Frayer Model

Frayer Models are graphic organizers that allow the students to uncover Academic Vocabulary. You can include anything that you want the students to write about.

How I Use Frayer Models:

• This is great for English Language Learners (ELLs) because Writing is one of the components they need to practice. They can even read what they have written to the other students in their group, which addresses the Reading, Listening, and Speaking components, because they are reading their responses, saying what they wrote, then listening to the other students in their groups.
• This is a good center activity.
• Exit Ticket - Have students create their own Frayer Models on a Post-It Notes.

The Frayer Model generally has 4 sections and a Concept Word in the middle.  See two examples that I use in my Math Class. I just changed "Non-Example" to "Illustration" depending on the Concept Word. If you click on the captions below each Frayer Model, you can save a copy to your Google Drive. They were created in Google Slides. 

Frayer Model Template #1

Frayer Model Template #2

Kahoot

Kahoot is a free web-based platform for classrooms. Teachers and students can create an account to create, host, and share learning games. There are millions of games already created. Students can play individually or in teams. The host will decide. The teacher runs/hosts the game from a device and LCD Projector.

You can set time limits and add images. Each student will need a device that connect to the internet (i.e. Chromebook, desktop, tablet, or cell phone, etc.).

There is also an app available on iOS and Android.

For more information, go here for the Starter Kit: Video Tutorials.

Google Classroom

Google Classroom is a platform that makes it easy for educators and learners to connect...inside and outside of school. Its perfect for a paperless classroom. Teachers can assign work and students can submit work on this platform.

You can post an announcement, post an assignment (compatible with Google Forms, Docs, Slides, and Sheets), post a question (open ended and multiple choice/poll), and reuse a post from that class or another class. All of this is on the "Stream" tab.

On the "Students" tab, will be a list of students and a place for you to add parents' emails. The class code is there. Give the students the code or email/invite the students.

Finally, on the "About" tab, you can post class materials (i.e. syllabus).

Google Classroom is web-based. There is also an App that can be downloaded on Apple and Android products.

Apple Classroom

Apple Classroom is an iPad Management tool. Our school is a 1-to-1 iPad school. Each student has access to their iPad for the entire day.

Often, some students aren't where you have instructed to be. Maybe you want the students to be on BrainPop, but they end up on YouTube or something. Well, Apple Classroom will take care of that.

What you can do with Apple Classroom:

• Lock the students' iPads completely
• Send the students to a specific App
• Send the students to a specific website
• View the students' iPad screen
• Mute the sound on the students' iPad
• Lock the students into a specific App or website

The teacher has to have an iPad to download the App. The students' iPads don't need the App. The App is not on iPhone or Mac.

For assistance, visit: https://help.apple.com/classroom/ipad/2.2/#/cla6d39b9338

Colored Tiles

Colored tiles are some of the most versatile manipulatives out (IMO). Usually, the square tiles come in 4 colors (as seen above): red, yellow, green, and blue.

How to use Colored Tiles

• Place value (each color is a different value)
• Adding, Subtracting, Multiplying, and Dividing Whole Numbers
• Area
• Perimeter
• Random group selector/creator (have each child pick a tile or disseminate each tile without looking)
• Counting
• Skip counting
• Equations (tiles could represent terms like 2k)
• Talking Chips
• Ratios (2 blue tiles for every 3 red tiles)

Nearpod

Nearpod adds a lot to your class. It is a web-based program that allows you to control the presentation. For instance, when you provide the students with access to your PowerPoint Presentation, they tend to move ahead of you or they fall behind. Nearpod lets you control what "slide" the students are on. You can insert questions, images, virtual field trips, etc. into the presentation that the students can view.  It's web-based or you can use that App.

• There is a free version and a paid version. 
• There are thousands of free and paid customizable lessons already created by expert educators and their educational partners.
• Teachers share a live lesson, students enter a code, and the lesson is synced to all devices.
• Teachers can view students responses individually or as a class.
• Teachers can print reports.
• Teachers can share students' responses with the class.
• Teachers can import from Google Slides and PowerPoint.
• Follow the guidelines to become Nearpod Certified.

Create your Account

Pricing Information

Nearpod Resources

Empty Fruit Cups

Empty Fruit Cups have been a savior. It helps maintain management with rituals and routines within your class. Of course, these rituals and routines have to have been in place or established the first time using them.

You probably get some from the cafeteria from your school if you ask nicely.

How you can use them...

• I use them to put manipulatives in. This allows me, and the students, to keep track of the manipulatives that were given out.
• They work great to put number cubes (dice) in so that the number cubes aren't flying all over the desk. The fruit cups must have a lid you can see through so that when you shake the number cubes, you can see the results.
• In Algebra, the cup can act as the variable when performing operations and algebraic expressions or equations.
• They can be used across subject areas to keep track of materials or resources.

Be sure the students don't squeeze and destroy them.