I have a couple links I want to share today, they are just fun things, helpful sites that might make teaching a learning a bit easier.

The first one I just love, the whole idea is so helpful.  It is called Bouncy Balls and it monitors classroom noise levels.  You do need to have a microphone and I understand from the Teacher's First blog it was a little difficult to get that going but once you do the balls let your students know what their noise level is.  Just a little thing but it is such a nice visual.  I think you would initially have to let the kids make the balls bounce, get the fun of the thing out of the way but if you used it regularly I think it might be helpful.

Bouncy Balls

The next one is Just Flip a Coin and that is just what it does, great fun but also great for probabilities!

Just flip a coin

I know there are a huge number of classroom timers out there but this seems so easy I thought I would share it.  Google as a classroom timer, you simply type Set timer in the search bar and you get a timer.  You set your time and then you can go whole screen, it is nice a big so it can be projected for the whole class.  What a great thing and so easy.  I love easy!  Again, a tip from Free Technology for Teachers.

I found a really great history site this  morning, it has a Visual History of the Last 100 Years.  I got it from the blog Free Technology for Teachers, and I admit I get some of my best resources from this blog.  I loved this, it quickly explains the events with graphics to support the text.  There are timelines, and infographics.  Teens get so bored with dry explanations, this seems a nice way to bring a little more interest into this topicl

iPad Apps

I am finding it harder and harder to keep track of all things technology but I keep trying.  It has been quite awhile since I posted here because I kept getting blocked by our school filter, that is another story!  I think we are good now so I am going to try and give you a few links to some good  iPad apps I found today.

Today most of the apps are coming from Technology Tidbits, a really great blog offering a lot of good resources for technology in the classroom.

1. Level it Books - an app that helps parents and teachers track their students reading level.
2. 30hands - a free Digital Storytelling app.
3. Door24 - Math app for grades 4 - 8.
4. Water Cycle HD - Nice science app with videos, animations and photos to help students learn about the water cycle.