I choose this resource for this chapter because I wanted to provide people with an alternative way to conduct formative assessments. These type of assessments provide feedback right away and actively engage the students. Since these assessments are web based, they can be conducted with any type of smart device.
This website tool is excellent for students that use cell phone with data service or school's wifi. This is also good for getting feedback from students in your class, and Kahoot.it makes the learning fun too!
Buzzmath is the best way to practice your middle school math skills. It's fun, it has immediate detailed feedback and examples that allow you to progress at your own pace.
This website helps students practice with math and gives them immediate feedback on their work.
Tracking progress of their entire class, this website ables teachers to create and assign formative assessments . Students study at their own pace to navigate learning while getting immediate feedback and personalized support.
This site has testimonials which gives great feedback for teachers to help them decide if PBL will be effective in their classroom. It has examples of different PBL's as well.
Padlet is another way to collaborate with students or parents who want to quickly and easily post something for anyone to access. There is an option to post anonymously. It's a great tool for feedback or questions/concerns or even a way for parents and students to talk to one another.
Record Screencasts for providing onscreen instruction.
three to five computers
library with a pod of computers:
Build a Google Site to house class content
digital stories
Microsoft PowerPoint, LibreOffice, Prezi, or Google Docs.
create cartoons
laptop cart or a computer lab:
Enable students to work through course content at their own pace through the use of screencasts, e-books, and other digital media.
enhanced digital note taking
live class discussions
1:1 laptops or netbooks:
handful of mobile devices
Upload and access course content
Record group discussions
record themselves reading aloud for fluency checks
student-created comics
e-books
Try out a tool like Nearpod to project information onto student devices.
Conduct research.
Collaborate using apps like Whiteboard.
1:1 mobile devices:
multifunction devices
create videos
student polling
Quick Checks:
get a quick snapshot of the class
you can get quick and easy feedback that will help inform your instruction.
Personalized Feedback
All three tools provide the ability for teachers to leave personalized comments and notes on student work, and they provide a messaging service for students who may want to send emails with questions or concerns about the course.
A great resource for teachers who are stumped on how to integrate technology into their existing classroom. Includes how to get started as well as ideas like, "if you have an interactive whiteboard", "if you have computers in your classroom", etc.
Thinking Blocks provides interactive templates in which students use brightly colored blocks to model and solve problems. As students work through the problems they are provided with feedback as to whether or not they are using the correct sequence to solve each problem. There are templates and problems for addition, multiplication, fractions, and ratios. You can also develop your own problems using the modeling tool.
Project Based Learning is a teaching method in which students gain knowledge and skills by working for an extended period of time to investigate and respond to an authentic, engaging and complex question, problem, or challenge. In Gold Standard PBL, Essential Project Design Elements include:
This website goes into detail about what Project Based Learning is. This is a great tool other than the textbook to get a complete grasp on the concept. Not only does it describe PBL as "a teaching method in which students gain knowledge and skills by working for an extended period of time to investigate and respond to an authentic, engaging and complex question, problem, or challenge", but it also provides steps to follow when creating an engaging PBL assignment lesson plan. These steps include: Key Knowledge, Challenging Problem, Sustained Inquiry, Authenticity, Student Voice & Choice, Reflection, Critique & Revision, and Public Product. Following this list of steps and making sure the lesson plan provides all of these points will make for an engaging class.
Another component this website contains is a blog for educators to post about the Project Based lessons they implemented in the classroom. I believe sharing ideas with other teachers is one of the most helpful ways to improve your own teaching because you receive feedback and encouragement to what you are doing well, and what can be changed for the benefit of the class.
Effective communication is essential for building school-family partnerships. It constitutes the foundation for all other forms of family involvement in education.
This article explains some benefits of good parent-teacher relationships and gives some examples of ways to build this type of relationship. This would be good to look at when creating my own classroom.
PE Central's LOG IT Program Log It invites students, teachers, schools, classes, and parents to record their physical activity steps, miles, or kilometers online! Features include a virtual hike across the United States; feedback about daily goals; compare your progress to others; and you can view your weekly and monthly progress.
ClassDojo is a great website creator that specializes in behavioral management. Teachers can provide feedback on students to their parents and the student themselves as well as keep everyone up to date on class activities.