I stumbled on a website that has some great Everyday Math Resources. There are resources for students, teachers, and parents.  In the teacher section there are powerpoints to help teach alternate algorithms.  Some good stuff here!

http://www.swsd.k12.pa.us/baresvle/MathMaterials/index.htm

Have you heard the buzzwords plurk and twitter?  They are social networking sites that teachers can use to build professional learning network (PLN).  A PLN is a group of teachers you choose to follow/communicate with through plurk or twitter.  Twitter and plurk are very similar.  They are both microblogging sites that you post your status in less than 140 characters.  You can also respond to other people’s status’.  Plurk is a bit more conversational and easier to follow the responses.

There are directories that can help you find other educators on twitter or plurk.  Another suggestion I have is to find an educator or educators that you like to follow and follow their friends.  That will help you build your PLN.

Once your PLN is built you should give as well as receive.  It is a great place to ask questions.  It is important that you answer others’ questions as well.  The more you give the more you’ll get.

My PLN not only is a wonderful resource for me, it also inspires me to be a better professional.  I read about the wonderful things others are doing with their teachers and I am inspired to do more with my teachers.  If I have a question I put it out on my PLN.  I usually have mutliple responses within a short time.

Look me up.  I will help you build your PLN.  My username is @lsadler for both twitter and plurk.

Plurk:
http://www.plurk.com/
http://plurk4teachers.pbwiki.com/FrontPage Directory for Plurk

Twitter:
http://twitter.com/home
http://twitter4teachers.pbwiki.com/ Directory for Twitter

Have you ever wanted to use Google Earth in the classroom but have not been quite sure how to integrate it?  Do you want to reach out to schools in other areas?  This is the perfect project for you.  You will integrate reading and geography in this collaborative project.

Thanks to Jen Wagner for this and all the other great projects she hosts.

Image Source http://www.jenuinetech.com/Projects/pwwg/index.htm

I recently asked my teachers how often they use clickers (one set available per school) and what would make it easier for them to use clickers more often.  Not surprisingly, TIME was the biggest factor.  Teachers need time to develop the lessons.  Hopefully this resource will help with that.  Pete’s PowerPoint Station is a great place to find PowerPoints that are already made and ready to download.  They can easily be used with clickers with very little prep.  If you are in my district and would like help connecting the PowerPoint you find or develop please let me or your ITS know.  We would be happy to help you with that step as well as implementing the lesson with your kids!

Image Source: http://www.pppst.com/index.html

Are you looking for fun math games to play at school or to send home for your kids to do on their personal computers?  Here is a group of more than 30 math games.  There is truly something for everyone.  If you have a game that isn’t on this list and you think it would apply please let me know.  I’ll gladly add it to the list.

Math Games Jog

http://www.jogtheweb.com/play/1NJhMR6H1CSD

Here is a downloadable document of the links.

mathgames

http://clusty.com/ is a mac daddy search engine.  It does more than just give you search results.  It also categorizes them so you can search more efficiently. For example, I typed dinosaurs in to the search bar.  Here is a sampling of what I got.

Image Source: http://clusty.com/

One of my favorite fellow educators, Mrs. Smoke, has blogged a list of virtual field trips.  She has put together a phenomenal list with tips about each site.  Rather than reinvent the wheel, I am going to share her blog with you.  Hopefully you will look at her other posts as well.

http://mrssmoke.onsugar.com/2959452

Internet safety is such in important topic to teach our kids.  It not only helps protect them, it helps them realize the pain caused by cyber bullying.  Here are some resources for grades K-6 on Internet Safety.  They are primarily games, but many of the games have information for parents/teachers as well.  If you have another website that you think would be a good addition to the list please write a comment and I would happily add it to the list!

To access the list you click the green play button.  The list manager will be on the left.  You click the green arrow buttons to navigate forward and backward through games.

http://www.jogtheweb.com/play/qTZwdMJ5fWhN

Image Source: http://www.jogtheweb.com/play/qTZwdMJ5fWhN

There are some great resources to help kids learn about and reinforce what they are learning about nutrition.  I recently did an activity with second graders and included some game time.  The game we played is from the Dairy Council of California  http://www.dairycouncilofca.org/Tools/MyPyramid/.

Image Source: http://www.dairycouncilofca.org/Tools/MyPyramid/

Some other resources to teach nutrition include:

***http://www.brainpopjr.com/health/food/foodpyramid/spinner/

http://www.mypyramid.gov/kids/index.html

http://www.nutritionexplorations.org/kids/activities-main.asp

http://exhibits.pacsci.org/nutrition/nutrition_cafe.html

http://kidshealth.org/kid/closet/

http://www.agr.state.nc.us/cyber/kidswrld/java/ColorBig3.htm

Great List of resources:  http://edtech.kennesaw.edu/web/nutrit.html

March is an exciting month for many reasons. Spring brings warmer weather.  March Madness is quite the experience in Kansas.  And, educationally, Jen Wagner runs her annual Lucky Charms Project.

Image Source: http://www.jenuinetech.com/Projects/st2009/sp2009_information.htm

Registration opens March 1.  The project runs from March 16-20 (alternative dates available for those on break that week).  This is one of the times I wish I were still a classroom teacher.  I have sent the invitation to many of my K-3 teachers in hopes that they will join this project.  I have sent a special invitation with offer of more support to those who aren’t using technology in their classrooms.  This is a great opportunity to model how fun and engaging technology can be.  Hopefully some will take me up on my offer.

I encourage you to check out Jen’s Lucky Charm Project.
http://www.jenuinetech.com/Projects/st2009/sp2009_information.htm

Here is a link to Jen’s Ning where teachers can ask questions and share ideas about this project and others.
http://projectsbyjen.ning.com/