Dreambox for Students

Dreambox Learning.  (2013).  Dreambox:  Intelligent adaptive learning.  Retrieved April 20, 2013 from http://www.dreambox.com

Dreambox is an interactive website that my class uses during technology time to reinforce math skills.  There is a great variety of games for students to try out.  Each student has their own account, which targets their areas of need.  If students would like to play at home, follow the directions below to log in to their account.

Type the Dreambox - Straub Elementary url into your address bar.  You can find this address in your child's agenda.  The homepage should appear as follows.

Next, find the name of your child's teacher and click on it.

Our class profile page will appear.  Click on your child's name and avatar, or allow your child to click on their name and avatar.  Students should be able to find it because they access their accounts from our class page at school.  For privacy purposes, names have been cropped from this picture.

Next, students should click on their password picture.

Now they will be logged in to their Dreambox account!  Choose a path to take and begin playing one of the math games.

Additionally, if you would like to set up a parent account, click on the "Set Up Parent Access" option at the bottom of the page.  Sign-up with your email and create a password to have access to your child's progress on the website.

This is a great website for students to practice their math skills at home, and allow both their parents and teacher to monitor their progress.  Give it a try!

Teaching Tip: Using ClassTools Templates

Blair, N. (2012). National association of elementary school principals: Technology integration for the new 21st century learner. Retrieved March 23, 2013 from http://www.naesp.org/principal-januaryfebruary-2012-technology/technology-integration-new-21st-century-learner

ClassTools.  (2013).  Classtools - create interactive flash tools/games for education.  Retrieved March 23, 2013 from http://www.classtools.net

The students of today are 21st century learners who need to learn through "critical thinking, creativity, communication, and collaboration" (Blair, 2012).  Using technology in the classroom can help students achieve these goals.  To find ways to integrate more technology in my kindergarten classroom, I have used the interactive teaching website ClassTools to help me create activities for my students.  To try out this resource, go to http://www.classtools.net.

 

Once you are on the website, decide what template would be the most beneficial to you and your students.  For example, I click on the Fakebook link under Templates.  My kindergarteners and I would choose one of the characters or historical figures we are learning about, and make a fake social media page for them.  My students would do this as a whole group activity, but older students would be able to complete this activity on their own.

After clicking on the Fakebook link, you will come to this page.  Click on the Fakebook 90 second video tutorial to better understand how to enter the character’s name, personal information, add friends, and make posts.  The video also gives information on how to link to videos and embed the page into a blog.

After viewing, click to enter the name and edit the profile at the top of the page, and begin adding information for your chosen character or historical figure. 

 

 

 

This website has many great ideas for making learning interactive, so take some time to explore all the different templates on ClassTools.