Table Top Twitter Tweets

Get interaction and reactions from your students using this activity. Start conversations around classroom topics using Table Top Twitter Tweets. Generate thought provoking questions. Scaffold the questions using Bloom's Taxonomy to add rigor to this highly engaging activity. Post the question on chart paper. All learners participate in the activity and interact with each other . .  synchronously and they to voice their thoughts. Here's more information on using actual Twitter accounts for engaging learners.

The Frayer Model - Teaching Vocabulary

The Frayer Model is a learning strategy that uses a graphic organizer to support student understanding of new words. The model was designed by Dorothy Frayer and her colleagues at the University of Wisconsin to provide for a thorough understanding of content vocabulary. Students are asked to provide a Definition of the word, Facts or Characteristics of the word, Examples, and Nonexamples. Using this graphic organizer will lead students to a deeper understanding of a word and its relationship to their own lives. This model aligns nicely with the PicCollage iPad app for a great technology integration opportunity.  Resources: The Frayer Model Map - printable PDF Frayer Model Examples - steps for implementation and example organizers Google Docs Meets Frayer Model - support for implementation

Data, Data, And More . . . Data!

Most teachers find data collection to be a challenging task.  Each child is different.  Every I.E.P is uniquely written. The process can be time-consuming and tedious.  It is essential to collect data on student progress toward goals in order to provide feedback, evaluate a student's program, and protect schools from due process. Data sheets, binders, and folders can be great "tried and true" solutions, but have you considered taking your data collection to the digital level?

Check out some of these Apps that might help you work smarter rather than harder.

Tally Counter  (FREE)










 Super Duper Data Tracker  ($1.99)

Running Record Calculator ($3.99)

Be A Savvy Skyper

Have you ever wanted to chat online with an author or with someone living in a certain part of the world? Well, now you can! Webcams have come to your computer labs and are now available for check out. Here’s how to get started:

1. Schedule a time with your district's Technology Trainer.
2. Check out a webcam or make sure you have one on your computer.
3. Visit education.skype.com .
4. Make arrangements with a Skype friend.
5. Begin Skyping.

Ideas for Skyping:
Interview an Author
Visit a Veteran
Culture Chats
Holidays Around the World
Global Geography

Visit Skype Education to learn more!

Getting to Know the iPad: A 4th Grade Scavenger Hunt

These 4th grades had so much fun learning how to use the iPad to obtain information.  It was all part of a consumption and creation activity. 

Materials:

iPad (1 per student)

Scavenger Hunt Worksheet

Pencil

The instructions are simple.  Distribute one iPad and one Worksheet to each student.  Instruct them to use the iPad Apps and Safari Browser to locate the answers to each item on the Worksheet and record their response. The first 5 to complete the activity wins a small prize (Smencil, notepad, or colored ink pen).

Additional Resources:

iPads in the 4th Grade Classroom
41 Apps for the 4th Grade Teacher
Palos School District 4th Grade Projects

Back to School Ideas: Get to Know Me

It's the beginning of a new school year and teachers will be meeting parents.  What better way for the parents to get to know their child's classmates than with this "Get to Know Me" activity.

Materials:
8 x 12 Brown Construction Paper
6x10 Black Construction Paper
White crayons
Xeroxed copy of hands
Student drawn face

Pre-writing . . VERY important!
Have students generate an attribute list of themselves.  What are they like as a person?  What is important to them?  How would their friends and family describe them?  Once the list is generated, students should begin a draft of their writing.  Peer edit or teacher edit the writing to prepare it for final publication.  When ready, have students recopy their description onto the black construction paper. Assemble the project . . wallah!!  

You now have an interesting display for parents and kids alike.

Other Back to School Ideas:
Top 5 Ideas for Parents
Teaching Heart - Parent Night and Open House Ideas
Pinterest - Open House Ideas

Cool Things for a Hot Summer

LCSC Tech Help Page Tutorials - http://help.lcsc.us/index.php

Blog: Interactive Learning Sites - http://interactivesites.weebly.com/index.html

Blog: Kleinspiration - http://www.kleinspiration.com/

Blog: A Place to Share - http://love2learnandshare.blogspot.com/

Blog: Mrs. Schmidt's Class - http://mrstinaschmidt.edublogs.org/

Smart Notebook 11 - http://qzabteachers.wikispaces.com/SmartBoard

Teachers Love SmartBoards - http://teacherslovesmartboards.com/

eLearning for Kids -  http://www.e-learningforkids.org/index.html

Super Teacher Tools - http://www.superteachertools.com/