Blogs I Have Commented On

http://kindergartenrocksandotherthoughts.blogspot.com
Candy Florence
http://teachprayandlove.blogspot.com/
Janet Taylor
http://macklindsey.blogspot.com/
Linsey Mack

Kerpoof!

I absolutely love Kerpoof!  There are so many ways to inspire children to be creative using this website.      
Students can create their own cards, drawings and pictures using paint tools, drawing and writing.  Students can also create their own movies while teaching them how to animate characters, and they can create stories as well.  There is a spell a word activity that gives students a picture and they have to spell the word - all of these activities are wonderful for younger elementary students.  There are free teacher accounts with the option to set up student accounts so your students can save their work and you can monitor their output.  There is also lesson plan help as well as tools for teachers.  I have put some of my students on it and it is amazing to see their creativity flow!  Who knew I had so many future movie producers in my classroom!

Digital Storytelling - Animoto

I used Animoto to create a digital video.  I love this site because I see so much potential for having kids create videos on projects they are working on, whether it be history, science, reading, art - the possibilities are endless!  My son just created one for his Social Studies class and he was so excited to be working on it!

Animoto Link

Wikis

I have edited a Wiki I had created several years ago.  It was good to go back and review everything I had forgotten:)  I hadn't used it since I had created it and I am looking forward to all of the different ways I can use it in the classroom and with my colleagues.

Wiki Link

Pinterest

I have been using Pinterest for some time now and love all of the ideas that are available.  Many have come from friends and colleagues and many from just searching a particular topic.  I have found lots of cute lessons that I have implemented into my classroom as well as many classroom management resources.

School Ideas
Technology in Education
iPads in Education

Google Docs

Google Docs is a great tool to use for administrative/housekeeping items in the classroom. I can keep all of my classroom/parent information easily accessible. I could use it in my first grade classroom, however it would have to be somewhat modified due to the age group. We could complete a slide show as a class and email the link to parents so they can view their children's work. We could also create a document that children could edit on my account as a class and then post for viewing. Meet the Teacher (Google Doc)

Delicious

Setting up a Delicious account was easy, getting it to add the feature to bookmarks was not so easy. I like the idea of being able to collect and categorize all of the different websites I use in the classroom. I'm looking forward to using this feature. Delicious Link

Glogster

Using Glogster was fun and pretty simple. I've had experience using it before and it was good to use it again to refresh my memory! It's a good tool to use to create different things for the classroom and the kids love looking at them! It allows children to express themselves and the things that are of interest to them. It can be used in the classroom as a tool to introduce a particular topic or lesson. I look forward to using it in the classroom. Glogster Link

Interactive Read-Alouds

We have Interactive Read-Alouds in the classroom daily and I really like this concept.  After introducing the book and the author, we begin by taking a 'picture walk' which allows the children to think about what the book could be about.  This engages the children and encourages them to think about what they are seeing in the pictures.  When reading the story I use different, expressive voices to keep the children's interest.  Throughout the book, we will stop at different intervals and children will turn and talk with their partners to discuss what they have learned.  This allows them to get that much needed conversation piece and gives everyone a chance to have a voice.  Interactive Read Aloud