Apps and Website for the Home

Apps and Websites for the Home

 This past week I had a parent conference for a child who has an attention issue.  His parents stressed with me how hard it is to get him to do his homework and focus at home.  They said that he loves to use the computer and video games, so that got me thinking about this post.  They asked for websites or apps they could use at home.  I began thinking and by the time they left, I believe they had a least a page full of ideas.  I wanted to share some of those ideas with you so if you have parents that ask, you will have a list to pull from. You may also have some that I did not list so feel free to share.  

Math

ScootPad:  an adaptive learning and Common Core Mastery platform for Grades K-8 (Math, Reading, Spelling, Vocabulary, Writing etc.).ScootPad delivers continuously personalized learning experience for each student enabling comprehensive practice, accelerated progress and rapid concept mastery. The students must have a log in and password and can be used on a desk top or tablet. 

Math Fight:  Test your math skills in a race against your friends! This is an ipad app but there are other version for androids. The screen is split in two thus very convenient for the duel games. This is a concentration game that stirs your brain in a positive way. This free game for kids and adults includes basic mathematical operations – addition and subtraction, multiplication and division

Cool Math Games: Cool Math Games has cool free online games to learn math, reading and spelling, geography, science, strategy, skill, arithmetic, shapes and colors, logic and memory skills

Fun Brain: is an educational browser game website for children and adults. It was on this site that Diary of a Wimpy Kid was first published before being turned into a successful book series and movie

Reading and English Language Arts

Spelling City:  Vocabulary Spelling City provides spelling, vocabulary, writing and language arts activities for K-12 cross-curricular word study. The site will automate spelling tests, give students immediate feedback, and save teachers the time it takes to administer, grade and record the tests. We aspire to provide students with engaging games to motivate study and promote academic success. We aim to continually advance our services while providing helpful and courteous support

Sight Words: This is an app that includes 6 GAMES: 

1. WORD MACHINE Control the Word Machine. Supply all the words that need to be produced by tapping on the words called. 
2. SPELLING Your dog is hungry! Make cans to feed him! To make a can, drag the letter cards to their correct place and make a word you have just heard pronounced. 
3. BINGO Make a Bingo to get a ticket for Aliens back home! Tap on the word corresponding to the one that you heard pronounced. Once you have matched cards from one side of the board to the next... Bingo! Aliens are back home! 
4. MEMORY GAME Match the sounds to correct word forms! To do so, tap on one of the speakers, hear the word, and then select one of the cards below with a correct word. Do it for all words! 
5. GEARS Tap on one of the speakers on the screen, hear the word pronounced, and place the word across the speaker. Repeat for all words to see wonderful gears animation. 
6. FLASH CARDSPractice in the Flash Card mode. List through the words and top on the cards to hear the words pronounced again and again! 

Reading rainbow: With is app children explore worlds of reading to discover storybooks and learn about such topics as animals, friends, family, science, space, music, and more. Each book comes alive as children read-along with audio storytelling by spoken word Grammy winner Burton himself, and his hand selected group of actors. Plus, over 100 exclusive video field trips take children on adventures to visit fascinating people and places. Introduce your child to the fun of reading with Reading Rainbow – download it FREE.

Starfall: Starfall is a free website that teaches children how to read and write in English. Starfall is useful for pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, and second grade. Founded in 2002, the website teaches children how to read by using games and phonics

PBS Kids:PBS Kids is the brand for children's programming aired by the Public Broadcasting Service in the United States airing as a programming block since July 11, 1994. It is directly aimed at children between the ages of 2–7 years old

Who am I and Why am I creating this Blog

My name is Melanie Arrington. I have been married to Jeff for 10 years and we have two wonderful girls, Emma 7 years old and Ella 4 years old. I currently live in Cedartown, Georgia. I have been teaching in a classroom setting for 15 years.

I am currently a 1^st grade teacher at Elm Street Elementary School in the Rome City School System. I have taught 1st, 2nd, and 4th grade. I enjoy teaching younger students because they are so ready to learn and curious. I also enjoy using technology.  I am always looking for ways to use technology in everything I do.   

I earned my B.A. in Early Childhood Education from Shorter College in Rome, Georgia. I then earned my Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education with a technology add-on at Jacksonville State University in Jacksonville, Alabama.  I went on to further my education and received my Specialist degree in Educational Leadership from Lincoln Memorial University in Harrgot, Tennessee. I am currently working on a Media Specialist and Instructional Technology certificate from the University of West Georgia in Carrollton, Georgia.  

My goal with this blog is to help other educators incorporated technology into their daily lives.  This year I have had to opportunity to help instruct a staff development on Technology Integration.  My entire faculty and staff meets once a month for an hour to learn ways to use the current technology we have available at our school.  I would like for this blog to serve as a resource to those faculty members.  They will be able to come here and review items we discussed in the meeting and also ask questions.  

ThingLink Project

This first app/program is not one that we discussed in our monthly meeting but you should be familiar with it from a training with the coaches.  I used Thinglink to introduce myself and my family. 

 This is not only an app but a web based program also.  You select an image and then add hot spots.  When you add a hot spot you have the option of adding text, video, pictures, or a link to another website.  There are endless opportunities to use this in the classroom. My first graders used this to create their Black History month project.  

Be sure to check over on the right side, under meetings to see a list by date and content for more information on topics we have discussed within our meeting.