Weebly Website

This week's Monday Media Minute is a double whammy!

I wanted to show you www.Weebly.com.  Named one of TIME's 50 Best Websites, Weebly gives everyone a surprisingly easy way to create a unique site for free.  The Simpson Media Center website was created using Weebly (FYI, Weebly works best with Google Chrome).  The tool is very user-friendly and offers many easy-to-use options that can really enhance your current site.  If you choose to use Weebly to create your website, you can simply link it to our school website.  Also, you can create a website for specific projects or events.  For example, I created a Book Fair website earlier this year and linked it to the media center site.

I also wanted to share another example with you...  I am currently working on a biography research project with 1st grade.  Students chose a person, researched them with books and PebbleGo, and now we are using Blabberize to present their findings.  I was looking for a good way to showcase their work for parents and each other to see.  So, I created a Weebly for the project.  Please click the link below to check out the Weebly.  This site is a work in progress as the students complete their projects.  Notice what a cute project the Blabberize is!!!  I have already shared Blabberize with you as a Monday Media Minute, but I thought you might want to see some projects from our own students!

http://1stgradeblabberize.weebly.com/

I would be thrilled to get to work with you and/or your class using Blabberize or Weebly.  Both are exciting tools that can really get your students motivated to learn and show off their learning!

Colonial Times Interactive Website

Did you know???

There is a neat interactive website (http://www.pbs.org/wnet/colonialhouse/history/) that focuses on Colonial times.  What was it like to live in 1628 Colonial America? To find out, go to this interactive site by PBS and discover the people, food, clothing, houses and ways of life for Colonists, indentured servants, and Native Americans. The site contains a variety of learning activities including audio, video, quizzes, maps, dress the colonist, and an interactive journey across the ocean. Colonial House is sure to make learning about colonial life more fun and engaging for your students.

Test Prep Help

Did you know???

There is a fun Web 2.0 tool that might come in handy during CRCT prep or any kind of review and practice you are doing in the classroom.  FlipQuiz (http://flipquiz.me/) is a FREE tool that was created to provide educators with a quick way to create gameshow-style boards for test reviews in the classroom. The tool is similar to Jeopardy, but I find it much easier to use than Jeopardy templates I have tried before.  Also, boards can easily be shared across grade levels!

Click here to see a demo of one of the gameboards: http://flipquiz.me/demo

Please let me know if I can help you with this or any other media/technology tool!