ActivInspire Updates to Version 1.4

Promethean has just released the newest Version of ActivInspire.  Several changes have been made to ActivInspire that will make this program that much better.  One of the best changes is the return of the pen modifier tools.  These tools were available within ActivStudio and were somehow left out of the first version of ActivInspire.  Another great addition is the ability to select more than one page from the page browser.  You can now use the Ctrl key to select multiple pages and drag them to the location that you want.  One of my favorite new changes is the page turn effects option.  You can now set up your flipchart to turn the pages of the flipchart and add a little zing to your lesson.  If you would like to download the updates just make sure that ActivInspire is open then click on the Help menu and select check for updates.  It will tell you that there are updates available and select download.  You will have to either download it to your computer and then run the file from there or just choose run as your option when you download.  If you would like a more in depth look at what is new click here to view the new features guide.

Got Games?

As spring fever starts to settle in and students start to get a little restless you might be looking for some online activities that are more engaging. Here are some games that will keep students amused and still do a decent job of teaching or reviewing a concept.

Below are a few websites in different content areas that might be useful.

For Language Arts try: http://www.freeworldgroup.com/games6/gameindex/grammar-ninja.htm AKA Grammar Ninja

Students can practice identifying parts of speech and brush up on grammar skills as a Ninja Warrior.

For Vocabulary try:

http://www.randomhouse.com/features/rhwebsters/

This is a challenging word game that helps build vocabulary and shares interesting facts about the history of the English language.

For Science try: http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/kids/energy.cfm

A website that is sponsered by the Energy Information Association that has games and activities that explore different types of energy and the science behind those. There are also lesson plans and extension activities for teachers.

For Math Activities try: http://www.kidsolr.com/math/fractions.html

Students can practice their fraction skills converting improper fractions renaming fractions multiplying and dividing fractions.

April 22nd is Earth Day!

With Earth Day fast approaching there are several websites that offer information for teachers and kids.  The first website is called Energy Kids and it is a fascinating website that gives a ton of information about energy.  Do your students know what energy is?  If not they can visit Energy Kids and they can learn about energy and all of its different forms.  The website also give great information about nonrenewable and renewable energy.  It also breaks down how we use electricity and hydrogen as forms of energy.  Have you every wondered how much energy homes or businesses use?  Energy kids also gives some great statistics as to how much energy is used by people every day.  There are a few games and activities that are included but they are not very interactive so they will probably be best used within a lab setting.  This is a great website that provides a lot of information for both teachers and students.

BrainPop is also offering several videos and activities that go along very nicely with earth day.  They have 11 different videos that can be used to inform your students about earth day as well as an overall earth awareness package.  If you are not sure what to teach about earth day I would start with these videos and activities.

Activotes

Incorporating the Activotes into your classroom!

If you are like most teachers you would really like to use the Activotes within your classroom but you feel that you cannot fit them in.  Most teachers that I talk to feel that they either aren't comfortable with the Activotes or they just don't have the time.  Today I will give you some ideas to help you become more comfortable with the Activotes.

1. Pass out the Activotes first thing in the morning and don't pick them up until the day is finished.  (If the Activotes are already on the students desks you don't have to worry about passing them out and wasting the time to do so.)
2. Since they are already on the students desks use them to answer simple questions like... Do you understand?, Are you ready to move on? or Should we stop and review?  With questions like this you don't have to have a right or wrong answer but yet the feedback from your students will benefit their understanding of the concept.
3. You don't have to use them for everything that you are doing but if they are on the desk I am sure that you will use them for more than you think.  (Lunch count, understanding, quizzes, polls and much more.)
4. The more that you use the Activotes the more comfortable you will become with them and eventually you can use them to create tests and take scores or use them with websites (BrainPop) that already have quizzes attached to them  based on the Activotes.
5. If you need help with the technical aspects of using the Activotes I have attached an Activote Guide that I have created to help you out. (This guide is also available on the Helpful Hints section of the blog)

If this is helpful please let others know and they can get the same valuable information from our blog.

http://theprometheanteachers.blogspot.com/

Free Printable Certificates

With the end of the year fast approaching we are all trying to plan for all of the end of the year activities.  Recently I found a very cool website that offers free printable certificates that can be downloaded.  Certificate Street offers a ton of free templates that range from Student of the Day to good listener awards.  Once you find the certificate that you like you click on download and it opens from with Adobe reader.  Now all you have to do is type in the information hit print and the certificate is yours.  The only downfall to this is that you cannot save your completed certificates with the information filled in but you can save the template to use later.  This is definitely a time saver when it comes to the chaos that the end of the year brings.  Enjoy!