Solo Missions

South Harrison: Safe ✦ Supportive ✦ Successful

Solo Missions were created to help provide individualized options for teachers (click here to see all the offerings in one image). As the name implies, these missions are intended to be independent undertakings. However, if several teachers share an interest in a mission, they should feel free to walk through the mission together.

All directions and resources are online. Teachers will want to have a fully-charged laptop/Chromebook* and earbuds. Teachers participating in these sessions may congregate in the Media Center, the Counselor Commons, or in the College and Career Center.

Email Mr. Carl with questions.

*iPads may also be used but may require teachers to add apps to their devices.

Watch this short video BEFORE you begin.

Alexa in the Classroom

Several of us have an Amazon Echo (aka Alexa) in our classrooms. So, what can you do with Alexa besides simply asking her to tell you a joke or play music? Check out the Journey to learn how Alexa can be a useful support for your classroom.

Click here to begin.
Enter this PIN when prompted: ADEZMFA
Click "Go".
Add your name.
Begin learning about Alexa by selecting the Journey star (in the green circle) and moving through the steps.
Be sure to log out of Recap when you complete this mission.

Additional resources for the Amazon Echo Dot (aka Alexa) can be found on the SHeLF.

Beyond Presentations with Google Slides

When you hear "Google Slides", what do you immediately think? Presentation tool, right? With a little creativity, Google Slides can be used for a whole lot more than just presentations.

Click here to begin.
Enter this PIN when prompted: VVEXRWY
Click "Go".
Add your name.
Begin learning by selecting the Journey star (in the green circle) and moving through the steps.
Be sure to log out of Recap when you complete this mission.

More Google Slides resources can be found on the SHeLF.

Computer Science Standards for K-8

The State of Indiana came out with Computer Science Standards in 2016. Up to this point and time, we have not given them a lot of attention. However, the State is now indicating that some of these standards may appear on the ILEARN assessments for grades 4 and 6 (click here to view ILEARN Blueprints). This, and a continuing push to develop our students' digital fluency skills, has brought the CS Standards back to the forefront.

Use the links below to dive into the CS Standards, as well as the Digital Citizenship Instructional Scope and Sequence and the Digital Fluency Skills Scope and Sequence that has been created for South Harrison. The point of this exploration is to think about how all of these concepts and skills can be interwoven into our already curriculum-packed classrooms.

*The Digital Citizenship Instructional Scope and Sequence was created using the guidance from Common Sense Media and the CS Standards, and goes from K-12.

**The Digital Fluency Skills Scope and Sequence is an evolving document and goes from K-6.

Differentiating Instruction - One Size Does NOT Fit All

Every teacher must differentiate instruction in the classroom in order to meet the needs of each student. No two students enter a classroom with identical abilities, experiences, and needs. Learning style, language proficiency, background knowledge, readiness to learn, and other factors can vary widely within a single class group.

Regardless of their individual differences, however, students are expected to master the same concepts, principles, and skills. Helping all students succeed in their learning is an enormous challenge that requires innovative thinking.

This solo mission will provide you with information, tools, and resources that you can use to address the needs of your students and assist you in planning for differentiated instruction.

Click here to begin.
Enter this PIN when prompted: ZXVNRXP
Click "Go".
Add your name.
Begin learning about differentiation by selecting the Journey star (in the green circle) and moving through the steps.
Be sure to log out of Recap when you complete this mission.

Click here to check out additional resources on the SHeLF.

English Language Learner Information and Best Practices

Whether you are a teacher who has had English Language Learners (ELLs) in your classroom or not, this mission will provide you with information, tools, and resources that you can use to address the needs of these students.

Click here to begin.
Enter this PIN when prompted: CAUKPED
Click "Go".
Add your name.
Begin learning by selecting the Journey star (in the green circle) and moving through the steps.
Be sure to log out of Recap when you complete this mission.

More ELL resources can be found on the SHeLF.

Exploring Chrome Apps & Extensions

There are many apps and extensions that can be used in conjunction with the Chrome browser to increase productivity, organization, and learning. Knowing which apps and extensions are the most useful to student learning can be a bit daunting.

For this solo mission, teachers will explore Chrome apps and extensions of their own choosing in an effort to select the ones that they will use in their classrooms this school year. The resources linked below are intended to assist teachers in this process.

As part of this mission, teachers are asked to complete the Chrome Apps & Extensions Exploration Form for each app/extension they find valuable so that their findings can be shared with others.

Exploring iPad Apps

There are so many iPad apps out there that teachers can get bogged down trying to decide which are valuable to use in the classroom and which should be avoided. Often, teachers are not given a lot of time to explore various apps and think about how they could use the apps to further their students' engagement and learning.

For this solo mission, teachers will explore various iPad apps of their choosing in an effort to select the ones that they will use in their classrooms this school year. The resources linked below are intended to assist teachers in this process.

As part of this mission, teachers are asked to complete the iPad Apps Exploration Form for each app they find valuable so that their findings can be shared with others.

Explore Math Snacks

Students learn math in many different ways. So, having several tools and resources available to them is a great way of improving the odds that students will learn, understand, and internalize the math concepts being taught. Math Snacks provides a series of activities that teachers can use with the curriculum to reteach and reinforce student learning. The game activities will also push students to apply what they have learned in a fun way.

Math Snacks is targeted for grades 4-8, but could be utilized by other grades as a reinforcement tool, a remediation tool, or an enrichment tool. Visit the Math Snacks website to learn more.

Kahoot or Quizizz?

Kahoot and Quizizz are two great tools for engaging students and collecting valuable formative assessments. Everyone probably has his/her preferred tool. If you have not used both of these, however, check out this Journey to learn more.

Click here to begin.
Enter this PIN when prompted: ABZKAFD
Click "Go".
Add your name.
Begin learning about Kahoot and Quizizz by selecting the Journey star (in the green circle) and moving through the steps.
Be sure to log out of Recap when you complete this mission.

As part of this mission, teachers may wish to explore the libraries to find resources or spend some time making their own to use.

Learn Adobe Spark

Adobe Spark is a 3-in-1 digital tool that provides teachers and students with the ability to share in creative ways with an audience beyond the classroom. I hope that this session "sparks" a desire to use Adobe Spark in your classroom.

Click here to begin.
Enter this PIN when prompted: RNGCCBW
Click "Go".
Add your name.
Begin learning about Adobe Spark by selecting the Journey star (in the green circle) and moving through the steps.
Be sure to log out of Recap when you complete this mission.

Additional resources on Adobe Spark can be found on the SHeLF.

*Adobe Spark used to be limited to students who were 13 or older. Recent changes will allow younger students to access it through its Adobe Spark for Education platform. I have asked Mr. Miller to look into this so that all students at SHCSC could use this valuable tool.

Learn ClassDojo

Many of you may already use ClassDojo to monitor student behaviors and to communicate with parents. ClassDojo added some new features at the beginning of the 2017-2018 school year and is planning on releasing even more features soon (click here to learn more). So, if you are new to ClassDojo or would like to use it more fully, check out this Journey.

Click here to begin.
Enter this PIN when prompted: FSZJUHS
Click "Go".
Add your name.
Begin learning about ClassDojo by selecting the Journey star (in the green circle) and moving through the steps.
Be sure to log out of Recap when you complete this mission.

Additional resources for ClassDojo can be found on the SHeLF and at the ClassDojo Helpdesk.

FYI: ClassDojo announced that it is coming out with a new feature called Portfolios that will allow teachers to push assignments to students and students to complete work digitally. The feature has not been released yet, so stay tuned for more info.

Learn CommonLit

CommonLit is a great resource for leveled-texts on a variety of subjects for grades 3-12. Its built-in quiz feature is helpful to hold students accountable and to assess comprehension. CommonLit's lesson plan feature is also useful.

Click here to begin.
Enter this PIN when prompted: BVNUDHL
Click "Go".
Add your name.
Begin learning about CommonLit by selecting the Journey star (in the green circle) and moving through the steps.
Be sure to log out of Recap when you complete this mission.

Additional resources for CommonLit can be found on the SHeLF.

If you like what you see with CommonLit, be sure to check out the Learn ReadWorks Digital mission as well.

Learn EDpuzzle

We all like using educational videos in our classrooms. What if there was a tool that would allow you to easily trim videos, embed comments and questions into the videos, and quickly share the videos with your students? A tool that changed the role of the student from passive viewer to active participant? EDpuzzle can do all of this and more.

Click here to begin.
Enter this PIN when prompted: RRZAHQU
Click "Go".
Add your name.
Begin learning about EDpuzzle by selecting the Journey star (in the green circle) and moving through the steps.
Be sure to log out of Recap when you complete this mission.

Click here for a print tutorial on EDpuzzle.

Learn Edulastic

We all know that testing is not going away and that we are shifting to more online testing. Edulastic is a tool that allows teachers to build online assignments/assessments that can incorporate all sorts of tech-enhanced questions. In addition to building your own, Edulastic has a library of questions, assignments, and assessments from which teachers can pull. It is a great tool to provide practice for our students.

Click here to begin.
Enter this PIN when prompted: AUXOSOT
Click "Go".
Add your name.
Begin learning about Edulastic by selecting the Journey star (in the green circle) and moving through the steps.
Be sure to log out of Recap when you complete this mission.

Click here for a print tutorial on Edulastic.

Learn Flipgrid

Flipgrid is a tool that can be used in the classroom to ensure that every student has a voice that is heard. Flipgrid allows teachers to ask a question, provide resources, and collect video responses. It is very easy to use and questions can be set up in minutes.

Click here to begin.
Enter this PIN when prompted: NNNNINH
Click "Go".
Add your name.
Begin learning about Flipgrid by selecting the Journey star (in the green circle) and moving through the steps.
Be sure to log out of Recap when you complete this mission.

Additional resources for Flipgrid can be found on the SHeLF.

Update: In June, Flipgrid announced that it had been purchased by Microsoft, and that it was now going to be totally free for educators - unlocking all its features. This is great news for Flipgrid users!

Learn Google Classroom

Have you not utilized the power of Google Classroom yet? Then, this might be the year for you. Check out this mission to learn how Google Classroom can make your classroom run more smoothly.

Click here to begin.
Enter this PIN when prompted: NZKMPZC
Click "Go".
Add your name.
Begin learning by selecting the Journey star (in the green circle) and moving through the steps.
Be sure to log out of Recap when you complete this mission.

More Google Classroom resources can be found on the SHeLF.

Learn Google Forms

We have all completed a Google Form, and many of us use Forms in our classrooms. If you are not familiar with Google Forms or would like to learn how to use them more creatively, complete the steps below.

Click here to begin.
Enter this PIN when prompted: MUUYJON
Click "Go".
Add your name.
Begin learning by selecting the Journey star (in the green circle) and moving through the steps.
Be sure to log out of Recap when you complete this mission.

More Google Forms resources can be found on the SHeLF.

Update: At the end of June, Google announced that you will now be able to edit the font style and color theme of you Google Forms. Click here to learn more.

Learn Google Sites

Google Sites is a tool that teachers and students can use to create websites of their own. For teachers, it is a great way to create a digital vehicle for sharing information with your students and parents. For students, it is a tool that can be used to creatively demonstrate and share what they have learned.

Click here to begin.
Enter this PIN when prompted: NHILIGZ
Click "Go".
Add your name.
Begin learning about Google Sites by selecting the Journey star (in the green circle) and moving through the steps.
Be sure to log out of Recap when you complete this mission.

Creating a useful teacher website takes time. Feel free to keep working on a site that you want to use with your students this year.

Learn HyperDocs

A HyperDoc is an innovative means of creating a complete digital lesson and then putting the lesson into the hands of your students. A HyperDoc demands the students to drive their own learning by making them think critically, communicate and collaborate with one another, and to express what they have learned creatively. It requires the students to build resilience and shifts the teacher's role from the "sage on the stage" to the "guide on the side".

Click here to begin.
Enter this PIN when prompted: QQWKYOV
Click "Go".
Add your name.
Begin learning about HyperDocs by selecting the Journey star (in the green circle) and moving through the steps.
Be sure to log out of Recap when you complete this mission.

Click here to access additional resources on HyperDocs on the SHeLF.

Learn Padlet

Padlet is a digital bulletin board tool that can be used at any level and with any device. While the basic account limits users to only four Padlets, it is still a tool that I would recommend to teachers and students to creatively show what they know to a wider, more authentic audience.

Click here to begin.
Enter this PIN when prompted: BQMVKIA
Click "Go".
Add your name.
Begin learning about Padlet by selecting the Journey star (in the green circle) and moving through the steps.
Be sure to log out of Recap when you complete this mission.

Click here to access the Padlet YouTube Channel for even more resources.

Learn ReadWorks Digital

ReadWorks Digital is a great site that is chocked-full of reading resources for students of all ages and interests. With its built-in quiz feature, ReadWorks Digital provides teachers with another tool to engage students in reading while tracking their progress.

Click here to begin.
Enter this PIN when prompted: QMONVOF
Click "Go".
Add your name.
Begin learning about ReadWorks Digital by selecting the Journey star (in the green circle) and moving through the steps.
Be sure to log out of Recap when you complete this mission.

Additional resources on ReadWorks Digital can be found on the SHeLF.

If you like ReadWorks Digital, you might also want to check out the Learn CommonLit mission.

Learn Recap

Recap is a question-driven discussion/chat tool that allows teachers to create Journeys that provide students with the steps and resources necessary to come up with informed responses. In this session, you will use Recap to learn about Recap.

Click here to begin.
Enter this PIN when prompted: PZRUEUF
Click "Go".
Add your name.
Begin learning about Recap by selecting the Journey star (in the green circle) and moving through the steps.
Be sure to log out of Recap when you complete this mission.

Print tutorials for Recap can be found on the SHeLF.

Learn Screencasting

Screencasting is the ability to capture and record your device's screen. Teachers can use screencasting to record lectures, tutorials, directions/instructions, lessons for when they are out of the classroom, etc. Students can also create screencasts to share what they understand and have learned.

While creating the screencasts does take time and preparation, the screencasts can be used over and over again, and may even save instructional time. While there are numerous tools that can be used, this mission will focus on the following: Screencastify, Loom, and Screen Recorder (iPad tool).

Click here to begin.
Enter this PIN when prompted: KLGXCUF
Click "Go".
Add your name.
Begin learning about screencasting by selecting the Journey star (in the green circle) and moving through the steps.
Be sure to log out of Recap when you complete this mission.

Print tutorials on each of these screencasting tools can also be found on the SHeLF.

If you want another option, check out this 1-hour online course on Screencastify created by Matt Miller.

Learn Seesaw

Seesaw is a great tool for teachers looking to provide their students with a way to document and share their learning. The interface is easy to use no matter the grade level of the students. In addition, Seesaw provides an easy means of connecting and communicating with families - a crucial component in today's world.

Click here to begin.
Enter this PIN when prompted: BTSAPFB
Click "Go".
Add your name.
Begin learning about Seesaw by selecting the Journey star (in the green circle) and moving through the steps.
Be sure to log out of Recap when you complete this mission.

Additional resources for Seesaw can be found on the SHeLF and at the Seesaw Help Center.

Learn Symbaloo Learning Paths

You may have heard about Symbaloo. Many of us use it as a place to store links to websites that we frequently visit. Think of it as a bookmarking tool that is available to you even when you are not on your own device (learn more here). However, there is another tool that Symbaloo offers. It is called Symbaloo Learning Paths.

With Learning Paths, teachers can create instructional activities embedded in a game-board-like environment. Students can then independently work their way through the activities at a pace that meets their individual needs. Teachers can assign Learning Paths via a code or through Google Classroom and can track student progress. In addition, the Marketplace is where teachers can grab Learning Paths that other teachers have created.

Want to learn more? Then take some time to walk through the Symbaloo Learning Paths Manual. If this looks like a tool that you could use, then you might want to check out the Marketplace or begin building your own Learning Paths.

What's New with ILEARN?

We knew it was coming, and now it is finally here - the new state test - ILEARN. ILEARN (Indiana's Learning and Readiness Network) will be used by students in grades 3-8 and biology (US History is optional). Students in grade 10 will continue to take ISTEP+ ELA and MTH for one more year.

In this solo mission, teachers will have a chance to learn a bit more about ILEARN. Use the resources below to investigate.

What's New with ILEARN? - print or video
ILEARN's Educator Brochure
ILEARN Test Design
- View test blueprints, item specifications, and access training modules on these and performance tasks designed by the Indiana DOE.
Accessibility and Accommodations Guide
Calculator Information
- ILEARN Calculator Policy
- Online Calculator Information
Check out the testing portal.

Click here to access all resources on this year's state testing via the SHeLF (including information on IREAD-3 and I AM - Indiana's Alternate Measure).

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