Brianna

Special Education Teacher

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Using Web 2.0 Tools in the Classroom

As technology is becoming more widely used and being brought into classrooms, understanding the different tools that are available takes learning and engagement to the next level. Web 2.0 tools allow students to learn and interact with others. Here is a list of 50 Web 2.0 tools that are available right now!

https://www.techlearning.com/tl-advisor-blog/3936

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Learning with Kahoot

Kahoot is a fun and interactive Web 2.0 tool that can be used with students in any grade. My 3rd graders loved playing Kahoot and were often times very competitive with each other to reach the podium. Below is a link to a quick check related to equivalent fractions. This can be used as an exit slip, and quick practice, or a review game.

https://create.kahoot.it/share/equivalent-fraction-quick-check/4327f2ef-c3a0-4d41-ab9a-ba58f9c37283

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Classroom Management

Classroom management and class routines are some of the first things teachers need to teach their students at the beginning of the school year. Due to COVID-19 and school closures, many teachers are doing something they have never done before- teach virtually. Teaching virtually brings on a whole new set of challenges, with one challenge being classroom management. Typically, teachers are able to introduce and practice classroom routines in the classroom with their students sitting in front of them. Now, everyone is at home and learning through a computer.

Here are 9 educators that shared their classroom management secrets and what they are using in their classroom.

https://blog.edmentum.com/9-educators-share-their-classroom-management-secrets

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Reading Resources During Remote Learning

Due to COVID-19 and school closures, many teachers and students are working and learning virtually. With all of the challenges that come with teaching virtually, another challenge that teachers and parents are trying to find resources for is for reading. A key part of teaching students how to read is having a book in their hands. With the current CDC guidelines, there are many hurdles in getting books to students and having students return those books. 

To help teachers and parents get books to their kids virtually, take a look a look at this link and see what resource is the best for your needs. 

https://teachingtheteacherblog.com/2020/03/18/supporting-each-other-reading-resources-for-homeschool-and-remote-learning/

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Strategies for Teaching Multiplication Facts

In 3rd grade, students are introduced to new math concepts, multiplication and division. As teachers witness every year, students grasp certain multiplication patterns faster and more accurately than other multiplication facts. 

This article brings up 5 reasons why our students are not understanding and mastering multiplication and division facts, and how we can fix that.

In my small groups, I am often times working on skills that my students are struggling with, but I make sure to give them time to practice these new math facts. To make multiplication practice more engaging, I use Reflex Math during independent work time. Reflex Math is a gaming website that focuses on addition/subtraction facts and multiplication/division facts. Teachers are able to set up their class and monitor their students progress. My students enjoy playing games while they become more fluent with their math facts. 

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Teaching Orton Gillingham during Remote Learning

As many of us know, teaching during a pandemic has brought many new challenges, with one being remote learning. Teaching remotely is something that majority of teachers have never experienced, but we all had to learn and adjust as fast as we could.

As a special education teacher, remote teaching brought on an additional challenge- how am I going to teach a multi-sensory reading program when I am not with my students and they do not have the multi-sensory materials that they need? While researching different ways to teach Orton Gillingham remotely, I found a great post from another educator on how she created a virtual blending board for her students. Check it out!

https://brainspring.com/ortongillinghamweekly/create-virtual-blending-board/#comment-38502