Computer Programming for Kids!

This year even though I didn’t have to report on Computer Science for my grade 2’s, I felt that the one computer period I did have with them a week needed to be educational. At first, I used Reflex Math to compliment their Math program, but they got bored with it about mid-way through the year, and I needed to spice things up a bit.

Enter - Code.org -

This website provides teachers with both digital and hard-copy lessons to introduce kids to computer programming. No written coding is required on their part, instead it is a simple drag and drop system. However, the critical thinking and problem solving skills acquired are all the same! They have also interwoven kid-friendly components like characters and levels using popular media (Flappy Bird, Frozen, Plants vs. Zombies, etc.) so the kids felt like they were playing a game! 

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Classroom Management with ClassDojo

One of the first things I learned last year as a "newbie" was that if didn't have control of the classroom, there definitely wouldn't be any learning happening. So with this in mind, I thought back to my pre-service teacher days and reviewed my classroom management plan (you know the one that I so delicately put together during my pre-classroom experience) and tried to find a solution. Alas, although I could find plenty of "teacher jargon" (references to proximity, hand signals, respect and the like) there was no immediate solution that jumped out at me.

Enter - ClassDojo -

Their FREE product is really awesome so click here to watch their video and become acquainted with the wonderful world of online classroom management.

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Planning and Marking with Chalk.com

Yep! It's that time of year again! The time to slowly peel ourselves out of summer caves and re-enter the classroom full of hope and promise for an awesome school year, while still dreading the amounts of planning and marking that will undoubtably ensue.

I'm sure that new teachers and seasoned veterans alike have all thought at one point or another "how can I make planning easier?" followed by the inevitable (and repetitive) attempts at organizing our massive teacher binders. However, with the purchase of an iPad mini over the summer, I swore that this year things would be different! 

Enter - Chalk.com -

Not only does this company provide teachers with a FREE online tool to help them plan their lessons, they also have a multitude of curriculum standards already in their system ready to be connected to your lessons. And to top things all off, they have a FREE iPad app which will allow me to plan wherever I go! 

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