Tech Tips 2Day
December, 2014
This month I am featuring the Tammy Worcester Tang's site as a resource. She has great information on her site and is worth everybody checking out.
For past issues, click here.
Google Timer
http://tammyworcester.com/google-timer/
This simple “trick” will allow you to keep track of time for a classroom task, for group work, for a timed test, or for making hard-boiled eggs. You won’t believe how easy it is.
Flippity – Online Flashcards from a Google Spreadsheet!
http://tammyworcester.com/flippity/
This awesome tool allows you to quickly and easily create online flashcards from information in a Google spreadsheet.
YouTube Video Clipper
http://tammyworcester.com/youtube-video-clipper/
Ever want to share just part of a YouTube video with someone? Well, now you can! Just use Tammy’s spreadsheet and it will “clip” the video for you!
Google Search – Filter by Reading Level!
http://tammyworcester.com/google-search-filter-by-reading-level/
This site shows a little-known, but awesome, feature within the Google search engine – the ability to filter results by reading level!
Kakooma Competition
http://tammyworcester.com/kakooma-competition/
This site takes advantage of one of Tammy Worcester's Game Leaderboard Templates to run a competition where students practice hundreds of mental math facts (and have fun at the same time!) by playing the online game, Kakooma. Complete instructions are included.
Aww – A Web Whiteboard
http://tammyworcester.com/aww-a-web-whiteboard/
A simple, but powerful online drawing tool. It has the three things you have to love in a web tool: it’s free, it doesn’t require a login, and it provides a URL. On top of that, it is collaborative – and it works on any online device: a computer or an iPad – even a smart phone!
QR Codes Basics
http://tammyworcester.com/qr-codes-basics/
QR codes are fascinating and somewhat magical. This site provides potential uses for education. QR codes are a practical way for students to use cell phones and iPads (or other tablets).
Desktop Links – Easy Shortcuts to Websites!
http://tammyworcester.com/desktop-links-easy-shortcuts-to-websites/
This is an easy shortcut that makes it a breeze to get to any website with a double- click!
Audio QR Codes
http://tammyworcester.com/audio-qr-codes/
Imagine students’ artwork hanging in your school’s hallway and beside each masterpiece is a QR code. When parents, students, and other teachers scan the code using a mobile device, they hear the student telling about themselves and the relevance of their art…
Or what about a QR code in the back of a library book that allows you to hear a student’s review of the book? Or a QR code sent home to parents that allows them to listen to their 1st grader reading or telling a story?
Sounds difficult, doesn’t it? Well, don’t worry — it really isn’t hard at all! Here are two options for recording the audio files and the site will show you a couple of ways to “embed” them into QR codes.
Winter Break Math Challenge
http://tammyworcester.com/winter-break-math-challenge/
Want your K-5 students to learn and practice new math skills during their winter vacation? Would you love for one of your students to have a chance to win a personalized signed book from Greg Tang? Then check out this math challenge:
GregTang Winter Break Math Challenge
Just go to the link above and follow the on-screen directions to print the game boards and participate. This site is designed for younger to lower middle school learners. Make sure you try it before having students try it.
Copy Paste Character
http://tammyworcester.com/copy-paste-character/
Ever need a special character like ✄ or ✎, but you can’t remember the key combination to create it? Here's a quick and easy solution to that problem…
Vitual Piano Keyboards
http://tammyworcester.com/vitual-piano-keyboards/
Ever want to lead your students in singing, “Happy Birthday” or play the Jeopardy jingle while giving them time to come up with an answer? This tip features a couple of web tools that will transform your computer keyboard (or interactive whiteboard) into a piano keyboard!
A couple of different websites with virtual keyboards are provided. You can experiment and see which one works best for you.
Fur.ly
http://tammyworcester.com/tip-20-fur-ly/
I use TinyURL all of the time. If you like TinyURL, you'll like fur.ly. The fur.ly website allows you to shorten multiple URLs and provides an interface to move easily between them.
My Award Maker
http://tammyworcester.com/tip-19-my-award-maker/
Do you want to present some certificates to your students to celebrate their accomplishments? Here is an online award maker that allows you to easily personalize and print certificates of all types.
Traveler IQ Challenge
http://tammyworcester.com/tip-17-traveler-iq-challenge/
This is a fun (and sometimes addictive) online game that teaches and reinforces geography skills. Students race the clock as they try to pinpoint various locations on a map.
Random Name Picker
http://tammyworcester.com/tip-11-random-name-picker/
This a web tool that selects a random word from a list that you provide. When used with a projector, it is a great way to review vocabulary words, important dates, or concepts — or use it to randomly pick a name from your student list.
Humorous Language Tool
http://tammyworcester.com/humorous-language-tool/
Take a look at a website that translates language in a different, rather humorous way — The Dialectizer.
Give it try. Simply copy the URL of a web page and paste it in The Dialectizer's designated area. Then, have a little fun trying to read what appears on your screen.