Here Are Some Great Apps for Your Classes:)

If teachers are to maintain the interest of students from the digital age, they need to rethink how to deliver content in new ways.  Some of these tools may take some planning since often times teachers are not as proficient in the use of technology as their students:)  That being said this can become a learning opportunity for teachers since they have much to learn from their charges.  I am in that scenario often, but no matter what app I use, I always have at least 2 or 3 students who come to my rescue when I ask for assistance.  No matter how well I plan the use of technology within the lesson, there is always a glitch which surfaces.  Such glitches show students working as a team to solve problems also includes the teacher. Here are some great FREE tools to make your job a bit easier.

DOJO (classroom management app)-This is a fun app to deal with classroom management.  Students are represented by various avatars.  Their behavior is recognized by a series of checks and minuses, but presented in a format that motivates students to stay on task.  Teachers can monitor behavior with iPads, iPhones, smart phones, laptops, tablets, etc.  It is also free.  Elementary through high school students like it as well.

Remind 101-If you do not wish to risk calling a student's home using your own cell phone, you need to use REMIND101.  With this tool, you create your classes first. Students will be instructed to call a phone number created by the system.  This number can also be given to parents as well as students.  You may send out reminder notices to the entire class or to just one student or two who missed an assignment.  Your private number is never used.  Here is a short video on it (it is also free).

Teacher kit-This is a free electronic grading system.  Though it will not replace your district mandated one, it does make it easy to keep track of points or grades throughout the class period without running to your laptop or desktop.  I have used it for 3 years in keeping track of grades in my university adjunct position as well as during my regular ELD classes in my high school.  Once I record a week or two of grades, I email them to myself in an EXCEL format. 

Groovy grader-Tired of pulling out a calculator to figure out grades?  Worry no longer.  This app will convert ANY amount of points into letter grades for you with ease.  I use it regularly when administering test with odd configurations (ex.  73 is a perfect score--student has 59.5--What is the percentage?  Groovy Grader has the answer instantly.)

I hope these tools make you day a little easier for you--they did for me:)

Denise

ELL TEACHER PROS
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Common Core and Technology--a Powerful Combination in Delivering Highly Effective Instruction

With the new Common Core standards, teachers will need to weave in more technology in the delivering of lessons.  Though many districts are dealing with ever shrinking budgets, they can still meet that demand with minimal cost.  After all, all students of this generation regardless of their economic status have at least some access to technology during most of the day be it cell phone, XBoxes, tablets, etc.  Granted iPads may not be that common as instructional tools in many classrooms, but often times schools do have the money in their budgets to at least supply the classroom teacher with one to present learning in an exciting engaging fashion--something a textbook alone can never fully accomplish.  A teacher's imagination plus the support of an iPad linked to an LCD projector has the potential to fully motivate even the most reluctant students with ease.

Where does a teacher start in trying to find those key and inexpensive (or free) tools to support all students and especially those long-term English language learners as well as other struggling students?  Well, since a typical teacher's day has very limited to no free time in the day, it is hoped that this post will supply teachers with a few must have tools that are easy to use.  Use these sites as starting points and add to them as you go through the school year:)  NOTE:  our website ELL TEACHER PROS will be developing two new tabs on common core and technology.  It is still in the development stage but should be available in the next few weeks.

This site is from EDUCATION WORLD.  Subscribing to it is free and the information in it is current (there are of course many more sites, but this may be a good starting point especially for teachers who may still feel a but uneasy about how to get the most out of their lessons using technology).

INTEGRATING TECHNOLOGY INTO THE CLASSROOM:  IT TAKES MORE THAN JUST HAVING COMPUTERS .   There are 19 internet activities here and all are great beginning points for both the novice and the veteran.  This blog post will address some of the ones that I have recommended as well as worked with before I became an instructional coach.

SPELLING--one of the best sites on the web for taking the pain out of trying to master English spelling is SPELLING CITY  (number 7 on the list).  Not only does it address spelling at any grade level or content area, it also offers sentence practice with the words being studied.  Students are presented with sets of scrambled words which must be rearranged using the word being studied correctly.  This offers some sentence structure practice.  Further, students have a variety of ways to master the definitions before they quiz themselves.  Lastly, for those who have done all the work, they can play games based on the words.  Students especially love this feature.  A computer lab would be good for this though I would not expect this to be a full period activity for mostl

If students' eyes glaze over at the thought of studying history, they will perk up with the use of the sites in numbers 8 and 11.  Number 8 focuses on key historical events which occurred on any given day.  So if it is March 15th, click here to find out what happened that day.  It could be a fun way to start a lesson with a direct tie-in to what is to be covered in class that day.  Number 11 I have recommended to history teachers--The Library of Congress.  Again, such tools can be used as instructional tools for the teacher in the lesson or for students doing research on a given topic. 

If science is the topic, number 16 would be a must-have for any science teacher (biology, astronomy, physics, chemistry).  NASA is the tool here and few students need to prodded to study Curiosity's adventures on Mars.  NASA also has tools for educators to use with their students, and, like all of the sites here, everything is free. 

Try some of these ideas out.  Your students will definitely appreciate your efforts:)

Denise

ELL TEACHER PROS

TWITTER @ell_teacherpros (follow us for more ideas)

TEACHING + TECHNOLOGY = POWERFUL INSTRUCTION

Twitter in the classroom?  Facebook?  Blogging?  Youtube?  Smart phones?  Videoconferencing?  Yes!  This is the environment our students thrive in.  Yet, not enough schools are tapping into this area of expertise of today's young people. 

Teachers want to involve every student in the learning process.  Calling on names will only reach a few at best.  Having schools work in groups necessitates a lot of ongoing monitoring by the teachers.  Quiet students are many times missed in the process.  So how does technology come to the teacher's rescue?

Instead of having to try to interact with every student on a one-to-one basis, why not try Twitter where all comments, questions, and answers are streamed throughout the lesson to a screen where the teacher (as well as other students) can review comments with ease.  For teachers, it will be far easier identifying students with problems than in the past.  This way the students who don't need the additional support can continue with the assignment and not be held back by strugglers.

How about creating Facebook entries on historical figures?  Set up groups of 4 to do the research in planning out what will be included and in what order.  With iPads or Smart Phones, students could add video to re-enact major events in that figures life and then upload it to Facebook!

What about interacting with classes in other countries?  Have competitions (sports, academic, music, etc.).  Share experiences.  Survey each other's interests.  SO MUCH is possible!

There is also the opportunity for teachers around the world to share ideas. Technology makes all of this possible with ease:)

See examples of all of this in this website:21st CENTURY TEACHING STRATEGIES--SINGAPORE

Denise

ELL TEACHER PROS

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