Week 4

Here are some highlights from Technology this week:

Week 4 (September 11 – Sept 15, 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.

Parents.  Some of your parents are asking how to access online learning tools at home.  You keep sending me emails asking how we can communicate with parents about this.  Thank you for asking.  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).

Repeats.  Just in case you missed something in my last email, I’ll repeat a few things each week.

ELA PowerPoint.  The PowerPoint I used to teach the ELA lesson is available in the Culver Tech Tools folder.  You will find it in the LESSONS folder.  In the LESSONS folder, you will find the ELA folder.  Feel free to download that and use it.  If you wish to put it on your classroom website, you may do that too.  If you have a child enter your classroom at the mid-point of the year from another district, parents can navigate this tool at home with the aid of a tool like this.

Math PowerPoint.  I will navigate further into this lesson before I post the file online.  I will let you know when that link is available.

Google Classroom update.  Over the summer Google Classroom updated their code display tool.  When you are on the Student tab, you can choose display on the left.  The class code will enlarge and your students can see this easily.

Email updates for Parents in Parent Connect.  Did you know that parents can get emails from Parent Connect letting them know how their child/ren is/are doing?  Yes!  Parent Connect will send out multiple emails each week letting parents know as much or as little information that they wish.  1) Have parents log into Parent Connect. 2) The Email Notifications link is listed at the top right; click that. 3) Choose from the list of options for each child.  4) Click Submit.  That parent will be notified of any updates using whatever email is currently on file in Parent Connect.

Student Passwords. If your students are declaring that their passwords are not working at home.  The first troubleshooting question is this: Has that child updated his/her password at school this year?  If you do not know, CLICK HERE.  You will find a one-page document that helps you determine if your students have updated their passwords this year or not.  It also reminds you that all student passwords must be updated every 365 days. 

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,