Popplet: www.popplet.

com Why: Popplet allows students to create boxes of information that can include text, images, and videos. Those boxes can be connected to display information that relates. Popplet can be used to create traditional graphic organizers, timelines, or just to display information. Any image can be uploaded so the possibilities are endless! See me for information on the student emails that will be needed for logging in. This program is available as an iPad app, too! 2. Wallwisher (now changing their name to Padlet): www.wallwisher.com

Why? Wallwisher/Padlet allows collaboration! The teacher sets up a Wallwisher/Padlet page and provides the web address (URL) to the students. Then the students can go on and add content to the page. Students can add text, images, and videos. For example, the teacher above asked each student to find an image showing a different cultural custom and to explain it. The teacher has complete moderation, meaning that he/she can choose to approve each post before it appears on the board. 3. Timetoast: www.timetoast.com Why? Timetoast creates timelines with images (that students can upload) and information on an interactive timeline. When the projects are complete they can be embedded in your teacher website. Sign up for a teacher website and students can login as you to keep all of your projects in one place. Would you like your students to create a project with any of these tools? Schedule some time with me! I would love to show you and your students how. 1. Interactive Sites for Education: Why? Select the subject you are teaching in class and you will be given a selection of interactive activities that you can use on your Smartboard to teach and reinforce the concepts. Students will be engaged and motivated to learn when they get to actively choose and manipulate objects on the board in game-like play to solve math problems. These activities can be used for whole-group, small-group, or independent work. Please review activities before using with your class. Although they are grouped by subject, they are not grouped by ability or grade level.

2. Khan Academy for Math: Why? Khan Academy has interactive exercises and videos you can watch if you don't know how to solve the problems. So, it is like having your very own online math classroom with a built in video teacher. If students are struggling with a concept, let them try watching a Khan Academy video to view another way of learning the concept.

3. Poll Everywhere: Why? Poll Everywhere allows you to instantly poll your students (or staff) and get feedback in a graph or word cloud. This is a wonderful tool if you are studying graphs, data, or if you need feedback from your students (like maybe an exit slip or a quick quiz question). Poll Everywhere can gather data in two ways: students/staff can text in their choice or they can use a computer/tablet computer to submit their choice. So, yes, this will limit the use of this tool those in a lab, or those using iPads, iPods, or allowing students to use their own mobile devices.

BONUS: Educreations App (for iPad): Discovery Education (http://www.discoveryeducation.com) Yes, I know I have talked about Discovery Education before, but seriously there is SO much there that you need to explore! DE is not just about videos.
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you know that you can create log-ins for your students to use at home? You can also create assignments like writing prompts and quizzes that go great with the new CCSS! Check out the Lesson Plan library for great ideas on using the collection of videos Learn how to integrate STEM topics, too! Looking for clipart for your newsletter or classroom project? That's here, too!

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my newest tip: Search "Weston Woods" for a great selection of classic books on video. Don't forget that videos and video segments often come with quizzes, worksheets, and lessons, too. If you don't have a log-in for DE (or if you forgot yours) let me know. 2. YouTube! (www.youtube.com) No, there are not only videos featuring crazy people and cats. There is actually great educational content on YouTube. When using YouTube, you do want to follow a couple of safety rules:
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the ENTIRE video from beginning to end- make sure it hasn't been re-edited in some way or that content hasn't been added. Don't play the video directly from YouTube in your classroom. YouTube connects to other (often inappropriate videos) and the comments below the videos could make a sailor blush. So, how do you use a YouTube video in the classroom? Here are a few different ways:
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the YouTube URL into SafeShare.TV and play the video without ads and comments. CleanVideoSearch filters out inappropriate videos, comments, and ads (if you want students to search for videos). Remember, filters still are not fool-proof. Use common sense and monitor any Internet use. Use YouTubeforChildren.com to search for and play videos without ads and comments. Download It! Install the Real Player video player on your computer. After it is installed, when you visit YouTube and right click on a video, one of your options will be "Download Video". It is magical! NOTE: Only works in Internet Explorer or Firefox. Download it! Go to savemedia.com and paste the URL of the YouTube video you want to download. Click "Download by URL". It is Okay. Do not click the big graphic DOWNLOAD button just under the URL, that is an advertisement. Click a download file that ends in FLV- that is a good video file type! Save to your computer.

3. Watch, Know, Learn (http://www.watchknowlearn.org/) This is probably the best selection of educational videos that you didn't know about! Here is why you need to check out Watch, Know, Learn:
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videos from many educational sources organized by grade level and subject. Create your own classroom to keep and organize your favorites. They are building a library of CCSS videos. (K-2 is already complete!) Do you want to include a video that isn't already on their site? You can upload it! For October, I am going to share three tools to create video projects. What is great about video projects is that they can be used in any subject or curriculum. Video production appeals to your visual, auditory, kinesthetic, linguistic, and perhaps even musical students. Think about how these types of video projects can be applied to what you are teaching: 1. Paper Slides: Here is an example from Kindergarten (it is a big file, so it might take a minute or two to open): Why? Paper slides are a fun, low-tech way for students to learn and practice concepts or to show you what they know at the end of a unit. In small groups students create "slides" on paper using paper and markers. Then the students use a flip-type video camera to record their slideshow. It's easy and simple. Now the video can be shared with the class and published on your teacher website for all to see. See more examples and information on paper slide videos here.

2. Greenscreen Videos: Here is an example from 3rd grade about South Carolina's regions (again, very large file): Why? The greenscreen technique allows you to put any background behind your students. It could be a real picture, a student drawn image, or a video. It makes

the topic more real to the students. Students are highly motivated to complete their research and to be prepared to create the video when they know that they will be involved in this type of project.

3. Videolicious for iPad or iPods:

Why? Videolicious is a FREE app that is available for the iPads or iPods that allows students to easily add and narrate pictures. The pictures that are added to the video can be ones that they have taken themselves using the built-in camera, they could also add images that they created themselves, or they could add images that they have gathered from Internet resources. Once the student has written a script to go with the images, or found images to go with their script, they can record and publish. Finished videos can easily be publish to teacher websites. And remember, there is also nothing wrong with just taking out your camera or video camera and taking pictures or videos of the learning that is going on in your classroom! Students and parents love to see pictures published on your website. Please contact me to discuss integrating any of these ideas in your classroom. I would love to work with you! YouTube - Videos from this email

Why? Educreations allows you or your students to create a video that shows how to solve a math problem. You just draw on the screen and work through the problem while it records. The app also allows you to import images that you draw over if you need to. Once you or your students have finished creating your video tutorial, it can be saved and shared. Your video can be shared with a library of teacher-created videos if you want to make it public and there is a library of teacher created videos for you also to view. You can also connect your iPad to your Smartboard to play the video(s) for the class. But, the best feature is that the video(s) can be emailed to students or parents. So, if your struggling student needs some help, you can send him or his parents a video to help show him step-by-step how to solve the problem at home. It will be just like having you sitting there and tutoring him one-on-one.

For September, I am going to show you three tools to help you focus on words in the classroom. Words can be used in any subject area and in any grade level. These three technology tools will have your students focusing on parts of speech, adjectives, spelling, categories and classification, and being creative. How can use use words with these tools? 1. abcya.com Word Clouds

Why? Abcya's Word Clouds are so easy to use- even for younger students. The site includes a save and print button right on the screen unlike other word cloud programs such as www.wordle.net. Ask students to describe a person, place, or thing- or think of as many adjectives as they can!

2. Tagxedo

Why? Tagxedo creates a word cloud that is in the shape of an image. The site comes with about 100 pre-loaded images to choose from, but you can also upload your own. The best images to upload are those that are solid black. This is a great project to do with science and social studies images so that students

3. WordFoto App for iPad or iPad Touch:

Why? The WordFoto app takes an image and creates an image made out of words. You will find that even the smallest line or detail of the photo is make of a tiny word. Students will need to brainstorm words to describe the image whether it is a person, place, or object. They can insert up to ten different words which will repeat throughout the image. This app costs $2.99, but it is not necessary to load it on an iPad for every student. It can be loaded on just a teacher iPad and students can take turns creating their masterpiece. I own this app and I can work with your class to create WordFotos with your class.