Common Core: Writing Websites

Hey everyone!

First came the math websites for kids and then teachers. Now I bring to you, Common Core and Writing!



With the standards discussing certain topics, revising and editing, and even a standard stating that students use a variety of digital tools to produce and publish writing, including in collaboration with peers, you may be feeling overwhelmed. 

Digital tools? Collaboration with peers? Where do you begin? I'm here to help with that! 
I probably won't split this into another post for teachers, but I might. I'm going to break up this post into pre-writing, revising/editing, publishing, and collaboration.

Pre-writing

1. Story Creator  (K-3)

Kids choose a "Blurpie" which is a monster. They add hats and other accessories. Then they choose a setting, add characters, pick some words. Then they print out the page, which includes several lines to write. It's a great way to get story prompts for the younger ones.

Here's an example of a story prompt I threw together in a minute.



2. Draw .io (3+)

You can create your own graphic organizers for pre-writing.Very simple and plain, but gets the job done.



Ready to write

1. TalkTyper (K-12)
Have a student that can't write? Or maybe a kiddo that has tons of ideas but just is so worried about spelling? TalkTyper allows the student to speak and it types for them.


2. Membean (1+)
Tired of the same old words for happy, sad, said? Membean creates word maps of synonyms. 


Revising/Editing

1. Telescopic Text (2+)
This is a great way to show how to write with more detail and description. Plus it's fun! Type a short sentence. Click on a word or phrase and add a little more detail. Then when the sentence is done, the text that you added to can expand, showing that writing can be made more meaningful.  You do have to register though.


Collaboration/Publishing
1. Titan Pad (4+, though some 3rd graders may enjoy)
This was amazing! Start a document, share the url with the others in your group, and write! Each collaborator gets a color when they type, so you can see it. And it's real time!


2. Pen.io (K+)
This publishes a simple blog post (so this would also be collab/publish). You create a page, choose a name and password for editing. You receive a URL and share the password with your group and then edit.

3.Tackk (3+)
It's like designing a one page web site. No membership required, but the page lasts only a week unless you sign up.  Students personalize the look, add tags, add photos, links and more.


4. Bookemon (K+)
I think this is my favorite. You can make original books, add images, and read the published books in an interactive online way. For a fee, you can even make printed copies of the online book.


**Websites and info come from the fabulous website TeachersFirst.**

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Common Core Math Websites: For Teachers

Hey everyone!

Well here is part 2 of my Common Core Math websites, this time for the teachers, holla!



1.  Helping With Math



This site is more for parents wanting to help their kids with math. Genius right? There are worksheets, online games, numberline, and a hundreds chart. A great resource to tell the parents about!

2. Math Landing

You can search by math topic, grade level, or use their search to find a keyword. There are lessons, discussions, webinars,  and oh my goodness, this has been favorited for sure!


3.Engage NY 

I'm linking you to the main site as there are soooo many choices of what to do. Assessments, instruction, video library, you've got it. I think the video library is my favorite part because you see the math standards in action in an actual classroom.



4. Illuminations

You click on the right side for your grade(s) under the Common Core tab and then games appear for that grade.  There are lessons and interactives!




What is it? You can create lesson templates, drag and drop standards in your lessons, share what you want on your class website, print your plans, and share lessons with colleagues. 


6. Illustrative Mathematics


I plan to use these for daily math warm ups. These are fabulous! You click on the grade, then the standard. There is an example, with a solution and everything. It's great if you need to show examples or if you need a time filler for a few minutes. 


I had a lot of fun sharing these Common Core Math websites with you all and I hope you can use at least one!  

**Websites and info come from the fabulous website TeachersFirst.**


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Common Core Math Websites: For Kids

Hey everyone!

So I'm taking some online classes for PDUs from TeachersFirst and Ok2Ask  and tonight was all about Common Core and Math. Holy smokes did I leave that hour class with a ton of website ideas. So many, that I think this will be a two-parter. I'm breaking it into a blog post about websites for kids and one about websites for teachers (second one should be out Sunday ).



So these were just some of the websites for math and kids. There are many more out there, but these are the  ones that I was told about and tested for myself. I'll leave you the link and a little blurb.  In no particular order....

1. XP Math Games (Grades 2-9)




I liked being able to look up a specific topic, like division, and then there was online practice. Plus there are other math games.

2.  Math Flix (Grades 3+)


Why do I like it? It has math videos on basically every subject. There's a teacher and a student page. This did seem like a website for the older kids, based on the topics

3. Brain Pop (Grades 3+) and Brain Pop Jr. (K-3)



I'm sure a lot of you know about Brain Pop already, but it is fun and fantastic! A variety of games.

4. IXL (All Grades)


First off, I love that is something for ever grade!  You click the grade, the strand, and then it brings up online practice of that strand.

5. Math Playground (Grades K-6)


Again, you choose the grade, the common core standard, then there are games that pertain to that standard. All there...no thinking on your part. Brilliant!!!

Last, but not least. And maybe my personal favorite....

6. Mr. Nussbaum  (Grades K-8)



There are instructional videos and then you click on the right side to play the game. The coolest thing? Most of these games can also be played on the iPad!!!!

And I admit...I sampled games on Mr. Nussbaum for quite awhile. Especially "Becoming Lord Voldemath"


So there you go. Six websites for your kids to go to for fun. There are certainly more out there. Next blog post will be common core math resource sites for teachers!

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Recap

Hey everyone!

I've been so busy lately, I just noticed I didn't blog on Wednesday (or Sunday, when I hit save but not publish!) like I wanted to!  So what have I been up to?

I've been working like crazy.  I've been working PDUs for renewing my license. I house/dog/cat sat for 10 days. I survived the Crazy Feline week with dress up days, nutrition class with the kids, fire safety day, an hour long lockdown with firsties, and more. And that's just mostly my school life haha!

I've booked everything for July's TpT Conference and also a day's worth of classes in the Differentiated Instruction conference, also in Vegas. Hotel booked and flight booked. So happy I'm flying with another Oregon blogger/TpTer! The flight will be even quicker that way.

I'm starting to plan my 3rd blogiversary. And to celebrate early, I gave my blog a present. My blog is not a  dot com site! Woo! That's so fun and weird to me too.

Things will calm down next this week as it's a two day week and then it's spring break. Although, I will be on a field trip with kinders at the science museum the day before spring break, (aka yesterday) so that will be crazy! (and it was!)

Still working on products and I hope to finish my rocks and minerals pack soon (at least during spring break!)


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Bright Ideas Hop: Easy Art Ideas

Hey everyone!

Glad to be back with the Bright Ideas Hop. It was so much fun last time and really reminded me why I was blogging, to share ideas. Pure content.



As a substitute, I sometimes have no lessons or gaps in lessons. If it's someone that I've subbed for a lot, they even say I can teach my own lessons. What do I like do ? Art!

I have a few simple art ideas that take no time at all and nothing needs to be cut out!


1. Stained Glass art

With stained glass art, you crumple up a piece of paper (the kids will love that part a lot!) and then trace along the lines with a sharpie or black marker. Then color in each fractured part. You'll see mine below, not finished, but you get the idea (I was teaching 2nd graders an art lesson on lines).



2. Squiggle art
I'm sure you've all done squiggle art. It's nothing new. You just draw a squiggle on a paper or a student does and then they have to draw a picture from that.

Here's my friend Jen's example from Teacher By The Beach (formerly known as The Teacher's Cauldron)


3. Zentangle Art

Now, I was taught this in college and was told you could do it it two ways. Straight lines or a curved line. I prefer the straight lines myself. You just make straight lines any which way all over the paper and then doodle a design in each one. I love the black and white look. The examples I did down below, I folded in 8 parts instead of drawing lines all across.

 This one was done in kind of a rush. I was trying to show the kids quickly so they had time to get started on theirs.  The one beneath is personally my favorite but I didn't finish one square. I love the arrow, the bead, and the feather look personally.
Really, anything can be done. I prefer using black markers on white paper, but sometimes color is fun. You could teach cool and warm colors. If you did the square thing like above (or rather rectangle) and then cut them out and made a class 'quilt'.

 And I saw someone's design on line that I so want to do!





Next on this hop is Lori from Teaching With Love & Laughter! Head on over to Lori's post for some more great ideas!





And there are many more ideas in this hop!





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Sharpie Please!

Hey everyone!

IGo wild, go crazy, go play with Sharpies! I'm a marker/pen/Sharpie addict (also washi addict). I got sent some fun Sharpies.

These are the Neon Permanent Markers.  And supposedly it works under a black light. That I would love to see! But they sent me some cool white shades instead for me to doodle on. These work best on white materials, like the white shades.





I think these markers could be really fun to write on other plastic things. The package showed you could write on white headphones (now I'm looking all over the house for white plastic...ooh my iPhone charger!)



Then I tried out the Metallic Permanent Markers.



They sent me black paper to try it too! I love how it wrote smoothly. I always love Sharpie products!



Finally, is the Premium Pen. I was surprised at how heavy it was compared to regular Sharpies. But it is stainless steel. And it doesn't bleed through.



I thought it wrote smoothly. (sorry for the poor lighting...it got cloudy lol)



Overall, I was really pleased with these products!

How  fun would kids have using the neon Sharpies on white plastic stuff for presents to parents or Valentine's Day? Fun, fun, fun!



*Thanks to shoplet for letting me review this product.  They have office supplies, office stationary and other products like shirts. This is a completely honest review of the product. All opinions are my own.

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OLW #2

Hey everyone!

I've been trying really hard to focus on my word of 'believe'. When I start to doubt something, I think about my word. I actually got myself a bracelet and a ring that are physical reminders. I just have to look down at my wrist or finger and see it. The ring has a quote on the outside. The bracelet has a quote on the inside, so it just looks like a silver bracelet, but I know what's on the inside.

She believed she could, so she did.
Etsy link

I really love that quote and that's my main quote for believe. So I got it on the bracelet too.


I love them so much!


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Substitute Preparedness #3: Luck o' the Irish

Hey everyone!

It's that time again. And holy jam packed post of goodness! Tips, ideas, books, and a freebie! Must be the luck o' the Irish with you today!


Teacher Tip: I enjoyed subbing last St. Patty's Day. I had a little fun with the 2nd graders who weren't very believing... and it took just a few dollars and some imagination.





And they fell for it!

Some great St. Patrick's Day books for kids to read!


Books (Top left to right)
             1. Ten Lucky Leprechauns by Kathryn Heling
                                                     2. There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed Clover by Lucille Colandro
                3. That's What Leprechauns Do by Eve Bunting
                4. The Luckiest Leprechaun by Justine Korman
5. Green Shamrocks by Eve Bunting
                             6. The Night Before St. Patrick's Day by Natasha Wing
                                      7. The Leprechaun Who Lost His Rainbow by Sean Callahan
                              8. The Luckiest St. Patrick's Day Ever! by Teddy Slater
                              9. The Story of Saint Patrick's Day by Patricia A. Pingry
10. Lucky Tucker by Leslie McGuirk



Events this month: 

  • Lent/Ash Wednesday -March 5
  • Dentist Day-March 6
  • Daylight Savings- March 9
  • Pi Day- March 14
  • St. Patrick's Day-March 17
  • First Day of Spring- March 20
  • Cesar Chavez Day- March 31


Sub tip: Be fair. Be firm.Be prepared. You never know what will happen, but if you follow all three tips, you'll sure to have a much better day!

And here's the freebie!




Click here to grab the freebie.






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