in mind, I am listing some great websites to use in your classroom.  Let me know what you think of them.

   http://www.arcademicskillbuilders.com/ - Students can play against each other in math and language games.

   http://freerice.com/#/english-vocabulary/1361 - You can change the subject area in this.  My favorite part is that every correct question equals 10 grains of rice donated to needy people.

   http://www.wegivebooks.org/ - I am really big on getting students to help those that are less fortunate than them.  Students can read books on this website for free.  Every time a book is read, a book gets donated to those in need.

My goal is to eventually create a complete list of websites that are great for students.  I try to include one a week in my newsletter to parents.  I don't know how many students actually go on them at home, but I feel better getting the websites to parents.