Week 3

Here are some highlights from Technology this week:

Week 3 (September 5 – Sept 8, 2017)

Starbucks.  Are you a part of my Technology Team?  If so, I sent you an email with a link to an online survey.  Please fill that out.  When you fill it out, I will enter your name into a drawing for a FREE Starbucks card.  Your feedback is valuable to me.  It lets me know how I can serve you best.  Thank you to Fuguman!!  Five of your team members have filled out that survey.  If you lost the link, reach out.  I can send it to you again.

Calendar.  For planning purposes, my calendar is always available live on my website.  If you are designing lesson plans and you aren’t sure if I will be away at a district meeting that week, you can head HERE to see if I will be on your site that day or not.  My day-before emails will typically remind you, but if you need advance notice, head over to that link to see where I will be.

First graders are getting into their computers more successfully.  They are maneuvering through various technology standards well.  They are locating keys on the keyboard.  They know how to sign out of the computers well.  These guys are excited to learn more about computers.  Thank you, teachers, for all of your help.  Kinder, first grade, or second grade: I have a PRINTABLE KEYBOARD in my Tech Tools folder (tinyurl.com/CulverTechTools).  Feel free to print that on cardstock and laminate it.  It’s a great practice tool for those little fingers.

Grades 2 - 5 were able to access more content in the online ELA text.  The text tool may be used to identify or modify text features, captions, headings, titles, or whole paragraphs.  Notes can be used to record discussion notes or questions.  As students work collaboratively, one child can add a blue note.  Another child may add a pink note.  Lastly, another child may add a yellow note.  The pen tool can be adjusted so that it displays in different colors.  In a future lesson, teacher may ask the children to circle the main idea in red and underline the supporting details in blue.  At a glance, the teacher can see if the child understands this or other concepts.

Grades 2-5 some of my classes were able to access the online Math book.  We looked at videos, re-teaching materials, homework, Table of Contents, Glossary, video tools, and games.  We aren’t finished with this lesson and will pick up where we left off next week.  A child may use this online tool if he/she left the book at school accidentally.  The parent of an ill child may request work—this online tool is perfect!  Or, for Independent Study, a parent may need this online resource if he/she forgot the text at home.

Sixth Grade was able to access the Collections text online.  Teaching PDF HERE.  We looked at notes, bookmarks, navigating through the text, page views and text size, downloadable resources, the audio feature, using the teacher PDF’s as a live teaching tool, the Writing Prompt area, and evaluating student work for plagiarism using TurnItIn.  Lastly, the children were able to locate a pdf that will walk them through various navigation and study tools/features.  These guys are prepared to use this text!  Well done, team.

Future Lessons: When Clever, ELA, and Math are done, I will enter two sessions on Digital Citizenship.  The children need to know safe internet practices.  At the close of these first 4-6 lessons, we will sign into Google Classroom and start exploring more content there.

Tech Tools: As I update/create teaching tools, I will be sure to put those in my Google Drive folder that is shared with you (tinyurl.com/CulverTechTools).  When I am done with a lesson (fully), my teaching PowerPoints will be uploaded here.  You can reference these tools to remember how to locate particular things or how to use them.  If you aren’t a part of my Technology Team this year, you may access these resources as well and use them in your room to help your students access any of these resources.

Go Noodle.  If the weather ever keeps you from enjoying outdoor activities with your students, feel free to head over to Go Noodle.  You will find fun and engaging activities to get your students moving during Recess or PE.  Uncertain?  Try this YouTube video tutorial to see how it works.

Organization.  I use Digital Sticky Notes to keep my ideas in order.  It’s free and it’s already on your computer.  Check out this YouTube video tutorial to see how it works.

Reach Out: I hope that you feel comfortable reaching out and asking for help.  It truly is my joy to serve you.  Please let me know how I can help you.

Kindly,