"HOT" Puzzle

Matchstick Mania (Freeware) is a "HOT" (Higher Order Thinking) activity. Students can play and design their own Matchstick Puzzles.

There are currently 24 puzzles to choose from and students can even add their own.

The idea is to select a puzzle and then move the matches around as described to try and solve the puzzle. You can click the solution button to see the pre-programmed answer at any time. The matches can be rotated by right-clicking on them.

Match Mania consists of only 2 files, the program file and a configuration file, keep these 2 files together and run the program from anywhere.

Download at http://www.csfsoftware.co.uk/Matchstick_info.htm

Freebie Fillers - Useful Tools

These freebie IWB (Interactive White Board) activities are great tools to use as you train your students to touch the Smart Board. An added bonus -- there is "thinking" involved.

Fridge Letters - practice "drag and drop"

Bubble Game and the Tic Tac Toe game - practice "select or tapping"

Word Search Wizard - practice "highlighting"

Also there is a very cool "NUMBER Spinner"

Download the activities that will work for you. I always RUN the application first to preview the activity. If I like it, I save it. This is a a UK site. You are given the choice to download in Welsh or English so be sure to select the correct language.

http://www.b-dag.com/freebies

Senteo Interactive Response System

The Senteo interactive response system includes handheld wireless remotes (or clickers), a receiver and powerful assessment software that allows you to create tests and manage, track, and evaluate the results. Senteo software guides you through every task with intuitive prompts, clear directions and direct links. You always know what step you’re on and where to go next. Best of all, it seamlessly integrates with SMART Notebook software, giving you all the tools you need to design engaging and interactive test material.

Check out this Portaportal and open the folder called Senteo.

http://guest.portaportal.com/manntechnology

Thank you Mary Ann!

"Learn by Playing" Sites

Top Ten Elementary “Learn by Playing” Sites from LANGWITCHES’ Blog.

http://langwitches.org/blog/2009/02/22/top-ten-elementary-learn-by-playing-sites/

Sites include links from categories, such as drawing, simulations, digital storytelling, programming and puzzle solving.

One of my favorites is Art Pad - very effective on the SMART Board.

Starters of the Day

Check out these UK sites!

Math Starters of the Day

There are 366 different Starters of The Day on this website. These are activities designed for pupils to work on at the beginning of their math lesson. You can search the archive.

http://www.transum.org/software/SW/Starter_of_the_day/

Here are a few more sites:

Teaching ideas

Subtangent

Mr Gallinagh’s Maths Starters - a program of 10 questions for any topic you like. You can specify how much time you give for each of the questions. Can also be used as a test at the end of a lesson to find out how much pupils have learned.

Super Maths World - some of the games are for free. Others you need to be registered to use.

I love Maths Games - puzzles, games and starters.

Calculator Activites - 15 short problems and games designed to make use of a calculator. Ideal for lesson starters.

Bembo's Zoo

This is so creative - a great attention getter when viewed and accessed via the SMART Board.

No matter what grade level students will be engaged.

Turn on your speakers - there is sound.

Bembo's Zoo
http://www.bemboszoo.com/

Clcik on a letter and watch what happens.

A stylish animal alphabet site with illustrations created from the letters in each animal's name. Site uses Macromedia Flash.

Interactive White Boards and the Autistic Student

I attended the fourth annual "Celebration of Teaching and Learning" this past weekend in NYC.

One of the informative presentations dealt with "Autistic Students Utilizing Interactive Whiteboards," presented by Kathleen McClaskey and Randy Welch.

Read an article by the presenters Kathleen McClaskey and Randy Welsh at this web link:

http://www.learningandleading-digital.com/learning_leading/200902/?pg=32

Listen to an webinar on this topic at this site: https://admin.acrobat.com/_a729309453/p79244197/

Kathleen and Randy were generous to share the following resources that have been used successfully with their students:

· Starfall: http://www.starfall.com/
· RIF Planet: http://www.rif.org/readingplanet/content/read_aloud_stories.mspx
· BBC CBeebies: http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/drilldown/stories/2/1/1/
· Scholastic: http://teacher.scholastic.com/clifford1/flash/story_3.htm
· Family Learning: http://familylearning.org.uk/counting_games.html
· Priory Woods: http://www.priorywoods.middlesbrough.sch.uk/resources/programres.htm