SmileBox is another Web 2.0 tool that allows you to create precious slideshows and scrapbook type pages for FREE. Of course, there is a paid version, but ... free is good for me. Here is a SmileBox that I just created with pictures that I had with me. Check it out.
 |
 |
| Make a Smilebox slideshow |
Google offers a multitude of terrific tools that can be used to enhance both teaching and learning. The tools are powerful, user-friendly, and FREE! In future posts, I will be highlighting some of these tools and will share ideas of how they can be used in the classroom.
In order to take advantage of Google’s resources, you will need to have an account. To create one, you just need a valid email address. You could use your school email or a personal email account, if you prefer.
To set up your teacher account:
1. Go to http://www.google.com/
2. Click the “Sign in” link in the upper-right corner:
3. Click the “Create an account now” link at the lower-right:
4. Follow the on-screen prompts to create an account.
Note - the hardest part will most likely be the word verification where you will have to decipher the word and type it.
5. Check your email for a message from Google. It will include a link that will verify and enable your account.
TikaTok is an online site that helps students imagine a story and create a book. The site includes a wonderful tutorial which explains the process of writing, illustrating, and publishing their book. Students can share their books with their classmates online, or they can choose to purchase a hard or softcover book.
Visit http://tikatok.com/ to get started! Click on the "take a quick video tour" link on the right-side of the site for complete details. Also, take a look at the Tikatok Blog: Uncommon Brainstorming Ideas, Part I - http://nightly.tikatok.net/2008/writables-uncommon-brainstorming-activities-part-1/. Here, you and your students will find uncommon brainstorming ideas to spark creativity and get the story ideas flowing.
LearningExpress has created a new blog, called The Writing Teacher, for sharing ideas and expertise on helping students become better writers. According to the National Assessment of Educational Progress, only 33 percent of eighth grade students in the United States are writing at a proficient level. To help change that, The Writing Teacher includes writing input, content, and feedback--all encouraging participation by those who teach writing every day. The blog's debut article, "Research-Based Best Practices for Teaching Writing: A Discussion with Steve Graham," features advice from a literacy professor at Vanderbilt University.
If you teach writing, please add this resource to your writing toolkit!http://www.thewritingteacher.org/
The Busy Teacher Cafe site has lots of great resources for teachers. It is a K-6 site for busy teachers like you! You will find free printables, theme activities, teacher resources, K-6 web sites, sites for teachers, and a teacher blog. Check it out!
Can you believe that we are about to begin the 2008-2009 school year? Wow! How time flies when you are having fun. I know that you have been busy preparing your classrooms and your curriculum for the new year, and I have been busy learning many new technologies which I will be sharing with you very soon.
We will begin our training this year with Outlook so that everyone feels comfortable with our new email software. Next, we will update your Eduphoria-Forethought planners so that you can enter your lesson plans and access the new Math and Science curriculums that were revised this summer, and we will set-up your gradebooks in eSchool. Then, we will begin to explore a variety of Web 2.0 tools! I am so excited about sharing Web 2.0 with you - teaching you about blogs, wikis, podcasts, and much more! For more information, review my earlier post on Web 2.0.
I will also be visiting with you soon to begin scheduling videoconferences for your team. It is important that we select our conferences and book them early to secure the conferences, dates, and times that we want. Team leaders, if you already know what conferences your team wishes to view this year, please email me or comment just below this post, and I will begin working on securing them for you.
This year, I will be at Curtsinger on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays and at Admin or working with Computer Aides at various elementary campuses on Tuesdays and Thursdays. As always, I am just an email away if I am not on campus, and I will address your needs as quickly as possible.
Again, I am excited about the new year before us and about the many new technologies that I have to share with you and your students.
