Ask a Tech Teacher is a group of technology teachers who run an award-winning resource blog where they provide free materials, advice, lesson plans, pedagogic conversation, website reviews, and more to all who drop by. The free newsletters and website articles help thousands of teachers, homeschoolers, and those serious about finding the best way to maneuver the minefields of technology in education.
The best way to reach me is:
askatechteacher@gmail.com
If you’d like me to do product or book reviews, please visit this page for more details.
I’m unable to access this wikispaces page. Where do I enter the wiki number your book talks about. I’m very confused. You book resources are easy to access. Hope you can shed some light on how I can look at your resources.
Hi Terri
I think you solved this–right? Let me know if you need help.
I am a first year tech teacher K-8. I just received a 1,000 dollar grant to use for the classroom. I am not sure where it is best to invest my money. What programs, software, anything would you recommend? I am thinking of gearing my purchase to benefit the junior high (6-8). Any suggestions?
Thank you.
Do you have some examples of a web site start page I could look at. I want to design one for my K-5 Tech classes that come to me every 26 minutes. Thanks!
I think you and I already covered this, but I’ll add our conversation for the page. Check out my class internet start page here. I love it.
Hi,
Thank you for this wonderful resource. I was asked by a second grade teacher this morning to find some games that her students can use to better learn how to count money. What a blessing to find all you Counting Coins recommendations on your site! Thanks to you, I quickly found the resources I needed.
I do want to let you know that a few of the links are not working, and one came up as a security risk–links change so frequently!
Thanks again for your amazing work. I don’t know how you find the time.
April
Thanks, April. I’ve fixed those. They should work better for you. I have another spot where I keep coins and money websites–under Economics. These are for all grades and many are the same as the 2nd grade, but you will find a few more there. Just watch for age-appropriateness.
Do your 2nd graders love Moneyville? Mine can’t get enough of it!
Jacqui,
Thank you for your amazingly fast response. I haven’t tried Moneyville yet, but I will. I’m new at this Tech Teacher thing, and love your site. I get great ideas and resources here.
Right now we are preparing for end-of-year testing. Last year–my first–teachers didn’t call on me to assist, but this year, I’m getting lots of skill-specific requests for assistance. It’s very encouraging, and I love helping other teachers to find creative ways to address learning in fun and creative ways.
Thanks again,
April
Teaching tech is amazing. It’s always exhilarating, challenging, and enervating. You are going to love this ride!
Hi Jacqui, First thanks for all of your help. I am new to your site, wikis and books, and they have been a lifesaver and my primary resource for teaching my K to 6 students. I am a NYC public schools teacher who does not teach in a lab. Each class has their own carts of laptops, many of which are quickly getting slower, having battery issues, etc. We don’t have the funds to replace/purchase batteries on a regular basis, so I have been researching other avenues including grants. One product I have come across is Neverware. However, I have yet to talk to anyone who has actually purchased it. Have you or any of your followers heard or had any experience with it. Thank you, Karen
Hi Karen–I haven’t heard of it, but I googled it. Nice website. I can see the logic behind what they do–sounds interesting. They have a testimonial from a NYC school–Robert Hornik at PS 409 in Brooklyn. Is that close to you?
Hi Jacqui,
Do you or your colleagues have recommendations for education-focused virtual reality sites? I am looking for something that has highly interactive, multimedia, education environments like those found in Second Life, but where a teacher could design her own customized online password-protected teaching environment and without the Second Life distractions of flying, building a wardrobe for one’s avatar, and shopping. Any recommendations? Thanks.
David J. Rosen
djrosen123@gmail.com
I spent some time looking for one of those also. I didn’t have much luck. It got moved to the back burner. I think I’ll return to my search–summer’s a great time for that.
Hi David
I’m sorry I took so long getting back to you. I was pondering and then ended up at a conference and… well, you know.Sadly, I don’t have suggestions. I have started lesson plans with Second Life several times and always backed out because I’m not comfortable with the environment for students. You can make an entry point private, but it’s a bit too complicated for my students, not to mention the demands on teachers to set it up.
July 9 2014
msolpersson
Would you mind if I added you to my ‘digital library’ for staff to pick ideas from? I have taken a little snapshot of your blog page to attach a link so people go directly to your blog…is this ok? If not let me know and I will remove it. Great tips and in fact find your blog very helpful all round!
http://www.digitalresources.ac.nz (the library space I mentioned)
Absolutely–they’re here as resources. I greatly appreciate the linkback.
I am trying to help a 5th grade teacher find a classroom with whom her class can exchange emails. I’ve seen a few epal type websites but they quickly become fee based or more resemble dating sites. Do you have a recommendation?
The best way is to reach out through social media or one of the teacher forums. I belong to Elementary Tech Teachers and there are always requests to collaborate. Now these are tech teachers, not fifth grade, so probably not suited to your colleague. You’d want a similar approach. A simple Tweet to her ed stream might come up with one.
Good luck!
I have just been assigned to be the “new” computer teacher this year at school (mind you, school starts next week). At my school we have Apple computers on our lab, so my question to you is…what teaching books/ lesson plan books do you suggest I purchase in order to teach the students how to use a computer and what all a computer can do besides entertain? The ones that I have looked at on-line seem to be geared towards PC’s not Apples. I will need lesson plans for k-5th grades.
Hi Lisa
The books are platform-neutral. The focus is on skills and projects rather than delivery method. For example, kindergarten mouse skills are the same whether they use laptops, Macs, PCs or Chromebooks. Third grade ‘table’ skills are the same whether they’re learned on a Mac or a PC. It does require the teacher to translate skills to their particular platform, but the order they’re presented and their integration into the school’s curriculum is the same regardless of the computer selected.
I would suggest the K-5 tech curriculum as a good starting point. It focuses on teaching the skills that will be used in the classroom, providing you with a curriculum map of what to introduce when, and supporting you in your efforts through the free webinars, videos, and help blog.
Let me know if you have other questions, Lisa!
I have print copies of your books K – 5th Grade Technology, but was hoping to access the posters you feature in your books – Save vs. Save As, Two Ways to Delete, etc – in digital form. I see your 19 Free Posters link, but was wondering if there was a place that featured posters from your book online. Thanks so much.
I do have some free posters here–http://askatechteacher.com/getting-started/free-posters/, but I don’t think they’re the ones you’re talking about. I have collections here and here that may have most of the ones you’re looking for. They have previews that let you see which posters are included. I’m sending you via email a few that you might like.
We are having problems with a new system for students and teachers. We want our teachers to wear a camera on their shirt and have someone watch online to make sure everything is being done correctly. We can’t find anyone to watch online. Can you please post for us to find someone to watch online . Here is what the camera looks like: http://www.citylab.com/crime/2014/08/even-when-police-do-wear-cameras-you-cant-count-on-ever-seeing-the-footage/378690/
Thank you
Good luck!
Hi Jacqui,
I am a new Elementary Tech Teacher and am loving exploring your site! Would you mind if I link to your site from the teacher resources section of my class webpage? Also, is it okay if I share your lists of links on my grade level pages with a link back to your site? Thank you for all the work you have put into this site. I can tell it will be an invaluable resource to me in this new position!
Absolutely, Cindy. That’s what they’re there for. Have a great year!
Wonderful!! 🙂 Thank you so very much!
Hi, I sent in a request for the wikispace,how long does it take to get acces? I’m starting keyboarding and would like to use the finger exercises.
Hi Alli–that wiki is free for those who purchased the keyboard curriculum. If you did, just let me know (with some sort of confirmation) and I’ll approve your membership.
I bought the K-8 keyboarding curriculum off TPT, order number 33582657.
Excellent. Here’s the Join Code for the tech curriculum you purchased: https://wikispaces.com/join/7N947D3
Let me know if I can help with anything else.
Hey,
Just following up as I didn’t hear back from you, sorry to email you again. I noticed your page askatechteacher.com/category/websites/ links to http://www.timeanddate.com/calendar. Unfortunately, that site isn’t very accessible for the sight impaired. Would you consider adding a link to a more accessible version like http://www.thetimenow.com/calendars which is WCAG 2.0 compatible?
Also, if you ever want to see how accessible a page is, I recommend http://wave.webaim.org. It is really helpful.
Thanks,
Amanda S
Thanks for telling me about this, Amanda. I’ll see if I can get it added.
Using gaming to develop student’s interest in history allows them to experience it instead of just memorizing facts. Mr. Harms, History Teacher and developer of History Simulations, HistorySimulation.com Please consider adding my site to your page-Thanks, Dave
It looks good, David. Thanks for sharing.
Hi Jacqui!
Thanks for sharing these lovely resources 🙂
Do you know of any tools which allow a teacher to embed a quiz in a video (like Ed Puzzle) in which the quiz questions and answers/ options are read aloud? It would be so useful for kindergarten kids who don’t read as yet! So they could hear the question and possible answers, and pick the right one.
Thanks,
Devika
Hi Devika–there are apps that will read a screen to you but I found them a bit glitchy with embedded material like videos. EdPuzzle does allow for audio notes besides the questions. I’d suggest you insert the audio note right before the question so you are in essence ‘reading’ the question to the kindergartners. They can think pick from your K-appropriate answers.
Good luck–let me know how it works!
Hi, I have been given the task of aligning state standards and finding tech curriculum for our district. Today I purchased the Teacher’s Manual’s for K-8. I am having trouble accessing the Resource Blog. Could you please assist?
Thanks!
Hi there. Yes, I can help you with that. Here’s the new link for these online resources:
https://www.structuredlearning.net/weekly-resources-k-5-technology-curriculum/
They had been on a Wiki but with Wikispaces closing, we’ve had to move them! Let me know if there’s something in particular you’re looking for and I can try to help.