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Maths fun with MathSeeds

22/5/2013

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From the producers of the renowned Reading Eggs, comes an online maths program for 3-6 year olds that teaches fundamental maths and problem-solving skills- Mathseeds.
This interactive program includes activities, rewards and games to encourage learning. It provides nine different activities following each lesson and ends with an e-book to reinforce the lesson concept. Lessons can be repeated if necessary. 

A new e-pet hatches at the end of each lesson and children are rewarded with golden acorns that can be spent on their tree house or personal avatar. Downloadable lesson plans and worksheets are available and parents can see at-a-glance how their child is progressing with a simple dashboard. MATHS + FUN = MATHSEEDS

The online program is suitable for PC, Mac, iPad and Android tablet use.

See here for movie clip with more information...



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Learn place value with Motion Math Zoom

20/3/2013

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This interactive little app really draws kids in and encourages them to locate numbers on a number line. The animated animals react to the answers- frogs croak, bubbles pop, crowds cheer etc.

Assistance is provided if a player is having trouble. There are 24 levels with numbers to 1000 for early learners and negatives, decimals, fractions and timed trials for advanced players.

This really is a great little app- a simple concept but excellent for developing number line mastery and understanding place value.

Check it out here.....  or watch the following clip to learn more.


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Free video writing prompts

27/2/2013

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TeachHUB- K-12 News, Lessons & Shared Resources
By Teachers, For Teachers 
Perhaps the hardest part of teaching writing to kids, is motivating them to actually write. "What.. you want me to write! Can't we just talk about it?" "That much! You want me to write that much!"

I have found that the video writing prompts from TeachHub create great discussion and are a good incentive to write. I've even found them reviewing the clip again once we've finished. Some of the clips are taken from current movies but others are really interesting YouTube clips. Check them out. Each writing prompt includes writing suggestions for all age-groups. I've included below those for the Wreck-it-Ralph clip. 

TeachHub has loads of other materials for teaching, too- free lesson plans, articles, information. Download their new magazine app for regular articles, encouragement and resources.

Video Writing Prompt: Wreck it RalphBy: Jessica Hannan - TeachHUB
In the movie, "Wreck it Ralph", we are introduced to the main character, "Ralph", a building-wrecking, perceived video game bad guy. After 30 years, Ralph decides that he is tired of his stereotype and attempts to jump to the good side of game land in order to change his image. Once there, Ralph teaches those around him some valuable lessons about judging people too quickly and our ability to change ourselves and in turn people's perceptions of us.

This Exclusive Video Writing Prompt helps students explore some prematurely conceived notions about people in certain professions as well as false impressions they may have about their peers. It also allows them to explore how they themselves may have been unfairly judged and how they overcame that obstacle.

Grades K-2: Picture yourself
Draw a picture of yourself as a movie character. Is your character good or evil? What does your character do? What is your characters name?

Grades 3-5: 
In the movie clip, Ralph says, "It's hard to love your job when no one else seems to like you for doing it."  
What kinds of jobs are out there that make others not like the people doing them?
What is something positive you could say about people in that profession?

Grades 6-8: First Impressions - Not Always Correct
Have you ever stereotyped or judged someone else too quickly, but once you got to know them better, found that you were completely wrong? Explain what happened (without using names) and what made you realize that your first impression of that person was wrong.

Grades 9-12: Breaking Down Stereotypes
In the movie clip, Ralph was stereotyped as "mean" even though he wasn't. Think about a time when you felt like you were stereotyped.  In a minimum of 3 paragraphs, explain the situation including what stereotype you were placed in, how it made you feel, and if you did anything to break down that stereotype. 


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10 fun spelling apps for kids

9/11/2012

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How many times have you noted incorrect spelling in newspaper articles, shop displays and other printed material? Yes.. learning to spell correctly can be a problem. Mark Twain once commented, 'Why, there isn't a man who doesn't have to throw out about fifteen hundred words a day when he writes his letters because he can't spell them!' Understandably, earlier attempts to reform our system of spelling failed and students still struggle with vowels that have more than one sound, words like 'pneumonia' with silent letters, or words like 'bow' with different pronunciations. 


How can we make it easier for kids to learn their spelling? I'm sure that you'll find an app in the following list that you can use to teach correct spelling of words is a way that kids will enjoy. 

1. First Words with Phonics   Pre-school
Introduces 76 words in three different categories using colourful, fun learning activities. Teaches letter recognition, phonics, blending and spelling. 
2. rED Writing- Learn to Write     Ages 4-7
Teaches children to write letters, numbers and shapes using Australian fonts (choose your state). Australian audio teaches correct pronunciation and sounds with fun sticker rewards, certificates and trophies.
3.Chuck and Friends- Interactive storybook   Ages 4-8
This educational and interactive storybook includes learning activities: memory matching where children need to find 2 matching pairs to uncover letters, or word game where, using their finger, kids will need to wipe clean the mud or water spot to discover letters that make up a word. Each time kids gain a word that can later be used in a rebus style game that develops comprehension and reading skills. The great part is each time you read/play the app you get new words.
4. Montessori Crosswords  PreK- 5
Try and spell the word for the pictures given by dragging letters into the grid. If you don't know, then tap the ? and the word appears. Learners are encouraged to continue and a new puzzle is created.
5. Chicktionary  Ages 6+
Create words and earn points. Grab the letter hens and make words. Shake your iPad/Phone to reshuffle letters. Simple, but loads of fun and kids will be extending their vocabulary and spelling more and more words in no time.
6. Rocket Speller 3-7yr-olds
Collect pieces to build and fuel a rocket by spelling words. Four levels of difficulty.
7. Wordball   Ages 8+
Stimulating and challenging- kids need to click on the bouncing balls needed to create words but they may disappear before you're able to use them in a word. Balls disappear, bounce around, shrink in size and it's harder than you think.
8. Spelling Space Ultimate .. also for 5th and 6th grade
Earn asteroids as you spell words and then use them to shoot down spaceships. 28 lists of prerecorded words (556 words) or create your own lists with Ultimate version.
9. Freefall Spelling     beginners to 5th grade
Practice spelling words and earn items for your fish tank. 150 pre-built words with image allows you to set up your own lists.
Challenge your friends to spell the most words within an allotted time.
10. Super Speller  Ages 6+
Create your own spelling lists. Children record each spelling word and a short sentence. They practice the spellings, complete word searches and learning games and test themselves on practice tests. Final test grades their work. 

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Toontastic- a fun learning tool

2/11/2012

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Toontastic is a great app to encourage learners to create their own animated adventure using their own recorded voice and adding music for effect. The app presents a storyboard with scenes for Setup, Conflict, Challenge, Climax and Resolution. Captions help the storyteller to understand each scene of the story they are creating and the action and progress through the story. For example, the first scene, Set up, is noted as 'Introduce the characters and story setting'. When Setup is chosen, the scene background can be created with available choices or the child can draw their own background.

Characters are added, again from existing protagonists or by drawing their own. The characters in each scene can be moved and animated to act out the story as the learner tells and records it. The 'microphone records the narrators voice and the character's actions. Background music can also be chosen for each scene and helps the learner to think through the mood of each scene. Arrows lead the storyteller on to the next scene.

Once all the scenes have been created, a story title can be included along with the learner's name as director. The animated story can be played for everyone on the iPad or shared online with ToonTube.

This is a interactive way for learners to create and share their narratives, and will encourage them to continue.

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The educational potential of iPads

10/10/2012

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The use of tablets and iPads in particular by children is rapidly catching up with mobile video game systems. But it is in education that iPads are showing real potential. Increasingly, teachers are finding that the addition of iPads into the classroom provides real benefit and can initiate
  positive change on learning outcomes.

 Initial anecdotal studies indicate that the iPad is a powerful and versatile tool for use in the areas of technology, scholastic and literacy. But why are teachers, parents and schools accepting and adopting the introduction of iPads into the learning environment so readily?

Tablets and iPads easily fit into the students’ lifestyles. One easily held iPad contains all the required textbooks for study plus organisers and schedules. With internet access, students can work from anywhere. They can provide a virtual tour guide- an exciting way to experience field trip destinations. They can be used to record research and data collection/observations.

They provide a hands-on approach to learning that actively engages the student. Easily downloadable apps can be used for all areas of study; to enrich word study and decoding skills with such apps as Chicktionary,Bookworm and Spelling Bee; to develop vocabulary and reading fluency with Fluency, The Opposites and others; and to encourage mathematical exploration
  and play using apps like Bugs and Butterflies and Wings. Reviews of these and many others will be added soon.

It is small wonder, then, that educators are optimistic about the use of iPads in classrooms especially as more and more evidence adds weight to the argument for its advantages and growing potential.

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    A great teacher never strives to explain his vision- he simply invites you to stand him. (Rev R. Inman)
    ..sharing the vision with you.

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