PixiClip creates clips- up to 5 minutes of a screen capture, with your audio and webcam if you choose- that you can share publicly or privately.  You could also just use the surface as an interactive whiteboard with no intention of sharing your clips.

Here you can see the tools that are included- especially the ability to upload an image to work on, and a pencil and a marker to write on the image.  You also are able to register for the site so you can save your clips. You can make the clips public or keep them on your page.  I think if you are doing a flipped classroom this would be a fantastic tool.  You could demonstrate your lesson and then share the link with your students.  You can embed videos into your class blog, as well, so it’s great for giving kids a tool after they get home if they need a refresher.  It would also be great for video tutorials for parents- especially on some of the non-traditional methods we’re using in math class now.

Here’s a Clip where I use one day of my monthly story problems.  I am loving PixiClip for this for next year rather than me just talking and gesturing with my hands- even though I’m sure I’ll still gesture.

After you’re done with your video, you can choose which privacy setting you’d like and you can also name your Clip.

This allows you to make your clips private so others can’t see them without going to your page- which seems great for classroom use.  It also allows you to make them public, which means we could have a plethora of educational videos at our fingertips as they get expanded and more videos added.  In the meantime, I’m loving the idea of just using it with my students.

Have you used PixiClip before?  If so, I’d love to hear about it!  Click the image below to check out my other Wednesday Website posts.

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My newest website to share with you is one I’ve known about for a couple of years now.  WatchKnowLearn.org is designed to bring high quality educational videos to your classroom to keep your lessons engaging for students, as well as build their content knowledge.

 

WatchKnowLearn.org has partnered with a variety of video programs, especially YouTube and TeacherTube.  Instead of Googling for ideas, or going to YouTube, you can do your search directly within their website.  It keeps potentially harmful ads away, and ensures you’re only sharing safe videos.  It also makes it an easy one-stop-shop for the educational videos you use in your classroom.

I will be honest and say that I can’t get all of the features they claim to work.  I can’t find the settings to set up my own classroom, and have tried two different browsers but the option isn’t there.  I also can’t seem to “favorite” videos and get that setting to work.  With that said, I still love this site and use it fairly regularly.  It’s especially awesome for teaching in the content areas.

You can register for the site, but you can also use it completely without registering.  There is a search bar, and a drop down directory, helping you find what you’re looking for easily.

 In addition to the search bar, you can also use the drop down options to explore within each subject.

Here is what it looks like when I drill down for fractions.

They offer a variety of videos for language arts as well.  While reading is a bit harder to do by video lesson, and so there aren’t as many results, they do offer videos for well known literature, which is especially helpful for fairy tales, folk tales, and things of that nature.

Here is a drill down of what they offer based on the Common Core text exemplar suggested list.  For reading, these are great to use as a common “text” when introducing a skill.  They allow you to practice the skill, even independently with students, by removing the text which may be difficult for students.  This is also a great way to practice and assess students with learning disabilities since the often difficult decoding has been removed.

Have you used this website in the past?  If so, I’d love to hear what you think of it and if you’ve found a way to work around the kinks I’ve mentioned.

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It’s been a few weeks since I’ve shared a new site with you on Wednesday Website, but this week I’m back with my new FAVORITE website!

Let me start by explaining the technology that we have available to us.  In our class we have 6 ancient computers that sometimes work, and sometimes don’t.  The computers are at least 10 years old, at least.  I am unable to update the browsers or any plug ins.  They sometimes don’t turn on, or the keyboard or the mouse will suddenly stop working.  I’m pretty technologically knowledgeable but other than making sure things are plugged in, my knowledge of hardware is lacking.  We also go to the lab once a week for 30 minutes.  Those computers are 10+ years as old as well.  I have a tablet and a projector (thanks to DonorsChoose!) that I can use to teach from, but that’s all we have.  It makes incorporating technology and keeping the kids engaged pretty difficult.  But, we make the best of it.  So when I find a website we’re able to use and use well, it makes me incredibly excited.  This one has changed our math program.  Seriously.

I originally heard about Front Row after Erin from Kleinspiration did a post about it.  I decided to sign up and try it out with my kids.  After my kids used it a couple times, they fell in love with it, and I fell in love with it.  We use it during our math block every. single. day.  It’s a center and it allows kids to work on the math strand we’re working on, but at their level.  Essentially, it allows me to give kids 30 minutes of differentiated practice at their level, and it takes virtually no work on my end.  That’s life-changing in a teacher’s world right there.  You can work directly on the website or they have an app available in the Apple store if you’re lucky enough to have iPads at your disposal.

Let me show you how it works.

First, you register yourself as a teacher using your email address.

Click on the registration and get yourself set up.  Once you’ve verified everything, you’ll be taken to your dashboard.

Once you are registered yourself then you type in each of your students’ names to register them.  Just first and last name.  Quick and painless.  I think you can even import them from Excel, but it didn’t take me very long to just type them in.  You will be given a class code that students will use to sign in.  My kiddos tell me they only had to type it in the first time they used that specific computer.  Bonus!  I have it on the chalkboard above my computers that I made with website notes so if the kids ever need it, they have it handy.

Here are some things the students see on their end.  This is the sign in page.

Then direct students to which domain you’d like them to practice in.  This is my favorite part.  We have been working on fractions the last few weeks so the kids have been in fractions.  We’re going back to area and perimeter after break so I had the kids do a bit of work in Measurement.

The first time a kid works in a domain they take the diagnostic test.  This assesses where the kids are at with this specific math strand.  It allows you to differentiate for the kids without having to do any additional work.  It finds out where they are, and works on those specific standards, no matter the grade.

Another awesome tool is the video.  If a kid is struggling or not understanding a specific concept, they can click on the little “play” button on the left toolbar and a quick teaching video pops up to explain the concept.  Amazing.  Unfortunately, our ancient computers can’t seem to get this to work.  Lucky for me, my kids don’t mind.  They’ll just sometimes ask me for help or will ask a friend if they get really stuck.

It also allows them to use manipulatives and scratch paper directly in the program.  I do have to keep an eye on a couple kids to make sure they aren’t just playing around, but most of the kids are completely engaged.

You see that little coin on the top?  Kids collect coins each day for their work.  When they enter in the program it gives a leaderboard for the daily coin collection.  My kids LOVE it.  They are so excited to share with me how many coins they’ve earned each day.  What do they do with those coins?  Nothing.  Just earning the coins has kept them interested and excited about what they’re doing.  My kids seriously CHEER when I tell them to get on Front Row.

Here are some of my favorite features from a teacher viewpoint.

Once you’re signed in you can see your dashboard with a toolbar on the left.  Here is a look at the Analysis section.

In this section, you choose a standard within the domain you’re working on.  It shows your students’ performance on that standard.  This is my students’ work with 3.NF.3d (don’t be confused by the KCC1 in the drop down.  That’s just for me to choose the next standard).  I’m quickly able to see who isn’t working up to that standard yet, and who has advanced.  I’ve blocked out my student names but they are in that white box.

Another cool feature is the Report Card.  Here, you select the grade level’s standards that you want to see and everything on the screen is sorted by student.  Here is one of my student’s report card.

This is a second grade view of the measurement standards.  This is where he’s working on this strand.

 

And this is where he’s working on the 3rd grade fraction standards.

 Another cool feature is the printables.  You’re able to choose if you would like to print an individualized printable for a specific strand so you get one for each student at their level.  Or, you can choose printables for specific strands.

In full discretion I do want to say that these printables are not very eye catching, and they could use some improvement to be a bit more student friendly.  But, in a pinch they’re quality work.  And, it’s free.

One last awesome feature is that each week you get an email with information on how your students did that week.  I’m pretty sure someone does this work and it’s not automated.  Either way, it’s a really nice feature.

I blocked out my student names, but this shows you the information you get each week.  It’s nice because it gives you that quick and painless reminder on the kids you need to check in with and maybe talk with about their effort during that time.

You also can print out parent sign ups so parents can get information on their kid’s performance.  I’ve not used this yet so I’m not sure the frequency or anything.

I truly, truly love Front Row and love how easy it allows me to differentiate for my kids!  If you’re already using it I’d love to hear about it!

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It’s been a few weeks since my last WW post, but I’m back with a great one.  Have you heard of GoNoodle?

It’s a free site that lets you build Brain Breaks into your day.  I’ve been using it the last couple weeks to make sure I’m actually doing breaks in the day, and I’ve loved it so far!

They have a few different kids of videos.  We’re huge fans of doing the kids Zumba videos because it shows the kids movements to do.

Basically, you log into your class, click play, and then choose a video to do.  You earn those minutes to increase your champ level (the bubbly purple graph on the side).  When it’s full, your “guy” gets an upgrade.  My kids go absolutely NUTS when the character gets bigger and more muscular.  These are third graders who often think they’re too cool for most things school, but they love this.

2 days a week we have no specials.  Thanks to the winter from my nightmares (3rd snowiest in the recorded history of Chicago), we’ve had a ridiculous amount of indoor recess days this year.  This has helped my sanity the last couple weeks, and I wish we had started using it earlier.

This week, with state testing, we’ve taken 10 minute brain breaks before we move on to reviewing and I think it’s helped the kids get a bit of a release.  55 minute testing sessions are a bit stressful for 8 year olds.

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