Technology Tip: Smart Board hyperlinks for station rotation

Hi friends! It feels like forever since I've posted.. I have lots of ideas but no time. Boo. 

So I have been seeing lots of blog posts (like this one)  about putting transition music into a smart file so you can easily access it throughout the day and I couldn't believe I had never thought of that before. I have been using smart files to hyperlink websites for the last 2 years but it never occurred to me to use it for music. Duh. However, this got me thinking that maybe some of you hadn't thought about this little trick I'm going to show you below!

During our Daily 5 rotation and our math rotation, I often allow students to use the Smart Board for either word work or math games. It was a pain to keep explaining which website to go to and even when I bookmarked them, kids seemed to need my help a lot. To solve that problem I started creating a menu in notebook and just added links. Now the students can easily see which websites or specific games they are allowed to choose from and I know they won't be wasting their time or getting into trouble trying to navigate the internet. They simply click and start playing! An added bonus is that I can save these files so next year I don't have to try and remember which games I like for each skill! I even upload the files to my teacher website so kids can play from home as long as their parents have downloaded the notebook software. 

Here is the one I have been using to review money 

* side note * my sweeties this year are having the hardest time correctly counting a group of coins... this has never been an issue before... scary! So we keep practicing..... sigh.

Click here to get this notebook file from Google Drive

I also differentiate by adding a colored box around the games. Students know which color they should choose. I like to give at least 2 choices so there is buy in. Buy in = on task kids! 

The background paper is from My Cute Graphics and the font is from Hello Literacy!

If you liked this idea or you do something similar, I would love to hear from you! I am linking up with Fern Smith's technology tips. Come see some more tips by clicking on her button below!

My Shopping Spree!

Linking up with Blog Hoppin' to show what I bought yesterday! I have a ton more on my wish list and I bought some other clip art on Etsy!! Here are the goods....

1. Common Core: There's Nothing Alien About Multiplication by Math Coach's Corner

2. Fourth Set of Fry Phrases from Christina Bainbridge

3. Editable Calendar Math for Upper Grades  from Teaching in Room 6

4. Sight Word Uno from Ms. Jessica

5. Comprehension Fans from Runde's Room

6. 100th Day for Big Kids From Ashleigh

7. Colorful Tally Marks from The Hazel Owl

8. Colorful Clothes Pins from Graphics From The Pond

9. Citrus Fraction Circles from Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah Designs

10. Talking the Talk : Showing Point of View from One Extra Degree (not pictured)

I had so much fun shopping and I love to see what ever one else bought (so I can add more stuff to my cart! Head on over to Blog Hoppin' to link up or leave a comment below!!

Currently and a Sale

Linking up with Farley again for this month's Currently (I think I am number 98,365) Ha!

My husband is a high school basketball coach and if there is basketball on, we are watching it, especially this time of year!

I am all ready to go shopping at TpT today! I have a HUGE wish list so we'll see what happens! My store will be an extra 20% off too. Don't forget to get your additional 10% off by using the code SUPER.

My son has had strep 3 times since Christmas Eve and this past week he had strep and flu.. Yesterday, my daughter complained of a sore throat and yep, you guessed it.... STREP!  

I have 6, yes 6, almost finished products I am excited about. But life keeps getting in the way!

I have taken so many pictures and have started so many blog posts but for one reason or another I am not getting them published. I need to stop procrastinating and just do it! 

Pet Peeves. 

1. I cannot stand self loathing. It is ugly in adults and ugly in kids. I am all about helping kids develop a healthy self esteem and I offer a ton of praise but I can't stand the, "I am no good at anything, nobody likes me...." Is that mean?

2. Tapping. Need I say more? Tapping pencils on desks, tapping clipboards while working around the room, tapping anything drives.me.bonkers!

3. I am having a very difficult year and I have a group of kids who insist on correcting each others behaviors even though they were just doing the same thing. Grrrr. This is an area we continue to set goals for and continue to try to fix. Any ideas???