Technology in K-8 Classrooms Fern McCloskey Fern McCloskey

Introduction Introduction  Technology has moved into the classroom and with it comes a host of interactive tools to engage, enlighten, and enrich the lives of both teachers and students.  With society moving more and more towards the utilization of technology in all that we do, it just makes good sense to educate ourselves about all the ways the internet can help us be more effective educators.

Summary Findings  Below is an outline of 6 websites and their uses in the classroom.  Some focus on teacher support i.e.: lesson plans, subject topics, printable worksheets and others provide interactive tools to use in the classroom.  I have included a description of each sites content, style, and purpose as well as some material you can start integrating in your classrooms.  Click Here to view Research Paper Click Here Click Here

Education World  Fantastic for first time teachers and those that want to begin utilizing technology in the classroom.  Features detailed lesson plans, subject material information and classroom management skills.  Easy to navigate and useful for both teachers and students.

Educationworld.com Educationworld.com When Kathy Gaji found that her second grade students in Binghamton, New York, just weren't remembering everything they needed to know to be ready for the day, she created a "morning check-in" routine to correct the problem. "Morning check-in is the time when I hear about things that help me adjust better to the children's needs that day," Gaji observed. When Kathy Gaji found that her second grade students in Binghamton, New York, just weren't remembering everything they needed to know to be ready for the day, she created a "morning check-in" routine to correct the problem. "Morning check-in is the time when I hear about things that help me adjust better to the children's needs that day," Gaji observed.

Education World "I know who has had a tragic accident with a pet or who seems sleepy or might be getting sick. It tells me who needs a little extra encouragement that day. It lets me know if someone is in a bad mood, if there are ongoing troubles between classmates, and so on." "I know who has had a tragic accident with a pet or who seems sleepy or might be getting sick. It tells me who needs a little extra encouragement that day. It lets me know if someone is in a bad mood, if there are ongoing troubles between classmates, and so on."

Educationworld.com Animals A-Z Edits Box Cars Math Games Lesson Plans! Every-Day Edits Fact Monster Hunts Five-Minute Fillers Friday Fun Ideas Holiday Ideas Learning Games Lesson of the Day Lesson Plan Newsletter News for KIDS Show-Biz Science Word Search Puzzles Animals A-Z Edits Box Cars Math Games Lesson Plans! Every-Day Edits Fact Monster Hunts Five-Minute Fillers Friday Fun Ideas Holiday Ideas Learning Games Lesson of the Day Lesson Plan Newsletter News for KIDS Show-Biz Science Word Search PuzzlesAnimals A-Z Edits Box Cars Math Games Every-Day Edits Fact Monster Hunts Five-Minute Fillers Friday Fun Ideas Holiday Ideas Learning Games Lesson of the Day Lesson Plan Newsletter News for KIDS Show-Biz Science Word Search PuzzlesAnimals A-Z Edits Box Cars Math Games Every-Day Edits Fact Monster Hunts Five-Minute Fillers Friday Fun Ideas Holiday Ideas Learning Games Lesson of the Day Lesson Plan Newsletter News for KIDS Show-Biz Science Word Search Puzzles

ABC Teach  This website provides tools for teachers to use in the classroom. The chart below shows the different types of tools available however there is a fee of $36.00 a year per teacher to utilize the materials. The site is easy to navigate and has 1000’s of printable worksheets. The information on theme units is especially good as well as the section on basics for math and reading. 

ABC Teach  The reading comprehension section is a fantastic tool to use to test your students on their reading comprehension skills. The students can pick a story online and answer questions which will make the learning experience more enjoyable. Other ideas include online skill building under Basics which include math and writing.

abcteach.com abcteach.com  Basics ABC Activities, Reading, Reading Comprehension, Math, Writing, Handwriting, Colors, Shapes Basics  Theme Units ABC Activities, Reading, Reading Comprehension, Math, Writing, Handwriting, Colors, Shapes Animals, Theme Units Theme Units  Habitats, Holidays,, Sports, Countries, States, and more.  Research/Reports Research Forms, Report Helpers, Book Report Forms, Maps, Flags, Writing Research/Reports

A to Z teacher Stuff  This website is wonderful for first time teachers and those who are beginning to utilize technology in their teaching career. Articles on classroom management and best practices in the classroom are wonderful in addition to lesson plans, themes, tips, and a free newsletter for teachers. The site is also very easy to navigate.

A to Z Teacher Stuff  A to Z Teacher Stuff is a teacher-created site designed to help teachers find online resources more quickly and easily. Find lesson plans, thematic units, teacher tips, discussion forums for teachers, downloadable teaching materials & eBooks, printable worksheets and black lines, emergent reader books, themes, and more. One section that is especially useful is the Theme Resource Pages which identify monthly activities that coincide with holidays. This site is ideal for the younger elementary grades.

Teachable Moment Teachable Moment This website is useful for grades K- 12 in discussing issues of social responsibility. The subject topics are age appropriate and useful for managing interactions in the classroom. Below is a list of issues common in the classroom and ways you can solve them. This website is useful for grades K- 12 in discussing issues of social responsibility. The subject topics are age appropriate and useful for managing interactions in the classroom. Below is a list of issues common in the classroom and ways you can solve them.

Teachable Moment Teachable Moment  Problem-Solving Approaches for your Classroom  The more regularly you use the ABCDE and Quick Thinking approaches described below, the more independent your students will become at solving their problems. These practices, if instituted regularly, can improve classroom climate and teach students skills that will benefit them inside and outside of school.

Teachable Moment Teachable Moment  The ABCDE approach, developed by William Kreidler, can be used as a regular method for addressing issues in the classroom. Try it as a weekly part of your schedule. Or, if you have community meetings already in place, use it to structure your meeting. If you implement it regularly, then your students can rely on it as a time to address their concerns. When issues arise in the classroom, remind the children that their problems can be brought up and considered during the regular meeting.

Teachable Moment Teachable Moment  Ask the class to brainstorm a list of problems and then guide them through a process of choosing one to focus on. You may want to guide them to choose a problem that seems to involve the most people.. Then address the problem as follows: Ask, What's the problem? Give the students a chance to talk about the problem and how it affects them.  Brainstorm solution.  Set a time limit of several minutes (3-5 minutes). Encourage the group to share lots of ideas. Record them on a chart or the white board. Don't discuss or judge any idea. The ideas don't need to be "realistic," sometimes even a "silly" idea has a germ of wisdom that can lead to a creative solution.  Choose one. Discuss the ideas. Talk about the consequences of trying out various ideas. Ask: Which have the best chance of working to solve the problem?

Constitution Center Constitution Center  This website offers educational resources for teachers and students on our country’s rich history. Resources include articles, games, and tips to help promote Philadelphia’s strong heritage in our nations fight for freedom. This site is ideal for 5- 12th grades. Below is some information about the Constitution Center and its resources.

Constitution Center  This site can be used when learning about the US Constitution. One section called Being American offers ways in which students can connect to local government through local community projects. Another fantastic way to encourage students to get involved in their community and foster life long interests.

Constitutional Center Being AmericanBeing American — The National Constitution Center's teacher resources includes service-learning programs for middle and high schools as a form of education that brings together students, teachers, and community partners in ways that foster responsible citizenship and promotes a lifelong involvement in civic and social issues. Being American  Centuries of Citizenship- A Constitutional Timeline Discover two hundred years of constitutional history, as told through a collection of stories and headlines spotlighting some of the people, events and issues that have shaped the Constitution. Centuries of Citizenship- A Constitutional Timeline Centuries of Citizenship- A Constitutional Timeline

FunBrain FunBrain  This interactive website is for K-8 and focuses on math, reading, science and social studies. The site is easy to navigate and is a fun site to incorporate in your classroom activities. Students will find the site interesting and full of activities. The games are fantastic and can be utilized immediately along with your lesson plan. Some great game ideas include Grammar Gorilla where students have to identify parts of speech and Writers Block where students learn basic rules of grammar. Both are interactive and keep students hooked!

Conclusion Conclusion  With the availability of quality educational websites, utilizing technology in the classroom has never been easier. You can start out slow and use the sites to help you become more aware of the technology available. Once you feel comfortable, you can start using the tips and lesson plans provided and then move towards interactive lessons and games to help your students master the subject matter in a fun and interesting way.  Click Here for additional websites Click Here Click Here  Click Here for closing remark Click