Week 3

As I read chapters 3, 4, 5 (obviously) technology is so very important to incorporate into any lesson-- isn't that why we are taking this class anyway? I've always thought about different programs offered and used many in my class as active engagement, introducing lessons, etc. I guess until these chapters, I never really stepped back and broke them down into groups.
Drill & Practice- What a great way to "practice" a skill. You've been teaching a particular area for a while and PRACTICE MAKES perfect. The first website that comes to mind when seeing the words "drill and practice" is MathMagician. This is a website that is strictly drill and practice for basic math facts in addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. I've used this website in several different ways. One way is just the obvious, students sit down and answer a certain number of problems in one minute. It gives them the percent correct they get at the end. Another way is by lining the students up and having the front student answer the question aloud as I type it on and then he/she goes to the back and the next one answers the next and so on... My students love this website and enjoying using it in both ways.
Tutorial- When I think of tutorial I think of tutor. I think of a program that is designed to "tutor" a student and help guide them in their learning. One website that comes to mind is Study Island. Study Island is a program that must be purchased. Our county purchased it this year and it (seems) to have made a huge difference. It can focus on reading and math; however we only purchased the math. It has many different lessons that teachers can assign according to state objectives, and also has a way teachers can create a lesson. Once students click on a "topic" they are guided through either a "test mode" or "game mode" depending on what the teacher assigns. It guides students through the topic's questions helping with incorrect answers by bumping them down a level to help master lower levels. Once a certain number of problems are answered correctly they are able to play the game (there are many.) It is a great program to help focus on particular needs that the students LOVE!
Simulation- Simulation programs/games are a great way to make students feel as if they are really there. It helps them get as "hands-on" as they can in the lesson and can help them grasp the concept even better. A website that comes to mind is EdHeads. This is a great program that allows students to do many different things such as surgeries, crime scene investigations, simple machines, etc. I love introducing this program whole group on the smart board and working on these topics as a class. Then later allowing students to work on their own or with a partner to explore on their own.
Instructional Games- MathPlayground is a great website to "let students go." There are great games that are very instructional that students love and enjoy! I either use them whole group on the smart board or allow them to work on their own.
Problem Solving- Scholastic offers many (free) games for students and teachers to use. Math Maven's Mysteries seems to be a great website to help students with higher order thinking questions. It provides them many different scenarios where they are really having to apply themselves to solve the mystery while focusing on a math problem for the solution. For struggling readers it has the option to read it aloud. I feel this website could be used whole group, small group, or individually.