Just+for+Teachers



Throughout the past few years, I have found a few sites that have been very helpful for teaching. I have links all over my wiki to many of these sites but below you will find the actual web address and how I have used them in the classroom or how I plan on using them this upcoming year. Each year I attend the Technology In Education Conference (TIE) where I have learned how to use many of these resources. You can also email me at carriesheftel@gmail.com if you have any questions or ideas. For help setting up your wiki go to[| worldlywikis.wikispaces.com]

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Having a strong list of helpful and interactive websites can make your wiki go from “Regular” to “Awesome”. We have constructed a list of websites that will help you make your wiki fun, interactive and educational.


 * //__ Embedded Sites __//** : Below is a list of sites where you can get HTML codes and embed videos, slides, and more into your wiki.

[|www.teachertube.com]: Become a member and you can embed videos to your wiki. You can also upload your own videos and embed them into your wiki. Great for lessons.

[|www.polldaddy.com]: Here you can create polls for the students to answer on your wiki. You can track results by percents which can make a great math lesson as well.

[|www.timerime.com]: A website full of time lines based on historical events. You can make your own timeline as well. Just get the HTML code and embed the widget.

[|www.authorstream.com]: This site is great for upload PowerPoint’s that will look like a video when you embed it into your wiki. Your students can use this to create movies around stories they have written.

[|www.sitemeter.com]: You can become a member for free and track the usage of your site. Just embed the widget at the bottom of your page.

[|www.gcast.com]: A way to upload podcast and then you can transfer them to your wiki.

[|http://Animoto.com]: A great site for uploading pictures and having music playing in the background. One you have uploaded pictures and the music, get the HTML code and upload it to your wiki.

[|www.bubbleshare.com]: also a way to upload a picture slide show to your wiki.

[]: here you can find movies and videos from news outlets and more. There is even an education section.

[|www.google.com]: After setting up a google account you can upload documents into google docs and get the HTML code and upload them into your wiki. You can also upload your calendar which is great for posting assignments.
 * //__ Connecting to other classrooms in the world __//** : Many teachers have been wanting to connect with other classrooms around the world. Below are some sites that will help you find a classroom to connect with.

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You can keep discussion going through your “Discussion” tab at the top of the page. Just make sure all students from both classes are members of the wiki.
 * //__ Keeping the connection __//** : Classrooms can stay connected with one another through a variety of methods…

[|www.blogger.com]: you can create a blog where the classes can take turns writing an entry and then the students can post comments. Here is an example: []

[|www.skype.com]: A way to video conference with people around the world.

[|www.chatterous.com]: On this site you can create a private chatroom for your students. When they log on they will be directed to the chatroom based on your invitation (or link). Here the students can have a live chat or an ongoing chat about what they are learning or culture differences.


 * //__ Learning about other cultures __//** : Here are some sites where the students can learn about other cultures around the world. You can use these sites in conjunction with a pen-pal program or you can just do a unit of cultures around the world.

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If you use the 6+1 traits of writing, below are some great websites that describe each trait in detail. A few of the sites have sample papers and papers that you and your students can score. I have also found a few sites that help students make and create graphic organizers. If you happen to have windows 2007, there are many neat features in “Word” where students can create their very own webs and organizers under the Insert tab and then go to Smart Art. [] A site where you can make flow charts and much more.
 * //__ Other Helpful Educational Sites __//** : We have gathered some sites that we felt were very helpful and can be added into your regular classroom curriculum.
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[] Jing is where you can make videos for instruction. It copies your desktop. This will be great for instruction so you won't have to repeat yourself over and over:) [|http://voicethread.com] A website that you can use to create an online movie using pictures and/or video and podcast. They also have free educator memberships where you can access to more memory. Just sign in to the free account and then click on pricing and click on the go pro button. After that, you will need to look at the bottom of the new pop up box and you will see a link for k-12 educators. This site is very classroom friendly.

[|http://www.picnik.com] Here the students can edit photos and add details to the photos. The students can then save the photos and upload them into a movie maker or voice thread movie.

[|eMINTS.org] This web page is set up by content area for thousands of subject areas. Once you click on the content area of your choice you will be able to click on other links that relate to that contact area. Some of the links will be more information and others will be games and activities that the students can use. It is hard for younger students to use this site but it is a great tool for teachers.

[] I love this site and have used it for so many of my vacation pictures. It is a free site where you can upload your photo and place them in an online scrapbook. You can add stickers, backgrounds, text, and even music. I think that this would be a great way to send out classroom pictures (I usually use Kodak Galleries so the parents can order the pictures if they would like) and have the students design the pages, text and so on. It would be a great way to teach younger students about captions. I can also use this for our poetry unit and our "How to" assignments. I also plan on using this site for reading. The students can design scrapblogs showing the setting, characteristics of a character, or even the main idea from the book. The only down side is that you have to have email accounts. I am setting up groups where 5 students will have the same account and can use scrapblog that way.

[|Gaggle:] Gaggle is a site where you can set up free email accounts for you students. Before the emails go into their accounts you will be able to preview it. This is a great way to monitor how the students are using their email accounts. It does take a few extra steps to set up these accounts but it is safe and very kid friendly.

Webquest: webquest can be made by using a powerpoint or using this website []. I plan on using powerpoint and then downloading them into google doc for a web presentation. I will create these pages around our science and social studies curriculum units. The students will be separated into groups and each member of the group will have a specific role. The students will search the website that I give them and search for information on the web. They will need to have a written document showing the information that they discovered. I will also have a rubric for grading. The students will have access to the rubric during the project so that they can check and see that they are meeting the requirements. http://mrssheftelsclass.wikispaces.com/Educational+links
 * //__ Kid Friendly Sites __//** : Once you click on this page, you’ll find a collection of sites that are kid friendly and educational. The sites are categorized by 4th grade units but many teachers will find these sites helpful for any age or any subject.

Below is a list of our favorite kid friendly sites…. · [] Math games for Everyday Math users. Games are separated by grade levels and units.

· [] This site is for a library in MN but it has a great kids section where students can get help picking out books.

· [] Maps of every kind.

· [] This is an excellent site where students have access to thousands of resources from the National Archives. It is a very interactive website where the students can click on pictures to learn more about them and it's history. They can also use the pictures to make an online poster or a movie.

· [] This is a neat site that gives facts about animals based around the 7 continents

· [] This is a great site to help with bullying issues. Examples: http://mrssheftel.wikispaces.com/ ---On this page you will find some examples of assignments students have completed over the years using technology.

Teacher help page from wikispaces: Here you can find information on anything including how to create student accounts without needed an email address. http://www.wikispaces.com/help+teachers