Avatar generators

This is something fun for kids.  If they wish to add an avatar to their work, or add an avatar to an online application, there are free, safe avatar makers on line that they can use.  Create simple cartoon characters that represent themselves.

Doppelme

Avatar Maker

My Blue Robot 

Marvel Create your own Superhero

M&M'S brand character

Our Incredible World

Our Incredible World

A place to learn the natural world and how it functions.  It is a place kids can find out how to make the world healthy.  It offers free multi media curriculum resources for grades 4-11
There are curriculum based resources on habitats, ecosystems, biodiversity, species-at-risk and invasive species. VVisit the site to learn more and to use it's many lessons.i

Math is Fun

Math is Fun

I came across this site that my students were able to use interactively. Specifically counting money.

Wikipedia -Simple

I try to get my students to avoid using wikipedia for the sole reason that it is difficult for some to understand the vocabulary.  I share with students websites that can be used for whatever research they have to do but I also share with them "Simple Wikipedia".

Simple Wikipedia is written in basic english with words that can be understood and aims for people trying to learn english  .However, it can be used by young children who have difficulty understanding the vocabulary that Wikipedia uses.  On the web page itself, there is a search box.  Type in what you are searching for.

Digital Portfolio - SeeSaw

SeeSaw is a digital portfolio teachers can use to do formative assessment and share what the student is learning with parents on any device. Student learning can be captured in any format and saved. The SeeSaw Basics feature is free for teachers who just want to track work and communicate with parents.

Instructables and Howtoons

Worth another mention:

Instructables and Howtoons are great websites that one can use ideas to create and build their creations.

There are instructional manuals.  These manuals encourage creative problem solving skills.

At Howtoons, their mission is "to provide engaging content".  Using comic format, kids can build things.

This site offers PDF for downloading comics and the site features a content search.
http://www.howtoons.com/

The following link will connect you to instructables. There are downloadable PDFs available.
http://www.instructables.com/id/Toothpick-Bridge-Project/

Interactive Whiteboard Lessons-- ShowMe and Educreations

ShowMe is a whiteboard interactive app.  You can record lessons that you create so that students can view them and learn.  It is a global community where you can share with anyone in the world. There is also an online website that you can log into to view and share ShowMe lessons created.
                                           

Educreations is a whiteboard interactive app and website.  You can record lessons that you create so that students can view them and learn. You can import images, documents and webpages.  Videos are cloud synced and can be shared with anyone.  You can create a class where a student can sign in using a class code.                                  
    

Flubaroo - - assessment Tool add-on for google app

Flubaroo is another add-on for Google Sheets.  It is a powerful tool that will grade for you and it will automatically email responses to students.  There are many good tutorials on youtube.  I embeded just one as an example.

Rubric Tools for Google Docs

Using Rubrics right in Google for Classroom or Google Docs and Google Forms.

There are 3 rubric tools for Google Docs that are great to use and eliminate paper.  These are all add ons.

• OrangeSlice Teacher rubric add on.  The grading will be done in google docs.

• docAppender.   This add on is for google forms.  The Rubric is saved as google forms.  The grading is done in forms then put on the document that is graded. .    

• Doctopus add on and Goobric chrome extension

Great webinar that details how to use these add ons to help you with assessments.

Visit the site for many other great webinars. http://ti.apps.sparcc.org/

Bulb -- Free portfolio

Bulb is a place where students and teachers create and share work.  It is a portfolio where kids can take  the work they have created and keep it for life.  They can add videos.  The interface is intuitive and easy to use.  It has a drag and drop feature.  It is free to sign up.

STEMWORKS

Stemworks* offers STEM content and ideas to increase science, technology, engineering and mathematics skills.  They provide inspiring experiences and they are the sister program to Kids Ahead which is designed for middle school children.

Examples of topics are : Crime Scene Investigation, Extreme Weather, Medical Innovations, Robotics and more.  You can join for free to connect with their virtual community.

Remind

Remind is an app tool which was formerly Remind 101.  This is a good app to mention again.  With Remind you can text your students without disclosing your cell number.  You can schedule messages, attach photos, recording, etc.  You can control who can reply to you as well.

Future Goals... NHL -- STEM

NHL association launched an education initiative to help students in Science, technology, engineering and math. They use the hockey game to help teach these skills.  It is free to join.  Once you join you will be connected with a representative who will visit your class to get you and your students started.

First Book Canada - Free Books

First Book Canada is a program that gives access to new books for children in need.

This has been a great program for students in need.

In the United States, educators can now  receive free access to Open eBook by signing up with First Book. These free ebooks can be accessed on iOS or Android devices.  Through the Open eBooks app students can access up to ten books at a time.  You can find all of the qualifications for the Open eBooks program here.  Hope that this comes to Canada.  I mention this so that you can keep an eye out.

Wizer me -- Create interactive writing sheets

wizer.e is an interactive digital worksheet.  Teacher create an assignment and assign to their class.  It can be distributed to your students through the use of a link and pin system and through google classroom.  It is a good site for finding, creating and sharing worksheets for all subjects and levels. 

Teacherstechtoolbox.com states that “teachers can use wizer.me as an opening/closing class activity, or as homework.  When creating an account, the system does not ask if the user is a student or a teacher, so the students are able to create these digital worksheets as well.  This is great for students to show mastery of content.”

View youtube video below for how to use wizer.me. There are other videos you can access on youtube.

Google forms

Google for Education are easy tools built for teachers and students alike that can be used on any device.  Very user friendly.

As a teacher I try to find ways where I can use technology and minimize the amount of paper used in the classroom.  I also looked into ways of using Google apps to assess my students work.

Assessment using Google forms is a neat way to do formative assessment in your classroom.  The video below is very simple to follow on using Google forms for assessment.