Has your classroom turned into a 1:1 Chromebook Classroom and you are unsure of how to utilize these devices each day? Come learn about some meaningful ways to integrate these devices into your elementary classroom!
We're mixing pen and paper with digital in our blended classrooms, and everything's going great. At first (for me) it was just about throwing in some digital
So you got the technology teaching job, now what? Whether you're coming from the general ed classroom or you're a brand new teacher,
Looking for a free comprehensive K-12 technology curriculum, scope & sequence, or framework? Tasked with creating your school or district technology & computer science curriculum guide? This round up includes a clickable list of various curriculum frameworks, lessons, checklists, etc. for for integrating technology into the classroom. Technology Curriculum Guides Many Teach With Tech Facebook Group discussions and questions revolve around tech curriculum. What curriculum are you using? What standards are you following? Do you have a scope & sequence of tech skills? What lessons are you doing with which grade levels and when? Because many educators have been tasked
My Favorite Creation Apps for the Elementary Classroom
Transforming an ordinary classroom into an inspiring and engaging learning environment can significantly impact students' motivation and enthusiasm for ...
This Elementary Technology Curriculum includes over 200 lessons and activities for grades K-5 that will save you so much time coming up with what to do in the computer lab. It is ideal for a technology teacher, media specialist, tech facilitator, or grade level teachers with mandatory lab time. All of the work is done for you! This is for you if: You want students who can log in, access any programs, type efficiently, and use technology to learn. You want students who are confident in using the technology required for standardized testing. You have limited time– in one 45 minute session per week, your students can develop technology literacy while completing engaging projects. You need it to be effortless for YOU and fun for your students. My name is Brittany Washburn and I’m an educator obsessed with ed tech. This curriculum was created over 3 school years when I had nothing for materials for my technology specials. I was spending my nights and weekends scouring Pinterest and Google for ideas because I knew my students deserved engaging lessons even if I had to do everything from scratch. I found myself exhausted and frustrated and just knew there had to be an easier way. That is when I discovered the magic of having my own class website and screencasting my instructions. I created a modified-flipped-classroom before I even knew that was a thing. Students were working at their own pace and they stopped asking me to repeat instructions. I felt like I had struck gold! I tested and perfected the activities with them and now I’ve made them available to you!
Looking for a free comprehensive K-12 technology curriculum, scope & sequence, or framework? Tasked with creating your school or district technology & computer science curriculum guide? This round up includes a clickable list of various curriculum frameworks, lessons, checklists, etc. for for integrating technology into the classroom. Technology Curriculum Guides Many Teach With Tech Facebook Group discussions and questions revolve around tech curriculum. What curriculum are you using? What standards are you following? Do you have a scope & sequence of tech skills? What lessons are you doing with which grade levels and when? Because many educators have been tasked
Inspired by the endearing story of Strictly No Elephants, here is a fun STEM Challenge for kids.
Decide how you want to organize the apps on your iPads and use the same organization system on every iPad. This eliminates instruction time wasted searching for apps. I decided to create folders for each subject area. Any apps that should only be used by the teacher can be filed separately in a folder with your name as the title. This “teacher folder” is where I store apps like Settings, iTunes, AppStore, etc.
Introduction to Schoology: A learning management system allows you to run a virtual classroom while managing administrative tasks such as taking attendance, inputting, and recording grades. Choosing a learning management system is tough. In the past, I started out using Edmodo. It was ahead of current tech trends and allowed a constant relationship ... Read more
Are you setting up Google Classroom for a new school year with new students? Then avoid these 5 mistakes! Discover and learn what mistakes to avoid.
This is a list of my Google digital activities that can be used in the elementary classroom. Disperse to your students via Google Classroom, Google Drive Shared Folder, your Learning Platform, etc..
Looking for some tips for flexible seating? I sure was when I started implementing it a few years ago. I couldn't find any quick lists, so after using it for
Engage students with STEAM Learning through art and music! TinkRworks' Tech-A-Sketch and TinkRsynth bring creativity to hands-on learning.
More and more teachers are hopping on the "paperless classroom train" and it's no surprise that they are seeing amazing success. Their students are more
Ozobots can be so much fun, but sometimes give you multiple problems. Here are some of the troubleshooting tricks I have discovered along the years of using Ozobots. I first purchased Ozobots for my classroom in 2015!! What really drew me in, was that that they do not need a computer or iPad to be ... Read more
Elementary School Broadcast includes 34 slides with scripts and graphics to assist you in creating a daily student broadcast for your school news. Some slides may be edited to fit your school broadcast needs. Included are steps to follow, job descriptions, equipment needed, a student application, sample scripts, sample slide graphics, and segment ideas. System requirements: a closed circuit system for broadcasting on televisions throughout your school. Have fun with your student news!
Come learn about my FAVORITE technology tools for digital communication and collaboration with elementary students. Use these tools with Chromebooks, laptops, computers and some can even be used with iPads. Global learning is making its way into the classroom and we need to make sure our students are prepared so they can make the most of these authentic learning experiences!
Classroom review is a lot more fun with the Four Corners game! I love using this strategy for test prep, icebreakers, and more.
Affordable Tech Accessories Teachers LOVE
Setting up your technology classroom is a breeze with these 5 tips to get you started. From decor to space planning I've got you covered.
Use this retro technology digital escape room to have fun with your students during the first few weeks of school.
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14 Brilliant Ways to Quiet a Noisy Class! Check out these behavior management strategies for classroom management!
Do your students need lessons about online safety and digital citizenship? We created these lessons to help our students stay safe online.
Freedom Homeschooling lists free high-quality homeschool technology and computer skills curriculum for all grades.
Choose from 58 fun STEAM art projects and activities for kids to explore art while learning science, technology, engineering, and math, too!
5 Easy Back to School Technology Projects for computers, laptops and/or Chromebooks
I've been a virtual teacher for the last 3 years. During the school year, I teach 3rd grade for students in a virtual school in my home state of Florida. On weekends and during the summer, I teach ESL children in China with VIPKID. Virtual teaching definitely has it's perks! No commute, no "classroom" with ALL the things, some flexibility, to name a few. (Don't get me wrong- my teaching job during the year is just as much work as when I taught in brick and mortar school, just in a very different way.) Here are 8 essentials I feel you need when teaching virtually in any setting: 1. Headphones & Microphone This is essential for virtual teaching! I use MPOW Headphones that have a built in microphone. When I teach with VIPKID I always use my headphones because they help cancel out extraneous noise that my happen since my own two kids are home during that time. During the year, I use these about half the time I'm teaching and my webcam with the built in mic the other half. I feel when I wear my headphones I am a little more focused on the lesson and teaching. Plus, I am doing a lot of typing for whatever reason during a lesson, I like that these cancel that typing noise that is definitely there. When I am typing and just using my webcam mic you can always hear that "click, click, click" which I think is distracting for students. 2. Webcam I teach most of the day from 8:30-2:30 with my 3rd graders, so a good webcam is essential! This is also super important with VIPKID as well. I love this inexpensive Logi webcam because it has a build in microphone that works really well and my laptop does not have a reliable mic. If I am using my headphones I do usually use my built in webcam in my laptop, but I will have this hooked up as a second camera to show books, model actual writing, etc. during lessons. 3. Portable Dry Erase Board I actually have about 2 or 3 handheld dry erase boards that I use every single day! Sometimes you just need to show something on camera and you want to be able to write it down- and not use a mouse on the computer screen. I use mine to work out math problems, write important words, draw something we are discussing, display rewards, and the list just goes on. It's a serious must have! I have one that is 11x14 and one that a bit smaller and is magnetic. The magnetic one is more useful for VIPKID to display rewards I use. Here is a similar version to the one I currently own. 4. Laptop stand I use this adjustable stand every single day. There are a few benefits to using a laptop stand that I've figured out this year. First, it keeps your laptop able to ventilate and stay cool when you use it all day. Second, it props up your camera to keep it at a more flattering angle when you are on camera. Lastly, it makes typing so much better since your hands are more ergonomically correct. This stand I use is sturdy and doesn't wobble at all. It's also super easy to move if you feel like teaching in a different place, plus it's completely assembled when you get it! 5. Good Lighting It goes without saying that if you are going to be on camera, you need some good lighting! I don't use anything professional. I actually use a desk lamp that I got from Costco that has a fan built in it too. What I like about this lamp is that it allows you to choose the kind of light you want (warm, bright, natural), so you can pick what is best for you and the time of day. Just make sure you put the lamp IN FRONT of your face, so that the light shines on your face. A lamp next to you or behind you on the desk isn't going to help for video. Some people also get small selfie lights that they can hook to their computers. Also, lipstick goes a looonnnggg way in making you look alive on video! I don't worry so much about make-up with my everyday classes. But, when teaching my VIPKID classes I always put on a bright pink lipstick that I would NEVER wear in real life. But, on camera, it looks fantastic! 6. Fun student rewards In my 3rd grade class, I use digital rewards as well as rewards that I mail my students. I regularly use Class Dojo to reward my students for participation and hard work. I also find small things that I can send in the mail like stickers, erasers, sticky hands, slime, etc. I get some of these things from Oriental Trading. I love the sticker scenes especially, like in the photo below. Other stuff I find in Target dollar spot and random places. I also make simple reward cards using my Bitmoji to send along with the little treat. My students love getting these in the mail! 7. Mouse Pad with wrist support (plus a wireless mouse) So, when I first started virtual teaching all day, I actually started getting pain in arm from using the mouse so much. After googling my symptoms I diagnosed myself with "mouse elbow". (Google it- it's real!) I realized I needed some more wrist support with a mouse pad that had that gel wrist support pad attached and the laptop stand for my keyboard. Made a huge difference and now I am pain free! 8. A 2nd computer monitor Last, but not least, if you can swing it, a second monitor is a huge help in virtual teaching! It allows you to easily multitask while teaching. So, you can have the virtual classroom/camera on one computer and use the other monitor to pull up videos, websites, etc. that you need during class. I have an Acer monitor that is great. Check out my "classroom" set up from my first home office below! *All product links are Amazon affiliate links and I may earn a small commission if you use my link when purchasing products.
Learn how Project Pals make it easier for educators to find PBL projects that are just right for their classrooms. Upgrade project-based learning with this powerful platform.
Every year in my first year classes (12 year olds) I touch on the principles of perspective, at least in its one point form. We do a little art history, take a look at Masaccio and Mantegna. We mak…
These lessons are included in our Agriculture Elementary Unit. Explore dairy farms in this in-depth, engaging nature study by Jacqueline Marr of Books and Willows. This study includes four modules: Module 1: Meet the Dairy Cows Learn how grass turns into milk! Explore the digestive system of ruminants. Color and label a diagram. Be introduced to popular dairy cow breeds then create a mixed-media art piece to celebrate your favorite. Conduct a rumen fermentation experiment to explore how cows produce methane and carbon dioxide. Extend your learning by researching the role of cow burbs and climate change! Module 2: Life on the Farm Learn about the different structures inside dairy barns then consider what you've discovered and design your own! Explore milking technologies. Follow a day in the life of a dairy cow. Try 'milking a cow' in our at-home demonstration. Module 3: From Farm to Market Explore how milk is transported to and processed at the dairy processing plant. We'll learn about pasteurization, centrifugal separation, and homogenization. Observe centrifugal force at work in our spinning art tutorial! Review the history of milk packaging and create a timeline. Compare the advantages and disadvantages of each type. Module 4: On Your Plate Explore the benefits of dairy milk and learn how to read a nutrition label. Discover the process for making cheese and yogurt then make your own cheese at home! Host a cheese tasting to find your favorite variety. Discover the science of milk fat in the classic magic milk experiment. Compare the nutritional value of dairy and non-dairy kinds of milk. This study may be completed over the course of one month with one module per week, or more quickly or slowly depending on personal preference. This is a digital download and files will be delivered via email upon purchase. Enjoy your adventure!
Newcomer students receive some support from an ELD (English Language Development) teacher in most elementary schools. The majority of their time is spent in their grade level classroom. Here are some strategies for supporting a newcomer student both in their grade level classroom and areas to focus on during targeted language development lessons. Create a
A whole month of daily low-prep STEAM activities for kids. You are going to love all of the low-prep STEAM activities that we have in store!
Using AI for back to school isn't as scary as it sounds. With the right prompts, you can use AI tools to save tons of time and effort for back to school!
Give your students a taste of adventure with over 20 free digital escape rooms to try at home or at school. Doing distance learning? These are perfect!
Technology came front and center this past spring as teachers everywhere suddenly turned into remote learning specialists managing the ups and downs of all things digital. While eLearning did have a learning curve, the sudden thrust does have many teachers bringing their digital distance teaching knowledge back into the classroom… whenever that will be. ... Read more
Safe websites for research projects! This list of kid-friendly search
Listen to this Special Ed Podcast with 15 great ideas for Functional Centers for students with Intellectual Disabilities and Autism in High School. Read more and subscribe today!
