Periodic Chart Elements Questions for Moodle

I just posted a set of quiz questions for Moodle at http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Periodic-Chart-Symbols-MoodleXML. Each questions asks for the symbol for the given element of the periodic table. The questions are grouped by row of the periodic table.

Updated: 11/7/2010
I've added atomic number, groups, and periods to the questions now. Now most of the elements have 6 questions asking about their atomic number, name from symbol, etc... the updated download can be found here: http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Periodic-Chart-Symbols-Atomic-Numbers-Groups-and-Period-MoodleXML

New Spelling Feature Preview

We are pleased to announce that a new spelling feature will be added to Math Facts. With the addition of spelling we've decided to change the name from MathFacts to Apps@ASchool.us. You can check out the preview at http://beta.aschool.us/demo/spelling/
Some of the features include

• emailing of student scores and student responses to the teacher
• learning mode which gives them hints about which letters are correct.
• practice mode which allows them to try again if they get it wrong.
• test mode where they can submit there answer only once.
• students will not be able to use the built in spell checker.
• students will not be able to copy and paste to their answer.
• tracking of what the student type. Allowing the teacher to see corrections that the student made.

Exploring Tumblr in the classroom

I have a student that will be out of the country for at least a month and I've been trying to think of ways to easily communicate with him. Here's my latest idea. Some of our assignments in English class we grade together in class so I will just record our grading process with VR+ on my iPod Touch and send it to my Tumblr email address. This should be quick and easy for me. Now to see how effective it will work for my student. He can pick up his assignment as a PDF from the class website and mark it up using Jarnal and then submit it electronically to the class website after he has graded it.

Update: Nov 4, 2010
Initially I thought this was a great idea but after listening to the interaction between myself and the students in the classroom I decided not to go this route. The reason is that I heard to many student names in the background which I thought would not be advisable to be accessible to the general public.

Preposition Activities

Just finished adding two preposition activities to TpT and WorksheetShare.com. A prepositions crossword puzzle and a prepositions word search. The crossword puzzle even comes with an answer key when you purchase it from TpT. I plan on adding an answer key to the word search later. Both activities are designed to go along with the Easy Grammar® series by Dr. Wanda C. Phillips.

If you are not familiar with Easy Grammar® texts they use the prepositional approach combined with effective strategies. I personally have found the text quite effective in the classroom.

New Random Group Generator

I just finished creating a new script that allows you to create random groups of students with the new Random Group Generator.

I received the idea from someone that made a donation through my random student selector script.

Thanks Susan for the idea.

New Server

ASchool.us is in the process of being moved to a new server. If you find that any strange errors please let me know.

Quick Introduction to Freemind

A quick introduction to Freemind, a free open source application used to create mindmaps. Freemind used on Linux, Windows, and the Mac OS.

Shortcut keys
Ins - add new subnode
Enter - add new sibling/neighbor node

This video was created on an eeePC 1000 with EasyPeasy using Freemind 0.9.0 RC6, ffmpeg, Avidemux, and is hosted by Kaltura.

Moodle Scripts Update

I just finished updating the Moodle Math Questions script at aschool.us so that it uses less of the Algebra Notation. This should help reduce the load on the server and help your students pages to load and render faster.

You may also download a pre-made set of Moodle Math Questions at teacherspayteachers.com.

Google Wave & Math Facts

The plan for this summer is to continue developing MathFacts at ASchool.us. If you are a beta user you are welcome to join the Wave that I have started to facilitate development priorities and ideas. Visit the ASchool.us/math website to learn more about ASchool's MathFacts program. Once your account has been setup I'll send you an email with all of the details. At this point let me know if you are interested in participating in the wave.

iPod in the classroom a first look

https://vr.shapeservices.com/play.php?hash=356783718fa8326c179931ef9a049c8f9fba2ec19eb3243a2

Listen to the short audio clip to hear what programs I'm exlporing with my iPod.
Here is a list of programs that are potentially useful: PDFReader, GraphIt, RSS Player, Bible, Stars, Skype, VR+, iDoodleIt, Periodic Table.
___
Sent via VR+

More Multiplication Math Resources

If you are looking of  a simple grid to help students learn their multiplication or addition tables check out this PDF file that I've created. Students fill in the answers for each of the squares. This worksheet would work well with Salman Khan's Multiplication 2: The Multiplication Tables tutorial shown below.

Addition and Multiplication Grid (download)
 

Math Facts Demo Version

I expect Math Facts to be ready to come out of beta version by the end of the summer 2010. If you are interested in signing up for beta account now which will get you a discounted price for as long as you keep your account. Now is the time to sign up!

Here is a demo of multiplication problems up to 6x6. The full version allows students to save their scores and keep track of which multiplication tables they have complete and how quickly they have completed them.

Graphing Inequalities With One Variable

It is easy to get confused when graphing equations with one variable. The first thing that you need to determine is if the question is asking for the equation to be graphed on a number line or in the coordinate plane. Lets take the example mentioned in a comment on the previous post How to Graphing Inequalities in the Coordinate Plane.

x > 6 and x > 2.

First we need to recognize the inequality that answers the problem. Any x value that will correctly solve x > 6 will also work for x > 2. This means that x > 6 is a subset of x > 2. Since this is an and problem that is a solution has to work for both inequalities to be part of the solution set. This makes x > 6 the answer since it everything that works for x > 6 will also work for x > 2.

With that said we now need to determine which type of graph we need to create, assuming that you have to graph your answer. Note that in the graphs below each grid line represents 2.

If you are asked to graph the inequality on a number line your answer would be the red line, the one on top, of the graph below. I've drawn both lines so that you can see everywhere the red line is the orange is also.
Remember to make your left end points empty since the inequality is greater than but not equal to.


If you are asked to graph the inequality in the coordinate plane your answer should look like the yellowish/greenish area on the right side of the yellow line in the graph below. Like the graph above everywhere the yellow area is the green area is also.
Remember to dash your lines since this a greater than but not equal to.

Now if the problem as or instead of and you would the green and orange lines would be your answer since your solutions in the solution set would only have to answer one of the equations. Everything that works in x > 6 also works for x > 2.

Flash Muliplication Resource: 4-digit by 1-digit

I'm working with my lower grade students to help them learn to multiply larger numbers than just the simple math facts. I wanted a way to help them get lots of practice without having to grade lots of problems and still help them get the immediate feedback on how they are doing.



If you are having problems with the applet above visit the original site: 4-digit by 1-digit multiplication practice at woehler.us.

Inkscape Clock

If you are ever wanting to use an analog clock image check out file available from TpT. It was made using Inkscape and saved as a scalable vector graphic file or svg and can be easily adjusted to say whatever time you want it to. I've used it to create worksheets helping my students learn how to read time on analog clock. The hands are setup so that all you have to do is rotate them, everything else is locked by default so you will not accidentally move it. You can change any of the items in clock to personalize it to meet your needs. The image at the right is an example of what it looks like. If you want to be very precise with your settings rotate the minute hand 6 degrees equals one minute and the rotating the hour hand 0.5 degrees for one minute.

Quickly Drawing a Figure in Inkscape

Introduction:
In this lesson we will create a simple figure by creating a bunch of shapes and then combine them together. This is a technique used by many traditional drawing books that helps students see the fundamental shapes within an object.

Learning Objectives:
Learn how to use the:

• Shape tools
• Selection tool
• Edit Path tool
• Combining shapes
• Object order

Figure 1


Figure 2


Figure 3

Directions:

• Select the rectangle tool and draw a rectangle for the body by clicking and dragging the mouse with the button held down until you get the size of the body that you want. Don't worry if it is not exactly like you want you can come back and change it easily later.
• The color and outline or stroke of the body may not be want you want to change that click the fill/stroke button (the paint brush) in the tool bar at the top.
• Now remove the fill by selecting the x. Click the stroke tab and set the outline color.
  
• Now draw rectangle for the arms and legs.
• Use the circle/oval tool to draw an oval for the head.
• Use the selection tool (the arrow pointer) to make sure that all of the shapes overlap and are about the right size that you wan them to be. Now your drawing should look something like figure one.
  
• Select all of the shapes by pressing ctrl-a and select union from the objects menu. This will combine them all into one shape. Now your figure should look something like figure 2.
  
• Now click the Edit Path tool and then click the outline of your figure. You should now see the notes that control the lines. To change the location of a node click it and move it or its handles to the desired location. When you are finished your figure should look something like figure 3.
  
• Add extra features such as eyes, mouth, hair, etc.... feel free to explore the tools and add extra details.
  

Another Example:
In the cat example below I only used ovals and decided not to join all of the shapes together to give it a little bit of perspective.