This site is being added to and updated regularly. Please check back daily for new resources, tutorials, and helpful teaching links!
April 13, 2011
Google Lit Trips is an awesome website that provides interactive journeys through some of your favorite children's books by using Google Earth! Just go to Google Lit Trips and download the Google Earth file for your favorite book. They are adding new books all the time, like David Wiesner's Flotsam.
Posted by mrkennedy at 4:15 p.m.
Labels: literacy, Google Earth, field trips, geography
March 6, 2011
There are many great iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch apps out there that can really get kids excited about learning. Check out this short list I have compiled of some of my favorite applications that we use in the classroom with our iPod Touch center.
Posted by mrkennedy at 11:58 a.m.
Labels: technology, iPhone, iTunes, apps, iPad, iPod Touch
January 30, 2011
Another teacher at my school passed along this great video using a new form of visual demonstration called graphic facilitation. The words are challenging and controversial, but I think you will be amazed at the high level of engagement you have with the content of the message through the graphics...
If you are interested in learning more about graphic facilitation, check out The Center for Graphic Facilitation. I believe that these concepts can truly help our visual learners thrive in the classroom.
Posted by mrkennedy at 7:29 a.m.
Labels: graphic facilitation, learning, technology, visual learning, youtube, art
November 11, 2010
At Seminar this past weekend at Regis we talked about communicating effectively with parents. There are many valuable resources online to help make this a much easier task for teachers. Click here to view the Family Communication in the 21st Century presentation.
Posted by mrkennedy at 10:38 a.m.
Labels: Regis, family communication, PowerPoint
October 27, 2010
I have been working hard to add some of the monthly unit ideas that I use to teach my students about cultural awareness. We celebrate Black History Month in February, but then we have a different cultural celebration in the other months as well. Check out the Equity and Cultural Education page to find valuable links, great books and ideas to help teach your students about the rich diversity of cultures that we have in the world.
Posted by mrkennedy at 4:18 p.m.
Labels: Equity, culture, world issues, equality
July 16, 2010
In my most recent presenation at Regis University we discussed using video technology in the classroom. Here you can find more information on creating video blogs and podcasts, "Skyping" with students and teachers around the world, bring children's authors in to your classroom, virtual field trips and much more. You can also find various resources online (such as CNN's daily "Student News" video podcast) to bring the world directly into your classroom. Click here to view Using Video Technology in the Classroom.
Posted by mrkennedy at 4:18 p.m.
Labels: Regis, video, technology, Skype, podcast, virtual field trips, PowerPoint
June 6, 2010
Using Skype in the classroom is a great way to bring a large global environment right into your classroom. Click here to find out how to use Skype in the Classroom to connect with other classrooms around the world, inspirational figures, authors and families.
Posted by mrkennedy at 1:48 p.m.
Labels: Skype, virtual field trips, technology, authors, global, video
April 24, 2010
In my first presentation at Regis University they allowed me to talk about my experience using websites and blogs in the classroom. As you can probably tell, my classroom website is my best tool for communicating with parents and providing valuable and fun resources for students to learn online at home. Click here to view our presentation titled Websites, Blogs and More Technology in the Classroom.
Posted by mrkennedy at 8:15 a.m.
Labels: Regis, websites, blogs, technology, PowerPoint
March 20, 2010
On top of viewing videos of kittens playing the piano, YouTube can be a great resource to share your videos online. I use YouTube to post classroom updates, guitar lessons and more online. If you don't feel comfortable with the privacy of YouTube, you can also use sites like TeacherTube. Check out my tutorial on Recording Video and Posting to YouTube.
Posted by mrkennedy at 6:58 p.m.
Labels: video, technology, YouTube, iMovie, broadcasting, streaming
January 3, 2010
One of the most effective uses of technology in my classroom has been our use of iPods. We use these iPods as listening centers, both at school and at home. We also have a music/lyrics center in the classroom. There are many free or inexpensive ways to find quality literature for your iPods that students can follow along and listen with. The students love getting to take the iPods home. This is one of the most popular tutorials on my website. Check out Using iPods for Listening Centers.
Posted by mrkennedy at 3:14 p.m.
Labels: iPod, classroom, listening center, iTunes, home
November 15, 2009
Creating a classroom blog is simple and can be a valuable way to get students interested in real-world writing. Keeping up with parent communication can be tough. Using Twitter is an easy and effective way to send out quick blasts or "tweets" to your families that they can check on your website/blog or even right on their phones. Check out the two new tutorials on Creating and Using Classroom Blogs and Using Twitter for Families.
Posted by mrkennedy at 12:04 p.m.
Labels: blogging, blog, Twitter, communication, technology
October 27, 2009
We use music all of the time in the classroom to help get students excited about reading. I play the guitar, and each day the students sing along with a song as we post the lyrics up front with a PowerPoint presentation. If you don't play the guitar, no big deal! You could just play the song on a CD player while you all sing along.
We also use iTunes as a listening/music center during reading groups. I print up a book of lyrics and give the students a folder in iTunes where they can choose which songs to listen to and follow along with.
Check out our Music Page to learn all about using music in your classroom!
Posted by mrkennedy at 10:18 a.m.
Labels: music, guitar, PowerPoint, lyrics, singing
October 20, 2009
Do you use the FAST phonics program? A teammate and I developed Flash versions of each FAST concept board that you can use in your classroom with a Smartboard or on any laptop. I even have students use them on the website at home with their parents so that they can both learn the skills of "pinching out" words. Follow this link to see our Interactive FAST Boards.
Posted by mrkennedy at 10:18 a.m.
Labels: FAST, phonics, Smartboard, literacy, technology
Google Lit Trips is an awesome website that provides interactive journeys through some of your favorite children's books by using Google Earth! Just go to Google Lit Trips and download the Google Earth file for your favorite book. They are adding new books all the time, like David Wiesner's Flotsam.
There are many great iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch apps out there that can really get kids excited about learning. Check out this short list I have compiled of some of my favorite applications that we use in the classroom with our iPod Touch center.
At Seminar this past weekend at Regis we talked about communicating effectively with parents. There are many valuable resources online to help make this a much easier task for teachers. Click here to view the Family Communication in the 21st Century presentation.
I have been working hard to add some of the monthly unit ideas that I use to teach my students about cultural awareness. We celebrate Black History Month in February, but then we have a different cultural celebration in the other months as well. Check out the Equity and Cultural Education page to find valuable links, great books and ideas to help teach your students about the rich diversity of cultures that we have in the world.
In my most recent presenation at Regis University we discussed using video technology in the classroom. Here you can find more information on creating video blogs and podcasts, "Skyping" with students and teachers around the world, bring children's authors in to your classroom, virtual field trips and much more. You can also find various resources online (such as CNN's daily "Student News" video podcast) to bring the world directly into your classroom. Click here to view Using Video Technology in the Classroom.
Using Skype in the classroom is a great way to bring a large global environment right into your classroom. Click here to find out how to use Skype in the Classroom to connect with other classrooms around the world, inspirational figures, authors and families.
In my first presentation at Regis University they allowed me to talk about my experience using websites and blogs in the classroom. As you can probably tell, my classroom website is my best tool for communicating with parents and providing valuable and fun resources for students to learn online at home. Click here to view our presentation titled Websites, Blogs and More Technology in the Classroom.
On top of viewing videos of kittens playing the piano, YouTube can be a great resource to share your videos online. I use YouTube to post classroom updates, guitar lessons and more online. If you don't feel comfortable with the privacy of YouTube, you can also use sites like TeacherTube. Check out my tutorial on Recording Video and Posting to YouTube.
One of the most effective uses of technology in my classroom has been our use of iPods. We use these iPods as listening centers, both at school and at home. We also have a music/lyrics center in the classroom. There are many free or inexpensive ways to find quality literature for your iPods that students can follow along and listen with. The students love getting to take the iPods home. This is one of the most popular tutorials on my website. Check out Using iPods for Listening Centers.
Creating a classroom blog is simple and can be a valuable way to get students interested in real-world writing. Keeping up with parent communication can be tough. Using Twitter is an easy and effective way to send out quick blasts or "tweets" to your families that they can check on your website/blog or even right on their phones. Check out the two new tutorials on Creating and Using Classroom Blogs and Using Twitter for Families.
Do you use the FAST phonics program? A teammate and I developed Flash versions of each FAST concept board that you can use in your classroom with a Smartboard or on any laptop. I even have students use them on the website at home with their parents so that they can both learn the skills of "pinching out" words. Follow this link to see our Interactive FAST Boards.