Come grab this free resource that is a collection of my favorite virtual math manipulatives!

Need the virtual learning-friendly version? CLICK HERE.When it comes to fiction texts, the setting often has everything to do with the plot! This graphic organizer will help your students deeply analyze and record HOW the setting (time, place, and culture) affects the major events the main character...

This THEME Clip Art set includes: - 41 quality images - Images in both COLOR and BLACK & WHITE CHECK OUT even more FUN Clip Art {HERE}! These images are PERFECT FOR: - Creating Digital Learning Resources - Creating custom Reading Worksheets - Creating custom Reading Anchor Charts - Creating custom Reading Study Guides - Creating quizzes, tests, study cards, ETC! TOU: You may use my clip art for commercial or personal use. Please give credit by linking back to my store, Lindsay Flood, on TpT. You may not alter my images in any way. You may not re-sell images as your own or as a file on TpT. (c) 2020, Lindsay Flood Digital Learning, Virtual Classroom, Online Learning

With one simple Chrome Extension, you can easily turn any website into an interactive virtual lesson- in minutes! It is like a miracle, and I am hooked.

Through virtual field trips, your children can visit other states, countries across the globe, and even other planets.

Using Google Slides and Seesaw activities for preschool, pre-k, kindergarten and 1st grade is a great way to integrate technology into education. Not to mention it's perfect when you don't want to or CAN'T print a bunch of papers. Google Slides activities and Seesaw activities are easy to send to your students and you can

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.

Digital lessons made simple and effective. Learn how to use Padlet to teach a digital lesson with student interaction and feedback.

The traditional classroom games that teachers are used to playing in class may not be possible while teaching online in a virtual classroom. So, we have put together a list of virtual classroom games and activities to help you out.

When teaching about places outside our hometowns, many of us dream of being able to show our students these locations in real life. Cost, travel time and the work it would take to plan a field trip to China, for example, are completely out of the question...unless you're ready to use the magic of the internet! I'm about to show you how to make virtual field trips for your students that will enhance your curriculum and amaze your students. Google Earth is a free program you can download here. Each device your students use needs to have the program downloaded to it. Google Earth has a wide variety of layers that enable you to access pictures, information about earthquakes, NASA and much more. My favorite option is 360Cities and I'm excited to show you how you can use it in your classroom! 360Cities is a feature that has 360 degree photographs that put you and your students right into the action. Students can turn the photographs in all directions and truly explore the wide world outside their classroom right from their own computer screens! Ok. Roll up your sleeves and let's start creating your first virtual field trip! P.S. There's directions for the less tech-savvy teacher at the bottom. This is an activity that any teacher can do! I'm going to jump in and assume that you've already downloaded the program. Once you're set up and ready to go, look on the left hand side of the screen and find the "Layers" window. Go to the "Gallery" option and make sure that 360Cities is selected. I usually deselect all the other options because I like a nice clean interface. On that note, I also deselect the "Global Awareness" layer and the "More" layer so that I can focus on finding the 360Cities locations. Feel free to explore these sections, though, and click on various layers to see what you can find! Identify the locations you would like to have your students visit. I've chosen famous landmarks because I want to introduce my students to the process of using Google Earth during our first couple weeks of school in a really engaging way. Then make a list of the specific locations you want your students to visit. Here's my list: 1. The Great Wall of China 2. Pyramids of Giza 3. Mount Rushmore 4. Taj Mahal 5. Machu Picchu Right click in the "Places" window on the left side of your screen. Click "Add" and "Folder". Name your folder ______ Virtual Field Trip. Now it's time to find the first location on your list. In the search bar at the top left of your screen, type in your first location. Click "search". Google Earth will automatically take you to your destination. Next, scout around for a good 360Cities icon. I usually find them in most of the places I have on my lists. Once in a while I strike out. In that case, I have to adapt and find a new location! :) In this case, though, I found the perfect option at the Great Wall of China. There's nothing inappropriate in the picture and it has great image quality! (Please note: I've never found anything inappropriate in any of the 360 images, however I never leave anything to chance. I always preview the pictures before I send my students to any locations around the globe.) Back on the map, click the "Add Placemark" option and a pin will be added to the map. Drag and drop it onto the 360Cities icon and give it a name. Finally, make sure your new pin is inside your Virtual Field Trip folder. Simply drag the destination onto the Virtual Field Trip folder so that it falls underneath as a subfolder. You did it! Now repeat the process to add other destinations to your virtual field trip. Once you have your folder filled with all your destinations, it's time to export the file and put it somewhere all your students can access it. Right click on your virtual field trip folder in the "Places" window and click the option "Save Place As...". Save the .kmz file into a folder on your computer. Our last task is to make the virtual field trip easy for our students to access. There are a few ways you can accomplish this task: 1. Post the .kmz file to your class website 2. Share it through a school-based program like Google Classroom or One Drive. 3. Save it to a flash drive (This works if you're only using one or two other computers in your classroom for stations or centers. It's not advised if each of your students have their own computer! The task would be quite time consuming.) Students will need to save the file onto their computers to use it in Google Earth. Then all they have to do is go to Google Earth, click "File" and "Open", find the file and voila! They are off on a fun and educational adventure. If the directions above make you a little nervous, there's another option just for you! :) You'll still need to locate particular locations on Google Earth as well as relevant 360Cities locations. Instead of dropping a pin, however, you'll hover over the 360Cities icon and find the latitude and longitude of the icon. The coordinates you'll need are located at the bottom of your screen. Write down the coordinates exactly as you'd like your students to type them into the search bar to get to their location. In this case, the coordinates should be typed: 40 25 57.96 N, 116 33 48.63 E You can post your list of coordinates on the board or on a piece of paper for student reference. Students will type the coordinates exactly as you have written them. You're all set! I would LOVE to hear how you plan to use Google Earth in your own classroom as I'm always on the lookout for new ideas to bring to my own students. Leave a comment below to share your ideas! :)

For virtual learning this is a great resource to send to students after introducing James Rizzi's Silly Buildings to students. Students can look off of this idea sheet for inspiration on what eyes, noses, and mouths they want to draw on their Rizzi inspired buildings. I added an additional page with building toppers and windows/door options! Full Virtual Video Lesson: https://youtu.be/DiHImi8NgHA There are step-by-step instructions and examples of both James Rizzi's Artwork and student artwork.

Enjoy this virtual field trip to the Statue of Liberty! Students will discuss what they know about the Statue of Liberty, learn more, and take a virtual tour on the live cams. Great for virtual learning or in person enrichment!

Looking for a fun activity that's FREE? Check out this ultimate list of FREE Virtual Escape rooms that are sure to challenge you while having fun.

10 awesome elearning examples to give you fresh ideas for how to engage your audience for 2024, along with tips and inspiration for your elearning projects.

Raise your hand if you feel overwhelmed by virtual teaching. I see you! (Well, mostly I see your posts in my Facebook groups. It would be creepy if I could actually see you right this very moment.) I know that you feel like you are drowning with all of the new technology, strategies, and concerns

If you haven’t started using student data folders, it is a tool I highly suggest. These folders are in the hands of the students. They’re tracking and

Today’s show is a little bit different y’all. I spent some time with 10 educators talking about 10 awesome ways to use Flipgrid in your classroom [LIVE from ISTE] at the Flipgrid booth. You won’t want to miss the big updates Flipgrid announced at ISTE that Adam “Short-Shorts” Goldberg shares! The educators that stood up to speak shared some amazing tips on how to get the most out of Flipgrid in your classroom. From using it to encourage collaboration on projects, creating global classrooms, and giving students a way to practice giving feedback, the tips were fantastic and unbelievably actionable.

Looking for visuals to help your kids make sense of math? Grab this free set of printable math manipulatives for all the hands on resources your kids need.

Are you scrambling to navigate the virtual world of online teaching? Times have changed due to the Pandemic and special education teachers have a new set of challenges in teaching remotely. Here are tips to help you succeed in remote teaching special ed.

Free Google Slides and Seesaw activities for students in kindergarten through second grade. These digital math and literacy activities are lots of fun!

From museums to zoos to famous wonders of the world, with these virtual field trips for kids, students can explore the world right from their living room couch!

A free kindergarten math packet for at home learning.

Do you get stressed trying to squeeze in all the curriculum you need to cover? This is Deanna from A Primary Owl and believe me this is my daily struggle! I teach third grade and the amount of Social Studies and Science topics we have to cover is crazy....plus we take District Assessments over all these topics so nothing can be skipped or else my students will bomb the tests. One of my go-to strategies is one that has been around a long time, it's one of those oldies but goodies. So when I am crunched for time, I have my students JIGSAW the topics and let THEM be the experts. They love this part, I tell them they are going to be the teachers. Third graders just eat that up:) STEP ONE: Here is a great website that can give you the break down of all the steps but the first thing I decide is how I want to break apart the material being studied. Often for me, it is a chapter in a textbook. For example, right now we are studying the Habitats of Georgia so I divided the groups into the different regions. STEP TWO: Then decide how many students will need to be in each group. I let my students pick the group they want to be in but you can also assign groups. Then give the groups their guidelines on how they are going to study and present the material. This is where large chart paper comes in handy! I almost always have my groups make a chart. STEP THREE: After each group has time to study the material and decide how to "teach" it, it is time to do the presenting. The idea is that you take one expert from each group and form the JIGSAW groups, where each person presents their material to a small group. Sometimes, I have the groups present to the class as a whole (depending on the subject matter and how many groups I have). STEP FOUR: One important step, is to make sure you have a way for students to demonstrate what they learned from each group. You may want them to take notes as each person presents, or have a short formative assessment. FREEBIE: This strategy works so well and students love it. They enjoy learning from their peers and I love being able to cover topics in an efficient way. You can get a copy of my planning guide by clicking the picture: So don't forget about this awesome strategy the next time you're trying to squeeze it all in! Don't forget to keep checking back with us, we've got some great tips for fall coming up!

5th grade artists had fun learning about the artwork by Grant Wood, "American Gothic." We also watched the video, "Dropping in on Grant Wood...

Learn what is under your skin with a fun life-size human body project for kids. Download FREE skeletal system bones and organ printables!

I loved writing out a good lesson plan. And I was always disappointed when an administrator didn't look in my plan book on my desk for the lesson plan. There was some art (and a few arrows) there - and my boss missed it. If you are trying out Blended Learning in your classroom and

T minus six days till I need to report to school. Can you even?!?I know a lot of you are already back trying to maneuver in these very choppy waters.So, families in my district could

Seesaw is a fantastic online tool for teachers, parents, and students! This post walks you through how to get started and to use it in your classroom!

Engage your students from behind a screen with this unique, interactive learning stations template with "clickable" buttons. These buttons create an engaging, student-centered experience. The hard work of creating the digital learning stations slides and linking the buttons is done for you, so all you have to do is insert your own content. You can use this template time and time again, for ANY skill/unit/content. This resource works seamlessly in a hybrid/fully virtual distance learning environment, but it's also a great option for 1:1, socially distanced learning in a traditional classroom. Traditional learning stations are engaging and kinesthetic, but this virtual version is the next best thing because students can "move" through the stations at their own pace. When you purchase this resource, you will receive the following: Google Slides template (8 slides total) Teacher Instructions Additional Ideas for Use FAQ

If you are looking for FREE activities to use with your elementary students, I got you covered! Unfortunately, thousands of schools across the nation are closing ( or are preparing to close) due to COVID-19.

These choice boards you can send home with kindergarteners during a break, holiday or as homework. Includes 6 different free example choice boards.

Games can make class and professional development more fun! Here are the steps to create a Family Feud-style. (Family Feud logo used via fair use)Who

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!

This year our homeschool is going on some virtual field trips around the world. Virtual field trips are a fun and inexpensive way to explore the world.