Free Technology for Teachers

I recently came across that wonderful and most helpful web site for teachers. Freetech4tachers(www.freetech4teachers.com) is written by Richard Byrne and has number of links for free downloads, discussions of tech tools that can be useful in the classroom and Byrne’s candid evaluations of new sites and technology. On a recent occasion Byrne reviews Schmoop, a web site for teachers and students with curriculum ideas and videos in a wide variety of education topics. Some of the material is free but there are fees for the site’s premium services.

Byrne also offers free downloads from his blog. They include “The Super Book of Web Tools for Educators,” “Ho to do 11 techy Things in the New School Year,” and Google for Teachers. There are even instructions on how to make videos on the web. Freetech4 teachers has won numerous awards including Best ed tech blog for the years 2010, 2011 and 2012. For the Luddites among us, this site is a treasure trove and a life saver.

There are also links to free eBooks for teachers including Digital Storytelling Tools for Educators and Edutopia Home and School Connections Guide. I encourage you to peruse this site and investigate all of the options that are open to you. Technology will be an integral part of the new federal guidelines for Core Standards.

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EVENT ALERT

I would like to take the opportunity   to remind you know that next week is Read Across America Week. Read Across America is an annual reading motivation and awareness program that calls for every child in every community to celebrate reading on or near March 2, the birthday of beloved children's author Dr. Seuss. Take the time to dust of your old copy of “The Cat in The Hat” and read to your students.  Great opportunities abound for activities and projects. Check out the  web site of the National Education Association ( www.nea.org)  Don’t miss this teachable moment!

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