The StarrMatica Blog

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

I’m Jumping In! Facebook Live on Wednesdays at 7:15 pm CST

Posted by StarrMatica on June 27, 2017 Uncategorized Comments Off

Jun 272017

I'm Jumping In! Facebook Live on Wednesdays at 7:15 pm CST

Join us for StarrMatica’s first Facebook Live broadcast this Wednesday, June 28th at 7:15 pm CST. www.facebook.com/starrmatica Why Wednesday, you ask? Well, because that seems to be the day of the week that I consistently am able to steal a few moments away from my 2 ½ year old and 3 month old to take a shower and will be presentable for the camera. And why 7:15 pm? Well for me, the kids are in bed and there is a good chance I won’t be interrupted. I am also hoping that you, too, have settled in for the evening and will → read more

StarrMatica Featured on Iowa Public Television

Posted by StarrMatica on June 8, 2017 Behind the Scenes of StarrMatica Comments Off

Jun 082017

StarrMatica Featured on Iowa Public Television

My entrepreneurial journey as an educator was on the Iowa Entrepreneur show on IPTV last week. Here is a link to the 11 minute episode online: http://site.iptv.org/video/story/27045/iowa-entrepreneur-starrmatica

May Friday Favorites – Web Tools

Posted by StarrMatica on May 27, 2017 Content Recommendations Comments Off

May 272017

Each Friday on Facebook and Twitter, we share a curated digital resource from our library that is one of our favorites. In May, we focused on web tools. Here’s what we shared: Zimmer Twins Create your own animated movie! http://zimmertwinsatschool.com/movie/create Picture Book Maker Create your own picture book. Choose backgrounds, characters, and objects and add the text of your story. http://www.artisancam.org.uk/flashapps/picturebookmaker/picturebookmaker.php? Printing Press Use this interactive to design and print newspapers, brochures, flyers, and booklets. http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/interactives/Printing_Press/ Make Beliefs Comix Choose your background, characters, and objects, and add text to create our own printable three panel comic. http://www.makebeliefscomix.com/make_belief_v10_u11.swf

K-2 Math Manipulatives

Posted by StarrMatica on May 2, 2017 Content Recommendations, Math Resources Comments Off

May 022017

Here are five pieces of digital content a teacher might choose from StarrMatica’s library use math manipulatives to foster concept development through visual models and problem solving situations. Addition Number Line Use these interactive number lines to demonstrate addition concepts. Bears in a Boat Are your students losing interest in your ten frame? Try using bears in a boat to catch their attention! Grouping and Grazing Try having your students group cows to practice counting by 5’s and 10’s or to practice adding and subtracting with a partner. Number Balance Use a number balance to compare numbers. → read more

April Friday Favorites – Social Studies Resources

Posted by StarrMatica on May 1, 2017 Content Recommendations, Social Studies Resources Comments Off

May 012017

April Friday Favorites - Social Studies Resources

Each Friday on Facebook and Twitter, we share a curated digital resource from our library that is one of our favorites. In April, we focused on social studies resources. Here’s what we shared: Civil War Soldier Choose a side, enlist, and follow an actual regiment as a civil war soldier. https://www.nps.gov/webrangers/activities/civilwar/civilwar.swf?activityID=3&userID= Treasures of Congress Explore historical artifacts from the beginning of our government to the present day. http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/treasures_of_congress/page_1.html Pathways to Freedom Step through a journey on the underground railroad. Roll over images to collect clues that may help on your journey. http://pathways.thinkport.org/flash/ftf_1_0.html Go West with Lewis and Clark Travel westward with → read more

Digital Content for Talented and Gifted Students (TAG)

Posted by StarrMatica on April 18, 2017 Content Integration Ideas, Content Recommendations Comments Off

Apr 182017

Digital Content for Talented and Gifted Students (TAG)

It can be difficult to find supplementary resources to meet the needs of the students in your classroom who need a challenge. StarrMatica’s library is packed with content that can help encourage those students to grow in their thinking. Here are a few examples: Engage your students in the scientific process Ecolonization Use your knowledge of organisms to construct a bio-dome with a self-sustaining food chain. Plant Growth Experiment View the results of an experiment to test whether water, light, and temperature affect whether seeds grow. Then answer questions about what you have discovered. Ask your students to make critical → read more

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