The Need for Flexible Materials through Lifty

When you are universally designing lessons for your classrooms, we need to take into consideration the flexibility of the materials that we offer students. Take for instance a traditional reading assignment.

Many students are comfortable with a traditional photocopy, which they can highlight and "mark-up" the text. However, photocopies offer limitations. For instance, students with visual impairments may have difficulty reading from the same photocopy as a student without these difficulties. Students who need the extra support of listening to text, do not have the flexibility of copying and pasting the text into a program like Voki.

When you are designing lessons for ALL students to learn, you need to consider the flexibility of materials. Can you access materials online for students who need extra support and resources? Can you manipulate the text for students with visual impairments? Can you access a digital copy for students to access at home? These are all questions you should consider.

If your course requires traditional reading assignments from classic texts, you may want to take a look at Lifty, an online library of free eBooks. Litfy was offers several different categories of text: classics, romance, crime, and literary fiction. There are literally thousands of different titles that you can check out. It may give you the flexibility and availability that your students need.

40 Inspiring Blogs Every Special Education Teacher Should Read

We live in an age where a "one-size" fits all approach to education doesn't work. Crammed into our classrooms today are students with IEP's, 504's, GIEP's, etc. How do we teach to all of our students? When we universally design our instruction, we provide opportunities for ALL students to learn.

Many of the instructional strategies that are used to teach this segment of our population can enhance instruction for all students. Whether you are a special education teacher, teach AP courses, or are sandwiched in between, you may want to take a look at the following Blog Article: 40 Inspiring Blogs Every Special Education Teacher Should Read.

The resources are divided into several different sections:

• Special Needs Teachers Share - gives insight into strategies and supports that work in SPED
• Inspirational Resources - is jam packed with inspirational material aimed at inspiring educators, while dealing with the everyday challenges that exist in SPED
• Creative and Inspirational Teaching Blogs - are resources that ALL teachers should take a look at. If you want to "perfect the art of teaching," this may be the section that you want to take a look at. Personally I like "The Teaching Palette."

This article is found within the Special Ed. from A to Zed blog. This blog contains numerous articles and resources that will enhance instruction within your classroom. You don't have to have students with IEP's, 504's, or GIEP's to utilize the strategies found within this blog. As education advances, all teachers will benefit from the information contained in the blog. Here are some of the ideas found within the site:

• 19 Excellent Educational Video Games
• 27 Indispensable BlackBerry Aps Every Teacher Needs
• 50 Best Educational Technology Blogs You Aren't Reading Yet
  

Helping Your Math and Science Students with their Homework

Recently one of my students told me that he forgot his homework because "his shampoo bottle leaked all over it." Now I've heard some pretty interesting excuses, but that one topped the list! Whether it was true or not, the fact is that our kids are often disregarding their homework.

Why? Some may be deemed "lazy" by some teachers, while others just don't understand. I was one of those students who would often "get it" in class and totally forget it at home. It's frustrating, isn't it?

How can we help our kids do their homework in Math and Science? Perhaps providing a link to a video clip that would help "reteach" or supplement the instruction that took place earlier in the day. Sites like Khan Academy exist to do this.

One of the most recent sites that I have come across is Brightstorm, a free homework help site for Math and Science. The site boasts of providing Math help from Algebra 1 to Calculus and Science help for Biology, Chemistry, and Physics. Some videos contain a "Practice" tab, where participants can practice or be quizzed on a particular concept.

How does this site relate to UDL? It provides multiple ways of representing material through video for our visual and auditory students, but it also provides a separate transcript tab for students to follow / read. It provides multiple means of engagement, because students interact with material in a different / interactive way.

The site also contains a Test Prep section for the SAT, PSAT, and ACT tests. In the SAT prep section, it even has a section with interactive flash cards! Although you need to subscribe for $99 for this section, it does provide some free sample activities.

Could this cause the end of missing homework assignments? Maybe not, but its a good start.

Check out this video on the Skeletal System:

Watch YouTube Videos "2Together"

As teachers, we understand that showing a YouTube video is one way of providing another way of representing material. It creates connections for our visual learners. It gives our auditory learners a chance to "hear" more about a topic. Yet, one of the biggest limitations of showing a YouTube clip is that you have to be there. Your students have to be physically present when you watch the clip. In a way, we are limiting the learning process to occur between the hours of 8 am and 3 pm.

In the age of "Web 2.0," "Collaboration" and "Innovation," we know that this just doesn't work. What if there were a way to watch a YouTube video after the school day has ended and yet maintain a discussion about that clip too?

There is a new way! It's called Watch2gether.com . It allows you watch a YouTube video "2gether" and discuss it in a chat room set up. Users can discuss YouTube videos in a chat window, while watching the video. All a user has to do is create a session by giving it a "name", paste the URL of a YouTube video and then share the URL of your specially created chat room. Why not spend some quality time with your students and watch a YouTube video "2gether"?

Educational Social Media for 2011-2012

We live in the age of collaboration and social media, where our students are wired with the need to collaborate and stay connected. As the new school year begins, here are some tips for you to keep your students collaborating and connecting:

Edmodo

Our students use Facebook and Twitter on a daily basis. Why not develop an educational social network in your classroom called ? It's set up to be very similar to Facebook, with the options to post messages, assignments, and surveys. Students can even have text messages sent to them when assignments are due! I have used Edmodo for over a year now and it has allowed me to create a "paperless" classroom, where students are able to collaborate and connect with classroom content. I can even give students instant feedback / grades.

Collaborize Classroom

Collaborize Classroom is another way for teachers to extend their classroom discussions to a structured and private online community. It is designed to support classroom instruction by engaging students in online activities, assignments and discussions, creating deeper participation inside and outside the classroom. It is very easy to embed Microsoft Office documents, videos, etc. inside of the classroom. Best of all, it's free!

iKeepBookmarks

Delicious and Diigo are examples of social bookmarking, where you can save links and access them wherever you have a computer. However, they are often very complicated and cluttered in some classrooms. Why not use a simplified version of social bookmarking called iKeepBookmarks? The site is nothing new, but it may be a great way for you to share links with your students.

You can even create individual folders for your students to access, creating an alternative for our younger students, yet still appropriate for our high school kids.

Video Clip Search Engine: ClipBlast

Many of us search for the "perfect" video clip, but are often limited to YouTube and Google videos. Earlier in the Summer, I wrote on Alternatives to YouTube. I would like to continue adding to that list. Why not try ClipBlast?

ClipBlast is a video search engine, which searches through video clips from all of the major networks, PBS, Biography, Hulu, and TNT. It is quickly becoming the leading destination for people searching and browsing for video clips, on-demand television episodes, news reports, sports, television commercials, how-to video, web shows, user video and everything in between. It uses Video Search technology, which helps content providers distribute their product to gain more viewers, views and drive revenue. As a teacher, this site may be a useful tool for you to use to find the right video for your topic, because of the possibilities!

I wouldn't recommend having students use this particular site, due to the potential of accessing graphic material. However, it may be a great teaching tool for educators, due to the diversity of its sources. Give it a try.

Digital Dialects (For the Foreign Language Teachers Out There)

Learning a language can be extremely difficult without practice, which has made software programs like Roseta Stone popular for adults. It has offered learners the chance to have a hand's on connection and interaction with language. We know when we provide multiple ways of representing a topic, students have a better chance to make a connection with material.

We live in an age, where we need to do more with less! Where do school districts with tight budgets turn to? Digital Dialects may be the answer. It was created in 2007, as an educational tool for learning languages. Audio files have been incorporated into animations for certain languages. More audio materials are planned. With over 30 languages represented and many interactive games, the site is intended to provide a relaxed way of acquiring basic language skills, giving students a break from the books!