Using Wallwisher to Create Community

Have you ever used www.wallwisher.com in your classroom?

I am working on compiling a document full of information on using various websites to create community in your classroom. I’m doing this for my upcoming presentation at the ECIS Technology Conference. I’d be honored if you’d stop by and add your answers to these questions:

1.) What grade levels is this site appropriate for?

2.) What makes this a good community building website?

3.) What are the benefits of this site?

4.) What are the downfalls of this site?

In addition to being thankful, I’m offering YOU a chance to receive the same Conference Goodie Bag that my participants will be receiving. Stop by my blog – Raki’s Rad Resources - and fill out the Google Document to join in our learning community and to receive a chance to win 12 different items from some of the best teacher authors around.

Using Stixy to Create Class Community

Have you ever used www.stixy.com in your classroom?

I am working on compiling a document full of information on using various websites to create community in your classroom. I’m doing this for my upcoming presentation at the ECIS Technology Conference. I’d be honored if you’d stop by and add your answers to these questions:

1.) What grade levels is this site appropriate for?

2.) What makes this a good community building website?

3.) What are the benefits of this site?

4.) What are the downfalls of this site?

In addition to being thankful, I’m offering YOU a chance to receive the same Conference Goodie Bag that my participants will be receiving. Stop by my blog – Raki’s Rad Resources - and fill out the Google Document to join in our learning community and to receive a chance to win 12 different items from some of the best teacher authors around.

Using Cacoo to Create Community

Have you ever used www.cacoo.com in your classroom?

I am working on compiling a document full of information on using various websites to create community in your classroom. I’m doing this for my upcoming presentation at the ECIS Technology Conference. I’d be honored if you’d stop by and add your answers to these questions:

1.) What grade levels is this site appropriate for?

2.) What makes this a good community building website?

3.) What are the benefits of this site?

4.) What are the downfalls of this site?

In addition to being thankful, I’m offering YOU a chance to receive the same Conference Goodie Bag that my participants will be receiving. Stop by my blog – Raki’s Rad Resources - and fill out the Google Document to join in our learning community and to receive a chance to win 12 different items from some of the best teacher authors around.

Using Edmodo to Create Community

Have you ever used www.edmodo.com in your classroom?

I am working on compiling a document full of information on using various websites to create community in your classroom. I’m doing this for my upcoming presentation at the ECIS Technology Conference. I’d be honored if you’d stop by and add your answers to these questions:

1.) What grade levels is this site appropriate for?

2.) What makes this a good community building website?

3.) What are the benefits of this site?

4.) What are the downfalls of this site?

In addition to being thankful, I’m offering YOU a chance to receive the same Conference Goodie Bag that my participants will be receiving. Stop by my blog – Raki’s Rad Resources - and fill out the Google Document to join in our learning community and to receive a chance to win 12 different items from some of the best teacher authors around.

Using My Big Campus to Create Community

Have you ever used www.mybigcampus.com in your classroom?

I am working on compiling a document full of information on using various websites to create community in your classroom. I’m doing this for my upcoming presentation at the ECIS Technology Conference. I’d be honored if you’d stop by and add your answers to these questions:

1.) What grade levels is this site appropriate for?

2.) What makes this a good community building website?

3.) What are the benefits of this site?

4.) What are the downfalls of this site?

In addition to being thankful, I’m offering YOU a chance to receive the same Conference Goodie Bag that my participants will be receiving. Stop by my blog – Raki’s Rad Resources - and fill out the Google Document to join in our learning community and to receive a chance to win 12 different items from some of the best teacher authors around.

Using Storybird to Create Community

Have you ever used www.storybird.com in your classroom?

I am working on compiling a document full of information on using various websites to create community in your classroom. I’m doing this for my upcoming presentation at the ECIS Technology Conference. I’d be honored if you’d stop by and add your answers to these questions:

1.) What grade levels is this site appropriate for?

2.) What makes this a good community building website?

3.) What are the benefits of this site?

4.) What are the downfalls of this site?

In addition to being thankful, I’m offering YOU a chance to receive the same Conference Goodie Bag that my participants will be receiving. Stop by my blog – Raki’s Rad Resources - and fill out the Google Document to join in our learning community and to receive a chance to win 12 different items from some of the best teacher authors around.

Using Edu Glogster to Create Community

Have you ever used www.edu.glogster.com in your classroom?

I am working on compiling a document full of information on using various websites to create community in your classroom. I’m doing this for my upcoming presentation at the ECIS Technology Conference. I’d be honored if you’d stop by and add your answers to these questions:

1.) What grade levels is this site appropriate for?

2.) What makes this a good community building website?

3.) What are the benefits of this site?

4.) What are the downfalls of this site?

In addition to being thankful, I’m offering YOU a chance to receive the same Conference Goodie Bag that my participants will be receiving. Stop by my blog – Raki’s Rad Resources - and fill out the Google Document to join in our learning community and to receive a chance to win 12 different items from some of the best teacher authors around.

Using LiveBinder to Create Community

Have you ever used www.livebinder.com in your classroom?

I am working on compiling a document full of information on using various websites to create community in your classroom. I’m doing this for my upcoming presentation at the ECIS Technology Conference. I’d be honored if you’d stop by and add your answers to these questions:

1.) What grade levels is this site appropriate for?

2.) What makes this a good community building website?

3.) What are the benefits of this site?

4.) What are the downfalls of this site?

In addition to being thankful, I’m offering YOU a chance to receive the same Conference Goodie Bag that my participants will be receiving. Stop by my blog – Raki’s Rad Resources - and fill out the Google Document to join in our learning community and to receive a chance to win 12 different items from some of the best teacher authors around.

Using Prezi to Create Community

Have you ever used www.prezi.com in your classroom?

I am working on compiling a document full of information on using various websites to create community in your classroom. I’m doing this for my upcoming presentation at the ECIS Technology Conference. I’d be honored if you’d stop by and add your answers to these questions:

1.) What grade levels is this site appropriate for?

2.) What makes this a good community building website?

3.) What are the benefits of this site?

4.) What are the downfalls of this site?

In addition to being thankful, I’m offering YOU a chance to receive the same Conference Goodie Bag that my participants will be receiving. Stop by my blog – Raki’s Rad Resources - and fill out the Google Document to join in our learning community and to receive a chance to win 12 different items from some of the best teacher authors around.

Using Voicethread to Create Community

Have you ever used www.voicethread.com in your classroom?

I am working on compiling a document full of information on using various websites to create community in your classroom. I’m doing this for my upcoming presentation at the ECIS Technology Conference. I’d be honored if you’d stop by and add your answers to these questions:

1.) What grade levels is this site appropriate for?

2.) What makes this a good community building website?

3.) What are the benefits of this site?

4.) What are the downfalls of this site?

In addition to being thankful, I’m offering YOU a chance to receive the same Conference Goodie Bag that my participants will be receiving. Stop by my blog – Raki’s Rad Resources - and fill out the Google Document to join in our learning community and to receive a chance to win 12 different items from some of the best teacher authors around.

Using Edublogs to Create Community

Have you ever used www.edublogs.org in your classroom?

I am working on compiling a document full of information on using various websites to create community in your classroom. I’m doing this for my upcoming presentation at the ECIS Technology Conference. I’d be honored if you’d stop by and add your answers to these questions:

1.) What grade levels is this site appropriate for?

2.) What makes this a good community building website?

3.) What are the benefits of this site?

4.) What are the downfalls of this site?

In addition to being thankful, I’m offering YOU a chance to receive the same Conference Goodie Bag that my participants will be receiving. Stop by my blog – Raki’s Rad Resources - and fill out the Google Document to join in our learning community and to receive a chance to win 12 different items from some of the best teacher authors around.

Using Kidblog to Create Community

Have you ever used www.kidblog.org  your classroom?

I am working on compiling a document full of information on using various websites to create community in your classroom. I’m doing this for my upcoming presentation at the ECIS Technology Conference. I’d be honored if you’d stop by and add your answers to these questions:

1.) What grade levels is this site appropriate for?

2.) What makes this a good community building website?

3.) What are the benefits of this site?

4.) What are the downfalls of this site?

In addition to being thankful, I’m offering YOU a chance to receive the same Conference Goodie Bag that my participants will be receiving. Stop by my blog – Raki’s Rad Resources - and fill out the Google Document to join in our learning community and to receive a chance to win 12 different items from some of the best teacher authors around.

Using Technology to Create Community

On March 15th I will be presenting at the European Council of International Schools’ (ECIS) Technology conference. My presentation is called Using Technology to Create Community.

During the presentation, we will be talking about which websites can be used to create community for students.  However, we are also going to start by creating community among the teachers.  One of the best ways for teachers to create community amongst themselves is to share their thoughts on available resources.  I have compiled 15 websites that can be used to build community and I am asking the teachers at the conference to answer the following questions about each resource:

1.)  What grade levels is this site appropriate for?

2.)  What makes this a good community building website?

3.)  What are the benefits of this site?

4.)  What are the downfalls of this site?

 

The participants will fill in their answers on a Google Document, which has been set to allow everyone to edit it.  It will end up with a handy dandy cheat sheet to keep  around and know exactly which of these websites will be what we need for our classrooms. 

After designing this presentation, I got to thinking.  There is a well developed teacher community right now in the “blogosphere”, and I’m sure that if we got together, we could create a similar document and help each other out.  So, I’m bringing the same 4 questions and the same Google Document to you.

So, I’m offering YOU a chance to participate and to receive the same Conference Goodie Bag, of 12 different items, that my participants will be receiving.  All you have to do is leave feedback on at least 5 of the 15 websites.  After you have left feedback on the Google Document, fill out the form below and you will be automatically entered to win the following goodie bag.  Stop by my blog – Raki’s Rad Resources to participate and enter to win.

Earth Science Glog

My class’ new unit is focused on Earth Science. 

One of the activities we are working on is our Earth’s Materials Glog project.  My students are using books like Rocks and Minerals and Usborne Geographical Encyclopedia, as well as websites like http://www.kidsgeo.com/geology-for-kids/ and kid-friendly search engines like www.factmonster.com to find information about a material they chose.  Some of the earth’s materials they have chosen are: clay, gold, granite, diamond, pearl, ruby and sapphire.  When they finished with their research by the end of this week and then they will use http://edu.glogster.com to create a glog about their material.

Stop by my blog – Raki’s Rad Resources – for more Earth Science ideas.

Winter Holiday Show

I teach at a small, International School in Morocco.  We are so small that we are our own Enrichment teachers (Art, Music and Drama).  While this sounds like extra work, it’s actually a cool way to get to see a completely different side of our students. 

Since I’m the “Drama Teacher” at this time of the year, I got to play the Holiday Show. The International School environment can be tricky when it comes to winter holidays.  My students are very diverse and I want them to have a chance to appreciate that diversity, especially during the holidays.  I looked and looked for a Holiday Play that would celebrate the extreme diversity found in a school like mine, and not just the big three winter holidays celebrated in the US – Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanza.  When I couldn’t find what I was looking for, I decided to write it.  So, here it is, “a truly multicultural holiday play”.  Named “Light Up the World with Celebrations” this holiday play, complete with 3 songs, celebrates light as the common factor among so many holidays celebrated worldwide.  Some of the holidays included are:  Christmas, Diwali, St. Martin’s Day, Las Posadas, Ramadan, Hanukah,  Winter Solstice, Eid al F’tour, Kwanza and St. Lucia’s Day.  Download a free script from my Teachers Pay Teachers store.

Build Those Math Facts

How do you recognize your students achievements in math facts? I have created a pictograph on my door to help my students keep track of their achievements.  My students earn a sun for each level of multiplication they master, a cloud for each level of division they master, and a moon for each level of mixed multiplication and division they master. Stop by my blog – Raki’s Rad Resources to find out more details and to find out how to download this system for free.

Choose The Free Resource You’d Like Me to E-mail You

Today I turn 30, and I’m trying not to think about it!  So, I decided to giveaway my store.  Everyone gets to choose their own present, from my Teachers Pay Teachers store.  There are almost 400 items to choose from.  You can ask for anything from my store that is NOT a .zip folder.  (Last year the .zip folders jammed up my Outlook, lol!)

All you have to do to get your present is leave me a comment telling me what you like about my blog and what present you’d like me to send you.  Stop by my blog – Raki’s Rad Resources – November 9th or 10th to leave a comment and get your free gift.

 

Writing With English Language Learners

More than half of my class (Grades 3 & 4) are in their very first year of academic English.  Many are still in the “silent phase” where they don’t actually have enough language to participate in a conversation.  So if we don’t have enough language to tell a story, how do we get enough language to write a story?  I’ll admit, our first stories were rough, and felt like pulling teeth.  However, my kids have made some great strides in the last 3 months.  Here is a storybird created by one of my first year writing students, called Omar the Alien and the Haunted House.  I love using storybirds in my classroom because it brings out the best writing in all of my students, especially my English Language Learners.  Rather than sitting and trying to think of what to say, they use the pictures, link them to English words they know and build their story around them.

For more ways I get my English Language Learners writing, please stop by and check out my recent post on the subject at my blog – Raki’s Rad Resources.

 

Websites for the Elementary Classroom–Free E-Book

It’s official, I have published a book, an e-book that is.  Every Wednesday I write a Wednesday Website Suggestion on my blog, Raki’s Rad Resources.  This weekend, I compiled these suggestions into an E-Book that is available to you completely free!  This E-Book is a compilation of my “tried and true” favorite websites to use in an elementary classroom.  It has two sections, one sorted by grade level and one sorted by subject.  I hope that this compilation will be of benefit to those teachers who truly want to use websites as teaching tools, but are just not sure what sites to use.

You can download your free copy as a PDF file from Teachers Pay Teacher, or in the format that is best for your e-reader (Kindle, Nook, etc.) at Smashwords.  Either way, feel free to use and share this resource, and don’t forget to stop by Raki’s Rad Resources for next week’s Wednesday Website Suggestion!

Cooking in Math

Recently, my class was working on measurement.  One of the things we had to work on was doubling and halving measurements – especially in regards to grams and recipes.  My students were to take a recipe and figure out how much of each ingredient was needed to make a double batch and half a batch.  So, of course this was a great time for cooking in the classroom!  There is so much vocabulary, reading, science, math, and real-life skills that can be worked into a single cooking activity.  I love to cook with my students.  Luckily, the school that I teach at – International School of Morocco – has a lot of resources on hand for projects like this. Grab a free printable sheet of the recipe we used, which is ready for students to write their doubled and halved amounts directly on, as well as more details about this project at my blog – Raki’s Rad Resources.