NewsMix for Educators and more

News mix is an App that affords the ability to create a personalized magazine based on selected interests. The best part is the ability to create multiple magazines! I have created a magazine for professional development, personal interests, and one geared towards my students. This alone will enable them to do research, develop interests, and work on literacy skills within a magazine available on their tablet. NewsMix is available through iTunes.

SnapGuide

SnapGuide is a tool that can be used by many to "show what they know." I just learned how to make a mixed fruit basket with a watermelon for the basket. Kids can make how-to guides to demonstrate learning of content. This can be shared through a variety of social sites like Twitter and email. Go to SnapGuide and create a free account. Explore the variety of instruction available and see why SnapGuide makes everyone a teacher!

101 Math Questions

101 Math Questions is a great tool for "hooking" students and getting them conversing about math. The pictures are sure to remain in their memory which will all contribute to building schema. I have used the snipping tool to demonstrate one picture that would be great to display for a quick write and maybe introduce balancing equations. What are some other ideas that could come from this picture?

Get the Math.org

Watch Get The Math - Music Video on PBS. See more from THIRTEEN Kids.

Tricks for Memorizing Multiplication Facts

My students have enjoyed learning their multiplication facts (even 8th graders) when they are allowed to find patterns or tricks on their own. However, if you want the tricks without making that discovery....here are a few. Please feel free to comment and give me some of your tricks as well. Obviously, 0, 1, and 10 are super easy and do not need a trick. But, the rest can be made easier and racing against someone or even yourself for time is an excellent way to ensure these facts are forever in your mind. In fact, I have taught at-risk students how to memorize the tricks and fill out the table in less than 2 minutes. Who does not have 2 minutes on a big test to write out the facts so you don't have to worry about making an error? That is perfectly legal on the STAR test for you to write out the table on your scratch paper. Let's continue with my little tricks... 2's just double the number being multiplied 3's add the 1's and 2's columns 4's just double the 2's columns 5's just add the 2's and 3's columns or the 1's and 4's columns 6's just double the 3's columns 7's add the 3's and 4's columns 8's double the 4's column 9's use the 9's finger trick or notice the tens column goes up from 0 while the ones column goes down from 9 11's are easy until you get to double digits but separate the other number and put their sum in the middle (11 x 15 is done like this 1_5 the sum of 1 and 5 is 6 so put that in the middle to get 165) 12's are the 6's doubled * 56 = 7 x 8 which is a fact that a lot of people forget but if you look at it this way you will never forget 5,6,7,8 because they are in order. See what other tricks you can find and try to beat 2 minutes!

Educreations Interactive Whiteboard

It is a sickness, I guess, but I have not been out of school for more than 3 days and I and already looking at tools to get started going paperless next school year. I have a couple whiteboard apps but Educreations Interactive Whiteboard has caught my attention with the ability to record and embedd. I have tried it out and if you would like to see and hear me stumble through a demo (haha) then check it out!  The app is free which is great with my IT department and the budget:)

Instagram for Educators

I do not personally know many adults who utilize Instagram.  Most of my family and friends are on Facebook.  However, it seems that most of my students are on Instagram more frequently than Facebook and when I ask them about Facebook they just say stuff like "Oh, that's old."  I like Instagram as well because you can just post and view pictures of family and friends as well as "like" pictures quickly.  Since my students love Instagram so much, I decided to utilize this site as a method for communicating with my students and building rapport.  It is extremely easy to take a snapshot on my phone of the homework assignment (off the computer, whiteboard, smartboard, etc.) and post it on Instagram.  My students are easily able to access it or bypass it if they are not interested.  I have also posted graphic organizers and pictures from class.  My students like seeing pictures of my family as well.  I feel like this is just one other resource for teachers to reach out and enhance the classroom environment.  Snap away!

AVID support that helps students the most!

AVID support that helped students the most!

RIMS AVID Podcast

This podcast is an interview of an AVID senior named Chad from West Valley High School in Hemet, CA.  Chad has overcome many serious obstacles on the road to college including death and the imprisonment of family members, so I ask him how he did it and how AVID helped him get college fully paid for.  I also ask how he selected the university that he'll be attending next year (UC Riverside) and what advice he has for others.  Oh, and did I mention that Chad is the Valedictorian at West Valley?!?