Tech Tues January #2

1. Newsela: https://newsela.com/

            Newsela is an innovative way to build reading comprehension with nonfiction that's always relevant: daily news. It's easy and amazing.  It has quizzes along with the articles (indicated with a light bulb).  You can also choose the reading level (and lexile) to match the article to your students.  It is a free website.  You sign up for a free trial.  After that the article and quizzes are still available to use for free!

2.  Did you know GWAEA has programmable devices that you can check out and use in your classroom???

            * Pro-Bot offers an enticing, engaging, and hands-on experience with Logo programming as well as robotic controls. Pro-Bot provides a strong grounding in robotics concepts. Teaching Pro-Bot to adapt to different states of its sensors is a programming challenge which provides an exciting robotic experience.

            * What is Sphero? Part robot, part ball - all fun. Sphero 2.0 rolls at speeds of up to 7 feet per second and pairs to your device via Bluetooth with a range of up to 100 feet. Powered by induction charging, Sphero 2.0 is three times brighter than the original and is pet proof, waterproof, and ready for any adventure.

            *Bee-Bot is a programmable robot which has a lithium battery that is rechargeable via a USB port using either a computer USB connection or direct USB charger. Through sequential challenges, students direct Bee-Bot on increasingly complicated routes and develop an understanding of programming, prediction, self-evaluation, and mapping in the process. Kit includes Bee-Bot card mat which is a 6 by 6 grid with a clear plastic sheet on top and command cards. The grid itself provides the basis for the challenges in problem-solving with Bee-Bot and introduces students to cartesian coordinates and mapping as they develop Bee-Bot routes.

3.  PikMonkey: http://www.picmonkey.com/

            PicMonkey is a free photo editor that works in your browser — nothing to download or install. Fix your photos and add beautiful filters and text. Touch up facial features or create outstanding graphics. Ridiculously easy, staggeringly gorgeous.  You can even use this to make your “shelfie”!!

            Some fun ideas for use:

                        *Let students take pics of themselves and then edit into Zombies for Halloween or creative writing?

                        *Make superhero pictures for the summer reading program?

                        *You can make awards, signs, pretty much anything you want to try. 

           

4. Some alternate ideas for independent reading projects: https://magic.piktochart.com/output/1071911-independent-reading-projects