Class Dojo Tutorial

I know we looked at ClassDojo in class, however, I liked this tutorial in YouTube I found. He reviews how to get started and perform basic functions but also demonstrates some interesting features the site has to offer like downloading the report as a PDF, customizing learning behaviors and resetting the class points. Check out the four minute video. (Recorded by a man with an entertaining accent.)

Groupinator

As I was looking at Mandy's blog and her post about Superteachertools, it reminded me of this app that was shared at a technology meeting we had earlier in the year. At the time you had to pay for the app, but they offer free versions of it. The app is called Groupinator and it is great for organizing you students, randomly generating student names or making random or pre-selected groups. You can upload students or create students for different classes and add their pictures. Below is a 4 minute tutorial I found on YouTube on how to get started.

Class Dojo

http://teach.classdojo.com/login
Class Dojo is a web 2.0 tool that stumbled upon recently and wish I had found earlier, as I would have definitely used in as a 3rd grade teacher.  Once you create an account, you may add your students.  From there you (or they) may select avatar/monster characters. The site is excellent for classroom management. It allows you to reward students by adding positive praise when they exhibit behaviors you would like to reinforce.  This also works for documenting negative behaviors, such as calling out, disrespect, lack of effort, etc. It is a simple tool that looks to be helpful in keeping track of student behavior in class. It could also be shared with parents, as you may print out "report cards" that keep track of how they have been performing. 

Tagxedo

http://www.tagxedo.com/
is similar to the popular website, Wordle, but takes it one step further and allows you to select pictures to type words into.  You can even upload your own picture to play with. I used Tagxedo with 3rd grade students who were studying poetry and made "Shape Poems." They are also great to brainstorm or introduce a topic and incorporate vocabulary.

Classtools.net

http://www.classtools.net/
has some of my favorite web 2.0 tools that I use every day at school.  The most frequent tool on this website that I use is the name picker. (pictured above) This tool allows you to list words and then puts them into a slot machine and randomly spins and selects a "winner". I use this as part of my classroom management. I have students who I "catch" working hard or doing a nice job and have them type their name into the classtools list on my computer. They know the more they get their name in, if at all, the better chance they have to win an eagle egg. (PBIS recognition award at our school.) I have also used it to call on students randomly to answer questions, or make groups/partners.

There are a handful of additional tools on classtools.net as well that are super helpful. A few other ones I have used is a countdown timer that plays music, and fakebook- where you can make a fake Facebook profile page.

Go!Animate.com

go!animate 
is a website that allows users to create unique videos.   Users must create accounts.  There are free accounts and paid accounts. Paid accounts allow you more choices with backgrounds, characters, and allow you to create longer videos.  Free accounts allow only ten lines for typing.

I have used the site with my classes to introduce lessons and in the closure of a lesson to review what we have learned. Students in all of my K-5 classes have loved it!

I have a free account and have used the quick video templates.  You select your background, then characters, even select the voice you'd like for them (Personally, I like the British voices and the kids think they're funnier.) and type what you'd like each character to say. You can send videos, and share videos.

As with Blabberize.com, I found myself using this site for personal use as well, because I've been so entertained by it. Enjoy!