Weekly Tech-y News September 20th-24th

 

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Take Time to Check Out Happy Numbers!

I would like to share with you one of my favorite tools for teaching math in K-2, Happy Numbers. This is fantastic website is a "teaching assistant" for math differentiation.  Its curriculum is aligned with Common Core standards, and if you purchase an account for your class, you can assign specific tasks for individual or groups of students, and track their progress with detailed reports.  Click below to visit their site and explore.

However, if you are only in the market for FREE resources, it's also wonderful!

ClassDojo Groups

Click the image to read more about the new groups feature on ClassDojo.  This feature has great potential in quickly awarding points to collaborative groups of students (centers, table groups, etc).  I love this idea - one click points awarding, rather than having to search and award each individual student in the group.  If you have other questions about how to use ClassDojo, they have a wonderful blog as well as Teacher Help Desk with tutorials.  You can also follow them on Twitter @ClassDojo for lots of great tips on how other teachers are using this tool in their classrooms.  Something I love about ClassDojo is that it's a tool that everyone can customize and use depending on how it best fits his/her classroom.

Top Ten Tech Tips for Teachers

One of my favorite resources for tech integration is Kasey Bell and her Shake Up Learning Blog. She has awesome tips and infographics.  I really love this one - it touches on the basics of beginning to integrate technology into your classroom.  Click the image to visit her site.  She is also great to follow on Twitter as you build your PLN!

Colgate Bright Smiles, Bright Futures

We are talking about dental health this week. Check out this great website from Colgate for some fun games for kids and parent tips to promote dental hygiene!

Awesome website

If anyone is interested, I found this really fun website! You can make a video from Santa for your son or daughter, and it is free! It is really cool.

Portable North Pole

National Geographic Kids Videos

The kindergartners have enjoyed watching some cool videos of bats and spiders at the National Geographic Kids website. Check it out here: National Geographic Kids Videos.

Pumpkin Activity Pages

Check out these links from Bry-Back Manor for some fun pumpkin-themed skills practice:

Make a Pumpkin Pattern
The Pumpkin Patch Game
Which Gourd is Different?
Pumpkin Concentration

Free Book from Borders!

Borders double dog dares your child to read 10 books this summer. If she does, she'll get a FREE book from Borders! Go to the Double Dog Dare page of Borders' website to download the form. Happy reading!

Insect Lore

Fun insect activities, as well as facts and information (such as how to order your own caterpillars!) can be found online at the Insect Lore website. Enjoy!

National Geographic Animal Videos

We learned some interesting facts about ZooMontana animals at the National Geographic Kids site today. Some of the kindergartners asked me to share this site with you, so they can check it out at home. Click here to go to the site.

ZooMontana Kids Page

There are some fun animal-related games and activities featured on ZooMontana's Kids Page. Click here for the page, or find the link in the Favorite Links section of this blog.

Enjoy!

Mo Willems

This week as we talk about "things that go", we will read one of my favorite stories, Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! by Mo Willems. The students LOVE this story. Visit the Pigeon Presents website for fun activities involving the penguin and other Mo Willems characters.

NASA Kids' Club

For the next two weeks, Mrs. Piltz' kindergartners will be learning about space. This is one of the kindergartners' favorite things to learn about! We will be working with our 3rd grade buddies to play some of the fun and educational games on the NASA Kids' Club website ... you might also want to play at home with your child.