Welcome Back! - Wk 01

Week 1 (August 20 - August 25, 2018)

Thursday Giggles:        Who yelled, "Coming are the British."?
                                            Paul Reverse.

(Copy and save this image if you want to add it to your email signature.  Resize in Microsoft Word if it’s too big.)

Welcome Back! Welcome back (or hello for the first time) to all my CN Elementary Teaching Team.  We are going to have a phenomenal year!  I will try to send out approximately 30 emails like this during the year.  I will showcase things that are specific to CUSD that our Tech or CIA (Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment) teams have asked me to share.  Additionally, I’ll share out anything that’s EdTech in nature.  Last year my methodology was helicopter-like (expansive overview).  This year, I’ll try to get a pinch more in-depth at points.  If you ever miss any of my emails, you can always visit my BLOG (found in my signature) and you can review any of those past emails for that info.

Professional Development Calendar (Instructional Technology). These items are 100% optional.  Dates are pending.  When I get those on the calendar I will keep you in the loop.  Plan on 12 Wednesdays from 2:30 – 3:30.  I’ll start with Google Docs, Google Classroom, and Google Sites.

Ideas.  I try to have 6-weeks of blog material penned out and ready to go.  I’m typically not short on material.  However, if you want material that I’m not posting, shout out and let me know.

Clovis Unified App.  Clovis Unified just rolled out an app for all mobile devices.  I sent an email out about that already.  You can reference those images and use them in parent communication.  VIDEO LINK.

Image capture from iTunes.  Video link above.

Reset Student Passwords. Every year it’s standard that these get reset.  If you have forgotten how to do this, please check out THIS VIDEO or THIS PDF.  Either tool should point you in the right direction.  Did you miss out on the Word Docs I sent out?  Pre-formatted password cards?  Check your email inbox and check those out.  Or, email me again if needed.

Image capture from video.  Video link above.

Stylus. Do you have a Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga?  If so, you have a stylus on the side of your computer.  Just pull it out and use as you see fit.  I made a VIDEO.  You can find it on my YouTube channel; it showcases how to use this tool if you are in charge of printing/signing certificates.  This could save you hours of time.  Don’t have a Yoga?  Jealous?  Borrow a friend’s laptop.  Sign in as yourself.  Capture what you need (save to the cloud or email those files to yourself) and trade back.

Air Quality App. Every classroom teacher can benefit from this (AirVisual).  You don’t have to be a coach to need this resource.  With all the mountain fires we have faced recently, we can never tell what our air quality will be like.  This app has been super helpful!  It gives you a reading of what the air quality might be like over the next three days.  And, it’s free!  I think it’s only available on Apple devices at this point.

Image captures from iTunes.

Apple Watch. Did you know you can ask Siri what the air quality is?  Sure can.  Just say, “Siri, what is the air quality?”  And you will get a response.

Departmentalize.  Do you (or do you plan to) departmentalize?  This is where teachers of one grade level share the load by teaching the same lessons to different groups of kids.  At the close of last school year, I had an entire post dedicated to this topic.  Now, one more thing: I showcased how technology can make this easier.  How do you get grades to each other seamlessly?  I designed a grading sheet for you.  Head HERE if you want to check out those videos or those links.

Team, have an amazing year.  Sic ‘em!

Kindly,