Great Sites for Great Information!

Check out some of these sites and blogs. Subscribe to them! They are constantly adding information that is helpful, time-saving, and sometimes, just plain fun. (We DO need that!)

I'll be adding to and updating this list!

Free Technology for Teachers

A great blog with lots of tips and ideas for every level.

Ed Tech Teacher

Links to free webinars and info.

Tammy Worcester Tang

Awesome ideas for the classroom.

Career & Technical Education
Are you a CTE teacher looking for more training? Check out the free webinars offered here!

Too Much For Your Campus Tech Crew?

Recruit your students!
I've been blessed this year with an 8th grade class we call the Tech Commanders. We follow the Mouse Squad curriculum, with the caveat that if we need to learn something NOW, we learn it! These students have stripped and rebuilt old PCs and studied app creation. They've researched which OS is more appropriate for which need. They are currently creating infographics and studying troubleshooting techniques in order to provide tech support at a community coffee shop after STAAR testing is complete.
These kids are the first line of tech support when teachers can't get a printer installed, speakers don't produce sound, or keyboards are missing letters. While it may not sound like much, imagine having 15 extra assistants on your campus!
All you need is a teacher who is willing to learn along with the kids, one elective period, and one group of kids who are willing to help!

Google Classroom

Google Classroom

posted Nov 6, 2014, 8:34 AM by Kathy Blankenship   [ updated Nov 6, 2014, 8:34 AM ]

This site has recently come out of beta, and if your district uses Google Apps, this is a great tool for parking and accessing your resources. Students can access classroom.google.com and complete assignments, find information you've shared, and see grades on assignments you've set up through Google Classroom. It's constantly being updated and revised, so I look for this to become a better resource every day.

Edmodo

posted Nov 6, 2014, 8:26 AM by Kathy Blankenship   [ updated Nov 6, 2014, 8:26 AM ]

This app and site is accessible from most devices. It is full of ways to communicate with, test, quiz, and teach your students. It can be used for tracking and anecdotal records, as well as parent communication and real-time quizzes. Edmodo has TONS of resources available, and you can pick and choose what works for your needs. Check out www.edmodo.com and see which piece you'd like to implement. See the following sites for reviews and ideas of how best to make Edmodo part of your classroom. Videos https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHtwgZEHzNs Support/Manuals https://support.edmodo.com/home#teacher

Images:

If you want to use a picture for a project, you need to make sure that there are no royalties or fees attached. To do this simply, go to Google, type in your search term, click "Images," then "Search Tools." Another menu will appear under your search bar. Click "Usage Rights." Then choose the last item, "Labeled for noncommercial reuse."  This will seriously limit your image choices, but it will leave you with only those items that are LEGAL for you to use. :) 

Welcome!

The goal of this site is to present simple changes you can make to your curriculum to enhance your lessons, assist your students, and generally make your life easier with a little technology assistance.

We're all striving for true technology integration. Do not try to implement everything at once or you'll make yourself crazy. Add a little, try it out, add some more. It will be uncomfortable at first, but the end result will make it all worthwhile.

***Disclaimer: All sites, programs, and apps are listed here based on recommendations or personal experience. I do not own or control any of them. They worked when I posted them! If any of the recommended sites are broken or not working, please let me know and I'll remove them.***