The StarrMatica Blog

Meet Emily Starr

Posted by Emily Starr on November 26, 2019 Behind the Scenes of StarrMatica No Responses »

Nov 262019

There is never enough time! As a fourth-grade teacher, I felt the time squeeze every day in my classroom; not enough time to prepare meaningful lessons, not enough time to teach and not enough time to address individual student needs. Five years into teaching, I was at the point of thinking, “Enough is enough!” If you are a teacher, I’m sure you’ve had this feeling at some point. My particular tipping point came one day in 2004. I was handed a projector and asked to use it in my classroom. My excitement to use technology quickly turned to dismay as → read more

Maps Digital Content

Jan 172018

Here are five pieces of digital content a teacher might choose from StarrMatica’s library to use social studies manipulatives to foster concept development. Map Maker Interactive Create a customized map! Zoom in to a chosen area of the United States. Then select the features you would like to see represented by checking and unchecking boxes. It includes a point tool, line tool, ruler, and icon set. Landscapes Map Skills Click on each of the four map skills (compass skills, grid references, symbols and keys, scale) to learn about them and practice what you have learned. Adventure Island Learn how → read more

Earthquakes Digital Content

Posted by StarrMatica on December 12, 2017 Content Recommendations, Science Resources Comments Off

Dec 122017

Here are four pieces of digital content a teacher might choose from StarrMatica’s library to use science manipulatives to foster concept development through visual models. Earthquake Animations Learn the basics about earthquakes with these animations. Earthquakes and Plates Drag the slider back and forth to explore the relationship between earthquakes and Earth’s plates. Earthquake Experiment Discover how different building materials can minimize earthquake damage. 1906 San Francisco Earthquake View photos and footage of the aftermath of the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake.

Digital Content for STEM

Posted by StarrMatica on November 16, 2017 Content Recommendations, Science Resources Comments Off

Nov 162017

STEM teaching encourages students to solve authentic problems and to collaborate with others to design, build, test, and re-tool until a solution is achieved. A library of content supports this integrated vision of STEM learning with its library design which allows educators to choose content that complements and supports in class hands-on investigations. In this way, educators can integrate technology into instruction in flexible ways to teach foundational STEM skills and to encourage problem solving and group collaboration. The following are concrete examples of digital content from each STEM area. Science: Keeping Healthy Students control Ruby’s actions to determine what → read more

3-6 ELA Manipulatives

Posted by StarrMatica on October 12, 2017 Content Recommendations, Reading Resources Comments Off

Oct 122017

Here are five pieces of digital content a teacher might choose from StarrMatica’s library to use ELA manipulatives to help students develop concepts and demonstrate their understanding. Exploring Onomatopoeia Create onomatopoetic words to describe each sound you hear. Persuasion Map Plan a persuasive essay using this online persuasion map. Character Trading Cards Create your own character trading cards. Myths Brainstorming Machine Use this Myths Brainstorming Machine to help you write a myth of your own. Create Your Own Comic Strip Create your own printable comic strip! How do you use ELA manipulatives in your classroom?

August Facebook Live Videos

Posted by StarrMatica on September 14, 2017 Content Recommendations Comments Off

Sep 142017

If you haven’t joined us yet, set a reminder on your calendar for this Wednesday at 7:15 pm CST to join us for our next Facebook Live Video! Every week, I go live on Facebook for 5 – 10 minutes to share specific digital content that may be helpful in your classroom. Past video topics are hyperlinked below: Discover two interesting alternatives to common math manipulatives Learn an easy way to differentiate your instruction using digital content Discover my favorite free online graphing activity 5 Digital Getting to Know You Activities for Back to School Fun! 5 sites that make → read more

Free StarrMatica Content

Posted by StarrMatica on September 12, 2017 Content Additions Comments Off

Sep 122017

If you are not a StarrMatica member, or if you have educator friends who would like to benefit from our content, you should know about our new website that includes a sampling of our K-6 reading and math content for free. We created this site to allow all teachers and students to benefit from our content even if their school is not able to subscribe. You can check out the new site here: free.starrmatica.com The K-2 content is ready now and the 3-6 content will be added in October. Please share it with your educator friends and parents!

StarrMatica Awarded USDA SBIR Phase I Grant

Posted by StarrMatica on September 7, 2017 Behind the Scenes of StarrMatica Comments Off

Sep 072017

StarrMatica Awarded USDA SBIR Phase I Grant

StarrMatica has been awarded a USDA SBIR Phase I Grant to develop and research a software platform that houses customizable K-5 digital science informational texts. One of the cornerstones of a quality education is the ability to read and comprehend informational texts. School and career success depends on our ability to comprehend informational texts. Yet, nearly 44 million American adults cannot extract a single piece of information when they read an informational text if background knowledge is required. The results of the 2015 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) show that nearly 2/3 of American fourth-graders can only read at → read more

K-2 ELA Manipulatives

Posted by StarrMatica on September 5, 2017 Content Recommendations, Reading Resources Comments Off

Sep 052017

Here are five pieces of digital content a teacher might choose from StarrMatica’s library to use ELA manipulatives to help students develop concepts and demonstrate their understanding. Foam Phonemes Shoot letters and word parts into the air. Then, create words in the sky with what you have chosen. CVC Maker Switch word beginnings and endings to create words. Writing Repeater Write letters and words with this writing repeater. Then, play back what you have written. Flip Book Create a flip book to demonstrate your knowledge of cause and effect, fact and opinion, summarizing, or sequencing. → read more

3-6 Math Manipulatives

Posted by StarrMatica on August 8, 2017 Content Recommendations, Math Resources Comments Off

Aug 082017

Here are five pieces of digital content a teacher might choose from StarrMatica’s library to use math manipulatives to foster concept development through visual models and problem solving situations. Number Balance Use these interactive balances to show the relationship between addition problems or to find the sum to balance and equation. Create a Graph Create a bar graph or a pie graph using your own data. Equivalent Fractions on a Number Line Use this virtual manipulative to create equivalent fractions and see them plotted on a number line. FDP Bars I FDP Bars II FDP Bars III → read more

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