Shahi

Shahi: A mashup of Wiktionary (a Wikipedia type dictionary) and Flickr. This visual dictionary is an excellent way for students to find definitions and get a visual of the word. Students can choose where they want the images to come from. Their choices are Flickr, Google, or Yahoo. My favorite is Flickr.

Integration Ideas: Visual dictionaries are great, but especially useful for your visual learners. Use as a dictionary dictionary or to teach your students parts of speech. Pictures acompany the definitions, therefore students can “see” that a verb is an action word. Use Shahi as the base for a part of speech game with the whole class and a projector. Choose a word from your reading or spelling list and have students guess the part of speech based on the pictures. This is a great way for students to learn the parts of speech through inquiry and problem solving. This is also a great tool for your ELL students. Bookmark Shahi on your classroom computers as a resource during reading/writing time. Look up a spelling word and have students write in their journal about one of the accompanying pictures. A great writing prompt site. Science teachers, Shahi would also be beneficial in the science classroom. Students can look up difficult words or concepts and quickly have a visual representation to aid in understanding. In social studies, students could search places and get a collection of images that will provide them with additional insight into the place.

D.A.T.E Grant Surveys

Grades 3-5 Technology Survey

Become a tech-savvy educator: Discover the resources to get you there

Want to be a tech-savvy teacher? Are you already a tech-savvy teacher and would like some additional ideas to liven up a lesson? Click the link below to watch a 1-hour webinar which provides many useful resources. This is a prerecorded session offered though eschool news. If you haven't gone through eschool news, I suggest you add it to your list of favorites. There is so much there to explore!
Become a tech-savvy educator: Discover the resources to get you there

Do you have AverMedia tools?

If you have an AverMedia document camera and/or AverPens, please take advantage of these prerecorded webinars from AVerMedia trainers. They do a great job of demonstrating how all these tools work together to create some fantastic lessons. Do you want to interact with the trainers? All you have to do is sign up for an upcoming webinar. There are various dates and times to choose from. It's all free!!!

Spell with Flickr

 

So here is a cool tool. You and your students can spell words with flickr. Just type in a word and press enter. Words are created with pictures for letters. This would be a great way to go over those spelling words your students dread. You can also use this to create a heading for your blog, wiki, or website. Click here to start creating.

Claymation

Last Friday, we had teachers from Calallen and Odem/Edroy ISD attend the claymation training at the education service center. Once we got started, we had so much fun putting these clay figures into action. I hope to have a repeat of this training sometime during the school year in Calallen. I want to thank these teachers for taking the time out of their summer vacation for attending. It is great to work with such awesome teachers!

Mimio Training at East Elementary

There were 14 Calallen teachers from the elementary and middle school campuses that showed up for today's Mimio training. These teachers sacrificed a day of their summer vacation to come in and learn some new tricks with Mimio tools. Hats off to all of you!!! Your dedication is much appreciated.  I hope to see the same turnout for tomorrow's claymation training. I would also like to thank Mrs. Parker (East principal) for allowing us to use the computer lab. Thanks to all!!!

T3 Technology Tools

So many technology tools that were ordered by Calallen teachers have arrived. I have to thank David Ebert for doing such a great job. I didn't realize there was so much to do. He stayed on top of everything. It was not an easy task. Thanks David!!! 

We are sorting items and will soon be delivering so that teachers can have their tools at the start of the new school year. I can't wait to see all this stuff in action. Of course, training will follow. This is an exciting time for Calallen ISD!

Web 2.0 Tools Galore

Are you looking for a certain online tool to integrate into your lesson? Well, if I don't have it listed on the blog, then take a look at Web 2.0 Directory or GO2WEB20. My favorite of the two is GO2WEB20. All the tools and applications are listed on one page and each is accompanied by a short description when you mouse over them. Web 2.0 Directory has over 1200 sites which have been put into 50 categories, making it a bit easier to find what you're looking for. Have fun exploring!  

                                                            Image via CrunchBase

Image and Text Generators

Online image and text generators are great if you want to add some pizzazz to your blog, wiki, or website. Remember, if you want your students to be drawn to your site, it is always a good idea to add some eye candy. That will keep them coming back. It is also likely to draw in the parents too. For the chalkboard above, I used addletters. but there are many others to choose from. Many students are already used to using these image generators on MySpace and Facebook. So, if you plan on your students creating their own blog, wiki, or website, this would be a great motivator. They love this stuff!

I have listed some, but there are so many more on the Web. Let me know if you have a favorite not listed below. Have fun!!!

Page Plugins

Chalk Board Letters

Comic Strip Generator

Cool Text

Tiny Tags on Wig Flip

Street Signs on Wig Flip

Wig Flip - They also have speech bubbles, sticky notes and more.

Image Chef Word Mosaic

Mosaic Generator - Very Cool...must see this!

Shape Collage

Typo Generator

Wordle

Don't have PowerPoint or iPhoto for a Presentation...Don't Worry

Tired of PowerPoint or you just want to try something new. In the article, "Top 10 Sites for Creating Slide Shows" David Kapuler lists his top 10 sites to create an out of this world presentation. Visit the sites below and let us know which is your favorite. If you know of one not listed here, please share it with the rest of us.

1. Kizoa - Creates slide shows with a variety of music, effects, and transitions.
2. Shwup - Create private collaborative slide shows that allow comments.
3. Photo Peach - Create quizzes in your slide show with multiple choice questions.
4. Animoto - Very popular site with free all-access pass for educators and my favorite.
5. Slideroll - Can also make private and allow comments.
6. Flixtime - Uploads photos and select audio and transitions. Then you can embed the code onto a blog, wiki, or website.
8. PhotoSnack - Drag & drop interface.
9. Pho.to - Create flash based slide shows and get an embed code to put on your blog, wiki, or website.
10. Vuvox - Create eye-catching multimedia slide shows.

Slideshare is a site that is not on the list, but very useful. If you already have a PowerPoint presentation, Slideshare allows you to upload and share it.

Generation Yes and Podcasting

Generation Yes is a program which allows students in grades 6-9 to help teachers use technology in the classroom. Students help with lesson planning and provide tech support. Students are building technology and leadership skills, and creating a school-wide llaborative learning community. This curriculum is not free, but GenYes does offer free resources such as this Podcasting How-To. This pdf may come in handy for those of you who ordered iPods through the T3 Grant.

 

 

Image via Wikipedia 

How to Teach with Technology: Science and Math | Edutopia

If you teach math and science, then you will probably want to read this article which was written by Sara Bernard in Edutopia. This is a very informative article about various technology tools to use for math and science. I really like how this article included tips from students.
How to Teach with Technology: Science and Math Edutopia

"Seven Free Online Resources you can use today!"

"Seven Free Online Resources you can use today!" is a recorded webinar which was sponsored by Intel and presented by Dan Morris, Naomi Harm and Judi Yost. This was a free webinar that was offered through ISTE. This would be of great benefit to K-12 teachers because of the free teaching tools and resources which can assisst you in creating 21st century teaching and learning.


Below are links to access the great resources from the presentation.


Intel Education Tools

Visual Ranking

Showing Evidence

Help Guide

PBA

CSCOPE Conference

The CSCOPE conference has come and gone, and I am full of information to share with the rest of you. We will be going over all this information in future trainings which will be taking place throughout the summer, but there are a few links that I want to share with you all now. Many thanks to Lannon Heflin from Region 13 for sharing these technology integration ideas. Go ahead and start exploring!

Create a book jacket - Read Write Think...Thinkfinity
Create a commemorative stamp - Zazzle
Create a commercial - Atomic Learning
Create a crossword puzzle - Puzzle Maker
Create a diorama - Cavanaugh
Create a flip chart - Read Write Think...Thinkfinity

Create vocabulary cards - Quizlet

Create a front page newspaper - Using PowerPoint, set page up in portrait orientation and use text boxes and images to make a newspaper front page.

Another site I would like to share with you is Storybird. A colleague in an online course I'm taking shared this site with us, and I have to say it is wonderful. Storybird is a place that students can read or create stories. Storybird promotes creativity and collaboration by allowing students to work on creating stories with others. The tools are easy to manipulate. I put it to the test with my 8 year old daughter who created a story quickly and easily. Get inspired by art which is provided to you by Storybird's growing list of artists.You must register, but it is free.

Sample art to use in stories.

6-8 TA TEKS

Many thanks to the 6-8th grade teachers who came together yesterday to tackle the TA TEKS. I have to say they did an awesome job! Teachers from Calallen Middle School are Maurine Sacky, Melissa McBurnett, and Bernice Lesmeister. Teachers from Odem/Edroy ISD are Alicia Alvarez, Jerry Plemons, and Lindsay Silguero.

Math in Movies

So you have a student who believes that math is not important. Well, if it wasn't for math, we would not be able to enjoy some great Pixar movies such as Up, Toy Story, WALL-E, Nemo, Cars, ect. Everyone has a favorite. In this Science Daily article, Tony DeRose, a computer scientist at Pixar Animation Studios discusses the connection between math and animation. The article includes a video clip. This would be a good topic of discussion with our students on the importance of math and how it can be used in the real world. 

Calling All ELL/ESL Teachers

On May 25 Thinkfinity is launching a new 90-minute webinar "Reaching English Language Learners with Verizon Thinkfinity" where attendees will learn several key strategies and specific resources to use with students who have various levels of English proficiency. Thinkfinity provides many resources to promote core content knowledge and language development for all learners. Sign up for this fantastic webinar. Upon completion, you will earn a certificate!
Click here to find out how to register.

The National Math Trail

Here is a great opportunity to bring real-world math into the classroom. The National Math Trail is for K-12 teachers and students to explore and share math that exists in their own communities. Students can explore their communities and create math problems that relate to what they find. Teachers can then submit the problems to the National Math Trail site, along with photos, drawings, recordings, and videos. All entries are posted to the site and will remain there so teachers, students, and parents can access them. The site provides technology tutorials and templates for the creation of web page submissions
Take a look at Magic City Math Trail. This is one example by teacher Susan Clopton and her middle school students in Birmingham, Alabama.

T3 Surveys

The Texas Education Agency is collecting information related to the Target Tech in Texas (T3) grant.
This grant is funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009. It is
authorized by Public Law 107-110, CFDA# 84.386, No Child Left Behind (NDLB) Act of 2001, Title II, Part D and American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA or Recovery Act); enacted February 17, 2009 (P.L. 111-5).
Since we are part of the T3 grant, Calallen principals (K-8), teachers(K-8) and students (3-8) should take the T3 survey as soon as possible. This is required as part of the Target Tech in Texas grant. Here are some suggestions to help meet TEA’s Spring 2010 survey.
Parents
• If they have Internet access at home, they can complete the survey there
• If they do not have Internet access at home, they can use public library computers to complete the survey
Students:
• Class time in the computer lab to input responses
• Time during class if classroom computers are available
Teachers
• Use their conference period to complete the Teacher Survey
• Time after school to complete the survey
• Time during faculty meetings to complete survey
• Survey can be completed at home since many of the teachers have Internet access at home
Principals
• On their own time at school or at home

The surveys are located on the main Calallen ISD Page on the Bulletin Board.