Technology in the classroom constantly changes and so are the classroom tech tools that we use every day with our students.
Phonics Task Cards Download Math Centers Download Reading Warm-Ups Download Brain Breaks Download Early Finisher Board Download Growth Mindset Download
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
One thing is for certain, the more you learn about OneNote, the easier it becomes to teach.
Classroom toilet pass display. Great way to understand who is in or out of the classroom. Have pupils place this pass on their desk to indicate they are at the toilet and replace when they are back.
A lesson plan! A lesson plan! My kingdom for a lesson plan!
Looking to develop your Canva confidence so you can create beautiful handouts, flashcards, and models for your ELA classroom? Great! Find help in this post.
Need a way to engage your students and motivate them to learn. Use try using games to woo them into learning by incorporating technology in the classroom.
Vocabulary and exercises - ESL worksheets
Academic Ways to Use the MaKey-MaKey in the Elementary Classroom: Fun ways to advance coding in the classroom!
Check out this list of over 85 Apps that Integrate with Google Classroom! Did you know that Google Classroom plays well with others? Yep! Google is known for making their applications open to working with third-party applications, and Google Classroom is no exception.
Green Screen technology (or Chroma Key as it is known in more “techy” circles), used to be so complicated! I first tried the available technology with my fourth grade students about 20+ years ago. This post contains affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no cost to you. I remember setting up green bulletin board
I'm building a blended learning math curriculum that includes paper/pencil practice, videos, projects, problems, games, and other online venues. I'm hosting the curriculum on a Google site. It is and will continue to be a work in progress; hence the process is critical. The process I am currently using to utilize this curriculum to best meet students' needs is the following: With an eye on the standards and students' knowledge, interests, and needs, I will revisit the curriculum unit by unit. At the start of each unit, I will review and revise the unit plans to best meet students' interests, needs, and knowledge as well as current teaching goals, standards, and available tools. I will add/delete unit materials as I teach the unit with the focus on keeping a coherent, multi-modal guide for learning in mind. I will publish and share the unit with colleagues near and far, family members and students. So, unit-by-unit I'll transfer almost all of my curriculum materials and information to Google sites which will serve as the host platform for my teaching program. I will utilize the texts, guidelines, and other materials set forth by the school system and State, and I will add timely tech venues and other learning activities to the units. Basically the process is one that teachers have enacted year after year. However, now with the wonderful tech venues we have available that process becomes much more transparent and multi-modal with 24-7 access for the entire learning team: colleagues near and far, family members and most of all, students. Is this the process you use to reflect, revise, and renew curriculum with a focus on student learning? Am I missing any steps? Establishing a pattern of reflection, revision and renewal helps to keep curriculum timely, responsive and engaging, don't you agree?
There are so many fun and engaging apps you can use in the classroom to enhance your students’ learning! The only downside to having so many tools available
What questions should you ask before co-teaching with content teachers? Ones that inform collaborative teaching and bring language into focus.
Apps for the Art Classroom. I’ve been teaching with iPads for a number of years now & I thought I’d share what Apps I’ve been using & found success with.
Check out this list of over 85 Apps that Integrate with Google Classroom! Did you know that Google Classroom plays well with others? Yep! Google is known for making their applications open to working with third-party applications, and Google Classroom is no exception.
5 Creative Uses for QR Codes in the Elementary Classroom
Check out this Google Classroom tutorial that includes 10 tips to help you make the most of this online teaching platform!
Learn why you should be using Google Classroom elementary assignments. You'll get some Google Classroom ideas you can use all year at home or school!
'Smartphone, smartphone aan een stick, wie heeft de mooiste profile pic?' Dit zijn 27 cartoons die overdadig smartphonegebruik aan de kaak stellen.
We live in a digital world... technology is all around us! Our kiddos with disabilities should have the same opportunity to learn to use technology as students who are "typically developing." As special education teachers, it can be difficult to find ways that our kiddos can access technology. I've always loved switch activated cause and effect toys and games, but switch toys are expensive and my kids get bored of them after a few weeks of playing with them. When it comes to technology, I often prefer using a computer over an iPad because the computer screen is larger and I have many kiddos with vision impairments. So I've been on the hunt lately for FREE websites that my students can use with switches for simple games and cause and effect activities. First, before you even think of attaching a switch to your computer, you will need a switch interface. My district will loan out switch interfaces, but it's a NIGHTMARE to check stuff out and turn it back in, so I bought my own interface. I bought this X-keys interface for $53 and it works like magic! Better Living Through Technology has a great post explaining switch interfaces and what you'll need to get started using a switch with your computer. After you have the interface, you'll have to download the software and get it all hooked up (whatever interface you buy should explain this process). Shinylearning is amazing! The website is made specifically for kiddos with disabilities who use assistive tech (specifically switches and touch screen). The website has simple cause and effect games and also simple single switch games and the website words on computers and tablets. The website has some free games but you can purchase a subscription to get access to more games. SpecialBites is also awesome! The website has a variety of free switch games/ software that you can download to your computer and also free online games that don't require any download. The website also has a variety of levels of games (some are simply single switch cause and effect, some require timing, and some require multiple switches!). We love the free online games- just go to the website and click "free online games" on the left tabs and then you have a ton of options like sports games, angry pigs, sensory games and so much more! Our favorites are the soccer games, all of the easy fireworks sensory games, and angry pigs. Although FisherPrice is geared towards infants, toddlers and preschool age students, some of their free online games are perfect for switch toys and are really motivating to my kiddos. From the link, you can click on "online games" and then pick an age range and explore. Two games that work great with switches and that my kids LOVE are the Laugh & Learn Peek-a-Boo Game and the Rainforest Peek-a-Boo Game. They're perfect for single switches/ cause and effect! If you know other websites that are great for switch toys, PLEASE share them in the comments! I would love more ideas and I know others reading this would too!
As plans are rolling out for how school is going to look this fall, teachers are busy getting ready for a whole new look to their classrooms. Courtesy of
Our Physics Posters - Set of 12 is a great educational resource that will help you create relevant and engaging Science classrooms.
Learn how you can get started with using green screen technology in your classroom. Lots of low budget options, apps, and software are shared!
I am a technology junky! At any given time you will find a collection of iPads, laptops, iPhones, smart T.V.s, e-readers, you name it. If you haven't read Goodnight iPad by Ann Droyd, you really should. This may very well have taken place in my house. ;) If you aren't sold on the importance of integrating technology in the classroom or have doubts, this video is an absolute MUST!! This video is one of the most powerful videos that I have watched lately. This year I was fortunate to receive Chromebooks for all of my students. Receiving these Chromebooks and feeling the pressure (mostly self-induced) to use them often and effectively was, and still is, overwhelming. To keep my sanity in check, I decided to start small. By starting small, I saved my sanity and also my students'. Whether you have one, two, three or many technology devices available for your students, start small!! To get you started or to simply get your creative technology juices flowing, I have a list of 10 simple ways to integrate technology into the classroom, and they are all free. These tools and resources are great for the classroom that is 1:1 with technology, or the classroom that has only one iPad or tablet. Do you only have one device? Create a center that focuses on the use of technology. 1. Listen/Watch digital stories. There are many free websites available where students can go, choose a book, and listen to the story. Zing and Storyonline are a perfect start! 2. Have students begin with a little research. Provide them with a topic and have them gather 3-5 facts. Here, on Upper Elementary Snapshots, we have a list of child-safe search engines that you can find HERE. 3. Create a Google form for students to choose their lunch choice for the day. 4. Practice math skills on IXL. IXL is a paid subscription, but students can practice for free until they have reached the daily problem limit. 5. Create a Kahoot to review for an upcoming test. They are a hoot and students LOVE them! 6. Have students visit Wonderopolis, read the wonder of the day, and reflect in their writing journal. 7. Create a classroom blog using Google's free Blogger. Post an open-ended reading question for students to comment. 8. For Social Studies, use KidsGeo.com to practice their geography skills. 9. If you are familiar with QR codes, create a question of the day and require students to check their answer by scanning the code. 10. Can students ever get enough practice with basic math facts?!?! XtraMath is a perfect free solution! Remember to start slow! Focus on one area of your choice. Allow students to become comfortable with using the tool and allow yourself to become comfortable implementing it. Once you and your students are comfortable, think about adding a new focus. Taking baby steps with ultimately lead to success! Teaching With Simplicity Pinterest Facebook Instagram Teachers Pay Teachers
My Favorite Creation Apps for the Elementary Classroom
Gamification is the process of making learning into a game. It is made up of a number elements: Giving online badges to students. Setting goals and competitions. Giving instant feedback. Creating …
Wondering how to organize Google Classroom? This post will give you the most common organizational strategies for the Classwork page and topics.
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!
Tutorial on how to effectively use Classdojo in your elementary classroom
Smart school computer lab management tips for technology teachers and classroom teachers that spend time in their school computer lab.
