Video Resources for the Classroom - Youtube tools and others!

Yes, there are times when a quick video segment can demonstrate a topic or example much better than me trying to explain it!  There are many free resources out there that are available and teacher/student safe.  Of course many like Youtube - who can deny it.....a spot to find video clips from just about everything imaginable!  But those ads can be distracting, and at times, inappropriate.  To solve that a teacher must have is quietube.   A simple bookmarklet that takes the video and puts it on a backdrop of all white or all black.  It's so easy.  A must for any Youtube users!

Of course there are other resources out there - try teachertube.com.

This used to be a slower version of youtube videos that had been approved, a bipass to youtube being blocked.  It is now a little faster with a lot more content.  Worth a try!

Another site is WatchKnowLearn.  Free, educational videos only, easy to navigate.  Somewhat limited on specific topics, but never the less - a good place to try!

Figure This! Math Problem Solving

Here's a site that has some great math problem solving resources.  Set up as challenges, they are meant to be used for family involvement, though I will be using them for some extra challenges for those early finishers in class!

I would love to hear any input on this site, or ways that others have used this in class! 

Need Writing Prompts? Here's a feed you need!

An absolutely awesome resource for any writing teacher!  There is close to 260 different photo prompts on this tumblr feed put together by a teacher and is kind enough to share them with the world! 

Visit:  writingprompts.tumblr.com 

Edmodo - Oh yeah!

Assignment collection,
grading,
calendar,
24/7 collaboration,
to the extreme!
I love edmodo.

The flexibility and different uses are never ending. Support is fast, collaboration with other teachers sharing ideas alone is a huge benefit! And the ringer: It's free - all of it. You get all the awesome bells and whistles as everyone else.

How do I use it?

I post polls, questions, teach social networking etiquette, start discussions with my students. Students post projects, prezis, tagxedos, videos, papers.....either to me or to the whole class. I also post assignments, whether it's something they have to do on Edmodo or a book assignment in Math. The best part is I make all my assignment posts public - which means - parents can view via the direct link any of the posts that I decide to make public. That way, there's always somewhere to check for what is due and when.

Try it, you'll love it!

Teacher Tool to Start Using NOW!

So many have already started back in the classroom, but most have not been back for long.  Here is one teacher tool to transition yourself into using NOW....it's not too late!

Planbookedu.com  Online Lesson Planning!  

Yes!  You can access it from any computer, no more hauling the book home. 

You can change layouts, bump lessons to other days, add links to sites, upload files (even big ones like flipcharts), and for those hold outs that love seeing it on paper - you can PRINT!  

Basic edition is free, premium edition is at a cost similar to buying your own lesson plan book.