I have been exploring Google Chrome as a browser for the last several days and have enjoyed researching some of the Chrome Apps that are available and seem useful for education.  I created a Live Binder on this topic, if you are a Chrome user you may want to check them out!

Google Chrome Apps for Education!
http://www.livebinders.com/edit?id=394349

Great Songs for the End of the School Year

I always loved playing music at the end of the school year, there are many great songs that students love that just ease the end of the school year.  If you have a favorite of your own please leave a comment and let me know what it is!

I Can Tell That we are Gonna be Friends
Jack Johnson
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqfCfUQxM4I

Let Them be Little
School’s Out for SummerAlice Cooper

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qga5eONXU_4

Hello Muddah, Hello Faddah

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jjiWS__Mp0

Somewhere Over the Rainbow

Israel "IZ" Kamakawiwoʻole
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1bFr2SWP1I

Lean on Me

Bill Withers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HaVXfHZv50Y

I Hope you Dance,

Lee Ann Womack
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RV-Z1YwaOiw

You’re Gonna Miss This!  
Trace Adkins
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBDN8yWyNYU

My Wish

Rascal Flatts
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4JFBsmyiFc

Best Years of our Lives Baha Men

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40ylEx1mYUc

Apps I am Loving this Week

Loving my iPad! Here are a few of the interesting Apps I found this week!

From Christy Lobdell: Lexico Cognition
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/lexico-cognition/id477090595?mt=8

Lexico-Cognition is an App to develop language understanding, vocabulary building, cognitive, memory and auditory skills in a playful way. It was developed and tested by qualified speech therapists.
A simple, logical user interface and attractive images motivate even younger children to work independently. All questions are read aloud, allowing children who cannot read to use he App. For reading practice, the sound can be turned off.  
Astro Apphttp://itunes.apple.com/us/app/astroapp-space-shuttle-crew/id432366873?mt=8

   
NASA's Space Shuttle program ends after 30 years. Celebrate this accomplishment with us. Get to know all the space travelers who flew on this unique vehicle. You can sort by name and mission. The "Suit Me Up" feature allows you to become a Space Shuttle astronaut yourself. Share it with your friends and family.
National Parks App National Geographic
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/national-parks-by-national/id518426085?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D2
National Geographic presents a new, beautiful, and interactive guide to the national parks with a new app for iPhone. Whether you are seeking inspiration and planning your next trip or you're looking for the ultimate in utility, National Geographic has everything you need to explore the U.S. national parks at your fingertips.
MSO Learn (Music)
MSO Learn is the first App of its kind to offer the user advanced interactive audio-visual exploration of an orchestra, featuring the different instrumental families, individual instruments and the musicians who play them.
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/mso-learn/id441422027?mt=8

Fotopedia National Parks App
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/fotopedia-national-parks/id406969208?mt=8

Livestand
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/livestand-from-yahoo!/id469314404?ls=1&mt=8
Livestand from Yahoo! is a living magazine app that transforms articles, photos, and videos from Yahoo! and across the Web into a rich, interactive experience for your iPad.
Discover and dive into the topics that matter to you - all in one place and updated in real–time.

As students end the school year it may be a good idea to review the rules for the classroom and talk about Respect and Responsibility.  Below you will find websites that cover this topic.  Many are You Tube videos.  I especially enjoyed some of the videos about politness and manners from the fifties as well as the Disney video.  Be sure to check them out they are kind of fun to watch!

Responsibility

Pick up your Trash
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAyUA3cL-yg

The Crying Indian Keep America Beautiful
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7OHG7tHrNM

Big Bird's Big Influence: 7 Sesame Street Videos Teaching Kids Green
http://www.treehugger.com/culture/big-birds-big-influence-7-sesame-street-videos-teaching-kids-green.html

Safety Land
http://www.att.com/Common/images/safety/game.html

Arthur Mind Your Manners
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESzUJXzFJJ8

Time For Table Manners Disney cartoon about good manners when eating http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04xQk9Em1aE

Lunchroom Manners The Original Mr Bungle
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2s7X5-Drctk

Etiquette and TheStory of King Louis XIV Video
The story of the word "Etiquette"
http://www.emilypost.com/everyday-manners/guidelines-for-living/463-etiquette-and-the-story-of-king-louis-xiv

Flap Books Good Habits
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JoIQoieyNXs

Fact Monster Being a Good Listener
http://www.factmonster.com/homework/listeningskills1.html

Helping your child to become a good citizen
http://www2.ed.gov/parents/academic/help/citizen/citizen.pdf

Congress for Kids Introduction to Citizenship
http://www.congressforkids.net/citizenship_intro.htm

Hand Washing
http://www.neok12.com/php/watch.php?v=zX036a4e00627c7472594006&t=Safety
SMART Exchange
Citizenship
http://exchange.smarttech.com/search.html?q=citizenship

Respect

Books
Know and Follow the Rules
http://www.amazon.com/Follow-Rules-Cheri-Meiners-M-Ed/dp/1575421305

Cynthia Lord “Rules”
http://www.cynthialord.com/rules.htm

Mix up at the Movies
http://www.girlshealth.gov/relationships/images/mixupmovies.swf

Time for Tolerance
http://library.thinkquest.org/07aug/00117/index1.html

Respect Posters
http://www.squidoo.com/respect-poster

Emily Post Do you ever wonder how you will teach your children manners?
http://www.emilypost.com/home-and-family

The Three Bears (Goldilocks did have a bit of a problem)
http://www.kizclub.com/storytime/threebears/first.html

Find Books that Build Character
http://www.kizclub.com/storytime/threebears/first.html

Safe and Respectful
http://www.safeandrespectful.org/parents/respect_home.html
You Tube Respect Song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgidfFs-j4M

Don’t Gross out the World Manners
http://www.fekids.com/img/kln/flash/DontGrossOutTheWorld.swf

Teaching your Kids to be Respectful
http://www.greatschools.org/parenting/behavior-discipline/4238-how-to-teach-your-child-to-be-respectful-video.gs

35 Activities Respect
http://www.micheleborba.com/Pages/BMI05.htm

Good Manners Flashcards
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sap27VlBQ0U
You Tube
Music Machine Have Patience Song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kn6Z2Mop5I

Out on a Limb Getting Along with Others
http://urbanext.illinois.edu/conflict/

Goldilocks and the 3 Bears
http://learnenglishkids.britishcouncil.org/en/short-stories/goldilocks-and-the-three-bears

30 Children’s Books to help teach respect
http://tidbitsfromamom.blogspot.com/2011/03/30-childrens-books-that-help-teach.html

iPad App “A Quest for Good Manners”
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/quest-for-good-manners-interactive/id447892393?mt=8

All About Respect You Tube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMNgSipjEPg

Aretha Franklin R-E-S-P-E-C-T
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FOUqQt3Kg0

Safety SMART Exchange Safety
http://exchange.smarttech.com/details.html?id=5704f808-5af5-41c9-bda6-d7e13cd1551b

McGruff Safety
http://www.mcgruff.org/#/Main

Safety

Fire Safety
http://www.firefacts.org/

School Safety Activities
http://www.teachervision.fen.com/school-safety-month/teacher-resources/6661.html
Disney Classroom Safety Posters
http://www.teachervision.fen.com/school-safety-month/teacher-resources/6661.html

Kansas City has been the new Florida this winter and yet I still can't hardly wait for spring to arrive again! I have my flip flops and shorts ready to go (actually I am already wearing them) I am told our planting season here has been changed to a Zone 6 due to the warm weather. Days are getting longer and the sun is staying out a little longer each day! In the classroom this is a great time to talk about things like spring equinox, daylight savings time and earth day. Check out a few of the sites below for classroom ideas:

Daylight Explorer
http://astro.unl.edu/classaction/animations/coordsmotion/daylighthoursexplorer.html
Seasons Interactive
http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/olcweb/cgi/pluginpop.cgi?it=swf::800::600::/sites/dl/free/0072482621/78778/Seasons_Nav.swf::Seasons%20Interactive
What is Spring http://www.topmarks.co.uk/Spring/WhatIsSpring.aspx?age=ks2
Seasonal food (might be a good way to develop vocabulary)
http://eattheseasons.co.uk/index.htm
Shepard's Software (many seasonal ideas here)
http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/scienceforkids/seasons/seasons.htm
Daylight Savings Time Around the World
http://www.timeanddate.com/time/dst/2011.html
Cloud Matching
http://eo.ucar.edu/webweather/cloudmatch.html
Cloud Types
http://www.windows2universe.org/earth/Atmosphere/clouds/cloud_types.html
Reason for the Seasons
http://html.clickondetroit.com/sh/idi/weather/seasons/seasons-fall.swf
Standing and egg on end on the equinox
http://www.phy.cmich.edu/people/osborn/egg1.html
Spring Lesson (ppt, worksheets) K-2
http://www.elcivics.com/esl/spring-lesson-1
Spring K-3 Theme page
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/themes/spring.shtml
2 Books about Spring (great for SMART Board)
http://www.childrenslibrary.org/icdl/SimpleSearchCategory?ids=&pnum=1&cnum=1&text=spring&lang=English&ilangcode=en&ilang=English&langid=11
To the Mountain and Back (story about the water cycle)
http://www.drippytheraindrop.com/DrippysWorldTrialStories/ToMountainsAndBack/Entry.htm
Kid's Zone (The water cycle) K-2
http://www.kidzone.ws/water/index.html
Earth Day Sheppards Software (several ideas)
http://sheppardsoftware.com/usa_game/holiday_paint/earthday_home.htm
Eco Kids
http://www.ecokids.ca/pub/index.cfm
Eco World
http://pbskids.org/eekoworld/index.html
The Greens a site for kids looking after the planet
http://www.meetthegreens.org/
Environmental Kid's Club
http://www.epa.gov/kids/
A Little Relaxing Time......
You Tube (need Sonic Wall to view LSR7) great after recess to calm kids
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twwSBNQZSmI
Blue Skies Rod Stewart
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twwSBNQZSmI
Singing in the Rain
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmCpOKtN8ME
Suddenly it's Spring (Raggedy Anne) nice old cartoon
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vKEMV-NoU9g
Love this one .....April Showers Bambi
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJcIDa7EdnA&feature=related
Itsy Bitsy Spider
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nkf_89mVujI&feature=pyv&ad=8349516477&kw=sesame%20street&gclid=CNWclNfksqcCFcW8KgodOE9qBA
Winnie the Pooh Spring Time MoviePart 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSHzKW8Ameg

Part 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Rwvmp5M5Sk
Part 3 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGxUxrR2Wcs
Part 4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAl6ZvtidZ0
Part 5 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQQ4_j5iqE0
Part 6 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ui2OqT6k93A
Part 7 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pZ39Py9lc4

Easter April 8th 2012

Just for fun Easter Bunny Rap
http://i.flowgo.com/greetings/rapeasterbunny/rapeasterbunny.swf
Greate sites for Easter: (K-3)
Peter Rabbit http://www.peterrabbit.com/index.asp
Practice Easter Vocabulary Words http://www.marks-english-school.com/games/mes-easter_01.html
Story "The Tortoise and the Hare" http://www.ipl.org/div/storyhour/torthare/
Silly Sentences Easter Mix and Match http://www.bethanyroberts.com/EasterSillySentences.htm
Shell Rhyming Words http://www.getreadytoread.org/games/game2/index.html
Bunny Count http://www.funbrain.com/count/index.html
Rabbit Take-a-Way http://www.rabbittakeaway.co.uk/
Word Hunt http://www.starfall.com/n/holiday/spring/play.htm?f
Kids Corner http://wiredforbooks.org/kids.htm
Decorate an Egg Head
http://akidsheart.com/holidays/easter/facegg.htm

The Adventures of Bunny and Easter Island

http://learningbox.com/bunny/1.htm
Decorate an Egg
http://akidsheart.com/holidays/easter/decoeg.htm
Make Egg Carton Chicks http://paperplateandplane.wordpress.com/2011/03/19/easter-egg-carton-chicks/
Find the Chick a Sight Word Game http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Sight-Words-Game-Find-The-Chick
Make Word Family Eggs http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/231442868320158562_Rqevpd5K.jpg

Mother's Day Sunday, May 13th

photo © 1936 National Media Museum | more info (via: Wylio)

Sunday May 13th is Mother’s Day!  Here are a few activities, sites, videos to go along with the holiday!

In Honor of Mothers
http://www.akidsheart.com/holidays/mday/mmain.htm
Mother’s Day Worksheets
http://www.abcteach.com/directory/seasonalholidays/mothers_day/
 Mother’s Day for Kid’s
http://www.activityvillage.co.uk/mother's_day.htm
The History of Mother’s Day
http://www.activityvillage.co.uk/mother's_day.htm
Mother’s Day Proclamation
http://www.activityvillage.co.uk/mother's_day.htm
Video History Channel, History of Mother’s Day
http://www.activityvillage.co.uk/mother's_day.htm
Games and Activities for Mother's Day
http://www.akidsheart.com/holidays/mday/mdgms.htm
Make a Mother's Day Cookbook
http://www.littlegiraffes.com/mothersday.html
Ed Helper
http://edhelper.com/MothersDay.htm
Math Activities for Mother's Day
http://mathsyear7.wikispaces.com/Mother's+Day+Maths
Mother's Day Math Story Problems
http://www.fi.edu/school/math/mother.html
Mother's Day SMART Board Activities
http://smartboardlessons.blogspot.com/2011/04/mothers-day-smartboard-activities.html
Saving Mother's Day
http://pbskids.org/cyberchase/videos/saving-mothers-day/
Use Symmetry to Make a Mother's Day Card
http://pbskids.org/cyberchase/activities/mothers-day-card/

Baseball Season begins in March these Resources will bring the Sport into your Classroom

Baseball Almanac
http://www.baseball-almanac.com/
Learn about the History of Baseball
This date in Baseball history
http://www.nationalpastime.com/
 Major League Baseball
http://www.mlb.com/mlb/kids/
Learn all about the teams
Fun Brain Math Baseball Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Division (choose level of difficulty)
http://www.funbrain.com/math/
The Science of Baseball
http://www.exploratorium.edu/baseball/
Louisville Slugger Museum
http://www.sluggermuseum.org/
Read Write Think Baseball Lesson Plans
http://www.readwritethink.org/search/?sort_order=relevance&q=baseball&srchgo.x=0&srchgo.y=0&old_q=
SMART Exchange Baseball SMART Notebook Activities (need to register)
http://exchange.smarttech.com/search.html?q=baseball
All Around the Baseball Field (the art of the game)
http://artsedge.kennedy-center.org/educators/lessons/grade-3-4/All_Around_The_Baseball_Field.aspx
Baseball Economics
http://www.econedlink.org/lessons/index.php?lid=908&type=educator
Promethean Planet Great Ideas for Teaching with Baseball
http://community.prometheanplanet.com/en/blog/b/blog/archive/2010/10/27/5-great-ideas-for-teaching-with-baseball.aspx
Baseball Math Classroom Game Scholastic
http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/lesson-plan/baseball-math

It won't be very long until Dr Seuss's The Lorax hit theaters and with both spring and St. Patrick's Day approaching it would make a great book to use with kids.  This being said I have created a set of links in Pearltrees that could be used with the books.  Be sure to check them out!
http://www.pearltrees.com/#/N-f=1_4394347&N-fa=4319571&N-p=35639278&N-play=0&N-s=1_4394347&N-u=1_526164

Saint Patrick’s Day Go Green!

Valentine's Day is past, President's Day is near and it won't be too many weeks before Saint Patrick's Day and spring. Saint Patrick's Day is always a great holiday because we know that warm weather is near and we can start wearing our flip flops again! Here are and some green activities to get your ready for that special day!
Nourish Interactive

Kids' Fun St Patrick's Day Healthy Green Fruits and Vegetables Activity Page
History Channel: History of Saint Patrick's Day

Wonderful videos from the History Channel about St. Patrick's Days, preview first and determine what is appropriate for your kids.

1. History of Saint Patrick's Day
2. Ireland: Deconstructed
3. St. Patrick: Why Green?
4. Corned Beef and Cabbage
5. NYC St. Patrick's Day Parade
6. St. Patrick
7. Leprechauns
8. Irish Stew

Family Fun

Recipes, crafts, coloring pages, games and who is St. Patrick?
Apples for the Teacher St. Patrick's Day

History, recipes, themed reading list, story, puzzles, game
Kaboose St. Patrick's Day

Arcade, quiz (fun with CPS) printable puzzles and coloring pages
St. Patrick's Day Recipes

St Patrick's Day Clip Art

Green Eggs and Ham
Dr. Seuss
Read the story and try the Green Eggs and Ham Recipe

Reading Everywhere with Dr. Seuss (lesson plan Read, Write, Think)

Green Eggs and Ham picture scramble

Green Eggs and Ham Breakfast

Fun poetry for St. Patrick's Day

St. Patrick's Day

Puzzles, Coloring Pages, Worksheets
Ultimate Cupcakes

Whoopie Pies

Vickie Blackwell's St. Patrick's Day

Abel's English Page

4 St Patrick's Day interactive activities
Music
When Irish Eyes are Smiling You Tube
Danny Boy

 

Favorite Presidents Day Sites

Looking for some great sites for President's Day? Check out some of these:
Abraham Lincoln Crossroads
Middle School to High School
Great site for discussing and making decisions about political issues during Lincoln's Presidency
Abe Lincoln Time Line
Elementary Grades
Visual time line
A Problem, a Penny and a President
K-2
I love this site for the younger students! Abraham Lincoln jumps out of a penny and tells the story of our country. Students may read and listen to the story.
Happy Birthday Mr. President
Similar to the site above
History Made Every Day
Abraham Lincoln
High School, Middle School,
Lots of great information and video.
Tour Washington's Home
Mount Vernon Virtual Tour
All grades
George Washington's Portrait
K-3
Explore a portrait of George Washington to learn more about him.
George Washingtonhttp://www.discovergeorgewashington.org/

Hello  iPad in the Classroom users!  I have been exploring sites and watching webinars and I have some more FREE Apps I would like to share with you!

Have to add this one I just found, it is called Use Your Handwriting!  I was looking for an App for a Special Ed student to practice writing months, days, and years and I think this would work great!
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/use-your-handwriting/id317514393?mt=8

Scratch Work - Pull up and Internet site and take notes at the same time!
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/scratchwork/id380860518?mt=8

Notes - brainstorming (digital note taking tool)
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/paperport-notes/id476134017?mt=8

Handwritten Apps
Compose and send a handwritten letter
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/paperport-notes/id476134017?mt=8

iBrainstorm sticky Note brainstorming
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ibrainstorm/id382252825?mt=8

Word Cloud
Mind mapping application
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/wordcloud/id430337057?mt=8

PS Express Adobe Photoshop Express
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/adobe-photoshop-express/id331975235?mt=8

Screen Chomp simple doddling tool
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/screenchomp/id442415881?mt=8

Bluster McGraw Hill vocabulary building Grades 1-4
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/bluster!/id416160693?mt=8

Splash Math loved this one!
Grade 1
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/1st-grade-math-splash-math/id463469532?mt=8
Grade 2
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/2nd-grade-math-splash-math/id463471155?mt=8
Grade 3
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/splash-math-3rd-grade-worksheets/id432105525?mt=8

Blobble Write
Learn numbers and letters
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/blobblewritehd/id415656729?mt=8

Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day is Right Around the Corner!
History Channel, History of Valentines Grades 3 and up
Let's Learn about your Heart! k-2
Star Fall, Make a Valentine with a Connecting Heart k-1
Animated Valentine's
Lesson Valentine's Day is Today
Mighty Books Historical Valentines
Themed math pages Valentine's Day http://www.kidzone.ws/math/valentine/index.htm#WORKSHEETS2Valentine's Day Math  http://www.googolpower.com/content/free-learning-resources/seasonal-math/valentines-day
Read, Write, Think, Valentine's Day lessons Grades 3-12 http://www.readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/calendar-activities/valentine-today-20427.html
Celebrate Valentine's Day Internationally http://www.topics-mag.com/internatl/holidays/valentines/day.htm 
Martha and the Thief of Hearts Valentine's Video (look up)
http://pbskids.org/video/
SpeakaBook's Won't You Be My Valentine? http://speakaboos.com/story/wont-you-be-my-valentine
Apples for the Teachers lots of Valentine's Day Activities
http://www.apples4theteacher.com/holidays/valentines-day/
Martha Stewarts Valentine's Day Crafts for Kids
http://www.marthastewart.com/274841/valentines-day-crafts-for-kids/@center/276967/valentines-day

Thursday, February Second is Groundhogs Day! Will he see his shadow?

Getting a little tired of winter???? Ground Hogs day is a great day to start the spring watch with these fun activities for the classroom!

Groundhog's Day SMART Notebook Activities
http://www.teacherslovesmartboards.com/2009/01/smartboards-and-some-groundhog-day-notebook-activities.html
At this site you will find many Power Points to use with your Groundhog celebration.
http://holidays.pppst.com/groundhogday.html

Apples for the Teachers
http://www.apples4theteacher.com/holidays/ground-hog-day/

Groundhog Day Home
Groundhog Day 2012 will be here soon! Phil will leave his burrow at 7:20 February 2nd at Gobblers Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania he will observe the weather conditions and look for his shadow he will then make his prediction for the remainder of winter. We have many great events this year to help celebrate Phils Prognostication! Check out the links below to download and print the schedule.
http://www.groundhog.org/

Happy Groundhog Day Crafts for Kids DLKT
http://www.dltk-kids.com/crafts/happy_groundhog.htm

Enchanted Learning
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/groundhogday/

ABC Teach
http://abcteach.com/directory/seasonalholidays/groundhog_day/

You Tube (cute)
The Groundhog Song from "The First Snow in the Woods"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJjvAmj6AGw

Groundhog Day
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-Mhridd67g&feature=related

Punxsutawney Phil
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSa_h_wVoj4&feature=related