Author: Jacqui

Simulations and games have grown from rote drills using a computer to challenging learning experiences for students that hone problem-solving and critical thinking skills. They are fun for students, keep them engaged, and teach the foundational pieces of a lesson. I

I’ve talked about gamifying elements here and here (and under this tag). One of our Ask a Tech Teacher contributors goes into depth about simulations–what these are and how to use them. The article’s about 1000 words and well worth the read:

Simulations as a Teaching Strategy – Everything You Need to Know

In the diverse and ever-evolving world of simulation, there’s no doubt that tactics such as gamification continue to have a positive impact across a broad range of industries and activities. This is certainly prominent in the workplace, where some 90% of employees say that gamification makes them better at their job and more productive at work. What’s more, employees experience an average 48% engagement increase through gamification, highlighting its ability to impart potentially complex subject matter to individuals.

This is why gamification and wider simulation strategies hold huge value in educational facilities across the globe. But what are the key considerations when leveraging simulation as a viable teaching strategy?

(more…)

Every month, subscribers to our newsletter get a free/discounted resource to help their tech teaching:

February 5th-8th:

Group Professional Development

Pick a topic:

Tech infused Teacher/Classroom

Writing With Tech

Building Digital Citizens

20 Webtools in 20 Days

Differentiation

Here are general guidelines:

• up to 10 people per class (same low price–$750)
• delivered via Google Classroom
• each class is about four weeks

Normally, we charge $750 for five people. For three days, get up to 10 people–your entire team–for the same price. We take POs, PayPal, or we’ll invoice you.

We wrote the books. We’ll help you integrate tech into your curriculum, teach digital citizenship, differentiate for your learners, and more. Questions? Ask Jacqui Murray at askatechteacher at gmail dot com.

(more…)

On Feb. 2, 2022, World Read Aloud Day celebrates the pure joy of oral reading with kids of all ages. Created by LitWorld, past years have found over 1 million people in 100 countries joining together to enjoy the power and wonder of reading aloud in groups or individually, at school or home, and discovering what it means to listen to a story told through the voice of another. For many, this is a rare opportunity to hear the passion of a well-told story and fall in love with tales where hearing them reaches listeners on a level nothing else can. Think back to your experiences. You probably sat with an adult, in their lap or curled up in bed. The way they mimicked the voices in the story, built drama, and enthused with you over the story and characters made you want to read more stories like that on your own. This is a favorite activity not just for pre-readers, but beginning and accomplished readers because it’s not about reading the book; it’s about experiencing it through the eyes of a storyteller.

Somehow, as lives for both the adults and children have gotten busier, as digital devices have taken over, as parents turned to TVs or iPads to babysit kids while they do something else, we’ve gotten away from this most companionable of activities. World Read Aloud Day is an opportunity to get back to it.

Importance of reading aloud

There is no more powerful way to develop a love of reading than being read to. Hearing pronunciations, decoding words in context, experiencing the development and completion of a well-plotted story as though you were there are reason enough to read aloud but there’s more. Reading in general and reading aloud specifically is positively correlated to literacy and success in school. It builds foundational learning skills, introduces and reinforces vocabulary, and provides a joyful activity that’s mostly free, cooperative, and often collaborative. Did you know reading aloud:

(more…)

Here are some activities for Groundhog Day–February 2nd:

1. Free Printables and Worksheets
2. Fun Facts About Groundhogs–video
3. Groundhog Day Digital Activities–grades 3-5
4. Groundhog Day for Kids–a video
5. Groundhog Day Games
6. Groundhog Day Teaching Resources
7. History of Groundhog Day–from History.com
8. Punxsutawney Groundhog Club Website
9. Why Groundhogs Supposedly Predict the Weather–video

If this is the 100th day of school, here are resources for that:

(more…)

Here are the most-read posts for the month of January

1. Public Domain Day and Happy New Year!
2. How to Change the Dynamics of Peer-to-peer Learning with Tract
3. Top 10 Hits and Misses for 2021
4. Ready To Go Back To School? 7 Fun Lesson Ideas To Start The New Year
5. 4 (free) Posters About Reading
6. Practices of Tech-savvy Teachers
7. 23+ Websites on Animals
8. 5 YouTube Features for Teachers
9. Google Earth Lesson Plans
10. How Minecraft Teaches Reading, Writing and Problem Solving

Here’s a preview of what’s coming up in February:

• Groundhog Day
• World Read Aloud Day
• Simulations as a Teaching Strategy
• Grading Practices
• 3D Printing Websites
• Tech Tips
• Valentine’s Day Online Resources
• Free Posters
• The Metaverse and Education
• President’s Day Activities
• Teacher Training: Model Teaching
• Random Acts of Kindness Day
• Instagram: A Student Vehicle for Social Change

Every lower-grade teacher I know has huge numbers of students who love math but the older they get, the more those numbers shrink until by Middle School, they’re anemic, at best. The solution according to some students, is to instill the cerebral skills that support math prior to kindergarten. Here’s a great article from ASCD and EdSource on that subject:

Math in early childhood is key, studies show

Studies show that mathematical reasoning ability is crucial in early education, and when children understand math before entering elementary school, they have higher achievement on both reading and math tests later in their school years. Carolyn Pfister, an education administrator for the California State Board of Education, said many adults have math anxiety that has been passed to children.

Read more…

For more on math, read these articles:

Need math resources? Have students try these

15+ Websites to Teach Financial Literacy

Math Games in the Classroom

Quick Review of 7 Popular Math Programs

(more…)

Tech Learning recently shared an excellent lesson plan by Dr. Stephanie Smith Budhai that incorporates the amazing Google Earth into learning. Here’s the beginning:

The 3D interactive online exploration platform Google Earth provides a pathway to endless learning adventures around the globe. For an overview of Google Earth and a breakdown of its unique features, check out How to Use Google Earth for Teaching. 

Below, is a sample Google Earth lesson plan geared toward elementary and middle school that is focused on teaching geography. It is important to note that while geography is a natural fit for leveraging Google Earth, other content areas and Google Earth tips and tricks for teaching can be used. 

Click for the complete lesson plan.

For more lesson plans using Google Earth, check out our resources:

• 8 Google Earth Tips and Resources You Don’t Want to Miss

• Google Earth Resources

• Google Earth Board: a Warm-up using Google Earth

(more…)

One of my favorite resources for explaining tech in the classroom is Richard Byrne. In this article, he discusses helpful YouTube Features for Teachers

Five Helpful YouTube Features for Teachers

YouTube offers a bunch of features that are sometimes overlooked or under-utilized despite being quite helpful when sharing videos in your classroom. In this new video I demonstrate five of those features. 

Read on…

Videos have become extremely popular in the classroom. Here are a few of the many articles Ask a Tech Teacher has published on this topic:

• What is the best video editing software?
• Multimedia content personalizes learning
• 9 Good Collections of Videos for Education
• Videos: Why, How, Options
• Ways to use a movie for language teaching

(more…)

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 to address most classroom tech situations, how to scaffold these to learning, and where they provide the subtext to daily tech-infused education.

Today’s tip: Speed up MSO with Quick Access Toolbar

Category: MS Office

Q: I tend to do the same actions over and over in MS Office. How do I make that easier?

A: This one will improve the quality of your life immediately.

First, you need Office 2007 or later. Earlier versions don’t include the Quick Access toolbar. Click the drop down arrow (see inset) for the most popular actions–new, open, save, print, etc. Select those you want on the Quick Access toolbar. Toward the bottom is a choice to have the QA toolbar above or below the ribbon. I choose below.

You can also customize it: If there are tools not included that you use frequently (for example, I use strike through a lot), select ‘customize’ and go find it in the endless list.

(more…)

Here are some Winter activities to share the joy of winter:

1. 5 Videos to teach about winter
2. Animal Winter Games
3. Winter Facts and Worksheets
4. The Winter Solstice, from PBS–a video for youngers
5. Winter Vocabulary–a video
6. What is a Solstice, from National Geographic–a video
7. What is the Winter Season–a video
8. Winter Coloring Pages, Printables, and more
9. Winter Games–digital

(more…)