Photo retrieved from: www.summerreading.org 

Source:

www.scholastic.com

Photo retrieved from: smashingtops.com –

What is it?

Scholastic offers many tools and resources for teachers, students, and families.

There is a book club, lesson plans, teacher store, book wizard, strategies and ideas, games, etc.

Teachers can send out flyers each month for students and their families to purchase books.

 There are many student activities, newsletters, games, etc.  It is free to sign up at

www. scholastic.com!

Screenshot photo

Educational Uses

Scholastic can be used to expand your classroom library.  It could also be used to

find strategies and ideas for lessons. It has various student activities.

There are also learning games such as creating stories that students could use during literacy centers.

Content Standards

Whatever resources and tools a teacher uses through scholastic (lessons, strategies, etc)

will be able to align to the standards.

Assessment

A teacher could assess students by their accomplishments on creating stories

though the scholastic games.

Value

 Pros- Scholastic offers so many great ideas, strategies, and resources for teachers. PLUS what is better than a place where it wanting nothing but the best for students and teachers!

Cons- It can be overwhelming if you have never been on the scholastic website

References

www.scholastic.com

smashingtops.com

www.summerreading.org

Retrieved from: BrainPop Jr.jpg.

Source:

http://www.brainpop.com

        Photo retrieved from: www.brainpop.com

What is it?

Brain Pop BrainPOP creates animated, curricular content that engages students, supports educators, and bolsters achievement (Taken directly from www.brainpop.com). BrainPOP which includes BrainPOP Jr give students opportunities to learn content that typically is more complex and brings it a level of student understanding through quizzes, activities and playing games. BrainPOP has to be purchased, but does offer a free educational game portal for the classroom called Game Up.

Educational Uses

BrainPOP would be great to introduce a unit or lesson in any subject.  It could be used to explain a concept in a lesson that is difficult for students to understand. It offers games (Game Up) that students can use to practice learning concepts which could be used during learning centers.

Content Standards

BrainPOP can easily be aligned with any standard in any subject, and in any grade level. 🙂

Assessment

BrainPOP could be used to assess a class as a whole or individual students as they play the games or take the quizzes. My BrainPOP includes teacher access to our Mixer, which lets users tailor assessments to meet all students’ needs (taken directly from www.brainpop.com).

Value

Pros It is a great tool for introducing and/or explaining learning concepts to students. It is entertaining and engaging for students.

Cons BrainPOP is not free.  Schools may purchase it for your classrooms, otherwise there is a yearly subscription for anyone to purchase it.

References

 http://www.brainpop.com

BrainPop Jr.jpg.

Starfall

Retrieved from: learn-to-read-software-review.toptenreviews.com

Source: www.starfall.com 

What is it?

Starfall is an educational website in which students are able to practice phonics and  phonemic awareness through games and activities. It is free to use, no sign up needed. It is perfect for students in preschool to second grade! It is also great for special education, ELL and ESL. All you need to do is go to www.starfall.com and students can begin using immediately.

Educational Uses

Starfall can be used to help students practice phonics and phonemic awareness. It could be used during literacy centers.

Possible content standards:

Kindergarten Reading Standards Foundational skills

Phonics and Word Recognition

3. Know and apply grade-level phonics and word analysis skills in decoding words.

a. Demonstrate basic knowledge of one-to-one letter-sound correspondences by producing the primary sound or many of the most

frequent sounds for each consonant.

b. Associate the long and short sounds with common spellings (graphemes) for the five major vowels.

c. Read common high-frequency words by sight (e.g. the, of, to, you, she, my, is, are, do, does).

d. Distinguish between similarly spelled words by identifying the sounds of the letters that differ.

Assessment

It would be difficult to assess students, because students are on a public website and students do not have accounts to save any information.  If improvement is being shown in other literacy based instruction that would be a way to assess how Starfall is working for students.

Value

Pros: Starfall is free, fun, and easy to navigate.

Cons: It is a public website therefore I it would be easy for students to navigate away from the page. There could also be an interference of pop-ups when students are using this program.

References

http://www.starfall.com

learn-to-read-software-review.toptenreviews.com

Teachers Pay Teachers

Retrieved from: learning-engineer.blogspot.com

Source: www.teacherspayteachers.com

What is it?

Teachers Pay Teachers is a marketplace in which teachers can search for ideas for lessons on any subject, and any grade level. It is a great tool for teachers to find ideas and resources when “stuck” and are needing new ideas to spice up their lessons. Teachers can buy, sell, and share their original resources.  You can sign up for free and begin searching for anything your heart desires (when it comes to teaching). 🙂 Some activities or resources cost money, but there is a way to narrow your search down to free items, what grade level and what topic you want.

Educational Uses

Teachers Pay Teachers can be used to search for resources that pertain to whatever lesson you are teaching. It can be used to find activities for learning centers. It can be used to find ideas for guided reading. It can be used to find ideas to enhance a math lesson. Teachers Pay Teachers is filled with many resources and ideas!

Some possible content standards that could be used with Teachers Pay Teachers are:

Kindergarten: RF 3.c. Read common high-frequency words by sight (e.g.,the, of, to, you, she, my, is, are, do, does). (for activities for sight word practice)

Kindergarten L1. Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.

a. Print many upper- and lowercase letters. (activities for letter practice)

Assessing on from lessons would depend on what lessons, activities or resources you have used from Teachers Pay Teachers.

Value

Pros: Teachers Pay Teachers can be a great resource for collecting and sharing ideas for lessons and activities in the classroom. 

Cons: Some resources, and activities have to be purchased. Teachers need to critically review resources before downloading or purchasing to make sure they are of quality.

References

www.teacherspayteachers.com

rmirani.wordpress.com

www.councilforeconed.org

Retrieved from: vitaminfix.com

Source: www.pinterest.com

What is it?

Pinterest is a pin-board style way of sharing photos that pertain to people’s interests, hobbies, collections, etc. You form boards based on what interests you and pin items to your boards. Pinterest is free and you can sign up using your facebook account or by creating a log in. Pinterest is a fun creative way to share and organize ideas based on your interests. You have friends that you can “follow” and share ideas through Pinterest. It is great for teachers to find, share, and pin ideas for lessons, classroom organization, and classroom decorating.

Educational Uses

Teachers can search for anything related to lesson planning.

It provides teachers with ideas that can assist their lessons, and activities for lessons.

Teachers can share their ideas with other teachers.

Using this as a teacher tool, teachers can find and ideas for lessons that align with the common core standards.

Using this as a teacher tool there is no set assessment, or way of assessing students. Teachers search for, and share ideas on assessment strategies for any subject.

Value

Pros Pinterest is a great way to organize your ideas and interests.  It provides teachers with great ideas that can enhance lessons!

Cons If you are not familiar with Pinterest it can be difficult to navigate.

References

www.pinterest.com

rmirani.wordpress.com

www.councilforeconed.org

Storyboard That

Retrieved from: www.storyboardthat.com

Source:http://www.storyboardthat.com

What is it?

Storyboard That is a website that allows you to create online storyboards of cartoon stories. It is an awesome way to create, and/or retell stories. There is a free version, but there is also an educational account that has teacher tools where the teacher can control different features such as privacy on the storyboards. To sign up go to http://www.storyboardthat.com.

Educational Uses

Storyboards can be used for any subject. Students can create storyboards to retell the main events of a story. Students can create storyboards to tell their favorite part of a story. Teachers could create storyboards to introduce a lesson or unit. There are many different ways this could be used in the classroom.

Possible content standards:

SL3.2 Determine the main ideas and supporting details of a text read aloud or information presented in diverse media and formats, including visually,quantitatively, and orally.

SL3.4 Report on a topic or text, tell a story, or recount an experience with appropriate facts and relevant, descriptive details, speaking clearly at an understandable pace.

SL 3.5 Create engaging audio recordings of stories or poems that demonstrate fluid reading at an understandable pace; add visual displays when appropriate to emphasize or enhance certain facts or details.

If students are creating a storyboard to retell a story a rubric or checklist would be a great way to assess students on this. Storyboard that is a great way to see how students are interpreting and comprehending stories.

Value

 Pros This is a great creative way for students as well as teachers to present stories.  Students and teachers can have a lot of fun with this.

Cons There is a free version that limits you on what you can do on storyboard that. For the Educational account it is $5.95 a month.

References

 www.storyboardthat.com

rmirani.wordpress.com

www.councilforeconed.org

screenshot taken from my computer

Source: www.animoto.com

What is it?

Animoto is a website where you can make videos using pictures, video clips, words, and music.  It can be used for anything from celebrations to sharing every day moments. It is a great tool for teachers to use in the classroom to celebrate those awesome learning moments! You can make a 30 second video for free (lite), or you can sign up for an education account to get the plus benefits which also adds more video time. To sign up go to: www.animoto.com.

Educational Uses:

Animoto could be used to create introduction videos at the beginning of the year. This tool could be used to create videos to introduce a new lesson or unit.  It could be used for classroom projects. Animoto can be used to promote classroom events and parties. The possibilities are endless!

Possible content standards:

SL 2.5 Create audio recordings of stories or poems; add drawings or other visual displays to stories or recounts of experiences when appropriate to clarify ideas, thoughts, and feelings.

RI 2.7 Explain how specific images (e.g., a diagram showing how a machine works) contribute to and clarify a text.

To assess students would be easy based on the end result of their video. What did they include? How creative were they? Do the words match what pictures are showing. Does the music flow with the video? A teacher could form a checklist a rubric on what to assess for from the videos.

Value:

Pros: Animoto is a great teaching tool for teachers and students.  Website is easy to navigate. Students can learn to create videos for projects. Teachers can use this for lessons, units, projects, promoting events, and more!

Cons: For the free version you are only able to create a 30 second video.  You can apply for an education account, but it does take some time to process.

Reference

http://www.animoto.com

rmirani.wordpress.com

www.councilforeconed.org

Retrieved from: http://exchange.smarttech.com/#tab=0

Source: http://exchange.smarttech.com

What is it?

Smart Exchange is a free website where you can find pre-made lessons for the smartboard on any subject, and for any grade level.  You can also search for videos, images, manipulatives, widgits and more.  A teacher can recommend resources and share them on Smart Exchange. It is a helpful teaching tool for teachers when searching for lessons for the smart board.

Educational Uses

Teachers can use Smart Exchange for specific lessons for the Smart board. There are learning games, activities, videos, manipulatives, etc. that can be downloaded to assist any lesson that is being taught.  Downloaded lessons or activities can be used in learning centers.  Videos can be used to enhance a lesson that is being taught.

Retrieved from: www.councilforeconed.org

To determine a content standard would depend on what lesson a teacher chooses to use.  There are many lessons/ activities/learning games/ etc. to choose and find a standard to align.

Retrieved from: rmirani.wordpress.com

This is a teacher tool, but if it is a lesson in which students are coming up to use the smart board a teacher would be able to assess the student accordingly.

Value

Pros:This is a great tool for teachers to find activities, games to assist in any lesson they are teaching, and it’s free to sign up!  If you click on the community link on the home page, there is a blog that gives tips and resources pertaining to education.

Cons: The site is difficult to navigate if you are not familiar with it.

Reference

http://exchange.smarttech.com

rmirani.wordpress.com

 www.councilforeconed.org

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