Great Websites for Kids

I absolutely love using technology in the classroom. We are definitely in the Information Age, and the use of computers and programs in education is the norm!  There are so many cool websites that you can use in your classroom.  Listed below are a few of my favorites.


Gynzy
http://www.gynzy.com
This is a great interactive website to use with your smart board!


Portaportal
http://portaportal.com/
This is a paid website, but most often used in the school district. In our district, if you link to the school website, it is often listed under student resources.


Class Dojo
http://www.classdojo.com/
Classroom Behavior Management
Interactive behavior management for the smart board! There is no cost and it is wonderful! This is great for communicating with parents.


Brain Pop Jr.
https://jr.brainpop.com/
A wonderful interactive website often paid for by the school district.

Starfall
http://www.starfall.com/

Kid TV-Preschool educational video's
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7Pq3Ko42YpkCB_Q4E981jw

Pebble Go
https://www.pebblego.com/

Teacher Pay Teachers
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/

Epic Books
https://www.getepic.com/

ABCYA
http://www.abcya.com/








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Classroom Behavior Management Programs



I have looked at several methods for monitoring classroom behavior. Some of the methods I have seen use color coded charts, and consist of moving your "clip", a clothesline pin up or down from color to color based on the student's behavior. The end result is using the child's agenda to write a note home to parents at the end of the day for undesired behavior. In the third grade, I have found this to not be effective. At this age of the student, showing mom or dad their Agenda's for undesired behavior most of the time does not happen. I have found that there are a large amount of parents that do not even look at their child's Agenda on a consistent basis, so they are more than likely going to miss the update of unsatisfactory behavior from their child's teacher.

What I have found that is most effective is Class Dojo. It is a computer based behavior management program that is free in cost, very easy to set up, and very effective for informing the child's parent of their child's behavior throughout the entire day. There is very little effort from the teacher in using this program. I absolutely love it, because all the teacher has to do is obtain the email address from the parent and send them their parent code that allows the parent to set up their "parent account". Once the parent signs up with their email and code, they have full access to viewing and receiving an updated report weekly of their child's behavior. It breaks down the child's overall strength and weaknesses using a percentage chart and shows them point by point the child's progress throughout the day and week.

Class Dojo is so easy to set up, and it allows the teacher to customize behavior categories. Some of the categories that I use are for positive behavior, completion of homework, on task, being kind, helpful, and extra credit work.  Some of the negative categories that I use is "no homework", unkind, off task, out of their seat without permission, talking out of turn, misbehavior in cafeteria, and disrespect. If you think of another one you want to create or add, you simply click on the edit class button and add.

You can also keep track of your students attendance on there as well. This is an effective tool that parents can see if they wonder why their child may not have received any points on that particular day, either they were not in class that day, or had a very poor day in regards to their behavior.

It also allows a student to set up their own account. I do not use this feature in third grade, but if a teacher wanted to utilize this feature; this would allow the student to personalize their avatar and have the capability to view their behavior as well. It does not allow the student to change or add anything else in regards to behavior or behavior categories. This feature may be effective for upper grades and older students.

What is so amazing that this tool is free of cost. There are also several tutorials and training videos on their website and Google as well, especially You Tube.

The website is www.classdojo.com. Please let me know your thoughts on this program, and if you have any questions from me.
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Christmas Activities for the Children.

Christmas Activities
Click the link above for some really cool Christmas Projects the children can do for Christmas. www.education.com

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Sandy Hook One Year Later... Are our Children Any Safer?


This year in the classroom as a teacher, I have really thought about the safety of our children in our Public Schools. Taking the time today to reflect on the senseless tragedy that happened last year ago on December 14, 2012 which killed twenty six people, including twenty school children. One year ago, we all watched in shock and horror at the devastation that one man caused all these families.  We as a Community, State, and Nation promised to make changes to ensure that this never happened again. What has been done?  Have we passed laws regarding more gun control? Is that the mere answer? What about mental health and the public safety of the members of the community? So many things that we could go back and forth on, debating from now until eternity. The bottom line is the children. The children have to be kept safe! We have to know as parents that when we drop them off at school that day, that they will be coming home. I know God has a purpose for all of us. I know that God is in control of all things. I know that this world is evil and full of sin, and that will not change. Change begins on the smaller scale, it begins within the community and state that we live in. Rapid Legislation and new laws are not going to take effect fast enough. There is money in state for our children's education, but whether it goes to safety and children's education is the concern.  The Virginia Lottery proceeds and I am assuming other states as well, as suppose to fund the schools. Do they? As an educator, I can tell you if they are, I do not know where it is, and it is certainly not enough. It is a well known fact that the School Budget is dissected on a yearly basis, pulling a little bit more away from the children each year. It also varies from one school district to another, even in the same state. One of the local school divisions has all of their schools secured and locked, and since Sandy Hook has installed door magnets in all the doors to pull the doors closed and locked in a moments notice. The next town over has another School District that are unsecured, having resource officers in the schools for security. Is that enough? Are the teacher's given the tools they need to keep on the average twenty plus children safe in their care? Are they free to lock their doors in the classroom? Some are, some schools discourage it. Like night and day, different philosophy's, one school has provided each classroom teacher a baseball bat as protection for their classroom.  
What can you do to help? How can you assure your children and parents that their child is safe? You can't. You can offer to pray for them and their family, but not during official "school hours" because the J word is not to be mentioned during school. It is amazing, thought that Jesus was probably the first name called out at Sandy Hook. I pray for my kids, I pray for my families. I pray for safety and smart Legislation to keep our communities safe. How about you?

For Further information and research, two mom's from Sandy Hook, Michelle Gay and Alissa Parker have started a coalition called , "Safe and Sound Schools." One important gun control legislation that was initiated by the Sandy Hook Promise was defeated in Congress by seven votes. They now have a new initiative called "Parent Together." 

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