Exploring High Quality Websites and Apps for Common Core Lesson Design

Many teachers and parents are on the never ending search to find productive apps and websites to help students learn. Of course it's great that there are games out there that offer educational value, but teachers also need to know what tech sites and apps can be utilized for high quality lessons. If you feel overwhelmed with the amount of TechEd resources out there, then you should check out graphite.org. This site offers a "Common Core Explorer" for ELA and Math Common Core standards for grades K - 12. 

To use the explorer, you simply chose Language Arts or Mathematics and the grade level you desire. Then a list of common core standards will appear, and apps and sites that can be utilized for those standards will be listed, with teacher and learner ratings. 

You now have a "one stop-shop" for each and every Common Core Standard! Happy Hunting!

Student Collaboration Tips for Docs & Slides

Google Apps for Education have allowed teachers to expand their classrooms in so many ways. My absolute favorite thing about Docs, Sheets, and Slides are the multiple opportunities that students have to work collaboratively within.

Here are a couple simple tips for organizing Docs and Slides for Collaboration.

  

Tracking Student Work in Google Docs

Many teachers are really enjoying the fact that Google Apps for Education allows their students to work collaboratively. One of the many concerns of students working together has always been, "How can I tell which student has done what work?" Well thanks to the revision history in Google Docs, it is easy to see who has done what work, and when they did that work. This is a great assessment tool and will keep students accountable during collaborative work.