Content Exploration: Kidspiration

Kidspiration is a great Content Exploration tool to use in an elementary classroom. A teacher can use previous layouts to help children reference information regarding reading, math, health, science, social studies, or any other topic they may think of. In addition, teachers may also create interactive games on this site for the children to really learn the information or idea by the "drill and practice" method. Students can type their ideas and thoughts in the "writing view" of Kidspiration. Kidspiration could be efficient because it takes less time for the students to look through textbooks to find the information. Instead the can quickly look at their Kidspiration and learn all about adjectives or nouns, etc. It can enhance the children's minds through referencing information for them as well as the interactive games to help them remember the information. Any topic can be discussed through this program... there are no limitations! The more the teacher is creative with the program, the more the children will get out of it!

A Day With Fractions

http://edcommunity.apple.com/ali/story.php?itemID=193

"A Day With Fractions" was a blog that showed how to introduce fractions to elementary students. Fractions can be a difficult concept to understand at first, so the podcast explains how to apply fractions to the real world. The podcast shows how students keep track of all the places they use fractions throughout the day. It starts with the children waiting for the bus and making fractions out of everyone's clothing color. The video shows the children making fractions at recess and how many kids are playing sports. It also shows them making fractions of how many people are in certain reading groups. Having students apply their fraction thinking to everyday life will help them to make sense of their thinking.

Tutpup

Tutpup

http://tutpup.com/

Tutpup is a useful resource to cover areas such spelling and math. There are interactive games for the students to play that improve their overall understanding of the topics.

Tutpup is a tool that would be enhancing for the students. It enhances their learning experience and possibly teaches them an easier way to understand math and spelling or gives them the extra practice they need in that area.

Math Playground

Math Playground

http://mathplayground.com/mathvideos.html

Math Playground is an online interactive game that helps children improve all areas of their math skills. This is a good resource for children to explore if they are struggling with a certain aspect of math.

This website is efficient in that it saves time for the students and the teacher. If the student is struggling with a certain area of math, you can go directly to that area in place of teaching the entire lesson over again.

Funbrain

Funbrain

http://www.funbrain.com/index.html

Funbrain is an interactive education website that allows children to play math online. It has both math and reading on this website so this would be a beneficial resource for children to use.

Funbrain is quite effective because it allows children to play games with the math and reading problems and make it more of a real world application. It is enhancing as well because it aids in the childs learning experience and helps them to grasp the concepts.