Thinking Blocks

After a hiatus from the math world, I have rejoined it in the 6th grade.  It is a big jump from 4th, but some resources have remained tried and true.  One of my absolute favorites is Thinking Blocks.  These are very similar to "Singapore Math Models" and "Tape Diagrams"...I honestly think everyone just gives them a different name so as not to "steal" information. 

This particular website is presented by:

I love that students read word problems and then manipulate the blocks.  The program checks each step of the equation as the student completes a section.  This particular style lends itself well to visual and kinesthetic learners.  Also, it helps students to see the problem in a concrete manner before moving on to using traditional algorithms and abstract thinking.  Give it a try!  The kids love it!

A Big Move

I have been absent from the blogging world...but I will hopefully be making a comeback very soon with some new/updated posts.  The reason for my absence is that I made a BIG CHANGE.  After years of teaching elementary school, I moved to the middle school to teach 6th grade math and science.  This wasn't the career move I was anticipating, but I know I am where I am supposed to be.  My hope is to continue to blog from the perspective of a middle school teacher, and that I will eventually be able to use this new perspective to move on in the area of technology.  

Now a favor...if you have any awesome resources/websites/people I should follow for my new role, please drop me a comment below!  

I am excited and my soul is rejuvenated.  Change can be wonderful.

Chatterpix Kids

Bring book characters to life with Chatterpix!  With this kid-friendly app, students can take a picture of the character from their book or the person/animal of interest from their reading passage and make them "talk" about the information learned from the reading immersion.  Don't have a picture?  No problem!  Have your students expand their creativity by designing one before they take the picture. 

Check out this example

Scholastic Magazine Grade 4 (February 5, 2018)

Golden Goals!

Julia Marino-Snowboarding

Freckle

Taken from the Freckle.com

Looking for a FREE tool to use with your students that will meet them where they are at in all four core areas?  I was on the same hunt, and fell in love with Freckle (formerly known as Frontrow).  Freckle gives a placement test and adapts practice to help students grow from where they are.  Giving students their user name and password is so easy because you can download adorable login cards that can be taped inside their binder or agenda.  I absolutely LOVE that there are science and social studies units that can be assigned with differentiated reading passages.  Want to learn more?  Click the Pig at the top to be directed to the website.

Seesaw

Scan this to get a month of Seesaw Premium for FREE!!!!

As always, Seesaw Basic is FREE 

How do I love Seesaw?  Let me count the ways!

• It is a digital portfolio for students that can be DOWNLOADED by stakeholders with accompanying QR codes.  
• It allows for communication and collaboration between all members of our classroom family.  Students are able to see and comment on each other's work (if allowed by teacher).
• Parents can see what students are uploading to their portfolio and can comment accordingly.
• There are so many apps that work in tandem with Seesaw.
• Students can demonstrate learning via recordings, pictures, drawings, and videos.
• Teachers can create folders for differentiation.
• Honestly, the list is always evolving because Seesaw is such an amazing tool.

Scared to take the leap?  Just set up a folder to house the links, videos, and anchor charts that you share with your students.  This gives students a "go to" location for finding this information at a later date.

Already a pro?  Try out Seesaw Activities in the "Beyond the Basics" section.

UPDATE: 11/15/2018
I didn't really know if I would continue using Seesaw at the middle school level, but it is just as wonderful as ever.  I LOVE the activities feature.  Check out the photo below.  I can create an activity and quickly see who has not turned it in.  This is helping me move closer to a virtually paperless classroom.  Also, the fact that parents can see what their child is doing makes this an amazing collaborative tool.

Typetastic!

I sit at my desk steadily typing away while my students look on in amazement.  "Mrs Bond!  How do you type so fast?" they ask in awe.  I practiced!  

Typetastic!  is a FREE online typing program that uses colors and games to engage young learners.  Give it a whirl!  I am sure that many of your students will appreciate this skill when they are typing up those essays when they get older :)

Qustodio-Device Monitoring

On days when I am feeling particularly exasperated by my children, the quote, "The days are long, but the years are short" has kept me pushing along and has caused me to stop and try to savor small moments with my children.  Unfortunately this summer, one of those small savory moments was discovering in my search history that my children had looked up something that made my cheeks burn.  This wasn't supposed to happen with MY kids.  I mean, I am pretty tech savvy and was sure that I had made our devices "kid safe."  Truth be told...our kids are digital natives, and we have to try to stay one step ahead of them.  After confiscating their technology, I began my search and trials of different parental monitoring apps.  I decided that for now my favorite tool is Qustodio.

Why Qustodio?
1.  I wanted an app that could monitor "search history"....AKA what the heck did my kids Google?
2.  I wanted to be able to shut their device down from my phone instantly.  You know-I asked my loving son to do the dishes and he continued to tap that screen...BAM  screen locks.
3.  I wanted the ability to schedule screen time either by hours per day or by time of day
4.  I wanted to see HOW my kids were using their devices (Netflix, Pokemon, etc.)
5.  I wanted an app that included a filter so that I could try to prevent some of the yucky stuff from showing up.

Qustodio met all of my requirements.  They do have a free version, but in order for me to monitor my multiple children, the $49.95 price tag per year was worth it.

Qustodio does have an app, but it can also be used by logging in to the website on a computer.  Is it perfect?  No.  Could it miss something once in a while?  Sure.  Does having something like this take away my responsiblity as a parent to monitor my children and their technology usage? ABSOLUTELY NOT!  Does it make me feel just a bit better to know that I'm doing what I can to keep my family safe?  Yes.

When I open the app on my phone, I can easily choose which child I would like to check up on.

The Layout is visually appealing and is easily understood.

My favorite tool is being able to click that Block/Unblock button on the bottom right hand corner of the screen.  Once I click block, and the circle turns red, my child's device is locked until I unblock it.

These are just a few of the many features that Qustodio has to offer.  They have a FREE version that allows for you to monitor one child/device.  Give it a whirl, see what you think, and upgrade if you think it is worth it.