All Posts

2022 (210)

11/20/22 - Happy Thanksgiving!
I wish you and all yours a wonderful US Thanksgiving Break. Enjoy your family and friends, take time to rest....
11/19/22 - 5 Tech Tools for Math Class
I’ve updated Ask a Tech Teacher’s list of ten math tools we posted in 2016 to be shorter and with...
11/18/22 - 14 Apps and 2 Projects for Thanksgiving
Need a few websites and apps to fill in sponge time? Here are Thanksgiving websites that will keep students busy...
11/17/22 - 16 Coloring Book Websites and Apps
Here is a great list of coloring book websites for kids and adults to share for the holidays. Many are...
11/15/22 - Tech Tip #23 I Deleted a File by Accident
In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies...
11/14/22 - Geography Awareness Week: November 14-18, 2022
Promoted by National Geographic, here’s what you should know about Geography Awareness Week which occurs November 14-18, 2022: Too many...
11/11/22 - A Day to Remember Veterans
As many of you know, I have two wonderful children–one a LT CDR in the Navy and one a SSG...
11/10/22 - Tech Tip #169: What is Digital Literacy?
In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies...
11/09/22 - 100s of Websites on STEM-STEAM
After you’ve checked out our favorite STEAM resources, here are some of those that teachers use to teach STEM and...
11/08/22 - National STEM/STEAM Day Nov. 8th
National STEM Day is November 8, 2022, the unofficial holiday that celebrates science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education throughout...
11/07/22 - Teacher-Authors: What’s Happening on my Writer’s Blog
A lot of teacher-authors read my WordDreams blog. In this monthly column, I share the most popular post from the...
11/04/22 - Subscriber Special: Free K-8 Hour of Code Lesson Plans
Every month, subscribers to our newsletter get a free/discounted resource to help their tech teaching. November 4-8th Buy the K-8...
11/03/22 - Choosing the Right Computer Science Specialization
One of the most popular and in-demand skills is anything related to computers–programming, repair, networking, and cybersecurity to name a...
11/02/22 - What You Might Have Missed in October–What’s up in November
Here are the most-read posts for the month of October, including: Freebie for history teachers Digital Citizenship Week 100+ Digcit...
11/01/22 - Another Excellent Online Feature from Jotform–Sign
You may know Jotform as one of the most popular tools in the form builder category, recognized for its simplicity...
10/31/22 - Halloween Projects, Websites, Apps, Books, and a Costume
Three holidays are fast-approaching–Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. If you’re a teacher, that means lots of tie-ins to make school...
10/28/22 - 6 Websites that Explain Elections
In about half the world–mostly those where people live under socialism, communism, dictators, or autocracies–law and order is decided for...
10/27/22 - High School Curricula and Career Education
College enrollment among high school grads grew during the early 2010’s, leveling off about 2017 when it began to drop...
10/26/22 - Teacher Tech Training is Critical
Back when I started teaching tech, teachers loved saying that kids knew more than they did, even defer to students...
10/25/22 - Exercises to Strengthen Fingers for Keyboarding
Here are basic exercises that will strengthen fingers for keyboarding. Pick those that work best for your student group. Some...
10/24/22 - Bully Prevention Month–October
I reprint this post every October, to remind all of us about the treachery of bullying. In October 2006, thirteen-year-old...
10/21/22 - October is Dyslexia Awareness Month
Surprisingly, 15-20% of the population has a language-based learning disability and over 65% of those are deficits in reading. Often,...
10/20/22 - A Helping Hand: Assistive Technology Tools for Writing
I don’t write enough about special needs so when Rose contacted me with an article idea, I was thrilled. Rose...
10/19/22 - 3 Ways To Foster Digital Citizenship in Schools
#ISTE had an interesting discussion on how to foster digital citizenship in schools. This is especially critical because students are...
10/18/22 - 100+ Websites on Digital Citizenship
Here are popular resources teachers are using to teach about digital citizenship. Click the titles for more links: Avatars Copyrights...
10/17/22 - Digital Citizenship Week–Oct. 17-21 2022–Here’s What You Need
Information that will help you teach digital citizenship to your students. Below, you’ll find everything from a full year-long curriculum...
10/15/22 - History Teachers: Check out This Freebie!
To celebrate the launch of Natural Selection, Book 3 in the Dawn of Humanity trilogy, the ebook of Book 1–Born...
10/01/22 - I’m Traveling–Oct. 1st-17th
October 1st-17th For the first part of this time, my two children and I are touring American Civil War battlefields...
09/30/22 - Family Physical Education Week
Family PE Week is October 3rd through 7th this year. I was traveling during this event, but thought I’d share...
09/29/22 - Should You Unschool?
The first time I read about Unschooling, I ignored it. Surely, it was a fad that would go away. When...
09/27/22 - Tech Tip #167–How to Evaluate Apps
In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies...
09/26/22 - Teacher-Authors: What’s Happening on my Writer’s Blog
A lot of teacher-authors read my WordDreams blog. In this monthly column, I share a popular post with you on...
09/23/22 - Robot Teachers vs Human Teachers:
Simona Johnes, editor-in-chief of Science and Literacy, an educational blog for teachers and parents, did some research into a topic...
09/22/22 - Incorporate Mindfulness into Your Class
Students learn best when they are relaxed, happy, and feeling loved. It is challenging to include those characteristics in classes...
09/21/22 - School district asks parents to house teachers amid high cost of living
This is new to me, but reading the predicament Milpitas California is in–having visited this expensive area–I commend the school...
09/20/22 - Autumn Websites
Autumn Facts for Kids Don’t “Leaf” Out Fall’s Most Valuable Lesson EEK! A Tree’s True Color Fall Bucket List For...
09/19/22 - Keyboarding Basics Part 2
Keyboarding is a topic that most parents want their children to learn and many schools don’t have time to teach....
09/16/22 - Digital Citizenship–a Life Skill
I’m a staunch believer that Digital Citizenship should be taught early and often. Education Week seems to agree. They have...
09/14/22 - Tech Tip #134: 8 Tips to Become Tomorrow’s Teacher
In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies...
09/13/22 - 50+ Websites on Keyboarding
Here are a wide variety of resources that teach keyboarding–from games to drills to everything in between: ABCYa–Keyboard challenge—grade level...
09/12/22 - Keyboarding Basics Part 1
Keyboarding is a topic that most parents want their children to learn and many schools don’t have time to teach....
09/11/22 - America, We Remember
9-11 Day has become Patriot Day here in America, but it doesn’t change its purpose: to show how much we...
09/08/22 - Teach Critical Thinking
There’s a reason why the brain uses 25% of the calories you eat: Thinking is hard work. Subjects like math...
09/07/22 - Back To School Websites
Here are a few of the popular resources teachers are using to BTS resources BTS resources from Microsoft Make a...
09/06/22 - Tech Tip for Teacher-Writers #180–2 second way to find a book on Amazon
Tech Tips for Teacher Writers is an occasional post on overcoming Tech Dread. I’ll cover issues that friends, both real-time...
09/05/22 - Take a Break–it’s Labor Day!
Labor Day is annually held on the first Monday of September (this year, September 5th). It was originally organized to...
09/02/22 - What You Might Have Missed in August–What’s up in September
Here are the most-read posts for the month of August: Tech Ed Resources–Coaching How to Thank a Teacher Benefits of...
09/01/22 - Subscriber Special: Free Amazon Gift Card
Every month, subscribers to our newsletter get a free/discounted resource to help their tech teaching. September 2nd-3rd: Subscribe to the...
08/31/22 - Teacher-Authors: What’s Happening on my Writer’s Blog
A lot of teachers who read Ask a Tech Teacher are also authors so once a month, I share the...
08/29/22 - Teacher-Authors–Help launch my latest prehistoric fiction
If you’re a teacher-author–like me!–I’d love your help launching this HS-level historical fiction book with your community. In return, I’d...
08/26/22 - 5 (free) Mouse Skills Posters
Every month, we’ll share five themed posters that you can share on your website (with attribution), post on your walls,...
08/25/22 - How to incorporate podcasting into your curriculum this school year
How to incorporate podcasting into your curriculum this school year School is almost back in session and educators are busy...
08/24/22 - Lessons Learned My First 5 Years Of Teaching
It’s always interesting to find out what new teachers learned in their early teaching that affected their later years. Here’s...
08/23/22 - This is a Great Week to Leave a Comment
The least-known international holiday coming up this week: International Comment Week. This is a time where you make the extra...
08/22/22 - Tech Tip 166 Which Digital Device Should I Use?
In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies...
08/19/22 - Tech Tip #6: 16 Habits of Mind
In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies...
08/18/22 - Essential Tech Tools for the History Class
Ask a Tech Teacher contributor, Christian Miraglia, former teacher and now education consultant, has suggestions for apps to help the...
08/17/22 - 5 (free) Keyboarding Posters
Every month or so, we share themed posters you can re-share on your website (with attribution), post on your...
08/15/22 - Notetaking and Study Apps
There are great notetaking apps and suggestions out there for students. Check out this article from The Tech Edvocate with...
08/12/22 - Balance the Delivery
Four to six hours in front of a computer for instruction. Unaccounted time for social media and gaming usage. Sounds...
08/10/22 - Amazing Benefits of Taking a Short Course
Too often, we think ‘taking a class’ requires a commitment of weeks–or months–to master the topic. Sometimes, you don’t have...
08/09/22 - Classroom Tech Elevates Remote Learning
For over two years, many schools, parents, students, and teachers have struggled with how to teach remotely, and then–when can...
08/08/22 - How to Thank a Teacher
I found this article in my mailbox the other day, from The Tech Edvocate. This has been such a trying...
08/05/22 - Tech Ed Resources–Online Classes and Coaching
I get a lot of questions from readers about what tech ed resources I use in my classroom so I’m...
08/04/22 - How to Showcase Your Skills when Applying for Your First Job
This article is for recent graduates, either from high school or college, ready to look for a first job. Here...
08/03/22 - What You Might Have Missed in July–What’s up in August
Here are the most-read posts for the month of July: 9 Ways to Add Tech to your Lessons Without Adding...
08/02/22 - Here’s What to Know Before Studying Abroad in the US
While it’s become common for US students to study abroad, it is just as common for non-Americans to spend time...
08/01/22 - Subscriber Special: Great Deal on Coaching
Every month, subscribers to our newsletter get a free/discounted resource to help their tech teaching. August 2-7th: Coaching or Mentoring...
07/29/22 - The Case for PDFs in Class Revisited
I published this about a year ago and have updated it to reflect our current teaching environment. Let me know...
07/28/22 - Here’s How to Get Started with Ask a Tech Teacher
Hello! Ask a Tech Teacher is a group of tech ed professionals who work together to offer you tech tips,...
07/27/22 - Tech Tip #40: Where Did Windows Explorer Go?
In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies...
07/26/22 - How to Teach Venn Diagrams to Elementary School Students
Venn Diagrams are one of the most visual approaches to showing students the logical relationships between sets and connectivity of...
07/25/22 - Teacher-Authors: What’s Happening on my Writer’s Blog
A lot of teacher-authors read my WordDreams blog. In this monthly column, I share one of the most popular posts...
07/22/22 - HS Financial Training Classes
Such an important topic, especially as we see kids aren’t graduating with basic knowledge of budgeting, paying bills, and more....
07/20/22 - We Landed on the Moon July 20 1969
On July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong was the first man to place foot on the moon. Commemorate that this year...
07/19/22 - Tech Ed Resources for your Class–Digital Citizenship
I get a lot of questions from readers about what tech ed resources I use in my classroom so I’m...
07/18/22 - EdTech’s Top Blogs to Follow–Yep, We’re On It
EdTech Review’s EdTech Blogs You Must Follow is a comprehensive review of the top blogs that will keep you plugged...
07/15/22 - 40 Websites to Teach Keyboarding
Here are a few of the popular resources teachers are using to teach keyboarding. For more keyboarding websites, software, typing...
07/14/22 - Tech Ed Resources for your Class–K-8 Keyboard Curriculum
I get a lot of questions from readers about what tech ed resources I use in my classroom so I’m...
07/13/22 - 25 Websites for Lesson Planning
Here are a few of the popular resources teachers are using for lesson planning: Organize/Create lesson plans Alma–create standards-based lessons...
07/12/22 - Tech Ed Resources–Lesson Plans
I get a lot of questions from readers about what tech ed resources I use in my classroom so I’m...
07/11/22 - Tech Tip #129: Top Ten PC Shortkeys
In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies...
07/08/22 - 9 Ways to Add Tech to your Lessons Without Adding Time to Your Day
I update these suggestions every few years to remind teachers there are easy ways to techify your lessons even on...
07/06/22 - A Teacher’s Best Evaluator
It’s always a challenge to evaluate teachers. I’ve been through many systems, often different each year, and honestly, none seems...
07/05/22 - What You Might Have Missed in June–What’s up in July
Here are the most-read posts for the month of June June is Internet Safety Month World Environment Day: Living Responsibly...
07/04/22 - July 4th Celebrations and Activities
It’s America’s birthday and I’m celebrating. My Army Sergeant son is in Japan–Okinawa. My Navy LT CDR daughter’s in the...
07/01/22 - Subscriber Special: 50% Sidebar Sponsors
Every month, subscribers to our newsletter get a free/discounted resource to help their tech teaching. Here’s July’s: July 2-9th 50%...
06/30/22 - Tech Ed Resources for your Class–K-12 Tech Curriculum
I get a lot of questions from readers about what tech ed resources I use in my classroom so I’m...
06/29/22 - 7 Easy-to-do Ideas for Tech in the Classroom
If anyone thought technology wasn’t here to stay (I see a few hands up), the pandemic and remote teaching exploded...
06/28/22 - What to Know About SQL and How to Try it Out
If you want a job coding, you have to know how to get around a database, and that means SQL....
06/27/22 - Teacher-Authors: What’s Happening on my Writer’s Blog
A lot of teacher-authors read my WordDreams blog. In this monthly column, I share a popular post from the past...
06/25/22 - What to Know Before Studying in the UK
Studying overseas is becoming more popular than ever. The Institute for International Education of Students (IES) explained why based on...
06/23/22 - Teaching Early Geometry Concepts
I spend a lot of time every week reading about current thinking in education. An article over at The Tech...
06/22/22 - 9 Websites to Address Social Media
If you read our article on teaching social media awareness, you may be looking for online tools to teach students...
06/21/22 - Is it Time for a Social Media Awareness Class?
Christian Miraglia, Ask a Tech Teacher contributor, has some great ideas on teaching kids about Social Media Awareness: Over the...
06/20/22 - Tech Tip #68: Make Desktop Icons Big or Little
In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies...
06/17/22 - Need a New Job? Here’s What You Do
You’ve been teaching for five years and love what you’re doing. You consider yourself darn lucky to be working with...
06/15/22 - 6 Websites that Teach Letters
A lot of online sites can make learning letters fun for kids. Here are a few of my favorites: Find...
06/14/22 - Tech Tip #16: What’s Today’s Date?
In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies...
06/13/22 - 15 Skills To Learn this Summer and Use Next Year
It’s summer, that time of rest and rejuvenation, ice cream and bonhomie. Like the American plains or the African savannas,...
06/10/22 - Looking for Summer Activities? Try These
Earlier this week, we posted activities for a summer school student program. Now, we’ll focus on you–what do you want...
06/09/22 - 6 Tech Activities for Your Summer School Program
With the growing interest in tech comes a call for summer school programs that supersize student enthusiasm for technology. If...
06/08/22 - What you Need to Know about Evaluating Apps
As you head into summer, you’ll be looking for new apps and resources to add spark to your Fall classes....
06/06/22 - Tech Tip #91: Rollback Windows Updates
In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies...
06/05/22 - World Environment Day: Living Responsibly with Nature
World Environment Day is June 5th. I posted this article from Catherine Ross, Ask a Tech Teacher contributor, a year...
06/03/22 - What You Might Have Missed in May—-What’s up in June
Here are the most-read posts for the month of May Tech Teacher Appreciation Week Encourage Creativity in the Classroom #CUE22...
06/02/22 - Subscriber Special: Special Add-on with School License
June 4th-6th: Buy a K-8 School License get 3 free print books of the grade level you purchased (Please note:...
06/02/22 - Tech Tip #75: Laptop Frozen? Here’s What You Do
In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies...
06/01/22 - June is Internet Safety Month
June is National Internet Safety Month, thanks to a resolution passed in 2005 by the U.S. Senate. The goal is...
05/31/22 - Mindfulness–its place in the classroom
Teaching Channel is one of my favorite hands-on resources for how to teach. They offer lots of videos from the...
05/30/22 - Happy Memorial Day!
I’m taking the day to honor our all soldiers on America’s Memorial Day. Without their sacrifice, where would we be?...
05/27/22 - Memorial Day Websites and Projects
Memorial Day (May 30, 2022) is the time we remember all of those soldiers who gave their lives in the...
05/26/22 - How to Clean Up Google Classroom for the Summer
As you end your school year, there are lots of details that must be taken care of . If you...
05/25/22 - Reliable Turnitin alternatives for K12
Turnitin has long been the go-to resource for uncovering plagiarism in student work, but there are reasons why that may...
05/23/22 - Kiddom’s Newest Feature–Lesson Launch
If you’re not familiar with Kiddom, you should be, especially in the changing environment of today’s classroom. Kiddom is an...
05/20/22 - 13 Websites That Provide Lots of Digital Books for Summer Reading
At the beginning of the 21st century, the definition of digital equity revolved around the provision of a digital device to...
05/19/22 - Tech Tip #27: Does MS Word Have ‘Research’?
In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies...
05/18/22 - Teacher-Authors: What’s Happening on my Writer’s Blog
A lot of teacher-authors read my WordDreams blog. In this monthly column, I share the most popular post from the...
05/17/22 - 7 Ways To Use Technology For Exam Prep
As an educator, I’m always looking for new and innovative ways to help my students prepare for exams. And when...
05/16/22 - 13 Websites on Architecture/Engineering
Here are a few of the popular resources teachers are using for Architecture and Engineering: Architecture ASCEville–Civil engineering jobs, activities...
05/13/22 - Tech Tip #147: 5 Ways to Involve Parents
In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies...
05/12/22 - 12 Tech Tasks To End the School Year
I posted this a few years ago, skipped the topic with all the craziness of the pandemic, and am updating...
05/11/22 - How to Raise a Computer-Savvy Generation
Raising computer-savvy children is complicated, whether you are a geek or a luddite. If you don’t pay attention, they teach...
05/09/22 - Subscriber Special: Discount Summer Tech Camp
Every month, subscribers to our newsletter get a free/discounted resource to help their tech teaching. May 9-11th Summer Tech Camp...
05/08/22 - Music for Armed Forces Day
Many Americans celebrate Armed Forces Day annually on the third Saturday of May. It is a day to pay tribute...
05/06/22 - Happy Mother’s Day!
Mother’s Day in the United States is annually held on the second Sunday of May. This year, that’s May 11th....
05/05/22 - #CUE22 and Trending Edtech
If you attend edtech conferences, you know how motivating, energizing, and forward-thinking they are. I always come away feeling ready...
05/04/22 - Encourage Creativity in the Classroom
“Eighty-seven percent of teachers and 77% of parents agree teaching that inspires creativity has a bigger payoff for students” This...
05/03/22 - What You Might Have Missed in April–What’s up in May
Here are the most-read posts for the month of April National Library Week April 3-9 Preparing for College or Career...
05/02/22 - Tech Teacher Appreciation Week
I posted this article last year, got lots of reads, so am republishing with some updates. I’ve included information about:...
04/24/22 - Ask a Tech Teacher is Traveling
April 25th-30th My wonderful sister is visiting from Marion, Indiana. She is uncomfortable flying, hasn’t been back here since my...
04/22/22 - Teacher-Authors: What’s Happening on my Writer’s Blog
A lot of teacher-authors read my WordDreams blog. In this monthly column, I share the most popular post from the...
04/21/22 - Tech Tip #159: Create a Macro
In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies...
04/20/22 - Digital Literacy in Busy Classrooms
This is a common complaint in my grad school classes. Yes, teachers know students don’t have all of the skills...
04/18/22 - Earth Day Classroom Activities
Every year, the world celebrates Earth Day on April 22nd, a day the United Nations recognizes as International Mother Earth...
04/15/22 - 18 Easter Websites and Apps
Many Christians celebrate Jesus Christ’s resurrection on Easter Sunday. To non-Christians (or non-traditional Christians), that event signifies a rebirth of...
04/14/22 - Tech Tip #53: How to Make a Program Easy to Find
In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies...
04/13/22 - Resources to Teach Taxes
As a passionate Economics major in college (which grew into an MBA), I find Econ at the root of much...
04/12/22 - Assistive Technology in Colleges
With technology, it is so much easier to offer students the assistive technology they need to pursue their education dreams....
04/11/22 - Tech Tools for Reading Fluency
SmartBrief has an excellent article worth your time to read: Top 5 tech tools to maximize reading fluency It is...
04/08/22 - How to Become a Tech Teacher
I know from personal experience that tech teachers are in short supply. It’s not unusual for a school to transfer...
04/07/22 - 4 Long-Term Benefits of Bilingual Education
This is such a great article on the benefits of bi-lingual education. Sure, we intuitively know what these are, but...
04/06/22 - Preparing for College or Career
Preparing students for college or career is arguably the biggest goal for High School. I like the focus of this...
04/05/22 - What You Might Have Missed in March–What’s up in April
Here are the most-read posts for the month of March Social Media or COVID: Which is more dangerous to students?...
04/04/22 - National Library Week April 3-9
National Library Week is April 3-9, 2022. It allows us to promote our local libraries and their workers. Find more about...
04/01/22 - Subscriber Special: Group Discount on Summer PD
Every month, subscribers to our newsletter get a free/discounted resource to help their tech teaching. April 4th-6th: 20% discount on...
03/31/22 - World Backup Day–March 31st
March 31st is called World Backup Day. At least once a year, backup your data files to an external drive (like...
03/30/22 - Has Teaching Changed since the Pandemic?
Ask a Tech Teacher contributor, Christian Miraglia, wrote an interesting article on changes in teaching since the pandemic. I think...
03/29/22 - 7+ Websites to Teach Financial Literacy
When kids read that America’s $30 trillion+ debt is accepted by many experts as ‘business as usual’, I wonder how that...
03/28/22 - Coping with COVID in the Classroom
A lot of teachers are also authors. In an effort to spotlight their two hats, I feature teacher-authors on both...
03/25/22 - 7 websites to teach fake news
We wrote about fake news earlier this week (How to defeat fake news–one teacher’s ideas). Here are additional resources you’ll...
03/24/22 - How to defeat fake news–one teacher’s ideas
Differentiating between reliable websites, books, information has always been a topic in classrooms. Kids tend to think if a site...
03/23/22 - 5 (free) Posters on Teaching II
Every month, we’ll share five themed posters that you can share on your website (with attribution), post on your...
03/22/22 - Is Education Due for a Reset
Throughout my career in education, teaching has been prodded, pushed, tweaked, nudged, and reformed. I author a K-12 Technology Curriculum....
03/21/22 - Teacher-Authors: What’s Happening on my Writer’s Blog
A lot of teacher-authors read my WordDreams blog. In this monthly column, I share the most popular post from the...
03/18/22 - 23 Websites on Biomes, Habitats, Landforms
Here are a few of the popular resources teachers are using to teach about Biomes, Habitats, and Landforms: Antarctice Environ—find...
03/17/22 - College or Career? The answer isn’t what you’d expect for males
I read an interesting article in the Wall Street Journal discussing the dramatic decline in men applying for and graduating...
03/16/22 - 10 St. Patrick’s Day Resources For Your Class
Getting ready for St. Patrick’s Day? Try these fun websites with activities for different grade levels, different classes: Puzzle–St. Pat’s...
03/15/22 - Tech Tip #33: My Desktop Icons are Messed Up
In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies...
03/14/22 - Using VR to Visualize Complex Information
Virtual Reality is one of the hottest newish education strategies that keeps getting better. Here’s an excellent article from eSchool...
03/11/22 - Celebrate Pi Day and Maths Day
Two math celebrations are coming up on March 14th: Pi Day and World Maths Day Pi Day Pi Day is an...
03/10/22 - Invention Convention is coming
Invention Convention Worldwide is a global K-12 invention education curricular program mapped to national and state educational standards that teaches...
03/09/22 - A Lesson Plan for Addressing What’s in the News
Teaching students about current events used to be as easy as picking a trusted newspaper and reading their headlines. Those...
03/08/22 - Guiding Students through the Crisis in Ukraine
Here are great ideas for how to address the difficult topic of war in the Ukraine, from Ask a Tech...
03/07/22 - Websites that add sparkle (and learning) to Spring
A few spring websites, lesson plans, printables, activities: 7 Science Experiments that Teach About Spring Books from Scholastic about Spring...
03/04/22 - 5 (free) Posters about Learning
Every month, we’ll share five themed posters that you can share on your website (with attribution), post on your walls,...
03/03/22 - Tech Tip #14: Desktop Icons Disappeared
In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies...
03/02/22 - Social Media or COVID: Which is more dangerous to students?
Not a surprise that student use of social media is way up since remote learning became de rigeur in learning....
03/01/22 - Subscriber Special: 10% Discount
Every month, subscribers to our newsletter get a free/discounted resource to help their tech teaching. March Sign up for our...
02/28/22 - What You Might Have Missed in February What’s up in March
Here are the most-read posts for the month of February: Groundhog Day and the 100th Day of School #WorldReadAloudDay February...
02/28/22 - Teacher-Authors: What’s Happening on my Writer’s Blog
A lot of teacher-authors read my WordDreams blog. In this monthly column, I share the most popular post from the...
02/25/22 - Logitech Pen–No Setup, No Batteries, No Problems
In my classes, there are still a lot of technology skills that are difficult for students. One–developing good enough typing...
02/24/22 - Instagram: A Student Vehicle for Social Change
From Ask a Tech Teacher contributor, retired teacher and education consultant, Christian Miraglia: Instagram: A Student Vehicle for Social Change...
02/23/22 - Long List of Shortkeys to Help Your Keyboarding
Here’s a great list of shortkey helps for keyboarding on the Internet, software, or anywhere else: Like this:Like Loading...
02/22/22 - 12 Websites for 3D Printing
Here are popular 3D Printing resources teachers are using: 3D Bear Cricut Machine–to cut materials Create 3D Printing Designs 3D...
02/21/22 - Update on Grading Practices
K-12 grading hasn’t changed a lot in decades. Edutopia thinks they’re due for an update. Here’s an eye-opening article on...
02/18/22 - Tech Tips #173: Track Your Stuff
This is not part of the 169 tech tips for your class book but it will be when I update the ebook: Tech...
02/16/22 - Random Acts of Kindness Day
I’ll never forget the day years ago when I stood in a donut shop, half asleep, bed head, with a...
02/15/22 - 9 President’s Day Activities
Presidents’ Day is an American holiday celebrated on the third Monday in February–this year, February 19, 2018. Originally established in...
02/14/22 - How Does the Metaverse Fit into Education?
Learning hit a bump in the education road as it attempted to adapt traditional and proven in-person schooling to remote...
02/11/22 - 14 Valentine Sites For Students
Here are some fun Valentine sites to fill those few minutes betwixt and between lessons, projects, bathroom breaks, lunch, and...
02/10/22 - Teacher-Authors: Writing Hacks
update A lot of teacher-authors read my WordDreams blog. In this monthly column, I share the most popular post from...
02/09/22 - Tech Tip #172: Translate Webpages In a Second
This is not part of the 169 tech tips for your class book but it will be when I update the ebook: Tech...
02/07/22 - Model Teaching–How Today’s Educators Learn
Thousands of teachers every year take education classes to renew their license, move up to the next salary range at...
02/04/22 - Simulations as a Teaching Strategy
Simulations and games have grown from rote drills using a computer to challenging learning experiences for students that hone problem-solving...
02/03/22 - Subscriber Special: February
Every month, subscribers to our newsletter get a free/discounted resource to help their tech teaching: February 5th-8th: Group Professional Development...
02/02/22 - #WorldReadAloudDay February 2
On Feb. 2, 2022, World Read Aloud Day celebrates the pure joy of oral reading with kids of all ages. Created...
02/01/22 - Groundhog Day and the 100th Day of School
Here are some activities for Groundhog Day–February 2nd: Free Printables and Worksheets Fun Facts About Groundhogs–video Groundhog Day Digital Activities–grades...
01/31/22 - What You Might Have Missed in January–What’s up in February
Here are the most-read posts for the month of January Public Domain Day and Happy New Year! How to Change...
01/28/22 - How Minecraft Teaches Reading, Writing and Problem Solving
A while ago, Scientific American declared “…“not only is Minecraft immersive and creative, but it is an excellent platform for...
01/27/22 - Teaching Math
Every lower-grade teacher I know has huge numbers of students who love math but the older they get, the more...
01/26/22 - Google Earth Lesson Plans
Tech Learning recently shared an excellent lesson plan by Dr. Stephanie Smith Budhai that incorporates the amazing Google Earth into...
01/25/22 - 5 YouTube Features for Teachers
One of my favorite resources for explaining tech in the classroom is Richard Byrne. In this article, he discusses helpful...
01/24/22 - Tech Tip #97: Speed up MSO with Quick Access Toolbar
In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies...
01/21/22 - Winter Websites
Here are some Winter activities to share the joy of winter: 5 Videos to teach about winter Animal Winter Games...
01/20/22 - Managing Difficult Parents
Student success depends mightily on three pieces: student, teacher, parent. But there are times as teachers we wonder if we...
01/19/22 - Digital Literacy–Too Important to Skip
When testing moved online, it became painfully apparent to teachers how little students knew about using digital devices other than...
01/18/22 - Build Empathy Among Students
It used to surprise me that it became the school’s job to teach empathy. Shouldn’t parents do that? The truth...
01/17/22 - Classroom Travels with Twitter: An Evolution
Most teachers I know have used Twitter in their classes either to communicate with parents, share homework with students, for...
01/14/22 - 23+ Websites on Animals
Here are a few of the popular resources teachers are using to teach about animals (click headings for more resources):...
01/13/22 - Practices of Tech-savvy Teachers
Are you struggling with all the tech required for remote and hybrid teaching? Education Week shares what tech-savvy educators are...
01/12/22 - 4 (free) Posters About Reading
Every month, we’ll share themed posters that you can share on your website (with attribution), post on your walls, or...
01/11/22 - Tech Tip #72: Alt+??? Brings up which Command?
In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies...
01/10/22 - Ready To Go Back To School? 7 Fun Lesson Ideas To Start The New Year
Every teacher knows the struggle of getting a class full of children to cooperate the first few weeks back after...
01/07/22 - What You Might Have Missed in December
Here are the most-read posts for the month of December Hour of Code? Here’s why to participate Coding Websites/Webtools by...
01/06/22 - Top 10 Tips and Reviews in 2021
Because Ask a Tech Teacher is a resource blog, we share lots of tips our group comes across in their...
01/05/22 - Top 10 Hits and Misses for 2021
Since we at Ask a Tech Teacher started this blog thirteen years ago, we’ve had almost 5.6 million views from...
01/03/22 - How to Change the Dynamics of Peer-to-peer Learning with Tract
As teachers move from a “teacher-lecturer” model of education to a “teacher-guide”, peer-to-peer learning–acquiring knowledge from a select peer group–has...
01/02/22 - Subscriber Special: Donate to my blog–free MLK Lesson Plans
Every month, subscribers to our newsletter get a free/discounted resource to help their tech teaching. January This month: If you donate...
01/01/22 - Public Domain Day and Happy New Year!
Every year, January 1st, is Public Domain Day. This is an observance of when copyrights expire and works enter into...

2021 (203)

12/31/21 - Here’s a Preview of January
Here’s a preview of what’s coming up on Ask a Tech Teacher in January: Public Domain Day Subscriber Special and...
12/19/21 - See you January 3rd!
I’ll be taking a few weeks off–December 19-January 3rd–to edit/format my website, work on projects with a deadline, prioritize life,...
12/18/21 - Making a Family Story Video For A School Project
Working on a school project could be fun if you’re making it together with your kid. If they need to...
12/17/21 - Math Scores Drop Again
Engaging children in math learning is a problem that continues relentlessly, year after year. We don’t seem to know how...
12/16/21 - The Return to Rigorous Mathematics
One of my favorite PD sites, EdWeb, recently offered a free webinar (with CE Certificate) on Returning to Rigorous Mathematics....
12/15/21 - Holiday Activities To Keep the Learning Going
Teaching the days before big holidays is challenging. Students and teachers alike are ready for a break. Both struggle to...
12/14/21 - 14 Holiday Websites and 9+ Projects
Need a few websites to fill in free minutes? Here are Holiday websites that will keep students busy while teaching...
12/13/21 - Have Santa Call Your Kids!
DialMyCalls (an AATT sponsor) has a special Christmas offer for kids: Free Santa Calls To Your Family This Christmas This Christmas...
12/11/21 - 11 Ways to Update Your Online Presence
For regular readers of Ask a Tech Teacher, these are yearly reminders. For new readers, these are like body armor...
12/10/21 - What is ‘Technical Math’?
The difficulties with engaging children in math learning grows each year. I have several articles coming up next week that...
12/08/21 - The Easiest No-coding Way to Build an Education App
What could be more organic during Hour of Code than creating your own app? There are a lot of ways...
12/07/21 - 15 Unusual Projects for Hour of Code
Over the next week, I’ll share ideas that will get you ready for Hour of Code. This includes (links won’t...
12/06/21 - Coding Websites/Webtools by Grade
Over the next week, I’ll share ideas that will get you ready for your Hour of Code. This includes...
12/03/21 - Hour of Code? Here’s why to participate
December 6-12th, 2021, Computer Science Education will host the Hour Of Code–a one-hour introduction to students on coding, programming, and...
12/02/21 - #1 Skill to Teach–Protect Student Privacy
I’ve written a lot about the importance of teaching students to protect their online privacy. Yes, we must do what...
12/01/21 - Subscriber Special: 15% Discount
December 10th-January 2nd 15% Discount Sitewide on Structured Learning.net Code: HappyHoliday15 How to use this: Go to Structured Learning Fill...
11/30/21 - What You Might Have Missed in November
Here are the most-read posts for the month of November Tract+Genius Hour–a new twist on a popular project Are We...
11/29/21 - Here’s a Preview of December
Here’s a preview of what’s coming up on Ask a Tech Teacher in December: Lots of ideas for Hour of...
11/20/21 - Happy Thanksgiving Week to All!
I’m taking next week off. I’ll be preparing for my daughter’s holiday visit from her home in DC and my...
11/19/21 - 16 Sites, 3 Apps, 2 Projects for Thanksgiving
Need a few websites and apps to fill in sponge time? Here are Thanksgiving websites that will keep students busy...
11/18/21 - The 5 competencies of digital citizenship
#ISTE had an interesting discussion on how to foster digital citizenship in schools. This is especially critical because students are...
11/17/21 - An Update on Digital Storytelling
A great article from Edutopia: An Exercise in Digital Storytelling To engage my 11th-grade English students during the 2020–21 school...
11/16/21 - International Education During the Pandemic
Ask a Tech Teacher contributor, Christian Miraglia, a passionate educational consultant for T4Edtech, traveled to Italy and surrounding areas and...
11/15/21 - New Teachers–From Pandemic to the Classroom
This is a great article for new teachers who might not have seen the traditional classroom experience. One teacher offers...
11/12/21 - Geography Awareness Week: November 15-19, 2021
Promoted by National Geographic, here’s what you should know about Geography Awareness Week which occurs November 15-19, 2021: Too many...
11/11/21 - Remember our Veteran’s Today
As many of you know, I have two wonderful children–one a LT CDR in the Navy and one a SSG...
11/10/21 - Are We Teaching Enough Civics in Schools?
Do you ever worry that core subjects are getting lost in the muddle of all the other stuff that is...
11/08/21 - Tract+Genius Hour–a new twist on a popular project
If you haven’t heard of the learning platform, Tract, you are in for a treat. Tract is a new way...
11/01/21 - What You Might Have Missed in October
Here are the most-read posts for the month of October National Bullying Prevention Month October is Dyslexia Awareness Month ow...
10/31/21 - Subscriber Special: November
Every month, subscribers to our newsletter get a free/discounted resource to help their tech teaching. November Sign up for our...
10/30/21 - Here’s a Preview of November
Here’s a preview of what’s coming up on Ask a Tech Teacher in November: Tracts and Genius Hour: A Great...
10/24/21 - I’m Traveling
October 24th – November 7th My wonderful son is changing his duty station from Okinawa Japan to Fort Dietrich Maryland....
10/23/21 - Halloween Projects, Websites, Apps, Books, and a Costume
Three holidays are fast-approaching–Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. If you’re a teacher, that means lots of tie-ins to make school festive...
10/22/21 - A New Era of #SpecialEducation–a video
Illuminate Education has an interesting video (on-demand) about Navigating a New Era of Special Education. Here’s a preview: Research shows...
10/21/21 - Getting up to Speed: Teacher Prep and Technology Integration
We know technology is a challenge for veteran teachers. It wasn’t part of their teacher training program so they rely...
10/20/21 - Remote Learning Varies Around the Country
Remote learning used to be for snow days or virtual schools–alternatives to the traditional. Now, all public schools are coming...
10/19/21 - Artificial Intelligence in Education: Anecdotal Evidence
Artificial Intelligence has made its way into our classrooms. Good or bad, only time will tell but some early reports...
10/18/21 - Using Tech Wisely in your Classroom
With everything going on–remote and hybrid teaching, worries about COVID safety, stress of adapting to seminal changes in education–it’s easy...
10/17/21 - 3 Ways To Foster Digital Citizenship in Schools
#ISTE had an interesting discussion on how to foster digital citizenship in schools. This is especially critical because students are...
10/15/21 - Digital Citizenship Week–Oct. 18-22–Here’s What You Need
Learning that will help you learn how to teach digital citizenship to your students. Below, you’ll find everything from a...
10/13/21 - 4 ways to use Tract in the classroom
If you haven’t heard of Tract, it’s a new way to inspire students to become lifelong learners. The platform focuses...
10/12/21 - Tech to Help With Masks
The pandemic has changed teaching in many ways–remove vs. in-person vs. hybrid for one, the need for internet access in...
10/11/21 - How Tech-savvy Teachers Do It
Education Week had a great article on how teachers are expanding their use of technology in the classroom. Here’s a...
10/07/21 - Tract–A new way to learn
Tract is a peer-to-peer, on-demand, project-based learning platform designed for grades 3-12. It includes classes and lesson plans, even themed...
10/06/21 - Dyslexia Awareness Month is October
Surprisingly, 15-20% of the population has a language-based learning disability and over 65% of those are deficits in reading. Often,...
10/05/21 - Subscriber Special: October
Every month, subscribers to our newsletter get a free/discounted resource to help their tech teaching. October Sign up for our...
10/04/21 - National Bullying Prevention Month
October is National Bullying Prevention Month. Bullying is no longer relegated to the playground or the neighborhood. It now regularly...
10/01/21 - What You Might Have Missed in September
Here are the most-read posts for the month of September Lesson Plan: Online Art Sites 19 Ed Websites to Fill...
09/29/21 - 10 Ways Any Teacher Can (and Should) Use Technology
Common Core tells us: New technologies have broadened and expanded the role that speaking and listening play in acquiring and...
09/28/21 - Here’s a Preview of October
Here’s a preview of what’s coming up on Ask a Tech Teacher in October: Tract–new peer-to-peer learning platform National Bullying...
09/27/21 - Comics–an underused tool to boost SEL skills
Comics have long been considered not just to gamify education but to teach writing skills that are challenging for some...
09/24/21 - Do you need a career coach?
Now more than ever, teachers are struggling with more questions about teaching than they can find answers for. Let’s start...
09/23/21 - A Book New–and Veteran–Teachers Will Want to Read
They Call Me Mom by Pete Springer 5/5 x Pete Springer’s memoir They Call Me Mom (Outskirts Press 2019) about...
09/21/21 - SEL in Your Classroom
SmartBrief, news on technology in education, recently published an article, Uniting technology and SEL to teach the whole child, on...
09/20/21 - Tech Tip #3: Turn an Address into a Link
In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies...
09/17/21 - 16+ Websites on Assessments
Here are a few of the popular resources teachers are using to Blendspace–if you create your lesson plans in BlendSpace,...
09/15/21 - Technology and Teaching: A Conversation with Teachers
Ask a Tech Teacher contributor, Christian Miraglia, taught for 36 years before retiring. Here is Part 2 of his discussion...
09/14/21 - 16 Websites and 5 Posters to Teach Mouse Skills
Many of my most popular articles are about mouse skills. Every year, tens of thousands of teachers visit Ask a...
09/13/21 - Does Mindfulness Make Your Class Better?
District Administration recently published an interesting article on how mindfulness creates kinder classrooms and reduces problematic behaviors by 18%....
09/11/21 - 9/11… We Remember
America, we love you. Like this:Like Loading...
09/09/21 - Creative Options for Remote Learning
With schools closed for in-person learning and many children being educated at home, parents are scrambling for quality alternatives that...
09/07/21 - 19 Ed Websites to Fill Spare Classroom Time
LA, Math, Research, Art--all in quick bursts
09/06/21 - Take a Break–it’s Labor Day!
Labor Day is annually held on the first Monday of September (this year, September 6th). It was originally organized to...
09/03/21 - Lesson Plan: Online Art Sites
Websites for kids with minimum ads and maximum entertainment
09/02/21 - Subscriber Special: September
Every month, subscribers to our newsletter get a free/discounted resource to help their tech teaching. September 20% Discount on School...
09/01/21 - What You Might Have Missed in August
Here are the most-read posts for the month of August Why Music Education is Important for Children To Learn 15...
08/30/21 - 17 Websites for Chemistry
Here are a few of the popular resources teachers are using to reinforce chemistry in MS and HS: Beaker–a...
08/27/21 - Online College Classes Start Monday!
Through the Midwest Teachers Institute, I offer four college-credit classes that teach how to blend technology with traditional lesson plans....
08/26/21 - Here’s a Preview of September
Here’s a preview of what’s coming up on Ask a Tech Teacher in September: What is Genius Hour and Why...
08/25/21 - Tech Tip #96: How to Add Zip to a Slow Computer
In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies...
08/23/21 - Online Classes! On Your Schedule
Ask a Tech Teacher offers a variety of classes throughout the year. These can be taught individually (through coaching or...
08/20/21 - 6 Ways Teacher-authors Protect Their Online Privacy
If we humans aren’t giving away our personal information (as we do on FB, Tiktok, Instagram, Twitter and every other...
08/19/21 - Tech Tip #159: Create a Macro
In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies...
08/17/21 - Technology is Here to Stay: Now What?
Ask a Tech Teacher contributor, Christian Miraglia, taught for 36 years before retiring. He has some interesting reflections on technology’s...
08/16/21 - Equipment You Need for Online Tutoring
Teaching during the pandemic has turned the iconic job of education on its head. Should you teach at home or...
08/13/21 - Book Review–My Secret EdTech diary
My Secret EdTech Diary by Al Kingsley 4/5 Al Kingsley’s My Secret EdTech Diary (John Cott Educational 2021) is a...
08/12/21 - How Parents Can Protect Kid’s Privacy and Safety Online
With the volume of time kids are spending online, on computers, mostly unsupervised by adults, protecting their privacy and safety...
08/10/21 - 12 Websites for High School Drivers Ed
Here are a few of the popular resources teachers are using to reinforce Drivers Ed in High School courses: Crash...
08/09/21 - 5 Tips for Helping Children with Homework
Often, students are expected to work independently at school and on their homework. That is a great idea for learning...
08/06/21 - Grading Apps, Tools, and Resources We Love
Are you looking for grading apps, tools, and resources that you can use to collect, calculate, and analyze your student’s grades? Or...
08/05/21 - 15 Back to School Resources
I’ve collected a series of back-to-school tips that are suited for in-person or remote learning. Pick those that work for...
08/04/21 - Subscriber Special: Free Posters
Every month, subscribers to our newsletter get a free/discounted resource to help their tech teaching. August If you have a...
08/02/21 - Why Music Education is Important for Children To Learn
Ask a Tech Teacher contributor Nicole McCray, has some thoughts on music and education. I think you’ll enjoy them: There...
07/31/21 - What You Might Have Missed in July
Here are the most-read posts for the month of July Tech Tip #63: Reset Default Font Tech Ed Resources–Mentoring and...
07/30/21 - Here’s a Preview of August
Here’s a preview of what’s coming up on Ask a Tech Teacher in August: Why Music Education is Important Subscriber...
07/29/21 - What is the best video editing software?
If you’re teaching high school videography, you want your students to use the programs that will be required in the...
07/28/21 - Tech Tip #54: How to Auto Forward a Slideshow
In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies...
07/26/21 - Top 5 Reasons Why Kids Should Learn Python
At a time when coding careers continue to flourish – despite the Covid19 pandemic and its adverse effect on the...
07/23/21 - 9 Websites for Comics in Teaching
Here are a few of the popular resources teachers are using to teach writing and storytelling with comics: Book Creator–(iOS/Android)...
07/22/21 - Tech Tip #44: Computer Safety
In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies...
07/20/21 - Tech Ed Resources–Lesson Plans
I get a lot of questions from readers about what tech ed resources I use in my classroom so I’m...
07/19/21 - 5 (free) Posters on Teaching I
Every month, we’ll share five themed posters that you can share on your website (with attribution), post on your walls,...
07/16/21 - We Landed on the Moon July 20 1969
On July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong was the first man to place foot on the moon. Commemorate that this year...
07/15/21 - Tech Ed Resources for your Class–K-12 Tech Curriculum
I get a lot of questions from readers about what tech ed resources I use in my classroom so I’m...
07/15/21 - 11 Websites for Thinking and Learning
Here are a few of the popular resources teachers are using to reinforce and teach thinking and learning (click here...
07/13/21 - Tech Tip #97: Speed up MSO with Quick Access Toolbar
In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies...
07/12/21 - A Year to Remember, A Year to Reflect: Pandemic Instruction
Ask a Tech Teacher contributor, Christian Miraglia, taught for 36 years before retiring. He has some interesting reflections on the...
07/09/21 - Tech Ed Resources–Mentoring and Coaching
I get a lot of questions from readers about what tech ed resources I use in my classroom so I’m...
07/08/21 - Revealed: The Secrets to Studying Success
Studying used to mean memorizing–flash cards, rote drills, worksheets, repeat. Now, we know a lot more about learning. One of...
07/05/21 - Tech Tip #63: Reset Default Font
In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies...
07/04/21 - Happy Independence Day!
It’s America’s birthday and I’m celebrating. My Army Staff Sergeant son is still in Japan–Okinawa. My Navy LT CDR daughter’s...
07/02/21 - Subscriber Special: July
Every month, subscribers to our newsletter get a free/discounted resource to help their tech teaching. July Sign up for our...
07/01/21 - What You Might Have Missed in June
Here are the most-read posts for the month of June: Websites that add sparkle to spring Internet Safety Month–Rules to...
06/29/21 - Two Tech Tips for Everyday Life
The last time my daughter visited, life became different than the norm. That inspired two easy tech solutions I had...
06/28/21 - Here’s a Preview of July
Here’s a preview of what’s coming up on Ask a Tech Teacher in July: Useful Tech Tips Useful shortkeys Must-have...
06/25/21 - Tech Tip #57: How to Create a Chart Really Fast
In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies...
06/23/21 - Be Featured on Ask a Tech Teacher
I get thousands of visitors a day–over a million since I started. The most common reason why you-all drop by...
06/22/21 - Tech Ed Resources for your Class–K-8 Keyboard Curriculum
I get a lot of questions from readers about what tech ed resources I use in my classroom so I’m...
06/21/21 - 5 (free) Posters on College and Career
Every month, we’ll share five themed posters that you can share on your website (with attribution), post on your walls,...
06/18/21 - Most Common Tech Problems You-all Face
In the grad school classes I teach and my coaching sessions, the biggest problem facing teachers is not the 3R’s...
06/17/21 - Tech Tip #24: Open a New Word Doc without the Program
In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies...
06/15/21 - Last Chance for this College-credit Tech-for-writing Class
MTI 558: Teach Writing With Tech Starts Monday, June 21, 2021! This is the last chance to sign up. Click this...
06/14/21 - 7 Coding Words You Need To Know
Ask a Tech Teacher contributor, Jeremy Keeshin, is the CEO and co-founder of CodeHS, a leading coding education platform for...
06/11/21 - Teacher-Authors–Help me launch my latest prehistoric fiction
If you’re a teacher-author, I’d love for you to share this HS-level book with your community. In return, I’ll share...
06/10/21 - Here’s How to Motivate Summer School Students
When you have to compete with a warm sun, sandy beaches, and playful friends, motivating students in summer school can...
06/08/21 - Internet Safety Month–Rules to Live By
June is National Internet Safety Month, thanks to a resolution passed in 2005 by the U.S. Senate. The goal is...
06/06/21 - Tech Tip #19: Best MS Word Tips
In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies...
06/04/21 - Here’s a Preview of June
Here’s a preview of what’s coming up on Ask a Tech Teacher in June: What is Genius Hour and Why...
06/03/21 - Subscriber Special: June
Every month, subscribers to our newsletter get a free/discounted resource to help their tech teaching. June Sign up for our...
06/02/21 - What You Might Have Missed in May
Here are the most-read posts for the month of May Teacher Appreciation Week–Gifts for the Tech Teacher Kids’ Computer Posture...
06/01/21 - Websites that add sparkle to spring
Last year was a boom year for edtech web tools. There were so many, I couldn’t keep up. I would...
05/31/21 - Happy Memorial Day
I’m taking the day to honor our all soldiers on America’s Memorial Day. Without their sacrifice, where would we be? I...
05/22/21 - I’m visiting America’s Heartland!
I am out of pocket next week. I’m visiting my wonderful sister in rural Marion Indiana. I can’t wait to...
05/21/21 - 10 Digital Platforms to Teach Remotely
There are more options for digital learning than Zoom. Check out these: Big Blue Button–great conference app but embedded in...
05/20/21 - 5 (free) Posters on Internet and Websites 1
Every month, we’ll share five themed posters that you can share on your website (with attribution), post on your walls,...
05/19/21 - Tech Tip ##113: Backup Your Blog
In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies...
05/17/21 - What to Know Before Moving From High School Teacher to College Professor
A logical step for many teachers is to progress from teaching High School to College. But that is more complicated...
05/14/21 - 12 Websites for Digital Books Summer Reading
At the beginning of the 21st century, the definition of digital equity revolved around the provision of a digital device to...
05/13/21 - Is It Worth Teaching School Kids SQL?
I get a lot of interest from high school teachers about teaching databases. These digital tools allow users to query...
05/12/21 - 12 Tech Tasks To End the School Year
Wrapping up your school technology for the summer is as complicated as setting it up in September. There are endless...
05/10/21 - How To Move To Canada To Be A Teacher
Here’s a great article from an Ask a Tech Teacher contributor for those of you interested in teaching internationally–specifically, Canada:...
05/07/21 - 5 Ways to Involve Parents in Your Class
In fifteen years of teaching K-8, I have learned that one factor provides a reliable barometer for student success: Parent...
05/07/21 - What You Might Have Missed in April
Here are the most-read posts for the month of April : Whiteboard Apps You’ll Love JotForm Approvals–Great Way to Manage...
05/06/21 - World Password Day — It’s Today!
One of the most important yet underwhelming international events is coming up the first Thursday in May (in Canada, it’s...
05/05/21 - Kids’ Computer Posture Explored
Here’s a great article on a topic I don’t talk about enough–proper posture at the computer. Written by “Karen Weaver...
05/03/21 - Teacher Appreciation Week–Gifts for the Tech Teacher
Teacher Appreciation Week: The First Full Week of May There’s always been something mystically cerebral about people in technical professions...
05/02/21 - Subscriber Special: May
Every month, subscribers to our newsletter get a free/discounted resource to help their tech teaching. May Sign up for our...
04/30/21 - Whiteboard Apps You’ll Love
Whiteboards have long been a de rigeur staple in classrooms, occupying pride-of-place at the front of the room. Despite the popularity of hi-tech...
04/29/21 - Here’s a Preview of May
Here’s a preview of what’s coming up on Ask a Tech Teacher in May: Whiteboard Apps You’ll Love Teacher Appreciation...
04/27/21 - JotForm Approvals–Great Way to Manage Workflow
You may know JotForm as one of the most popular tools in the form builder category, recognized for its simplicity...
04/26/21 - Tech Tip #103: 16 Spring Cleaning Steps for Computers
In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies...
04/23/21 - 5 Websites for 4th Grade Word Study
Here are a few of the popular resources teachers are using to reinforce and teach word study: Grammar games–a collection...
04/21/21 - What Do You Think is the Hardest Tech Problem?
In the grad school classes I teach and my coaching sessions, the biggest problem facing teachers is not the 3R’s...
04/20/21 - 5 (free) Security Posters for Tech Ed
Every month, we’ll share five themed posters that you can share on your website (with attribution), post on your walls,...
04/19/21 - Tech Tip #86: Image Your Computer Often
In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies...
04/16/21 - Using VR in Schools
Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) are buzzwords that every educator wants to know more about. They are two...
04/15/21 - Classroom Activities for Earth Day
April 22nd is Earth Day, a day when (historically) more than 1 billion people in 192 countries put the Earth’s...
04/14/21 - Need math resources? Have students try these
Struggling with helping students learn math when you can’t be at their side? Try these videos (check here for updates...
04/12/21 - Tips for incentivizing your teachers team while working remotely
This is a how-to article from an Ask a Tech Teacher contributor describing clever ways to make remote teaching work....
04/09/21 - Subscriber Special: April
Every month, subscribers to our newsletter get a free/discounted resource to help their tech teaching. April Sign up for our...
04/07/21 - 15+ Websites to Teach Financial Literacy
Financial Literacy Month is recognized annually in Canada in November,[1] and National Financial Literacy Month was recognized in the United States in...
04/06/21 - Tech Tip #85: Backup Your Computer Often
In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies...
04/05/21 - Invention Convention? 8 Websites to Teach Inventions
Invention Convention Worldwide is a global K-12 invention education curricular program mapped to national and state educational standards that teaches...
04/02/21 - 18+ Easter Websites and Apps
Many Christians celebrate Jesus Christ’s resurrection on Easter Sunday. To non-Christians (or non-traditional Christians), that event signifies a rebirth of...
04/01/21 - What You Might Have Missed in March
Here are the most-read posts for the month of March Tech Tip #105: Create Shortkeys for Windows Tools 5 Ways...
03/30/21 - World Backup Day–March 31st
March 31st is called World Backup Day. At least once a year, backup your data files to an external drive (like...
03/29/21 - Here’s a Preview of April
Here’s a preview of what’s coming up on Ask a Tech Teacher in April: Easter resources–websites and apps Invention Convention?...
03/26/21 - Education in Kosovo
I had an opportunity to chat with Doruntina Alshiqi about the education system in Kosova. I love hearing how learning...
03/25/21 - 5 (free) Research Posters to Mainstream Tech Ed
Every month, we’ll share five themed posters that you can share on your website (with attribution), post on your walls,...
03/24/21 - Tech Tip #43: Backup Your Work Often
In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies...
03/22/21 - College Credit Classes in Remote Teaching/Blended Learning
Through the Midwest Teachers Institute, I offer four college-credit classes that teach how to blend technology with traditional lesson plans....
03/19/21 - 4 Ways HS Students Develop the IT Skills for Higher Education
There’s still time this school year to help high school students learn the skills they’ll require to thrive in Higher...
03/18/21 - Tech Tip #133: 10 Favorite Mac Shortkeys
In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies...
03/16/21 - Resources to Teach Taxes
As a passionate Economics major in college (which grew into an MBA), I find Econ at the root of much...
03/15/21 - 10 St. Patrick’s Day Resources For Your Class
Getting ready for St. Patrick’s Day? Try these fun websites with activities for different grade levels, different classes: Puzzle–St. Pat’s...
03/12/21 - Celebrate Pi Day with all things 3.14
Two math celebrations are coming up this month: Pi Day World Maths Day Pi Day Pi Day is an annual...
03/11/21 - Tech Tip #66–How to Add Accents
In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies...
03/10/21 - Celebrate our (re)Newed Website with us!
Visit our brand new website Get a 20% discount! We’ve updated the Structured Learning education website to be easier to use...
03/08/21 - 5 Ways Ed-tech Can Enhance Social Studies Lessons
As is my habit, I spend a lot of time exploring new ways to teach old subjects. Lately, I’ve concentrated...
03/05/21 - Tech Tip #105: Create Shortkeys for Windows Tools
In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies...
03/03/21 - Subscriber Special: March
Every month, subscribers to our newsletter get a free/discounted resource to help their tech teaching. March Visit our brand new...
03/01/21 - What You Might Have Missed in February
Here are the most-read posts for the month of February 100th Day of School — Make it about Learning #WorldReadAloudDay...
02/26/21 - Here’s a Preview of March
Here’s a preview of what’s coming up on Ask a Tech Teacher in March: More free posters Creating shortkeys and...
02/25/21 - Online College Credit Classes Forming
Through the Midwest Teachers Institute, I offer four college-credit classes that teach how to blend technology with traditional lesson plans....
02/24/21 - Tech Tip #31: 10 Best Keyboarding Hints
In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies...
02/22/21 - How Fast Should Kids Type
I get this question a lot from readers and purchasers of my technology curriculum: How fast should kids type? What...
02/19/21 - Inspire Kids to Pursue an IT Degree
This is such an important topic! Often kids–and parents–see tech as complicated, daunting, all-math-and-science. Kids think they’re not ‘smart’ enough...
02/16/21 - Opportunities prisoners have to study
Education is a passion, both teaching and learning. For those of us who consider ourselves lifelong learners, we understand how...
02/15/21 - Random Acts of Kindness Day. How Will You Celebrate?
I’ll never forget the day years ago when I stood in a donut shop, half asleep, bed head, with a...
02/12/21 - Math Word Problems
Looking for a more interesting way to teach math in these unusual times? Here are a variety of sites that...
02/10/21 - Why Kindergartners Must Learn Technology
Thank you so much to Norah Colvin for inviting me as a guest on her wonderful education blog, Norah Colvin....
02/08/21 - 5 (free) Tech Problem Solving Posters
Every month, we’ll share five themed posters that you can share on your website (with attribution), post on your walls,...
02/05/21 - #WorldReadAloudDay February 5
On Feb. 5, 2020, World Read Aloud Day celebrates the pure joy of oral reading with kids of all ages. Created...
02/04/21 - 100th Day of School — Make it about Learning
Before becoming a teacher, I didn’t understand why the 100th day of school was a big deal. At first, I...
02/03/21 - Subscriber Special: More MLK
Every month, subscribers to our newsletter get a free/discounted resource to help their tech teaching. Last month’s freebie was so...
02/01/21 - What You Might Have Missed in January
Here are the most-read posts for the month of January Classes in Remote Teaching 5 (free) Shortkey Posters 9 Great...
01/29/21 - Here’s a Preview of February
Here’s a preview of what’s coming up on Ask a Tech Teacher in February: Subscriber Special 100th Day of School...
01/27/21 - Classes in Remote Teaching
Through the Midwest Teachers Institute, I offer four college-credit classes that teach how to blend technology with traditional lesson plans....
01/26/21 - 5 (free) Shortkey Posters
Every month, we’ll share themed posters that you can share on your website (with attribution), post on your walls, or...
01/25/21 - 9 Great Websites to Inspire 3rd Graders
Here’s a great list of age-appropriate, safe websites that will inspire third graders whether they’re in your classroom or at...
01/22/21 - Tech Tip #161: Ten Most Important Keyboard Keys
In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies...
01/21/21 - Great Websites for Special Needs
Here’s a great list of Special Needs websites. I’ll display it below but click the link for an updated library...
01/19/21 - What are the popular file extensions kids should learn about?
There is so much tech kids need to learn these days, it’s easy to forget the basics. Like file extensions....
01/18/21 - Edtech Trends From 2020 And Beyond
Hi there, my name is Roman Zhidkov, a happy contributor to Ask a Tech Teacher. I’m the CTO of a...
01/15/21 - Game-based Learning in Remote Teaching
A great infographic done using Easelly: Made with Easelly infographic templates Like this:Like Loading...
01/14/21 - 5 Fun Science Experiments Kids Do at Home
Getting ready for extra time with kids? Here are five great ideas that are energizing and motivating: 5 Fun Science...
01/13/21 - 2021, I Resolve…
New Years–a time for rest, rejuvenation and repair. A time to assess life. Do we settle into our routine, enjoy...
01/11/21 - College Credit Classes in Remote Teaching/Blended Learning
Through the Midwest Teachers Institute, I offer four college-credit classes that teach how to blend technology with traditional lesson plans....
01/08/21 - 10 Top Tips and Click-throughs in 2020
Because AATT is a resource blog, we share lots of tips our group comes across in their daily teaching as...
01/06/21 - Top 10 Reviews of 2020
Throughout the year, I post websites and apps the Ask a Tech Teacher crew’s classes found useful, instructive, helpful in...
01/05/21 - 10 Hits and 10 Misses for 2020
Since we at Ask a Tech Teacher started this blog nine years ago, we’ve had almost 5.3 million views from...
01/04/21 - Subscriber Special: 2 Free Martin Luther King Day Lesson Plans
Subscriber Special Until January 18th: Free Martin Luther King Day Lesson Plans Two lesson plans to prepare for Martin Luther...
01/01/21 - Public Domain Day and Happy New Year!
Every year, January 1st, is Public Domain Day. This is an observance of when copyrights expire and works enter into the public domain–free for...

2020 (179)

12/19/20 - Happy Holiday!
I’ll be taking a few weeks off–until after the New Year–to edit/format my website, work on projects with a deadline,...
12/18/20 - New Blog Directory–and it’s free!
A friend started a free blog directory that includes categories for writers and teacher-authors. I’ve added both of my blogs,...
12/17/20 - 11 Ways to Update Your Online Presence
This week, I’ll post my updated suggestions for three holiday activities that will get your computers and technology ready for...
12/16/20 - Have Santa Call Your Kids!
DialMyCalls (an AATT sponsor) has a special Christmas offer for kids: Free Santa Calls To Your Family This Christmas This Christmas...
12/15/20 - Tech 101 for Teachers
This week, I’ll post my updated suggestions for three holiday activities that will get your computers and technology ready for...
12/14/20 - 2020 Holiday Gifts for Teachers
I was going to update this list from last year but when I checked around, my fellow teachers had the...
12/11/20 - More Holiday Activities That Keep the Learning Going
8Teaching the days before big holidays is challenging. Students and teachers alike are ready for a break. Both struggle to...
12/10/20 - Subscriber Special: 40% Discount!
Every month, subscribers to our newsletter get a free/discounted resource to help their tech teaching. December 5th-31st Any K-8 Technology...
12/08/20 - 6 Unplugged Activities for Hour of Code
Hour of Code–December 7th-12, 2020–is a time when teachers show students why they should love-not-fear coding and students find out...
12/07/20 - 10 Unusual Projects for Hour of Code
Over the next week, I’ll share ideas that will get you ready for Hour of Code. This includes (links won’t...
12/05/20 - Coding Websites/Webtools by Grade
Over the next week, I’ll share ideas that will get you ready for your Hour of Code. This includes (links...
12/04/20 - Hour of Code? Here’s why to participate
December 7-12th, 2020, Computer Science Education will host the Hour Of Code–a one-hour introduction to students on coding, programming, and...
12/03/20 - Here’s a Preview of December
Here’s a preview of what’s coming up on Ask a Tech Teacher in December: More Hour of Code projects, websites,...
12/02/20 - What You Might Have Missed in November
Here are the most-read posts for the month of November: How to Put Kindness in Your Classes National STEM/STEAM...
11/30/20 - Students decide: PC or Mac
If your school’s digital devices extend beyond Chromebooks and iPads, here’s a good discussion about the strengths-weaknesses of Macs and...
11/14/20 - Happy Thanksgiving!
I’m taking the next few weeks off. I’ll be preparing for… I’ll be back November 30th. Like this:Like Loading...
11/13/20 - Should Coding be a Part of the Modern School’s Curriculum?
As educators struggle with the best way to teach critical thinking and problem solving, coding has proven to be an...
11/09/20 - Tech Tip #11: Four Stages of Keyboarding Growth
In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies...
11/08/20 - National STEM/STEAM Day Nov. 8th
National STEM Day is November 8 and the unofficial holiday celebrates science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education throughout the United States....
11/06/20 - How to Put Kindness in Your Classes
World Kindness Day 11/13 Kindness isn’t a natural instinct. In the continuum of nature vs. nurture, it’s well on the...
11/04/20 - Subscriber Special: November
Every month, subscribers to our newsletter get a free/discounted resource to help their tech teaching. November Coming soon: Discounts on...
11/03/20 - What You Might Have Missed in October
Here are the most-read posts for the month of October: Inspire Young Writer’s with Young Writers Program October is Dyslexia...
11/02/20 - Here’s a Preview of November
Here’s a preview of what’s coming up on Ask a Tech Teacher in November. It’s a short month and...
10/30/20 - Why Game Based Learning Is the Right Choice for Remote Teaching
I don’t know many kids who aren’t excited to play games. Savvy educators have built lesson plans based on this...
10/29/20 - SEO for Online Teachers and Coaches
If you’re an online teacher who offers professional development classes to educators, this article from an Ask a Tech Teacher...
10/29/20 - Tech Tip #158: Why Learn Keyboarding
In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies...
10/27/20 - Long-needed and Welcome Table Tool From JotForm
Education has changed. No one knows yet if it’s for better or worse but we all understand that nothing’s as...
10/26/20 - Halloween Projects, Websites, Apps, Books, and a Costume
Three holidays are fast-approaching–Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. If you’re a teacher, that means lots of tie-ins to make school festive...
10/24/20 - A Geek is asked, “Who are you?”
I don’t often get personal on this blog. It’s not about me–it’s about educators and their profession–but times are different...
10/23/20 - 7 Apps That Inspire Students
You probably found dozens of new apps over the holidays that you can’t wait to try out in your classes....
10/21/20 - How do I become a Web Designer?
As High School seniors prepare to graduate, many will choose something about computers for their job or continued studies. There’s...
10/20/20 - 10 Best US Colleges for Computer Science
If you’re a senior in HS looking to continue your tech education, we have a list of the ten best...
10/16/20 - Digital Citizenship Week–Oct. 19-23–Here’s What You Need
October 19-23, 2020 is Digital Citizenship Week. Here are resources from Ask a Tech Teacher and Structured Learning that will...
10/15/20 - October is Dyslexia Awareness Month
Surprisingly, 15-20% of the population has a language-based learning disability and over 65% of those are deficits in reading. Often,...
10/14/20 - HS Seniors: What do you know about Search Engine Algorithms?
As High School seniors prepare to graduate, many will choose something about computers for their job or continued studies. Here’s...
10/03/20 - Traveling to America’s Heartland!
I am out of pocket the rest of this week and next. I’m visiting my wonderful sister in rural Marion...
10/02/20 - Inspire Young Writer’s with Young Writers Program
A warm welcome to Sean Clark, Instructional Aide, and his first time contributing to Ask a Tech Teacher. He’s also...
10/01/20 - National Bullying Prevention Month–October
October is National Bullying Prevention Month. Bullying is no longer relegated to the playground or the neighborhood. It now regularly...
09/30/20 - What You Might Have Missed in September
Here are the most-read posts for the month of September: 19 Websites and 5 Posters to Teach Mouse Skills Teacher-Authors–Writing...
09/28/20 - Tech Tip #9–Quickly Hide Your Screen
In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies...
09/25/20 - Here’s a Preview of October
Here’s a preview of what’s coming up on Ask a Tech Teacher in October: National Bullying Prevention Month resources NaNoWriMo...
09/24/20 - Tech Ed Resources for your Class–Digital Citizenship
I get a lot of questions from readers about what tech ed resources I use in my classroom so I’m...
09/22/20 - 20 Great Websites to Inspire 2nd Graders
Here’s a great list of age-appropriate, safe websites that will inspire 2nd graders whether they’re in your classroom or at...
09/21/20 - Tech Tip #2–The PrintScreen Key
In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies...
09/18/20 - 5 (free) Shortkey Posters to Mainstream Tech Ed
Every month, we’ll share five themed posters that you can share on your website (with attribution), post on your walls,...
09/16/20 - 19 Great Websites to Inspire 5th Graders
Here’s a great list of age-appropriate, safe websites that will inspire 5th graders whether they’re in your classroom or at...
09/15/20 - Favorite Shortkeys for Special Needs
I forget where I got this list but it’s well-suited to special needs students. Share these with those students but...
09/14/20 - Tech Tip #1–The Insert Key
In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies...
09/09/20 - 5 reasons why outdoor learning is vital for young children
Great reminder about the importance of play from one of our Ask a Tech Teacher contributors Outdoor education might sound...
09/08/20 - What You Might Have Missed in August
Here are the most-read posts for the month of August: 13 Tips for using an iPad The Most Important Skill...
09/07/20 - Teacher-Authors–Writing and Labor Day Go Well Together
Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is an American holiday (though with different names throughout the world) dedicated to...
09/04/20 - 19 Websites and 5 Posters to Teach Mouse Skills
Many of my most popular articles are about mouse skills. Every year, tens of thousands of teachers visit Ask a...
09/02/20 - JotForm Smart PDF–Great for Today’s Teaching
Forms are popular in schools for assessments, data collection, and a slew of other reasons. Some teachers look no further...
09/01/20 - Subscriber Special: September
Every month, subscribers to our newsletter get a free/discounted resource to help their tech teaching. September Mention the ‘September Subscriber...
08/31/20 - 12 Great Websites to Inspire 4th Graders
Here’s a great list of age-appropriate, safe websites that will inspire 4th graders whether they’re in your classroom or at...
08/28/20 - Here’s a Preview of September
Here’s a preview of what’s coming up on Ask a Tech Teacher in August: Tech Tips 21 Websites and 5...
08/26/20 - 9 Great Websites to Inspire 1st Graders
Here’s a great list of age-appropriate, safe websites that will inspire 1st graders whether they’re in your classroom or at...
08/24/20 - Curriculum-based Assessments–A Powerful Diagnostic Tool
Curriculum-Based Assessment (CBA), often equated with Curriculum-Based Measurement (CBM), is any form of assessment that measures progress toward fulfillment of a...
08/21/20 - Teacher-Authors–Do You Write Fiction?
xx Teacher-authors–do you write fiction? I do! And it feeds my soul in the same way that teaching does. ...
08/19/20 - Music, Academics, and Keyboarding–Transferable Skills
Dr. Bill Morgan is a frequent contributer to Ask a Tech Teacher. Today, he is sharing his experience and research...
08/17/20 - Tech Tip #118–Top 10 iPad Shortkeys
In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies...
08/14/20 - 9 Great Websites to Inspire Kindergartners
Here’s a great list of age-appropriate, safe websites that will inspire kindergarten-age children whether they’re in your classroom or at...
08/13/20 - Subscriber Special: August
Every month, subscribers to our newsletter get a free/discounted resource to help their tech teaching. August Check out our store...
08/12/20 - Tech Tip #106–11 Great Typing Timesavers on iPads
In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies...
08/10/20 - 5 (free) Tech Ed Safety Posters
Every month, we’ll share five posters you can post on your website (with attribution), on your (virtual) walls, or simply...
08/07/20 - JotForm Reports–A Fresh Way to Energize Remote Learning
The teachers taking my online classes this summer tell me they’re having difficulty with remote teaching. Problems include administering and...
08/06/20 - 5 Ideas for Teaching Students the Most Important Skill They’ll Need
Every teacher I know understands it’s not the 3R’s or science or even history that provides fundamental skills for thriving...
08/05/20 - Tech Tip #76–13 Tips for using an iPad
In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies...
08/03/20 - Here’s How to Get Started with Ask a Tech Teacher
Hello! Ask a Tech Teacher is a group of tech ed professionals who work together to offer you tech...
07/31/20 - What You Might Have Missed in July
Here are the most-read posts for the month of July: Tech Ed Resources: Online Classes Tech Ed Resources: K-12 Tech...
07/29/20 - Tech Ed Resources–Lesson Plans
I get a lot of questions from readers about what tech ed resources I use in my classroom so I’m...
07/27/20 - Back to School Tips
It’s hard to imagine school is back in a few weeks. I’ve collected a series of back-to-school tips that are...
07/25/20 - Here’s a Preview of August
Here’s a preview of what’s coming up on Ask a Tech Teacher in August: How to get started with Ask...
07/24/20 - Tech ed Resources–Online Classes
Ask a Tech Teacher offers a variety of classes throughout the year. These can be taught individually (through coaching or...
07/22/20 - 5 (free) Mouse Skills Posters
Every month, we’ll share five themed posters that you can share on your website (with attribution), post on your walls,...
07/20/20 - How Educators Can Empower Students Through Technology
With education turning on the technology skills of students and teachers, its important to gain a rudimentary understanding of foundational...
07/17/20 - We Landed on the Moon July 20 1969
On July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong was the first man to place foot on the moon. Commemorate that this year...
07/15/20 - Tech Ed Resources for your Class–K-12 Tech Curriculum
I get a lot of questions from readers about what tech ed resources I use in my classroom so I’m...
07/13/20 - 169 Tech Tip #84 Browser Problem? Switch Browsers
In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies...
07/10/20 - Tech Ed Resources–Mentoring and Coaching
I get a lot of questions from readers about what tech ed resources I use in my classroom so I’m...
07/08/20 - Tech Tip #21 How to Make a Small Window Big
In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies...
07/06/20 - What You Might Have Missed in June
Here are the most-read posts for the month of June: Internet Safety Month–Rules to Live By Tech Tip #93 Shortkey...
07/04/20 - Happy July 4th (and Happy Canada Day)
It’s America’s birthday and I’m celebrating. My Army Sergeant son is in Japan–Okinawa. My Navy LT CDR daughter’s in the...
07/03/20 - Subscriber Special: July
Every month, subscribers to our newsletter get a free/discounted resource to help their tech teaching. July–10% Discount Subscribe to our...
07/01/20 - Last Chance: Differentiated Instruction Online Class (MTI 563)
MTI 563: The Differentiated Teacher MTI 563 starts Monday, July 6, 2020! Last chance to sign up. Click this link; scroll...
06/29/20 - Tech Ed Resources for your Class–Digital Citizenship Curriculum
I get a lot of questions from readers about what tech ed resources I use in my classroom so I’m...
06/26/20 - 5 (free) Keyboarding Posters
Every month, we’ll share five themed posters that you can share on your website (with attribution), post on your walls,...
06/25/20 - Last Chance for this College-credit Class (MTI 557)
MTI 557: Building Digital Citizens vv starts Monday, June 29, 2020 xx If students use the internet, they must be familiar...
06/24/20 - Tech Tip #111 Quick Browser Fix
In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies...
06/22/20 - Tech Ed Resources–Certificate/College Credit Classes
I get a lot of questions from readers about what tech ed resources I use in my classroom so I’m...
06/19/20 - Last Chance: The Tech-infused Teacher (MTI 562)
MTI 562: The Tech-infused Teacher MTI 562 starts Monday, June 22, 2020 Click to sign up The 21st century lesson blends...
06/17/20 - 169 Tech Tip #95 Open a Program Maximized
In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies...
06/15/20 - Tech Ed Resources–K-8 Keyboard Curriculum
I get a lot of questions from readers about what tech ed resources I use in my classroom so I’m...
06/12/20 - In Love with Space? Here are Great Websites to Take You There
Space units are always exciting. Part of it’s the history, but a lot is that space is our final frontier,...
06/12/20 - Delurk This Week–It’s Easy!
Delurking Week–the first full week of January I joined Damyanti Biswa’s Daily [W]rite delurking week last year (though I regularly...
06/10/20 - Looking for Summer Activities? Try These
This summer will be different than other summers. COVID has changed how we address summer PD so I’ve collected the...
06/08/20 - 169 Tech Tip #93 Shortkey for Find
In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies...
06/05/20 - Internet Safety Month–Rules to Live By
June is National Internet Safety Month, thanks to a resolution passed in 2005 by the U.S. Senate. The goal is...
06/03/20 - Subscriber Special: June
Every month, subscribers to our newsletter get a free/discounted resource to help their tech teaching. June Subscribe to our newsletter,...
06/02/20 - What You Might Have Missed in May
Here are the most-read posts for the month of May: Subscriber Special: May World Password Day — It’s Coming! Teacher...
06/01/20 - Here’s a Preview of June
Here’s a preview of some of the articles that are coming up on Ask a Tech Teacher in June: Subscriber...
05/29/20 - 6 Must-reads for This Summer
Summer for me is nonstop reading — in an easy chair, under a tree, lying on the lawn, petting my...
05/28/20 - 8 Ways Parents and Teachers Support Remote Teaching
Corona virus has been difficult not just for teachers and students but for parents. They aren’t used to the homeschool...
05/27/20 - 169 Tech Tip #92 Auto-fill for Internet Addresses
In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies...
05/25/20 - Happy Memorial Day!
I’m taking Memorial Day to honor our soldiers. Hang the American flag and call my two soldier children. Say hi, how...
05/22/20 - How to Evaluate Programs You’ve Never Used in Less Than Seven Minutes
Ready or not, it’s time to go back to school. If you’re like me, you spent the summer attending webinars,...
05/21/20 - 17 Memorial Day Websites for Students
Memorial Day (May 25, 2020) is the time we remember soldiers who gave their lives in the defense of American...
05/20/20 - 13 Teaching Strategies to Shake up Your Remote Teaching
As we struggle with adapting our classes to remote learning, I know lots of teachers who are realizing that their...
05/18/20 - 169 Tech Tip #48 Quickly Switch Between Windows
In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies...
05/16/20 - Music for Armed Forces Day 2020
Many Americans celebrate Armed Forces Day annually on the third Saturday of May. It is a day to pay tribute...
05/15/20 - College or Career? Check out These
Choosing what to do after high school used to be simple for those who had good grades: Apply to college....
05/13/20 - 169 Tech Tip #51 Find Public Domain Images
In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies...
05/11/20 - Tech Tools for Specials
Tech tools often seem focused on core classroom subjects like math, science, and history. Many forget the wealth of webtools...
05/08/20 - Last Chance for this Online College-credit Classes–DigCit and Tech Tools for Writin
MTI 557: Building Digital Citizens Starts Monday, May 11, 2020. Last chance to sign up. Click this link; scroll down to...
05/08/20 - Here’s a Preview of May
Here’s a preview of what’s coming up on Ask a Tech Teacher in May: Teacher Appreciation Gifts (for the geek)...
05/06/20 - What You Might Have Missed in April
Here are the most-read posts for the month of April: Why College Matters for a Successful Career in Tech 15...
05/03/20 - Teacher Appreciation Week Gifts for the Tech Teacher in Your Life
Teacher Appreciation Week: The First Full Week of May There’s always been something mystically cerebral about people in technical professions...
05/02/20 - World Password Day — It’s Coming!
One of the most important yet underwhelming international events is coming up the first Thursday in May (in Canada, it’s...
05/01/20 - Subscriber Special: May
Every month, subscribers to our newsletter get a free/discounted resource to help their tech teaching. May Discounts on Select Print...
04/30/20 - 169 Tech Tip #164 Parts of a Website
In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies...
04/28/20 - The Challenge of Connecting in the Age of COVID
I met Kiana Berkman in this traumatic time of moving teaching home through an invigorating discussion on education and how...
04/27/20 - End of Year Activities
From our files, here are great articles about activities popular at the end of the school year: 5 Favorite Activities...
04/24/20 - 3 Apps That Energize Learning
Let’s face it. Teachers juggle an exhausting schedule of parent conferences, administrative tasks, and specialized student needs. They take work...
04/23/20 - 169 Tech Tip #73 7 tips for Netiquette
In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies...
04/21/20 - 10 Tips for Teaching Remotely
I’ve been working from home for years but most people haven’t. I posted this article about a year ago but...
04/20/20 - Why Earth Day May be the Most Important Event at School
Every year, the world celebrates Earth Day on April 22nd, a day the United Nations recognizes as International Mother Earth...
04/16/20 - Last Chance: Differentiated Instruction Online Class (MTI 563)
MTI 563: The Differentiated Teacher MTI 563 starts in one week–Monday, April 27, 2020! Last chance to sign up. Click this...
04/15/20 - Teaching During COVID-19
Articles on #CoronaVirus you won’t want to miss: Resources You Need During #COVID19 Teaching Online During #COVID19 Teaching Online During...
04/14/20 - Teaching During #CoronaVirus–An Old Strategy That’s Perfect
A problem with online teaching is that students have to sit through a long lecture-sort of presentation–if you’re trying to...
04/13/20 - How to Assess Digital Literacy
On my blog, Ask a Tech Teacher, I run a column called Dear Otto where I answer teacher questions about...
04/12/20 - Stem Education in 2020
A growing focus of schools is STEM. Ask a Tech Teacher contributor, Brianna, has some general observations about STEM education...
04/10/20 - 18 Easter Sites For Students
Many Christians celebrate Jesus Christ’s resurrection on Easter Sunday. To non-Christians (or non-traditional Christians), that event signifies a rebirth of...
04/09/20 - What You Might Have Missed in March
Here are the most-read posts for the month of March: Tips to avoid plagiarism College classes in blended learning New...
04/07/20 - #CoronaVirus–This Week’s Inbox
Most of us are only a few weeks into teaching remotely. It’s still chaotic, messy, but we’re trying to make...
04/06/20 - 15 Websites to Teach Financial Literacy
When kids read that America’s $23 trillion+ debt is accepted by many experts as ‘business as usual’, I wonder how that...
04/04/20 - Subscriber Special: April–Free Lesson Plan
Every month, subscribers to our newsletter get a free/discounted resource to help their tech teaching. April Free Lesson Plan Click...
04/02/20 - Why College Matters for a Successful Career in Tech
There is a lot of conversation about college vs. career–the pros and cons of each weighed against the needs of...
03/31/20 - Teaching Online During COVID-19–More from my Inbox
I am so proud of how the education community has stepped up to the challenge teachers face to continue the...
03/30/20 - World Backup Day–Once a Year
March 31st is called World Backup Day. At least once a year, backup your data files to an external drive (like...
03/27/20 - Teaching Online During COVID-19
Teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic is challenging. We educators understand online learning, probably have taken classes this way, but we...
03/25/20 - Here’s a Preview of April
Here’s a preview of what’s coming up on Ask a Tech Teacher in August: Teaching Online During COVID-19 World Backup...
03/23/20 - Why Teach Poetry?
April is National Poetry Month. For thirty days, we celebrate the value and joy that poetry brings to our world. ...
03/21/20 - Britannica LaunchPacks free of charge to US Schools
There are lots of companies stepping up to help the need to move learning online. The latest is Britannica: Britannica’s...
03/19/20 - Resources You Need During COVID-19
My inbox–probably yours, too–is flooded with suggestions, how-tos, and don’t-do’s, on teaching online as a strategy for dealing with Covid-19....
03/18/20 - 8 EdTech Trends to Watch Out for This 2020
As always, education is changing. There are so many new ways to differentiate for varied learners, back-fill for some while enriching others...
03/17/20 - 15 St. Patrick’s Day Resources For Your Class
Getting ready for St. Patrick’s Day? Try these fun websites: Color the shamrock Color the Pot-o-gold Color the leprechaun Puzzle–St....
03/16/20 - How to Eteach in a Covid-19 Pandemic
If your teaching has been moved online in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, learn which webtools make online learning exciting...
03/13/20 - World Maths Day–March 14
The first World Maths Day was held on March 14, 2007 (also Pi Day), and has ever since been held occasionally...
03/11/20 - Last Chance: The Tech-infused Teacher (MTI 562)
MTI 562: The Tech-infused Teacher MTI 562 starts Monday, March 23, 2020 Click to sign up The 21st century lesson blends...
03/09/20 - New Book: Inquiry and PBL
Ask a Tech Teacher has a new book out, Inquiry-based Teaching with PBL: 34 Lesson Plans. Inquiry-based teaching requires a...
03/07/20 - Subscriber Special: March
Every month, subscribers to our newsletter get a free/discounted resource to help their tech teaching. March: Join our technology-in-education newsletter...
03/06/20 - College Credit Classes in Blended Learning
Through the Midwest Teachers Institute, I offer four college-credit classes that teach how to blend technology with traditional lesson plans....
03/04/20 - What You Might Have Missed in February
Here are the most-read posts for the month of February: Multimedia content personalizes learning Random Acts of Kindness What is Constructivism?...
03/02/20 - 5 Tips to Avoid Plagiarism
Thanks to easy access to internet resources and a serious lack of understanding on the part of many students about...
03/01/20 - Here’s a Preview of March
Here’s a preview of what’s coming up on Ask a Tech Teacher in March: Upcoming college-credit online classes World Maths...
02/28/20 - How One Teacher Found Innovative Solutions to ELL Issues
I met Dr. Bill Morgan through a shared interest in keyboarding for youngers (see this article on A Conversation About...
02/26/20 - How Online Learning Can Improve Your Teaching
Online learning has become not only a common alternative to physical classes, but a well-regarded change maker in the education...
02/24/20 - 169 Tech Tip #36: The Internet Toolbar Disappeared
In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies...
02/21/20 - Last Chance for this College-credit Class (MTI 557)
MTI 557: Building Digital Citizens starts Monday, June 29, 2020 Click to sign up vv xx If students use the internet,...
02/19/20 - Great Virtual Reality Apps
The potential impact of Virtual Reality (VR) in the classroom can’t be overstated. It has become the most exciting education...
02/17/20 - 169 Tech Tip #70 Visit Foreign Language Google Search
In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies...
02/14/20 - 169 Tech Tip #79 My Internet Stopped Working
In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies...
02/10/20 - What is Constructivism and How Does it Fit Your Class?
Constructivism is a student-centered philosophy that emphasizes hands-on learning and active participation in lessons. Constructivists believe that learning is an...
02/07/20 - Random Acts of Kindness Day is Coming. How Will You Celebrate?
I’ll never forget the day years ago when I stood in a donut shop, half asleep, bed head, with a...
02/05/20 - What You Might Have Missed in January
Here are the most-read posts for the month of January: #WorldReadAloudDay February 5 Ways to Use AI-Powered Quillionz to Assess...
02/03/20 - Multimedia content personalizes learning
Ask a Tech Teacher contributor, Josemaría Carazo Abolafia, is an educational researcher and teacher who lives in Spain–and doesn’t own...
01/31/20 - #WorldReadAloudDay February 5
On Feb. 5, 2020, World Read Aloud Day celebrates the pure joy of oral reading with kids of all ages. Created...
01/29/20 - 9 Ways to Use AI-Powered Quillionz to Assess Student Understanding
This school year, you have probably heard about dozens of new apps–all educational, rigorous, and highly-recommended–and you can’t wait to...
01/27/20 - 5 Ways Edtech Enhances Social Studies Lessons
Before I get into how edtech enhances social studies lessons, let’s ask a foundational question: What the heck is Social...
01/24/20 - 100th Day of School — Make it about Learning
Before becoming a teacher, I didn’t understand why the 100th day of school was a big deal. At first, I...
01/22/20 - How to Talk to a Tech Teacher
There’s always been something mystical about people in technical professions–engineering, science, mathematics. They talk animatedly about plate tectonics, debate the...
01/20/20 - 169 Tech Tip #67: Check History in Your Browser
In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies...
01/17/20 - Lessons Learned My First 5 Years Of Teaching
It’s always interesting to find out what new teachers learned in their early teaching that affected their later years. Here’s...
01/15/20 - Subscriber Special: 15% Discount Sitewide
Every month, subscribers to our newsletter get a free/discounted resource to help their tech teaching. This month, take your pick:...
01/13/20 - 169 Tech Tip #81 My Pic’s a BMP and I need a JPG
In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies...
01/12/20 - 10 Top Tips and Click-throughs in 2019
Because AATT is a resource blog, we share lots of tips our group comes across in their daily teaching as...
01/10/20 - Top 10 Reviews of 2019
Throughout the year, I post websites and apps the Ask a Tech Teacher crew’s classes found useful, instructive, helpful in...
01/09/20 - Plagiarism Checkers: The Benefits Students Fail to See
Ask a Tech Teacher contributor Serhii Tkachecnko, CEO at Unicheck, shares his thoughts on how educators can teach students about...
01/06/20 - 10 Hits and 10 Misses for 2019
Since we at Ask a Tech Teacher started this blog eight years ago, we’ve had almost 5.1 million views from...

2019 (176)

12/31/19 - Happy New Year!
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12/21/19 - Happy Holiday!
I’ll be taking a few weeks off–until after the New Year–to edit/format my website, work on projects with a deadline,...
12/20/19 - End-of-year Maintenance: Image and Back-up Devices
This week, I’ll post my updated suggestions for three holiday activities that will get your computers and technology ready for...
12/19/19 - End of Year Maintenance: 11 Ways to Update Your Online Presence
This week, I’ll post my updated suggestions for three holiday activities that will get your computers and technology ready for...
12/18/19 - End-of-Year Maintenance: 16 Steps To A Speedier Computer
This week, I’ll post my updated suggestions for three holiday activities that will get your computers and technology ready for...
12/16/19 - 13 Holiday Websites and 9 Projects
Need a few websites to fill in free minutes? Here are Holiday websites that will keep students busy while teaching...
12/13/19 - Snow Day? 7 Ways to Keep Teaching
To meet state and national requirements (and receive critical funding), schools must be open a minimum number of days each...
12/12/19 - Where did Christmas Come From?
Watch this video and come away educated: Like this:Like Loading...
12/11/19 - Holiday Gifts for Teachers
Holiday gifts for teachers are a challenge. If your child has many teachers, it’s difficult to find a personalized gift...
12/10/19 - 9 Touch Typing Programmes for Schools
One of the favorite topics on my blog is anything about keyboarding. Every time teachers think it’s been replaced by...
12/09/19 - Have Santa Call Your Kids
DialMyCalls (an AATT sponsor) has a special Christmas offer for kids: Free Santa Calls To Your Family This Christmas This Christmas...
12/06/19 - 4 Unplugged Activities for Hour of Code
Hour of Code is a time when teachers show students why they should love-not-fear coding and students find out that...
12/04/19 - Hour of Code: How Students Can Build Their Own Apps
In my high school teacher forums, as part of the discussion on preparing kids for college and career, we talk...
12/03/19 - Websites for Hour of Code by Grade
This December will again host the Hour of Code, a one-hour introduction to programming designed to demystify the subject and...
12/01/19 - Did You Miss These in November?
Here are the most-read posts for the month of November: Subscriber Special: November–Discounts on Select Print Books What is Actively...
11/23/19 - 10 Unusual Projects for Hour of Code
Coding–that geeky subject that confounds students and frightens teachers. Yet, kids who can code are better at logical thinking and problem...
11/22/19 - Happy Thanksgiving Week to All!
I’m taking next week off. I’ll be preparing for my daughter’s holiday visit from her home in Maryland and my...
11/20/19 - PleIQ: the interactive smart toy that fosters multiple intelligences through Augmented Reality
Augmented Reality takes students into bold new worlds where they become part of the learning, not passive viewers. They follow...
11/19/19 - Subscriber Special: December
Every month, subscribers to our newsletter get a free/discounted resource to help their tech teaching. December: Discounts on Select Print...
11/18/19 - Thanksgiving Activities That Keep the Learning Going
Teaching the days before big holidays is challenging. Students and teachers alike are ready for a break. Both struggle to...
11/16/19 - College Credit Class in Digital Citizenship
Through the Midwest Teachers Institute, I offer four college-credit classes that teach how to blend technology with traditional lesson plans....
11/15/19 - 16 Sites, 3 Apps, 7 Projects for Thanksgiving
Need a few websites and apps to fill in sponge time? Here are Thanksgiving websites that will keep students busy...
11/13/19 - Integrate OUR Curricula into Your Kiddom Digital Platform
I’m a big believer in online web-based curricula that can be accessed from any browser, any digital device, any location....
11/11/19 - Encouraging Students To Take Responsibility For Their Education
This topic is a hot button for me. So many parents think education is the school’s job and student think...
11/07/19 - Ward’s Science–So Many STEM Resources
One of the most difficult skills to teach in school is problem solving. I can’t tell you how many kids–and...
11/05/19 - What is Actively Learn and Why Should I Try it?
Actively Learn is a freemium online education platform that allows students to read a book (or some other document), make...
11/04/19 - Subscriber Special: November–Discounts on Select Print Books
Every month, subscribers to our newsletter get a free/discounted resource to help their tech teaching. Discounts on Select Print Books...
11/01/19 - What You Might Have Missed in October
Here are the most-read posts for the month of October: Halloween Projects, Websites, Apps, Books, and a Costume 9 Good...
10/30/19 - 169 Tech Tip #100 Top Ten Internet Shortkeys
In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies...
10/28/19 - How teachers address cell phones in class
I teach online grad school classes in how to integrate tech into education. One topic I always ask students is...
10/25/19 - Halloween Projects, Websites, Apps, Books, and a Costume
Three holidays are fast-approaching–Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. If you’re a teacher, that means lots of tie-ins to make school festive...
10/23/19 - 9 Good Collections of Videos for Education
When I started teaching, videos were a rarity. Common practice was to assign a chapter to read in a textbook...
10/21/19 - Videos: Why, How, Options
When I started teaching, videos were used only for a few reasons: to teach historical events, as a prize for...
10/18/19 - 169 Tech Tip #65 Zoom In/Out of Websites
In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies...
10/16/19 - Digital Assistants in the Classroom
It’s been a couple of years since my tech teacher advice column “Dear Otto” got its first question about classroom...
10/14/19 - Help Students Select the Right Summer School
Ask a Tech Teacher contributor, Alex Briggs, has an interesting take on summer school, why you should start thinking about...
10/11/19 - Subscriber Special: October–Discounts on Select Print Books
Every month, subscribers to our newsletter get a free/discounted resource to help their tech teaching. October: Discounts on Select Print...
10/07/19 - October is National Bullying Prevention Month
October is National Bullying Prevention Month. Any adult knows that bullying is no longer relegated to the playground or the...
10/02/19 - October is Dyslexia Awareness Month
Surprisingly, 15-20% of the population has a language-based learning disability and over 65% of those are deficits in reading. Often, these...
09/30/19 - What You Might Have Missed in September
Here are the most-read posts for the month of September: 21 Websites and 5 Posters to Teach Mouse Skills Teacher-Author?...
09/27/19 - College Credit Classes in Blended Learning
Through the Midwest Teachers Institute, I offer college-credit classes that teach how to blend technology with traditional lesson plans. They...
09/23/19 - Subscriber Special: September
Every month, subscribers to our newsletter get a free/discounted resource to help their tech teaching. September 25th-30th Grades 2, 4,...
09/19/19 - 21 Websites and 5 Posters to Teach Mouse Skills
Mouse resource list constantly updated here Many of my most popular articles are about mouse skills. Every year, tens of...
09/16/19 - Teacher-Author? Me too! Let’s talk
This week, my wonderful efriends and fellow teacher-authors are helping me launch my latest prehistoric fiction novel, The Quest for...
09/13/19 - College Credit Classes in Blended Learning
Through the Midwest Teachers Institute, I offer four college-credit classes that teach how to blend technology with traditional lesson plans....
09/09/19 - Great Activities for the First Week of School
The first week of school is different from all others. During this week, teachers and students alike spend time getting...
09/06/19 - 16 Back-to-School Articles
On everything from get-to-know-you activities to getting yourself ready: 11 Back-to-school Activities for the First Month of School Great Back...
09/05/19 - 12 Favorite PC Shortkeys
Here’s an update to my Favorite PC Shortkeys poster: Jacqui Murray has been teaching K-18 technology for 30 years. She is...
09/04/19 - Tech Ed Resources for your Class–Digital Citizenship
I get a lot of questions from readers about what tech ed resources I use in my classroom so I’m...
09/02/19 - Work Hard–it’s Labor Day!
Labor Day is annually held on the first Monday of September (this year, September 2nd). It was originally organized to...
08/30/19 - What You Might Have Missed in August
Here are the top five posts for the month of August: Basics of internet safety Why Kindergartners Must Learn Technology...
08/26/19 - eSpark–Self-paced Learning for Math and Reading
If you’ve heard the buzz about eSpark this summer at conferences or training sessions, you already know it’s more than...
08/23/19 - 169 Tech Tip #37 — Basics of Internet Safety
In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies...
08/21/19 - Why Kindergartners Must Learn Technology
If you missed this article over at ReadiLearn, here are my thoughts about teaching technology in kindergarten: Why Kindergartners Must...
08/19/19 - Tech Ed Resources–K-8 Tech Curriculum
I get a lot of questions from readers about what tech ed resources I use in my classroom so I’m...
08/16/19 - Tech Ed Resources for your Class–K-8 Keyboard Curriculum
I get a lot of questions from readers about what tech ed resources I use in my classroom so I’m...
08/14/19 - How Behaviorism Can Turn Your Classroom Around
I first ran into Behaviorism in child psychology classes I took for my Early Childhood Education credential (ECE). It was...
08/12/19 - 3 Ways To Improve Student Success With Strong Course Design
I teach a lot of online classes and as such, have used many different platforms. It’s clear to me that...
08/08/19 - Online Class Starts Aug. 12th–Tech-infused Teacher
MTI 562: The Tech-infused Teacher Starts Monday, August 12, 2019! Click to sign up In MTI 562 The Tech-infused Teacher, you...
08/06/19 - Subscriber Special: August
Every month, subscribers to our newsletter get news to help their tech teaching. August: 3 Ways to Learn Digital Citizenship...
08/05/19 - What You Might Have Missed in July
Here are the most-read posts for the month of July: Great App for Future Readers: Word Zoo Math Webtools to...
08/01/19 - Looking for a Class Robot? Try Robo Wunderkind
There are a lot of options if you want to bring programmable robots to your classroom. One I discovered this...
07/31/19 - 11+ Back-to-School Night Tips
Come Join me on BYU Radio, Sirius XM 143 Thursday, August 1st at 5:00 and 7:00 a.m. PT as we...
07/29/19 - Here’s a Preview of August
Here’s a preview of what’s coming up on Ask a Tech Teacher in August: Back-to-School Tips: A radio show Subscriber...
07/26/19 - 5 digital tools to enhance the writing skills of your students
Ask a Tech Teacher contributor, Linda Cartwright, has a great list of basic writing apps to get your students started...
07/24/19 - Online Tutor–Is it Right For You?
If you’re searching for alternatives to teaching in a classroom and you’re a stellar teacher, you have a lot of...
07/22/19 - How to Do Student-led Conferences
I remember report card days as a child, me sitting outside on a brick wall, scared to death as my...
07/19/19 - 169 Tech Tip #18 How to Activate a Link
In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies...
07/17/19 - How Tech Enhances Class Performance
Ask a Tech Teacher contributor, Jane Sandwood, has interesting ideas on blending tech with tradition: Balancing Technology With Traditional Teaching...
07/15/19 - Wonder Workshop’s Amazing Dash
Education has many disruptors–3D Printing, AR and VR, 1:1 technology, STEM, and STEAM–but a recent and wildly popular one is...
07/12/19 - 169 Tech Tip #4 My Webpage Froze
In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies...
07/10/19 - How to Help Students Find Their Passion
Of all the gifts students receive from education, passion is the greatest. If students are taught that learning is difficult,...
07/08/19 - Math Webtools to Support Any Curriculum
Math used to be a tedious memorization of facts and formulas. That changed somewhat when online worksheets allowed students to...
07/05/19 - What You Might Have Missed in June
Here are the most-read posts for the month of June: 4 Innovative Ways to Co-Author a Book What’s Changed in...
07/04/19 - Happy July 4th (and Happy Canada Day)
It’s America’s birthday and I’m celebrating. My Army Sergeant son is in Japan–Okinawa. My Navy LT CDR daughter’s in the...
07/03/19 - Last Chance for this College-credit Class 558
MTI 558: Teach Writing With Tech Starts Monday, July 8, 2019! This is the last chance to sign up. Click this...
07/02/19 - Great App for Future Readers: Word Zoo
Reading is defined as “the action or skill of absorbing written or printed matter silently or aloud.” Sounds dry, maybe...
07/01/19 - Subscriber Special: July
Every month, subscribers to our newsletter get a free/discounted resource to help their tech teaching. I still have a few...
06/28/19 - 4 Innovative Ways to Co-Author a Book
Everyone wants to write a book — right? Studies show that 74% of people think they have a book in them. Teens...
06/26/19 - Here’s a Preview of July
Here’s a preview of what’s coming up on Ask a Tech Teacher in July: Curriculum-based Assessments–a Powerful Diagnostic Tool Innovative...
06/24/19 - What’s Changed in Lesson Planning
Technology and the connected world put a fork in the old model of teaching–instructor in front of the class, sage...
06/21/19 - What’s all the buzz about Messenger Kids?
When preteen kids see parents and older siblings thumbing away at social media accounts, they want to do it. They...
06/20/19 - Tech Tools for PE Teachers
Technology is a natural education fit in everything from math to Spanish to literacy. The one corner of K-12 learning...
06/19/19 - Smartphones in the classroom
In my summer digital citizenship classes, the biggest question I get is how to control student cell phone usage. Luckily, Ask...
06/18/19 - 11 Bits of Wisdom I Learned From a Computer
As a teacher-author who relies on technology to bring my dreams to life, even I am surprised by how often...
06/14/19 - Using Technology To Teach Kids About Troubleshooting Vehicle Problems
This is not a topic I’ve thought much about. I have a nice collection of driver’s ed websites and videos...
06/13/19 - 10 Books You’ll Want to Read This Summer
Summer is a great time to reset your personal pedagogy to an education-friendly mindset and catch up on what’s been...
06/12/19 - Looking for Trusted Advisers? Look No Further
Summer is the push-pull of regeneration and rejuvenation: Should I spend my summer weeks learning my craft or relaxing? Me,...
06/10/19 - 8 Practical Ways to Use AI in Learning
Every year, education finds new ways to make learning more inclusive and diversified. The latest change agent is Artificial Intelligence...
06/07/19 - Subscriber Special: Group PD at a great price
Every month, subscribers to our newsletter get a free/discounted resource to help their tech teaching. June 8th-10th: Discounted Group Professional...
06/06/19 - What Factors Influence Your Tendency to Plagiarize in School?
I am constantly amazed at how many students plagiarize schoolwork. They feel no guilt, don’t understand the legal risk they...
06/05/19 - 5 Favorite Apps for Summer Learning
Summer has a reputation for being nonstop relaxation, never-ending play, and a time when students stay as far from “learning”...
06/04/19 - Last Chance for this College-credit Class (563–Differentiation)
MTI 563: The Differentiated Teacher MTI 563 starts in one week–Monday, June 10, 2019! Click this link; scroll down to...
06/03/19 - Wonderful Southeast Asia Trip!
I am finally back from my international trip where I visited three areas, four hotels, and took a gazillion trains....
06/01/19 - Here’s a Preview of June
Here’s a preview of what’s coming up on Ask a Tech Teacher in July: the June Subscriber Special World Environment...
05/31/19 - Last Chance for this College-credit Class (557)
MTI 557: Building Digital Citizens Starts Monday, June 3, 2019! Last chance to sign up. Click this link; scroll down to...
05/06/19 - I’m Traveling!
May 11th-24th I’m taking a trip with my daughter to visit my son who is stationed in Okinawa with the...
05/01/19 - Subscriber Special: Great Price on Coaching
May 28th-31st: Coaching or Mentoring BOGO — Buy one month; get the second free Do any of these sound like you?...
04/30/19 - What You Might Have Missed in April
Here are the most-read posts for the month of April: An Open Letter to Teachers About Online Classes 11 Projects...
04/29/19 - 169 Tech Tip #71 How to Move Pics Around in Docs
In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies...
04/26/19 - An Open Letter to Teachers About Online Classes
Nearly three million students currently attend online programs and six million take at least one online class. This means learning online has...
04/25/19 - Here’s a Preview of May
Here’s a preview of what’s coming up on Ask a Tech Teacher in May: Cinco de Mayo Websites Teacher Appreciation...
04/24/19 - 12 Projects to Teach Digital Citizenship
Education has changed. No longer is it contained within four classroom walls or the physical site of a school building....
04/23/19 - 169 Tech Tip #49 The 15-second Slideshow
In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of practical strategies to address most classroom tech situations, how to scaffold these...
04/22/19 - How AI is Changing Writing: Check out Robot Don
Ask a Tech Teacher contributor, Lisa Griffin, has an interesting AI-inspired tool to share with readers. It brings the best...
04/19/19 - What to do when you lose a digital document
With classwork and homework now heavily digital, the days of “the dog ate my homework” are gone. It’s simple to...
04/18/19 - Dear Otto: Help With Classroom Management Problems
Dear Otto is an occasional column where I answer questions I get from readers about teaching tech. If you have...
04/17/19 - 169 Tech Tip #12 Wrap Text Around a Picture
In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies...
04/16/19 - Have Google Takeout at Your End-of-Year Party
One of the most difficult chores teachers perform at the end of the school year is not final grades, saying...
04/15/19 - 12 Tech Tasks To End the School Year
Wrapping up your school technology for the summer is as complicated as setting it up in September. There are endless...
04/12/19 - Kindergartners need Technology too!
Hi all! I’m off to visit good efriend Norah Colvin over at ReadiLearn to discuss how important technology is even...
04/11/19 - 10 Myths about Teaching with Tech
I’ve been teaching technology for over fifteen years. While student familiarity with this tool has improved, one thing that never...
04/10/19 - Here’s How to Get Started with Ask a Tech Teacher
Hello! Ask a Tech Teacher is a group of tech ed professionals who work together to offer you tech tips,...
04/09/19 - 2 Children’s Books You’ll Love
As a teacher, I’m always looking for children’s books for my students. I’m excited to say I’ve found two I...
04/08/19 - 169 Tech Tip #7 Transparent Backgrounds
In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies...
04/05/19 - Subscriber Special: April
April 5th-15th: Buy a K-8 School License get 5 free print books of the grade level you purchased (domestic purchase...
04/04/19 - 5 Favorite Activities to End the School Year
The end of the school year is a time when both students and teachers alike are distracted by thoughts of...
04/03/19 - Cutting-Edge Tech To Improve Music Teaching
Music is arguably one of the most important subjects taught in school, yet is often the first to be cut...
04/01/19 - What You Might Have Missed in March
Here are the most-read posts for the month of March: 33 Resources for Read Across America Day Teaching Basic Cybersecurity...
03/29/19 - Here’s a Preview of April
Here’s a preview of what’s coming up on Ask a Tech Teacher in April: Cutting Edge Tech to Improve Music...
03/28/19 - Solve 50% of Tech Problems with 16 Simple Solutions
The Number One reason–according to students–why their computer doesn’t work is… It’s broken. As a teacher, I hear this daily, often...
03/27/19 - 18 Easter Sites For Students
Many Christians celebrate Jesus Christ’s resurrection on Easter Sunday. To non-Christians (or non-traditional Christians), that event signifies a rebirth of...
03/26/19 - 9 Ways to Teach Tolerance
If you watch the news, tolerance seems to be a lost art. College kids shout down speakers. Mobs throw chairs through windows. Hordes...
03/25/19 - Fake News or Fact? How do you tell?
Keeping up with national and international events was a lot easier when all the news came from one of three...
03/22/19 - Why Mastery Based Learning is a Good Option
Last year, only 61 percent of students who took the ACT high school English achievement test were deemed college-ready. In...
03/21/19 - April is Financial Literacy Month
The latest national data reports that while a growing number of students graduate high school, college enrollments are decreasing. Students cite a lot...
03/20/19 - MS Career Planning: Moving in the Right Direction
I really like the recent trend away from presenting college as the goal for all graduating seniors, opening that up...
03/19/19 - 3 Favorite Webtools for students (and teachers)
I subscribe to lots of technology-in-education forums (here’s a list of my trusted education advisors) and attend as many webinars...
03/18/19 - The Importance of SEL to Education Success
Life is much simpler when you — as a parent or teacher — can point to one solution for a...
03/15/19 - 15 St. Patrick’s Day Resources For Your Class
Getting ready for St. Patrick’s Day? Try these fun websites (check here for updated links): Color the shamrock Color the...
03/14/19 - Pi Day is Easy to Remember–Celebrate With Students
Throwback Day–I’ll republish this Pi Day post from last year, just to remind you of this wonderful mathematical event: Pi...
03/13/19 - Peer Feedback That Works
Assessing student learning traditionally is accomplished with tests. The problem teachers have with this approach is managing them. If they’re...
03/12/19 - Humorous Look at What I Learned from my Computer
As a teacher on a mission to infuse technology into my classes, I’m often surprised how often technology can be...
03/11/19 - How Smart Tech and IoT are Making Educational Spaces More Accessible
I haven’t written much about IoT (the Internet of Things–see the end of this article for more resources on IoT)...
03/08/19 - How Readilearn grew from one woman’s dream to an exciting education resource
Norah Colvin, educator, writer, and consultant, is the brilliance behind the exciting education website, readilearn. It started as her dream...
03/07/19 - What You Might Have Missed in February
Here are the most-read posts for the month of February: My Favorite 5 Tech Tools for Teacher-Authors Questions Parents Ask...
03/06/19 - Subscriber Special: March
March 10th-15th: the 56-page PDF, “25 Digital Tools for the Classroom” for free! “25 Digital Tools for the Classroom” is...
03/05/19 - Teaching Basic Cybersecurity Measures To Everyday People (For Parents of Digital Natives)
As one who manages way too many online accounts, I read this article from Ask a Tech Teacher contributor and...
03/03/19 - Physical Bookstores in The Digital Age
As a parent, I fondly remember browsing bookstores with my children. We probably went there with a specific book in...
03/01/19 - 33 Resources for Read Across America Day
Many people in the United States, particularly students, parents and teachers, join forces on Read Across America Day, annually held...
02/28/19 - Here’s a Preview of March
Here’s a preview of what’s coming up on Ask a Tech Teacher in March: Teaching Basic Cybersecurity Measures Solve 50% of...
02/27/19 - Here’s the Easiest Way to Check for Plagiarism
One of the biggest problems facing digital natives as they grow into adults is understanding how to maneuver the vastness of...
02/25/19 - Kid-created Games That Teach
It’s discouraging to all stakeholders that annually, about 1.2 million students fail to graduate from high school. And “Pathways to Prosperity” reports...
02/22/19 - Easily Manage Class AR with Metaverse Collections
Metaverse is one of the most popular AR apps in schools. It blends a website for the creation of AR...
02/18/19 - Best-in-Category Winners for 2018
During the last month, Ask a Tech Teacher readers voted on which tech tools had the greatest impact on their...
02/15/19 - Purpose Driven Learning: Myths, Problems, and Education Applications
Purpose Driven Learning (or PDL) is a concept coined by Michael Matera and Adam Moreno to summarize the philosophy that each...
02/14/19 - Engineers Week — A Must for High School
Next week, February 17-23, 2019, is DiscoverE’s Engineers Week. Their tagline: “A week-long event, a year-long commitment” Do you wonder why...
02/13/19 - The Easy Way to Teach Internet Skills
Education used to focus on the 3 R’s — reading, writing, and ‘rithmetic. Without a doubt, those remain critical subjects...
02/12/19 - 15 President’s Day Activities
Presidents’ Day is an American holiday celebrated on the third Monday in February–this year, February 19, 2018. Originally established in...
02/11/19 - How Wearable Technology is Changing Education and Easing Disabilities
Here’s an interesting piece from Ask a Tech Teacher contributor, Jane Sandwood, on the explosion of wearable technology and its...
02/08/19 - 18 Valentine Sites For Students
Here are some fun Valentine sites to fill those few minutes betwixt and between lessons, projects, bathroom breaks, lunch, and...
02/07/19 - Why is HUE HD a Must for your Classroom?
The award-winning HUE HD Pro USB camera and visualiser is one of the most versatile, flexible, affordable document cameras I’ve ever tested....
02/06/19 - Questions Parents Ask
I’ve been asked by a wonderful parent organization called Konstella to serve as an expert for parents on topics of...
02/04/19 - 10 Top Tips and Click-throughs in 2018
Because AATT is a resource blog, we share lots of tips our group comes across in their daily teaching as...
02/01/19 - My Favorite 5 Tech Tools for Teacher-Authors
Here are five of my favorite tech tools for teacher-authors: 1. A good editing program Whether you’re self-published or agented, you want...
01/31/19 - With JotForm, Summer Camp Registration Couldn’t Be Easier
Every school I know offers a summer camp. Sometimes, these are for just their students but often, the community is...
01/30/19 - Here’s a Preview of February
Here’s a preview of what’s coming up on Ask a Tech Teacher in July: February Subscriber Special Questions Parents Ask about...
01/29/19 - How to Celebrate World Read Aloud Day
On Feb. 1, 2019, World Read Aloud Day celebrates the pure joy of oral reading with kids of all ages. Created by...
01/28/19 - Best-in-Class Resources–Last Chance to Vote
Last Change to vote for your favorite Tech Ed Tool! Every year, I review a large number of websites, apps,...
01/27/19 - Math Games in the Classroom
Math games in the classroom have changed a lot in the last decades. Where they used to be fun ways...
01/25/19 - How Is Cloud Computing Revolutionizing the Education Industry?
When I started teaching, syncing work between school and home was impossible. Completing homework required either printing it and bringing...
01/24/19 - PASCO Motion Sensor–A Must for Science Classes
Data collection and analysis are cornerstones for many STEM and STEAM programs but they’re not just about math. They teach...
01/23/19 - Preparing High Schoolers For A Career In Cybersecurity
No one who even glances at the news can deny the importance of cybersecurity experts. I know first-hand the dearth...
01/22/19 - Join me Jan. 23rd for a Webinar
Please join me on Jan 23, 2019 for a webinar on Building Digital Citizens: Being a responsible digital citizen is...
01/21/19 - It’s Here–the High School Technology Curriculum!
The High School technology curriculum prepares students for their college-and-career future not by teaching widgets and programs—though that happens—but by...
01/20/19 - Last Chance for this College-credit Class
MTI 558: Teach Writing With Tech All-online, college credit, MTI 558 starts Monday, January 21, 2019! This is the last chance...
01/18/19 - Best Software Programs for Desktop Publishing
For a decade, when I thought of desktop publishing, I turned to Microsoft Publisher. I loved its flexibility, adaptability, and ease...
01/17/19 - Top 10 Product Reviews of 2018
Throughout the year, I post websites and apps the Ask a Tech Teacher crew’s classes found useful, instructive, helpful in...
01/16/19 - Join me for a free Webinar on Building Digital Citizens
Please join me on Jan 23rd for a Free webinar on Building Digital Citizens: Being a responsible digital citizen is...
01/15/19 - Free Lesson Plans from Study.com
Study.com is an online distance learning portal that provides over 70,000 lessons in fifteen subjects (including algebra, calculus, chemistry, macro- and...
01/14/19 - 2 Free Martin Luther King Day Lesson Plans
Subscriber Special Until January 18th: Free Martin Luther King Day Lesson Plans Two lesson plans to prepare for Martin Luther...
01/10/19 - What You Might Have Missed in December
Here are the most-read posts for the month of December: College Credit Classes onTechnology in Education End-of-year Maintenance: Image and...
01/09/19 - 2019, I Resolve…
New Years–a time for rest, rejuvenation and repair. A time to assess life. Do we settle into our routine, enjoy...
01/08/19 - 10 Hits and 10 Misses for 2018
Since we at Ask a Tech Teacher started this blog eight years ago, we’ve had over 5.3 million visitors to...
01/06/19 - Starting This Week: MTI 562
MTI 562: The Tech-infused Teacher MTI 562 starts Monday, January 7, 2019! Click to sign up The 21st century lesson blends...
01/03/19 - Social Media Trends you Need to Be Aware of this School Year
Have you heard of the wildly-popular Netflix series, 13 Reasons Why, dramatizing a teenager’s thirteen reasons for committing suicide? Though...

2018 (154)

12/31/18 - Happy New Year!
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12/30/18 - Here’s a Preview of January
Here’s a preview of what’s coming up on Ask a Tech Teacher in January: Best-in-Class Resources Competition Subscriber Special: January Questions...
12/22/18 - Happy Holiday!
I’ll be taking a few weeks off–until after the New Year–to edit/format my website, work on writing projects with a...
12/21/18 - College Credit Classes onTechnology in Education
Through the Midwest Teachers Institute, I offer four college-credit classes that teach how to blend technology with traditional lesson plans....
12/20/18 - Have Santa Call Your Kids
DialMyCalls (an AATT sponsor) has a special Christmas offer for kids: Free Santa Calls To Your Family This Christmas This Christmas...
12/19/18 - End-of-year Maintenance: Image and Back-up Digital Devices
This week, I’m sharing three holiday activities that will get your computers, technology, and social media ready for the new year. Here’s...
12/18/18 - End of Year Maintenance: Update Your Online Presence
This week, I’m sharing three holiday activities that will get your computers, technology, and social media ready for the new year. Here’s...
12/17/18 - End-of-Year Maintenance: 19 Steps To A Speedier Computer
This week, I’m sharing three holiday activities that will get your computers, technology, and social media ready for the new year. Here’s...
12/13/18 - 3 Free SEL Activities from SafeSchools
Life is much simpler when you–as a parent or teacher–can point to one solution for a problem, solve it, and...
12/12/18 - Why Should Students Learn Computer Science? A Teacher’s Perspective
If you participated in December’s Hour of Code, you may have come to realize the importance of Computer Science to...
12/10/18 - Root Robotics–Great Way to Extend Hour of Code
Now that you’ve engaged your students with awesome Hour of Code fun, I’m thrilled to introduce the incredible Root Robotics...
12/07/18 - Holiday Gifts for Teachers
Holiday gifts for teachers are a challenge. If your child has many teachers, it’s difficult to find a personalized gift for...
12/05/18 - Subscriber Special: December
December 10th-January 2nd 15% Discount Sitewide on Structured Learning.net Code: HAPPYHOLIDAY15 How to use this: Go to Structured Learning Fill your...
12/04/18 - Here’s a Preview of December
Here’s a preview of what’s coming up on Ask a Tech Teacher in December. Bear in mind–it’s a short month!...
11/30/18 - Websites and Apps to Support Hour of Code
We’ve provided a lot of projects and lesson plans, as well as websites you’ll like organized by grade. Here are...
11/29/18 - Hour of Code Lesson Plans by Grade
This December will again host the Hour of Code, a one-hour introduction to programming designed to demystify the subject and...
11/28/18 - 10 Unusual Projects for Hour of Code
Coding–that geeky subject that confounds students and frightens teachers. Yet, kids who can code are better at logical thinking and problem...
11/27/18 - Hour of Code 101
December 3-9th, 2018, Computer Science Education will host the Hour Of Code–a one-hour introduction to students on coding, programming, and...
11/25/18 - Big Sale at Teachers Pay Teachers!
Check out my Teachers Pay Teachers store for big savings on November 26th and 27th! Like this:Like Loading...
11/16/18 - Happy Thanksgiving Week to All!
I’m taking next week off. I’ll be preparing for my daughter’s holiday visit from her home in DC and my...
11/14/18 - A Thanksgiving Poll for Students–What does ‘Turkey’ mean?
Last year, I did a poll on the meaning of the word ‘turkey’. This was to demonstrate how powerful symbols...
11/12/18 - 16 Thanksgiving Sites, 2 Apps, and 2 Projects
Need a few websites and apps to fill in sponge time? Here are Thanksgiving websites that will keep students busy...
11/09/18 - Thanksgiving Activities That Keep You in Charge of Learning
Teaching the days before big holidays is challenging. Students and teachers alike are ready for a break. Both struggle to...
11/08/18 - Book Review: Repositioning Educational Leadership
Repositioning Educational Leadership by James Lytle et al 4/5 The idea of using inquiry to drive change is both inspired...
11/05/18 - Measuring Up–the Key to Meeting State/National Standards
Last year, only 61 percent of high school students who took the ACT English achievement test were deemed college-ready. In math,...
10/31/18 - Subscriber Special: November
November 1st-8th: Buy the K-8 curriculum; get the 55-page Hour of Code bundle for free What’s in the Hour of...
10/29/18 - Here’s a Preview of November
November is a short month, with a week off to celebrate the holiday. Here’s a preview of what’s coming up...
10/24/18 - The Impact of VR on Student Education
Virtual Reality–VR–is the 2018 buzzword among students, teachers, and even parents. And rightfully deserved, VR has the ability to recreate...
10/22/18 - Is technology outpacing you?
In considering the question, Is technology outpacing you?, let’s first look at technology’s place in the current education landscape. True,...
10/19/18 - Differentiation Simplified with Study.com
Study.com is an online distance learning portal that provides over 70,000 lessons in fifteen subjects (including algebra, calculus, chemistry, macro- and...
10/16/18 - Great News: JotForm now offers a PDF Editor
Forms are popular in schools for all sorts of reasons. Some teachers look no further than Google Forms but for...
10/12/18 - 169 Tech Tip #114: Embed a Google Apps File
In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies...
10/09/18 - Engagement through Competition
Ask a Tech Teacher contributor, James Lovelock, has been thinking about the nexus of student engagement, online games, and learning....
10/06/18 - TeacherKit Saves You Time by Managing Class Tasks
TeacherKit, a useful classroom management app for iOS or Android, provides teachers with one location to log student attendance, take...
10/05/18 - Tech Ed Resources–Organize Your Class
I get a lot of questions from readers about what tech ed resources I use in my classroom so I’m...
10/04/18 - What Qualities Make an Effective Teacher?
We all have a memory of our favorite teacher, almost always, the one who made us think we could do...
10/03/18 - 7 Resources for National Bullying Prevention Awareness Month
In October 2006, thirteen-year-old Megan Meier hung herself in her bedroom closet after suffering months of cyberbullying. She believed her tormentors’...
10/01/18 - What You Might Have Missed in September
Here are the most-read posts for the month of September: The 101 of Research for Kids Differentiating with Personalized Learning...
09/28/18 - Here’s a Preview of October
Here’s a preview of what’s coming up on Ask a Tech Teacher in October: Resources for Dyslexia Awareness Month Resources...
09/27/18 - Education Galaxy–Personalized Learning That’s Fun
The start of a new school year is always busy. New students, new parents, new rules at school–but there’s one...
09/25/18 - The 101 of Research for Kids
It’s difficult finding kid-safe research websites that really are. Even Google SafeSearch has issues at times. Here’s my list of safe spots to...
09/24/18 - Differentiating with Personalized Learning
Personalized learning is the latest buzzword in an education environment bursting with new ideas but this one is impressive. In...
09/21/18 - Tech Tips #171: Return your screen to normal
This is not part of the 169 tech tips for your class book but it will be when I update the ebook: Tech...
09/19/18 - How to Teach Critical Thinking
There’s a reason why the brain uses 25% of the calories you eat: Thinking is hard work. Subjects like math...
09/18/18 - What to Consider When Assigning Homework
Homework has come under fire the last few years as data surfaced that seemed to support the conclusion that homework...
09/14/18 - The Case for Positive Reinforcement in Classrooms
Every teacher knows that students do better with positive reinforcement. As tempting as “punishment” might sound when referring to that...
09/13/18 - New Ways to Gamify Learning
The first thing most teachers think about when discussing gamified learning is the online math games kids play. Maybe Vocabulary.com...
09/12/18 - Print or Digital Textbooks? What’s the Low-down?
For the past decade, schools have invested millions of dollars in technology. It started with a push for desktop computers...
09/03/18 - Work Hard–it’s Labor Day!
Labor Day is annually held on the first Monday of September (this year, September 3rd). It was originally organized to...
08/31/18 - Tech Ed Resources for your Class–Digital Citizenship
I get a lot of questions from readers about what tech ed resources I use in my classroom so I’m...
08/30/18 - Teaching Digital Rights and Responsibilities
Teaching used to be based on textbooks used by millions nation- or worldwide. They took an entire school year to...
08/29/18 - The Important Morning Meeting
One of the strategies I grew to appreciate in my several decades of teaching was starting my class with a...
08/28/18 - It’s Time to Make Your Classroom Paper-free
Each year, the world produces more than 300 million tons of paper. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, paper typically...
08/27/18 - Here’s a Preview of September
Here’s a preview of what’s coming up on Ask a Tech Teacher in September: What to Consider When Assigning Homework...
08/24/18 - Wikispaces has closed. What are your alternatives?
Wikispaces, one of education’s standout collaborative websites, closed at the end of June 2018. Thousands of teachers have used the...
08/22/18 - 11 Back-to-school Activities for the First Month of School
A new school year is a fresh start. For students, that means a different teacher and new classmates. For teachers,...
08/21/18 - Great Back to School Classroom Activities
The first week of school is different from all others. During this week, teachers and students alike spend time getting to know...
08/20/18 - 22 Websites and 4 Posters to Teach Mouse Skills
Resource list constantly updated here Many of my most popular articles are about mouse skills. Every year, tens of thousands...
08/15/18 - Plan a Memorable Back to School Night
Back to School night is a time-honored ritual where teachers and parents meet, with or without children, and preview the...
08/13/18 - Today’s Meet is Closed. What are your Alternatives?
As of June 16, 2018, Today’s Meet closed (read the full details here). That iconic backchannel chat platform for classroom teachers...
08/10/18 - Spotlight: How One Teacher Taught Digital Citizenship Via Student-driven Websites
Sheila Slawek teaches digital literacy & computer science. I’ve known Sheila a long time and am profoundly impressed by how...
08/09/18 - Top 10 Study Group Forums and Websites for High School Students
Sara Stringer, Ask a Tech Teacher contributor, has a list of great websites for high school students. I don’t post...
08/08/18 - Make your LMS a social learning platform
Vivek Singh, education professional and contributor to Ask a Tech Teacher, has some interesting ideas on using your native LMS...
08/02/18 - Subscriber Special: August
August 2nd only: Coaching or Mentoring BOGO — Buy one month; get the second free Do any of these sound like you?...
07/31/18 - August Preview at Ask a Tech Teacher
Here’s a preview of what’s coming up on Ask a Tech Teacher in August: Wikispaces has closed. Now what? 11...
07/29/18 - Last Chance: Building Digital Citizens and Personalized Learning–Grad-level Classes
MTI 557: Building Digital Citizens This college-credit class starts in one week–Monday, August 6th! Last chance to sign up. Click this link;...
07/27/18 - Kiddom Helps Administrators Manage Change
Kiddom is an easy-to-use learning management system alternative that provides educators with an effective alternative to Google Classroom. Its pages are visual...
07/11/18 - Technology Turnaround Stories from Hawaii and California
All around the country, schools are turning around education through the use of technology. Here are two, one in Hawaii...
07/06/18 - I’m traveling!
My Army son is coming to visit from Okinawa Japan for a month. We are training it across country (I’m...
07/04/18 - Happy Fourth of July!
It’s America’s birthday and I’m celebrating. I have an Army son heading off overseas and a Navy daughter doing her...
07/02/18 - Should you Teach Typing? And Does it Work?
This topic that is close to my tech teacher soul. It has become a familiar argument between those who believe...
06/25/18 - 169 Tech Tip #28: My Sound Doesn’t Work
In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies...
06/20/18 - Top Ten Education Blogs
I am honored to be selected as one of TutorFair’s Top Ten Education Blogs for 2018! Without a doubt, the...
06/18/18 - Gamechanger: Type to Learn is Now in the Cloud!
When I started teaching a decade ago, Type to Learn was the MS Word of typing programs–everyone used it. The...
06/15/18 - The Case for PDFs in Class
The biggest reason teachers report for NOT liking cloud accounts has nothing to do with money, security, or privacy. It’s...
06/13/18 - How can Teachers Increase Social Learning While Teaching Online?
It’s becoming more common to take online classes or blend traditional with online learning. Ila Mishra, a specialist in both...
06/07/18 - What You Might Have Missed in May
Here are the most-read posts for the month of May: How to Wrap up Tech for the School Year Touch-Typing:...
06/06/18 - Seven Fun Math Activities for the Summer Break
Summer can be a challenging time not just for parents but kids. They are accustomed to cerebral challenges that keep them...
06/04/18 - World Environment Day: Living Responsibly with Nature
World Environment Day is June 5th. Catherine Ross, Ask a Tech Teacher contributor, has some great suggestions on how to...
06/01/18 - Subscriber Special: June
June 5th-10th: BOGO Buy one grade level school license; get the second free Just in time for summer preparation for...
05/31/18 - How to Wrap up Tech for the School Year
Wrapping up your school technology at the end of the school year is as complicated as setting it up in...
05/30/18 - 5 Ways to Become a Better Writer Using Android Apps and Tools
Jennifer Lockman, a journalism major at UCLA, contacted me about her thoughts on how technology has changed the way she...
05/29/18 - Touch-Typing: Rote vs Integrated Learning or Rote and Integrated Learning?
Here’s a fascinating article by Ask a Tech Teacher contributor, James Lovelock, discussing the balance between rote drills and integrated learning...
05/28/18 - Memorial Day
I’m taking the day to honor our all soldiers on America’s Memorial Day. Without their sacrifice, where would we be? I...
05/25/18 - 14 Memorial Day Websites for Students
Memorial Day (May 28, 2018) is the time we remember all of those soldiers who gave their lives in the...
05/23/18 - Kiddom’s Content Library Makes Differentiation Faster Than Ever
A stand-out webtool among standards-based grading platforms is a free online program called Kiddom (click for my review). Kiddom is designed to help...
05/22/18 - Positive focus; Positive behaviors
There’s a lot of chatter about PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports) on educator forums I participate in. I don’t...
05/21/18 - 169 Tech Tip #13: The Powerful Right Mouse Button
In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies...
05/19/18 - Music for Armed Forces Day 2018
Many Americans celebrate Armed Forces Day annually on the third Saturday of May. It is a day to pay tribute...
05/17/18 - Cute Video on Keyboarding
From Kidztype, a 1.5-minute video on the essence of keyboarding. Enjoy! –Full disclosure: Kidztype is an Ask a Tech Teacher...
05/15/18 - Last Chance: How to Leverage Tech to Teach Writing
MTI 558: How to Leverage Tech to Teach Writing This college-credit class starts in one week–Monday, May 28th! Last chance to...
05/14/18 - Last Chance: Building Digital Citizens
MTI 557: Building Digital Citizens This college-credit class starts in one week–Monday, May 21st! Last chance to sign up. Click this...
05/11/18 - EdTech Magazine’s 50 Must-read K-12 IT Blogs
I am honored to be selected as one of EdTech Magazine’s “50 Must-Read K-12 IT Blogs of 2018”! Without a...
05/10/18 - Last Chance for this College-credit Class
MTI 563: The Differentiated Teacher MTI 563 starts in one week–Monday, May 14th! Last chance to sign up. Click this link;...
05/09/18 - 10 Ways to Wrap Up the School Year
It’s the end of school. Everyone’s tired, including you. What you want for these last few weeks are activities that...
05/08/18 - May–Military Appreciation Month–God Bless Our Soldiers
As many of you know, I have a daughter in the Navy and a son in the Army. I love...
05/07/18 - Subscriber Special: May
May 24th-30th: Coaching or Mentoring BOGO — Buy one month; get the second free Do any of these sound like you?...
05/04/18 - 5 Best Websites for IELTS Exam Prep
If you’re one of the many who must take the IELTS test, one of our Ask a Tech Teacher contributors...
05/01/18 - Study.com Makes the College Dream a Reality for Lots of Students
In a world where college fees go up every year, where the cost of campus-based classes invariably includes expensive extras,...
04/26/18 - How to Blend Learning with Play for a Kid-friendly Summer
With summer fast approaching all over the Northern Hemisphere, kids are eager for time away from teachers, textbooks, and To-do...
04/24/18 - Clutch Prep: When You Need Help With a Class You Must Pass
Clutch Prep calls themselves “the video version of textbooks” but really, that doesn’t give you the full flavor of what...
04/23/18 - College Credit Classes in Blended Learning
Through the Midwest Teachers Institute, I offer four college-credit classes that teach how to blend technology with traditional lesson plans....
04/20/18 - 5 Great Websites to Make Spring Sparkle
Last year was a boom year for edtech web tools. There were so many, I couldn’t keep up. I would...
04/18/18 - How a Senior Writing Project Helped Make Coeur d’Alene a District of Choice
In 2015, Idaho adopted an open-enrollment policy allowing families to send students to their school of choice. Despite being a...
04/16/18 - 20 Websites and Apps for Earth Day
April 22, 2018 is Earth Day. Celebrate it with your students by letting them visit these websites: Breathing earth– the...
04/13/18 - Subscriber Special: April
April 24th-30th: Coaching or Mentoring BOGO — Buy one month; get the second free Do any of these sound like you?...
04/11/18 - Tech Tip for Teachers: Cover your Webcam
Tech Tips is an occasional post on overcoming Tech Dread. I’ll cover issues that colleagues and friends, both real-time and...
04/09/18 - Grammar Check Websites and Apps That Save Your Writing
I confess, I cringe when I come across spelling and grammar errors on websites or blogs. To me and many others, that...
04/06/18 - 169 Tech Tip #130: 7 Google Tricks Teachers Should Know
In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies...
04/05/18 - April is Financial Literacy Month–Try these Resources
When students graduate from high school, a majority enter the working world where they are expected to balance budgets, pay...
04/02/18 - 25 Websites for Poetry Month
April is National Poetry Month. For thirty days, we celebrate the value and joy that poetry brings to our world. ...
03/30/18 - 169 Tech Tip #101: The Laptop Internet Button
In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies...
03/29/18 - 22 Easter Sites For Students
Many Christians celebrate Jesus Christ’s resurrection on Easter Sunday. The date depends on the ecclesiastical approximation of the March equinox....
03/27/18 - 14 Education Advancements in a Year
When I went to school, it was all about the 3Rs, desks in rows, and a teacher lecturing from the...
03/26/18 - Why Flipped and Blended Learning are Making Waves in education
Vivek Singh and his colleague, Ilya Mishra, are new contributors to Ask a Tech Teacher who specialize in online learning and educational...
03/23/18 - 169 Tech Tip #46: Easiest Way to Explain Right and Left
In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies...
03/22/18 - Learn Smarter, Not Harder: 5 Essential Google Classroom Apps
A few weeks ago, I got an email from Nancy with a great suggestion for an article topic: Google Classroom....
03/21/18 - 6 Worthwhile Websites for High School Classes
Finding webtools for high school classes requires a different set of metrics than those that apply to lower and middle...
03/20/18 - Tech That Won’t Survive 2018
Here’s an interesting article on what tech may go away by 2019. This is from Steven Wesley, guest blogger for...
03/19/18 - The Wild and Amazing World of Augmented Reality
The poster child for a cutting-edge classroom over the years has included computers (back in your mom’s schooldays), iPads (a...
03/16/18 - 169 Tech Tip #39: My Computer Won’t Turn Off
In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies...
03/15/18 - How to Build Lifelong Learners
If there is a trait above all others that I want to imbue into my students, it is curiosity. Let...
03/09/18 - Ways to use a movie for language teaching
Today, we have a guest post from Philip Perry, founder of Learnclick.com, an online quiz tool lots of teachers use...
03/08/18 - Helping My Daughters Prepare for the ACT Exams
A few months ago, Jane Sandwood sent me a nice note. She’s a a freelance writer, editor and former tutor,...
03/07/18 - How to Prepare for the SAT
Taking the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) has become a right-of-passage for high school students as they leave formal education and...
03/05/18 - 17 St. Patrick’s Day Sites For the Classroom
Getting ready for St. Patrick’s Day? Try these fun websites (check here for updated links): Color the shamrock) Color the...
03/02/18 - International Blog Delurking Week–Get Involved!
Believe it or not, there is an International Blog Delurking Week that traditionally takes place in the first full week of...
02/28/18 - 169 Tech Tip #26: My Mouse Doesn’t Work
In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies...
02/26/18 - 39 Resources for Read Across America Day
Many people in the United States, particularly students, parents and teachers, join forces on Read Across America Day, annually held...
02/23/18 - 169 Tech Tip #25: My Desktop Keyboard Doesn’t Work
In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies...
02/21/18 - What is the VARK model of Student Learning?
If you use the VARK model of Student Learning, you know why I’m excited about it. VARK started as a...
02/20/18 - Citing Sources: The Infographic
EasyBib, the first name most educators think of when citing sources, has created a useful summary on MLA guidelines for citing...
02/19/18 - Innovative Ways to Encourage Writing
Knowledge is meant to be shared. That’s what writing is about–taking what you know and putting it out there for all...
02/16/18 - Best-in-Category Winners for 2017
Ask a Tech Teacher routinely shares favorite websites and apps that make a difference in the classroom. Over the last month, readers...
02/14/18 - Quick Review of 7 Popular Math Programs
America’s student math scores continue to drop. Headlines such as “Less than half of Maryland students pass English, math assessments” and...
02/13/18 - How Tech Teachers Can Benefit From Historical Research Tools
Teaching technology is a difficult profession because people learn in different ways and at different rates. However, one thing that...
02/12/18 - Support English Learners with Micro-credentials from Digital Promise
Education is changing. Again. This time, it’s not about iPads and Chromebooks; it’s 1:1 computing. More than 50% of teachers report...
02/09/18 - 20 Valentine Sites For Students
Here are some fun Valentine sites to fill those few minutes betwixt and between lessons, projects, bathroom breaks, lunch, and...
02/08/18 - Plagiarism: What it is and how to identify it
Man is a thinking creature. We like evaluating ideas and sharing thoughts. That’s a good thing. The more we collaborate,...
02/06/18 - 5 Ways to Use JotForm Cards With Your Classes
One of the fastest growing technologies in education is forms–to gather information, curate data, test students, and much more. There...
02/05/18 - Tech Tips #170: Cover your webcam!
This is part of the 169 tech tips for your class-but this is a bonus, not included in the ebook, just for...
01/31/18 - 169 Tech Tip #102: Doc Saved Over? Try This
In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies...
01/29/18 - Cikumas–an LMS that’s easy to understand
Swiss-based Cikumas makes the creation and implementation of virtual classrooms quick, intuitive, and without the steep learning curve that so...
01/26/18 - 6 Options for Polls and Forms in Your Class
Collecting class data, asking for feedback on activities, and pushing out quizzes used to be laboriously accomplished by passing...
01/25/18 - Keyboarding 101
When students — and adults — think of learning to keyboard, it usually generates images of rote drills where you...
01/24/18 - What is a Growth Mindset?
It’s no secret many parents are frustrated with public schools. Are kids learning to think or just to pass tests?...
01/23/18 - Technology and Writing: A Conversation with Vicki Davis
Vicki Davis is a teacher, author, podcaster, tweeter, blogger, international presenter, and so much more. I admire her podcasts and...
01/22/18 - Mysimpleshow Keeps Getting Better
mysimpleshow, digital tool of choice in the explainer video market, has done it again. They’ve come out with a great change...
01/19/18 - Remote Learning: Tips for Thriving in This Ecosystem
Anyone who attends online classes or any sort of remote learning knows it’s different from traditional classes. To thrive in...
01/18/18 - 169 Tech Tip #78: Save a File so Everyone Can Read it
In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies...
01/17/18 - Teacher Support in the Digital-Blended Classroom
Technology remains–still–a love-hate relationship between teachers and teaching. Yes, it enriches learning but at the price of too many problems,...
01/12/18 - Virtual Reality in the Classroom: It’s Easy to Get Started
Every teacher I know has virtual reality on their radar. It’s one of those short-listed disruptive technologies that kids want...
01/11/18 - 2 Martin Luther King Day Lesson Plans and a Book
Through my Teachers Pay Teachers store, I have two lesson plans help you plan Martin Luther King Day on January 15,...
01/03/18 - Best-in-Class Resources–You Decide
Every year, I review a large number of websites, apps, and resources that help educators blend technology into their classrooms....

2017 (153)

12/31/17 - Happy New Year!
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12/22/17 - Happy Holiday!
I’ll be taking a few weeks off–until after the New Year–to edit/format my website, work on writing projects with a...
12/20/17 - End-of-Year Maintenance: 19 Steps To A Speedier Computer
This week, I’m sharing three holiday activities that will get your computers, technology, and social media ready for the new year. Here’s...
12/19/17 - End-of-year Maintenance: Image and Back-up Digital Devices
This week, I’m sharing three holiday activities that will get your computers, technology, and social media ready for the new year. Here’s...
12/18/17 - End of Year Maintenance: Update Your Online Presence
This week, I’ll share three holiday activities that will get your computers, technology, and social media ready for the new year....
12/15/17 - New Year, New Mindset
Every year, I make New Year resolutions and ignore them. I don’t promise to fulfill them. I don’t even check...
12/08/17 - 16 Holiday Websites and 13 Projects For Your Students
Need a few websites to fill in sponge time? Here are Holiday websites that will keep students busy while teaching...
12/06/17 - Have Santa Call Your Kids
DialMyCalls (an AATT sponsor) has a special Christmas offer for kids: Free Santa Calls To Your Family This Christmas This Christmas...
12/04/17 - Empatico-Build Global Awareness in Students
Every day it seems, the world gets smaller. Studies show that 244 million people worldwide live in a country other...
11/30/17 - 10 ways to use QR Codes for Hour of Code
Every year in December, Hour of Code inspires thousands — tens of thousands — of students to fall in love...
11/27/17 - 10 Projects to Kickstart Hour of Code
Coding–that geeky subject that confounds students and frightens teachers. Yet, kids who can code are better at logical thinking and problem...
11/19/17 - Happy Thanksgiving Week to All!
I’m taking next week off. I’ll be preparing for my daughter’s holiday visit from her home in DC and my...
11/17/17 - Zapzapmath adds multiplayer option and more to their popular app
Zapzapmath is a free gamified ecosystem that teaches math skills aligned with many national and international standards. Its format is engaging,...
11/16/17 - Websites for Hour of Code by Grade
This December will again host the Hour of Code, a one-hour introduction to programming designed to demystify the subject and...
11/13/17 - Coding and US Security
If you’re a history teacher, here’s a great tie-in between history and Hour of Code: During WWI, the Choctaw language...
11/11/17 - Today we Honor Veterans
In the USA, Veterans Day annually falls on November 11. This day is the anniversary of the signing of the...
11/08/17 - 18 Thanksgiving Sites and Apps and 4 Projects for the Holiday
Need a few websites and apps to fill in sponge time? Here are Thanksgiving websites that will keep students busy...
11/06/17 - 169 Tech Tip #59: Alt Keys
In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies...
11/02/17 - Hour of Code is Coming!
December 4-10, 2017, Computer Science Education will host the Hour Of Code–a one-hour introduction to students on coding, programming, and...
10/31/17 - 12 Fresh Ways to Assess Student Learning
Assessing student learning used to be as simple as giving a test that consisted of multiple choice, True/False, short answer,...
10/30/17 - 169 Tech Tip #112: How to Open 2 Gmail Accounts at Once
In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies...
10/27/17 - How to Grow Global Digital Citizens
With the rise of online games, web-based education, and smartphones that access everything from house lights to security systems, it’s...
10/25/17 - 169 Tech Tip #99: Need Email Accounts for Registration? Try This
In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies...
10/24/17 - How NOT to Assess Student Writing
In my school, every teacher assesses writing. Even in the tech lab, which is my purview, I provide mini-how-to-write lessons...
10/23/17 - Halloween Projects, Websites, Apps, and a Costume
Three holidays are fast-approaching–Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. If you’re a teacher, that means lots of tie-ins to make school festive...
10/20/17 - What is Standards-based Grading?
How many times have you experienced teachers who based report card grades on how well students complete classwork, homework, and...
10/18/17 - 169 Tech Tip #98: 13 Tips for Email Etiquette
In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies...
10/17/17 - Great PowerPoint Changes You Probably Don’t Know About
PowerPoint is the iconic leader in slideshow-type digital tools. It’s considered the most feature-rich, flexible, and diverse of all presentation...
10/16/17 - Adobe Spark — All-purpose Desktop Publishing Tool for the Classroom
Adobe Spark is a free graphic design app that allows students and teachers with no design experience to create impactful graphics,...
10/13/17 - How to Cope with Bullying
October is National Bullying Prevention Month. Started in 2006, it aims to educate and raise awareness of bullying prevention around...
10/12/17 - What is #Unschooling?
The first time I read about Unschooling, I ignored it. Surely, it was a fad that would go away. When...
10/11/17 - 169 Tech Tip #83: Find Outlook Follow-up Folder
In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies...
10/10/17 - Visible Learning and John Hattie
Over the years, I’ve struggled to teach in ways my students would understand. Standing at the front of the classroom stopped...
10/06/17 - 169 Tech Tip #77: Use BCC to Hide Email Addresses
In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies...
10/05/17 - What is WittyWe and Why You Want to Use it
There seems to be a limitless supply of online education content. In fact, my email box and social media explodes...
10/03/17 - 9 Resources for National Bullying Prevention Awareness Month
In October 2006, thirteen-year-old Megan Meier hung herself in her bedroom closet after suffering months of cyberbullying. She believed her tormenters’...
09/29/17 - Highly-versatile, Easy-to-use Form Creator–and it’s free!
Everywhere outside of the education industry (which seems to focus on Google Forms), JotForm is the gold standard for creation of...
09/28/17 - Kids become teachers: Helping out at a Senior Center
As schools look ahead to serving not just student needs, but the greater needs of their community and world, service...
09/27/17 - 169 Tech Tip #69: Instead of Emailing, Share
In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies...
09/25/17 - An Easy, Reliable Way to Check for Plagiarism
The unauthorized use of another’s creative content has always been a problem but with the growth of the Internet, it’s become...
09/22/17 - A New Typing Website With a Twist
Type Dojo is a new free comprehensive approach to learning keyboarding. The ad- and distraction-free interface provides not only practice...
09/20/17 - 169 Tech Tips: Email from MS Office
In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies...
09/15/17 - Great list of Top Education Blogs
10Greatest.com has a comprehensive list of the top education blogs. It covers everything from grade-level resources to topic-specific. I’m proud...
09/14/17 - 19 Websites and 3 Posters to Teach Mouse Skills
Many of my most popular articles are about mouse skills. Every year, tens of thousands of teachers visit Ask a...
09/13/17 - 2017 Teachers Pay Teachers’ July Conference — Overview
One of the largest online marketplace for teachers is Teachers Pay Teachers. If you haven’t heard of this estore, you...
09/12/17 - 4 Great Alternatives to Google Classroom
In today’s K-12 education ecosystem, most classroom management tools have moved online. This includes typical LMS (Learning Management Systems) functions...
09/08/17 - 169 Tech Tip #126: 7 Tips to Differentiate with Tech
In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies...
09/07/17 - Tech Ed Resources–Certificate/College Credit Classes and Coaching
I get a lot of questions from readers about what tech ed resources I use in my classroom so I’m...
09/05/17 - How Magnolia ISD ‘leveled the playing field’ for students in math
If you’re evaluating math programs at your school, a good option to consider is ORIGO Education’s Stepping Stones. Here’s one...
09/04/17 - Have a Happy, Productive Labor Day!
Labor Day is annually held on the first Monday of September (this year, September 2nd). It was originally organized to...
08/23/17 - How to Use Google Sheets in the K-12 Classroom
Nothing turns data into information like a spreadsheet. We as teachers understand that, which is why spreadsheets are a fundamental...
08/18/17 - Energize Your Math Program with Thinkster Math
Thinkster Math is an iPad based math tutorial program for K-8, aligned with Common Core and based on well-known international math...
08/16/17 - ORIGO Education Partners with Lakeshore
Lakeshore has long been a staple for preschool to sixth grade teachers looking for classroom supplies. Many education conferences I...
08/15/17 - Kiddom Planner: A Highly-effective Tool for your Classes
As a teacher, I spend a lot of time preparing lesson plans. Most don’t survive the first five minutes in...
08/11/17 - Is Whole Brain Teaching Right for Me?
If you have challenging students in your classes, there’s a good chance someone has suggested that you look into Whole...
08/09/17 - Moodle: The Unsung Hero of LMS Options
A Learning Management System (what is often called an LMS) has become foundational to blending technology into education experiences. Without...
08/08/17 - Sown To Grow: Easily Blend Goal-setting and Reflection into Classwork
Many of the existential guides for teaching (such as Habits of Mind, the Socrative Method, and Mindfulness) promote a student-driven...
08/04/17 - 2017 Teachers Pay Teachers Conference: Notes from Sessions
One of the largest online marketplace for teachers is Teachers Pay Teachers. If you haven’t heard of this store, you...
07/28/17 - What is Microsoft Sway?
Lately, when I join technology education forums, one of the most talked-about webtools is Microsoft Sway. Though fairly new, Sway...
07/21/17 - 12 Projects for your STEAM program
STEAM–Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math–is education’s new STEM. By adding the creativity and problem-solving skills that are part and...
07/19/17 - Is Orton-Gillingham Right For Your Students?
Orton-Gillingham started over seventy years ago as an instructional approach intended for those with difficulty reading, spelling, and writing, like...
07/14/17 - 13 Websites That Provide Lots of Digital Books for Summer Reading
At the beginning of the 21st century, the definition of digital equity revolved around the provision of a digital device to every...
07/07/17 - Zap Zap Kindergarten Math–Clever, Engaging Early Math Lessons
Zapzapmath is a free gamified way to teach K-8 math skills that are tied to many national standards (like Common...
07/04/17 - Happy Fourth of July!
It’s America’s birthday and I’m celebrating. I have an Army son heading off overseas and a Navy daughter doing her...
06/28/17 - 10 Classroom Management Tips You Don’t Want to Miss
Here are ten of the top classroom management tips according to Ask a Tech Teacher readers: Is the Socratic Method...
06/27/17 - OneNote–the all-in-one digital notetaking, classroom app for educators
It used to be, every class I taught started with students scrambling for notepaper and sharpening their pencils. Everyone took...
06/26/17 - Why Teaching Children To Read And Write Should Be Fun
Ask a Tech Teacher contributor, Sara Stringer, has a good article this month on literacy among children and how to...
06/23/17 - Need Tech Next Year? Start Here
If you’re new to Ask a Tech Teacher, here’s what you do: Sign up for a newsletter They’re (kinda) weekly...
06/21/17 - Is the Socratic Method Right for Your Class?
Have you ever walked into a classroom where students were engaged in serious on-topic discussion, debating ideas and challenging each...
06/19/17 - New from ORIGO Stepping Stones for This Summer
ORIGO Stepping Stones (see my review here), a comprehensive print and digital math program, has a variety of free math...
06/16/17 - 3 Important Books for Kids
Summer’s approaching. Kids love playing outside, visiting friends–and reading! To encourage that last activity, here are three great books that...
06/15/17 - 11 Classroom Blogging Tips You Don’t Want to Miss
Here are eleven of the top classroom blogging tips according to Ask a Tech Teacher readers: Can We Eliminate Blogs–Teachers...
06/12/17 - How the Frayer Model Helps Thousands Learn Vocabulary
In a perfect world, vocabulary is learned in context: The phrases and sentences around the unknown word define the meaning....
06/09/17 - Need a New Job? Here’s What You Do
You’ve been teaching for five years and love what you’re doing. You consider yourself darn lucky to be working with...
06/08/17 - Teachers: Already planning next year? Here are 4 ideas
Here are 4 Ways Teachers Can Better Prepare for the Next School Year, thanks to Kiddom, the online platform with a mission...
06/07/17 - 6 Tech Activities for Your Summer School Program
With the growing interest in coding comes a call for after school tech camps that supersize student enthusiasm for technology....
06/02/17 - 15 Skills Teachers Can Learn this Summer and Use in Next Year’s Classroom
It’s summer, that time of rest and rejuvenation, ice cream and bonhomie. Like the American plains or the African savannas,...
06/01/17 - Looking for a Summer Volunteer Opportunity?
I have written in the past about mysimpleshow, an easy and clever way educators can create explainer videos. Mysimpleshow is...
05/31/17 - UWorld’s Unique SAT Prep Site
When I first visited UWorld’s College prep site, I expected what usually is included on free SAT/ACT prep sites–questions, answers, and a...
05/30/17 - Zapzapmath–Gamify any Math Curriculum
Zapzapmath is a free gamified way to teach math skills that’s tied to many national and international standards (like Common Core)....
05/26/17 - Why Blended Learning Fits Your Class, 3 Issues to Think About, and 5 Easy Ways to Begin
For years, my teaching revolved around textbooks as my resources. When the Internet arrived, I — as did my colleagues —...
05/25/17 - 9 Must-have Tools for Ed Conferences
It’s summer, time for teachers to recharge their cerebral batteries. That could mean reading, going on field trips, spending time...
05/24/17 - ORIGO Stepping Stones 2.0–A Versatile, Easy-to-Use Math Program
Origo Education’s award-winning Stepping Stones 2.0 K-6 math program (with a separate program for pre-K) is versatile, easy-to-use, and nicely differentiated...
05/22/17 - 19 Ways Students Keep Learning Fresh Over the Summer
Teachers have known for decades that ‘summer learning loss’ is a reality. Studies vary on how much knowledge students lose...
05/19/17 - 15 Memorial Day Websites for Students
Memorial Day (May 29, 2017) is the time we remember all of those soldiers (and anyone in the Armed Forces)...
05/17/17 - 3 Book Reviews about Anthropomorphized Computers
I know a lot of bloggers who are both geeks and authors. Often, their books including those techie topics I...
05/10/17 - 169 Tech Tip #17: No Excuse for Spelling Errors
In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies...
05/09/17 - May–Military Appreciation Month–God Bless Our Soldiers
As many of you know, I have a daughter in the Navy and a son in the Army. I love...
05/08/17 - Kiddom Redesigns Student Experience
For Kiddom fans, there are new updates to the platform that will make your classes easier, faster, and more organic: Like...
05/06/17 - An Innovative Way to Use Turnitin’s Revision Assistant
I’m a fan of Turnitin’s Revision Assistant and have reviewed it in the past. Most schools use it to help...
05/03/17 - 169 Tech Tip #124: Editing is Easier with Digital Writing
In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies...
04/27/17 - Resources to Gamify Student Writing
Ask a Tech Teacher guest blogger, Karen Dikson, has put together a collection of online gamified sites that will help...
04/25/17 - How You Can Make Homework Easier for Students
–this post was sponsored by itslearning, but the opinions are my own. When I started teaching, homework always involved paper–a...
04/24/17 - 169 Tech Tip #82: How do I use a ‘Read Only’ Doc?
In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies...
04/20/17 - Summer Tech Camp–Everything You Need
Summer Tech Camp Survival Kit From Ask a Tech Teacher Are you teaching a Summer Tech Camp to Kids? We...
04/19/17 - 20 Great Websites and Apps for Earth Day
April 22nd is Earth Day. Celebrate it with your students by letting them visit these websites: Breathing earth– the environment...
04/17/17 - A Pilot Test of Revision Assistant and What We Learned in the Process
Revision Assistant, part of the Turnitin family, is a comprehensive virtual writing assistant for students that allows them to digitally...
04/17/17 - 169 Tech Tip #20: How to Add a Link to MS Word
In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies...
04/15/17 - A new resource guide from Kiddom: Standards-based Grading for ELA and Social Studies
Kiddom is a free standards-based platform designed to help teachers curate individual learning experiences (see my review here). Now, they’re giving...
04/13/17 - Understanding By Design — What’s That Even Mean?
Created by Grant Wiggins and Jay McTighe, Understanding by Design (UbD) is a lesson planning approach that visualizes the end result...
04/10/17 - Bring Weather into Your Lesson Plan with Earth Networks and WeatherSTEM
One of the hottest topics in schools and an area of greatest need is STEM resources. Earth Networks has developed creative...
04/07/17 - 15 Easter Sites For Students
Many Christians celebrate Jesus Christ’s resurrection on Easter Sunday. The date depends on the ecclesiastical approximation of the March equinox....
04/06/17 - 27 Websites for Poetry Month
April is National Poetry Month. For thirty days, we celebrate the value and joy that poetry brings to our world. ...
04/05/17 - 8 Websites For Financial Literacy Month
I published this about a year and a half ago, but with April’s focus on financial literacy, it’s time to...
03/28/17 - Technology and Explanation in Modern Education
Today’s guest writer is Finja Kruse, a teacher experienced in different educational tools and engaged in creative writing activities in school....
03/27/17 - 169 Tech Tip #10: How to Undelete with 2 Keystrokes
In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies...
03/24/17 - Beneylu School: A Clever LMS for your School
Beneylu is a K-8 online learning platform that puts critical classroom applications, resources, activities, and games in a secure online...
03/23/17 - The Effect Of Cloud Computing Technology On Today’s Education
Using the cloud to store, share, and collaborate in the classroom is relatively new. A decade ago, accessing schoolwork from...
03/22/17 - How to Use Tech to Help Graduating Students Find Jobs
The end of the school year means graduation for seniors. If they aren’t going to college, they’re job hunting. Sara...
03/21/17 - 169 Tech Tip #127: 12 Tips on Hard-to-teach Classes
In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies...
03/20/17 - How to Incorporate Mindfulness into Your Class
Students learn best when they are relaxed, happy, and feeling loved. It is challenging to include those characteristics in classes...
03/16/17 - 18 St. Patrick’s Day Sites For Students
Getting ready for St. Patrick’s Day? Try these fun activities: Color the shamrock Color the Pot-o-gold Color the leprechaun Puzzle–St....
03/15/17 - Always Know Which Virtual Speakers Are Available for Your Classes
Do you want to know which virtual speakers and field trips are available for your class? Use this auto-notification from...
03/14/17 - Celebrate Pi Day in Your Class
I posted this last year, but it’s still valid. One addition: new activities down toward the bottom of the post....
03/13/17 - 169 Tech Tip #126–7 Tips to Differentiate with Tech
In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies...
03/10/17 - How to Teach STEM Every Day
STEM is the acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. These four topics cover every aspect of our life. Science...
03/09/17 - Kiddom now offers personalized curricula, visual reports and more
If you’re a fan of Kiddom, the easy way to plan, assess, and analyze learning, you’ll be excited to hear...
03/08/17 - 169 Tech Tip #120–Why Use Airplane Mode
In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies...
03/06/17 - How to Run a Parent Class
Parents often find technology a roadblock to helping their children with classwork. There are too many geeky tools with too few...
03/03/17 - 169 Tech Tip #119–What to do when Computers are Down?
In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies...
02/28/17 - 13 Ways to Use Canva in Your Classroom
No one disagrees with the importance of the visual in communicating. The problem usually is creating it. Most teachers aren’t...
02/27/17 - 3 Augmented Reality Apps to Take Your Lessons to the Next Level
Ask a Tech Teacher guest blogger, Steven Wesley, has some great suggestions for using augmented reality: Day by day, technology...
02/24/17 - Touch Typing Basics from KidzType
Here’s a comprehensive infographic put together by KidzType. It covers lots of basics from touch typing rules to which-finger-which-key to one...
02/23/17 - Must-have Resources for Blended Learning
Guest blogger, Emily Cleary, has some great ideas on some of her favorite must-have resources for today’s blended learning. She...
02/21/17 - How Tech is Part of my Education, Through the Eyes of a Student
I had the pleasure of meeting Tyler, a fascinating and outgoing sophomore in Mitchell School District in Mitchell, South Dakota....
02/20/17 - 169 Tech Tip #117–How to Use an Internet Start Page
In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies...
02/17/17 - What’s a Digipuzzle?
Netherlands-based Digipuzzle is an online educational resource that offers hundreds of G-rated learning games for younger audiences, many in both...
02/15/17 - 169 Tech Tip #116–How to Take Screenshots
In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies...
02/14/17 - Edit and Share Videos Like a Rock Star
The engine of learning is not always fueled by reading. In fact, knowledge is often acquired via audio, video, role-playing, and...
02/10/17 - 19 Valentine Sites For Students
Here are some fun Valentine sites to fill those few minutes betwixt and between lessons, projects, bathroom breaks, lunch, and...
02/09/17 - Bring an expert to your classroom for Black History Month
One of my go-to sources for classroom speakers is Nepris. Not only do experts come to your class, but they interact with...
02/08/17 - 169 Tech Tip #115–Three-click Rule
In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies...
02/06/17 - Subscriber Special: February
Every month, subscribers to Ask a Tech Teacher get a free/discounted resource to help their tech teaching. February 4th-13th: 20%...
02/03/17 - How to Use Google Apps
Here’s a collection of Ask a Tech Teacher articles addressing individual Google Apps: Google Docs Google Drawings Google Forms Google...
02/01/17 - How to Prepare for the SAT Essay
Seven million students took the SAT test last year. While it traditionally is an assessment tool for college-bound seniors, more...
01/31/17 - 169 Tech Tip #80–17 Ways to Add Tech without Adding Time
In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies...
01/30/17 - Feedback Needed on ISTE 2017 Standards for Teachers
Back in December, ISTE asked for assistance reviewing draft 1 of the 2017 ISTE Standards for Teachers. You all responded...
01/27/17 - Need to Learn Moodle? Start With VerveEd
Moodle is an open source free cloud-based learning platform used by over 96 million people to create over 11 million...
01/27/17 - Why is PBL So Popular in Schools?
The norm in classrooms across the country used to be the teacher at the front lecturing, students taking notes which...
01/26/17 - What is Google Keep and Why Use it in Your Classroom?
My daughter just bought her first house (though it went on hold several times as the Navy threatened/offered to move...
01/25/17 - 169 Tech Tip #74–What’s My IP Address
In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies...
01/24/17 - 10 Reasons Why Videos are Great Educational Tools
I’ve written a lot lately about the benefits of using videos in your classroom. Guest author, Emily Clearly over at...
01/23/17 - How to Use Google Drawings
Google Drawings is a free, web-based drawing tool that allows users to collaborate and work together in real time to...
01/20/17 - How and Why to Use Podcasts in Your Classes
A podcast is a topic-specific digital stream of audio files (in some cases, video or PDF also) that can be...
01/18/17 - Why and How Students Can Blog
Blogging is a popular tool used in education to not only practice writing, but reinforce collaboration, perspective taking, speaking/listening skills,...
01/17/17 - 169 Tech Tip #60-How to Add Shortcuts to the Desktop
In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies...
01/16/17 - 10 Websites + 4 Apps that Make Geography Fun
One of the hardest challenges for teachers is how to engage students in core subjects such as geography. It’s about...
01/13/17 - Subscriber Special: January
Every month, subscribers to our newsletter get a free/discounted resource to help their tech teaching. January: Check out our freebies!...
01/12/17 - 169 Tech Tip #15–Save Early Save Often
In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies...
01/10/17 - How Google Docs Improves Writing
Google Docs is a free word processing program that does 99% of everything a student will ever need to do...
01/09/17 - New Year Brings Changes
I’ve noticed that the same people subscribe to both my weekly newsletter on Tech Tips and Websites. That means they...
01/07/17 - New from Kiddom
Kiddom is a free standards-based platform designed to help teachers curate individual learning experiences. Its pages are visual and easy-to-understand, enabling teachers...
01/04/17 - Best-in-Category Awards for 2016
We hear from readers all the time about how much they rely on Ask a Tech Teacher for tech-in-ed resources....

2016 (164)

12/16/16 - Happy Holiday!
I’ll be taking a week (or so) off–until after the New Year–to edit/format my website, work on writing projects with...
12/15/16 - End of Year Tips: Update Your Online Presence
This week, I’ll share three holiday activities that will get your computers, technology, and social media ready for the new year....
12/14/16 - How to Teach With Videos
A topic I get a lot of questions on lately is videos. I reviewed mysimpleshow, a new tool that is...
12/13/16 - End-of-year Tips: Image and Back-up Digital Devices
This week, I’ll share three holiday activities that will get your computers, technology, and social media ready for the new year....
12/12/16 - End-of-Year Tips: 22 Steps To A Speedier Computer
This week, I’ll share three holiday activities that will get your computers, technology, and social media ready for the new year....
12/09/16 - 18 Holiday Websites and 14 Projects For Your Students
Need a few websites to fill in sponge time? Here are Holiday websites that will keep students busy while teaching...
12/08/16 - Have Santa Call Your Kids
DialMyCalls (an AATT sponsor) has a special Christmas offer for kids: Free Santa Calls To Your Family This Christmas This Christmas...
12/07/16 - Where did Christmas Come From?
Watch this video and come away educated: Like this:Like Loading...
12/06/16 - Your Feedback Needed on ISTE 2017 Standards for Teachers
As many of you know, I am one of the group of ISTE/CAEP reviewers. ISTE is working on revisions for...
12/05/16 - How to Use Google Forms in the Classroom
There are lots of free survey and polling sites (two popular options are PollDaddy and Survey Monkey), but often they limit...
11/30/16 - 8 Reasons Why Students Should Create Videos and 15 Webtools to Do That
For decades, teachers have used videos in the classroom to share information. They communicate a message with audio, visual, motion,...
11/28/16 - 15 Good Replacements for ScreenChomp
For years, TechSmith’s ScreenChomp app has been my go-to resource for whiteboard drawings, screencasts, and for an uncluttered online art...
11/18/16 - Happy Thanksgiving Week to All!
I’m taking next week off. I’ll be preparing for my daughter’s holiday visit from her home in DC and my...
11/17/16 - 10 Projects to Kickstart Hour of Code
Coding–that geeky subject that confounds students and frightens teachers. Yet, kids who can code are better at logical thinking and problem...
11/16/16 - Hour of Code Website and App Suggestions for K-8
Here are ideas of apps and websites that teachers in my PLN used successfully in the past during Hour of...
11/15/16 - Hour of Code–What is it?
Coding–that mystical geeky subject that confounds students and teachers alike. Confess, when you think of coding, you see: …when...
11/14/16 - Hour of Code–Is it the right choice?
I took a Classroom 2.0 Live webinar last year on rolling out the Hour of Code in the classroom. There...
11/12/16 - World Typeathon Starts Monday–Join in!
There’s something exciting going on over at Typing Tournament Online: The World Typeathon. This is a free event and allows...
11/11/16 - Today we Honor Veterans
In the USA, Veterans Day annually falls on November 11. This day is the anniversary of the signing of the...
11/10/16 - 18 Thanksgiving Sites and Apps and 4 Projects for the Holiday
Need a few websites and apps to fill in sponge time? Here are Thanksgiving websites that will keep students busy...
11/09/16 - 169 Tech Tip #128–Top 10 Chromebook Shortkeys
In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies...
11/08/16 - How to Teach Social Media Safety
All teachers agree that digital citizenship is essential knowledge for students whether they’re going onto college or a career, yet...
11/07/16 - 11 Websites that Explain Elections
I published this article in early October, but am republishing it as our American elections are upon us. I got...
11/03/16 - A Holiday Flier and Greeting Card in Publisher
Two holiday projects for grades 2-8–for Thanksgiving or Christmas–in the desktop publishing tool of your choice: A flier to celebrate...
11/02/16 - 169 Tech Tips–Two Great Chromebook Shortkeys
In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies...
10/31/16 - How to Teach Mouse Skills to Pre-Keyboarders
Many students enter kindergarten with a basic knowledge of digital devices like iPads and smartphones, but this rarely includes the...
10/28/16 - What is Kiddom? Why is it right for you? And free resources to inform your teaching
The popularity of standards-based grading and instruction is growing. Why? It’s because the one-size-fits-all concept of a single grade representing...
10/26/16 - 169 Tech Tips–8 Tips for Chromebooks
In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies...
10/25/16 - 10 Digital Citizenship Articles You Don’t Want to Miss
Here are ten of the top digital citizenship resources according to Ask a Tech Teacher readers: 19 Topics to Teach...
10/24/16 - 8 Ways to Use Minecraft in Your Classroom (Now That it’s Freemium)
Multi-award-winning Minecraft is a game of survival. You don’t ‘level up’; you build, explore, and survive whatever comes at you...
10/21/16 - 169 Tech Tips #160–14 Assessment Strategies
In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies...
10/19/16 - The Importance of 3D Printing in Education
A topic I don’t cover enough is 3D printing. It’s relatively new on the education landscape and I have yet...
10/18/16 - 10 Ways to Use Twitter in Class
For anyone who missed the April announcement, Twitter switched its app category from ‘social media’ (where it consistently ranked in...
10/13/16 - Halloween Projects, Lesson Plans, Websites, Apps, and a Costume
Three holidays are fast-approaching–Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. If you’re a teacher, that means lots of tie-ins to make school festive...
10/11/16 - 169 Tech Tip #151: 8 Popular Year-long Assessments
In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies...
10/07/16 - Mindsnacks–Learning in Bite-sized Pieces
Mindsnacks is a series of education apps on topics like geography, vocabulary, languages, and SAT. With colorful graphics and cute characters, it’s a cross...
10/06/16 - 169 Tech Tip #146: 18 Ideas for Warm-ups, Exit Tickets
In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies...
10/05/16 - 8 Essential Books Every Tech-Minded Teacher Should Read
I love reading, but there are so many books out there, it’s challenging to pick the right one for my...
09/30/16 - 169 Tips That Easily and Quickly Integrate Tech into Your Class
A decade ago, in an effort to buttress technology prowess in my classes and with colleagues, I started tracking how...
09/27/16 - 3 Technology Benefits for Homeschoolers
One of the wonderful Ask a Tech Teacher contributers, Jenny Wise, is a busy homeschooler who suggested I publish an...
09/26/16 - New from Turnitin: iPad app for Feedback Studio
With all the time students and teachers are spending with iPads, Turnitin Feedback Studio‘s new iPad app is a welcome...
09/23/16 - 10 Ways to Use Thinglink in the Inquiry-based Classroom
I follow a lot of tech ed forums (like Larry Ferlazzo, Richard Byrne, and Alice Keeler) as a way of...
09/21/16 - How to Teach the Human Body and 16 Sites to Help
For many, study of the human body starts in second grade with an introduction to what’s inside that stretchy, durable...
09/20/16 - 10 Tips About Using Images in the Classroom You Don’t Want to Miss
Here are ten of the top image tips according to Ask a Tech Teacher readers: Photos For Class–Robust, Student-safe with...
09/19/16 - Image Copyright Do’s and Don’ts
When I teach professional development classes, by far the topic that surprises teachers the most is the legal use of...
09/17/16 - Haiku Deck Classroom Intro Price Ends Soon
Just an update for you on Haiku Deck Deck Classroom. The special introductory price (with access for a teacher and up to...
09/14/16 - Mysimpleshow–Online Video Creator for Educators
I love hearing from colleagues about tools they discover that make a difference in their classroom. Last week, I got...
09/13/16 - How to Blend DoK into Lesson Plans without a Comprehensive Rewrite
I recently got a question from a reader asking how the lessons in my K-8 curriculum supported Dr. Norman Webb’s...
09/09/16 - Use Unconventional Research Sites to Inspire Students
I read recently that 70% of millennials get their news from Facebook. Really? Isn’t Facebook a place to share personal...
09/08/16 - Learning and Playing and Why Both Matter for Teachers
Play as the vehicle of education is not a revolutionary idea. Pedagogy has long recommended ‘play’ as a superior teacher...
09/05/16 - Productive Labor Day!
Labor Day is annually held on the first Monday of September (this year, September 2nd). It was originally organized to...
09/02/16 - 13 Tips for New Tech Teachers You Don’t Want to Miss
Here are thirteen of the top tips for teachers new to technology, according to Ask a Tech Teacher readers: Top...
09/01/16 - 16 Websites to Teach Mouse Skills
I repost this article every September because I get so many requests for mouse resources for those youngest keyboarders. Enjoy!...
08/31/16 - Need an LMS next year? Here are three to consider
An LMS — Learning Management System — is a digital tool that tracks a wide variety of student-teacher interactions such...
08/30/16 - Fun Videos from BoomWriter That You’ll Relate to
One of my new favorite online writing tools is BoomWriter. It is a free group writing website for teachers where...
08/27/16 - Turnitin Releases Free Back-to-School Resources
This just out: Turnitin has released “Rethink Feedback”–themed resources to help K-12 teachers and higher education instructors teach proper methods...
08/26/16 - 17 Sites About Coin Counting
Primary schoolers learn about money. The only way to really ‘get it’ is by repetition. Here’s a list of websites to...
08/24/16 - Tech-Savvy Seniors: Myth or Present-Day Reality?
A topic I don’t cover enough in Ask a Tech Teacher is how seniors handle the onslaught of technology in...
08/23/16 - 33 Digital Exit Tickets That Fit Most Subjects
Exit tickets (or exit slips) are a time-proven method of checking understanding in the classroom. Often, this means students write...
08/18/16 - Haiku Deck Just Got Better: Welcome Haiku Deck Classroom
If you’re like me–and 20% of US schools–when you think of ‘online slideshow tool’, you think of Haiku Deck. And...
08/10/16 - C-STEM Studio — A Great Way to Blend Math and Robotics
C-STEM Studio is a California A-G approved curriculum and turn-key solution for teaching science, technology, engineering and mathematics through computing and...
08/08/16 - 10 Tips for Digital Storytelling You Don’t Want to Miss
Here are eight of the top Digital Storytelling articles according to Ask a Tech Teacher readers: 9 Best-in-Class Digital Storytelling...
08/05/16 - What BloomBoard is and How it Energizes Professional Development
BloomBoard is a professional development website for teachers and administrators. On the teacher side, educators learn, share, and discuss teaching ideas....
08/04/16 - Subscriber Special: August
Every month, subscribers to Ask a Tech Teacher get a free/discounted resource to help their tech teaching. August 1-10 169...
07/31/16 - How Do Non-Techie Parents Handle the Increasing Focus of Technology in Education?
Parents increasingly find technology a roadblock to tracking student progress in the classrooms. There are too many options, with too...
07/29/16 - Padlet: A Versatile Classroom Tool
One of the most popular, free tools used by thousands of schools is a virtual bulletin board called Padlet. It starts...
07/27/16 - 4 Ways to Use Podcasts in the Classroom
As teachers get more creative about differentiating for student needs, we’re turning to tools that use other approaches than writing...
07/26/16 - 5 Tech Tools for Your Math Class
Math teachers: Here are great suggestions from efriend and math afficionado, Matt Kim: Before I was ever a high school...
07/22/16 - 10 Reasons to Screencast in Your Class and 5 Best-in-class Tools
A screencast is a video recording of what’s happening on your computer monitor, often with annotations and/or narration. It can...
07/13/16 - Why is the Supreme Court So Important — and How to Explain That to Students
When you think of the Supreme Court, you think of old people in black robes that dispassionately determine the fate...
07/12/16 - Five Great Summer Jobs For Teachers That Involve Education
Sometimes, for teachers, summer is so busy we can’t breathe. Between enrichment to summer seminars to watching kids who are...
07/11/16 - Ten Reading-with-Tech Tips You Don’t Want to Miss
Here are ten of the top reading-related articles according to Ask a Tech Teacher readers: How do I create a...
07/04/16 - Happy July 4th!
It’s America’s birthday and I’m celebrating. I have an Army son heading off overseas and a Navy daughter doing her...
07/01/16 - Photos For Class–Robust, Student-safe with built in citations
A question I get a lot from readers is where to go for free, classroom-safe images. Photo sites are either...
06/30/16 - Beyond Digital Literacy: How EdTech Fosters Children’s Social-Emotional Development
Most educators–and parents–focus technology benefits on how it helps academically, but efriend Joe Peters reminded me the other day that...
06/29/16 - 14 Ways to use Scribble Maps
Map skills borrow concepts from many different disciplines, including Math, Art, Language and of course Geography. Map skills should be basic to...
06/28/16 - 10 Common Core Tech Tips You Don’t Want to Miss
Here are ten of the top Common Core tips according to Ask a Tech Teacher readers: 13 Ways Blogs Teach...
06/27/16 - Dear Otto: How do I create a classroom library checkout system?
Dear Otto is an occasional column where I answer questions I get from readers about teaching tech. If you have...
06/24/16 - 3 Online Keyboarding Programs Students Will Choose
Teaching kids keyboarding isn’t about finding the perfect online website or downloaded software and setting students lose on a year-long...
06/23/16 - 3 Creative Tech Tools to Teach Writing
What is ‘writing’? If you look it up in the Free Dictionary, you find this definition: The act or process...
06/22/16 - Dear Otto: My Students Think Hunt-and-Peck is Good Enough. What do I do?
Dear Otto is an occasional column where I answer questions I get from readers about teaching tech. If you have...
06/20/16 - 9 Google Apps Tips You Don’t Want to Miss
Here are the top 9 nine Google Apps tips according to Ask a Tech Teacher readers: Embed a File from...
06/16/16 - Best-in-Class Digital Storytelling Tools
A digital story is a series of images connected with text and/or a narrated soundtrack — captured by a digital...
06/15/16 - 10 Grammar Tips You Don’t Want to Miss
Here are ten of the top grammar/word study/vocabulary tips according to Ask a Tech Teacher readers: Website Review: Grammarly 3...
06/10/16 - Bring Experts to Your Class Easily with Nepris
Statistically, almost half of school dropouts do so because they don’t see the relevance. Teachers have long-known the positive effect...
06/07/16 - 169 Real-World Ways to Put Tech into Your Class–NOW
In about a month, I’ll be starting a new series of tech tips. These will be from my upcoming ebook,...
06/06/16 - Get Your Summer Started with Ask a Tech Teacher
If you’re new to Ask a Tech Teacher, here’s what you do: Sign up for a newsletter They’re (kinda) weekly...
06/01/16 - Turnitin Opens Nomnations for 2016 Global Innovation Awards
I’ve written about Turnitin’s great programs for classrooms (see this review on Revision Assistant). Their focus is always on how...
05/31/16 - Ten Tech Problem-Solving Tips You Don’t Want to Miss
Here are the top ten problem-solving tips according to Ask a Tech Teacher readers: Tech Tip #108: Got a Tech...
05/30/16 - Happy Memorial Day!
I’m taking the day to honor our soldiers. Hang the American flag and call my two soldier children. Say hi, how...
05/27/16 - Thirteen Writing-with-Tech Tips You Don’t Want to Miss
Here are thirteen of the top writing-with-tech tips according to Ask a Tech Teacher readers: A Helping Hand: Assistive Technology...
05/25/16 - Use the SAMR Model to Spearhead Technology in Your Classroom
This is a question I get often from teachers: Technology is always an extra layer of work in my classroom....
05/23/16 - 15 Memorial Day Websites for Students
Memorial Day is the time we remember all of those soldiers (and anyone in the Armed Forces) who gave their...
05/20/16 - 10 Things Students (and Teachers) Can Do With Buncee
Buncee is a web- and iPad-based creation tool for both teachers and students. With it, teachers can prepare engaging lessons, newsletters, and...
05/18/16 - Twelve Slideshow Tips You Don’t Want to Miss
Here are twelve of the top slideshow tips and free lesson plans, as ranked by Ask a Tech Teacher readers:...
05/16/16 - 6 Summer School Tech Activities
With the growing interest in coding comes a call for after school tech camps that supersize student enthusiasm for learning...
05/13/16 - 5 Ways to Personalize Wallpaper on 3 Digital Devices
Personalizing a digital device with unique wallpaper is a great way to encourage students to take responsibility for their iPad,...
05/12/16 - 7 Must-have Tools for Ed Conferences
It’s summer, time for teachers to recharge their cerebral batteries. That could mean reading, going on field trips, spending time...
05/11/16 - How to Create a Tech-based Curriculum Using the SAMR Model
This is a question I get often from teachers: How do I teach my state/national/international curriculum using technology? When I...
05/09/16 - 10 Spreadsheet Tips You Don’t Want to Miss
Here are the top ten spreadsheet tips according to Ask a Tech Teacher readers. Many are for Excel–just adapt them...
05/08/16 - May–Military Appreciation Month–God Bless Our Soldiers
As many of you know, I have a daughter in the Navy and a son in the Army. I love...
05/07/16 - Turnitin Launches Feedback Studio
One of my favorite classroom management tools is Turnitin, especially with the addition of Revision Assistant–one of the most comprehensive...
05/06/16 - 8 Google Earth Tips and Resources You Don’t Want to Miss
Here are eight of the top Google Earth tips and resources according to Ask a Tech Teacher readers: Monday Freebies...
04/29/16 - Zap Zap Math–Clever, Robust Math App for K-6
Many of you are familiar with the award-winning free app called Zapzapmath. I first learned about it through an email...
04/26/16 - A Helping Hand: Assistive Technology Tools for Writing
I don’t write enough about special needs so when Rose contacted me with an article idea, I was thrilled. Rose...
04/25/16 - 3 Free/Freemium Tools for Rubrics
Rubrics are a well-accepted, even transformative tool for assessing student knowledge over a breadth of criteria. Their deep granular detail...
04/20/16 - 7 Tips for Using Social Media for Professional Development
Tell me if this sounds familiar: With the 2016 New Year, you resolved to build your Professional Learning Network–finally, to...
04/19/16 - 17 Ways to Add Tech to your Lessons Without Adding Time to Your Day
Because I teach graduate classes for educators, I talk to lots of teachers all over the country. It’s become clear...
04/18/16 - 5 Tech Tools to Inspire Reading
Reading is defined as “the action or skill of absorbing written or printed matter silently or aloud.” Sounds dry, maybe...
04/15/16 - 23 Great Websites and Apps for Earth Day
April 22nd is Earth Day. Celebrate it with your students by letting them visit these websites: Breathing earth– the environment...
04/13/16 - What a Teacher Can Do About Cyberbullying
Ask a Tech Teacher contributor, Cassie Phillips, is a consultant and internet security expert. She is passionate about sharing information on...
04/11/16 - Go Paperless for Earth Day
Earth Day is April 22nd. Someone in your school, maybe the parent group, will raise the question of WHY NOT...
04/08/16 - My #GoDaddyNightmare
For those of you who are trying to visit my resource site, StructuredLearning.net, it’s down. I’ve talked with Go Daddy,...
04/08/16 - 3 Comic Creators That Will Wow Your Students
Comics are a robust medium for sharing empathy and perspective in a story. It’s equally appropriate for fiction and nonfiction and...
04/06/16 - Ten MS Word Tips You Don’t Want to Miss
Here are ten of the top MS Word tips according to Ask a Tech Teacher readers: #109: MS Word Skills...
04/01/16 - 31Websites for Poetry Month
April is National Poetry Month. For thirty days, we celebrate the value and joy that poetry brings to our world. ...
03/30/16 - Tech Tip #124: Editing is Easier with Digital Writing
As a working technology teacher, I get hundreds of questions from parents about their home computers, how to do stuff,...
03/25/16 - 11 Easter Sites For Students
Many Christians celebrate Jesus Christ’s resurrection on Easter Sunday. The Easter date depends on the ecclesiastical approximation of the March...
03/23/16 - How Parents Can Protect Their Children Online
A common and recurring question from parents is how to keep their children safe while using the internet. I haven’t...
03/22/16 - Revision Assistant–the Most Comprehensive Virtual Writing Assistant Available for Students
English teachers know the key to writing is rewriting, but getting students to do that has always been a challenge....
03/20/16 - Free Videoconferencing Through EZTalk
Just a quick shout out for anyone looking for an easy and affordable way to try videoconferencing. The folks over...
03/18/16 - 4 Ways Students Can Plan Their Writing
Few people can sit down and start writing. Most of us hem and haw as we mentally walk through how...
03/16/16 - 20 St. Patrick’s Day Sites For Students
Getting ready for St. Patrick’s Day? Try these fun websites: Color the shamrock Color the Pot-o-gold Color the leprechaun Games–St....
03/14/16 - Celebrate Pi With Your Students
Pi Day is an annual celebration commemorating the mathematical constant π (pi). Pi Day is observed on March 14 since...
03/11/16 - 22 Digital Tools You Must Have in Your Classroom
If you don’t have children, you may not have noticed the massive changes going on in the local schoolhouse. Those...
03/09/16 - Dear Otto: How do I set the default font on MS Word
Dear Otto is an occasional column where I answer questions I get from readers about teaching tech. If you have...
03/07/16 - Why Teachers Are So Influential in the Choices Young People Make
We take for granted the massive impact teachers have on students–but we shouldn’t. Now and then, we need to consider...
03/04/16 - Subscriber Special: March
Every month, subscribers to Ask a Tech Teacher get a free/discounted resource to help their tech teaching. This month: Freebies!...
03/03/16 - How to Interest the Next Generation of Great Minds to Work in STEM Fields
I’ve had a lot of questions in the last few months about STEM (Science-Technology-Engineering-Math) in the classroom. Ask a Tech...
03/01/16 - Parent Questions About Edtech
I love hearing a parent’s perspective on technology in their classrooms so I reached out to efriend, Joe Peters for...
02/29/16 - 52 Resources for Read Across America Day
Many people in the United States, particularly students, parents and teachers, join forces on Read Across America Day, annually held...
02/26/16 - 3 Whiteboard Apps for Teachers and Students
Whiteboards have long been a de rigeur staple in classrooms, occupying pride-of-place at the front of the room. Despite the popularity of hi-tech...
02/22/16 - 8 Reasons for and 8 Against Revisiting Software in the Classroom
I recently chatted with a tech coordinator on the East coast who asked about software alternatives to the webtools we were...
02/19/16 - 7 Innovative Writing Methods for Students
Knowledge is meant to be shared. That’s what writing is about–taking what you know and putting it out there for all...
02/18/16 - Dear Otto: Can We Eliminate Blogs–Teachers Hate Them!
Dear Otto is an occasional column where I answer questions I get from readers about teaching tech. If you have...
02/17/16 - 5 Tech Tools That Motivate Every Reader
I love having guest posts on Ask a Tech Teacher because I always learn a lot. In this case, efriend...
02/15/16 - A Conversation about Keyboarding, Methods, Pedagogy, and More
Dr. Bill Morgan and I have engaged in several months of spirited conversation about keyboarding, pre-keyboarding, and how it can best...
02/13/16 - Four Ways Teachers Can Stay Connected With Their Student’s Parents Using Technology
I was chatting with Mary over at the Dial My Calls site (click to see my review of Dial My Calls)...
02/12/16 - 8 Fresh Activities for Valentine’s Day
If you’re looking for project websites for Valentine’s Day, go to my post last Friday and you’ll find 20 Great...
02/11/16 - 3 Fresh Art and Music Apps for the Classroom
Fifty years ago, Albert Einstein warned ‘Imagination is more important than knowledge.’ The ability to solve problems by thinking creatively is...
02/10/16 - 19 Valentine Sites For Students
Here are some fun Valentine sites to fill those few minutes betwixt and between lessons, projects, bathroom breaks, lunch, and...
02/09/16 - Dear Otto: How do I Make Keyboarding Collaborative?
Dear Otto is an occasional column where I answer questions I get from readers about teaching tech. If you have...
02/08/16 - Digital Literacy–What is it?
‘Digital literacy’ is one of those buzz words floated by experts as being granular to 21st century students. It’s everywhere,...
02/05/16 - 3 Favorite Classroom Apps
Here’s an excellent collection of great apps for your classroom — to cover writing, research, and assessment. You can even...
02/04/16 - Dear Otto: How Do Students Access Twitter in the Classroom
Dear Otto is an occasional column where I answer questions I get from readers about teaching tech. If you have...
02/03/16 - Tech Tip #123: Quick Search for Plagiarized Images
As a working technology teacher, I get hundreds of questions from parents about their home computers, how to do stuff,...
02/01/16 - Subscriber Special: February
Every month, subscribers to Ask a Tech Teacher get a free/discounted resource to help their tech teaching. This month: If...
01/29/16 - 3 Apps Disguised as Games to Help Bolster Learning
Education has changed. Teachers don’t lecture from the front of the classroom. Work isn’t an individual effort. Drills no longer hold pride...
01/27/16 - Tech Tip #122: Chromebook Delete Key
As a working technology teacher, I get hundreds of questions from parents about their home computers, how to do stuff,...
01/26/16 - What are Good Tech Goals for Students?
A frequent question from readers revolves around technology goals for students. It’s tempting to phrase goals like: 4th graders can create a chart in...
01/25/16 - Keyboarding and the Scientific Method
Convincing students–and teachers–of the importance of keyboarding can be daunting. Youngers find it painful (trying to find those 26 alphabet...
01/22/16 - Dear Otto: I need to convert from PDF to Doc–Does that work?
Dear Otto is an occasional column where I answer questions I get from readers about teaching tech. If you have...
01/20/16 - 3 Digital Tools To Keep Parents Up to Date
Keeping parents informed about classroom activities is a challenge. They are busy with work, their children, and whatever personal life...
01/19/16 - How Teachers Learn About New Edtech Products (Round-up)
How do teachers filter out all the social media noise to find the tech products that will transform their classrooms?...
01/18/16 - Storyboard That–Digital Storyteller, Graphic Organizer, and more
Storyboard That is a leader among online digital storytelling tools thanks to its comic-based themes, clean layout, vast collection of story pieces,...
01/16/16 - Tips For Selecting The Best And Most Efficient Web Hosting Provider
Most prospective buyers start by going to the seller’s website before purchasing. An online presence has become a vital importance for not...
01/15/16 - KidzType–the Keyboard Practice Site You’ve Been Waiting For
One question I get urgently and often is how to teach students to keyboard. With so much of student performance based...
01/14/16 - Preparing Young Students for Home Row Keyboarding: An Unplugged Approach
I’ve long been intrigued by the physical keyboards teachers and homeschoolers use to introduce keyboarding to the youngest typists. I...
01/13/16 - 2 Martin Luther King Day Lesson Plans
I have two lesson plans, both aligned with Common Core, to help you plan Martin Luther King Day. 4th grade...
01/11/16 - 3 Apps to Build Solid Study Skills
It’s not enough to share information with students. Unless they have an eidetic memory, much of what they see/hear/taste/smell never reaches long...
01/10/16 - Subscriber Special: January
Every month, subscribers to Ask a Tech Teacher get a free/discounted resource to help their tech teaching. This month: If...
01/09/16 - How Do You Backup Your Data
Probably, of all computer functions, backing up data is the most critical and the most likely to make you tear...
01/06/16 - How to Qualify Online Tutoring Services
At some point in your child’s education journey, you’re going to feel the need for tutoring. Riley Patterson, one of our...
01/05/16 - Learn to Blend Tech into Your Class; Get College Credit
Starting January 18th, I’ll be teaching a class on blending technology into your classroom: the Tech-Infused Teacher— January 18th-February 21st Click the...

2015 (183)

12/23/15 - Listen to Ask a Tech Teacher on EduTalk Radio
Many thanks to Larry Jacobs for inviting me to join him on EduTalk Radio, to talk about my recent Editor’s...
12/19/15 - Happy Holiday!
I’ll be taking a week (or so) off–until after the New Year–to edit/format my website, work on writing projects with...
12/18/15 - Have Santa Call Your Kids
DialMyCalls (an AATT sponsor) has a special Christmas offer for kids who want to hear from Santa: Send Free Santa Calls To...
12/17/15 - 10 Bits of Wisdom I Learned From a Computer
Life is hard, but help is all around us. The trick is to take your learning where you find it....
12/16/15 - Where’d Christmas Come From?
Watch this video and come away educated: Like this:Like Loading...
12/15/15 - 5 Great Holiday Websites
Here are five great holiday websites that will put the seasonal spirit into your teaching. They are education-infused, lively, and...
12/14/15 - A Shout Out for My Donate Button
Ask a Tech Teacher is a small group of tech-ed teachers with a big goal: provide free and affordable resources to anyone, anywhere...
12/11/15 - 20 Holiday Websites For Your Students
Need a few websites to fill in sponge time? Here are Holiday websites that will keep students busy while teaching...
12/10/15 - End-of-year Tech Tips: Image and Back-up Computer
This week, I’m providing tips for end-of-year technology maintenance. These are activities that could (or should) be done once a...
12/09/15 - End-of-Year Tips: 18 Steps To A Speedier Computer
This week, I’m providing tips for end-of-year technology maintenance. These are activities that could (or should) be done once a...
12/08/15 - End of Year Tips: Update Your Online Presence
This week, I’m providing tips for end-of-year technology maintenance. These are activities that could (or should) be done once a...
12/07/15 - Get Ready for the New Year!
Next week, I’ll share three holiday activities that will get your computers, technology, and social media ready for the new year....
12/04/15 - Hour of Code: Create Macros
Creating a macro is a quick, easy programming exercise that students fifth grade and up can accomplish with moderate supervision....
12/03/15 - Hour of Code: Build Websites
As a tech teacher, I see a lot of student websites. I’m always impressed with the effort, the tenacity, and...
11/30/15 - 4 Collaborative Projects Students Will Love
Collaboration is the new rigor in the classroom. Who hasn’t been mesmerized by children gathered at a table engaged in...
11/21/15 - Happy Thanksgiving Week to All!
I’m taking next week off. I’ll be preparing for my daughter’s holiday visit from her home in DC and my...
11/20/15 - Hour of Code: Scratch Jr.
ScratchJr ages 5-7 Free Overview ScratchJr (released July 2014) is an introductory programming language for ages 5-7 similar to the...
11/19/15 - Hour of Code: Program Shortkeys
Creating a shortkey for a program will quickly become a favorite with your students. I use it for the snipping...
11/18/15 - Hour of Code: Minecraft Review
Every week, I share a website that inspired my students. This one is perfect for Hour of Code. Make yourself...
11/17/15 - Hour of Code–Program with Alt Codes
As a working technology teacher, I get hundreds of questions from parents about their home computers, how to do stuff,...
11/13/15 - 18 Thanksgiving Sites and Apps For Students
Need a few websites and apps to fill in sponge time? Here are Thanksgiving sites that will keep students busy...
11/12/15 - A Holiday Card in Publisher
Greeting cards are easy enough for second graders–even early readers. Using MS Publisher, pick a template, add a picture to...
11/11/15 - Today we Honor Veterans
In the USA, Veterans Day annually falls on November 11. This day is the anniversary of the signing of the...
11/10/15 - Tech Tip #121: Chromebooks Caps Lock
As a working technology teacher, I get hundreds of questions from parents about their home computers, how to do stuff,...
11/09/15 - 58 Hour of Code Suggestions by Grade Level
Here are ideas of apps and websites that teachers in my PLN used successfully in the past during Hour of...
11/07/15 - A Holiday Flier in Publisher
This is the only project that’s easier than the holiday card in Publisher. There’s no folding and the templates are...
11/06/15 - Hour of Code–Why Not
I took a Classroom 2.0 Live webinar last year on rolling out the Hour of Code in the classroom. There...
11/05/15 - Hour of Code–the Series
Coding–that mystical geeky subject that confounds students and teachers alike. Confess, when you think of coding, you see: …when...
11/04/15 - Tech Tip #120: Why Use Airplane Mode?
As a working technology teacher, I get hundreds of questions from parents about their home computers, how to do stuff,...
11/03/15 - 5 Best Typing Tutors for Everyone
Keyboarding is always a concern with educators, and one of the most questions is–how do you teach it? Adam Fort, an education strategist...
11/02/15 - Subscriber Special: November
Watch for our Veteran’s Day special in your mailbox. Jacqui Murray has been teaching K-8 technology for 15 years. She...
10/26/15 - Dear Otto: How do I Teach Keyboarding in My Limited Class Time?
Here’s Melanie’s question about teaching keyboarding effectively: My problem is that I only see each group of students (PK –...
10/23/15 - 26 Halloween Sites for your Students
Here’s a short list of fun Halloween websites for your students. Enjoy! Websites: Ben & Jerry Billy Bear’s Carving Pumpkins...
10/22/15 - Everything Schools Should Know About Windows 10 Education Edition
For the first time ever, Windows is upgrading the existing Windows platform for free. If you use a current version...
10/21/15 - Let Students Learn From Failure
Too often, students–and teachers–believe learning comes from success when in truth, it’s as likely to be the product of failure. Knowing...
10/20/15 - Keyboarding Success Requires More than Drills
Drills have backstopped keyboarding since I was in high school. I still remember rtyu fghj vbnm Over and over I typed those...
10/19/15 - Dear Otto: Evaluating Faculty Websites
Dear Otto is an occasional column where I answer questions I get from readers about teaching tech. If you have...
10/16/15 - The Fun of IFTTT
Hour of Code, coming up this December 7-13th, is a one-hour introduction to computer science, designed to demystify code and...
10/14/15 - 5 Best Practices for Digital Portfolios
Digital portfolios have become a critical part of today’s classroom. Why collate student work into clunky 3-ring binders that can only be...
10/13/15 - 3 Organizational Apps to Start the School Year
Whether you teach science or PE, there are hundreds of apps to help you do it better. The response to...
10/12/15 - Tech Tip 117: How to Use an Internet Start Page
As a working technology teacher, I get hundreds of questions from parents and teachers about their computers, how to do...
10/09/15 - CanaryFlow: Everything You Need to Manage Classroom Workflow
CanaryFlow is a classroom workflow platform that makes it easy for K-12 teachers to create lessons, add and grade assignments, upload resources, comment on student...
10/07/15 - Tech Tip #116: How to Take Screenshots
As a working technology teacher, I get hundreds of questions from parents about their home computers, how to do stuff,...
10/06/15 - 6 Tech Best Practices for New Teachers
A study released last year by the National Council on Teacher Quality found that nearly half of the nation’s teacher...
10/05/15 - 5 Image Apps for your Classroom
Any child knows that a picture communicates differently than text. It’s not just quicker, it shares more detail more effectively. In...
10/02/15 - 120+ Digital Citizenship Links on 22 Topics
Here’s a long list of websites to address Digital Citizenship topics you teach in your classroom: Avatars to promote digital...
10/01/15 - Subscriber Special: October
Every month, subscribers to Ask a Tech Teacher get a free/discounted resource to help their tech teaching. This month: 25%...
09/28/15 - 3 Apps to Keep Parents in The Loop
I’ve taught Preschool-8th grade for thirty years. Throughout, one factor stood out as the most reliable barometer of student achievement:...
09/25/15 - 32 Websites to Support Math Automaticity in K-5
Here’s along list of websites that focus on math automaticity for the K-5 classroom. I’ve broken it down by grade level, but...
09/23/15 - 5 After School Tech Club Activities
With the growing interest in coding comes a call for after school tech camps that supersize student enthusiasm for learning...
09/22/15 - How TV Can Help In The Classroom And On The Field
Well-used, television has traditionally been important in the classroom. It informs students in emergencies, updates them on historic events, and now–with...
09/21/15 - Tech Tip #115: Three-click Rule
As a working technology teacher, I get hundreds of questions from parents about their home computers, how to do stuff,...
09/18/15 - 14 Websites to Teach Mouse Skills
I repost this article every September because I get so many requests for mouse resources for those youngest keyboarders. For...
09/16/15 - 3 Lesson Plans to Teach Architecture in First Grade
Three projects over six weeks and your students will learn about blueprints, room layout, dimensions. Plus, they'll understand how to think about a three-dimensional object and then spatially lay it out on paper. This is challenging, but fun for first graders.
09/15/15 - 5 Ways to Involve Parents in Your Class
In fifteen years of teaching K-8, I have learned that one factor provides a reliable barometer for student success: Parent...
09/14/15 - Embed a File from Google Drive
As a working technology teacher, I get hundreds of questions from parents about their home computers, how to do stuff,...
09/11/15 - 9/11… We Remember
America, we love you. Like this:Like Loading...
09/10/15 - 13 Changes in Tech-in-Ed in Just Three Years
School’s back and it’s more important than ever to integrate technology into your curriculum. Why? Consider these thirteen changes to...
09/08/15 - How to go Paperless in Your Classroom
Every Earth Day, someone in your school, maybe the parent group, raises the question of WHY NOT a paperless classroom?...
09/07/15 - Happy Labor Day!
Labor Day is annually held on the first Monday of September (this year, September 2nd). It was originally organized to...
09/03/15 - How to Prepare Students for PARCC/SBACC Tests
This is a reprint of an article I posted last Spring. By starting these tasks in Fall, you’ll be ready...
09/02/15 - How to Write a Novel with 280 Characters
I’m a teacher, have been for 35 years. I teach a lesson to my Middle School students that uses Twitter...
09/01/15 - Subscriber Special: September
This special on site licenses has been extended a month. When September ends, prices increase for the first time since...
08/31/15 - Tech Tip #113: Back up Your Blog!
As a working technology teacher, I get hundreds of questions from parents about their home computers, how to do stuff,...
08/28/15 - 33 Great Research Websites for Kids
Here are quick, safe spots to send students for research: BrainPop–with the BrainPop characters, a launchpad to curiosity CoolKidFacts–kid-friendly videos,...
08/24/15 - Tech Tip #112: How to Open 2 Gmail Accounts at Once
As a working technology teacher, I get hundreds of questions from parents about their home computers, how to do stuff,...
08/21/15 - Teach Financial Literacy with Banzai
When kids read that America’s $18 trillion+ debt is accepted by many experts as ‘business as usual’, I wonder how that news will...
08/17/15 - Tech Tip #111: Quick Internet Fix
As a working technology teacher, I get hundreds of questions from parents about their home computers, how to do stuff,...
08/13/15 - 8 Tech Tools to Get to Know Your Students for Back to School
The first day of class can be daunting. Students are curious about the new faces around them, intimidated–even frightened by...
08/10/15 - Tech Tip #110: Can’t Get Sound to Work?
As a working technology teacher, I get hundreds of questions from parents about their home computers, how to do stuff,...
08/07/15 - 6 Sites + 12 + 6 About Coin Counting
Second graders (sometimes first graders) learn about money. The only way to really ‘get it’ is repetition. Here’s a list...
08/03/15 - Tech Tip #109: Five Second Back-up
As a working technology teacher, I get hundreds of questions from parents about their home computers, how to do stuff,...
07/30/15 - What a Typical Tech Lesson Looks Like
In the past few weeks, I’ve gotten several emails like this from teachers: I am a tech teacher, going on...
07/29/15 - 3 Apps to Help Brainstorm Next Year’s Lessons
Lesson planning used to mean filling in boxes on a standard form with materials, goals, expectations, assessments–details like that. Certainly...
07/28/15 - Tech Tip #108: Got a Tech Problem? Google It!
As a working technology teacher, I get hundreds of questions from parents about their home computers, how to do stuff,...
07/27/15 - 17 Take-aways from Summer PD
Summer PD 2015 just ended. A couple dozen of us–teachers, library media specialists, tech integrationists, lab teachers–gathered virtually for three...
07/24/15 - 15 Websites on Natural Disasters
Natural disasters is a related discussion to any number of topics–geography, ecology, Earth Day, even problem solving. Here are 16...
07/21/15 - 15 Take-aways from Online Grad School Classes
MTI 562 (the Tech-infused Teacher) and MTI 563 (the Differentiated Teacher) just ended. More than a dozen of us–teachers, library...
07/20/15 - Tech Tip #107: 6 Tips to Avoid Email Phishing
As a working technology teacher, I get hundreds of questions from parents about their home computers, how to do stuff,...
07/17/15 - 19 K-8 Space Science Websites
Videos, games, and more–preview them and pick what works for your age group: 17 Minutes of Terror--Curiosity landing on Mars...
07/15/15 - What’s a Tech Teacher Do With Their Summer Off?
School’s been out for at least a few weeks and I just finished up three online classes that started in...
07/13/15 - Tech Tip #106: Auto-add a Period, Caps Lock, When Typing on an IPad
As a working technology teacher, I get hundreds of questions from parents about their home computers, how to do stuff,...
07/10/15 - #100: How to Web 2.0 Accessorize Your Classroom
Web 2.0 is the most exciting thing to happen to education since the schoolhouse. It is a limitless classroom, allowing...
07/06/15 - 8 Characteristics of a Successful K-12 Technology Department
Mike Daugherty is the director of technology for a high-achieving public school district in Ohio, an occasional contributor to AATT...
07/04/15 - Happy July 4th!
It’s America’s birthday and I’m celebrating. What I write today will be… anything I want–gibberish, a short story, guest articles...
06/30/15 - How to Build Your PLN
When a colleague tells you she heard about a new tech tool from someone in her PLN, do you first...
06/29/15 - Otus–Exciting Free LMS You Want to Meet
I’ve been on the hunt for a good–scratch that: excellent–Learning Management System for several months. There are a lot of...
06/26/15 - 3 Websites to Gamify Your Math Class
Most elementary age kids I know love math, but that changes when they matriculate to middle school. If you ask...
06/24/15 - Let’s Talk About Habits of Mind
Pedagogic experts have spent an enormous amount of time attempting to unravel the definition of ‘educated’. It used to be...
06/22/15 - Review: Flipwrite iPad Keyboard
I’ve read several nonscientific studies that concluded students type equally well whether they use iPads or traditional keyboards (click here;...
06/19/15 - Faceoff: What Digital Device Should My School Buy?
In the not so distant past, two types of computers battled for supremacy in the classroom: Macs or PCs. Both...
06/17/15 - 3 Great Special Needs Digital Tools
Besides iPads and Chromebooks and a plethora of free websites that enable students to collaborate, share and publish, education’s tech...
06/10/15 - Technology Removes Obstructed Writers’ Barriers to Learning
High school senior at Newton North High School in Newton, MA, Yishai Barth, feels strongly about the importance of Universal...
06/09/15 - Computer Shortkeys That Streamline Your Day
After twelve years of teaching K-8, I know as sure as I know August comes earlier every year that kids...
06/08/15 - #109: MS Word Skills Assessment for Grades 3-8
This assessment is comprehensive, designed not to test students. but assess their knowledge as an aid to you in determining...
06/05/15 - 25 Websites on Civics
These are mostly for MS, a mixture of flashcards, games and simulations. Very effective: Argument Wars Branches of Power Civics...
06/04/15 - The Maker Movement In Education
Eduporium‘s Andy Larmand is the newest contributor to Ask a Tech Teacher. He graduated from Suffolk University with a Bachelor’s...
06/03/15 - 5 Things You Need to Know About 3D Printing
Ecolleague Mike Daugherty has over seventeen years experience in educational technology serving a variety of roles. He was recently awarded...
06/02/15 - 4 Options for a Class Internet Start Page
The internet is unavoidable in education. Students go there to research, access homework, check grades, and a whole lot more....
05/29/15 - 24 Economics Websites for Middle School
Wide variety from formative to summative, from quizzes to games. See what works for you: 60-seconds Adventures in Economics–videos from...
05/27/15 - #81: Problem Solving Board
Have students teach each other the 25 most common techie problems. They learn how to solve the problem and teach...
05/25/15 - Happy Memorial Day
I’m taking the day to honor our soldiers. Without their sacrifice, where would we be? Like this:Like Loading...
05/24/15 - Great List of EdTech Tools
Alice Keeler is sharing a Google Doc of favorite educator tech tools. It’s crowdsourced, so view, add to it, come...
05/22/15 - 15 Memorial Day Websites for Students
Memorial Day is the time we remember all of those soldiers (and anyone in the Armed Forces) who gave their...
05/21/15 - #101: Don’t Print Homework–Email it!
By third grade, students can email their homework to you rather than turn in all those pesky hard copies. No...
05/20/15 - 5 Must-have tools for Ed Conferences
It’s summer, time for teachers to recharge their cerebral batteries. That could mean reading, going on field trips, spending time...
05/19/15 - Tech Tip #105: Create Shortkeys for Windows Tools
As a working technology teacher, I get hundreds of questions from parents about their home computers, how to do stuff,...
05/18/15 - How to Compare and Contrast Authentically
To students, knowing how to ‘compare and contrast’ sounds academic, not real world, but we teachers know most of life...
05/16/15 - 21st Century School — How Technology Is Changing Education
The technological advances of the past two decades have changed the world, and education is no exception. Today’s students have...
05/15/15 - 50 Economics Websites
As a passionate Economics major in college (which grew into an MBA), I find Econ at the root of much...
05/14/15 - 3 Digital Tools to Encourage Close Reading
‘Close reading’ entered the teacher’s lexicon with this Common Core literacy anchor standard: Read closely to determine what the text...
05/13/15 - Dear Otto: What’s a good End-of-year Tech Show?
Dear Otto is an occasional column where I answer questions I get from readers about teaching tech. If you have...
05/12/15 - Tech Tip #104: Need a File on Your iPad? Try This
As a working technology teacher, I get hundreds of questions from parents about their home computers, how to do stuff,...
05/11/15 - 3 Apps to Prioritize Your Day
Every teacher I know juggles an exhausting teaching schedule with parent conferences, administrative tasks, and specialized student needs. They take...
05/10/15 - Happy Mother’s Day!
Mother’s Day in the United States is annually held on the second Sunday of May. This year, that’s May 11th....
05/08/15 - 31 Sites on American History
This is for both younger and older students so check these out–pick the ones that work for you: America’s Story...
05/06/15 - #79: Excel Turns Data Into Information
Sometimes, it takes a picture to really show what you’re trying to say. It doesn’t have to be drawn with...
04/30/15 - Want to Code on an IPad? Here are 3 Great Apps
Coding has become the poster child for a tech-infused classroom. Over 15 million kids participated in Hour of Code this...
04/29/15 - Learn How to Play a Musical Instrument on Your Smart Phone
AATT contributer, Sara Stringer, is looking at digital music tools this month. This is a topic I don’t say enough...
04/27/15 - Tech Tip #102: Doc Saved Over? Try This
As a working technology teacher, I get hundreds of questions from parents about their home computers, how to do stuff,...
04/24/15 - 10 Space Websites That Will Launch Your Class Study
Space units are always exciting. Part of it’s the history, but a lot is that space is our final frontier,...
04/22/15 - #98: Email Basx
Teach students using whichever email program is installed at school, but warn students that theirs will be different. Also warn...
04/20/15 - Tech Tip #101: The Laptop Internet Button
Q: My internet stopped working on my laptop. Everyone else's in the house works, but mine won't connect. What do I do? A: First: Make sure the laptop button that allows connection to the internet is on. More often than not, that's the problem for teachers at my school. If it's not that, it gets much more complicated. I'll cross my fingers.
04/17/15 - 21 Great Websites and Apps for Earth Day
April 22nd is Earth Day. Celebrate it with your students by letting them visit these websites: Breathing Earth Breathing Earth...
04/15/15 - 5 Ways Teachers Can Stay on Top of Technology
Technology plays an important role in the classroom. Teachers can apply technology to help students learn through interactive games and...
04/15/15 - #74: Mastering Excel (for Beginners)
There are 22 common Excel skills easy enough for fourth and fifth graders. When they’re done, they–and their parents (and...
04/13/15 - 11 Ways to Wrap Up the School Year
It’s the end of school. Everyone’s tired, including you. What you want for these last few weeks are activities that...
04/10/15 - 11 Sites to Teach You How To…
A wide variety of topics, with one thing in common–they teach you about technology in education: Common Core training–the Hunt...
04/06/15 - 3 Apps That Encourage Students to Read
Reading is defined as “the action or skill of absorbing written or printed matter silently or aloud.” Sounds dry, maybe...
04/03/15 - 21 Websites for Poetry Month
April is National Poetry Month. For thirty days, we celebrate the value and joy that poetry brings to our world. ...
04/02/15 - Resource Review: Mentoring Minds
Mentoring Minds is an education publishing company and resource site created by former teachers. Their goal: Critical thinking for life–...
03/31/15 - How to Create a Curriculum Map
If I’m trying to get from Los Angeles, California to Minot, North Dakota, I start with a map. I build...
03/30/15 - Chromebooks in the Classrooms–Friend or Foe?
AATT contributor, Krista Albrecht, has a balanced evaluation of Chromebooks in the classroom I think you’ll find useful. Krista is...
03/27/15 - Website Review: Grammarly
George Orwell lamented in his 1946 essay “Politics and the English Language, that: “Most people who bother with the matter...
03/26/15 - 11 Easter Sites For Your Students
Many Christians celebrate Jesus Christ’s resurrection on Easter Sunday. The Easter date depends on the ecclesiastical approximation of the March...
03/25/15 - #73: How to Graph in Excel
Excel graphs are easy enough for third graders. So try it. Collect your data, enter it into an excel worksheet...
03/24/15 - What is the 21st Century Lesson Plan?
Technology and the connected world put a fork in the old model of teaching–instructor in front of the class, sage...
03/23/15 - 28 Unique Ideas for Publishing Student Work
After you’ve looked at these 28 sites, there’s no reason to print student work and stick it on a wall....
03/20/15 - 7 Websites That Ring in Spring
The temperatures are freezing on the East Coast, but Spring is right around the corner and we as teachers must...
03/18/15 - #55: Keyboarding in the Classroom
Mix a variety of keyboarding tools so students get the most out of keyboarding time in the classroom. I include...
03/17/15 - 10 Tips for Teachers who Struggle with Technology
With technology moving out of the lab and into the classroom, it’s becoming a challenge for some teachers to infuse...
03/16/15 - 12 Spring Cleaning Steps for Your Computer
It’s time for Spring Cleaning. Of your computer. If you followed my suggestion over New Year’s, this will go faster...
03/13/15 - 16 St. Patrick’s Day Sites For Students
Getting ready for St. Patrick’s Day? Try these fun websites: Color the shamrock Color the Pot-o-gold Color the leprechaun Puzzle–St....
03/12/15 - 5 Favorite Classroom Apps
Apps are out of control. When you think you have just the right one for your classroom, a better/faster/snazzier version...
03/11/15 - Celebrate Pi Day
Pi Day is an annual celebration commemorating the mathematical constant π (pi). Pi Day is observed on March 14 since...
03/10/15 - Keyboarding with ASCII Art
I’ve written about ASCII Art (click for ASCII Art directions) and use it as an integral part of my keyboarding...
03/09/15 - 6 Stand-alone Lesson Plans for Subs
As a tech educator, it’s difficult to find a substitute teacher who is comfortable delivering my tech-infused lesson plans to...
03/08/15 - What’s With Daylight Savings?
Daylight Savings Time is back today. Watch this video for background information: Like this:Like Loading...
03/06/15 - 20 Sites for Authentic Assessments
Here’s a good collection for both summative and formative assessments: Class badges Grading automatically w G. Docs–Flubaroo Hollywood Sq/Jeopardy Templates...
03/05/15 - TurboScan–Great Class Management Tool
TurboScan Scanning app A teacher friend is already stressed–and the year is only half over. Her school is putting together...
03/04/15 - What to do when your Computers Don’t Work
I got a lot of suggestions based on my post, What to do When the Computers Are Down in January....
03/03/15 - #54: Sponge Activities in History
Six edutainment websites to be visited in spare time in the classroom (as with all sponges). Each deals with history...
03/02/15 - Read Across America Day
Many people in the United States, particularly students, parents and teachers, join forces on Read Across America Day, annually held...
02/27/15 - 17 Websites to Manage Your Classroom
These are clever approaches to keeping order among avid learners: Bouncy Balls–balls bounce based on level of noise in the...
02/26/15 - 22 Ways to Add Rigor to Your Classroom
Let’s start by clearing up a misconception: Rigor isn’t unfriendly. Adding it to your class doesn’t mean you become boring,...
02/25/15 - #53: Colonization Trifold Brochure in Publisher
Create a trifold brochure in Publisher to go along with colonization or another unit of inquiry in the classroom. This...
02/23/15 - 6 Ways to Make Classroom Typing Fun
When you teach typing, the goal isn’t speed and accuracy. The goal is that students type well enough that it...
02/20/15 - 32 Math Apps for a Rigor-infused Classroom
Here are some great math apps for iPads and smartphones that add rigor and automaticity to your classroom: AIRR Math–student...
02/19/15 - Everything I Need to Know Came From a Computer
Life is hard, but help is all around us. The trick is to take your learning where you can find...
02/18/15 - 7 Authentic Assessment Tools
Assessments have become a critical piece to education reform. To prepare students well for college and career means they must...
02/17/15 - Best-Kept Secrets for Teaching Tech to Kids
There’s a secret to teaching kids how to use technology. It’s called ‘delegate’. I don’t mean sluff off the teaching...
02/16/15 - Website Review: ProdigyGame.com
There are a lot of online math systems to help students through one of school’s toughest subjects (if not science)....
02/13/15 - 14 Websites for 4th Grade Culture
Here’s a list of great 4th grade websites on Culture: Classrooms around the world Clothes around the world Eat—food around...
02/12/15 - Happy President’s Day!
Presidents’ Day is an American holiday celebrated on the third Monday in February. Originally established in 1885 in recognition of...
02/11/15 - #52: Indigenous Cultures Magazine in Publisher
Create a magazine on any topic you’re covering in class using text, pictures, diagrams, charts. Add a cover and a...
02/10/15 - What Happens When Technology Fails? 3 Work-Arounds
Has this happened to you? You spend hours rewriting an old lesson plan, incorporating rich, adventurous tools available on the...
02/06/15 - 19 Valentine Sites For Your Students
Here are some fun Valentine sites to fill those few minutes betwixt and between lessons, projects, bathroom breaks, lunch, and...
02/05/15 - #51: History Trifold in Publisher–Grades 4-7
This lesson is a crowd pleaser. Students create a timeline showing what was happening around the world while they lived...
02/04/15 - Modernizing the School Counselor
When the first school guidance counselors (update: thanks to those in the profession who took the time to educate me...
02/03/15 - 6 Tips I Wish I’d Known When I Started Blogging
I’ve been blogging for about six years, some professionally (for my tech ed career) and others on topics of interest...
01/30/15 - 66 Writing Tools for the 21st Century Classroom
Here’re a wide variety of writing tools for students. Some practice good habits, others offer options for writing requirements. See...
01/29/15 - #49: California Missions Project
Millions of third graders study California missions. Here’s a great project that brings it to life with some writing, lots...
01/28/15 - 3 Desk Organizers You Need
With a new year upon us, I want to share three items I’ve discovered that help organize my desk-related items...
01/27/15 - Lesson Plans: Where Did I Come From?
Students find their country of origin on Google Earth and grab a screen shot of it. Save to their computer....
01/26/15 - What to do When Computers Are Down
All tech teachers have experienced a day when the computers don’t work. You jiggle the mouse and nothing. You reboot...
01/23/15 - 3 Apps to Combat Grammar Faux Pas
Grammar has often been a subject students resisted learning, were bored by, or flat out didn’t understand. That’s changed, thanks...
01/21/15 - 50 Sites to Add Rigor and Authenticity to Word Study
Memorizing word lists and testing on them doesn’t really work very well. Here are 52 websites that will make student...
01/19/15 - Playful Learning–What a Great Idea
Playful Learning (Parents’ Choice Gold Medal website) is a well-done, professional-looking website that offers advice, projects, and visual images touting...
01/16/15 - Martin Luther King Day Lesson Plans
Martin Luther King Day is January 19th. I have two lesson plans, both aligned with Common Core, that I’m giving...
01/15/15 - Three Life Skills High School Students Should Learn–and Why
What is the goal of education? If you ask ten people, you’re likely to get fifteen different answers. AEP Distinguished...
01/13/15 - 3 Classroom Management Apps You’ll Love
You became a teacher to inspire the next generation, to guide students toward their future with patience and wisdom, to...
01/12/15 - 2015, I Resolve…
New Years–a time for rest, rejuvenation and repair. A time to assess life. Do we settle into our routine, enjoy...
01/07/15 - 10 Top Click-throughs from 2014
I include lots of links for my readers to sites that will help them integrate technology into education. They cover...

2014 (178)

12/19/14 - Happy Holiday!
I’ll be taking a week (or so) off–until after the New Year–to prepare for my son (visiting from Kuwait), edit/format...
12/17/14 - End-of-year Tech Tips: Image and Back-up Your Computer
This week, I’m providing tips for end-of-year technology maintenance. These are activities that could (or should) be done once a...
12/16/14 - End-of-Year Tips: 13 WaysTo Speed Up Your Computer
This week, I’m providing tips for end-of-year technology maintenance. These are activities that could (or should) be done once a...
12/15/14 - End of Year Tips: Is Your Online Presence Up to Date?
This week, I’m providing tips for end-of-year technology maintenance. These are activities that could (or should) be done once a...
12/12/14 - 21 Holiday Websites For Your Students
Need a few websites to fill in sponge time? Here are Holiday websites that will keep students busy while teaching...
12/11/14 - Get Ready for the New Year!
Next week, I’ll share four holiday activities that will get your computers, technology, and social media ready for the new...
12/10/14 - Where’d Christmas Come From
Watch this video and come away educated: Like this:Like Loading...
12/08/14 - Programming Shortkeys for any Windows Tool
Creating a shortkey will quickly become a favorite with your students. I use it for the snipping tool–because we use...
12/04/14 - Hour of Code: Minecraft
Every week, I share a website that inspired my students. This one is perfect for Hour of Code. Make yourself...
12/03/14 - Hour of Code: Create a Macro
Creating a macro is a quick, easy programming exercise that students fifth grade and up can accomplish with moderate supervision....
12/01/14 - Hour of Code: Primo–Programming
Programming in the classroom is hot. It’s become the software equivalent of iPads–everyone has to try it and missing Hour...
11/21/14 - Happy Thanksgiving Week
I’m taking next week off. I’ll be preparing for my daughter’s holiday visit from her home in DC and my...
11/20/14 - Hour of Code Activity: Build a Website
As a tech teacher, I see a lot of student websites. I’m always impressed with the effort, the tenacity, and...
11/18/14 - 61 K-8 Hour of Code Suggestions–by Grade Level
Here are ideas of apps and websites that teachers in my PLN used successfully in the past during Hour of...
11/16/14 - Edublog Nominee
The 2014 Edublog Awards is a community based initiative started in 2004 in response to concerns relating to how schools,...
11/14/14 - 22 Reading Websites
These cover elementary school through high school (sites like Open Library and Gutenberg Press where students can get free copies...
11/12/14 - The Power of Symbols–What does ‘Turkey’ mean?
Here’s an authentic use of technology to support discussion on math, language standards, and the holidays. As a summation to...
11/11/14 - Today we Honor Veterans
In the USA, Veterans Day annually falls on November 11. This day is the anniversary of the signing of the...
11/10/14 - How Do You Grade Tech? I Have 14 Ideas
It used to be simple to post grades. Add up test scores and see what the student earned. Very defensible....
11/07/14 - 16 Thanksgiving Sites For Your Students
Need a few websites to fill in sponge time? Here are Thanksgiving sites that will keep students busy and still...
11/06/14 - A Holiday Flier in Publisher
This is the only project that’s easier than the holiday card in Publisher I shared on Monday. There’s no folding...
11/03/14 - A Holiday Card in Publisher
Greeting cards are easy enough for second graders–even early readers. Using MS Publisher, pick a template, add a picture to...
10/31/14 - 3 education tools you don’t want to miss
Here are three tools that work-around problems you have every week–maybe every day–in your classes. Sit down with a cuppa...
10/29/14 - Need a Halloween Costume? I have that
Every year, I struggle with a Halloween costume. The teams of grade-level teachers always have themed looks—the Three Bears or...
10/24/14 - 47 Visual Learning Options for your PBL
Here’s a wide variety of visual learning options for your students, from graphs to infographics, Charts AmCharts Barchart ChartGizmo ChartGo...
10/23/14 - Halloween Projects for K-5
Three holidays are fast-approaching–Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. If you’re a teacher, that means lots of tie-ins to make school festive...
10/20/14 - How to Create a Tagxedo
Tagxedos are an excitingly versatile tool that turn words into pictures. They’re word clouds–like Wordle, but more powerful. You can...
10/17/14 - 19 Halloween Sites for your Students
Here’s a short list of fun Halloween websites for your students. Enjoy! Websites: Carving Pumpkins Enchanted Learning Funschool Halloween games,...
10/15/14 - How to Embed Student Work into Digital Portfolios
With the education spotlight on sharing and publishing, students need to be able to take a project they’ve created and...
10/14/14 - A Day in the Life of a Tech Teacher
I love summer. I sit at home, reading, researching, chatting with friends. I make my own schedule, own my own...
10/13/14 - Columbus Day
Columbus Day, which is annually on the second Monday of October (this year, October 13th), remembers Christopher Columbus’ arrival to...
10/10/14 - 5 Field Trips Free to Students
Kids love field trips. They’re out of the classroom, get to travel by bus with lots of kids and not...
10/08/14 - How to Teach a Tech Lesson–the Movie
I get lots of questions on how to deliver a tech class. What’s included? How do teachers blend it with...
10/07/14 - Humor that Inspires–for Teachers! Part V
If you liked the last Humor that Inspires (Part 1, and Part 2 and Part 3 and Part 4), here...
10/06/14 - New School Year? New Tech? I Got You Covered
It’s a new school year. This year, you have laptops, Chromebooks, a pod of desktops, and a cart of iPads....
10/03/14 - 5 Tools To Shake up the New Year
One thing we can all agree on is that there are tons of free tech tools available that enrich learning. ...
09/30/14 - 8 Tech Tools to Get to Know Your Students
The first day of class can be daunting. Students are curious about the new faces around them, intimidated–even frightened by...
09/29/14 - Tech Tip #98: Speed up MS Office with Quick Access Toolbar
As a working technology teacher, I get hundreds of questions from parents about their home computers, how to do stuff,...
09/26/14 - How to Set up a Class Internet Start Page–the Movie
I’ve talked a lot of about class internet start pages–where you collect links in one place for student access. Here’s...
09/24/14 - Keyboarding and the Homeschooler
Here’s another great article from Catherine Ross on homeschooling and keyboard skills. Catherine Ross is a full-time stay-at-home-mum who believes...
09/23/14 - How to Prepare Students for PARCC Tests
This is a reprint of an article I posted last Spring. By starting these tasks in Fall, you’ll be ready...
09/19/14 - 3rd Grade Websites on Economics
Economics is an authentic topic that can be intimidating if not presented correctly. Here are 4 websites that do a...
09/18/14 - 18 Pluses, 5 Differences, and 9 Tips about Chromebooks in Your Classroom
Do you have chrome books in your school? They’re those lightweight thin laptops that cost almost nothing and are taking...
09/17/14 - 25 Techie Problems Every Student Can Fix–Update
The Number One reason–according to students–why their computer doesn’t work is… It’s broken. Can I move to a different computer???...
09/16/14 - How to Organize Your Classroom–the Movie
Last week, I shared ideas on how to set up your tech classroom. Today, I want to share a video:...
09/15/14 - Tech Tip #22: Quick Exit from 97% of Programs
As a working technology teacher, I get hundreds of questions from parents about their home computers, how to do stuff,...
09/11/14 - 9/11… We Remember
America, we love you. Like this:Like Loading...
09/10/14 - 5 Top Ways to Integrate Technology into the New School Year
I was reading an article–Five Real Reasons Why Teachers Don’t Use Technology More–from eSchool News listing the reasons why teachers...
09/09/14 - How to set up your tech classroom
I’m reposting this for the start of a new school year–as a reminder to all my fellow tech teachers. Go...
09/08/14 - Tech Tip #96: Open a Program Maximized
As a working technology teacher, I get hundreds of questions from parents about their home computers, how to do stuff,...
09/04/14 - Do Your Children Need Computers for School?
This is a question I get from parents all the time. Most parents want to get what their child needs...
09/02/14 - Tech Tip #95: Quickly Find Programs You Use
As a working technology teacher, I get hundreds of questions from parents about their home computers, how to do stuff,...
08/28/14 - What’s Tomorrow’s Student Look Like
Just as the teacher’s job has changed from ‘sage on the stage’ to ‘guide on the side’, so too has...
08/27/14 - Tech Tip #94: Shortkey for Find
As a working technology teacher, I get hundreds of questions from parents about their home computers, how to do stuff,...
08/25/14 - Dear Otto: I need year-long assessments
Dear Otto is an occasional column where I answer questions I get from readers about teaching tech. If you have...
08/22/14 - Great (Free) Lesson Plans
Here’s a list of over seventy-five lesson plans free for your use. They’re organized by: subject software/tool grade You just...
08/20/14 - Humor that Inspires–for Teachers! Part IV
If you liked the last Humor that Inspires (Part 1, and Part 2 and Part 3), here are more to...
08/19/14 - Tech Tip #93: Auto-fill for Internet Addresses
As a working technology teacher, I get hundreds of questions from parents about their home computers, how to do stuff,...
08/18/14 - Dear Otto: What’s a good Technology Acceptable Use Policy?
Dear Otto is an occasional column where I answer questions I get from readers about teaching tech. If you have...
08/15/14 - 12 Websites to Teach Mouse Skills
One of the most important pre-keyboarding skills is how to use the mouse. The mouse hold is not intuitive and...
08/12/14 - Book Review: Common Core Literacy for ELA
Common Core Literacy for ELA, History/Social Studies, and the Humanities: Strategies to Deepen Content Knowledge (Grades 6-12) by Katherine S....
08/11/14 - Tech Tip #92: Roll Back Windows Update
As a working technology teacher, I get hundreds of questions from parents about their home computers, how to do stuff,...
08/08/14 - 50 Special Needs Tools
So much available to differentiate for every student’s special need. Here are 50 apps and websites (check here for updated...
08/07/14 - What’s the Classroom of the Future Look Like?
Education is changing. Teachers no longer primly lecture from the front of the class. Students don’t fervently copy the instructors...
07/31/14 - Applying to be a tech teacher? Here’s what you should say
Are you applying to be a tech teacher–wondering whether you know enough or have what it takes? Is it making...
07/30/14 - Challenges to Implementing Computer Technology in Education
What no teacher ever says: “I had no problem using technology in my classroom.” Even if YOU understand the plethora...
07/29/14 - “Our children love being tested”–Here’s Why
There have been a number of stories about the failure of tablet technology in schools. 3rd grade teacher Michele Rice at Prairie Elementary School...
07/28/14 - 3 Problems to Address Before Blogging at Your School
Dear Otto is an occasional column where I answer questions I get from readers about teaching tech. For your privacy,...
07/25/14 - 29 Online Educational Activities Kids Will Love This Summer
What are we as parents and teachers most worried about over the summer? That kids will lose that education sharp...
07/24/14 - 22 Tips on How to Work Remotely
I first considered this topic at a presentation I attended through WordCamp Orange County 2014. I had several trips coming...
07/22/14 - Dear Otto: Best Practices for New Teachers About Tech
Dear Otto is an occasional column where I answer questions I get from readers about teaching tech. For your privacy,...
07/21/14 - 14 Action Items, 5 Take-aways and 3 Tidbits from the TpT Conference
1.6 million teachers buy from Teachers Pay Teachers. Over 90,000,000 people visit the website monthly. If you’re a teacher, why...
07/15/14 - 13 Ways Blogs Teach Common Core
If you aren’t blogging with your students, you’re missing one of the most effective tools available for improving student literacy...
07/11/14 - Weekend Websites: 25 Keyboarding Websites
If summer is when your children are absolutely positively going to catch up on keyboarding, here’s a list of 32...
07/08/14 - How to Teach Students to Solve Problems
Of all the skills students learn in school, problem solving arguably is the most valuable and the hardest to learn....
07/07/14 - 18 Take-aways from ISTE–Observations, Tips and Great Digital Tools
ISTE was everything I expected–energizing, motivating, collegial and crowded. Very very crowded. Lots of events were packed–if you didn’t get...
07/07/14 - Tech Tip #91: Internet Problem? Switch Browsers
As a working technology teacher, I get hundreds of questions from parents about their home computers, how to do stuff,...
07/04/14 - Happy July 4th!
It’s America’s birthday and I’m celebrating. What I write today will be… anything I want–gibberish, a short story, guest articles...
06/30/14 - 8 Web Tools To Add Pizazz to the End of School
There is no end to the number of online tools available. I get inundated with them by friends (My child...
06/25/14 - How do I teach a program I don’t know how to use?
I am constantly finding new programs I think would be perfect in the classroom. I might see colleagues using them...
06/23/14 - 7–no 10, wait 12–OK, 13 Skills I Teach With Blogging
Blogging has become de rigeur in the Grade 3-8 classroom. It is flexible, scalable, and encourages diversity in both learning...
06/20/14 - 38 Art Websites for K-8
If your children are eager to be creative this summer, but addicted to computers, try these wonderful art-oriented websites. For...
06/19/14 - ISTE 2014
ISTE 2014 is fast approaching. This is the most popular meet-and-greet/training conference in all of tech ed. It’s four days...
06/18/14 - Chinese Class vs. American Class
An efriend and former NYC teacher, Steve Koss taught in China (winner of a top spot on the annual PISA...
06/17/14 - Top Ten Reasons for signing up for Summer PD
If you haven’t yet made the decision to join me at Summer PD for three-weeks of high-intensity tech integration, here...
06/16/14 - Tech Tip #90: Don’t Be Afraid of Mulligans
As a working technology teacher, I get hundreds of questions from parents about their home computers, how to do stuff,...
06/12/14 - 12 Take-aways from WordCamp Orange County
This past weekend I attended the fifth annual Orange County California two-day geek WordCamp (#wcoc). These are affordable tech-centric events...
06/11/14 - Update Your Online Presence
For most teachers I know, life zooms by with few breaks to clean up the clutter and confusion that grows...
06/10/14 - Tech Tip #89: Use Keyboard Shortcuts With Students
As a working technology teacher, I get hundreds of questions from parents about their home computers, how to do stuff,...
06/09/14 - Dear Otto: Should I fix ‘Thumb clicking’?
Dear Otto is an occasional column where I answer questions I get from readers about teaching tech. For your privacy,...
06/06/14 - 252 Favorite IPad Apps for your Classroom
App use is taking over classrooms, but what as teachers really want are authentic, educational apps that promote higher order...
06/05/14 - What’s Trending on Ask a Tech Teacher
In the past six months, I’ve posted over 130 articles on topics ranging from tech ed trends to how-tos, problem...
06/04/14 - 5 Must-have tools for Ed Conferences
It’s summer, time for teachers to recharge their cerebral batteries. That could mean reading, going on field trips, spending time...
06/02/14 - Tech Tip #87: Image Your Computer
As a working technology teacher, I get hundreds of questions from parents about their home computers, how to do stuff,...
05/30/14 - 243 Great Resources for Teachers to Use in Classrooms
243 Great resources for teachers–I’ve collected them for you under 43 categories. Click here to find the links: Analyze, Compare/Contrast...
05/29/14 - WordCamp Orange County 2014
I signed up to to to WordPress WordCamp Orange County 2014 as soon as I heard about it. I was...
05/27/14 - Tech Tip #88: 20 Techie Problems Every Student Can Fix
There are about twenty problems that cause eighty percent of the tech stoppages. I’m going to tell you what those...
05/26/14 - Happy Memorial Day
I’m taking the day to honor our soldiers. Without their sacrifice, where would we be? Like this:Like Loading...
05/23/14 - 17 Memorial Day Websites for Students
Memorial Day is the time we remember all of those soldiers (and anyone in the Armed Forces) who gave their...
05/21/14 - 22 Ways Any Teacher Can (and Should) Use Technology
If your state adopted Common Core, 75% of you will administer yearly assessments online. If students haven’t used online tools...
05/19/14 - Tech Tip #86: Back up Your Computer
As a working technology teacher, I get hundreds of questions from parents about their home computers, how to do stuff,...
05/16/14 - Use Google Safe Search
I teach K-5 technology. A constant problem is finding websites that communicate in language elementary school students can understand. I've tried the kid browser, but they are sometimes too limited in their content. Google's advanced search, rolled out in December 2010, is a better solution.
05/15/14 - Book Review: Endangered Minds
Endangered Minds: Why Children Don’t Think And What We Can Do About It by Jane M. Healy My rating: 5...
05/14/14 - 5 Apps to Help You Reach Your Zen
Teachers work hard. We start before students arrive at school, spend hours after school tutoring, in faculty meetings, and chatting...
05/12/14 - Tech Tip #85: Browser Problem? Switch Browsers
As a working technology teacher, I get hundreds of questions from parents about their home computers, how to do stuff,...
05/10/14 - Educational Advice From Finland
I’m thrilled to have Maria Lindqvist from Finnish educational social media platform, Petra’s Planet for Schools, as my guest here...
05/09/14 - Happy Mother’s Day!
Mother’s Day in the United States is annually held on the second Sunday of May. This year, that’s May 11th....
05/08/14 - 8 Digital Ways to End the School Year and Prepare for Next Year
If you’ve been swearing all year to get students online using some of those amazing digital tools. I have some...
05/05/14 - Tech Tip #84: How to Find the Follow-up Folder in Outlook
As a working technology teacher, I get hundreds of questions from parents about their home computers, how to do stuff,...
05/02/14 - 5 Programs That Make Digital Note-taking Easy
The 2008 Leadership and Learning Center reported on the importance of note-taking in the classroom: In schools where writing and...
05/01/14 - 10 Factors to Inform Tech Assessment
It used to be simple to post grades. Add up the test scores and see what the student earned. Very...
04/30/14 - 5 Ways to Cure Technophobia in the Classroom
The British-based Telegraph recently posted an article about how technophobia could hold back the use of technology in the classroom....
04/29/14 - Best Online Activities for Kids
As a homeschool mom, today’s guest, Catherine Ross, has to juggle lots of activities–and do it by herself. I’m always...
04/28/14 - Tech Tip #83: How Do I Use a ‘Read Only’ Doc?
As a working technology teacher, I get hundreds of questions from parents about their home computers, how to do stuff,...
04/26/14 - Getting Started with Ask a Tech Teacher–Here’s How
A new page-–Getting Started–-to guide you through. It includes: newsletters available columns available Hall of Fame articles how/where to find...
04/24/14 - 19 Topics to Teach in Digital Citizenship–and How
Recently, Common Sense Media named Ask a Tech Teacher as one of the 2014 blogs to watch on the topic...
04/23/14 - Why use a Digital Portfolio–and 9 ways to do it
At a certain point in a student’s education journey, they start having a lot of school work that needs to...
04/22/14 - Dear Otto: How do I prepare students for PARCC Tests?
Dear Otto is an occasional column where I answer questions I get from readers about teaching tech. For your privacy,...
04/21/14 - Tech Tip #82: My Picture’s a TIFF and the Program Needs a JPG
As a working technology teacher, I get hundreds of questions from parents about their home computers, how to do stuff,...
04/19/14 - Ask a Tech Teacher Hall of Fame–Check These Out
We’ve finally collected all of your favorite articles into one spot–the Ask a Tech Teacher Hall of Fame. These are...
04/18/14 - 12 Great Websites for Earth Day
April 22nd is Earth Day. Celebrate it with your students by letting them visit these six websites: Breathing Earth Breathing...
04/17/14 - Do You Miss Kerpoof? Try These 31 Alternatives
Kerpoof closed down April 15, 2014. A staple in thousands of classrooms across the country, it is sorely missed by...
04/16/14 - How Minecraft Teaches Reading, Writing and Problem Solving
Last month, Scientific American declared “…“not only is Minecraft immersive and creative, but it is an excellent platform for making...
04/14/14 - Tech Tip #81: I Have Office 2010; Everyone Else Has 2003–They Can’t Read My Stuff
As a working technology teacher, I get hundreds of questions from parents about their home computers, how to do stuff,...
04/12/14 - Bammy Award in Ed
Woah–I’ve been nominated for a Bammy Award in the category of School Technologist by the Academy of Education Arts and...
04/11/14 - Websites that Teach Your Kids About Money
This post is from 2014 so has lost a few of the links. You’ll find good replacements on this list...
04/10/14 - 3 Apps that Boost Creativity
There are so many apps out there, I can’t keep up–and I’m supposed to. I’m the tech teacher. I used...
04/09/14 - 18 Things You Know If You’ve Been Reading This Blog
Computer technology isn’t as hard as it sounds, but it does require consistent use. You can’t learn a skill and...
04/07/14 - 8 Google Apps Tricks Every Teacher Should Know
The more I use Google Apps–Sheets, Slides, Docs, , the more of a fan I become. The facility for collaboration,...
04/04/14 - 16 Poetry Websites for Poetry Month
Try these with your students during April–Poetry month (for the most UTD list, click here)! Favorite Poem Project Fill-in-the-blank poetry—easy...
04/03/14 - Common Core Writing–Digital Quick Writes
Here’s a free lesson plan from the newest Ask a Tech Teacher book, How to Achieve Common Core with Tech–the...
04/02/14 - Book Review: Google Apps Meets Common Core
Google Apps Meets Common Core by Michael J. Graham My rating: 5 of 5 stars View all my reviews Michael...
03/31/14 - Tech Tip #80: My Internet Stopped Working
As a working technology teacher, I get hundreds of questions from parents about their home computers, how to do stuff,...
03/28/14 - 149 Websites for K-8 Geography/Geology
If you’re studying geography in your classroom, you won’t want to miss these 149 great websites. I have them divided...
03/26/14 - 4 Subjects Every Teacher Must Teach and How
Teaching technology is not sharing a new subject, like Spanish or math. It’s exploring an education tool, knowing how to...
03/25/14 - 12 Spring Cleaning Steps for Your Computer
It’s time for Spring Cleaning. Of your computer. If you followed my suggestion over New Year’s, this will go faster...
03/24/14 - Tech Tip #79: Saving Your File so Everyone Can Read it
As a working technology teacher, I get hundreds of questions from parents about their home computers, how to do stuff,...
03/21/14 - 6 Websites That Ring in Spring
The temperatures are freezing on the East Coast, but Spring is right around the corner and we as teachers must...
03/19/14 - 5 Reasons Class Size Does NOT Matter and 3 Why Large is a Good Thing
Are you drowning in students, sure that the flood of bodies that enter your classroom daily will destroy your effectiveness?...
03/18/14 - Tech Tip #77: Laptop Frozen? Here’s Another Solution
As a working technology teacher, I get hundreds of questions from parents about their home computers, how to do stuff,...
03/17/14 - Dear Otto: How do I use avatars?
Dear Otto is an occasional column where I answer questions I get from readers about teaching tech. If you have...
03/13/14 - Book Review: Photoshop Elements 12
Photoshop Elements 12: The Missing Manual by Barbara Brundage My rating: 5 of 5 stars View all my reviews I...
03/12/14 - 18 Things Teachers Do Before 8am
This is inspired by Jennifer Cohen over at Forbes who wrote a wonderful article on “5 Things Super Successful People...
03/11/14 - Tech Tip #76: Laptop Frozen? Here’s What You Do
As a working technology teacher, I get hundreds of questions from parents about their home computers, how to do stuff,...
03/10/14 - Dear Otto: How do you teach file types?
Dear Otto is an occasional column where I answer questions I get from readers about teaching tech. If you have...
03/07/14 - 17 St. Patrick’s Day Sites For Students
Getting ready for St. Patrick’s Day? Try these fun websites: Color the shamrock Color the Pot-o-gold Color the leprechaun Coloring–More...
03/06/14 - 6 Steps to a Successful Tablet Roll-out
I’ve posted a few articles on the growing trend in education toward using tablets. I wanted to follow up with...
03/05/14 - Dear Otto: Are there any Good Keyboarding Apps?
Dear Otto is an occasional column where I answer questions I get from readers about teaching tech. If you have...
03/03/14 - I Can Solve That Problem…
I love teaching problem solving in the classroom. It’s authentic, rigorous, and often amazing to students. They think the first...
02/28/14 - Read Across America Day
Many people in the United States, particularly students, parents and teachers, join forces on Read Across America Day, annually held...
02/26/14 - What do you do when Little Johnny wants career, not college?
Common Core promises college and career, either/or, but what if you as a parent have been thinking ‘college’ so long,...
02/25/14 - 4 myths to bust about game-based learning
This is a hot topic with many of my teacher friends. Recently, I spent a wonderful hour chatting with efriend,...
02/24/14 - Tech Tip #75: What’s My IP Address
As a working technology teacher, I get hundreds of questions from parents about their home computers, how to do stuff,...
02/20/14 - 13 Reasons For and 3 Against Technology in the Classroom
For the 45 states who opted into Common Core, using technology in the classroom is no longer a choice–it’s required....
02/18/14 - Dear Otto: What Online Parental Controls Work?
Dear Otto is an occasional column where I answer questions I get from readers about teaching tech. If you have...
02/17/14 - Happy President’s Day!
Presidents’ Day is an American holiday celebrated on the third Monday in February. Originally established in 1885 in recognition of...
02/14/14 - Weekend Websites: Mouse Skills
Here are some of my favorite websites to teach mouse skills to kindergarten and 1st grade. It’s from my collection...
02/12/14 - Definition of ‘Teacher’
I heard from several friends at a non-denominational school I’m close to that rules regarding prayer in the classroom have...
02/11/14 - Tech Tip #73: Alt+??? Brings up which Menu Command?
As a working technology teacher, I get hundreds of questions from parents about their home computers, how to do stuff,...
02/07/14 - 16 Valentine Sites For Your Students
Here are some fun Valentine sites to fill those few minutes betwixt and between lessons, projects, bathroom breaks, lunch, and...
02/06/14 - 8 Education Tools That Are Going Away
If you don’t have children, you may not have noticed the massive changes going on in how students learn. Where...
02/05/14 - BYOD–the lowdown in one article
In 2010, ‘BYOD’ officially entered the national lexicon with this pronouncement in the National Education Technology Plan: Only with 24/7...
02/04/14 - Tech Tip #72: How to Move Pics Around in Documents
As a working technology teacher, I get hundreds of questions from parents about their home computers, how to do stuff,...
02/03/14 - Technology and Online Education Give Students Magical Possibilities
Sara Stringer has a great post that mixes the miracle of technologic tools–straight out of StarTrek (or Harry Potter) with...
01/31/14 - 21 Websites with Data on Tech Ed
I’ve added a new page where I’m collecting data on technology in education. It’s new right now, but drop by...
01/30/14 - 7 Education Trends You Don’t Want to Miss
It’s 2014–an era of increased understanding, patience, creativity… And technology. Really? Wasn’t that last year’s educational buzzword? Why can’t that...
01/29/14 - What Tomorrow’s Teachers are Planning for Our Kids
Today I have a guest post from Sam Melton. Sam is in his final year at Winthrop University studying Middle...
01/28/14 - Dear Otto: How do I grade technology in my school?
Dear Otto is an occasional column where I answer questions I get from readers about teaching tech. If you have...
01/27/14 - 9 Mistakes Teachers Make Using Tech in the Classroom
It’s easy to confuse ‘using technology’ with digital tools. Your school bought iPads and passed them out to all classes....
01/25/14 - 1.69 Million Hits–Wow
I have to pause a moment to thank all of you for that amazing number. Who would have thought three-and-a-half...
01/24/14 - 21 Google Apps for Education Resources
Here’s a great list of resources if you’re using Google Apps for Education in your classroom. And–if you have the...
01/23/14 - 11 Things I Love About Common Core
America’s first public school opened in the mid-1600’s to only a handful of hungry students. Most colonists agreed education should...
01/22/14 - Top 5 Dear Otto Columns in 2013
Dear Otto is an occasional column where I answer questions I get from readers about teaching tech. I am always...
01/21/14 - 13 Tips To Speed Up Your Computer
That’s right. It’s a new year, which means Pre-Spring Cleaning. Set aside the brushes and mops. Grab a comfortable chair,...
01/18/14 - Who Am I? Sandy Wants to Know
In December, I was tagged by efriend and fellow tech educator Sandy Kendell for the Sunshine Award. I rarely respond...
01/15/14 - #49: California Missions Project–in Publisher
Millions of third graders study California missions. Here’s a great project that brings it to life with some writing, lots...
01/11/14 - New Statistics Linking Music Education to Cognitive Development
Cognitively, we all agree music, math and education are interwoven. Whether teacher or parent, stakeholders in the college- and career-readiness...
01/07/14 - 10 Top Click-throughs from 2013
I include lots of links for my readers to places that will help them integrate technology into education. They cover...

2013 (201)

12/20/13 - Happy Holiday!
I’ll be taking a week (or so) off–until after the New Year–to prepare for my son (visiting from Kuwait), edit/format...
12/19/13 - Where’d Christmas Come From:
Watch this video and come away educated: _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Jacqui Murray has been teaching K-8 technology for 15 years. She is...
12/18/13 - Once a Year Blog Maintenance–Are You Up to Date?
This week, I’m providing tips for end-of-year technology maintenance. Sure, you should do it once a month if you’re active...
12/17/13 - End-of-year Tech Tips: Image Your Computer
This week, I’m providing tips for how to prepare for the New Year–that pesky end-of-year technology maintenance. Sure, you should...
12/16/13 - End-of-Year Tech Tips: Back Up Your Computer
This week, I’m providing tips for how to prepare for the New Year–that pesky end-of-year technology maintenance. Sure, you should...
12/14/13 - Tablets for younger children can increase knowledge and skills
I am thrilled to have Jamie Hill as my guest writer today. She’s a stay-at-home mom who loves technology and...
12/13/13 - Weekend Website: Hunger Games
I’d like to welcome Michelle Mano as my guest blogger today. As a former classroom teacher who understands the importance...
12/12/13 - The Tablet’s ‘Killer App’
Kids love tablets (spelled I-P-A-D). It doesn’t matter that they won’t run most software, don’t have USB ports, have no...
12/11/13 - Dear Otto: What do I do with students who ‘get’ tech really fast?
Dear Otto is an occasional column where I answer questions I get from readers about teaching tech. If you have...
12/10/13 - Tech Tip: Back up Your Blog for the Holiday!
As a working technology teacher, I get hundreds of questions from parents about their home computers, how to do stuff,...
12/09/13 - How Has the Internet Changed Education
Sure, we all know that as a subjective, gut-level judgment, but is there data to prove it? Oh yeah. Look...
12/06/13 - Hue HD–Webcam, Doc camera, Versatile Friend
I get a lot of questions from readers about affordable document cameras. They’re hard to come by, but I think...
12/05/13 - 18 Holiday Websites For Your Students
Need a few websites to fill in sponge time? Here are Holiday websites that will keep students busy while teaching...
12/04/13 - Common Core Reading–What if Students Don’t Like Reading
Here’s a free lesson plan from the newest Ask a Tech Teacher book, How to Achieve Common Core with Tech–the...
12/02/13 - Tech Tip #71: Visit Foreign Language Google Search
As a working technology teacher, I get hundreds of questions from parents about their home computers, how to do stuff,...
11/23/13 - Twitter and the Teacher
Before I discuss Twitter, Tweets, and the K-12 teacher, watch this video (click the image), see what you think: I...
11/22/13 - Weekend Website 40: NORAD Santa
It’s the time of year when inquiring young minds want to know–Where’s Santa? Here’s a great website to answer that...
11/21/13 - Happy Thanksgiving Week
I’m taking next week off. I’ll be preparing for my daughter’s holiday visit from her new home in DC. I...
11/20/13 - Common Core: A Lesson Plan for STEM (on Bridges)
Here’s a free lesson plan from the newest Ask a Tech Teacher book, How to Achieve Common Core with Tech–the...
11/19/13 - Why We Differentiate
We all have that student who just doesn’t get what we’re saying. We want to blame him/her–may even start that...
11/18/13 - 10 Ways Any Teacher Can (and Should) Use Technology
Common Core notes: New technologies have broadened and expanded the role that speaking and listening play in acquiring and sharing...
11/16/13 - How is Technology Useful in Skill Building?
Today, I have a guest post from Matt Quibly, webmaster for a fascinating website called Qui.bly. It has a forum...
11/15/13 - 20 Programming Websites for K-8
December 9-15, Computer Science Education will host the Hour Of Code–a one hour introduction to students on coding, programming, and...
11/14/13 - Common Core Language: Teach Your Students to Speak Like a Geek
Here’s a free lesson plan from the newest Ask a Tech Teacher book, How to Achieve Common Core with Tech–the...
11/13/13 - Dear Otto: How do I assess a project like Movie Maker?
Dear Otto is an occasional column where I answer questions I get from readers about teaching tech. If you have...
11/12/13 - Common Core Language: Teach Your Students to Speak Like a Geek
Here’s a free lesson plan from the newest Ask a Tech Teacher book, How to Achieve Common Core with Tech–the...
11/11/13 - Today we Honor Veterans
In the USA, Veterans Day annually falls on November 11. This day is the anniversary of the signing of the...
11/10/13 - Freebies #19: My Bookcover in KidPix
Draw a cover for a classroom project or unit of inquiry or use one of Kidpix’s templates. Have students nicely mix text and pictures for an attractive design. Introduce KidPix fonts, font sizes, font colors to grade 1
11/08/13 - 18 Thanksgiving Sites For Your Students
Need a few websites to fill in sponge time? Here are Thanksgiving sites that will keep students busy and still...
11/07/13 - What You Need to Know about Kidproofing the Internet
How to keep their children safe online is a constant question from parents at my school. They ask about firewalls,...
11/05/13 - Dear Otto: Is it important that students use all fingers when typing?
Dear Otto is an occasional column where I answer questions I get from readers about teaching tech. If you have...
11/04/13 - How Do You Grade Tech? I Have 14 Ideas
It used to be simple to post grades. Add up test scores and see what the student earned. Very defensible....
11/03/13 - What’s a Tech Teacher Do All Day?
When you accepted the job to be your school’s tech teacher, you were probably excited, visions of cutting edge equipment...
11/01/13 - What is the Flipped Classroom
When I was editing the 8th grade tech curriculum, I got wowed by ‘infographics’–a visual approach to communicating information. Yes,...
10/28/13 - Tech Tip #69:Change Size of Desktop Icons
As a working technology teacher, I get hundreds of questions from parents about their home computers, how to do stuff,...
10/25/13 - 28 Halloween Sites for your Students
Here’s a short list of fun Halloween websites for your students. Enjoy! Ben & Jerry Billy Bear’s Carving Pumpkins DigCit...
10/24/13 - 6 Things I Wish I’d Known When I Started Blogging
Yesterday, I talked about students blogging. Today, let’s look at teachers blogging. I’ve been doing this for about four years...
10/23/13 - Dear Otto: What about blogging?
Dear Otto is an occasional column where I answer questions I get from readers about teaching tech. If you have...
10/22/13 - Common Core Breathes Life into Keyboarding
As you read the 100+ pages of Common Core’s ELA and Math standards, you realized that technology is woven throughout...
10/21/13 - Tech Tip #68: Check History in Your Browser
As a working technology teacher, I get hundreds of questions from parents about their home computers, how to do stuff,...
10/18/13 - Weekend Website #135: Samorost
Drop by every Friday to discover what wonderful website my classes and parents loved this week. I think you’ll find...
10/17/13 - 12 Tips for Teaching Middle School Tech
Middle Schoolers are a special breed. They definitely need to learn productivity software like word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, but I’ve...
10/16/13 - Dear Otto: How do I teach Google Drive to K/1?
Dear Otto is an occasional column where I answer questions I get from readers about teaching tech. If you have...
10/15/13 - Tech Tip #67: How to Add Accents and more
As a working technology teacher, I get hundreds of questions from parents about their home computers, how to do stuff,...
10/14/13 - Columbus Day
Columbus Day, which is annually on the second Monday of October (this year, October 14th), remembers Christopher Columbus’ arrival to...
10/13/13 - #50: American Revolution Magazine in Publisher
This project includes everything the student user will require throughout high school. It has so many skills, every student will...
10/11/13 - Kids News Websites
Here’s a list of student-oriented news websites to get students interested in current events: Allsides (news stories compared across multiple political...
10/09/13 - Is Handwriting So Last Generation–Redux
I wrote about the demise of handwriting 2.5 years ago. Seems even truer now than then. One problem for both...
10/08/13 - Dear Otto: How do I teach Inquiry and Research in Middle School
Dear Otto is an occasional column where I answer questions I get from readers about teaching tech. If you have...
10/07/13 - New Students? 7 Tips to Differentiate with Tech
There are two areas where technology can optimize learning better than any other educational strategy. I’m not talking about iPads...
10/03/13 - Teach Digital Citizenship with … Minecraft
The hottest topic in my elementary school tech classroom is Minecraft–and has been for several years. So I was thrilled...
10/02/13 - 11 Things I wish I’d Known Before Becoming a Tech Teacher
Most of the teachers I know didn’t set out to be a tech teachers. They got here via the PE...
10/02/13 - 5 Sure-fire Ways to Teach Vocabulary
Have you ever been around someone who knows exactly the right word when they talk? Don’t you conclude they’re smart?...
09/30/13 - 12 Tips on Handling Hard-to-teach Classes
You know the type. One student thinks it’s his job to entertain everyone. Another hates school so wants everyone to...
09/30/13 - Tech Tip #66: Zoom In/Out of Websites
As a working technology teacher, I get hundreds of questions from parents about their home computers, how to do stuff,...
09/25/13 - 5 FREE Web Tools for a New School Year
When you were a child, your parents worried that the educational content you were learning might be out of date....
09/24/13 - Dear Otto: What’s a typical lesson
Dear Otto is an occasional column where I answer questions I get from readers about teaching tech. If you have...
09/23/13 - Tech Tips #114: Embed Google Docs
As a working technology teacher, I get hundreds of questions from parents about their home computers, how to do stuff,...
09/20/13 - Weekend Websites: 22 Culture Websites
There are a lot of good culture websites. Here are 22 from my collection: Like this:Like Loading...
09/19/13 - How to Teach Students: Teach Their Parents
If parents don’t find value in tech, students won’t. If parents are confused by what you teach, they will pass...
09/18/13 - Dear Otto: What’s a good kids website creator?
Dear Otto is an occasional column where I answer questions I get from readers about teaching tech. If you have...
09/17/13 - 5 Free Digital Tools for the No Budget Classroom
Something has changed in education content delivery, thanks to companies like Google, Khan Academy, MIT. When these industry leaders (and...
09/16/13 - Tech Tip #103: Need Email Accounts for Registration? Here’s a Fix–Update
As a working technology teacher, I get hundreds of questions from parents about their home computers, how to do stuff,...
09/11/13 - 9/11… We Remember
America, we love you. Like this:Like Loading...
09/10/13 - Tech Tip #65: Google Street View
As a working technology teacher, I get hundreds of questions from parents about their home computers, how to do stuff,...
09/09/13 - 25 Techie Problems Every Student Can Fix–Update
The Number One reason–according to students–why their computer doesn’t work is… It’s broken. Can I move to a different computer???...
09/04/13 - How to set up your tech classroom
If you teach technology, you want to set the lab up so it’s inviting, non-intimidating, but doesn’t hide from the...
09/02/13 - Happy Labor Day!
Labor Day is annually held on the first Monday of September (this year, September 2nd). It was originally organized to...
08/30/13 - 7 Labor Day Websites
Monday, September 2nd, is America’s Labor Day. It was originally organized to celebrate labor association strengths and contributions to the...
08/29/13 - Dear Otto: Lab Teacher or Integration Specialist
Dear Otto is an occasional column where I answer questions I get from readers about teaching tech. If you have...
08/27/13 - 6 Ways to Say Bye Bye Binders
3-ring binders–the mainstay of education for decades–now seem clunky, heavy, unwieldy even.. You never have a hole punch when you...
08/26/13 - Tech Tip #64: Reset Default Font
As a working technology teacher, I get hundreds of questions from parents about their home computers, how to do stuff,...
08/23/13 - Weekend Websites: 52 Economics Websites
As a passionate Economics major in college (which grew into an MBA), I find Econ at the root of much...
08/22/13 - New Tech Teacher? I Understand You
If you teach technology, it’s likely you’re a geek. Even if you didn’t start out that way–say, you used to...
08/20/13 - 5 Digital Tools Parents Will Love
Too often, like it or not, technology makes parents squirm. Few moms and dads embrace questions that start, ‘How do...
08/19/13 - Tech Tip #63: Don’t Like Double Space Between Paragraphs?
As a working technology teacher, I get hundreds of questions from parents about their home computers, how to do stuff,...
08/16/13 - 34 Categories–Over 500 Links–of K-8 Links for Your Classes
I’ve spent a good chunk of time this summer updating my link collections so they are easier to wander through...
08/15/13 - 5 Tech Ed Tools to Use this Fall
Technology has become synonymous with education reform. Like starter on a barbeque, squirt around enough iPads and digital tools and...
08/13/13 - Dear Otto: Use Tech to Differentiate Lessons?
Dear Otto is an occasional column where I answer questions I get from readers about teaching tech. If you have...
08/12/13 - Tech Tip #62: Email from Word (Or PowerPoint or Excel)
As a working technology teacher, I get hundreds of questions from parents about their home computers, how to do stuff,...
08/09/13 - 163 Websites for Teachers to Integrate Tech into Your Classroom
This list has a little bit of everything, and will kick-start your effort to put technology into your lesson plans...
08/06/13 - Dear Otto: How do I teach [wild and crazy] 7th Grade Tech?
Dear Otto is an occasional column where I answer questions I get from readers about teaching tech. If you have...
08/05/13 - Tech Tip #61: How to Get Youngers to Use the Right Mouse Button
As a working technology teacher, I get hundreds of questions from parents about their home computers, how to do stuff,...
08/02/13 - 5 Must-have tools for Ed Conferences
It’s summer, time for teachers to recharge their cerebral batteries. That could mean reading, going on field trips, spending time...
07/30/13 - Common Core requires publishing. Technology makes that happen
There are a variety of overarching themes in Common Core–‘integrate technology into classroom inquiry’, ‘encourage collaboration and sharing in student...
07/29/13 - Book Review: Common Core Lesson Plans
THE KEY TO ALIGNING YOUR K-5 CLASS WITH COMMON CORE STATE STANDARDS 30 Projects that integrate technology into core lesson...
07/29/13 - Tech Tip #60: How to Add Shortcuts to the Desktop
As a working technology teacher, I get hundreds of questions from parents about their home computers, how to do stuff,...
07/26/13 - 93 First Grade Websites That Tie into Classroom Lessons
These are my 93 favorite first grade websites. I sprinkle them in throughout the year, adding several each week to...
07/24/13 - Dear Otto: Common Core requires publishing student work. How do I do that?
Dear Otto is an occasional column where I answer questions I get from readers about teaching tech. If you have...
07/23/13 - Tech Tip #59: Shortkey for the Copyright Symbol
As a working technology teacher, I get hundreds of questions from parents about their home computers, how to do stuff,...
07/20/13 - Book Review: 55 Tech Projects for the Digital Classroom
With the school year on its way back, I want to share some of the tech books I use in...
07/17/13 - Dear Otto: What are Common Core keyboarding standards?
Dear Otto is an occasional column where I answer questions I get from readers about teaching tech. If you have...
07/15/13 - Humor that Inspires–for Teachers! Part III
If you liked the last Humor that Inspires (Part 1 and Part 2), here are more to kick-start your day:...
07/12/13 - 169 Kindergarten Websites That Tie into Classroom Inquiry
These are my 120 favorite kindergarten websites. I sprinkle them in throughout the year, adding several each week to the...
07/11/13 - Literacy In K-5 Classrooms
Cheryl Lyman has 12 years experience teaching K-12 computer science, most recently at McDonald Elementary in Pennsylvania as Instructional Technology...
07/10/13 - 9 Reasons For Online Training and 5 Against
A few weeks ago, I polled you-all about your interest in online training. The results were mixed. Setting aside the...
07/09/13 - Tech Tip #56: Force a New Page
As a working technology teacher, I get hundreds of questions from parents about their home computers, how to do stuff,...
07/08/13 - Dear Otto: How do I teach keyboarding in a 25-minute class?
Dear Otto is an occasional column where I answer questions I get from readers about teaching tech. If you have...
07/05/13 - Weekend Websites: 50 websites about animals
Here are 50 animal websites for grades K-5, everything from Dinosaurs to the wildly popular Wolfquest (click here for updates):...
07/04/13 - Happy July 4th!
It’s America’s birthday and I’m celebrating. What I write today will be… anything I want–gibberish, a short story, guest articles...
07/03/13 - Handwriting vs. Keyboarding–from a Student’s Perspective
Every year, I have 4th-grade students compare handwriting speed to keyboarding speed. We run it like an experiment. we discuss...
07/02/13 - How to Instill Digital Citizenship in Students
What is a parent’s greatest fear that first day they drop their precious child at kindergarten? You might think it’s...
06/30/13 - 5 Great Tech Ed Blogs You May Not Have Heard Of
Here are five more of the blogs I read to get inspired, motivated, re-energized: Cybraryman–a massive resource of materials curated...
06/27/13 - You’re a Geek Now
If you teach technology, it’s likely you’re a geek. Even if you didn’t start out that way–say, you used to...
06/25/13 - Tech Tip #55: Find a Lost Shortcut
As a working technology teacher, I get hundreds of questions from parents about their home computers, how to do stuff,...
06/24/13 - Do you like Online Training?
I have just started working with an online teacher training group called Curriculum Study Group. We offer online training to...
06/24/13 - #48: Sponge Activities for Geography
Introduce students to web-based geography activities that can be done in five or ten minutes between lessons, before lunch, in...
06/21/13 - Weekend Website #133: Embeddable Puzzles
It’s the time of year when children are looking for entertainment and parents want something fun to keep their cerebral...
06/19/13 - Book Review: K-8 Keyboard Curriculum
K-8 Keyboard Curriculum: The Essential Guide to Teaching Keyboarding in 45 Minutes a Week You may think it impossible to...
06/18/13 - Tech Tip #54: How to Auto Forward a PowerPoint Slideshow
As a working technology teacher, I get hundreds of questions from parents about their home computers, how to do stuff,...
06/17/13 - What’s a Tech Teacher Do With Their Summer Off?
UPDATE Are you going on road trips? Are you playing with your children, seeing friends you forgot existed, or engaging...
06/16/13 - Happy Father’s Day!
Father’s Day in the United States is on the third Sunday of June, this year on June 16th. It celebrates...
06/15/13 - Book Review: K-8 Digital Citizenship Curriculum
Education has changed. No longer is it contained within four classroom walls or the physical site of a school building....
06/15/13 - 24 Keyboarding Websites for Summer
Did you promise that this summer, your child would learn to type with more than two fingers, keep his eyes...
06/14/13 - Humor that Inspires–for Teachers! Part III
If you liked the last Humor that Inspires (Part 1 and Part 2), here are more to kick-start your day:...
06/12/13 - 10 Steps to Tech Saviness This Summer
Summer is for change. Out with routine, in with spontaneity. When you were in high school, that meant relaxing, seeing...
06/11/13 - Tech Tip #53: How to Pin Any Program to the Start Menu
As a working technology teacher, I get hundreds of questions from parents about their home computers, how to do stuff,...
06/09/13 - #47: Tour the World—with a PowerPoint Slideshow
Use the research done for #40. Use a guidesheet to lay out what is on each slides, i.e., a cover,...
06/08/13 - In My Opinion
A Parent’s Perspective on education… Parents do not always see things as we–the teacher–do. It is refreshing to have them...
06/07/13 - Weekend Website #130: EngageNY
Every week, I share a website that inspired my students. Here’s one that I’ve found effective in supporting the pedagogic...
06/06/13 - Can’t Attend ISTE 2013? Try this
Can’t attend ISTE 2013 in person? Not to worry—now you can access many of the same great sessions that our...
06/05/13 - 5 Digital Goals for You This Summer
Ah, summer. Is it really that time again? It’s hard to believe those amazing children I started with in September...
06/04/13 - Tech Tip #52: Roll Your Computer Back to a Problem-Free Date
As a working technology teacher, I get hundreds of questions from parents about their home computers, how to do stuff,...
05/30/13 - 7 Digital Ways to End the School Year
If you’ve been swearing all year to get students online using some of those amazing digital tools. I have some...
05/29/13 - 10 Factors to Consider in Tech Report Cards
It used to be simple to post grades. Add up the test scores and see what the student earned. Very...
05/28/13 - Tech Tip #113: Back up Your Blog!
As a working technology teacher, I get hundreds of questions from parents about their home computers, how to do stuff,...
05/27/13 - Happy Memorial Day
I’m taking the day to honor our soldiers. Without their sacrifice, where would we be? Like this:Like Loading...
05/27/13 - 17 Memorial Day Websites for Students
Memorial Day is the time we remember all of those soldiers (and anyone in the Armed Forces) who gave their...
05/24/13 - 7 Educational Websites Students Will Ask to Visit This Summer
The most popular website at my school is Minecraft–hands down, starting in 1st grade (I’m amazed parents let six-year-olds use...
05/23/13 - 5 Strategies to Assess Student Knowledge
This is always challenging, isn’t it? Finding evidence that students have learned what you taught, that they can apply knowledge...
05/22/13 - Dear Otto: Do Students Still Need to Learn Keyboarding?
Dear Otto is an occasional column where I answer questions I get from readers about teaching tech. If you have...
05/21/13 - Tech Tip #50: The Easiest Way to Outline
As a working technology teacher, I get hundreds of questions from parents about their home computers, how to do stuff,...
05/20/13 - 5 Must-have Skills for New Tech Teachers Plus One Extra
If you teach technology, it’s likely you were thrown into it by your Admin. You used to be a first...
05/17/13 - 16 Memorial Day Websites for Students
Memorial Day is the time we remember all of those soldiers (and anyone in the Armed Forces) who gave their...
05/15/13 - 11 Ways to Make an Inquiry based Classroom
You became a teacher not to pontificate to trusting minds, but to teach children how to succeed as adults. That...
05/14/13 - Tech Tip #49: The Fifteen Second Slideshow
As a working technology teacher, I get hundreds of questions from parents about their home computers, how to do stuff,...
05/10/13 - Weekend Website #127: Brown Bear Typing
Every week, I share a website that inspired my students. Here’s one that I’ve found effective in… Here’s a great...
05/09/13 - You Know You’re a Geek When…
Thanks to Julia Hayden for this lovely list: You look at a movie trailer and think, “I have that typeface.”...
05/08/13 - 11 Ways to be an Inquiry-based Teacher
It’s hard to run an inquiry-based classroom. Don’t go into this teaching style thinking all you do is ask questions...
05/07/13 - Tech Tip #48: Quickly Switch Between Windows
As a working technology teacher, I get hundreds of questions from parents about their home computers, how to do stuff,...
05/06/13 - Dear Otto: How do I prevent printer pandemonium?
Dear Otto is an occasional column where I answer questions I get from readers about teaching tech. If you have...
05/03/13 - 12 Great Simulations to Gamify Your Class
Here are 15 websites I’ve found that do an excellent job of using games to promote critical thinking, problem solving...
04/30/13 - Tech Tip #47: Tool Tips
As a working technology teacher, I get hundreds of questions from parents about their home computers, how to do stuff,...
04/29/13 - Which is better for schools: iPads or laptops?
Dear Otto is an occasional column where I answer questions I get from readers about teaching tech. If you have...
04/26/13 - Weekend Website #126: BrainPop Game Up
Every week, I share a website that inspired my students. Here’s one that I’ve found effective in… Here’s a great...
04/24/13 - Why Keyboarding Should NOT be Dead
Teaching keyboarding in the classroom continues to be a hot topic. Sides have formed up and dug in–is it critical...
04/23/13 - Tech Tip #46: The Easiest Way to Explain Right and Left to (Little) Kids
As a working technology teacher, I get hundreds of questions from parents about their home computers, how to do stuff,...
04/22/13 - Dear Otto: I need reading resources for ELL/ESL
Dear Otto is an occasional column where I answer questions I get from readers about teaching tech. If you have...
04/19/13 - Weekend Website #125: Starfall Math
Every week, I share a website that inspired my students. Here’s one you may have missed. Starfall is a lot...
04/18/13 - 12 Great Websites for Earth Day
April 22nd is Earth Day. Celebrate it with your students by letting them visit these six websites: Breathing Earth Breathing...
04/12/13 - 42 Great Story Websites You’ll Love
Check out our latest addition of great websites–Stories. There are 45 websites for grades K-5, everything from audio to international...
04/11/13 - Humor that Inspires–for Teachers! Part II
If you liked the last Humor that Inspires, here are more to kick-start your day: “It was the experience of...
04/10/13 - 7 Ways Common Core Will Change Your Classroom
The biggest pedagogic change to American education since the arrival of John Dewey is happening right now. It’s called Common...
04/09/13 - Tech Tip #45: Your Screen Upside Down?
As a working technology teacher, I get hundreds of questions from parents about their home computers, how to do stuff,...
04/05/13 - Weekend Website 123: Google Gravity
Inquiring minds don’t always need a purpose. Fun is often inspiration enough. Check out this clever rendition of Google Search:...
04/04/13 - Humor that Inspires–for Teachers! Part II
If you liked the last Humor that Inspires, here are more to kick-start your day: “It was the experience of...
04/02/13 - Tech Tip #44: Clean Your Computer Weekly
As a working technology teacher, I get hundreds of questions from parents about their home computers, how to do stuff,...
04/01/13 - Dear Otto: Any Ideas for Tech Ed Benchmark Assessments?
Dear Otto is an occasional column where I answer questions I get from readers about teaching tech. If you have...
03/28/13 - 7 Technology Tools Every Educator Should Use–the Movie
A month ago, I wrote an article about 7 technology tools that have made a big difference in my classroom:...
03/27/13 - Subscribers: Your Special is Available
Every month, subscribers to Ask a Tech Teacher get a free/discounted resource to help their tech teaching. This month: I...
03/26/13 - Tech Tip #43: Back Up Often
As a working technology teacher, I get hundreds of questions from parents about their home computers, how to do stuff,...
03/25/13 - Dear Otto: How Do I Teach Citations?
Dear Otto is an occasional column where I answer questions I get from readers about teaching tech. If you have...
03/22/13 - Easter Sites For Your Students
Many Christians celebrate Jesus Christ’s resurrection on Easter Sunday. The Easter date depends on the ecclesiastical approximation of the March...
03/21/13 - 14 Easy Spring Cleaning Steps for Your Computer
If you followed my suggestion over the New Year’s holiday, you cleaned your computer out then so this will go...
03/20/13 - 14 Factors to Consider for Tech Report Cards
It used to be simple to post grades. Add up test scores and see what the student earned. Very defensible....
03/19/13 - Tech Tip #42: How to (Re)Set Your Homepage
As a working technology teacher, I get hundreds of questions from parents about their home computers, how to do stuff,...
03/18/13 - Dear Otto: How Can Students Keep Track of Passwords?
Dear Otto is an occasional column where I answer questions I get from readers about teaching tech. If you have...
03/15/13 - 7 Websites That Ring in Spring
The temperatures are freezing on the East Coast. We had hail out here in Southern California. But, Spring is right...
03/14/13 - Great Websites–Stories
Check out our latest addition of great websites–Stories. There are 45 websites for grades K-5, everything from audio to international...
03/12/13 - Tech Tip #41: Repair Your Computer With System Restore
As a working technology teacher, I get hundreds of questions from parents about their home computers, how to do stuff,...
03/11/13 - Dear Otto: How do I prevent printer pandemonium?
Dear Otto is an occasional column where I answer questions I get from readers about teaching tech. If you have...
03/07/13 - Definition of ‘Teacher’
I got this from one of my Christian friends. Thought I’d share: After being interviewed by the school administration, the...
03/06/13 - How to Teach Keyboarding? Ask Bernadette
Bernadette Roche is the Director of Technology for an independent school in the Kansas City area. Her responsibilities include teaching...
03/05/13 - Tech Tip #111: Quick Internet Fix
As a working technology teacher, I get hundreds of questions from parents about their home computers, how to do stuff,...
03/04/13 - Dear Otto: What Can I Use Besides PowerPoint?
Dear Otto is an occasional column where I answer questions I get from readers about teaching tech. If you have...
03/01/13 - 5 Favorite Websites for K-5
One of the biggest problems I face as a technology teacher is the wealth of information out there for teachers,...
02/28/13 - Read Across America Day
Many people in the United States, particularly students, parents and teachers, join forces on Read Across America Day, annually held...
02/27/13 - How to Pick iPad Apps for your Classroom
You’ve heard the chatter. IPads have become the go-to literacy tool for authentic learning in the K-8 classroom, the one...
02/26/13 - Tech Tip #110: Sound Doesn’t Work?
As a working technology teacher, I get hundreds of questions from parents about their home computers, how to do stuff,...
02/25/13 - Humor that Inspires–for Teachers! Part I
Some great quotes to start your week with a touch of humor: “Moral indignation is jealousy with a halo.” –...
02/22/13 - Weekend Website #121: Class Badges
Every week, I share a website that inspired, excited, and/or informed my classes. Here’s one on a popular trend in...
02/20/13 - 7 Common Core Ways to Assess Knowledge
This is always challenging, isn’t it? Finding evidence that students have learned what you taught, that they can apply their...
02/19/13 - Tech Tip #109: Five Second Back-up
As a working technology teacher, I get hundreds of questions from parents about their home computers, how to do stuff,...
02/14/13 - What are You Doing for Valentine’s Day?
Thursday’s are my busiest days at school. I barely get a lunch break–the 5 free minutes between classes I must...
02/13/13 - Free Lesson Plans–Visit My TeachersPayTeachers Store
Looking for something to spice up your classroom? Here are a variety of projects you can download for free. Just...
02/12/13 - Tech Tip #40: Where Did Windows Explorer Go?
As a working technology teacher, I get hundreds of questions from parents about their home computers, how to do stuff,...
02/11/13 - New Literacies Enable Smarter Researching
In my last post, we talked about “digital citizens”, the modern student who lives in two worlds. One he can...
02/08/13 - Valentine Sites For Your Students
Here are some fun Valentine sites to fill those few minutes betwixt and between lessons, projects, bathroom breaks, lunch, and...
02/07/13 - How the Internet Neighborhood is Like Any Other Community
Education has changed. Teachers no longer lecture from a dais with student learning contained within the schoolhouse walls. Thanks to...
02/05/13 - Tech Tip #39: My Computer Won’t Turn Off
As a working technology teacher, I get hundreds of questions from parents about their home computers, how to do stuff,...
02/04/13 - Subscribers: Your Special is Available
Every month, subscribers to Ask a Tech Teacher get a discounted resource to help their tech teaching. This month: THE...
01/29/13 - Tech Tip #38: My Desktop Icons Are All Different
As a working technology teacher, I get hundreds of questions from parents about their home computers, how to do stuff,...
01/28/13 - Now Available: K-8 Digital Citizenship Curriculum
Digital Citizenship Curriculum for K-8 (print or digital) Why do teachers need to teach Digital Citizenship? Education has changed. No...
01/24/13 - Technology in Schools: A Brief History
I have a special treat for you today–a bit of history, compliments of a dear efriend, Janet Abercrombie of Expat...
01/22/13 - Tech Tip #37: My MS Word Toolbar Disappeared
As a working technology teacher, I get hundreds of questions from parents about their home computers, how to do stuff,...
01/21/13 - 17 Topics to Teach K-8 About Digital Citizenship
Education has changed. No longer is it contained within four classroom walls or the physical site of a school building....
01/21/13 - Take Tech into the Classroom
If you are the tech teacher and teach in a lab, there’s a fundamental truism about students and tech that...
01/19/13 - 5 Tips to Keeping Your New Years Resolutions
Every year, millions of people worldwide create New Year’s resolutions. In my experience, keeping these goals will happen when Harvard...
01/18/13 - New Year Resolutions
Every year, millions of people worldwide create New Year’s resolutions. In my experience, keeping these goals will happen when Harvard...
01/17/13 - 10 Top Click-throughs from Ask a Tech Teacher
I include lots of links for my readers to places that will help them integrate technology into their education. They...
01/09/13 - Honors for Ask a Tech Teacher
When PhDs notice what I’m doing over here, I am honored. So when I heard that Ask a Tech Teacher...

2012 (173)

12/21/12 - Happy Holiday!
I’m taking off for a few days. I’ll be back after the New Year, refreshed, with new ideas, ready to...
12/18/12 - Tech Tip #36: The Internet Toolbar Disappeared
As a working technology teacher, I get hundreds of questions from parents about their home computers, how to do stuff,...
12/17/12 - 5 Fabulous Last-minute Gifts
I talked to a lot of people to prepare this article. Sure, I have my 5 Fabulous List, but is...
12/13/12 - Dear Otto: Should I stick with age limits on websites?
Dear Otto is an occasional column where I answer questions I get from readers about teaching tech. If you have...
12/12/12 - Tech Tip #35: My Program Closed Down
As a working technology teacher, I get hundreds of questions from parents about their home computers, how to do stuff,...
12/12/12 - How to Thrive as a Digital Citizen
Thanks to the pervasiveness of easy-to-use technology and the accessibility of the internet, teachers are no longer lecturing from a...
12/07/12 - 14 Holiday Websites For Your Students
Need a few websites to fill in sponge time? Here are Holiday websites that will keep students busy while teaching...
12/06/12 - Subscribers: Your Special is Available
Every month, subscribers to Ask a Tech Teacher get a free/discounted something to help them with their tech teaching. This...
12/05/12 - 7 Technology Tools Every Educator Should Use
A big part of my job as technology teacher is IT coordinator, which means I must keep up with tech...
12/04/12 - Tech Tip #34: My Program Froze
As a working technology teacher, I get hundreds of questions from parents about their home computers, how to do stuff,...
11/30/12 - Weekend Website 40: NORAD Santa
It’s the time of year when inquiring young minds want to know–Where’s Santa? Here’s a great website to answer that...
11/29/12 - Dear Otto: PowerPoint or Publisher?
Dear Otto is an occasional column where I answer questions I get from readers about teaching tech. If you have...
11/28/12 - How to Thrive as a Digital Citizen
Thanks to the pervasiveness of easy-to-use technology and the accessibility of the internet, teachers are no longer lecturing from a...
11/27/12 - Tech Tip #33: My Desktop Icons are Messed Up
As a working technology teacher, I get hundreds of questions from parents about their home computers, how to do stuff,...
11/16/12 - 18 Thanksgiving Sites For Your Students
Need a few websites to fill in sponge time? Here are Thanksgiving sites that will keep students busy and still...
11/15/12 - Subscribers: Your Special is Available
Every month, subscribers to Ask a Tech Teacher get a free/discounted something to help them with their tech teaching. This...
11/14/12 - How to Teach Digital Citizenship in 6th Grade
Understanding how to use the internet has become a cornerstone issue for students. No longer do they complete their research...
11/13/12 - Tech Tip #32: My Taskbar Got Moved to the Side
As a working technology teacher, I get hundreds of questions from parents about their home computers, how to do stuff,...
11/09/12 - Weekend Website #116: Google Street View Locations
Every Friday, I share a website (or app) that I’ve heard about, checked into, been excited to use. This one...
11/08/12 - Be Featured on Ask a Tech Teacher
I get thousands of visitors a day–three-quarters of a million since I started. The most common reason why you-all drop...
11/07/12 - How to Teach Digital Citizenship in 5th Grade
Understanding how to use the internet has become a cornerstone issue for students. No longer do they complete their research...
11/06/12 - Tech Tip #31: What’s Today’s Date
As a working technology teacher, I get hundreds of questions from parents about their home computers, how to do stuff,...
11/05/12 - 15 Ways to Get Your Geek On
Celebrate your geekiness. Flaunt it for students and colleagues. Play Minecraft. That’s you–you are sharp, quick-thinking. You can’t help but...
11/02/12 - Weekend Website #115: Minecraft
Every week, I share a website that inspired my students. This one is a blockbuster as far as student interest,...
10/31/12 - How to Teach Digital Citizenship in 4th Grade
Understanding how to use the internet has become a cornerstone issue for students. No longer do they complete their research...
10/30/12 - Tech Tip #109: How to Open 2 Gmail Accounts at Once
As a working technology teacher, I get hundreds of questions from parents about their home computers, how to do stuff,...
10/29/12 - Yes, I’m Resilient, but I Wish Computers Were More Dependable
I read a post by Bill Ferriter on Education Week Teacher (which I read in ISTE’s Learning and Leading with...
10/26/12 - Weekend Website #114: 55 Digital Citizenship Links
Understanding how to use the internet has become a cornerstone issue for students. No longer do they complete their research...
10/24/12 - How to Teach Digital Citizenship in 3rd Grade
Understanding how to use the internet has become a cornerstone issue for students. No longer do they complete their research...
10/22/12 - Dear Otto: What Keyboard Curriculum is Best?
Dear Otto is an occasional column where I answer questions I get from readers about teaching tech. If you have...
10/18/12 - Book Review: 16 Holiday Projects
16 Holiday Projects (Structured Learning 2011) is a 45-page student-tested collection of year-round holiday-themed projects for kindergarten through eighth grade...
10/17/12 - How to Teach Digital Citizenship in 2nd Grade
Understanding how to use the internet has become a cornerstone issue for students. No longer do they complete their research...
10/16/12 - Tech Tip #108: Three-click Rule
As a working technology teacher, I get hundreds of questions from parents about their home computers, how to do stuff,...
10/12/12 - Weekend Website #109: Google World of Wonders
Every Friday, I share a website (or app) that I’ve heard about, checked into, been excited to use. This one...
10/09/12 - Tech Tip #107: Got a Tech Problem? Google It!
As a working technology teacher, I get hundreds of questions from parents about their home computers, how to do stuff,...
10/08/12 - Dear Otto: Is Keyboarding Not for Cool Students?
Dear Otto is an occasional column where I answer questions I get from readers about teaching tech. If you have...
10/04/12 - How to Teach Digital Citizenship in Kindergarten
Understanding how to use the internet has become a cornerstone issue for students. No longer do they complete their research...
10/03/12 - Is Keyboarding Dead?
I was on one of my tech teacher forums–where I keep up to date on changes in education and technology–and...
10/02/12 - Tech Tip #91: Internet Problem? Switch Browsers
As a working technology teacher, I get hundreds of questions from parents about their home computers, how to do stuff,...
10/01/12 - Dear Otto: How Do I Prepare for an Unknown Tech Future?
Dear Otto is an occasional column where I answer questions I get from readers about teaching tech. If you have...
09/28/12 - Weekend Website #108: Wowzers
Every Friday, I share a website (or app) that I’ve heard about, checked into, been excited to use. This one...
09/27/12 - Do You Make These 9 Mistakes
…with your child’s computer education? Show your child how to do something rather than allowing him to discover Do for...
09/25/12 - Tech Tip #106: Fastest Way to Add a Period When Typing on an IPad
As a working technology teacher, I get hundreds of questions from parents about their home computers, how to do stuff,...
09/24/12 - Dear Otto: What Are Good Guidelines for Younger Bloggers?
Dear Otto is an occasional column where I answer questions I get from readers about teaching tech. If you have...
09/21/12 - Weekend Website #107: Google Search Education
Every Friday, I share a website (or app) that I’ve heard about, checked into, and become excited to use. This...
09/20/12 - Will Texting Destroy Writing Skills?
Across the education landscape, student text messaging is a bone of contention among teachers. It’s not an issue in the...
09/19/12 - How to Use iPads in Your Classroom
What is an iPad? It’s a brand name—not a product—for a tablet computer designed, developed and marketed by Apple and...
09/18/12 - Tech Tip #105: Create Shortkeys for any Windows Tool
As a working technology teacher, I get hundreds of questions from parents about their home computers, how to do stuff,...
09/17/12 - Dear Otto: What are Options on Digital Portfolios
Dear Otto is an occasional column where I answer questions I get from readers about teaching tech. If you have...
09/14/12 - 16 Great Virtual Field Trips
I have searched long and hard for the type of virtual tour that immerses you in the environment. They’re harder...
09/12/12 - Tech Tip #104: Need a File on Your iPad? Here’s an Easy Way
As a working technology teacher, I get hundreds of questions from parents about their home computers, how to do stuff,...
09/10/12 - When is Typing Faster Than Handwriting?
Most elementary-age students struggle with typing. This doesn’t surprise me. They’ve been handwriting since kindergarten. They’re proud of their new...
09/07/12 - 5 Great FREE Programs for Students
When I started as a tech teacher, I pushed my administration for lots of software. I wanted a different one...
09/06/12 - Book Review: K-8 Keyboard Curriculum
K-8 Keyboard Curriculum: The Essential Guide to Teaching Keyboarding in 45 Minutes a Week You may think it impossible to...
09/04/12 - 25 Most Common Problems Your Students Will Face
There are 25 problems that stump students most often when they use the computer. They’re questions like, ‘My audio doesn’t...
09/03/12 - Happy Labor Day
Have a wonderful, safe Labor Day. If you’re looking for activities for your K-5, click 7 Great Labor Day Websites....
08/28/12 - Tech Tip #30: Menu Command is Greyed Out
As a working technology teacher, I get hundreds of questions from parents about their home computers, how to do stuff,...
08/27/12 - Dear Otto: What’s a good student email program?
Dear Otto is an occasional column where I answer questions I get from readers about teaching tech. If you have...
08/23/12 - Do Your Children Need Computers for School?
This is a question I get from parents all the time. Most parents want to get what their child needs...
08/22/12 - Now Available: K-8 Keyboard Curriculum
K-8 Keyboard Curriculum: The Essential Guide to Teaching Keyboarding in 45 Minutes a Week You may think it impossible to...
08/20/12 - Dear Otto: What’s a good program to create an online ezine?
Dear Otto is an occasional column where I answer questions I get from readers about teaching tech. If you have...
08/19/12 - Book Review: Common Core SS K-5 Lesson Plans
THE KEY TO ALIGNING YOUR K-5 CLASS WITH COMMON CORE STATE STANDARDS: 30 Projects that integrate technology into core lesson...
08/17/12 - Weekend Website #105: Voki
Every Friday, I’ll send you a wonderful website (or more) that my classes and my parents love. I think you’ll...
08/15/12 - Back to School–Tech Makes it Easy to Stay On Top of Everything
If you’re sending your child back to school, technology can be intimidating. Should your elementary-age child have a computer? If...
08/14/12 - Tech Tip #102: Doc Saved Over? No Problem
As a working technology teacher, I get hundreds of questions from parents about their home computers, how to do stuff,...
08/09/12 - Dear Otto: My computers are old. What do I do?
Dear Otto is an occasional column where I answer questions I get from readers about teaching tech. If you have...
08/07/12 - Tech Tip #28: 5 Ways to Fix a No-Sound Problem–For Free
As a working technology teacher, I get hundreds of questions from parents about their home computers, how to do stuff,...
08/03/12 - Weekend Website #104: Animoto
Every Friday, I share a website (or app) that I’ve heard about, checked into, gotten excited to use. I hope...
08/02/12 - Subscribe to my Blog–Get Special Gifts Every Month
If you subscribe to my blog, you are eligible for specials on tech ed books and ebooks every month. Here...
08/01/12 - Book Review: 19 Posters to Decorate Your Technology Lab
19 posters to Decorate Your Technology Lab is for new and experienced tech teachers to remind students of the basics...
07/31/12 - Tech Tip #27: My Taskbar Disappeared
As a working technology teacher, I get hundreds of questions from parents about their home computers, how to do stuff,...
07/30/12 - Dear Otto: What About Carmen San Diego?
Dear Otto is an occasional column where I answer questions I get from readers about teaching tech. If you have...
07/24/12 - Tech Tip #26: My Mouse Doesn’t Work
As a working technology teacher, I get hundreds of questions from parents about their home computers, how to do stuff,...
07/23/12 - 10 Passwords Everyone Uses (And You Shouldn’t)
There’s one good outcome from the Yahoo breach (a hacker defeated Yahoo’s firewalls, stole 450,000 accounts, and proceeded to post...
07/21/12 - Book Review: 55 Tech Projects for the Digital Classroom
With the school year almost back, I want to share some of the tech books I use in my classroom....
07/20/12 - Website Review: Chegg
Every Friday, I share a website or app that I’ve heard about, checked into, and/or gotten excited to use. This...
07/19/12 - The Elephantine Impact of Technology on Education
Have you noticed what’s happening in your child’s school? Technology. There’s rarely a lesson taught, be it math or science...
07/17/12 - Tech Tip #25: My Keyboard Doesn’t Work
As a working technology teacher, I get hundreds of questions from parents about their home computers, how to do stuff,...
07/16/12 - Dear Otto: What Online Images are Free?
Dear Otto is an occasional column where I answer questions I get from readers about teaching tech. If you have...
07/13/12 - Weekend Website #111: 40 California Mission Websites
Here’s a list of 40 websites that will inspire your fourth graders about California missions (check here for updated links)...
07/11/12 - 5 Great Tech Ed Blogs You May Not Have Heard Of
Here are five more of the blogs I read to get inspired, motivated, re-energized: Cybraryman–a massive resource of materials curated...
07/10/12 - Tech Tip #24: How to Open A New Word Doc Without the Program
As a working technology teacher, I get hundreds of questions from parents about their home computers, how to do stuff,...
07/09/12 - Dear Otto: How Can I Highlight a Document
Dear Otto is an occasional column where I answer questions I get from readers about teaching tech. If you have...
07/06/12 - Weekend Website #110: 89 Resources for Teachers
I know summer just started. You’re relaxing, reading the stack of books that collected on your nightstand, planting the flowers...
07/04/12 - Happy July 4th!
It’s America’s birthday and I’m celebrating. What I write today will be… anything I want–gibberish, a short story, guest articles...
07/03/12 - Tech Tip #23: I Deleted a File By Accident
As a working technology teacher, I get hundreds of questions from parents about their home computers, how to do stuff,...
06/29/12 - Weekend Website #102: Interactive Simulations
Every Friday, I share a website (or app) that I’ve heard about, checked into, gotten excited to use. This one...
06/28/12 - 9 Steps to Tech Savviness This Summer
Summer is for change. Out with routine, in with spontaneity. When you were in high school, that meant relaxing, seeing...
06/26/12 - Tech Tip #22: Quick Exit from 97% of Programs
As a working technology teacher, I get hundreds of questions from parents about their home computers, how to do stuff,...
06/24/12 - Dear Otto: Should Students Space Once or Twice After a Period?
Dear Otto is an occasional column where I answer questions I get from readers about teaching tech. If you have...
06/23/12 - Tech Tip #21: How to Make a Small Webpage Window Big
As a working technology teacher, I get hundreds of questions from parents about their home computers, how to do stuff,...
06/23/12 - What’s a Tech Teacher Do With Their Summer Off?
Are you going on road trips? Are you playing with your children, seeing friends you forgot existed, or engaging in...
06/15/12 - Weekend Website #100: CybraryMan Math
Every Friday, I’ll send you a wonderful website (or more) that my classes and my parents love. I think you’ll...
06/12/12 - Tech Tip #20: How to Add an MS Word Link
As a working technology teacher, I get hundreds of questions from parents about their home computers, how to do stuff,...
06/11/12 - Dear Otto: How Do You Teach Adults to Keyboard?
Dear Otto is an occasional column where I answer questions I get from readers about teaching tech. If you have...
06/05/12 - Tech Tip #19: How to Activate an MS Word Link
As a working technology teacher, I get hundreds of questions from parents about their home computers, how to do stuff,...
06/04/12 - I’ve been Nominated for the Fascination Award
Woah. This is cool. But what is the Fascination Award? Here’s what they say: In order to be fascinating, content...
05/31/12 - Dear Otto: Where Can I Find Kid-safe Images?
Dear Otto is an occasional column where I answer questions I get from readers about teaching tech. If you have...
05/30/12 - The Truth About Teaching in America
When I was asked to write a piece about teaching, I knew I could write something fluffy about the feel-good...
05/28/12 - Happy Memorial Day
I’m taking the day to honor our soldiers. Without their sacrifice, where would we be? Like this:Like Loading...
05/25/12 - Weekend Website #98: Smithsonian Wild
This website is devoted to sharing images of animals in their wild habitats. The pictures--201,000 and counting to date--have been captured by motion-triggered 'camera traps'--cameras that are activated by an animals movement or body heat and then take pictures of them in their most natural of states--when they believe they are alone. Pictures include dozens of varieties of animals in the following categories:
05/22/12 - Tech Tip #17: What’s Today’s Date?
As a working technology teacher, I get hundreds of questions from parents about their home computers and from students about...
05/18/12 - Weekend Website #98: TED-Ed
Every Friday, I share a website (or app) that I’ve heard about, checked into, been excited to use. This one...
05/17/12 - How to Adapt Lessons to Common Core State Standards
Common Core State Standards, proposed by the National Board of Governors and adopted by 46 states to date, provide a...
05/16/12 - Connect Classrooms With Skype–How it’s Done
Do your students Skype? I first met Betsy Weigle over at Classroom Teacher Resources when I ran across a great...
05/15/12 - Tech Tip #16: Quickly Email a Doc
As a working technology teacher, I get hundreds of questions from parents about their home computers, how to do stuff,...
05/10/12 - How to Align Technology with Common Core State Standards
This past month, I have had a rash of requests from school districts to assist them in aligning their technology...
05/08/12