Week 14

Here are some highlights from Technology this week:

                          Week 14 (November 27 – December 1, 2017)              

Thursday Giggles:            How do you catch a unique rabbit?
                                                Unique up on it.

Pick and choose your favorites.  Don’t use every tool. 
Chefs don’t use every ingredient.  Gardeners don’t plant every type of plant.

CUE. CUE stands for Computer-Using Educators.  They just celebrated their 40^th year as an organization that supports teachers and promotes technology in the classroom. Wahooo!  Memberships are FREE until March of 2018.  I encourage you to become a member. 

Head to their website and check it out.  There is a conference in the Spring in Palm Springs.  Hotels will sell out quickly.  So, start planning today if you would like to attend.

VIDEO LINK HERE.

Hour of Code.  Did you know that in Great Britain, kindergarten students are taught how to code?  It’s part of their technology framework.  I encourage you and your students to explore one hour of code during this global tech event.  For the gift card (one winner), our window of completion will run from Monday, November 17 – Friday, December 22.  Here are four websites to consider:

                Code.org – This is the easiest one.  Great for all grades.
                Code Monkey – found in Clever (Sign up for an account and track student progress.)
                Code Academy – found in Clever (Google Slides / PowerPoint you may copy and use.)
                Scratch – various online tools
When you explore code with your students, take a picture of what you are doing.  Then, fill out THIS Google Form and let me know that you participated.  You will be entered into a drawing (CN area elementary teachers only).  One winner will receive a gift card for $20 (Amazon, Starbucks, something local). 

ABCya.com. For my little learners, have you explored ABCya.com?  It contains a host of early-learning tools.  Phonics.  Letter recognition.  Blending.  Sounds.  Shape identification.  Colors.  Punctuation.  All good things for little learners. It is also available as an app.  Web link HERE.

Screen capture from website.

Starfall is another great resource for young children.  Early stories.  Phonics.  Letter identification.  Holidays and calendar tools.  Web link HERE.

Screen capture from website.

Add-ons.  Did you know that Google is more awesome than you ever imagined?  If you have not explored Add-ons, here is a quick glimpse of just one of those free tools.  Use the drop down menu from Docs, Sheets, or Forms:

Screen capture from Docs.

This will let you search various tools that you can add to your experience.  And, they can revolutionize the way you give student feedback or the way you grade—sometimes, in the snap of a finger.  SEE THIS BLOG entry to find out more.  CheckMark by CheckMarkClass.com.

Screen capture of Add-ons.

Screen capture from CheckMark video tutorial.

Kindly,

Week 13

Here are some highlights from Technology this week:

                         Week 13 (November 13 – November 17, 2017)            

Thursday Giggles:            How much do pirates pay for their earrings?
                                            A buccaneer.

Pick and choose your favorites.  Don’t use every tool. 
Chefs don’t use every ingredient.  Gardeners don’t plant every type of plant. 

Free Technology Classes.  TEACHING SESSION 2: Google Classroom – Would you like to learn how to use Google Classroom?  We will design a Classroom.  We will design assignments.  We will locate student work.  What does teacher feedback look like in Classroom?  I will show you more than one way to help your students improve their online work.  Have you thought about moving to a flipped classroom model?  Aren’t quite sure how?  Come with your questions.
                Session 2B: Wednesday, November 29, 2017
                @ Copper Hills Elementary School from 2:30 – 3:30 in the Computer Lab
                EVENTBRITE LINK HERE – REGISTER FOR CLASS HERE

Hour of Code.  Did you know that in Great Britain, kindergarten students are taught how to code?  It’s part of their technology framework.  I encourage you and your students to explore one hour of code during this global tech event.  For the gift card (one winner), our window of completion will run from Monday, November 17 – Friday, December 22.  Here are four websites to consider:
                Code.org – This is the easiest one.  Great for all grades.
                Code Monkey – found in Clever
                Code Academy – found in Clever (Google Slides / PowerPoint you may copy and use.)
                Scratch – various online tools
When you explore code with your students, take a picture of what you are doing.  Then, fill out THIS Google Form and let me know that you participated.  You will be entered into a drawing (CN area elementary teachers only).  One winner will receive a gift card for $20 (Amazon, Starbucks, something local).

Website.  Did you know there are teaching videos on my website?  If you don’t know how to use some of the resources I have highlighted, you can find some of them on my website.  Check out the videos tab on my website for more information.

EdPuzzle. If you have never explored EdPuzzle as a learning tool before, I encourage you to try this resource.  It takes videos that are already online and it lets you modify these videos for teaching/learning purposes. Not only that, you get to embed questions into the video.  Lastly, student responses are collected so that you can analyze them when you are done with the assignment.  EdPuzzle works seamlessly with Google Classroom.  You can drop the link into your Classroom through EdPuzzle.  The children watch the video you modified (very easy to do) and they are forced to stop at the questions you placed in there.  They advance when they are done answering the question.  Need more ways to test listening skills?  This is a great tool to do just that.  Millions of videos to choose from. Have a video you like on YouTube?  Search for that video through EdPuzzle.  Khan Academy video?  Search for that one too.  Vimeo?  Those work too.  Some of the teachers I am working with this year have been quite impressed with this tool and they are already implementing this into their classrooms.  Combo?  Gate?  One more awesome tool to add to your resource list.

Computers.  Lab booked?  Cart already signed out?  Wish you had more computers in your classroom?  Have you ever thought about borrowing computers from another teacher?  Phone a friend.  Send an email.  Ask.  Maybe that other teacher may even send students your way to deliver the laptops.  Not every tech lesson needs a whole class set of computers.  Children can share.  Brainstorm.  Collaborate.  Work as a team.  Small groups.  Rotation.  Experiment and see what works for you.  Tell others what worked for you and what didn’t.  You just might inspire someone else to borrow and share computers.

One Drive.  Is your computer maxed out on space?  No more room to hold any more files?  Don’t go out and buy an external hard drive.  You can keep your files safe in One Drive.  It’s free.  If you have a brand new computer, your files are already being backed up on One Drive (that’s what I was told).  If you aren’t already backing up your files there, head over to Microsoft 365 (Employee tab on the CUSD website).  Open One Drive.  Drag and drop your files into the loading space.  Yes, Drive is an option too.  This just gives you another place to store your files (if you like this one better).

Kindly,

Week 12

Here are some highlights from Technology this week:

                          Week 12 (November 6 – November 10, 2017)              

Thursday Giggles:            What did one ocean say to the other ocean?
                                            Nothing.  They just waved.

Pick and choose your favorites.  Don’t use every tool. 
Chefs don’t use every ingredient.  Gardeners don’t plant every type of plant. 

Free Technology Classes.  TEACHING SESSION 2: Google Classroom – Would you like to learn how to use Google Classroom?  We will design a Classroom.  We will design assignments.  We will locate student work.  What does teacher feedback look like in Classroom?  I will show you more than one way to help your students improve their online work.  Have you thought about moving to a flipped classroom model?  Aren’t quite sure how?  Come with your questions.
                Session 2B: Wednesday, November 29, 2017
                @ Copper Hills Elementary School from 2:30 – 3:30 in the Computer Lab
                EVENTBRITE LINK HERE – REGISTER FOR CLASS HERE

Whitelist a video.  If you ever put a video link or an EdPuzzle link onto your Google Classroom and it doesn’t work for the students,  send an email to Debbie Nelson so that she can “whitelist” the video.  She will tell our student filtering systems to OK that content for children.

Kahoot! Reports.  HERE is a Kahoot! video that explains how to access the online, post-assessment reports.  So, what do you do with the data?  Data can drive/shape future instruction, shape small group instruction, provide data-oriented feedback for an IEP or an SST, or select your intervention groups.  Watch the video to see how the reports work to see how you can use this tool to shape your instruction.

Front Row Ed.  Is your class already on Front Row Ed?  Did you know that they just revamped their login password cards?  Your kids can sign in using individualized QR codes.  The camera on the computer will pick up their password login information in just seconds.  Check out your password card portal in your Teacher Dashboard and print out those cute cards for your little learners (or your big learners).  Thank you, Front Row!

Free Music.  Are you designing a video production for your room or your school?  Need some free music?  Head HERE.  You will find a blog post hosting 11 different sites that have free music downloads.

Prodigy. If you are looking for another engaging math tool, check out Prodigy.  The children navigate through a wizard-like world and battle other players.  In order to win those battles, they need to solve Math questions.  The scope of those question is dependent upon their ability.  As they demonstrate skill, the questions will get incrementally harder.

Screen capture of website.

Remind.  Your site is probably using this for site-wide communication.  Other teachers at your site may be using it as well.  If you haven’t signed up yet, here is a VIDEO TUTORIAL that may answer most of your questions.  Here is a SECOND VIDEO that shows you what it looks like from the phone perspective.  I recommend this tool.  I used it frequently in my classroom.

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Thank you!  Thank you for the continued feedback that is kind and generous.  Thank you for letting me know how proud you are of your students as they get learn and explore new technology.  Thank you for sharing with me that your parents are super-excited about various online tools.  Wahooo!!  That is so awesome.

Kindly,

Week 11

Here are some highlights from Technology this week:

                            Week 11 (October 30 – November 3, 2017)                

Thursday Giggles:            What did the duck say to the comedian?
                                                You quack me up.

Free Technology Classes.  TEACHING SESSION 2: Google Classroom – Would you like to learn how to use Google Classroom?  We will design a Classroom.  We will design assignments.  We will locate student work.  What does teacher feedback look like in Classroom?  I will show you more than one way to help your students improve their online work.  Have you thought about moving to a flipped classroom model?  Aren’t quite sure how?  Come with your questions. 
               Session 2A: Wednesday, November 8, 2017
                @ Copper Hills Elementary School from 2:30 – 3:30 in the Computer Lab
                EVENTBRITE LINK HERE – REGISTER FOR CLASS HERE 

                Session 2B: Wednesday, November 29, 2017
                @ Copper Hills Elementary School from 2:30 – 3:30 in the Computer Lab
                EVENTBRITE LINK HERE – REGISTER FOR CLASS HERE 

Previous Technology Highlights.  Did you delete any of those previous emails (Technology Highlights) and you are curious about that tool/link/idea?  No worries.  You can find those previous emails HERE.  On my website in the Resources Link tab, you can find the link to my Google Drive folder where I keep everything that might help you.  You will find a folder by the name of Technology Highlights.  I will update that PDF file from time to time to reflect all things new.

TourBuilder.  You can either explore already designed travel logs using the featured items at the bottom of the home page.  Or, you can design your own.  Are you studying the migration path of hummingbirds?  Pin those spots on a map to watch that trip advance from location to location.  Would you like to give your students a tour of the Louvre?  Head over there in TourBuilder and “walk” the interior of the Louvre.  Studying ancient Egypt?  Would you like to look at pyramids and other ancient artifacts?  Well, use this tool.  Want to develop a flipped classroom model, but you need more creative ideas?  Add a “trip” to your Google Classroom as an assignment.  Have your students come to class the next day with their questions.  Why this space?  Who was there?  How does it connect to our Social Studies content?  Let their questions/inquiry/desire drive that next lesson.  Explore together: timeline, landscapes, agriculture, historical impact, significant influencers of that period.

Screen capture of website.

PowToons.  PowToons is a free online animation tool will let you create quick animated videos.  Promoting an event?  Want to get people involved?  Need volunteers?  Small teaching video?  Involved in a GATE program?  You can use the templates that are already there to promote your theme/idea/event.  If this tool is helpful for you, try it out for free.  Or, lead a tech session and train our students how to make animated videos.

Screen capture of website.

Raw Shorts.  Rawshorts.com is just like the tool above, but you may like this one better.  Video animation.  Communication.

Screen capture of website.

Mystery Science.  Does your site have a license for this program?  I really, really enjoyed using this program in my classroom.  With my second grade students, we explored seed distribution using a hands-on approach.  We also explored the complexities of land re-formation through rain—we looked at erosion, hands-on.  If you want Science to be fun, engaging, and exploration-oriented, then try this out.  It’s easier than you think.  The video discussions lead the teaching and you facilitate the discovery/exploration.  It’s wonderful!

Screen capture of website.

Kindly,

Week 10

Here are some highlights from Technology this week:

Week 10 (October 23 – October 27, 2017)

Thursday Giggles:            What shoes look best on a frog?
                                            Open toad.

Free Technology Classes.  TEACHING SESSION 2: Google Classroom – Would you like to learn how to use Google Classroom?  We will design a classroom.  We will design assignments.  We will explore how to locate student work.  What does teacher feedback look like in Classroom?  We will look at more than one way to help students improve their online work.  Have you thought about moving to a flipped classroom model?  Aren’t quite sure how?  Come with your questions.

Session 2A: Wednesday, November 8, 2017 @ Copper Hills Elementary School from 2:30 – 3:30 in the Computer Lab
EVENTBRITE LINK HERE – REGISTER FOR CLASS HERE 

Session 2B: Wednesday, November 29, 2017 @ Copper Hills Elementary School from 2:30 – 3:30 in the Computer Lab
EVENTBRITE LINK HERE – REGISTER FOR CLASS HERE

CUE. CUE stands for Computer-Using Educators.  They just celebrated their 40^th year as an organization that supports teachers and promotes technology in the classroom. Wahooo!  Memberships are FREE until March of 2018.  I encourage you to become a member.  

This conference was fantastic.  The opening speaker was Brad Montegue (the designer behind kid president).  From there, I was able to choose from 60+ different break-out topics.  Lunch was included both days.  I was able to hand-select what technology instruction I wanted.  Advanced.  Intermediate.  Apps.  Web design.  Using Technology in the Humanities Classroom.  Growth Mindset in the Classroom and Technology Integration.  Extensions.  I was actually in the minority (TOSA).  Most of the teachers around me were classroom teachers just like you.

If you are interested, head to their website and check it out.  There is a conference in the Spring in Palm Springs.  Hotels will sell out quickly.  So, start planning today if you would like to attend.

Apps Tab. I updated my website to include an Apps tab.  Check out the top tab area to locate where it says Apps.  There are over 50 apps to explore.  They are sorted into categories for you.  Hop over there and see if any of those tools will work for you, your learning environment, or your students.

Assessment Data.  We have talked about taking assessments on Benchmark via the eAssessment option.  But, how do you get those reports when the kids are done?  THIS PDF TUTORIAL will walk you through step-by-step how to access printable data.  I cannot do a video of that because I don’t want student data to be on video.  Sorry about that.

Kindly,

Week 9

Here are some highlights from Technology this week:

Week 9 (October 16 – October 20, 2017)

Friday Giggles.                  What did the zero say to the eight?
                                             Nice belt!

Resource Links.  When I finish a lesson, you can typically find my PowerPoints or my PDF files in this folder.  If I am not in your room, but your colleague mentions how awesome such-and-such tool is.  You too can show your students how to do this.  Head to THIS LINK.  Check out those resources (see Resource Links at the top).  Go to the CN Technology Resources folder.  See where it says LINK in that brown banner (image below).  Download your favorites.  Use them to drive technology-oriented instruction in your classroom.

Connect. Would you like to call someone in the district, but you don’t know their phone number?  Try connect.cusd.com.  This easy tool will let you search the whole district.  Type in a few details and BAM!  The first few letters of either name will work just fine.  It will find all of the employees who have a name that start with those letters.  You have instant access to their extension.

Student Connect.  No need to ask your attendance secretary for passwords for Student Connect.  IT went in and added all 43,000 usernames and passwords.  If students enter through Clever, the data should already be synched.  No need to type anything in.  Wahooo!

Small Grants.  Chevron is giving money away.  Would you like money for a STEM-related grant?  Small project?  Just a few resources?  Look here to see if you would like to gather funds for that project: http://www.fuelyourschool.com/

Image Source HERE.

Plickers.  This tool is awesome.  I would typically use this tool about every-other-week (on average).  This tool would quickly give me diagnostic feedback on the learning that was going on in my room.  It shaped my calendar.  It shaped my instruction.  It shaped my small group or re-teaching groups as well.  Tools like this are awesome because you don’t have to print anything out (other than the cards).  You don’t have to copy anything.  And, you don’t have to grade anything.  Instant feedback.  I used my phone, my projector, and my laptop (and the pre-printed cards).  Easy.  Quick.  Usable data.  Check out this TEACHING VIDEO that explains how it works.

Image Source HERE.

McGraw Hill Math Book. Approximately 2-5% of CUSD students cannot access the online math book through the McGraw Hill app in Clever (or just enter cusd.com in your web browser).  Here is the solution:
Step 1: Children will click on CUSD in Clever.

Step 2: Children will click on McGrawHill ConnectEd via the Student tab in the CUSD website.

Step 3: Children will type in their credentials on that next page (the same username and password they use for everything CUSD).

Voila! They’re in!

Parent Communication.  The above solution is available as a PDF file that you can post to your website or send home with parents.  See THIS LINK.

Kindly,

Week 8

Here are some highlights from Technology this week:

Week 8 (October 9 – October 13, 2017)

Thursday Giggles:            What’s another name for dental x-rays?
                                           Tooth pics.

Free Technology Session.  The last Microsoft Office training will be held next week.  Check out this Eventbrite link if you would like to learn more or if you would like to sign up:
                Wednesday, October 18 at Copper Hills Elementary from 2:30 – 3:30

Calendar.  You can always find the link to my calendar at the top of my website.  The link to my website is in my signature (tinyurl.com/culvertech).

Parents.  Some of your parents are asking how to access online learning tools at home.  HERE is a PDF that you can download.  You can put this on your website, if you wish.  Or you may print and distribute to parents (or both).  I recommend that you also give parents login information for their student/s.  An Avery label affixed to this PDF is one way of doing that.  You can find this file in the Parent Communication Folder located in my Culver Tech Tools web link below (email signature).

Password updates.  We’re nearing that time where you may be asked to update your password.  It cannot be too close to any of your previous passwords over the last 12 months.  I recommend a capital letter + lowercase letter + a number (and/or a symbol if you wish).  Send yourself a text message of your new password if you think you may forget it.  And, don’t forget that nearly every CUSD account password along the way will get refreshed when you do this (computer, portal, Clever, email, etc.).  Lastly, your password, in your phone, (for CUSD communication/access) may need to be updated as well. You will receive an email when your time has arrived that time for you to update your password.  This must happen on a CUSD campus.  You cannot do this at home.

Guest Wireless Access.  Do you have a student teacher this term or someone who needs wireless access?  The CUSD IT page has a quick link to get you there.  The CUSD SAM (portal.cusd.com) also has a link at the bottom of the sign-in box that will get you there as well.  There are a few boxes to fill in and then you get a username and a password for that person.  The information can get emailed to you easily so you don’t forget it.

Language Barriers.  Do you have any students in your class who speak NO English at all?  Here are a few tools that may help you both in this transitional period.
1) Speak and Translate is available for Apple devices, Android devices, and Apple Watch.  You and your partner can speak back and forth to the phone/watch and it will translate the conversation for you and speak out the pre-selected translation.  There are several languages to work with.

2) Google Translate.  From any web browser, you can type in “Google Translate” into the search box and the Google Translator will pop up.  Turn your microphone on (the one that’s already in your computer) and speak.  The computer will transform your words into printed text.  Choose from the languages that are offered.  Click on the speaker button.  Google will speak aloud what you just said in English into the language you have selected.  This may help your sweet blessings transition a bit better.  They may feel like they have a voice when they don’t quite know your language. 

3) Snap & Translate.  This app lets you take pictures of things.  After the phone has captured an image, it will translate the image or the text (whole page) for you.

Kindly,

Week 7

Here are some highlights from Technology this week:

Week 7 (October 2 – October 6, 2017)

Free Technology Sessions.  I sent out an email last week letting you know that I am offering two technology sessions.  These first two sessions are on Microsoft Outlook.  Check out these two Eventbrite links if you would like to learn more or if you would like to sign up:
                Wednesday, October 11 at Copper Hills Elementary from 2:30 – 3:30
                Wednesday, October 18 at Copper Hills Elementary from 2:30 – 3:30

OurPact. As I continue to speak about Digital Citizenship, I want to share with you an app that will shut down your child’s ability to access particular apps (for a period of time or forever).  The other day my son received 126 text messages in a 2-hour time frame.  I now have the ability to take that app (the iMessage app, any app I wish, or nearly all of them) off his phone for pre-designated time periods—or reoccurring times on a schedule.  If you are looking for a way to limit screen time, this app may be one to consider.  You can even do this remotely when you are away from your child’s device.

Life360. GPS location tracking and phone battery life information?  This app has location-tracking services.  As your child moves, his/her image appears on a live map on your phone.  Not sure when your child will come home from an out-of-town sporting event?  Track his/her movement using the map.  Battery life low?  Text him/her and remind him/her to plug in said device.  Get badge notifications when each child arrives home or leaves home.  You designate how much information you want to know and how you want the information to come to you.

Benchmark eAssessment. The Student Assessments will not start if pop-up blockers are preventing the test from opening a new tab.  Here is a VIDEO TUTORIAL that will walk you through the process of assigning an eAssessment and how to help your students maneuver through that same assessment.  It shows you how to troubleshoot the pop-up blocker that is identified in the next images. (Use the gear at the bottom of the video to speed up the play function if you want to save time.)

(You can speed up YouTube videos and watch them in less time.  Choose the gear.  Choose speed.  Select the speed that works best for you.)

Benchmark Universe online eAssessment:

Check the navigation bar on the top right.  Click on that little image.  Choose “Always…”.  Then choose Done.  The test should now work fine.

Class Dojo.  Class Dojo got revamped over the summer.  There are some cool tools in there that aide time management, community building, and communication: Group Maker, Timer, Random, and Music.  Check out these cool tools and see if they will fit well into your learning environment.

Email.  I’m only an email away.  Please let me know how I can serve you.

Kindly,