Best Site Blog - Academic Learning Coach

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Contraption Maker: Problem Solving Fun

8/3/2018

Contraption Maker

Solve problems, puzzles, brain teasers while creating wacky machines

Pros: Full-featured puzzle game offers ample opportunities for building conceptual knowledge.

Cons: Teachers will need to build the bridge from fun to actual learning.

Bottom Line: Hands-on problem-solving leads to great fun and independent learning with the right curricular wraparound to connect what kids are doing with what they need to know.

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Summer Enrichment In Math: NRICH

5/28/2018

NRICH
Untangle robust math problems for all ages; plenty of teaching support

Pros: The site's approach to problem-solving challenges kids to think mathematically, giving them the tools to do so.
Cons: Visual presentation needs to better adapt to its audience, with less text and easier "click" targets for younger kids in particular.
Bottom Line: It's an excellent classroom companion that can be implemented quickly with little adjustment and a high probability of success.

Toads and Vines Teaches Probability

5/19/2018

Learn more about chance and probability with this interactive mathematics resource. The user moves their toad along the vines by exploring the outcomes resulting from tossing a coin, rolling a die, and using a spinner to perform single and double event probabilities.

Matific: Math Made Real

3/17/2018

Matific

Engaging supplemental resource encourages conceptual understanding

Pros: A variety of visual activities help kids gain a conceptual understanding of important K-6 math skills.
Cons: An adaptive feature could help teachers in meeting kids right at their level.
Bottom Line: A fun and engaging conceptual supplement for math lessons with easy-to-find standards-aligned activities.

Plan a Birthday Party

3/17/2018

Why not brush up on some critical thinking and problem solving skills by planning a party? Check out this Party Planning resource that uses tree diagrams to find possible outcomes and make predictions for who will probably come to a party.

SYMMETRY Jigsaw Puzzles

2/19/2018

It's National Puzzle Day on the 29th. Learn about spatial relationships and boost your understanding of numbers by customizing and assembling these cool jigsaw puzzles that display symmetry.

Accelerating reading comprehension and writing skills

1/7/2018

Title: Whooo's Reading
Summary: Innovative take on independent reading ditches multiple-choice quizzes
Pros: Questions push students to read critically; supports a shared, meaningful independent reading program.
Cons: Avatars and rewards likely not suitable for older students; auto-generated questions can be too general.
Bottom Line: A convenient, well-intentioned tool for supporting a quality, interest-driven independent reading program, but make sure to tweak the auto-generated scores and questions.

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Sesame Street Online Games

11/25/2017

Join Elmo, Big Bird, Oscar the Grouch, and many more characters as you find your way to Sesame Street. Celebrate Sesame Street by playing games that reinforce the colors, shapes, letters, sounds, and basic math concepts. Additional links to videos and art will provide an opportunity to fully observe the show that was first broadcast in 1969 by the Children's Television Workshop.

Teaching Videos For Math and Language Arts

11/12/2017

Title: LearnZillion
Summary: Quality Common Core-aligned lessons with great modeling for teachers
Pros: It's super customizable, which means you can assign kids the lessons they need to work on most.
Cons: Lacks an element of fun, which could make using the site feel like work for some kids.
Bottom Line: An innovative way to enhance lessons and tailor learning for individual needs

Real World Based STEM Projects

10/7/2017

Title: Defined STEM
Summary: Stellar collection of STEM resources supports project-based learning
Pros: The performance tasks are extremely thorough, result in student products, and cover key concepts in science and math.
Cons: Individualized student progress tracking and remediation tools are lacking.
Bottom Line: Excellent, well-thought-out resources for developing problem-solving skills in the classroom.

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