Activotes and BrainPop

The Activote Quiz is now integrated into BrainPop!

BrainPop has just released a great new feature for use with the Activotes.  Do you remember opening BrainPop and then opening ActivInspire to use the Activotes with BrainPop?  With the new add-in you can choose Activote Quiz from the list of options and be off and running.  Now the teacher can focus more on giving the quiz and less on going back and forth between ActivInspire and BrainPop.  Click here for the instructions on how to use it and click here for the download itself.  Once it is set up you don't have to worry about it again.  Trust me, it will be well worth your time to use this add-in.

Internet Safety Lessons

Welcome Back! We hope you had a restful summer and are excited to start a new year. I'm writing this blog following our beginning of the year Inservice. I just wanted to say that I am so impressed at how well D70 teachers have embraced technology and made it part of their effective teacher toolbox. I'm sure our students are appreciating the way our technology initiative is changing the way they learn.
Since Internet Safety is a topic that is relevant to all users--no matter what age and an important part of the 21 Century Skills students need to succeed, I thought this site called Internet Safety and You might be useful to you.




It offers guidance for students, teachers, and parents using Garfield the cat and his cast of comic strip characters to get across some important information. Topics include Online Safety, Cyberbullying, Fact or Opinion, and Forms of Media. There are videos along with opportunities for students to use the drag and drop features to draw conclusions and discover the correct way to use the Internet. I especially like that these lessons can apply to students in kindergarten all the way through 8th grade and beyond. You might think of using it during the first couple weeks of school as routines are established. It can also be used as a good discussion starter.

• Go to Helpful Hints to find the Activotes and Brainpop Guide covered in the Inservice
  

Back To School Reminders Re: your Promethean Boards

Be sure to try out boards before class to work out any glitches
email Clare corndoff@district.org or Shad sglenn@district70.org with any problems

Plug in board calibrate

Check for ActivInspire Updates. Go to Configure and then select Check for Updates option

Clean projector filter using compressed air

Poetry Writing -Anyone Can Do It!

Poetry is often a daunting subject to teach. Stduents may be ok with reading it, but sometimes writing poetry (especially with the older students) is like pulling teeth, and even though I'm an English Major, sometimes I'm a little fuzzy on which poetry form requires what.

That being said writing poetry nets wonderful dividends! Students use critical thinking skills and build vocabulary as they select specific words when writing. Poetry helps with reading skills as students have to consider syllabication. Poetry is a wonderful creative outlet for many students. Even though writing poetry might not be a favorite subject for all, I'm sure we all agree on its edcuational worth.

That's why I like this poetry writing website from Scholastic. It's fun and very easy to use. You can explore four different poetry formats: Haiku, Limerick, Cinquain, and Free Verse. The site offers brief definitions so you don't have to worry about what exactly a Cinquain poem needs. Using the examples you can go either in a serious or silly direction. If you choose to compose your own original poetry you have the option of printing it. Check it out. Happy writing!

Click Here.

Great Games for Learning

Currently I am taking an online course through the Verizon Thinkfinity Foundation and when I was looking at there website I found a very good resource not only for the teachers but also for the students to use at home.  It is located in the Games and Tools section on www.thinkfinity.org.  In this section there are many games that the students can play and learn without even knowing that they are learning.  After scrolling down past the featured Games and Tools you can browse all of the interactives that they have available.  This is a great way to find a math activity for your students and make sure that it is appropriate for their grade level.  After you select the grade level and subject it now give you a list of activities and you have the choice to share the activity with someone else, read more about it or just try the activity.  It doesn't get much easier then that!

Stop Bullying Now!

Stop Bullying Now is a great website for teachers and counselors. This website give a lot of kid friendly information that is fun and educational at the same time.  Within the kids section the website gives great information as to what bullying is and what they can do about it.  There are several webisodes that will give great information as well as start great classroom discussions about bullying.  If you need something to help get your students talking this is a great site to start with.  There is also a ton of information for adults and what they can do to stop bully's.  Is cyber bullying a problem there is also great information here as well.  There is a lot of great information on this websites and it will all be beneficial to our students.