Monday, August 30, 2010

Visuwords

http://bit.ly/visuwords-dict
If you're familiar with Visual Thesaurus, you'll have some idea of how the VisuWords online graphical dictionary displays information about a word or phrase you enter into the database. VisuWords uses color-coded connections to indicate relationships such as "is a part of" or "opposes" and parts of speech, such as "nouns", "verbs", or "adverbs". Mouse over synonyms to see pop-up definitions and an example of the word in a sentence. The no-membership-required website uses Princeton's WordNet dictionary and provides simple tips on how to get the most out of the display.

Sunday, August 29, 2010

Websites I found interesting (weekly)


Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.

Friday, August 27, 2010

Power of Positive Relationships

Starting back to school is an exciting time. We all want to have a good starts with high expectations for us and our students. Some educators discount relationship-building in middle grades and
high schools as "fluff," writes Tara Brown in the August issue of
Middle Ground, the NMSA magazine. But for "middle grades kids who are
trying to gain some independence and figure out which way is up,
relationships with classmates and teachers are crucial to success."
Brown offers seven relationship-based strategies "that can transform
your classroom into a positive learning environment."
Check out the excellent article here.

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Tweetup in Memphis

ttp://tweetvite.com/event/metu2

Hashtag:   #metu
One of my professional friends who heads up the Martin Institute in Memphis posted this:
The first Memphis EduTweetUp was such a success that we all agreed to have another once the new school year began. All PK-12 educators are invited to join us for food and fun as teachers from many different schools and districts connect and share ideas. The evening will conclude with a Web 2.0 Smackdown during which attendees can volunteer to share quick demos (under 3 minutes) of some of their favorite Web 2.0 tools and services. Note that free wi-fi will be available in the dining room. We'll also have a computer projector and screen.
We'll be meeting at Panera Bread (4530 Poplar) from 5:30 to 7:30 PM on Tuesday, August 31, 2010. Please help us spread the word via Twitter, Facebook, on your blog(s), email, etc., and include the event tag: #metu. Note that Non-Twitter-using teachers are absolutely welcome to join us, too. There is no registration fee but please help us make appropriate restaurant reservations by RSVP-ing using the buttons in this Tweetvite. Go to above link a Tweet an RSVP.

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Edutopia's Back to School Guide for 2.0

http://bit.ly/edutopia-back-school
Edutopia boldly goes where many teachers still seem reluctant to journey with these updated back-to-school suggestions for integrating Web 2.0 and social media tools into daily classroom instruction.Start the year with tools that pack a lot of visual interest, like VoiceThread or Glogster. Experiment with Twitter, Edmodo or (gasp) texting. You'll find links to resources for incorporating "everything from infographics to citizen science projects." Sound like fun?
Download the free PDF.

Monday, August 23, 2010

Folow a 2nd Grader Across the World

 I Just read an email from a fellow Google Certified Teacher; Darren Cannell, an assistant principal in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan in Canada. Starting on September 20, 2010 Darren and his family will be travelling around the world this journal will be about this eight month journey. He and his family will be embarking on a worldwide trip, traveling to 35 countries starting in September. As part of his travels, his 2nd grade son Dex will be writing about it http://daxjournal.darrencannell.com.

Wouldn't it  be a great idea for a primary classroom to follow this 2nd Graderas he travels the globe this school year!

Here in the website there is a Google map and calendar, then you will see all of their destinations.  I think this will be great!

How can you use school technology to track this world traveling second grader?
His email is: dcannell@darrencannell.com

Sunday, August 22, 2010

Websites I found interesting (weekly)


Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.

Friday, August 20, 2010

Free Back to School guide

Edutopia has released a new free back to school guide for teaching with new media. The free guide contains ten tips, ideas, and resources for teaching with web tools this year. To get the free guide you do have to enter your email address which will put you on Edutopia's mailing list, but that's not necessarily a bad thing as I've generally found Edutopia's mailings to be brief and informative.

You might also be interested in Edutopia's Summer Rejuvenation Guide.
from Free Technology for Teachers

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Google Classroom Posters

Google Classroom Posters
http://www.google.com/educators/posters.html

Click here to get a great set of choices of posters you can use to decorate your classroom, a center or the library.

Monday, August 16, 2010

Who IS to Blame?

I love to keep up with folks I know via Facebook. One of my FB friends led me to this website by Jeff Branzburg
http://branzburg.blogspot.com/2010/06/whos-to-blame.html

I was just talking about this last week in Mountain View on the Google Campus. We can work to change teachers, but... if a surgeon from the 1960's was transported to today, he would be lost with the new technologies. If a teacher from the 1960's was transported today, in many schools, just the books/students would have changed the tools used are still the same. What do you think?

Sunday, August 15, 2010

Websites I found interesting (weekly)


Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Just Ask

One of my former students, (in fact I got to know the family Very Well because I taught 4 out of 4 children), just asked me via Facebook for a website to help her get good use out of her new Smartboard.
My answer was simple:
sure. Find a Koosh ball.
Download notebook file from this website. That is my favorite one. Try others!

http://eastmetrosmartusers.wikispaces.com/Smart+Board+Tips+and+Tricks

I hope you enjoy this resource from a fellow teacher.

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Gail is Googly

I am in a real Google mood tonight because I am in Google Country.
You may remember I am a Google Certified Teacher. Now I am getting more Google Training in Mountain View, California! I am working to be a Google Apps for Education Trainer. I have passed 1 of th 6 certification tests. They just today released the other 5. I am excited to get the training starting tomorrow am!

Right now I am listing to a Google Webinar.
You can join in listening HERE   This is a webinar about a new book about using Google Apps for Education in a particular school. James Lerman and Ronique Hicks, co-authors of Retool Your School: The Educator’s Essential Guide to Google’s Free Power Apps, discuss the benefits of bringing Google Apps into the classroom. Lerman and Hicks explain Google Applications Education Edition, share how educators are using Google Apps to collaborate, and recommend ways you can get started.
http://www.isteconnects.org/2010/08/08/retool-your-school-with-free-google-apps/

Sunday, August 8, 2010

Websites I found interesting (weekly)


Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.