Teachers Love SMART Boards

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It's time to kick off your shoes and call your friends to let them know about the 3rd edition of the SMART Insider Newsletter which contains Tips & Tricks, Web Resources, Video Tutorials, Notebook Lesson Files, and Training Discounts.

You can view past newsletters by clicking on the links below:

SMART Insider Volume 1
SMART Insider Volume 2

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Sharing is Caring!

SMART Boards and Sharing Resources

The mission of this blog is simple. Share information and resources so teachers will utilize their SMART Boards in a way that increases learning in the classroom. That's why I end each of my posts with "Sharing is Caring!"

I'm really encouraged that more and more educators are sharing what they have and what they know using the Internet. For example, yesterday, Sheryl left a comment on the post "SMART Boards and 1st Grade Mathematics" and provided a link to her resources. Her website, called The Learning Pad, is simply fantastic!!! It has links to some of the best interactive websites covering all subject areas.

Where else can teachers go to find free resources for their SMART Board? You don't need to look any further than the Gallery tab inside your Smart Notebook software. If you click on the Gallery tab and select Online Essentials for Educators, you get a list of resources from Smart Technologies including:

• Teachers´ Hub
• Lesson activities
• Curriculum standards
• Lesson resources
• SMART Exchange
• SMART-accredited titles
• EDCompass newsletter

One place that is often overlooked is the Download section of the SMART Exchange. If you search around a little, you'll find tutorials, videos, Notebook files, research articles, and a whole bunch more. For example, check out the resources available from the Illinois SMART User Conference.

Illinois SMART User Conference - SMART Exchange via kwout

Notice that Smart Technologies' Ginny Washburne shares her favorite resources on her Delicious site. Just another great example of...

Sharing is Caring!

SMART Boards and August Edition of EDCompass Newsletter

This is an issue you do not want to miss! (click the picture to open)

Subscribe to the EDCompass Newsletter

Sharing is Caring!

Subscribing to SMART Board Resources

Recently, I posted a short article called "Sharing is Caring" on the new Digital Learning Environments website. In this article I discuss why teachers should share what they know and I provide some great examples of how other teachers are sharing resources.

The easiest way to keep up-to-date with what other teachers are sharing is to subscribe to their resources so you're notified whenever they make updates. Here are a few of the places I visited this week that I believe are worthy of a subscription:

1. The Whiteboard Blog by Danny Nicholson: This blog contains "Hints, tips, news and discussion about the use of Interactive Whiteboards and other technologies in the classroom." Click Here to Subscribe

2. ICT and Learning blog by Ross Hampton: His latest post talks about a good online photo editor. Click Here to Subscribe

3. ICT in my Classroom blog by Tom Barrett: Always a great blog to add to your Google Reader. Click Here to Subscribe

4. The EDCompass newsletter from Smart Technologies: This month's issue is very informative. Definitely subscribe to this great online magazine.Click Here to Subscribe

5. The SMARTBoard podcast from Ben Hazzard and Joan Badger: I haven't mentioned this podcast lately but Ben and Joan have been in top form and their weekly podcast is a must for any SMART Board user. Click Here to Subscribe

6. Teaching with SMARTBoard from Scott Miller and Dave Sladkey: Their new video podcasts are great. Please check it out! Click Here to Subscribe

 

By the way, don't forget to subscribe to the Teachers Love SMART Boards blog. If you need help subscribing to my resource or any of these resources, please don't hesitate to send me a quick message.

Sharing is Caring.

 

SMART Board Newsletter: Who's Listening?

Smart Technologies has just released their first EDCompass newsletter of the new year entitled "Who's Listening." Read about the the new voice amplification system which will be released at the FETC (Florida Education Technology Conference) on January 22-25, 2008.

In addition to the announcement of SMART's new audio system, here's what else you'll find:

• Three Notebook lesson:

1. Geography Key Word Lesson for grades 4-6
2. Origin of the Atmosphere for grades 7-9
3. Area of a Polygon for grades 10-12

• Great Online Resources:

1. Exploring the Secret Life of Trees
2. Project Gutenberg
3. NASA Education

• School Spotlight: Read about Bellevue School District's installation of over 1000 SMART Board Interactive Whiteboards

• New SMART Exchange membership badges for your website or blog

The newsletter also includes another wonderful article by Heather Ellwood entitled "SMART Champions". What is a SMART Champion?...

When it comes to innovative interaction in the classroom, SMART Exemplary Educators are setting the bar higher and higher. The common trait among these teachers is their willingness to go above and beyond the standard level to better present the curriculum and better reach their students. They are, in a word, champions.

The EDCompass newsletter is a must read for all present and future SMART Champions! Please check out this great issue as well as other past issues. In addition, you can subscribe to the newsletter to receive an email notification of the newsletter when they get released!

Sharing is Caring!

SMART Board Newsletter: Contest Winners and Holiday Resources

This month's EDCompass newsletter is now available. It's a great issue that focuses on differentiating instruction. I enjoyed the newsletter this month and was excited to see the list of Lesson Activity Contest Winners. I highly recommend that you download and review all the lessons to see how other teachers are using Notebook. In addition to the contest winners, the newsletter also includes information on seasonal resources in their Classroom Content section. Here's a summary of what's included in the newsletter:

Celebrate the season with the following Christmas lesson activities. There’s also an activity to help you practice differentiation.

Christmas Activities: Language arts students in grades 1–3 can complete Christmas word games and crossword puzzles, and even build a snowman!

Christmas Math Fun: Math students in grades 4–6 can practice addition and subtraction, money, and time word problems.

Four Key Events in the 20th Century: Social studies students in grades 7–9 can identify the main causes of four key events in the 20th century. Differentiation can be achieved by adding various website links and customizing the questions to help students explore the different historic events.

Thanks to all the wonderful people at SMART Technology who continue to bring us these wonderful resources!

Sharing is Caring!

EDCompass Feature Article - Measuring Up the Senteo Interactive Response System

Heather Ellwood writes this week's featured article Measuring Up the Senteo Interactive Response System. She provides a wonderful analysis of how the Senteo can benefit teachers in the classroom and help them meet the federal government's increased demands for accountablilty.

Because the feedback with the Senteo is instant, I am able to address any errors or misconceptions immediately. This is so effective. The old expression ‘nip it in the bud’ certainly rings true here. I find I can put a stop to misconceptions while they are still in early development, and so many of the errors that often occur later, will disappear.

Caleb Courtney, senior high computer engineering teacher

Find out where the future of assessment is heading and how the Senteo works seamlessly with your SMART Board and Notebook software.

EDCompass Newsletter November 2007 - Best Practices

This week's EDCompass newsletter focuses on Best Practices in using the SMART Board Interactive Whiteboard in the classroom. Personally, I find that documenting and sharing best practices in the classroom the best method of improving your ability to instruct. Learn how one teacher scans homework so correcting work becomes an interactive while another teacher uses the SMART Board to change the way she teaches vocabulary.

Also included in the newsletter are three in-depth case studies that are sure to inspire creative and effective uses of SMART Boards in the classroom.

A note from the editors:

Educators employ best practices every day. In this issue of EDCompass™ newsletter, we’ve gathered best practices from teachers like you on how they are using SMART products to achieve teaching and learning goals. You’ll also read about a new research study that concludes the use of interactive whiteboards positively impacts student achievement. And learn how to start using the SMART Learning Marketplace, our new content subscription service.

As usual, this month's EDCompass newsletter is packed full of wonderful information and outstanding resources for all teachers who use SMART Boards.

Smart Board "Educator Resources" Newsletter

The October edition of the EDCompass newsletter has just been released and it focuses on the various resources available to educators. It also includes the Feature Article entitled "Blog On" which has some great information about blogs in education and even talks a little about this blog, "Teachers Love SMART Boards."

Here's what else you'll find:

• Find out what's new in the upcoming release of Notebook.
• Read about how SMART Board Interactive whiteboards made a difference at Taft MS in San Diego
• Become more familiar with SMART Technologies Educator website which includes classroom solutions, educator resources, professional development information, and much much more
• Find out what a SEC is and how they can help

SmartBoard Newsletter: The Funding Issue

Smart Technologies has released their newsletter entitled "The Funding Issue."

After reading through the newsletter, I discovered some very interesting links as well as some welcome news from the U.S. Congress.

1. The newletter has a great link to an article called "Need Funding: Grant Providers and Winners Share Tips for Getting Approved". In this article, you will find some very valuable information on grant funding. In addition, they share a great Case Study of the School District of Jennings and how they use Smartboards to improve student achievement.

2. A bill called Achievement Through Technology and Innovation (ATTAIN) has been introduced in the US Congress that will help build upon the Enhancing Education Through Technology (EETT) program. (This blog was created as part of an EETT grant awarded to two school districts in Arizona.)

3. Please check out the 4th page of the newsletter that discusses how a 5th grade teacher uses her Smart Board to correct student work in a way that is both engaging and meaningful.