#TCEA16 Favorite Finds

Guest Post by DaNeil Hill, Old Union Elementary School Kindergarten Teacher

Things I learned from TCEA:

Google Tools

• In the Google search box, enter “timer 5 minutes” for a timer.
• In the Google search box, enter “stopwatch.”
• Even your non-readers/emergent readers can work in Google documents; they just need to use Voice Typing. In a Google Document, pull down the tools menu to “Voice Typing”. Click the mic and start talking!
• When you are speaking text in a document, there are several phrases you can use to add punctuation:
• "Period"
• "Comma"
• "Exclamation point"
• "Question mark"
• "New line"
• "New paragraph"

Nearpod

Use Nearpod in the classroom to immediately assess students digitally. This awesome tool is described on the website as interactive lessons, real time assessment, and used across various devices. Create any task for students to complete. Give them the Nearpod code to type in when they open the app. Student show their work on the iPad, and the answers are immediately sent to the teacher. Great for use in math, science concepts, vocabulary…the possibilities are endless. Nearpod even has some already made lessons for teachers to use.


San Diego Zoo – Kids

Take a virtual field trip to the San Diego Zoo.  Watch live cameras of various animals in their zoo habitats.  Explore the videos put together by the zoo keepers at the San Diego Zoo that teach about various animals, their habitats, how they live from day to day, etc. New videos are added all the time. They even have games and activities for the kids to enjoy. My students love watching the live animals…especially the polar bears and panda bears.