Connie Woodard Rhymes's Page

• Acapela.tv: text-to-speech animation; screen for advertising. Animation can be emailed to others. Foster language development and communication. http://www.acapela.tv/index.html

* Animoto: web application- upload pictures and sounds and create video for download and sharing * Glogster to create online posters called glogs * ToonDoo to create comic strips *Voki to create speaking avatars *Go! Animate to create short animations * Wordle to create word clouds *Sliderocked to create multimedia presentations to view and share * Wordpress to easily create personal publishing. Educators apply for a free Animoto all-access pass for use in the classroom.   http://www.animoto.com/education  referenced at: http://www.boxoftricks.net/?p=1004

• A Kids Photo: fun and interactive place to go to for a photo resource. Beautiful, color photos. These would be great language arts prompts for describing what the children are seeing, and good to teach careful observation to use adjectivies and/ or to try to dry with positive and negative image what the students see. http://www.akidsphoto.com/

• Archive.org: digital library of internet sites and cultural artifacts, including books, in digital form. Extensive. Amazing catalog of books.  http://www.archive.org

• Art Express. provides educators with fun and exciting ways to introduce students in grades 1-5 to the world of art and colors. For example grade one: choose items that would belong on a mobile together, print items and create your own mobile. Limited examples. Helps children plan, do, and review activity; enhances creativity. http://www.harcourtschool.com/menus/art_express.html

• Audacity: free; open source; for recording and editing. This remains a popular site for promoting creativity and fun.  http://audacity.sourceforge.net/about/

• AuthorStream: upload PowerPoint files; share them with the world; download as video; present and discuss live; promote pride in creativity. Register for use.  http://www.authorstream.com/

•  Box of Tricks: investigate tools to enhance second language curricula. Great resource for many areas.   http://www.boxoftricks.net/

• Bubbl.us: create mind-maps for use to clarify concepts, ideas, and themes.http://www.bubbl.us/

• Cartoonster: tutorials on how to create animation. This was very informative for me as an adult as I had wondered about how to depict fast, slow, perspective, etc. Students would benefit too from the instruction. A good project for multiple grade levels would be to apply the information and make a comic book. It could incorporate subject matter content.  http://www.cartoonster.com/

• CC Mixter: community music site; interact with music.      http://ccmixter.org/

• Classtools.net: create free educational games, diagrams, and activities. http://classtools.net/

• Cool Math: teach/learn math in a fun and innovative way; explore how to make math more interesting and appealing to all students. Every time I click on this one I end up playing the games for a long time.  ~Links to an online charity connecting you to classrooms in need in the US and outside. http://www.coolmath.com/

• Creative Commons: nonprofit corporation; makes it easier for people to share; consistent with copyright; provides free licenses and other legal tools to mark creative work. http://www.creativecommons.org

• Create A Reader: provides a site to help encourage the development of the reader. Printables and activities. http://www.create-a-reader.com/basic/_english.htmlhttp://www.create-a-reader.com/basic/_english.html

• Creating Music: compose music, music games, and puzzles; demo allows you to create music, adjust temp, and use a conductor to orchestrate the music. CD is available for extended use. Music can be used to connect to many content areas. Compose a tune to accompany a role play or a slide show. Hear the music and make changes. Adjust tempo.  http://www.creatingmusic.com/

• Crayola: provides you with thousands of coloring pages and activities, coloring crafts, games, and lesson plans. Free registration required to create a Crayola passport for use of site and promotionals/newsletters/links. I used the certificate maker option and printed what I made. There is also a card creator. http://www.crayola.com/

• Custom Sign Generator: image creator. JPEG, GIF & PNG image creators. Make donation. http://www.customsigngenerator.com/

• Dictionary.Com -Online Translator. This site translates over 50 languages including Italian, French, German, Turkish, Chinese and Spanish available for free. This site is very help for strengthening skills. I found myself translating a variety of phrases and reinforcing prior knowledge.  http://translate.reference.com/

• Dinosaurs for Kids: learn about our pre-historic friends; fun facts and games about dinosaurs. All of you dinosaur enthusiasts will be attracted by the sounds and feedback to the games and activities. Link to Children's Learning Network for free. http://www.kidsdinos.com/

• Discovery School’s Kathy Schrock’s Guide for Educators: A categorized list of sites; printables, references, activities. http://school.discoveryeducation.com/schrockguide/index.html

• Dropbox: Free for Windows, Mac, Linux, and iPhone; stores files, backs up, shares, etc. https://www.dropbox.com/

• Dr. Seuss: Seussville University provides an interactive place where one of your favorite Seuss characters will serve as your guide and where you can have “lots of good fun that is funny" while learning basic reading, math, science, and reasoning skills. To play on-screen activities you need Shockwave.  http://www.seussville.com//university/

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• eBlogger: share ideas and pics. Sign in with Google account. Video tutorials. https://www.blogger.com/start

• • Educational Songs - Kids Know It Network: The totally Free Children's Learning Network. This website offers kids the opportunity to listen to educational music on various topics and subject areas. http://www.kidsknowit.com/educational-songs/index.php

• EtherPad: word processor; allows working together in real-time; free basic edition and for-pay advanced. Start writing instantly. It has been acquired by Google.  http://etherpad.com/

• eThink.org.uk: free blog space; must agree to terms; log in http://ethink.org.uk/

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• Facebook: form groups; provide updates; free with sign up. http://www.facebook.com/

• Family Corner: free family fun, craft projects, parenting advice, etc.. http://www.familycorner.com/

• Fodey: Newspaper clipping generator: a great tool for encouraging writing. This site also has slides that can be personalized for display. Contains an array of borders, graphic tools, etc. http://www.fodey.com/generators/newspaper/snippet.asp

• 4Kids.org: games, videos, cool spots, featured games, etc. http://www.4kids.org/

•  Flickr: create an account; store and share digital photos; contains Creative Commons photos and pics. http://www.flickr.com/

• Free Stuff 4 Kids: downloadables, eatables, makeables, orderables, playables, printables, teachables, and winnables. http://freestuff4kids.net/

• FunBrain.com: free educational games. I really enjoyed math baseball. Visual reinforcement to answers.  http://www.funbrain.com/

• Funology: facts and experiments; crafts, recipes, magic tricks, and jokes. Explore and share in class or find a writing prompt to extend learning.  http://www.funology.com/

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• Geography for Kids by KidsGeo.com:  learn more about geography. An online geography textbook.  http://www.kidsgeo.com/geography-for-kids/index.php

• Geology for Kids by KidsGeo.com: games and articles.Part of KidsKnowIt Network http://www.kidsgeo.com/geology-for-kids/

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• internet4classrooms: This is a free web portal, started by Susan Brooks and Bill Byles in 1997, to help you find free Internet resources and assist you with curriculum development and instruction, e.g. assessment tools, awards and certificates, make your own books, bookmarks, bulletin boards, calendars, flashcards, forms for teachers, games/puzzle makers, lesson plan templates, planning tools, printable 3D tools, new teacher help, worksheets, web page hosting, technology tutorials. http://www.internet4classrooms.com/teachertools.htm

• iTunes Downloads List: free music and free videos to download for iPod or computer. http://www.itsfreedownloads.com

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• Jing: snap a picture of your screen; add visuals to online conversations; record video of onscreen action; share; free version and pro for pay. http://www.jingproject.com/

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• KidsGamer.com - Part of Kids Know It Network: free, fun, and safe video games. Try the Frogger game. It is challenging! http://www.kidsgamer.com/

• Kids Know It Network - Free Children's Learning Network: free educational movies for kids to watch. http://www.kidsknowit.com/interactive-educational-movies/index.php

• Kids Past -Part of Kids Know It Network. This website helps students learn more about history via online articles, games, and fun historical quotes. http://www.kidspast.com/

• Kids Games-Yahoo.com; play games in a fun and safe site online. http://kids.yahoo.com/games

• Kids Crafts: crafts for kids including free printable templates and step-by-step instructions. Subcription.  http://www.freekidcrafts.info/

• Kerpoof: drawing, cartoons, animation. Requires parental permission. Must log in to save your work. http://www.kerpoof.com/

• Kids Biology.com - Kids Know It Network: learn about hundreds of different types of animals. http://www.kidsbiology.com/animals-for-children.php

• Kids Astronomy.com - Kids Know It Network: learn about the solar system. http://www.kidsastronomy.com/

• Kids Numbers- Kids Network.com: free math practice games and worksheets. http://www.kidsnumbers.com/

• Kids Memory- Kids Network.com:. interactive memory building games. Some are very challenging. http://www.kidsmemory.com/

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• Learn English. This website offers ESL teachers with free resources to use in teaching English language learners. http://www.learnenglish.de/

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• Make Your Own Crossword Puzzle: make your own crossword puzzles. Free trial. http://www.armoredpenguin.com/crossword/

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• National Geographic Kids: presents a variety of games, activities, true stories of adventure and discovery; videos of wildlife and locations around the world. Help your students learn more about their world. Connect readings to class activities. http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/

• NASA for Kids: a place for student to learn about space, rockets, astronauts, with cool space color pictures, arts, and stories. http://www.nasa.gov/audience/forkids/kidsclub/flash/index.html

• National Geographic’s Virtual Solar System- provides vast amounts of information on our solar system. Download games and activities. Subscriptions and purchase available. http://science.nationalgeographic.com/science/space/solar-system

• Nickelodeon: games with kids’ favorite nick characters; lots of advertisements. http://www.nick.com/games/funny-games

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• One Look- Online Dictionary. this site provides definitions from a variety of online English and foreign language dictionaries. http://www.onelook.com/

•  Open ClipArt: archive of user contributed clip art; can be used for free; create an account.

http://www.openclipart.org/

• 123 GREETINGS: online greeting cards, ecards, animated cards, postcards, etc. Registration required. http://www.123greetings.com/

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• PBS for Parents: A parent’s guide to children’s media, math, and raising boys to name a few of the online options available on this site. Free trial with registration. http://www.pbs.org/parents/issuesadvice/

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• Q10 – simple/minimalist text editor for Windows, works in several languages, spellchecker. http://www.baara.com/q10/

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• Sesame Street Workshop: learn in an innovative and creative way by creating your own stories and playing online games. Enhance language arts and other content areas through the activities. http://www.sesamestreet.org/home/

• Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum: variety of online activities that will test your knowledge and demonstrate the principles of aviation and spaceflight. http://www.nasm.si.edu/education/onlinelearning.cfm

• Smithsonian’s History Explorer: resources for teaching and learning about American history by exploring various resources of the Museum. http://historyexplorer.americanhistory.si.edu/

• Spelling for Kids- Kids Know It Network: fun way of practicing their spellings skills. http://www.kidsspell.com/

• Survey Monkey: create online surveys and polls; need to establish an account; get started for free.  http://www.surveymonkey.com/Home_Testimonials.aspx

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• Teacher Auction. This website is a kind of Ebay for teachers where educators can go to sell or buy supplies for their classroom at low prices. http://www.teacherauctions.com/

• Teacher Planet: providing information on lesson plans, grants, worksheets, games and much more for the classroom. http://www.teacherplanet.com/calendar/11-FALL-09.htm

• Teacher’s Choices: annotated lists of books that kids will enjoy and that will contribute to the learning expereince in the classroom. http://www.reading.org/Resources/Booklists/TeachersChoices.aspx

• Teachers’ Social Network: for teachers to network with one another.Similar to facebook but for teachers. Register, connect, share. http://www.teachersn.com/

• TeacherTube: free sign up; see videos, photos, etc.  http://www.teachertube.com/index.php

• Teaching Treasures: connects to teaching tools, activities, and strategies. http://teachingtreasures.com.au/

• The sitewizard.com: tips and guides, e.g. How to Make/Create a Website: A Beginner’s A-Z Guide (may make a donation). http://www.thesitewizard.com/gettingstarted/startwebsite.shtml

• The Stacks for Kids: kids can exchange books with other young readers. Sign in. http://scholastic.com/kids/stacks/index.asp

• Thinkfinity: free lessons plans and educational activities. http://www.thinkfinity.org/

• TV.COM Have limited free time to watch tv? Review the offerings and select your favorites http://www.tv.com/

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•  Webdistortion: web design studio; Northern Ireland; free for browsing only; blog and articles address latest products and sources.  http://www.webdistortion.com/

• Webnode: space for you to create your own website. Sign up required. http://www.webnode.com/

• Weebly: free class website. Sign up required. http://education.weebly.com/

• Wiki How: creation and development of wiki communities or wiki farms. http://www.wikihow.com/Create-a-Free-Wiki-with-Wikia

• Wikispaces: basic plan free; pay for expanded plan; create wikis. Free basic. Fee for expanded. http://www.wikispaces.com/site/pricing

• Windows to the Universe: information on our universe, plus three different learning levels and a kid’s section with various activities. http://www.windows.ucar.edu/

• Wordlabel.com: has a blog; offers a few freebies. Advertises as: “labels, tips, tricks, hacks & more.”  http://blog.worldlabel.com/

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• Yearbook Yourself 2009:  a fun and exciting place to take yourself back in time.  This website allows you to upload your photo into face holes to see what you might look like through out the decades. Envisions yourself as a student in the 1960s or a member of the football team. Compare your work to actual yearbooks or family scrapbooks from different decades. A frontal face photo or webcam provides best shot. You can adjust your features to fit the templates provided: student photos, student life, etc. Work can be saved to desktop and updated (email options). Music background option. Available for the iPhone for a minimal fee. Teaches: art/design, math/measurement; language/descriptors- research and write about time period; social studies/historical periods, e.g. 1960s. Social: interaction with others; Emotional: envision yourself in other ways, Intellectual: what would I need to do to use this software and to fit the criteria; creative: crop and adjust to your wishes. Physical: dexterity, fine muscle coordination.         *** www.yearbookyourself.com                   

• Your weight on other worlds: enter your weight and see how much you would weigh on 16 other planets, moons, or even stars.  http://www.exploratorium.edu/ronh/weight/index.html

• You Tube EDU: videos supplied by colleges; create account. https://www.youtube.com/education?b=400

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