Hexagon Generator might be the tool you always needed for student learning and understanding but never knew! Begin using the generator by adding a title and text to five or more hexagons. Then, create drag and drop connected hexagons or a PDF document with your information. The online (HTML5) generator also provides options for changing the colors of hexagons once created. Finally, save your hexagons using the link and create a password, or export as a Microsft Word worksheet.
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tag(s): geometric shapes (136), teaching strategies (41)

This Prezi is a K-3 lesson plan for the Daily 5 using several different apps for the iPad. The majority of the apps are free. Find apps for Read to Self, Partner Read, and Listen to Reading. There are Word Work apps, and Work on Writing apps, as well as a slide on possible challenges and solutions for using these tools in the classroom.

tag(s): listening (68), literacy (110), reading comprehension (143), reading strategies (98), sight words (23), vocabulary development (90), word study (58), writing (315)

If you are a primary or elementary teacher looking to include technology into your Daily 5 routine, look no further. At this primary teacher's blog investigate the tabs across the top for Videos, Word Work, iPad Creating, SMART Notebook, QR Codes, Listening to Reading, Skype/FaceTime, and Web. Under Videos find a link to a Play List of YouTube videos for literacy, and a video showing how to set up iPods for the Listen to Reading component. Under each of the other tabs find sources and "how to's" for all sorts of technology to incorporate into your literacy lessons. This blog also has a section about incorporating Chrome Books (under the New tab) and iPads into the primary curriculum. If your district blocks YouTube, the videos may not be viewable.

tag(s): listening (68), literacy (110), reading comprehension (143), reading strategies (98), video (258), vocabulary development (90), word study (58), writing (315)

This blog offers practical teaching tips and suggestions for early elementary classrooms. Although the author teaches first grade, most ideas are practical for use in other grade levels. Browse through ideas for setting up Guided Math groups, using iPads in the elementary classroom, and other specific suggestions and images. To find earlier posts scroll down the page and look on the right-hand side. View trending past posts or labels. Choose a label to see posts with topics such as math tubs, journals, or word work.
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tag(s): classroom management (128), posters (45), professional development (395)

Primary Resource's English page has useful materials for teaching: phonics, spelling, parts of speech, punctuation, literary terms, handwriting, and writing fiction and non-fiction and much more. There are handouts, presentations, graphic organizers, e-books, and even rubrics for student assessment. These valuable resources come from teachers across the world. Contributions range from catchy mnemonics to help students remember tricky spelling words, SMART board lessons about adjectives, how to use reference materials, and PowerPoint presentations on writing plays from stories. Most activities include a key that indicates the appropriate age group, grade level, or required skill level needed as well as its file format. The key indicates the equivalent United States grade level. The British Key Stages are equivalent to the following age groups; KS 1 = 5to 6 year old, KS 2 = 7 to 11 year old, KS 3 = 12 to 14 year old, and KS 4 = 15 to 16 year old. This site is from the UK, so some of the pronunciations and spellings may differ from those in American English. If you have some of your own literacy resources you treasure, feel free to contribute them to this site. This site does include some unobtrusive advertisements.

tag(s): handwriting (16), idioms (32)

This site is not just for reading and English teachers! If you want to improve your students' reading and writing skills, browse through the extensive materials in this exceptional Web site. Literacy learning across the K-12 curriculum is supported through an impressive collection of interactive, technology-based student activities. Descriptions of how to use the activities in the classroom are provided along with lesson plans, Web resources, and related materials. Direct links to NCTE/IRA Standards are included. Created by the International Reading Association and the National Council of Teachers of English.

tag(s): literacy (110), resources (88)