So I'm all about keeping it easy.  I love this new website and blog platform called teacherwebit.  The site allows teachers to quickly sign up for a subdomain, add a picture and assignment, and have a blog set up in 3 minutes. Once I set up my portal, I added all my students blogs--all for free (I can complete a blog unit in 3 weeks--after that you have to upgrade, but you can do so for $12 a year right now.)  And it was super easy to do this--the kids know how to work the blogs--I just needed to add assignments and they were off to the races!  I was paying $9 a month on a different site last year for my student blogs, and to be honest, teacherwebit is easier and faster for students. 

Other finds?  Well recently, I have been in love with livebinder.com.  This is an amazing platform for organizing all your technology tools.  Our technology team is in the middle of setting up our own live binder with all the most recent techno tools we can find.  I will add a live link to our binder once it is complete!

And lastly, still my favorite tool of the trade--Animoto.com.  Animoto allows students to make professional looking presentations in minutes (and I already told you how I love to keep it simple).  You can also sign up for a free educators pass so that all of your students can build presentations for free.  (otherwise you have to pay for videos longer than 30 seconds.)  Pretty cool--worth a few minutes to check it out.

And if you haven't been to DonorsChoose.org, you are missing out.  I have already had one project funded--$700.00 worth of Ray Bradbury Graphic Novels--thank you DonorsChoose!

Best! 
1 Comment
 
 

I just started putting together my new website for my classroom.  I haven't gotten too far, but I thought I'd add a post here to let you know where you can build a free website, too.  I have used Weebly --it's very intuitive, and you can easily upgrade to a web domain that you choose (this website is built on Weebly).  I am just getting to know TEACHER WEB IT, and I'm lovin' it as well.  It doesn't get any easier to quickly create a website that students can go to and get information fast. I just set up a blogging unit for the novella Of Mice and Men--I set up blogs for all the primary characters, added a picture, and just like that I have an engaging lesson unit where students can collaborate.  Here are several places that you can go to and find free website or blog options for your classroom community.

Teacherwebit

Weebly

Snap Pages

Yola

Webs

Web Node

Sauropol

Hipero

 



2 Comments
 
Common Craft 06/23/2009
 

Common Craft's most recent videos...



13 Comments
 
Glogster 06/22/2009
 

An interesting application--Glogster--like a blog, but less words and more pictures...  A teacher might organize a variety of assignments from a unit of instruction--or depending on the age of your students, you students could create their own glogs around an assignment or unit.

1 Comment
 
PikiWiki 06/20/2009
 

PikiWiki is a wiki website that is more oriented to multimedia and to drag-and-drop editing. This is a system which younger students can use, and it's free...

1 Comment
 
 

Couldn't resist this one... too cute...

2 Comments
 
I'm baaaack! 06/11/2009
 
Picture

Almost unbelievable... I'm going back to work. *big grin*  When we made this unexpected move to the desert, we thought I'd being staying home with Kate for 2 years--not so.  Kate is ready for preschool (big time), and I'm more than ready to be back in the classroom--can't wait!  I'm a little nervous because I taught in the same classroom in a great school for the first part of my career--I'm not sure what to expect in this new school in a somewhat rural community.  I'll keep you posted--school starts in early August!

A new websites to check out... Prezi.  I'm always looking for new ways to present data--this one looks interesting and new, and there is a free version (gotta love free!) 

1 Comment
 
 

Thank you for your consistent support!   I'm officially taking Entrecard off of this site as I am no longer keeping this site current!  Take care--Best! 

2 Comments
 
 

El Milagro, one of my favorite blogs, had included this video with a recent post.  It is a powerful video that could be used in the classroom in a variety of ways--it is also a personal reminder of the truths that we hold dear...

"Too often we excuse those who are willing to build their own lives on the shattered dreams of other human beings..."

2 Comments
 
5 friends... 10/07/2008
 

There are some naughty words, but the message is great!

Add Comment