Language Arts resources--Diamante Poems, Sequencing and more

http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/interactives/diamante/

A really simple template for creating short, diamond-shaped poems that don't have to rhyme. Great idea for beginners! Should work for kids as low as 2nd grade. They need to know what an adjective is and how to add -ing to a word.

http://www.professorgarfield.org/pgf_ReadingRing.html

Use a 3-panel Garfield comic strip to perfect your sequencing skills and win the boxing match!

http://www.professorgarfield.org/phonics/fluency/fluency.html

Professor Garfield's Storybook Reader. Read along or independently. Watch out for the pop quizzes!

http://www.vrml.k12.la.us/cc/poetry/poetrykids.htm

I haven't had time to explore this page yet, but it looks promising--lots of interactive links for poetry.

Grammar Games and Language Arts pages (elementary)

Basic Skills

Alphabetizing. Type a list and watch the sorter alphabetize them for you. Good for whole group instruction on a smart board.
http://www.toonuniversity.com/aol/1l_alph.html

Opposites. Shoot the spaceship with the opposite meaning of the word given.
http://www.toonuniversity.com/aol/1l_oppos.html

Interactive story: The Elvis Who Cried Mouse (headphones suggested).
http://www.toonuniversity.com/flash.asp?err=464

Magical Capitals. The good fairy wants you to click on only the words that need capital letters.
http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/grammar/capitalization.htm

More advanced

Grammar Ninja! Aim throwing stars at the proper parts of speech. Three levels (nouns and verbs only on the first level).
http://hoodaword.com/games/grammarninja.php

Verbs in Space. Bonk the robot holding a verb. (page can be slow to load)
http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/grammar/verbs.htm

Must Pop Words! Use the falling letter balls to make words. Don't go slow or the pile will rise to the top.
http://hoodaword.com/games/mustpopwords.php

Advanced

Moxie 2. Build a word and then change it to a new word one letter at a time. Nonsense words lose points!
http://hoodaword.com/games/moxie2.php

Hang Mau! Save the kitty in this weird game of hangman.
http://hoodaword.com/games/hangmau.php

Word Tower! Build bridges with your word power and save the princess.
http://hoodaword.com/games/wordtower.php

FreeRice.com: Academic practice with a purpose

Earn actual grains of rice to feed the hungry while you practice basic math and other subjects!
http://www.freerice.com/

Math Games I Have Known

Recommended math games for 5th hour!

Ordering numbers
Number Balls (click on the rotating balls starting with the lowest value first, includes negative numbers)
http://www.coolmath-games.com/0-numberballs/index.html

Basic Addition and Subtraction

Feed Fribbit Addition
http://www.coolmath-games.com/0-feed-fribbit-addition/index.html

Math Lines Addition (Zuma-style game)
http://www.coolmath-games.com/0-math-lines/index.html

Math Picture Puzzle (choose the right sum to reveal each part of the picture)
http://www.thekidzpage.com/learninggames/math_picture_puzzles/addition-to16-halloweencat.html

Feed Fribbit Subtraction
http://www.coolmath-games.com/0-feed-fribbit-subtraction/index.html

Subtraction Blast (shoot numbers to subtract them from targets--fast and furious!)
http://www.coolmath-games.com/0-subtraction-blast/index.html

Memory Games

Concentration (slow-pace, big graphics for easy recognition)
http://www.coolmath-games.com/concentration/index.html

Pattern Memory
http://www.coolmath-games.com/0-patternmemory/index.html

Fractions
Fractone (add fractions that total 1)
http://www.coolmath-games.com/0-fractone/index.html

Fraction Splat!
http://www.coolmath-games.com/0-fraction-splat/index.html


Harder Stuff

Mathlines X Factor (choose combinations that multiply to 12 and higher)
http://www.coolmath-games.com/0-math-lines-xfactor/index.html

Math Man (like PacMan, but you can only eat the ghosts with the right answer, requires understanding of Order of Operations)
http://www.coolmath-games.com/0-math-man/index.html

August Storm

auguststormsmall
Originally uploaded by jhawkmamax2

Multiclouds

Multiclouds
Originally uploaded by jhawkmamax2

Clearing skies to our west after a summer storm. Never have seen quite this mix of clouds since then. The bulgy ones in the center are called mammatus clouds and signal that a storm has blown out all its energy.

Auntie Barbara's Iris

Auntie Barbara's Iris
Originally uploaded by jhawkmamax2

My Aunt Barbara has an amazing backyard full of iris, hosta and all sorts of green things. And a bobcat family! I took this with my older digi, the one with which I have had much better luck with the macro. I can't seem to get the focus point right on my newer one, but with the old one the pics were always amazingly crisp.