spelling practice, literacy, and a follow-up

Here's a place where kids can practice spelling - even the words you choose for them! The site lets the viewer read/spell a word, then click to cover it, type to write it from memory, then check for accuracy. That technique sounds familiar, huh??? There are word lists on the site categorized by phonetic elements or by topic as well as lists kids themselves have generated. But the site also lets the viewer enter in other words for practice - so you could make a customized list for a student. It's pretty slick! Brought to you by a tech-savvy English primary school, it's LookCover at http://www.amblesideprimary.com/ambleweb/lookcover/lookcover.html

Have I read this whole site? No! What initially attracted me to this site was the online Student Materials area, thinking that a creative teacher could use these internet forms to supplement an existing lesson or book extension. But the actual lessons posted here are wonderful and feature well-known books - so you may be able to use the lessons and the forms. Lessons are grouped by grade level - and they all focus on increasing comprehension and higher order thinking skills. Pick a lesson, any lesson - and try it out. Let me know what you think of the forms, too. The ReadWriteThink website is from the International Reading Association and is at http://www.readwritethink.org/lessons/index.asp

Lastly, if you want to follow up on some of the water activities from Friday's visit to Newfound Lake, visit Project Wet's website at http://www.projectwet.org. (Hmmm. Not sure about this photo thing. As much as I'd love to have some graphics here, I'm not crazy about the way it links to the picture site - I may take it off.)

good morning! site and thinking games

Now that you've gotten to know your students some and have begun to establish rules and procedures, I am beginning to come around to classes for a one-shot lesson - to tell students about myself and the new position and to introduce a page of links to information sites that change on a daily basis. The hope is that you might find a way to integrate this site into your curriculum or make it an independent activity or learning center. By the way, I'm still on the lookout for a site that has a good math problem that changes daily - sort of like a Problem of the Day. If you find anything, please send it my way. The Good Morning! Page at http://www.newfound.k12.nh.us/bes/goodmorning.htm

The Discovery Channel runs a great website called Discovery Schools. There's lots of good information here so take the time to browse the site at some point. But in the meantime, check out Brain Boosters, a section with short, top-notch puzzles and games that deal with logic, reasoning, and other creative thinking skills. This site will challenge the mind - even the adult one! And it's fun! Brain Boosters at http://school.discovery.com/brainboosters

handwriting, poetry, and more

This site is billed as "amazing" and it's actually pretty cool! The site generates custom practice work for handwriting and letter formation. Looking at it, I think it's pretty comparable to the Zaner-Blozer system we use. You can choose from dot-trace, dash-trace, or hollow-trace letters, then fill in a form box with a letter, word or sentence that you want the student to practice. Click "make worksheet" - and it does! Looks like it could be a good vehicle for practicing names, spelling words, and more. The site says it's for kindergarten and first grade - but there's also a section for practicing cursive letters. Go figure. Check it out: The Amazing Incredible Handwriting Worksheet Maker at http://www.handwritingworksheets.com/

Here's another amazing site that uses "forms," (like those boxes you fill in with your name, etc when you order things online). This site generates poetry and in formats I know we all use in school - like haiku, cinquain, diamantes, I Am poems, and many more. In all there are 50+ different formats that you or your kids can fill in to make original works of poetry. Have kids work at the computer alone or in pairs or project the page as a teacher directed class activity. Hmmm. Anyone want me to come into their class and do a lesson with this? Instant Poetry Forms at http://ettcweb.lr.k12.nj.us/forms/Poetry.htm

Finally, there's ePals, a wonderful site that links up students and classes around the globe. The site's pretty big with lots going on. Not only could your class find penpals, you can locate classes looking for collaborative work on projects. It's a pretty interesting and kid-friendly way to let your kids know there are other countries and cultures out there. Grab your tech log so you can record your hours when you check it out. Please post some ways that you and others could use this site?? Thanks! ePals at http://www.epals.com

testing, 1-2-3....

I've been thinking about this blog-thing for months now. It seems to be a good way to get messages out in an efficient manner. It models technology use and will, on a personal note, enhance my own PIP since the whole concept of blogging is foreign to me right now. And hey - the Democrats and Republicans had blogs, so do news agencies, so why not Newfound?

Is this the best way to communicate resources and ideas and get the technology word out? Will people read it? Who knows? What I do know is that it will give me a place to post resources that I find. It'll help me keep you informed on the progress of tech projects that are going on. It could serve as a place for discussions about educational technology. I'm hoping that some of you interested folk will make checking this site a routine. Maybe this blog will be the impetus to help those of you on the technology fence tip and fall into it. And if it turns out blogging doesn't work for you or for me, well - I can always take a tech-step backwards and bombard your inboxes with emails!

With apologies to Dr. Graziano, I've named this blog Techjaki. Sorry, John. It was just too good an opportunity to pass up.