Clif's Notes

Wordle in the Classroom

Tom Barrett, developed the below presentation. It is full of strategies and tips for effectively integrating Wordle with teaching and learning.

• Twitter in the Classroom
• VoiceThread in the Classroom
• Google Docs in the Classroom
• Google Earth in the Classroom

Google Docs in the Classroom

Tom Barrett developed the below presentation. It is full of strategies and tips for effectively integrating Google Docs with teaching and learning.

• Google Earth in the Classroom
• Wordle in the Classroom
• Twitter in the Classroom
• VoiceThread in the Classroom

An Introduction to Online Word Processing

(Repost from 12/04/2009)

This video provides a great overview of the concept of online productivity tools (word processor, presentations, spreadsheets) in under 3 minutes.

Click to take a look at Google Docs and Zoho Writer.

See this tutorial on collaborating with others with web applications like Google Docs.

Consider how these kinds of technologies could be integrated with teaching and learning and leave your ideas in the comments section below.

• An Introduction to Online Word Processing
• Collaborating with Online Word Processing
• PD for the Holidays: Web 2.0 Tutorials for Teachers
• Suggested Reading for 11/15/2008

Teaching Keyboarding to Elementary Children

I posed the following question to the members of my personal learning network (PLN).

I received lots of good advice and suggested resources. I wanted to share the information hoping that others would find it helpful, too.

Here are the responses from my Plurk buddies…

…and these are the replies from my Twitter friends.

Please Share
I invite you to please share your ideas, teaching strategies and resources, too. You can post a text, audio or video reply in the comments to this post or you can send me a message via Plurk and Twitter.

Together we all learn more.

• Favorite Web 2.0 Tool
• Connecting the Classroom and Outside World
• Connecting the Classroom and Outside World (Feedback Requested)
• Advice for Future Teachers Graduating This Month

Google Notebook

Google Notebook makes it possible for you to note information as you surf the web by simply adding clippings of web content (images, text and links) straight to your notebook.

I recommend installing the browser extension to access Google Notebook and all its functionality without ever leaving the web page you’re on.

Suggested Strategies

Educational Uses

Please share your ideas and examples of Google Notebook being used in educational settings.

• 1 Thing
• An Introduction to Online Word Processing
• An Introduction to Online Word Processing
• This Afternoon at EBC

Google Docs for Teachers: Forms Tutorial

• Google Docs for Teachers: Tutorial
• Google Docs for Teachers: We the People
• Google Docs in the Classroom
• Google Notebook

Writing Letters to Santa: From the Headlines

Annual North Pole Effort to Answer Kids’ Letters to Santa Claus Wraps up
“There’s no price tag on joy,” he said as he and several volunteers folded return letters — a handful of more than 20,000 responses to children who wrote to Santa this year. “It’s just a piece of paper with words on it, but the people who come out and give of themselves during the busiest time of the year, all to provide a child, and sometimes an adult, with a smile is pure charity and kindness,” Gaborik said.

Helping the Magic of Christmas Live on
For something that merely started as a way to buy my sons’ their Christmas presents, this has certaily turned into something more. It shows me that there still is a certain innocence in our world and that we need to let children be children…

Please also consider being a part of The Challenge.

• Writing Letters to Santa: A Lesson Plan
• OLPC: Give One, Get One
• Today Is World Math Day
• Today Is World Math Day

Writing Letters to Santa: A Lesson Plan

Teachers can take advantage of the holiday season to help learners practice writing personal letters since many children are excitedly waiting on Santa’s arrival. Here are a few suggested resources to help you with this lesson.

• Writing a Letter to Santa Claus: Primary Writing Lesson Plan
• Letters from Santa: Understanding Punctuation and Word Families
• Letter to Santa: Writing a Persuasive Letter
• The Letters to Santa Project
• Letter to Santa
• Animated Postcards

It would also be a good idea to teach the students about writing thank you letters once school resumes after the holidays.

Please also consider being a part of The Challenge.

• Writing Letters to Santa: From the Headlines
• Suggested Reading for 12/06/2008
• An Opportunity to Make a Difference
• 1 Thing Teachers Should Know about Teaching with Technology

Google Docs for Teachers: We the People

• Google Docs for Teachers: Tutorial
• Google Docs for Teachers: Forms Tutorial
• We the People…
• Google Docs in the Classroom

Suggested Reading for 12/14/2008

Sheryl Nussbaum-Beach’s Letter to My Colleagues and Scott McLeod’s corresponding Slide – Teachers and Technology

Seven Brilliant Things Teachers Do with Technology

10 Digital Writing Opportunities You Probably Know and 10 You Probably Don’t

Freedom and One to One Computing

Fluid Learning

Let’s Get Rid of Acceptable Use Policies

Memphis Has Arrived – Google Map Street Views

• Writing Letters to Santa: A Lesson Plan
• Suggested Reading for 11/15/2008
• Suggested Reading for 10/02/2008
• Suggested Reading for 11/12/2008