Reading/Writing Apps & Websites to Check Out!

I've been researching this summer about what would be some good apps and websites for my teachers to use at my school.  I put them all in a Google Doc with helpful links.  Enjoy!

Are there any literacy apps/websites you enjoy using with your students?

My Favorite Edu Tech Blogs/Websites to Follow

I have a few educational technology blogs/websites that I love to follow that help to keep me up-to-date on the goings on in the edu tech world.  With so much coming out all the time, these blogs help make sense of it all!

Free Tech For Teachers

Educational Technology and Mobil Learning

Tech with Jen

Technology Tailgate

Kathy Schrock's iPads4Teaching

Tech Adventures in a Middle School Math Class

Tech Chef

I Teach 1 to 1

Technology Tools 4 Teaching

Digital Divide and Conquer

Technology Timeout


And follow my Tech Pinterest Board!
I also have an App and Google Chrome Board as well!

Are there any other blogs/websites that you follow for technology in the classroom?

Symbaloo & Popplet

I really enjoyed using both of these websites in my library this past spring (2014).

1. Symbaloo or Symbaloo Education 

Access: Website

I like using Symbaloo when my students are doing research for a special class project.  Symbaloo is a website that allows you to make pages or "mixes" to store your links in a visual format which is great for the students! Each link is a tile.  On the tile is a picture that goes with your link.  You can upload your own (picture/icon) or take one that Symbaloo has.  You can also search and share your webmixes which is awesome!  I have found several great ones already created by other people -- no need to reinvent the wheel :) You will need to create your own personal log-in if you plan to make/save/share your own webmixes.

Here is a list of a few good ones I've found:

First Grade

Common Core

Elementary Library

Ebooks 1 & 2

Library Blogs

Here are some I have created for my students:

Links for Students & Teachers

Arkansas Research Links

2. Popplet 

(See also the Poppletrocks education blog for great ideas!)

Access: App & Website

Popplet is a mind-mapping tool students and teachers can use to show relationships between text, pictures, and videos on a variety of subjects.  The good thing is you don't have to have an iPad to use Popplet.  A good ol' computer works just as well. 

I talked with my 5th grade SS teacher, and she mentioned they were studying different heroes of the civil war.  I thought Popplet would be a perfect way to display the information all the students were learning.  Popplet also makes it easy for students to share their work or present it to their classmates on a smartboard. Below are two examples created by students.

Click here to view the Grant Popplet.

Click here to view the Lee Popplet.

  

Have you used Symbaloo or Popplet in your classroom or library?