Technology inTechnology in

K-8 ClassroomsK-8 Classrooms Fern McCloskeyFern McCloskey

FMcCloskey@HolyFamily.eduFMcCloskey@HolyFamily.eduhttp://www.angelfire.com/planet/msmccloskeyhttp://www.angelfire.com/planet/msmccloskey

IntroductionIntroduction

Technology has moved into the classroom Technology has moved into the classroom and with it comes a host of interactive tools and with it comes a host of interactive tools to engage, enlighten, and enrich the lives to engage, enlighten, and enrich the lives of both teachers and students. of both teachers and students.

With society moving more and more With society moving more and more towards the utilization of technology in all towards the utilization of technology in all that we do, it just makes good sense to that we do, it just makes good sense to educate ourselves about all the ways the educate ourselves about all the ways the internet can help us be more effective internet can help us be more effective educators.educators.

Summary FindingsSummary Findings

Below is an outline of 6 websites and their Below is an outline of 6 websites and their uses in the classroom. uses in the classroom.

Some focus on teacher support i.e.: lesson Some focus on teacher support i.e.: lesson plans, subject topics, printable worksheets plans, subject topics, printable worksheets and others provide interactive tools to use in and others provide interactive tools to use in the classroom.the classroom.

I have included a description of each sites I have included a description of each sites content, style, and purpose as well as some content, style, and purpose as well as some material you can start integrating in your material you can start integrating in your classroomsclassrooms..

Click HereClick Here to view Research Paper to view Research Paper

Education WorldEducation Worldhttp://www.educationworld.comhttp://www.educationworld.com

Fantastic for first time teachers and Fantastic for first time teachers and those that want to begin utilizing those that want to begin utilizing technology in the classroom.technology in the classroom.

Features detailed lesson plans, Features detailed lesson plans, subject material information and subject material information and classroom management skills.classroom management skills.

Easy to navigate and useful for both Easy to navigate and useful for both teachers and students.teachers and students.

Educationworld.comEducationworld.com

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

Education WorldEducation World

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

Educationworld.comEducationworld.com Animals A-Z EditsAnimals A-Z Edits

Box Cars Math GamesBox Cars Math Games Lesson Plans!Lesson Plans!Every-Day EditsEvery-Day EditsFact Monster HuntsFact Monster HuntsFive-Minute FillersFive-Minute FillersFriday Fun IdeasFriday Fun IdeasHoliday IdeasHoliday IdeasLearning GamesLearning GamesLesson of the DayLesson of the DayLesson Plan NewsletterLesson Plan NewsletterNews for KIDSNews for KIDSShow-Biz ScienceShow-Biz ScienceWord Search PuzzlesWord Search Puzzles

ABC TeachABC Teach

http://www.abcteach.comhttp://www.abcteach.com

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

ABC TeachABC Teach

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

abcteach.comabcteach.com

BasicsBasicsABCABC Activities, Reading, Reading Activities, Reading, ReadingComprehension, Math, Writing,Comprehension, Math, Writing,Handwriting, Colors, ShapesHandwriting, Colors, Shapes

Theme UnitsTheme Units ABCABC Activities, Reading, Reading Activities, Reading, ReadingComprehension, Math, Writing,Comprehension, Math, Writing,Handwriting, Colors, Shapes Animals,Handwriting, Colors, Shapes Animals,

Habitats, Holidays, , Sports, Countries, States,Habitats, Holidays, , Sports, Countries, States,and more.and more.

Research/ReportsResearch/ReportsResearch Forms, Report Helpers,Research Forms, Report Helpers,Book Report Forms, Maps, Book Report Forms, Maps, Flags, WritingFlags, Writing

A to Z teacher StuffA to Z teacher Stuffhttp://www.atozteacherstuff.orghttp://www.atozteacherstuff.org

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

A to Z Teacher StuffA to Z Teacher Stuff

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

Teachable Moment Teachable Moment http://www.teachablemoment.orghttp://www.teachablemoment.org

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

Teachable MomentTeachable Moment

Problem-Solving ApproachesProblem-Solving Approaches for your Classroom for your Classroom

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

Teachable MomentTeachable Moment

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

Teachable MomentTeachable Moment AskAsk the class to brainstorm a list of problems and then the class to brainstorm a list of problems and then

guide them through a process of choosing one to focus on. guide them through a process of choosing one to focus on. You may want to guide them to choose a problem that You may want to guide them to choose a problem that seems to involve the most people.. Then address the seems to involve the most people.. Then address the problem as follows: problem as follows: Ask,Ask, What's the problem? Give the What's the problem? Give the students a chance to talk about the problem and how it students a chance to talk about the problem and how it affects them.affects them.

Brainstorm solution.Brainstorm solution. Set a time limit of several minutes (3-5 minutes). Set a time limit of several minutes (3-5 minutes).

Encourage the group to share lots of ideas. Record them on Encourage the group to share lots of ideas. Record them on a chart or the white board. Don't discuss or judge any idea. a chart or the white board. Don't discuss or judge any idea. The ideas don't need to be "realistic," sometimes even a The ideas don't need to be "realistic," sometimes even a "silly" idea has a germ of wisdom that can lead to a creative "silly" idea has a germ of wisdom that can lead to a creative solution.solution.

Choose one.Choose one. Discuss the ideas. Talk about the Discuss the ideas. Talk about the consequences of trying out various ideas. Ask: Which have consequences of trying out various ideas. Ask: Which have the best chance of working to solve the problem?the best chance of working to solve the problem?

Constitution CenterConstitution Centerhttp://www.constitutioncenter.comhttp://www.constitutioncenter.com

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

Constitution CenterConstitution Center

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

Constitutional CenterConstitutional Center

Being AmericanBeing American — The National Constitution Center's — The National Constitution Center's teacher resources includes service-learning programs teacher resources includes service-learning programs for middle and high schools as a form of education for middle and high schools as a form of education that brings together students, teachers, and that brings together students, teachers, and community partners in ways that foster responsible community partners in ways that foster responsible citizenship and promotes a lifelong involvement in citizenship and promotes a lifelong involvement in civic and social issuescivic and social issues. .

Centuries of Citizenship- A Constitutional TimelineCenturies of Citizenship- A Constitutional Timeline DDiscover two hundred years of constitutional history, iscover two hundred years of constitutional history, as told through a collection of stories and headlines as told through a collection of stories and headlines spotlighting some of the people, events and issues spotlighting some of the people, events and issues that have shaped the Constitution. that have shaped the Constitution.

FunBrainFunBrainhttp://www.funbrain.comhttp://www.funbrain.com

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

ConclusionConclusion

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

Click Here for additional websitesClick Here for additional websites Click HereClick Here for closing remarkfor closing remark