Fun Read Aloud Digital Video Stories!

Greetings,

We hope you are doing well.  We will be sharing with you a few digital video stories we created for fun.  The first one is listed below and it is a remake of the "Brown Bear, Brown Bear Story".  The video is a fun and exciting story for your child.  Your child can read along with me.  This video is for Pre K - 2nd Grade.



The next digital video is a remake of the "If You Give A Mouse A Cookie Story".  This video is also a fun and exciting story for your child.  Your child can even read along with me. This video is for Pre K - 2nd Grade.


The two digital video stories we shared with you will make reading fun and very interactive with your child.  We hope you enjoy these stories.  We will see you next week with more exciting topics to come.  Take care!

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A Year End Review of Over 50 Blog Posts!

Greetings,

What a year we had with all the blog entries we wrote over the past year.  Here is a detailed list of all the articles.  All you have to do is click on the blue underline link and it will take you to that specific article.  If you click on the black underlined link for the month, it will take you to all posts published for that month.

November 2009
November 14, 2009: Welcome!
November 22, 2009: Power Point Resources - Free!
November 29, 2009: Making Professional Movies with Digital Pictures/Videos for Free!

December 2009
December 6, 2009: Valuable Writing and Brain Based Resources!
December 13, 2009: Express Your Next List of Words With Creativity!
December 20, 2009: Tell the Whole World!
December 27, 2009: $30,000,000 Deal for Sharing Video!

January 2010
January 3, 2010: The New Flip Camcord Camera by Pure Digital
January 10, 2010: How to Take Pictures of Your Computer Screen Using MS Office 2007
January 17, 2010: How to Take Pictures of Your Computer Screen Using MS Office 2003
January 24, 2010: How to Turn any Room into a Presentation Room with Your Computer Part 1
January 31, 2010: How to Turn any Room into a Presentation Room With Your Computer Part 2

February 2010
February 7, 2010: How to Copy and Paste
February 14, 2010: Free Resources You Can Download and Use in Your Classroom!
February 21, 2010: How to Create a Podcast or Vodcast Part 1 of 3
February 28, 2010: How to Create a Podcast or Vodcast Part 2 of 3

March 2010
March 7, 2010: How to Create a Podcast or Vodcast Part 3 of 3
March 14, 2010: 1 Week to 5,000,000 Hits!
March 21, 2010: Why You Need to Back Up Your Files and Data Every Week!
March 28, 2010: How to Find Free Microsoft Office Power Point, Word and Excel Templates

April 2010
April 11, 2010: The Flip Digital Video Camera Introduction: Part 1
April 18, 2010: Digital Video Cameras in the Classroom: Part 2
April 25, 2010: How to Use the Pocket Digital Video Camera: Part 3

May 2010
May 2, 2010: Working with Video Footage and the Software: Part 4
May 9, 2010: Using Video Footage with Other Compatible Software: Part 5
May 16, 2010: What is Scribd and SlideShare?
May 23, 2010: How to Download Videos From YouTube
May 30, 2010: The 21 Best Free Web Sites for Learning!

June 2010
June 6, 2010: Remembering Coach John Wooden
June 13, 2010: The 18 Best Subscription Based Web Sites for Learning
June 20, 2010: What Is IVC?
June 27, 2010: Part 2 of What is IVC?

July 2010
July 4, 2010: Happy 4th of July!
July 11, 2010: What is Cool Timer?
July 18, 2010: What is the Hat?
July 25, 2010: How to Search Google?

August 2010
August 1, 2010: How to Get a Free E-mail Account
August 8, 2010: How to Access Free Movies, Music, Books and Audiobooks!
August 15, 2010: How to be an Effective Teacher: Part 1 of 3
August 22, 2010: How to be an Effective Teacher: Part 2 of 3
August 29, 2010: How to be an Effective Teacher: Part 3 of 3

September 2010
September 5, 2010: 30 in 48 Days!
September 12, 2010: Teaching with Claymation: Part 1 of 3
September 19, 2010: Teaching with Claymation: Part 2 of 3
September 26, 2010: Teaching with Claymation: Part 3 of 3

October 2010
October 3, 2010: What is Scholastic Study Jams?
October 10, 2010: What is Storyline Online?
October 17, 2010: Free Quick References for You
October 24, 2010: What is a Pocket Projector?

November 2010
November 1, 2010: Power Point Keyboard Shortcuts
November 7, 2010: Creating Your Own Blog
November 15, 2010: Teaching Children Presentation Skills
November 22, 2010: What Are The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs?
November 28, 2010: What is Google Docs?

December 2010
December 7, 2010: What is Atomic Learning?
December 13, 2010: Free Multiplication Tables and Games!
December 19, 2010: Free Addition Tables and Games!
December 26, 2010: A Year End Review of over 50 Blog Posts!

We will see you next week with a new and exciting topic.  Happy Holidays!  See you next year.

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What is Atomic Learning?

Greetings,

Today I am blogging about one of the best subscription based web sites for teachers who want to improve their computer skills. Remember atomic learning (www.atomiclearning.com/)  is a subscription based web site.  They have over 600 three minute video and movie tutorials that you can access anytime from the comfort of your own home. For a detailed list of all the tutorials they have to offer, please visit: www.atomiclearning.com/k12/browse?page=tutorials

Atomic learning is for educators that teach in elementary school, middle school and high school. You can learn how to use a software program in about three hours. If you want a subscription, it is well worth the price of $129.99 a year.  To subscribe visit: https://store2.atomiclearning.com/  All you have to do is spend the time learning the software program you want. This is well worth what a computer learning center may charge you to take a computer class for $129 - $299.

Atomic learning also has software programs you can learn for your PC, Mac, iPod touch/iphone and even your iPad. If you would like to see a free tutorial on one of the programs on atomic learning, please visit www.atomiclearning.com/moviemaker2  Hope you enjoy this resource. I will see you next week.

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Teaching with Claymation: Part 3 of 3

Hello

Today I will be discussing animation tips when working with claymation. One of the most important tips I can tell you is to be careful with your background and remember to keep it simple. Here are 10 animation tips.

1. You can simply use construction paper and different color cut outs as well as clay to make scenic items such as clouds, rain, flowers, trees, etc.

2. When you are planning your claymation video, you may want to shoot the scenes backwards with your digital camera.

3. Take 8 - 15 frames per second of finished video (approximately 450 pictures = 30 seconds of video!)

4. Move your character in small amounts at a time.

5. Have handy some wet wipes to keep your hands clean.

6. Avoid moving items in the scene that are not suppose to move.

7. Change the camera view or zoom occasionally.

8. Make sure you set your camera on a tripod and use fresh batteries.

9 Your digital camera needs to be cleared of all pictures before you start taking pictures.

10. Make sure your students have all their materials and supplies before taking the pictures.

Here are 7 video tips you want to be aware of.

1. Take out any pictures where you can see hands.

2. Add background music, sounds and voices. It can be very challenging to use voices to lip movements in stop motion animation; voice-overs are much easier.

3. When adding music use free sources for educators like http://www.freeplaymusic.com/

4. When filming, set the camera on a tripod close to the background. Make sure the background is in the frame.

5. Once filming begins, make sure the camera does not move.

6. Take many pictures. You can always delete excess pictures later.

7. Move characters approximately 1/4 of an inch between shots.

Check out these examples.
Mario's Pizzaria.



Stop, Drop, and Roll!



The Butterfly Cycle


Transformations

After you have all your pictures, audio, and sound bytes, create one folder on your desktop and place all the items in it. To produce your move you want to use a free movie editing program on your computer called Movie Maker 2.
To find Movie Maker on your computer go to "Start" and the program is either in the accessories folder or in your programs file. Look for the little color film real with a tailing filmstrip icon. You want to be familiar with this program. For a free video tutorial please visit: www.atomiclearning.com/moviemaker2 To put the finishing touches on the movie you will add titles, credits, narration and music in Movie Maker 2.
Free Resources
Royalty Free Music Sites
http://www.partnersinrhyme.com/
www.beatmode.com/free-loops/
www.mfwp101.com/freemusic.htm
www.flashkit.com/loops/
www.hooverwebdesign.com/sounds/index.html
http://www.freeplaymusic.com/
Sound Effects
www.pacdv.com/sounds/index.html
Hope you enjoyed the 3 part series on claymation. We will see you next week with another exciting topic in technology. Take care.

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The 18 Best Subscription Based Web Sites for Learning

Greetings,

Today I will be blogging about the best 18 subscription based resources that I personally suggest to our parents at my school. Now remember, these sites require either an annual fee, or a monthly subscription.

I will list all 18 of them in no particular order. Once again, I have researched numerous school web sites throughout the country, and these are the top ones I have found. All of these sites are very excellent. You can choose which ones you like. Simply click on the link, and you can explore the web site. Some of the sites even have free trials before you subscribe.

1. Brainpop and Brainpop Jr.

2. Atomic Learning

3. Discovery Education

4. Safari Montage

5. Learn 360

6. Lynda

7. Enchanted Learning

8. Ed Helper

9. Scholastic Study Jams - For Free for a Limited Time!

10. Rosetta Stone Classroom

11. Learning

12. Ebsco Research Database

13. Gale Infotrack Online

14. Brittanica Online

15. Worldbook Online

16. Teaching Books

17. Tumble Books

18. Proquest

Hope these help you and your son, or daughter out to excel in their learning over the summer months. See you next week.

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