1.  PBS has organized all their games on a site they call Interactive Whiteboard Games.  These are all the wonderful games that correlate to their kids programming and they do make great whiteboard games! 

2.  Wish you could put a sticker on a student assignment done through Google Apps instead of a grade sometime?  Now you can!!!  I almost considered going back to Edmodo as an online Classroom because I missed the student badges.  I am glad I didn't!  This blog not only shows you how to insert a badge or docsticker onto a student assignment but gives you a link to add a folder of stickers to your drive so you have some to give!  Let me know if you need help with this.  I can't wait to use these!!!!!

3.  Some of you have asked for activities that you could do once the SOL testing is over.  I just stumbled upon a site called Toonator which could be done in one setting.  Students use this site to animate stick figures or if they want they can get more artistic. I can't wait to try this myself.

4.  A great activity for older students would be Gamestar Mechanic. This is an awesome site that provides the basics on video game construction.  You know, with a little thought either Toonator or Gamestar Mechanic could be integrated into any content area.

5.  This isn't really an integration idea.  I just wanted to share my sweet foot that the MHES Special Needs PK Class did as part of their Dr. Seuss door contest! Thanks, PK!  Look it has my name in Binary!  You know, the end of the year would be a great time to introduce binary.  Let me know if you would like integration ideas!

1.  Create digital mad libs with your students!  When I was a kid I use to love going to this one restaurant.  I don't remember the name of it; but, on a paper place-mat they had a mad lib story.  I use to love trying to come up with the funniest story.  Here is a site called Wacky Web Tales where your students can create their own mad libs.  The page says it is for grades 3 and up but I don't see why younger kids wouldn't enjoy it as well.  

2.  Want your older kids to create their own digital mad libs?  Flippity can take care of that!  I have shared Flippity before but it is always growing so it is worth taking another look.  Flippity is a set of templates that you use with Google Sheets to create a plethora of various tools such as flashcards, games, etc.  One of their templates allows the user to create a digital mad lib.  If I taught an English class or grammar I may start off having the students explore the Wacky Web Tales site and then move on to Flippity to create their own.  Great way to review those parts of speech!

3.  Math by Design is an AMAZING site for older students!  Student can choose to create a park or a Wind Jammer Environmental Center.  Either option allows the students to use mathematical skills in a real world situation.  LOVE this site!

5.  I usually share a video as my 5th thing but I want to forgo that to share one more site this week.  Kiddle is powered by Google safe search but not owned by them. It looks an awful lot like the Google's search interface we’re all familiar with, but includes some cute child-like tweaks. Instead of the plain white background there’s a fun outer space theme with a robot alien near the search bar.  The site clears itself every 24 hours and does not require any personal information from your students to operate.  I like the fact that it has it's own built in filters!

1.  Here is a lesson Gail found about thinking before you post.  Great lesson and perfect for older students.  Pause Before You Post!

2.   Another site shared by Gail this week was Technology Rocks. This site has some cute posters that can be used in the classroom.  

  3.  Ed Puzzle was a site that was gleaned from the Google Summit that the ITRTs and Teresa Howell attended over the weekend.  I wish I could say that I found it but  unfortunately, I got sick with the flu and couldn't stay.  In fact, much of what I did attend is sort of a blur.  This site though was one that Mike Cargill was impressed with.  I haven't had a chance to play with it but I understand that some of you are already familiar with this site.  I plan to get better acquainted with this soon!  EdPuzzle will allow you to upload a video and insert questions into the video.  The video will not progress until the student answers the question. 

4.  This is not a site but it is a wonderful idea that I just stumbled upon while I was trying to up on my blog reading.  The idea is a gallon sized zip bag.  This would be a great task for Primary kids.  

5.  Friday at the Movies - Although the dancers in this movie are not on skates, this song reminded me of the kids songs that use to be played at Skateland.  Can you imagine trying to do this on skates?

1.  Teaching students about "Fake News" could be worked into a lesson on Source Evaluation which has been an internet safety topic for years now.  Here is an interesting blog which gives ideas for how to approach this in your classroom.

2.  Are you looking for an opened activity for older students?  Let them create their own games!  This site allows students to problem solve by creating one of four different games.  

3.  And yet another creation tool!  You may need to get our Tech Dept to download and install this free software but you will be glad you did.  Pivot Stick Figure Animator 3.0 allows students to practice with animation basics.

4.  I had a blast playing with Fidgets to the Rescue.  This game from PBS helps teach those natural disaster related SOLs like earthquakes or hurricanes.  

5.  Friday at the Movies - With all the spring cleaning we are doing these days, I just want to say that although I find this fascinating, I am thankful I don't have to clean it up!

One of the technology groups to which I belonged asked that we share pictures of our STEAM/computer lab environments. This is my STEAM lab at AES.  This is the first year of the STEAM pilot.  

At the end of the year (April 2016) I asked my Instructional Director about the possibility of doing a STEAM lab instead of a computer lab in all of my buildings.  She scaled it down and asked that I choose one building - one that already had an extra room - and pilot it there.  She shared that there was no money to help with the start up of the lab so I would have to track down a grant.

Donor's Choose helped me find a matching grant and the PTO at AES gave me $2500 which allowed me a total of $5000 for start up funds.  Our chromebooks were $3000 themselves.  

I put together this room with all the love I have for my profession.  I have been told by several persons in the school that my room is the most fun one in the building!

Ladies and Gentlemen, my STEAM lab!

Below are pictures of the dioramas we built using the Sit-Upons.