Super Fun with the Super Bowl!

Okay, the stage is officially set for this year's Super Bowl :

1. NFL Super Bowl XLVIII

   NFL Super Bowl XLVIII

   Sunday, February 2, 5:30 PM on FOX

   MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey

   

   1Seattle

   Seahawks

   

   Denver1

   Broncos

   @

   All times are in Central Time
2. Personally, I'm rooting for Seattle! As a Kansas City Chiefs fan, rooting for the Broncos would be wrong! So, Go Seahawks! 

No matter who you root for or how you choose to celebrate, students usually bring up the topic of the Super Bowl each year. To help celebrate, I'm including links below that might help you incorporate the year's biggest sporting event into your own classroom. Enjoy! 

Kids' Super Bowl Activities

Super Bowl Lesson Plans

5 Ways to Teach the Super Bowl

Super Bowl Activities for the Classroom

Football!

Super Bowl Printable Worksheets

Super Bowl Sunday

Be sure to check me out on Facebook and Twitter for even more resources shared daily! 

Will He or Won't He?

Oh, the Groundhog: that cute, furry, little rodent that we love to hate each and every February 2. I totally prefer there to be an early spring every year, but apparently the Groundhog is the ultimate Weather predictor! 

Whether you believe in the groundhog's forecast or not, it's simply fun to find out what he thinks each year! Kids really enjoy the day as well! 

To help teach or celebrate this fun day, I am including links to many resources and ideas below. Enjoy! 

Groundhog Day Fun

Groundhog Day Books and more!

Groundhog Day Activities and Games

Happy Groundhog's Day!

Kids' Groundhog Day Activities

Free Punxsutawney Phil Resources

Dice Game Freebie

Mini-Book Freebie

Resources for the New Year

While I know pretty much everyone is on a break right now, surely most teachers are thinking about planning for the New Year. 

Whether you are in need of resources to use in your classroom or at home with your own kids, I am providing some links to printables, lessons, coloring sheets, and more to help celebrate the New Year! 

New Year Games and Activities

New Year's Teacher Resources

New Year's Day

New Year

New Year's Activities and Crafts

Christmas Around the World

Sometimes it's hard for children to see beyond their own immediate surroundings to realize that Christmas is a holiday that is celebrated in many countries all over the world!! 

While each of our own families have their own traditions regarding Christmas, what does it look like in other countries? Is Santa still Santa? Do children leave out stockings?

One way to tie in the holiday is by tying it in to other subjects via a research project. Using Writing, History, Geography, and more children can learn about this great holiday and how it's special and different to other children as well. 

I am including many research links below to help teach about Christmas around the World. While you may have your own ideas on how to present the information learned, feel free to also check out the Arts & Creativity and Tech Tools tabs on my Live Binder for sites that would help integrate technology into your projects. 

Enjoy! 

Christmas Traditions

Christmas Around the World

Cultures

World Xmas

Lessons & Activities: Christmas Around the World

Christmas Celebrations

Christmas Customs

JFK: Learning about a Legacy

50 years ago this week, the country lost a President. John F. Kennedy is only one of four presidents in U.S. History to be assassinated, with Lincoln, Garfield, and McKinley being the others.  

For those who are thinking about including this important historical event into their upcoming lessons, I am including a few links below. Most of these resources are for middle elementary and higher. If you know of any for the younger grades, feel free to share. 

Thanks! 

The Legacy of JFK

JFK Teacher Resources

Facts, Resources, and Activities: JFK

Digital Citizenship

"Digital Citizenship is a concept which helps teachers, technology leaders and parents to understand what students/children/technology users should know to use technology appropriately."

This a VERY important topic to instill in children in today's society. It's important that they are aware of the proper ways to interact online. When I taught elementary computers, we would revisit this and Internet Safety a few times a year. I always told my students that just because you're "hiding" behind a computer screen doesn't mean that the rules of safety, courtesy, and anti-bullying don't apply. 

I am including the links below to many resources to help teach this concept to students. It's never too early to teach them how to be safe online. 

Digital Citizenship: BrainPop

5 Videos for Teaching about Digital Citizenship

Free Digital Citizenship Posters

How Students View Digital Citizenship

Ways to Be Kind on Social Media

I Am a Digital Citizen

Digital Citizen Curriculum for grades K-2

Classroom Posters

THANKful for Freebies!

Thanksgiving will be here soon, and with that in mind, it's time to teach students all about the Holiday. 

I am including many freebies and links below to resources, printables, and videos regarding Thanksgiving. I hope they are helpful! Enjoy! 

Thanksgiving Freebies

Pilgrim Venn Diagram

Thanksgiving Word Search

Thanksgiving "Would You Rather...'?

Thanksgiving Nouns

Thanksgiving Unit Study

'Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving History

Don't Be A Bully!

I hate bullying! I hate all kinds of bullying! I do not like the fact that this issue is increasingly becoming more and more of a serious problem in our society. I worry for my own kids as well as all kids that I know and love. 

Bullying is mean, hurtful, dangerous, unnecessary, demeaning, cowardly, and just plain DUMB! I have already begun to instill into my own kids that bullying will not be tolerated. Whether they are bullied themselves or they become a bully, I will not tolerate it! 

Bullying has had some serious repercussions in recent times. Some kids even go as far as taking their own lives because of being bullied so severely. It's time to make this epidemic STOP! 

It's gone too far and we all need to work together to educate everyone about why bullying is not okay, how to stop it, what to do if it happens, and how to recover from it. 

Just because bullying is mostly seen in a school setting, does not mean that it does not exist in the adult world as well. 

ALL BULLYING is NEVER OKAY! Let's take a stand. 

Below are many resources for educating people of all ages on this disturbing trend. 

Cyberbullying

Bullying Prevention

The Bully Bucket

How Will I Stop Bullying?

The Thumper Theory

Stop Bullying: Speak Up

Anti-Bullying Awareness Video

Stop, Drop, and Roll: Fire Safety!

October wears a lot of hats: Halloween, Columbus Day, Anti Bullying Month, Breast Cancer Awareness Month, etc. 

It is also Fire Safety Month! 

This is a topic that is not just important within a school setting, but it is also important in the home. I am including many links below that will help children understand what to do in order to be safe during a fire. 

Be sure to have an escape plan and help children understand it. BE SAFE! 

FREE Fire Safety Resources

Super Smart Fire Safety Rules for Kids

Elmo's Fire Safety Game

Fun Ways for Kids to Learn about Fire Safety

Label the Firefighter

Fire Safety: I Spy Letters and Sounds

Technology FREEBIES!

I've decided to keep this post short and simple. We all love Freebies, right? 

Below I am sharing links to many Technology Freebies and Tutorials that I have either found or created. 

I hope they are helpful! Enjoy! 

Computer Center/Lab Directions

Self Publishing Class Books: Photoshop

Mouse Handling Craftivity 

Commonly Used Microsoft Word Shortcuts Bookmarks

Technology in CCSS (Grades 1-8)

Save vs. Save As

Basic Intro to PowerPoint 

Computer Cash

Computer Puzzles

Technology Terms Alphabet Poster

9/11/01: We Will Never Forget...

It's hard to believe that tomorrow will mark 12 years since that most fateful day in America. It truly feels like it was yesterday, as I can remember every detail of that day. Though I did not personally lose anyone in that tragedy, it was still a heartbreaking event. 

God Bless America and all of those who were affected! 

For many of us, we either have young children and/or work with young children daily. These children may not realize the impact that fateful day had on our country. It's important to let them know about the day in the most calm manner that we can. The idea is to inform them of the history, not scare them. Some of the videos and images they may see on TV tomorrow could seem scary. However, if they know the background behind those images, hopefully we can help to reduce the scariness of the situation. 

Whether discussing this in the classroom or at home, I am including many resources to help students and children understand and remember 9/11/01. 

We Will Never Forget!! 

Wonderful Book for Students

9/11 Books for Kids

Free Patriots Day Printables

Talking with Children about 9/11: Ideas and Activities

Brain Pop: 9/11

What Happened on 9/11: For Kids

Informative Questions and Answers for Kids: September 11th

9/11: A Date Americans Will Never Forget

9/11 Attacks (History Channel)

Technology Resources for Talking to your Kids about 9/11

10 Fun, Free, Fall Finds!

I don't know about the rest of you, but I really Love Fall!! Even though I greatly dislike cold weather, I really enjoy hoodies, bonfires, crisp air, colorful leaves, and pumpkins! 

With that in mind, I decided to look for some Free activities to use in the classroom...all of which have an Autumn theme! 

I hope these are useful and fun for all! Enjoy! 

Leaf Counting SMARTboard Game

Autumn Inference Riddle Cards

My Pumpkin Seed: A Counting Story

Leaf Clip Art

Fall Fun for Fast Finishers

Candy Corn Fact Families

Roll A Sammy the Scarecrow (Free for Limited Time)

Friendly Ghost ABC Matching Game

Number Cards 1-120: Fall Theme

A Very Leaf Day: Emergent Reader

Create, Sell, Earn Money!

I have always maintained that teachers are each other's best resources. I have found that to be increasingly true in recent years with the involvement of social media. 

Many of us follow blogs, Facebook pages, Twitter feeds, Pinterest boards and more that are FULL of so many great teaching ideas and resources. These are all usually ideas that someone, somewhere has actually tried and tested in a classroom. As a worldwide community of educators, we are always so kind and helpful towards each other and are willing to share in whatever way that we can. 

With that said, we also deserve to reap some benefits from all of our hard work and ideas. 

Most of us know and participate in Teachers Pay Teachers online. I am forever grateful to the former co-worker who introduced me to it years ago, before the really big "hype" set in. I love the extra income, no matter how big or small the amount may be! 

Many of us are also aware and participating in Teacher's Notebook online. While I have not added as many products to my TN site as I should have, it's still a growing store for me and does give me a bit of extra income every so often. 

However, I was unaware until within the past few weeks, that there are other similar sites out there for educators to sell their products. I have yet to list anything on a few of these, but I plan to in the very near future. 

If you have any comments, suggestions, or reviews of any of these sites, please share them in the comments below or on my Facebook page. We'd all love to hear what your experiences have been! 

I am listing the links to the other sites below. Enjoy and Happy Selling!! 

Ed World Exchange
Tools for School
Resources 4 Teaching
Buy Sell Teach

Freebie Re-visited!

I am re-sharing the link to my Dr. Seuss in the Elementary Computer Lab unit! Even though many classrooms wait 'til early March to really discuss and celebrate Dr. Seuss, I hope this unit will still be helpful.

It is for grades K-5 and it incorporates many popular books by Dr. Seuss.

Here is the link to the free download: Dr. Seuss!

Be sure to also check out the great Giveaway and Linky at Teaching Blog Roundup! 

Have a wonderful weekend everyone! 

Starting the Year in the Elementary Computer Lab

Besides the obvious tasks of going over procedures, rules, and expectations for the computer lab, I would always do some of these other basic tasks and activities with the students as well at the beginning of each new school year. 

I hope these ideas and sites are helpful. Please do not hesitate to contact me and ask questions for any other Ed Tech ideas. I'm happy to help! 

Grades K-1

Many of these students may have never used a computer before. Thus, they need to learn the basic skills of using a keyboard and a mouse properly. I have many links on my Live Binder site via the Purple tabs. However, here are a few sites that I love to begin with for this age group: 

Learn ABC's

Headsprout

Move the Mouse

Keyboard Zoo

Grades 2-5

These students may need to review skills such as using a keyboard/mouse, navigating the Internet, and/or basic typing skills. The Purple and Brown tabs via my Live Binder site have many great sites for helping students review and showcase basic computer skills. Here are a few of my favorites: 

Dance Mat Typing

Fast Typer 2

Mini Mouse

Keyboard Climber

2 day TpT Sale...limited!

I've decided to hold a 20% off sale in my TpT Store for some of my top selling and most wish listed items. The sale will run Tuesday & Wednesday, July 9-10 only!! Check out the items that I am putting on sale and get stocked up for the upcoming school year. 

Happy Shopping !

-Jenifer

Classroom Signs & Posters

Computer Lab Bingo

Computer Lab Rules

Elementary Ed Tech Word Wall

Elementary Typing Goals

Fun and Games for the Computer Lab

Park Map Geometry Project

Presentation: Free Tech Tools and Ideas for the Classroom

Simple Machines Projects

Yearlong Elementary Technology Plan

Teachers vs. Summer

I know that like many of you I hate it when non-educators make it sound like teachers do not deserve to have the summer months off. As we all know, we put in more than a year's worth of work into 10 months' time! Many of us use the summer to plan, create new resources, work a side job, take classes, etc. 

Below are links to tips and ways to use your summer to its fullest!! While it's nice to have the time to begin preparing for the new school year, it's also important to take a break! 

I hope these links are helpful to many of you! Enjoy your Summer!!!

Top 10 To Do's for Teachers During Summer

10 Ways Teachers Can Be Productive During Summer Break

Summer Planning

Make the Most of Your Summer

Lesson Planning Fun

What Teachers Do During the Summer

Legit or Not? How can you tell?

I know that one of the areas that is hard for me to explain to students, is how to tell if a website is legit or not. I know ways to tell, but it's hard for me to convey that message in a way that they will understand.

 

Luckily, after doing some searching and reading, I have found multiple resources to help me teach this skill. I am most likely going to teach this to my 3rd graders next week. It's a very valuable skill to learn and use, especially as students get older. They will be doing more and more research online so it will important that they are aware of how to find accurate and valid information.

 

Below are many links to ideas and resources for teaching this skill. However, if you have any other ideas or links that would also help, I would LOVE to hear them! Thanks!

 

Determining if a Website is Reputable

Rating Websites 

Websites: Which Ones Should you Trust?

The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly

ABC's of Website Evaluation

All About Explorers