Five for Friday Linky Party

I'm linking up today with Doodle Bugs Teaching for a Five for Friday linky where I post 5 random things for today or this week.  So here are my 5...

We've had quite a few snow days in the past 3 weeks, which is unusual for the southeast area of Virginia where I live.  Last night we didn't get much, but it was mostly sleet and ice and it's really cold this morning.  So strange since the temps were in the 60s on Wednesday.  Our sup called last night to let us know we'd have a 2 hour delay, but this morning they canceled school for the day.  Here's what it looked like outside my front door this morning.  I know it doesn't look like much for our northern friends, but our back country roads are all ice.  Better safe than sorry...

So today I get an unexpected day at home!  Yippee!  I actually have lots to catch up on.  First on my list is the yearbook.  I am WAY behind in getting the yearbook finished for one of my schools, so today is a blessing to work on it.  I decided on a detective/mystery theme this year.  Here are the front and back covers of my yearbook so far...

This week I worked with one of my besties who teaches 2nd grade.  She is currently teaching money and wanted to do something with the iPads.  So, I worked on some QR code task cards.  The students LOVED it!  We put some money on their desks and played the Scoot game.  It was so much fun. 

After we tried it out in her room, I made some additions and improvements and added this to my TpT and TN stores.  I am really pleased with the way it turned out.  Check it out...

 

I'm excited to have been really working on my new Facebook Fan page!  And I already have 64 likes - Woohoo! Be sure to check it out.  I plan to post some Freebies soon!

This week I have also been working with a 6th grade language arts teacher and her classes.  We have been doing a nonfiction project where students have read a nonfiction book, completed research on their topic and created presentations with Prezi.  It has been lots of fun and I'm so excited to see how creative and different all of the student projects are turning out.  We are still working on finishing them, so I'll post a few next week when they are complete.  If you haven't seen Prezi, you have to check it out!

Have an awesome weekend... and hope for warmer weather soon!

Top 10 Tech Tools: #2 Prezi

#2 is Prezi!

Prezi is an awesome modern presentation tool! One of its best aspects is that it is cloud-based which means you can access, edit and present from anywhere you have an Internet connection. An app is also available for mobile devices. Different than most presentation tools, Prezi's interface uses a single "page" or board and a zooming feature that allows the user to visually explain how concepts relate to one another. There are also tons of great professional templates to get you started.

 

I've used this tool with several classes and for various projects.  The students love, love, LOVE it!  It is so easy for them to learn and use. I have used this tool with third graders to create presentations on famous Americans.  Fourth grade students created presentations on famous Virginians in the Virginia Studies standards.  Last spring, 6th grade students created presentations for SOL review on language arts topics.  There are endless ways to use Prezi.  Be sure to check it out for yourself!

Top 10 Tech Tools: #1 Nearpod

It's almost Back to School time, so it's time for me to share my Top 10 Tech Tools with you.  Hopefully you will find at least one that you LOVE and want to implement in your class this year.

So, here we go...

#1 on the list is Nearpod

I LOVE this tool!  Nearpod is both an online tool and an app.  This tool is a creative way to present to your students.  Create a presentation within Nearpod or upload a PowerPoint or pdf file.  You can even choose a presentation from the Nearpod library and use as is or edit it to make it your own. 

 

There are several great things about this presentation tool... First, you can make it interactive!  Within your presentation, add polls, quizzes, open-ended questions or have your students draw a response.  Second, you control your when and what your students see on their computers or devices.  As you move through the presentation on your device, the "slides" automatically move for your students on theirs.  If you have a mobile device (tablet or phone), you can move around the classroom as you present to your students.  Next, is the ability to access and download reports which makes it a great assessment tool!  Want your students to be able to access the presentation from home?  No problem.  You can also assign it as a Homework session.  If you'd like to learn more, check out this great video on Nearpod. 

 

 Stayed tuned for the next 9 on my Top 10 list! :)

Prezi Presentations

Love, love, love this web 2.0 tool for creating presentations!  Prezi.com is an online tool that allows you to create presentations on a single canvas that zoom in, out and around ideas.  They are constantly improving and adding to the tool and have many templates you can use.  I have created Prezis with students in 3rd-7th grade and they love the fresh look and feel!  It is an easy to use program and they learn it quickly.  Check it out -- http://prezi.com/