Children explore multiple interests, hobbies, and sports as they develop. Buying the necessary equipment for the latest fad can become expensive, especially if learning to play the piano is your child’s desire. Your child, however, could have the musical inclination to be the next Bach, Martha Argerich, or Murray Perahia. Playing the piano is fun, and if your child is enjoying themselves, then it is also a significant investment in your child’s life. How do you know if you should […]
Category: Apps
Our Picks For The Best Learning Apps for Kids
A parent may limit a child’s screen time, but it is almost impossible to keep them completely away from modern technology. Your child may utilize their screen time productively by engaging with the best learning apps or spend hours on social media and in front of the television. It may even give them a head start in class, which may build their confidence and inspires them to learn new skills. You should find the top learning app for kids on […]
Best Language Learning Software Apps For Student Excellence
If your New Year resolution was to learn a foreign language, and you haven’t started yet, it’s not too late; you can begin today learning a new language quickly and painlessly. How? Use an app, of course. It’s much easier in 2020 to work on sounding like a local with language learning software. We’ve compiled a list of the best language learning software for learning a new language. Each learning software has a unique way to learn. Most of the […]
Best Mind Mapping Software For Classrooms and Learning
During the Roman Empire In the 3rd century, Porphyry from Tyre mapped Aristotle’s Categories in what became known as the Porphyrian Tree. The Porphyrian Tree was possibly the first mind map. (#1) Many famous philosophers and scholars throughout history used mind maps for notetaking: Leonardo Da Vinci, Albert Einstein, Madame Curie, Michelangelo, and Thomas Edison. Tony Bunzan, however, made mind mapping popular. In his BBC TV series, Bunzan coined the term “mind map” and showed the audience how to create […]
Top 18 Virtual Reality Apps That Are Changing How Kids Learn
Technology progress influences the way kids learn, and it’s constantly changing. Internet, smartphones, and apps have connected people globally without caring about the distance. Within seconds you can communicate with anybody anywhere. Virtual reality has taken it a step further. Now it’s possible to visit these faraway places or go back in time without moving an inch. Technology, like virtual reality apps, has brought the real world into the classroom and once again, changing how kids learn. With most kids […]
Great Word Cloud Generators For Your Classroom
Word Clouds are fun, pretty to look at, and a great learning tool. If you haven’t used this type of generator before, do yourself a favor. It’s as much fun to create the graphical cloud than seeing the final product. What is a Word Cloud Generator? These tools generate a “word cloud” from the text you add into the text box. The words most frequently used are more prominently displayed than ones that aren’t used as often. With most of […]
Helpful Newspaper Templates For Students In Your Classroom
The secret about a newspaper is the articles are current and of interest to the reader. Some adults will read a newspaper from the front page to the back page. Others will go directly to a specific section, like sports or financial section, in the paper. There are those who like reading the obituaries. A classroom newspaper has the same function as the daily paper. It provides current news that students want to read about. Also, creating newspaper develops reading, […]
Equity Maps for Effective Group Work
I recently attended an Apple Educators’ Institute in Texas and there are always a few things that resonate with me post conference. One in particular was the spotlight session by Stephanie Thompson on the use of Equity Maps. As an English teacher, I am constantly getting my classes to work in groups. But at the back of my mind, there is always the question of equity. Who is participating fully? Who is being excluded? Who is overlooked and has given up trying […]
EdTech Comfort Zones – From G Suite to Office 365
What is your preferred platform for regular digital work? What makes it your favorite? I learned how to use Microsoft Word and Appleworks (yes, I’m old) in high school. I continued to use those tools for basic word processing tasks through my first few years of teaching. At some point, Appleworks went away. Not a big deal. As a second-grade teacher with just a few old iMacs in my classroom for kids to play games on, I didn’t need very […]
Using Friendly Academic Competition as a Way to Boost Student Engagement in Social Studies Education
Often when educators, parents, or administrators think of a “competitive” student, they’re probably more likely to envision someone in a physical-education class than a student of history. The image, sadly of a toned and seasoned athlete, versus the bookish history major, just doesn’t come to mind. “Competition” is often something we as human beings instinctively associate with physical activity, games, and more athletic than academic settings. However, as the American author, Nancy Pearcey once wrote, “competition is always a good […]
The Word of the Day Podcast—A New Way to Inspire Language Learners
To expand on a popular saying: Give a man a fish, and he’ll eat for a day. Teach a man to fish, and he’ll pass a fishing test and then forget how because he wasn’t all that into fishing in the first place. Inspire a love for fishing, and he’ll fish for a lifetime. I think most teachers want to get their students to that third stage—where learning is no longer a trial, but a game, an endeavor, a creative […]
Solar System for Kids: 11 Out of this World Options
People have been looking up at the sky for thousands of years of human history wondering about what is up there. Children are naturally curious about the world, ours and the ones beyond. Studying the solar system is a brilliant way to fuel that curiosity and encourage an interest in science and exploration. As members of this solar system, it’s important we educate ourselves and our kids about it. To that end, check out these amazing solar system for kids […]
Enhancing Student Learning with Augmented Reality
Augmented reality (AR) is education, version 3.0. Imagine students walking on the surface of Mars inside their classroom, or creating artwork that can dance. Educators can use AR to create strong learning experiences for their students. Through AR, this is all possible. Augmented Reality: An Overview Augmented reality places a layer of digital information on top of the real, physical world. It works by merging graphics, sound, and video with our surroundings. AR blends the real and digital worlds. With AR, […]
A Beginner’s Guide to #EdTech Open Source Software
Did you ever explore a learning possibility only to realize that the software to make it happen costs a lot of money? Do you want to write music but can’t afford Finale or Sibelius? Do you want a powerful tool for photo editing but Photoshop is out of reach? Do you want to explore 3-D animation but don’t want to spend a lot of money on software you might not ultimately use? You might want to explore Open Source software! […]
Voxer: A Game-Changing App for Your PLN
Anyone who knows me would tell you that I love new techie tools. I love trying new apps, extensions, or other web-based programs. Give me a little time with a new tool and the happy clicker in me will explore to figure it out. Once I play for a little while to see what the tool can do, I brainstorm ways that I can use it either personally or professionally at school. Will it make my life easier in some […]
3 Secret Apps Kids are Using to Hide Photos
If you are a parent or teacher of students with a smartphone, you may or may not be aware of hidden or secret apps. Many of these apps double as a “legit” looking application, but offer “hidden” features like saving photos, videos, notes, and even browsing information. Here are three unique iOS Apps that our students are using to hide their tracks: 1. Secret Calculator Icon There are many apps that double as a calculator and photo vault. One of […]
Lomics – The Digital Storytelling App That Turns Video into Comics
Lomics App ReviewWatch this video on YouTube I recently stumbled across a very impressive app called Lomics on a friend’s page and decided to try using it for my daughter’s karate class. The result was incredible. Instead of an hour long video, I received one . This generated an “ah-hah!” moment where I realized I could use Lomics brilliantly with my students. As a former tutor of economics at San Diego State University and a teacher of Russian cinema for children in the Russian School […]
How Can We Spark Wonder in Our Classrooms with Tools and Techniques?
When I was young, my parents bought a telescope, with the intention that my brother and I would learn more about the constellations and the objects in space. I remember the joy of setting up this exciting new tool, and with anticipation, I waited for a clear, dark night, and saw the stars magnify in my eyes. I looked up a few constellations in an encyclopedia, but to my dismay, never found many in the night sky. I had a […]
Teacher Play – 6 Apps to Explore This Summer
Summer is a great time to play–but not just for kids! If you’re a teacher on vacation, the months of July and August are a golden opportunity to explore new apps and tools that you don’t have time to test during the busy school year. Devoting a few rainy afternoons to “teacher play” can pay off big in the fall: you can update your curricula or even develop new activities and assessments, and you can also test-drive apps to determine […]
3 Terrific Tech Tools Every Teacher MUST Try
There’s nothing better than a great app or website that makes my life as a teacher easier! Below are three apps that I think teachers will love! 1. Bloomz One of the most important things as a classroom teacher, especially on the elementary level, is parent communication. I can remember my first few years of teaching using carbon paper notepads to write notes home to parents, so that I could have a copy for my records. Technology has made it so much […]