Cool Comics Creation Site

Makebeliefscomix.com is a terrific creation! This site allows users to create comic strips without being able to draw well. There are a cast of characters, all of which can be given different emotions. There are ways to manipulate the figures and add text balloons. Don't have an idea for a comic? There are ideas provided for you. This is a great reading and writing motivator for students of all ages.

Handipoints--goals and assignments made fun

Handipoints.com is an online place where parents can set up goal sheets, assignment sheets, and other to-do type lists for kids. Completing offline tasks (which can even be graded for quality) lets kids win online activities. Or parents can use the online charts and lists as management tools for reaching goals.

From Handipoints.com, "In Handipoints kids earn points by doing chores, staying healthy, and behaving well in the real world and must save their points in order to play the games and watch the cartoons inside our virtual world. So the economics of our game more closely follows real life and teaches kids some important lessons along the way. We also give parents a whole suite of tools to let them create an allowance program tied to real rewards."

Global Connections with ePals and 1n2books

Joyce Valenza's NeverendingSearch blog has a great write up of ePals and how it can help you make global connections for your classroom kiddos. You may have used ePals before, but now it has partnered with National Geographic and is providing a host of web-safe spaces for students and teachers. in2books is another great product for promoting literacy among your students.