April Features from Internet 4 Classrooms

April Blog | App of The Month | What's Happening |
New- Online Practice | New- Printables | New- Answer Keys |
Teacher Resources | Parent Resources | Technology Tips |
Other Areas of Interest | Common Core |
SAT and ACT Test Preparation

April brings Music in Our Schools Month, Women's History Month, Daylight Savings Time, Pi Day, St Patricks's Day, First Day of Spring, and much more. Visit our monthly newsletter to see all the details.

April Blog: Seven Useful Chrome Extensions for Classroom Teachers

Seven Useful Chrome Extensions for Classroom Teachers

This month's blog is Seven Useful Chrome Extensions for Classroom Teachers.

This month's blog discusses Chrome extensions for educators. Chrome is one of the most popular internet browsers, and the Chrome web store has unlimited extensions to cover your school activities start to finish. The correct Chrome extension can change the manner in which you work, boost results in the classroom and limit time spent on administrative tasks.

The chrome web store is packed with chrome expansions to help teachers. This blog article covers seven extensions which can help keep information perfectly sorted, plan messages to be answered later, correct grammar, plan timetables and maintain notes.

Manan Ghadawala is the founder of 21Twelve Interactive which is a mobile app development company based in India.

App of the Month

Every month we are going to feature a different, and hopefully FREE, iPad/iPod/iPhone/Android educational application. Visit our ever-changing app page.

The App of the Month for April is Epic! - Kids' Books and Videos by Epic! Creations Inc ( iOS and Android ).

Welcome to Epic! - the leading digital library for kids, where kids can explore their interests and learn with instant, unlimited access to 35,000 high-quality ebooks, audiobooks, learning videos, and quizzes for kids 12 and under.

There are 2 versions of Epic!, both accessible through this app:

1. EPIC! FOR THE HOME

For families, Epic! offers unlimited access to 35,000 of the best children's books and learning videos so your child can read and learn anytime, anywhere. After a 30-day free trial, Epic! costs only $7.99/month and includes up to 4 individual child profiles per account. You can easily cancel at any time.

2. EPIC! FOR EDUCATORS

Epic! is free for elementary school teachers and school librarians in the U.S. and Canada. Used in over 90% of elementary schools, Epic! brings an award-winning digital library into every classroom. Epic! motivates young readers with badges and rewards, and teachers assign books and track each student's reading progress.

THE EPIC! LIBRARY

Epic!'s award-winning service includes a wide variety of high-quality books and learning videos from leading publishers like Scholastic, National Geographic, HarperCollins, Macmillan, Smithsonian and many more. With over 35,000 books and learning videos available now and many more titles added each week, Epic! has been called the "Netflix of kids' books" – it's an unlimited library your kids can take anywhere!

Well-known books and series include Fancy Nancy, Flat Stanley, Warriors, Biscuit, National Geographic Kids, The Chronicles of Narnia, Batman, Goosebumps, Clifford, A Series of Unfortunate Events, Goodnight Moon, Big Nate, and many more.

The Epic! library contains everything from picture books to chapter books, early readers, audiobooks, graphic novels, non-fiction titles, educational books, videos and more. Epic! also now includes Spanish books and Chinese books.

PRESS AND EXPERT REVIEWS

Epic! has been featured on The TODAY Show, Parents Magazine, USA Today, Parenting.com, Refinery 29, CNET, Forbes, Publisher's Weekly and more. Here's what the press and the experts are saying about Epic!:

"We're proud to offer our titles on Epic! which provides an innovative mobile reading experience for kids and fosters a love of reading in a whole new way." - Chantal Restivo-Alessi (Chief Digital Officer, HarperCollins Publishers)

"Epic strikes the perfect balance between educational and fun, and should allow parents to feel more confident about introducing the iPad into their children's daily lives as a tool" - TechCrunch

"get access to thousands of books on all subject matters" - Parenting.com

"My students LOVE Epic!!" - Mrs. McCoy 2nd grade teacher

KEY FEATURES

• 35,000 books and learning videos with hundreds more added weekly
  
  
• Also includes Audiobooks, "read-to-me" books, Spanish books, Chinese books, Quizzes and learning videos
  
  
• Personalized recommendations for each child based on their reading levels and interests
  
  
• Online and offline reading (take Epic! in the car, on a plane, or camping)
  
  
• A reading log to track reading progress available in the app, and emailed weekly to parents
  
  
• Access Epic!'s full library on almost any device:
  
  - Includes a free 30-day trial and just $7.99/ month after that
  
  - Payment will be charged to iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase
  
  - Subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period
  
  - Account will be charged $7.99 for renewal within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period
  
  - The user may manage subscriptions & may turn off auto-renewal by going to Account Settings after purchase
  
  - No cancellation of the current subscription is allowed during active subscription period
  
  - Any unused portion of a free trial period will be forfeited when the user purchases a subscription to Epic!
  

Epic! - Kids' Books and Videos is available for Apple and Android devices.

Compatibility: Requires iOS 9.3 or later on Apple iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch and Android version 4.2 and up on your Android device.

WHAT'S HAPPENING THIS MONTH?

Here are some of the April events that you can celebrate or make note of this month:

1. Autism Awareness Month
   
   I4C has an Autism Spectrum Disorder page where you can find information and websites. Visit our Autism classroom tools as well as our Autism parent resources. We also have an entire area dedicated to exceptional children, including ADHD, assistive technology, learning disorders, and more.


2. National School Library Month
   
   Explore our extensive section of Library Resources. Find librarian resources, physical libraries, virtual libraries, presidential libraries, and museums.



3. World Health Day (4/7)
   
   Obesity numbers are rising and controversial food additives continue to cause harm. Reinforce good habits using our Health resources page, discussing everything from breakfast basics and food pyramids to daily hygiene, drug and alcohol abuse, and heart health. We also have links to physical education and nutrition and wellness too.



4. Paul Revere Rides and Revolutionary War Begins (4/18-19/1775)
   
   The famous Longfellow Poem reminds us all of Paul Revere's Ride. Learn about that midnight ride, what it meant, and even see the route he took. Explore the conflicts that led up to the Revolutionary War. Find timelines, lesson plans, and interactives all explaining the cause and effects of the American Revolution.



5. Passover Begins (4/19)
   
   Celebrate Passover while learning about this holiday's traditions. Explore these Passover activities and games.




6. Easter (4/21)
   
   Happy Easter! Celebrate this holiday with I4C's Easter resource page, filled with tons of fun crafts and projects.




7. Earth Day (4/22)
   
   Honor the earth today! Check out our Earth Day page for fun activities, crafts, projects, and lesson plans. We also have Earth Science resources for you to use in your classroom.



8. Hubble Telescope launched (4/25/1990)
   
   Learn about what the Hubble Telescope has discovered, view beautiful pictures of the cosmos, and find out how the telescope works. Find Hubble Telescope educational resources here. Explore our Space page for elementary school to find fun activities and check out our Astronomy pages to learn about our solar system, stars, and our universe.




9. Take Your Child to Work Day (4/26)
   
   Today, share your workplace with your child. Teach them about what you do during the workday and how what they're learning in school relates to your career. Here are some helpful planning tips for teachers and parents. Find ideas of what to do in your workplace, whether it be in an office, a university, or at home.

New- ONLINE PRACTICE AT I4C

Internet4Classrooms now offers Online Practice and Interactives, covering Kindergarten to Eighth Grade Common Core Mathematics. Look for a rapidly growing variety of thousands of practice quizzes tied to the Common Core State Standards, School Subjects, Activities, and Holidays.

Check out our Online Practice Quizzes! More grades and subjects coming soon!

New Online Practice Quizzes Made Available in AUGUST!

We have released many new online quizzes during the last months supporting the Common Core Standards.

Try them out, and then use them with your students as:

• Bell Ringers,
• In Class Assignments,
• Homework or
• Extra Credit.

Here is a list of the newest quizzes by grade.

New- COMMON CORE MATHEMATICS PRINTABLES AT I4C

Internet4Classrooms offers Printables, covering Kindergarten to Sixth Grade Mathematics. Look for a rapidly growing variety of thousands of practice worksheets tied to the Common Core State Standards, School Subjects, Activities, and Holidays.

Check out our Common Core Printables! More grades and subjects coming soon!

New Printables Worksheets Made Available in AUGUST!

We have released thousands of new printables worksheets during the last months supporting the Common Core Standards.

Try them out, and then use them with your students as:

• Bell Ringers,
• In Class Assignments,
• Homework or
• Extra Credit.

Here is a list of the newest worksheet sets by grade.

New- Answer Keys




New Worksheet Answer Keys Made Available in AUGUST!

We have released thousands of new answer keys for our printables worksheets during the last months supporting the Common Core Standards.

Remember that you can sign up for answer key access here: https://i4c.xyz/n89msyv.

Here is a list of the newest answer key sets by grade.





TEACHER RESOURCES



1. April is Autism Awareness Month, and we know it's becoming more recognized in our children and classrooms. Browse our Autism Classroom resources as well as parent guides. Our Exceptional Children area also combines teacher tools for ADHD, Dyslexia, Gifted, and other learning and behavior disorders.


2. Why was there a Midnight Ride? Watch this great video of how kids describe Paul Revere and the Longfellow Poem "Paul Revere's Ride." (NOTE: There may be an advertisement before the video that I4C does not control.)


3. This Earth Day, find fun activities, projects, and lesson plans you can use on our Earth Day resource page. We also have great Earth Science resources for you to use in your classroom.


4. Be sure to check out I4C's collection of free educational iPhone and iPad apps!


5. Remember to visit our Teacher Tools section! This home page contains all the topics you need to use during the school year.


6. Go to our grade level help for lesson plans, activities, instructionals, and tools organized by grade and subject.



PARENT RESOURCES




1. April is Autism Awareness Month. Learn about visual symbols and timetables that can aid in communication and find other parent resources on Autism.


2. Find fun Easter projects and Easter brunch ideas.


3. Earth Day is April 22nd. Show your children why we celebrate Earth Day. Get them involved in recycling. Check out earth day projects you can do at home.


4. Be sure to check out I4C's collection of free educational iPhone and iPad apps for you and your child!


5. You can always visit our Parent Resources page to get grade level practice sites, find online sources, and information pertaining to homework, special needs, reading help, and more.


6. Don't forget our Technology Tutorial section in case you need refresher courses in your computer skills.





TECHNOLOGY TIPS



1. Eight science apps that turn your phone into a laboratory:
   Your smartphone is packed with sensors and miniaturized equipment. Instead of using them to snap photos or message friends, harness those instruments for the sake of science. Software can turn a phone into a mobile science laboratory, letting you make research observations, track earthquakes, study birds and stars and the elements, and even project a virtual particle accelerator. Here are some amazing apps for doing science on your smartphone.
   
   Learn more in the article found: HERE


2. 6 Ed Tech Tools to Try in 2019:
   You'll certainly find it worth your while to take a look at this well written list of six ed tech tools along with two more "honorable mention" selections.
   
   Learn more by visiting: HERE.


3. The GIMP: A Powerful Free Image Editor for Teachers and Students:
   If you have projected a presentation in the classroom, created a website or blog, or produced a digital video with title screens as part of your educational practice, chances are you have had to use some form of image editing software. Depending on which operating system you are using, you may have even experienced frustration with the limitations of its pre-installed software. Fortunately, you have the option to download GIMP, a powerful free and open source solution wherever and whenever you require.
   
   You can find out more: HERE.






We also have other basic instruction in Microsoft Office, including Word 2007, Excel 2007, Powerpoint 2007.





OTHER AREAS OF INTEREST



1. Resources for Educators - In this section you can find classroom resources for Exceptional Children, Smartboards, Character Education, Web 2.0 Resources and other topics.
2. Resources for Parents - Parents can find resources
   on assisting their children with homework, time management, Internet Safety, subject area resources, grade level resources and more.




Common Core State Standards at I4C




Our Common Core State Standards are full of resources for every individual standard. Students can take control of their own learning by clicking on the page with the standard number, and choosing their own resource to practice that skill.




Check out our Common Core Math High School Algebra Standards, Common Core Math Standards, and Common Core ELA Standards.




SAT and ACT Test Preparation

Free Online Practice Resources for ACT Tests and SAT Tests! I4C now offers free SAT and ACT vocabulary and math quizzes. Join our SAT and ACT Test Preparation program and log in as much as you'd like. Students can take practice tests on 5000 vocabulary words or over 1000 math problems. Parents and Mentors can log in to monitor your scores - including seeing which vocabulary words that were missed. Interactive quizzes allow the test taker to retake and study as much as they want.




Sign Up Here for ACT Test & SAT Test Preparation!