In this monthly column, I share the most popular post from the past month on my writing blog, WordDreams, for the teacher-authors in the group:

The program that says ‘pro’ more than any other is Adobe Photoshop. Believe it or not, there are a whole list of skills easy enough for a fifth grader (maybe even fourth, but I haven’t had time to test it yet).

Over the next months, in this series, I’ll show you how to teach Photoshop skills appropriate for fifth grade and up. The list includes:

• Photoshop artwork–already live
• Photoshop actions–already live
• Photoshop basics
• Photoshop filter and rendering tools
• Photoshop starters–auto-correct with the auto-correction tools–those quick fixes that make a photo look cleaner (coming up)
• Photoshop crop tool–with the lasso and the magic wand
• Photoshop clone tool– within a picture and to another picture
• Photoshop–change the background (put yourself in front of the Eiffel Tower or on top of Hoover Dam)
• Photoshop tools–add custom shapes
• Photoshop–start with Word (a little dated but still useful)

I’ve provided links, but they aren’t live until publication. These can be adapted to other art programs like Canva. Here are examples of the type of project students can create: (more…)

I’m taking Memorial Day (the last Monday in May here in the USA) to honor our soldiers. Hang the American flag and call my two soldier children. Say hi, how are you. When are you coming home to visit? (more…)

Photoshop reputation as a photo editor ignores its many other tools that enable you to draw like a pro with a wide variety of brushes, textures, and scintillating extras. This side of Photoshop is perfect for creative projects that tie in with many different classroom lesson plans.

Want more Photoshop projects available in this project book? Check these out, then click the link below:

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These are simple features ( including frames, quadrant colors, photo effects like snow) that add sophistication and professionalism to a finished product. This is a good addition to a Photoshop unit. It doesn’t take much time to teach and its wow factor is off the charts with students.

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By fourth grade, my students are so good at PowerPoint, I don’t even teach it in fifth grade (I move on to Photoshop). They’ve learned enough to get them through school. Here’s how I do that: (more…)

Here are 50 animal websites for grades K-5, everything from Dinosaurs to the wildly popular Wolfquest (click here for updates):

1. 3D Toad—3D science study
2. Adaptations—game
3. Animal Adaptations
4. Animal games
5. Animal Games II
6. Animal games II
7. Animal Games III
8. Animal Habitats
9. Animal homes
10. Animal homes
11. Animal Homes II
12. Animal Homes III
13. Animal puzzle games–cool
14. Animals
15. Animals—San Diego Zoo Videos
16. Barnaby and Bellinda Bear
17. Bembo’s Zoo
18. Build a habitat
19. Build a habitat II
20. Butterfies and habitats
21. Classify animals
22. Cockroach—virtual
23. Dino collection
24. Dino Fossils then and now
25. Dino Games
26. Dino Games II
27. Dinosaurs
28. Dinosaurs II
29. Dinosaurs IV
30. Dinosaurs V
31. Dinosaurs VI
32. Endangered species collection
33. Food chain
34. Food Chains
35. Frog habitat
36. Google Earth—African Animals
37. Google Earth—endangered animals
38. Habitat Game
39. Habitats—create one
40. Habitats—match them
41. Life Cycles
42. Life—the Game–colorful
43. Ocean Currents—video from NASA
44. Ocean Safari
45. Ocean Tracks
46. Video Safari
47. Virtual Cockroach
48. Virtual Farm
49. Virtual Zoo
50. Wolfquest—simulation–DL

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Wrapping up your school technology for the summer is as complicated as setting it up in September. There are endless backups, shares, cleanings, changed settings, and vacation messages that — if not done right — can mean big problems when you return from summer vacation. If you have a school device, a lot of the shutdown steps will be done by the IT folks as they backup, clean, reformat, and maybe re-image your device. If you have a personal device assigned by the school but yours to take home, the steps may be more numerous but really, not more complicated.

Here’s a list. Skip those that don’t apply to you and complete the rest. I won’t take time in this article for a how-to on each activity so if you don’t know how to complete one, check with your IT folks or DDG (Duck Duck Go–or Google) it:

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Click for Updated List

1. Adobe Spark–suite of free tools for creating images, videos, and simple web pages; quick; great for Chromebooks
2. Animoto
3. Canva video creator–How-to video by Richard Byrne
4. Chromebook–use Chromebook’s native video creation tool; watch this video on how; no add-ons or apps.
5. EdPuzzle–edit, quizzify, and add your voice to any video
6. Go animate
7. Headliner–browser-based video editor; ed version; freemium
8. Moovly–free or fee, animated videos
9. PlayPosit–interactive videos
10. Spark video — works on Chromebooks and iOS; add personal narrative, images. Use a story template or start from scratch; creates as slides
11. Unscreen–remove background in videos for free
12. Video Editor--free with Windows 10
13. Vimeo
14. Voki
15. WeVideo–collaborative; record on mobile devices; edit on desktop; works great on Chromebooks
16. Wideo–create videos online
17. Windows 10 organic video editor–how-to video to turn photos into video by Richard Byrne

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Top Grant Sources to Bring Technology to Under-Resourced Classrooms

In today’s classrooms, technology is more than a supplement — it’s a necessity. From digital literacy tools to interactive learning platforms, access to reliable technology helps level the educational playing field. However, for many under-resourced schools, affording updated tech remains a major hurdle. Fortunately, a range of grants is available to help educators bring powerful digital tools into their classrooms.

This guide outlines top grant sources dedicated to supporting technology in education, with a special focus on schools in economically disadvantaged areas.

The Realities of Under-Resourced Communities

Before diving into funding sources, it’s important to acknowledge the broader context many schools face. In under-resourced communities, limited school budgets often coincide with other challenges, such as food insecurity, lack of transportation, and especially a shortage of stable, affordable housing.

Housing insecurity, including overcrowding, frequent moves, or even homelessness, can disrupt a student’s ability to attend school consistently, concentrate in class, or complete homework at home. For many students, school may be the only place where they have access to reliable internet, a quiet space to learn, or even a working device. When families are struggling just to keep a roof over their heads, it becomes even more critical that schools can offer strong in-class technology support.

This is where technology grants can make a major impact. By equipping classrooms with up-to-date devices and digital tools, educators can provide a more stable and equitable learning environment — one that compensates, in part, for the challenges students face outside the school walls. (more…)