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.
Monday, August 30, 2010
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Websites I found interesting (weekly)
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new music site with a twist. Pick a genre. It will skip from music blog to music blog to surprise you with music you may have never heard. Interesting.
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Tweetvite :: Find & Create Tweetups and other Events on Twitter
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OurStory : Activities : Winning the Vote for Women
Celebrate the 90th anniversary of the Constitutional amendment guaranteeing women the right to vote! Read a great book, create a fun craft, explore the web, and more, with new OurStory activities from the National Museum of American History. Grades K-4.
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Make your own customized math activity sheets in minutes! 3-D shapes, tessellations, coordinate graphs, and more - all based on your specifications. A cool tool for teachers of all grades!
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Reinforce the power of practice in getting good at something with your students - another good beginning activity to set the stage for the rest of the year. Grades 3-5.
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Postcard Creator - ReadWriteThink
Postcards
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Have your students fill out a bio-cube about themselves as a beginning of the year ice breaker activity. Grades 3- 12.
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Any Video Converter is free and outstanding for converting to a variety of
formats -
Education World ® Technology Center: Back-to-School Technology Activities
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Pyrotechnics on the Page - Stenhouse Publishers
Writing lessons
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20 Ways to Deliver Content that Engages at Face-to-Face Meetings – Engage365
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YouTube - "Book Report" from "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown!"
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About CSV files - Google Calendar Help
You can make your
Docs/Spreadsheets into csv files or if your using another program such as
Excel, just save as CSV and import to your calendar that way.
As far a exporting, this is not as direct as you would like, but you may
know that you can export to XML, ICAL, or HTML and then convert if needed.
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"3 for 3" -Three Ed Tech Experts Choose Top Tools... -- THE Journal
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Wall.fm - Social Network Builder | Create a Social Network Free
Wall.fm, originally WackWall, is a free webtool for creating custom social networks with easy setup and complete feature set. This is a great classroom alternative to Ning and is a wonderful platform to build a School or Class Social Network on. Accepts HTML Embed codes as well as plugins that offer photo slideshows, videos, and mo
Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.
Friday, August 27, 2010
Power of Positive Relationships
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
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.
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-
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.
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
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)
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Constitution Day (September 17) is less than a month away now. Federal law requires teachers in the US to teach a lesson on the US Constitution on that day. To help you develop lessons, Sunnylands Classroom is offering a free package of teaching resources. Included in the collection is a free DVD about the 1991 case of Edmonson v. Leesville Concrete Company which effectively barred race peremptory challenges during jury selections. Other resources from Sunnylands for Constitution Day include an interactive game on the First Amendment and an interactive game about the Constitutional Convention. Register here by September 5 to have the Sunnylands resources sent to you.
H/T to US History Teachers Blog.
Applications for Education
The Constitution Day resources from Sunnylands Classroom really seem to be targeted toward a middle school and high school audience. That said, with a little adaptation you might be able to use some of the resources with 4th and 5th grade students too. -
Nuvvo - Teach and Learn Online!
a free service that hosts learning communities. Nuvvo members can join existing learning groups and or create their own learning groups. In each group members can share lessons, ask questions, and have discussions. Group members can post videos, slideshows, and other media to support their lessons. Some of the groups that might be of particular interest to educators are the Project Based Learning group, the Cooperative Learning group, and the Education 2.0 group.
Applications for Education
Like any social group, Nuvvo's value lies in its members' activities. Nuvvo provides a good place for teachers to share lessons and exchange ideas. Exchanging ideas and lessons with other teachers is a great way to get a new perspective on a teaching strategy or a lesson you're trying to teach. -
Free Technology for Teachers: Watch This Now - Math Class Needs a Makeover
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dy/dan » Algebra: The Supplement
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Google Fonts for Sites Pages
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Tom Cooper
Principal and Founder
Salvair LLC
614-389-3332 (Office)
614-296-5471 (Mobile)
614-453-8824 (FAX)
www.salvair.com -
Don't want to play in Facebook Places? Here's how to opt out
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"no-fuss way to protect your children from adult content online for free"
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Kidblog.org - Blogs for Teachers and Students
Safe Student Blogging site
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netTrekker Search – Customize Your Homepage | netTrekker Blog
Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.
Friday, August 20, 2010
Free Back to School guide
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.
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 Branzburghttp://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)
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Intel Education: An Innovation Odyssey: Story Finder
This is great for training. Super ideas for administrators and teachers to set goal. Ideas of success.
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Computing in the Cloud | Archived Educator Resource Centers | eSchoolNews.com
Schools operating in the cloud can give students access to their networks through any network-equipped device, such as a smart phone, laptop, or tablet computer. They also can save money on storage and energy costs by eliminating the need for power-hungry servers. On the flip side, schools will need robust networks with secure and reliable internet connections to take advantage of cloud computing's benefits
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The U.S. Department of Education (ED) has launched a new interactive web site aimed at making accurate and timely education data available in a single place, for easy sorting and comparison. A key element of ED’s open government plan, “ED Data Express” consolidates relevant data collected from several different sources—including ED’s internal program offices, the National Center for Education Statistics, and The College Board—and provides tools that allow users to search and explore the data, create customized reports, and view state profiles with charts, tables, and key data points for every state. “[Having access to] robust data gives us the roadmap to reform,” U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said. “This new web site will give parents and educators reliable, accurate, and timely data that they can use to evaluate reforms.” Data include results of state tests and the National Assessment of Educational Progress, graduation rates, school accountability information, and more
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Grand Rounds in Science: A Collaborative Investigation of Active Learning in the Classroom
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‘Research dispels common ed-tech myths’ « Generation YES Blog
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Official Google Enterprise Blog: More Google applications coming for Google Apps customers
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Go through this to find tools that will work with Google Apps and GAFE
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Retool Your School With Free Google Apps | ISTE Connects - Educational Technology
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Internet4Classrooms - Helping Students, Teachers and Parents Use the Internet Effectively
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Subscribe to Classroom 2.0 LIVE sessions in iTunesU « Moving at the Speed of Creativity
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Help Parents Use Social Media to Stay Connected to the Classroom | Edutopia
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ISTE NETS e-Portfolio Templates
Teacher, Student and Admin templates for ISTE Standards
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.
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/
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)
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Never Mind the Edupunks; or, The Great Web 2.0 Swindle (EDUCAUSE Review) | EDUCAUSE
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Create a Friend list on Facebook « Moving at the Speed of Creativity
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School Clip Art for Teachers and Kids - Free Clipart for Educational Purposes
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nrich.maths.org :: Mathematics Enrichment :: Current Posters
Math posters to print
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Successful Teaching: How the iPhone Can Help You Be a Better Teacher
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Quickstart Guide for iMovie ’09 « Moving at the Speed of Creativity
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There are over 800 universities with active iTunes U sites. Nearly half of these institutions — including Stanford, Yale, MIT, Oxford, and UC Berkeley — distribute their content publicly on the iTunes Store. In addition, cultural and education institutions such as the Library of Congress, public broadcasting, and state departments of education also contribute to this growing educational content repository which now includes over 325,000 free lectures, audiobooks, lesson plans, and more. iTunes U is the ideal resource for educators who want to gain insight into curriculum being taught world wide, get access to primary resources, and find inspiration for enhancing teaching and learning with technology.
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Home Energy Efficiency | Wellhome.com
infographic mentions calories as well as watts and speed measurements. Well Home's infographic could be printed and displayed in health, physical education, and or mathematics classes.
Well Home's Energy in Sports infographic reminded me of another resource for that contains mathematics and science lessons in the context of sports. ESPN's series Sports Science looks at the mathematics and science involved in various athletic feats. Embedded below is an episode about the bicycle kick in soccer.
Applications for Education
I'm always looking for "hooks" that will get students interested in the lessons I teach. If I was a mathematics teacher or science teacher I might look for some episodes of Sports Science to hook students into a lesson. -
NOOKstudy Download Free, Digital Textbooks, eTextbook Application - Barnes & Noble
Nook Study is now available for free as a free download for Mac and Windows. Nook Study gives students access to more than 500,000 free ebooks. Students can also purchase and download other titles.
Nook Study provides more than just ebooks for students. Nook Study provides students with the ability to sort titles according to the courses they're taking. Students can use Nook Study to highlight and annotate ebooks. Nook Study also provides a search function that enables students to highlight a word then in one click search for it on Google, Wolfram Alpha, Wikipedia, and other online reference tools.
Applications for Education
Nook Study seems to have been designed for college students, but high school students could use it as well. Nook Study's highlighting and annotating function could be very helpful for students when they're gathering research. -
one of Google's lesser-known tools. Google Scholar is a search engine designed to search scholarly journals, Supreme Court records, and patent records. In some cases the results will link to abstracts of books and articles that you will then have to obtain from a library or book retailer. In other cases results will link to fully viewable documents.
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Wolfram|Alpha—Computational Knowledge Engine
billed as a computational search engine and this is exactly what it does. If students have any questions involving numbers, Wolfram Alpha is the place to go. Wolfram Alpha can be used for other searches, but it's not nearly as useful for general inquiries as it is for computational questions.
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the kid friendly, kid safe version of the popular search engine Ask.com. Ask Kids is divided into five categories of which one is a general search option. The five categories are School House, movies, games, images, and video. The School House category provides students with suggested topics and links to resources for those topics. The School House also serves as a general search tool. In the other search categories Ask Kids makes suggestions for search refinement. A great aspect of the search results that Ask Kids provides is the option to refine searches based on a student's age.
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Famhoo Search Engine - Weather, News, BP Oil Spill Video
another option for kid friendly searches. Famhoo draws on the collective results of the major search mainstream search engines like Google, AOL, and Yahoo. Famhoo simply provides a stricter family filter than the filters available on mainstream search engines.
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RefSeek - Academic Search Engine
a search engine designed for academic use. Ref Seek seems to eliminate the advertising and paid links found on Google, Ask, Yahoo, and other commercial search engines. Ref Seek's intention is to serve only search results that are academic in nature. The difference between Ref Seek and a generic Google search lies lower than the top results in search returns. As you compare search results between Ref Seek and Google you will find that the second and third pages of search results on Ref Seek contain results that seem to be more "academic" than what is found on the second and third pages of a generic Google search.
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KidRex - Kid Safe Search Engine
a new kid-safe search engine powered by Google custom search. KidRex uses a combination of Google's safe search mode and their own database of filtered keywords, phrases, and websites. In the event that a questionable website does get past the filters, KidRex has a site removal request form
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a search engine that searches only the sites that have been reviewed and approved by a team of librarians, teachers, and research experts. In all there are 35,000 websites that have been reviewed and approved by Sweet Search. In addition to the general search engine, Sweet Search offers five niche search engines. The niche search engines are for Social Studies, Biographies, SweetSites (organized by grade and subject area), School Librarians, and Sweet Search 4 Me (for elementary school students).
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The Innovative Educator: 5 Ways to Build Your 1.0 and 2.0 Personal Learning Network
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ISTE 2010 - Challenging The Gifted Student Using Google Apps and Web 2.0
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» Backchanneling In Grade 1 A Grade 1 Blog For The 21st Century
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Langwitches Blog » Backchanneling with Elementary School Students
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YouTube - Bloom's Taxonomy According to Pirates of the Caribbean
Ed tech guru Steven Anderson shared the following video this morning on his Facebook page. The video is a humorous mash-up of scenes from Pirates of the Caribbean that demonstrate the levels of Bloom's Taxonomy.
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Vanilla - Free, Open-Source Forum Software
free, open source software that anyone can use to host an online message board community. As you might imagine message boards powered by Vanilla allow your users to create member profiles, give you administrative control, and the ability to create sub-forums. Vanilla Forums software can be downloaded and installed on your own server(s) or you can use one of the hosting packages offered by Vanilla. The hosting packages range in price from free to $199.
Applications for Education
Since Ning went to a fee-based model, many people have been looking for alternatives. If you have someone in your school that can install Vanilla Forums on a server, Vanilla could be a good way to build a school message board. You could also explore the free hosting package offered by Vanilla to see if that suits your needs.
Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.
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