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Take advantage of the natural affinity children have for comics and use them as a powerful teaching tool in your classroom. The following tips, tools, and resources will get you started.

the benefits of using comic books/graphic novels in the classroom

"I remember Dennis mentioning the Flat Classroom project in class last week. I'm hoping to do something with my class which connects them to students in other parts of the world. The flat classroom looked a bit too ambitious for me and my sixth graders, but it looks really cool! I'm not quite done exploring the site, but want to share a cool video that they have on their website. Here is the URL--of the website-- I tried to figure out how tumblr could help me share, but failed. http://www.flatclassroomproject.org/. "

Critics of wikis as research sources often point to the potential for students to stumble across inaccurate content as a fatal flaw that make wikis almost worthless. "How can we promote wikis in our classrooms," the argument goes, "if you can't trust what's posted there? I don't want my students exposed to learning tools that are just plain wrong!" Teachers using wikis successfully in their classrooms, however, embrace inaccurate content posted on classroom wikis as a teachable moment because they know that succeeding as consumers of information in the 21st Century requires students to develop a healthy skepticism of any content posted online. In a world where content is constantly changing and publishing is easy for anyone, researchers simply cannot assume that digital sources-wikis, blogs, websites, online videos-are accurate and up-to-date. Wikis give teachers built in opportunities to teach lessons about the reliability of online content to students. Errors-which are inevitable in student projects-can be spotlighted and corrected, and students can be introduced to strategies for identifying content worth trusting.

From Dreambox in my inbox: "In honor of Math Awareness Month this April, I am e-mailing you this morning to share the news that DreamBox Learning is launching DreamBox Math Classroom, a school version of the curriculum and standards based children’s math adventure game, DreamBox Learning K-2 Math. To celebrate the release, DreamBox Learning offers free access to the game for any kindergarten, first or second grade classroom in the U.S. and Canada through the end of the current school year or June 30, 2009. Teachers at accredited schools can simply visit www.dreambox.com/teachers to sign up for classroom usage. "

I have some sample "Magic erase sheets" in my classroom and LOVE THEM. You can stick them to ANY wall. They make them gridded or plain and they stick everywhere. I've been using dry erase boards but the problem was they wouldn't stick. So, now, I can use these and stick them anywhere. I love them. I'd get a box of sheets and use them in the classroom. Very cool.

Great conversation with Darren Burris about Common Core math in the classroom and how to adjust your curriculum. Another Every Classroom Matters show.

The Flipped Classroom: The Full Picture [Kindle Edition]

60 Ways To Use Twitter In The Classroom By Category

There are so many ways that you can use Twitter in the classroom but even if Twitter is blocked, you'll find many ideas that you can use on Edmodo or whatever educational networking tool you're using with your students. Great read.

Flipping a classroom is not a teaching technique, it is more in line with a philosophy or way of teaching. It involves using technology as a tool, not the main focus, for helping students increase their understanding of science or math concepts.

This is a great simple Apple device app to help you reach an appropriate level of volume in your classroom. Watch the gauge rise and the background change as the volume increases. You can adjust the sensitivity for the situation/activity. The app is supported by ads, but these only appear as you start the app. Download the app at https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/too-noisy/id499844023 http://ictmagic.wikispaces.com/Classroom+Management+%26+Rewards

Erin Klein shares her principles for setting up an effective classroom design with tips especially relevant to elementary teachers. Filling the wall full of charts and clutter from floor to ceiling isn't only a problem with the fire marshall but may actually be making it harder for students to learn. Listen to this awesome conversation to learn more.

Google Classroom

Summary from an education discussion about learning outside the classroom

Reflection of how Skype is used in education.

recommendations for skype in the classroom

Using Skype in the Classroom Desktop Voice and Videoconferencing Software in Education Discover how to communicate and collaborate with friends, colleagues, resource experts, and other classrooms using Skype. Skype is a program that allows users to communication with voice, videoconferencing, or chat for free between computers. Create a Skype account, add contacts, and conduct free audio and video conferences between computers. Explore creative ways to use this tool to enhance teaching and learning.

Free downloadable ebook from Atomic Learning based upon the 7 steps workshop I did for Atomic last year.

Did a workshop for Atomic Learning about the 7 Steps to Flatten Your Classroom and they've created an ebook based upon the content in the online workshop. This ebook is free in PDF form and available for download and is based upon the principles to help you get to a Flat Classroom.

FACEBOOK, MySpace, YouTube and Wikipedia are considered valuable educational tools by some who embrace the learning potential of the internet; they are also seen as a massive distraction with no academic benefit by others. Research in Nottingham and Notts suggests split opinions over the internet in the classroom. Some 1,500 interviews with teachers, parents and students nationwide showed the 'net was an integral part of children's personal lives, with 57% of 13 to 18-year-olds in Notts using blogs in their spare time and 58% in Nottingham. More than 60% of Nottingham teens use social networking sites. They are a big feature of leisure time - but now the science version of You Tube, developed by academics at The University of Nottingham, has been honoured in the US this week. The showcase of science videos shares the work of engineers and students online. However just a quarter of teachers use social networking tools in the classroom and their teaching, preferring to leave children to investigate outside school.

Slideshare pointing out that we need to rethink cellphones in the classroom

Resources for blogging in the classroom.

A sample listing of resources for blogging in the classroom from Teacher resources.

Some cool science teachers at necc who have "flipped the classroom" -- they record their lectures and make them available on itunes to download. Then, they do "homework" in class w/ the teachers. Listening to the podcast of class is their assignment -- the homework is what they do in class. This flipped method had some people talking today in our workshop. So so cool! This makes so much sense -- take the one to many work delivery and make it the assignment -- take the work where you need many to many to help one another and have that in the classroom. Can you see class evolving? wow! This makes so much sense.

Use of podcasting to "flip" the classroom experienc.e Lectures are assignments to listen to on the podcast -- homework is the classwork now so teachers can help the students one on one. How much sense does that make! Wow!