Embedded Files
To access toolbox websites, click on the image of each tool. These are some of the sites we may use in class!
To access toolbox websites, click on the image of each tool. These are some of the sites we may use in class!
Google Slides
Google Slides
🔨Tool #1 Google Slides
🔨Tool #1 Google Slides
Google Slides is Google's version of PowerPoint. Students and/or teachers can create various presentations for a variety of purposes, from to do list/itineraries, virtual editable worksheets, interactive games and simple presentations for learning/information .
Google slides can be used in person and virtually. In class teachers may create a presentation to create an outline for students to take notes, students may create their own presentations to give speeches or research papers, and students may also play interactive games. Virtually students can still access google slides with their google for education email. If using google slides as a Worksheet that students will edit, teachers can assign each student their own "COPY" of google slides by placing it in google classroom, and selecting the option "Assign a copy to each student," this way students do not override each other's work.
In my classroom I use Google Slides in a variety of ways, most notably though is through phonological awareness interactive activities. This provides students with a variety of ways to show their phonological awareness skills. Such projects include: RHYMING BUILDINGS: students move over objects that rhyme with the "Base" word. "MR. Forgetful" helping Mr. Man remember phonological awareness skills he has forgotten. I also use google slides for a to do list during virtual days that are NOT LIVE, so students will know what to do for each area of the day.
As stated, normally phonological awareness time just involves teachers speaking and asking questions about the related skills, Ex: "What rhymes with ____." By using an interactive google slide, students are able to complete phonological awareness activities in a "Game" format, which helps them to be more engaged in the content. They are always ready for their turn to interact with our smartboard.
Mr. Forgetful
Mr. Forgetful is a google slide activity created for phonological awareness skills. When reviewing all skills (rhyme, initial sounds, syllables etc.... ) Students help "Mr. Forgetful" remember. The Mr. Forgetful theme song from the MR. MEN series is also included for a more engaging experience.
Rhyming Buildings
Rhyming Buildings
In this created google slide activity, for phonological awareness skills, students are given the task of moving over pictures of words that rhyme with the animal "of" that building. Ex: PIG (in barn)--wig, fig, twig, etc...
Buildings interesting places
Buildings interesting places
In this SLIDE presentation, Students listened as we read a variety of information based on different buildings around the world. Each Teacher and Assistant Teacher created a slide in a collaborative presentation. I tagged INDV. teachers in a comment for THEIR assigned SLIDE so we did override someone else's work.
StarFall
StarFall
🔨Tool #2-StarFall
🔨Tool #2-StarFall
Starfall is a website that is dedicated for PREK-3rd grade students. It provides a variety of different content areas from holidays, math, and phonics skills and access to a daily calendar. Students may use this tool on touch screen devices or view on the computers.
Starfall is free for everyone. There is a paid subscription to Starfall which includes extra content for students, parents, and teachers. Due to the easy accessibility students could complete activities in person as well as at home.
I use this tool in my classroom periodically through the year. Sometimes we will use the calendar feature, which allows you to fill in the date of the day and any special events. I use Starfall for various large group literacy and closing activities through the year, where we "read" directions, identify shapes, and discuss social studies concepts.
The usage of this tool meets my students needs, by giving us data for a variety of WSO indicators, especially those that deal with social studies and some language and math concepts. The students love being able to take turns to interact with these activities on the board.
To access the activities that I primarily use on Starfall. Click on the images below to be taken directly to the activity.
Pumpkin activity teaches the /U/ sound and allows students to use shapes to compose a completed pumpkin
GELDS: MA6.4b Combines simple shapes to form new shapes.
Gingerbread man activity allows students to add SHAPE pieces to a Girl or boy to complete a gingerbread person. At the End students get to help retell the Gingerbread "Rhyme"
GELDS: MA6.4b Combines simple shapes to form new shape
Earth Day activity allows students to help clean up a park and recycle based on paper, plastic, and cans. Animals are saved when an area is clean. This goes along with our "recycle" Unit!
GELDS: -SC5.4a Understands that people have an impact on the environment and participates in efforts to protect the environment.
In design a turkey. Students can learn the /u/r/ sound. They then are able to add parts (hat, feathers, book) to the turkey. Students are able to track the directions Left to right, as they learn to read.
GELDS: CLL8.4c With prompting and support, tracks words from left to right, top to bottom and page to page.
Get Epic
Get Epic
🔨Tool #3-Get EPIC
🔨Tool #3-Get EPIC
Get Epic is a website that includes a database of various books (fiction or nonfiction). Teachers also have the option of assigning books and/or quizzes. Get EPIC also allows teachers to track students by giving them a reading log and seeing their daily reading.
Students may access Get EPIC in person or virtually. Students/parents can use a teacher's class code and read and view a list of books assigned by the teacher. In person, Teachers can display books on the board.
I use GET EPIC in the classroom on a regular basis. When a nonfiction book or fictional book is needed to meet the prek requirement of 2 books/day, I will often use EPIC to help supplement books to fit our "Theme" in our curriculum.
Students enjoy seeing books displayed on the board. They often times love when the book includes narration. Students are also able to interact with books on the board by turning the pages.
GET EPIC BOOK
GET EPIC BOOK
What is President's Day? Example of a nonfiction book on EPIC students listened to this story during our February Holiday Unit.
Reading Log
Reading Log
Example of the Reading log page on the Teacher portal Gives teachers data on how much students are reading.
GET EPIC BOOK
GET EPIC BOOK
Students listened to the story "MY favorite sport soccer" during our BALL UNIT
Google Map/Earth
Google Map/Earth
🔨Tool #4--Google Maps/Earth
🔨Tool #4--Google Maps/Earth
Google Maps and Google Earth are tools that allow you to not only get directions from POINT A to POINT B, but allows you to see a satellite, street, model view of various locations. You may access this tool on all devices through a website or app
Since you don't necessarily need an account to access google maps or Earth. Students can access this tool in person or virtually. In person teachers can display locations on their board for students to see. Virtually students can look up the information, addresses, etc... and send a screenshot to their teacher.
I use Google maps on a frequent basis in my classroom. One of our closing activities that the students love to participate in is searching for each other's houses using google maps or earth. This is completed during our buildings unit, when discussing neighborhoods and buildings in the neighborhoods. Students enjoy taking a walk around the school to look at buildings, but also love seeing them virtually.
Google Earth is a new tool that I was introduced to. Google Earth allows you to not only see a satellite view/model of a location, but you can also create a "presentation" to represent history projects and places people have gone and adventures they have accomplished in their life.
As stated, with our buildings unit, we will take a walk outside to view our surroundings. However, this quick tour gives students a linear view. They are not able to see it from a top down view to fully see their surroundings. Using Google Maps/Google Earth, students can get a multi-angle view. When we are able to start back going on field trips, pulling up the location on a map, will allow students to preview where they are going, before leaving for the trip. This helps with students who need a visual representation of what they are in for. Using this tool, engages students, especially when VIRTUAL FIELD TRIPS are necessary DUE TO COVID!
Google Maps neighborhoods
Google Maps neighborhoods
When discussing buildings, students were able to take a tour of NEIGHBORHOODS using google Maps as well as exploring their homes
Google Earth
Google Earth
Tour/Journey of Dr. Seuss' Life as a child to author!
Google Maps
ICES
Google Maps
ICES
Students chose places around town they would like to visit on google maps. We also toured other cities, as well as places they'd like to go, such as Disney world.
Students working on Individual lessons
Students working on Individual lessons
Data From Teacher Portal
Data From Teacher Portal
From the teacher portal, teachers may view how many minutes/days students completed and view their objective progress, as well as many other tools.
Student work of individual lessons.
Student work of individual lessons.
Youtube/Gonoodle
Youtube/Gonoodle
🔨 Tool #5
🔨 Tool #5
YouTube and Gonoodle are both practical tools used in prek. YouTube is a video hosting site that is great for music with movement videos, as well as other videos to promote learning. Gonoodle is also a wonderful video site filled with student songs, brain breaks, and activities for students. It features a variety of characters that once you have completed 10 activities, and you can help make your selected character "Grow" and transform.
Both YouTube and Gonoodle are accessible for FREE. In person learning these accounts are displayed on our smartboards, primarily during Music with movement time. Virtual learning, parents may access the videos. Gonoodle will require parents to create an account. When completing live virtual lessons, prek teachers were able to share our screens with our students so that they could still interact with us while dancing. When completing "work as you go" virtual work, Prek created a Google Slide presentation with various songs for parents to practice using.
As a part of our prek guidelines, I use Gonoodle and Youtube daily. We are required to have 1 music with movement activity each day! Each activity has to include a focus. Sometimes the focus may be dancing creatively. Other times, the focus may be centered on a math skill, social emotional skill, etc.....
YouTube and Gonoodle meet the needs of our students by giving them ideas and suggestions of how to dance creatively, while also learning content. Previously for music with movement time, teachers played old school CD player boombox style. Now with our technology, students are able to engage with the tools. They love hitting the buttons on the board such as the SKIP button for ADS on YouTube, X's on Gonoodle to finish an activity and closing out the popups on YouTube videos to make their experience more enjoyable.
Gonoodle Characters
Gonoodle Characters
Students choose characters on Gonoodle to help "Grow" Once a student (class) completes 10 activities, their selected character goes to the Transmogrifier. Once students have completed 30 activities the character maxes out and they select a NEW character
Virtual Learning
Virtual Learning
During virtual learning, Prek teachers went LIVE with students. In order to make the lessons seem like a "NORMAL" day. We continued to have music with movement portions with our students.
I can count to 20!
I can count to 20!
In Prek our music with movement activities are PURPOSEFUL! We have a focus for every song we complete, whether it is free style dancing or content based. In this song by Dream English KIDS, students learn to count to 20!
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