I would really like to use flipgrid in my classroom as soon as I can when we start in the fall. I love the idea of students being able to present their work through videos rather than writing all the time. I have students with wonderful ideas but lack the skills and thus the motivation to write everything that they have to say. I’d love to see those kids come alive as all the barriers are stripped away and they are free to share what they have in mind. Then the wonderful ramification is that their peers would be able to clearly see the value of their thoughts and contributions to our classroom. 

2. penpalschools.com

I’d like to use penpalschools in my classroom as well, however I need to think further about how I would be able to integrate it into the schedule of our day. I think I’d like to start by having one pen pal dedicated to our whole classroom and then later in the year maybe giving each student their own person. Last year I had my students simply write thank you letters to teachers and staff throughout our school and it was amazing to me how engaged and meaningful they really thought their work was. I think being able to write directly to somebody seemingly so outside our reach would really open their eyes to the power of written word, and the impact that they can truly have on the world when given the right tools. 

This is royalty free music from around the world. Use it for background, presentations, transitions, or researching a particular area of the world. Music is presented in short clips (less than 3 mins).

Science based learning videos – can connect to books in the library, thinking about thinking, can connect to questioning, how to question? (Kindergarten), Book connection - What do you do with an Idea? by Kobi Yamada

http://www.exploringbytheseat.com/ and https://education.microsoft.com/skype-in-the-classroom/virtual-field-trips

I’m excited to share these resources with teachers in my building and use them in the library. Field trips are an important part of the Montessori program, so this is a great resource in which the students can experience a place that would be virtually impossible to experience. 

1.     https://www.penpalschools.com/ and

2.     Mystery Skype
 I would really like to use these two in my classroom to enhance some of the sparsely  covered topics.. We have a reading units on animals, insects, life cycles, weather and maps in R4R  and I think that this would be a great tool to incorporate global learning with. These are all universal topics that would allow students to connect and learn from each other around the world. First grade has Alaskan animals as one the science kits. I see the kits and Stem in general, sadly, going away under the current regime. Using Mystery Skype could be a way to keep students engaged in a different way while still adhering to the mandated curriculum. Penpalschools would be like inviting the world to be our classroom family. That is such a powerful thing. I have already spoken to my principal about it and the promise of bandwidth to support. The prospect is very exciting.