Website Spotlight: Snappy Words Visual Dictionary

Sick and tired of boring dictionary definitions?  Can't figure out how to get students to make connections between words and their meanings?  Snappywords online visual dictionary gives excellent visual definitions/connections for any word!

This would be great for any vocabulary lesson or for any sort of test prep.  Good way to review words as a whole class too, especially for visual learners!

Visit the site here:  http://www.snappywords.com/

So awesome and kids love it! Much better than a definition thrown at you.

Enjoy!

FREEBIE! Rubric for Small Moment Writing

Use this rubric for students who struggle to stretch out their writing and add details.  They will be able to self assess themselves and their work, and see where they need to add more!  This goes great with Writer's Workshop small moment writing, but it can be used for anything!

You can download the freebie here: http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Writers-Workshop-Small-Moments-Stretch-Out-Your-Writing-Rubric

Here is a preview of what it looks like:

 

Enjoy!

Printable! 42 Small Moment Prompts for Writer's Workshop

Enjoy these small moment writing prompts for when kids are stuck on thinking an idea.  These prompts are very broad, so any ideas they come up with will be from their own personal lives!

You can visit my TpT site and get the full version here: Writer's Workshop 42 Small Moment Writing Prompts

Here is a sample:

Printable Center Cards and Schedule Cards!

Check out my teacherspayteachers site to get these center cards and schedule cards!

Included is two of each:

Word Work
Listening
Library
Poetry
Computer
Writing
Independent Reading
Guided Reading
Games
Free Choice
Math
Science
Social Studies
Music
Art
Physical Education
Health
Conference
Puzzles
Blocks

Cut these out, laminate them, and enjoy them in your classroom!

Here is a sample:

 

You can get them here! --> http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Center-Cards-and-Schedule-Cards

Best iPad Apps for Teachers and Educators

Sometimes it's hard to find the perfect grade book or format to truly keep track of the data you need for students.  Whether it is grades, participation, behavior, or other things, it is important to keep track of as much as possible in the classroom!!  Data like this makes it easier to make a case for certain students if they are struggling in any way, and the visuals are great for parent meetings.  Check out some of these paid and free apps for the iPad/iPhone that will fit all your teacher needs!!

Teacher's Assistant Pro: Track Student Behavior
This app is a great way for teachers to keep track of student behavior (both negative and positive).  It allows you to assign a point value to certain actions (e.g. forgetting a book, tardiness) in order to see the severity of the situations.  It also has a random group organizer which is perfect for selecting groups quick and easily.  This would be really effective in middle/high school classes!

Teacher Kit
This app is great for general teaching needs!  It allows you to keep attendance, input grades, and sort by class.  Very useful and simple app!

Essay Grader
This tool really helps when grading essays to focus on the main elements of the writing piece.  It also allows more useful and specific feedback for student work!

Stick Pick
This technological take on the traditional method of picking students at random using popsicle sticks is a fun way to switch things up in the classroom!

Edmodo
This is an excellent app for students with access to iDevices.  Teachers and students can communicate outside of the classroom with class updates, class memos, grades, groups, etc.

Educreations Interactive Whiteboard
Create stunning visual aids to add to your lessons with this app.  Great for sharing your lesson through visuals!

LiveBinders
Use this app to compile information on various topics and keep it all in one place.
 
Outliner for iPad
This simple tool can be used for outlining lectures, lessons, or simple to-do tasks.  It is great as a projected visual or for your own personal reference.

Docs Anywhere
This app is wonderful for those who may need to quickly reference a document they have saved.  You can carry important documents with you quickly and safely.  The one drawback is that you cannot edit anything you have saved.  It is a view only app!

Mathematical Formulas
This is a great reference tool for math formulas!

gFlashPro - Flashcards and Tests
Great for trivia questions and for studying!  Would be a fun game for test prep

LanSchool Teacher's Assistant for iPad
This app allows for easy and effective technology integration in the classroom without the distractions that go along with it.  It keeps students on track and on task.

The Elements: A Visual Exploration
A great visual way to go over the elements.

History: Maps of World
Use this app in a history lesson to show what various parts of the world looked like in certain time periods.  Many different maps.  Awesome app!

Keynote
Upgrade that boring old presentation or lecture with Keynote!  It's just like Powerpoint, but cooler (in my opinion.)

Evernote
Evernote is a note-taking tool for note-takers of all kinds!  You can create lists, use pictures, and store information on this app to help keep your crazy life in order.

neu.Notes
Take hand-written notes on your iPad.  Just like writing on a whiteboard!

TED
TED Talks feature some of the most interesting and inspirational speakers and would provide great lessons for students and teachers alike.

Dropbox
Keep your files, pictures, videos, documents, etc. all in one safe place!  Lose the fear of losing things!!  Great app for docs on the go.

This Day in History
This Day in History is a great app to supplement any history lesson by showing what happened on that particular day in the past.

Pages
This is a wonderful program to make reports, flyers, letters, documents, etc.

Skitch
Add annotations and marks to pictures, documents, etc. to create great visuals for your lesson.

Science360
This app has so many great images and videos to supplement science lessons!

Explain Everything
Annotate, explain, or record on top of any images or videos that you use in your lesson!

TeacherMate
This is great for K-2 teachers of literacy.  It has wonderful interactive lessons for younger elementary students!

Teacher's Roll Call
Simple and easy way to keep track of classroom attendance!

TeacherPlan
Great lesson planning app!  It helps to organize lessons and objectives and keeps you on task!

Lesson Plans
A simple, straight-forward lesson planning app

LessonNote
Great tool for educators who need to observe other teachers.  Take notes, screenshots, pictures, etc in order to create an effective and useful evaluation.

iCardSort
This is an excellent visual brainstorming tool that allows you to organize thoughts and throw out ideas.  Would be great as a whole class activity!

Inspiration Maps Lite
Even better brainstorming app!  The visuals create an interactive web for students and teachers alike.  You can convert to different formats of maps as well.


Please let me know if you have found any other useful apps to aid in your teaching or learning!

Enjoy!

Go Fish for Sight Words! StoryTown Resource

Here is a wonderful game to practice sight words and high frequency words in the classroom and you'll barely have to explain the rules!  Print out these cards for Go Fish (2 of every word), paste them on construction paper, and laminate them and Voila! a perfect way to practice sight words. 

This game encourages students to have fun while practicing reading and memorizing these high frequency words, because they have to try to get as many pairs of words as they can from other players.

Visit my TeachersPayTeachers page to purchase the games for Kindergarten, First Grade, or Second Grade High Frequency Words...Or just take a look at it and create your own!

 StoryTown First Grade High Frequency word game...or just take a look at it and create your own!!


StoryTown Go Fish High Frequency Words Kindergarten

StoryTown Go Fish High Frequency Words First Grade

StoryTown Go Fish High Frequency Words Second Grade

Enjoy!

This is a sample of the first grade resource:

42 Elementary Story Starters and Sentence Starters-- Writing Prompts

I recently uploaded my new Elementary Story Starters printable to Teachers Pay Teachers for $1.

You can visit my site and purchase the printable, which is awesome to cut out, paste onto popsicle sticks, and use in the writing center for students who are having trouble thinking of writing topics!!

Elementary Story Starters for Writing Printable  <--purchase the printable here!

Here is a sample of the printable!

 

If you just want the story starters, but do not want to purchase the printable, here is a list of the 42 story starters for elementary aged students.  Enjoy!

1.  My favorite place to go is...
2.  The best day ever was...
3.  If I could fly...
4.  If I were a superhero, I would...
5.  When I grow up, I want to...
6.  If I could be an animal, I would be...
7.  Once upon a time...
8.  I love school because...
9.  When I get home from school, I...
10.  If I could have one wish, I would wish for...
11.  I wish I didn't have to...
12.  I am happiest when...
13.  My favorite treat is...
14.  I am afraid of...
15.  If I could be invisible for one day, I would...
16.  My favorite thing to do in school is...
17.  My favorite thing to do at home is...
18.  If I were President of the United States, I would...
19.  If I could pick my own name, I would choose...
20.  If I could go anywhere in the world, I would go to...
21 . If I could be a character in a movie, I would be...
22.  If I could be a character in a book, I would be...
23.  The funniest thing that has ever happened to me is...
24.  The best part about where I live is...
25.  I am most thankful for...
26.  Over the weekend, I am going to...
27.  Something that is important to me is...
28.  Whenver I'm bored, I like to...
29.  The silliest thing I have ever done is...
30.  The best day of my life was...
31.  The best thing about me is...
32.  I am proud of myself because...
33.  My goal for this year is...
34.  On rainy days, I like to...
35.  My favorite thing about the summer is...
36.  My favorite thing about the winter is...
37.  My favorite season is...
38.  On my last birthday, I...
39.  On my next birthday, I am going to...
40.  My favorite sport is...
41.  My favorite game to play is...
42.  A good friend is someone who...


That's all for now!! Please add some of your own sentence/story starters in the comments!  Thanks and enjoy!