Our final project this semester is a 45 minute slide presentation on some of the tools we've been learning about, and how they can connect to the curriculum. Here's a link to my presentation:
Here is another link to the script for the presentation:
Wednesday, August 5, 2015
Saturday, August 1, 2015
Best Websites for Teachers and Librarians
This week I've been exploring a number of Websites. Here are three that I really like:
Booktrack Classroom https://www.booktrackclassroom.com/content/intro
Booktrack classroom allows users to add soundtracks to books. The site has a small existing library of books like The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and Cinderella that users choose to read. While reading online, users listen to an accompanying soundtrack, chosen specifically for their book. A small arrow at the side of the text moves from line to line. Users can adjust the reading speed to match their own.
Booktrack also allows users to create their own booktracks in two different ways.
First, they can choose books from booktrack's existing library and add their own soundtrack. Once they are finished, their booktrack can be saved and shared. The second option is a really great one for classroom use. Students can use their own stories or text, add sound and music, and create booktracks for their own work. This would be great for short stories and poetry that students have written. After booktracks are created, it is time to publish them. A copyright is chosen for each booktrack, and it can be shared with an unlisted option, or shared to a bookshelf or text library.
Booktrack allows teacher to create booktrack classrooms. Teachers can have multiple classrooms, each having their own booktrack library of books. Booktrack is a great option for making reading and creative writing fun and engaging in the classroom or library. Booktrack does not work well with internet explorer. It did well with Firefox for me.
Knowmania http://www.knowmia.com/
Knowmania is another great website, for teachers, librarians, and students. It is basically a video lesson library with over 30,000 lessons to choose from. I like this site, because I'm always on the lookout for additional materials and unique perspectives to supplement my lessons. Our district used to have a subscription to Discovery Education, which was great for videos, but that was cancelled, and I miss it dearly, so this is a great find! The videos are short. The few that I viewed were between 3 and 11 minutes long. I did a search on a couple of topics for elementary grades. "Adding fractions" resulted in 15 video lessons. Another search for "writing a topic sentence" resulted in two videos to choose from.
I also did a search for some of the topics I teach. "Writing a resume" only resulted in one video, and a search for "advertising" led me to a short TED talk.
Teachers can have students independently view brief videos through this site, as part of their lesson. They can also upload their own great lessons to the site, to share with others.
Flipquiz http://flipquiz.me/
If you've ever used a Jeopardy style review game in the classroom, you know how much work it is to get your game board ready. Flipquiz offers a great, free solution for all of your game board creation frustration.
Flipquiz allows you to create a review game with different categories, where points can be earned for correct answers. Each question can have several answer choices, and even show the answer, if desired. Actual quizzes can be created with Flipquiz as well. You can choose to use existing games, created by other users, or start from scratch and create your own. When you save your Flipquiz, it will be available for years to come.
Teachers can purchase a Pro account, if desired, that allows ten teams to play the game at the same time, and keeps score for each team. Flipquiz is great for lesson and test review, and for quizzes on any topic. Students can also use Flipquiz to create their own quizzes, for a grade.
Booktrack Classroom https://www.booktrackclassroom.com/content/intro
Booktrack classroom allows users to add soundtracks to books. The site has a small existing library of books like The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and Cinderella that users choose to read. While reading online, users listen to an accompanying soundtrack, chosen specifically for their book. A small arrow at the side of the text moves from line to line. Users can adjust the reading speed to match their own.
Booktrack also allows users to create their own booktracks in two different ways.
First, they can choose books from booktrack's existing library and add their own soundtrack. Once they are finished, their booktrack can be saved and shared. The second option is a really great one for classroom use. Students can use their own stories or text, add sound and music, and create booktracks for their own work. This would be great for short stories and poetry that students have written. After booktracks are created, it is time to publish them. A copyright is chosen for each booktrack, and it can be shared with an unlisted option, or shared to a bookshelf or text library.
Booktrack allows teacher to create booktrack classrooms. Teachers can have multiple classrooms, each having their own booktrack library of books. Booktrack is a great option for making reading and creative writing fun and engaging in the classroom or library. Booktrack does not work well with internet explorer. It did well with Firefox for me.
Knowmania http://www.knowmia.com/
Knowmania is another great website, for teachers, librarians, and students. It is basically a video lesson library with over 30,000 lessons to choose from. I like this site, because I'm always on the lookout for additional materials and unique perspectives to supplement my lessons. Our district used to have a subscription to Discovery Education, which was great for videos, but that was cancelled, and I miss it dearly, so this is a great find! The videos are short. The few that I viewed were between 3 and 11 minutes long. I did a search on a couple of topics for elementary grades. "Adding fractions" resulted in 15 video lessons. Another search for "writing a topic sentence" resulted in two videos to choose from.
I also did a search for some of the topics I teach. "Writing a resume" only resulted in one video, and a search for "advertising" led me to a short TED talk.
Teachers can have students independently view brief videos through this site, as part of their lesson. They can also upload their own great lessons to the site, to share with others.
Flipquiz http://flipquiz.me/
If you've ever used a Jeopardy style review game in the classroom, you know how much work it is to get your game board ready. Flipquiz offers a great, free solution for all of your game board creation frustration.
Flipquiz allows you to create a review game with different categories, where points can be earned for correct answers. Each question can have several answer choices, and even show the answer, if desired. Actual quizzes can be created with Flipquiz as well. You can choose to use existing games, created by other users, or start from scratch and create your own. When you save your Flipquiz, it will be available for years to come.
Teachers can purchase a Pro account, if desired, that allows ten teams to play the game at the same time, and keeps score for each team. Flipquiz is great for lesson and test review, and for quizzes on any topic. Students can also use Flipquiz to create their own quizzes, for a grade.
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