Ten great sites with free teacher resources

Ten great sites with free teacher resources

eSchool News has compiled this list of some of the best free teacher websites on the web; what are your favorites?

By Jenna Zwang, Assistant Editor
Read more by Jenna Zwang


http://www.eschoolnews.com/2011/02/18/ten-great-sources-of-free-teacher-resources/?

Returning to normal...

After spending Friday, February 10th at the NASA Ames Research Center it has taken me several days to "return to normal."  I'm reminded of when I first heard the audio version of "Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy" -- there is a spot where the space ship's abnormalities affect the crew and after a correction has been made, the ship's computer announces, that "all systems have been returned to normal, any abnormalities from this point forward are merely your own."

That's how I felt as the day at NASA progressed. I was so excited about all of the people that I met that were among the 72 attendees; but also, the people from NASA Ames that were our presenters. These were specialists in their fields and they were spening their precious time to explain to us about their discoveries and their missions. These were the top in their field.

As we sat in the visitor's center for Ames, surrounded by examples and exhibits of the vast accomplishments of NASA centers around the globe, then a screen filled with the information from the Keplar; SOFIA and other missions that we had been allowed to come together for the details and information. It was truly what one person labelled, "a geek fest". But never had a "tweetup" geek fest occureda t this location. We were the first. (There had been previous "tweetup's at NASA, Florida; but this was the first one for Ames!)

After listening to not only the science behind Keplar, Astrobiology and SOFIA; when heard the passion that each of these scientists offered us about their mission or their whole body of work. This excitement in their voices and their presentations as well as their body language carried over to their teams as well. As we travelled by bus after lunch to the various mission offices, we saw and heard this same excitement and passion from the team members. They were excited in what they were doing. They were excited that we were there to hear their story and could have possibly talked for hours on end to us, but the day was packed full of hands-on demonstrations, presentations and visual effects that for this writer overwhelmed me with not only the amount of information and data that I was receiving but the quality of the visual, emotional and instructional informaiton. For the first time in a very long time, my brain was full!

I was experiencing such an overwhelming amount that it was hard at first to digest and compartamentalize the information for later retrieval. My whole purpose in going was to bring back to my classroom the information and excitement so that they could see how exciting science and technology is and how pertinent and important this is in their world, now and beyond.

Now that it's almost been a week, I'm just now working on the several hundred photos, hours of video and returning to "normal" -- but I'm still excited to spread the passion and the excitement to not only  my students, but throughout my school and even farther to make sure that we get students today to experience that science, technology, engineering and mathemathics are NOT boring, but where they can do more than reach for the stars, they can hunt and find new planets!

Thanks, NASA Ames for such a great mind-strectching event!

Don

Getting ready for the time of my life!

In just a few short hours I will be boarding a flight to take me to the NASA Ames Research Center near San Jose, California. I will be a part of the NASA_#Tweetup for Feb 11, 2011. To say that I'm excited is an understatement. I have look forward for a day with NASA since I was a little boy watching the Mercury, Gemini, Apollo and Shuttle missions. My wife says that this is on my "bucket" list -- but I don't know. I think it was on many lists - even the one that we keep of "never to be done". But now it's closer than ever and I'm just a blessed man to be working toward a certification to be a Special Education Teacher; taking advantage of this learning and to be able to share these experiences that I will be a part of with my current students and many more in the years ahead.

More tweeting and blogging as the day approaches. Now to figure out just how difficult the journey to the airport will be after getting blanketed by 2.5 inches of snow and ice for the "upteenth" time this winter.

Stay tuned!
Don

A great reading website for elementary kids...

Here's a great website that is interactive and helps kids on reading... check it out HERE!      Story Time For Me

Smart Board Templates!

Here's a link complete with several great SMART BOARD templates.

Remember that you have to have a Parmetheon or other type of Smart or IWB board software loaded in order to open these files. If you are using a SMART board already, then that shouldn't be a problem.

http://www1.center.k12.mo.us/edtech/SB/templates.htm


-Don

A Great Quote...

"Preparing Children for Their Technological Future" is a white paper, authored by Bill Daggett, covering the use of technology in the classroom and the impact it will have on global competition.

                  -Dr. Dagget

New Apps for the iPAD or iPOD for help in the classroom...

Following are 10 noteworthy apps, which can be downloaded on Apple devices, such as iPhones and iPads, that K-12 students and teachers and can use to enhance learning:

1.       Molecules is a free app that allows science students to manipulate colorful 3-D models of protein molecules. New models can be downloaded from the Research Collaboratory for Structural Bioinformatics, managed by Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey and the University of California, San Diego.

2.       Word Lens is a free video translator app that foreign language teachers can use for scavenger hunts.

3.       Blackboard Mobile Learn allows students and teachers whose schools already use Blackboard instant access to course listings. Students can download assignments that instructors have posted. The app is free.  

4.       Today in History is a free app that lists notable historical figures and events, which history teachers can use for trivia quizzes or facts of the day.

5.       Math Ref Free, a free version of the math reference application, Math Ref, includes helpful formulas, tips, and examples in advance math courses. Subject matter includes algebra, geometry, and trigonometry.

6.       PI83 Graphing Calculator can be used in place of any graphing calculator to input data and make graphs or matrices. The app costs 99 cents.

7.       Star Walk engages students who are learning about the solar system and beyond, highlighting planets, constellations, and the sky in motion. It costs 99 cents.

8.       Cram, which costs $3.99, can be used by teachers and students to create flashcards and tests to be electronically shared with others.

9.       Essay Grader allows teachers to choose from a bank of prewritten comments, which saves time compared to writing the similar comments over and over again by hand. Teachers can e-mail the grade sheet directly to students or export it to the computer for editing and printing. The cost is $5.99.

10.   eClicker,which costs $9.99, is a personal response system that allows teachers to poll their class during a lesson, providing teachers with real-time feedback. Developed for smartphones and laptops.

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