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How Can You Help Your Child Navigate Social Media?
How Can You Help Your Child Navigate Social Media?
Today children have access to the entire world via the internet. They can use the tools available to make a positive or negative impact on themselves and others.
How can we ensure that our children are making good choices when online? While there are no guarantees, positive guidance from adults is key.
Check out these ideas from Common Sense Media and Digital-Parenting.com:
June 15, 2020
Wide Open School
Wide Open School (powered by Common Sense Media is an extensive source of ideas for learning. It is open to both educators and families.
This easy to navigate website provides many different types of learning tools, activities, and ideas to keep students active and learning while having fun.
Find resources for all types of learners and all ages. Content areas include reading, writing, math, science, the arts, English-Language Learners, Social-Emotional Learning and more!
Google Apps for Education
Google Apps for Education
June 1, 2020
Are you just getting started using Google for Education Applications?
Google Apps for Education is a complete suite of web-based tools to help you navigate your classroom, workflow, and more!
For an overview of the Google Apps for Education check out this video.
May 13, 2020
Who would have ever thought that this school year would be orchestrated by teachers, administrators, and families, from home, without any prior planning. It is more like the plot to a sci-fi movie instead of reality.
Now, after two months of implementation, we have learned an incredible amount of lessons.
One such lesson is how we are responding to the stress of an unprecedented situation. We may not think that we as well as are families are stressed, but we all are. The way stress manifests itself looks differently for individuals.
With more time at home, it would seem that our students would have more time to read and that they would embrace this opportunity. But, in reality, this is not happening. Why?
Check out this article about one father's perspective and what we can do to inspire our children to read.
Home Independent Studies Begin
Home Independent Studies Begin
March 16, 2020
Today teachers throughout our area and beyond prepare to embark on an entirely new method of teaching and learning, especially for our youngest elementary school students.
There are going to me MANY questions...but, first, take a deep breathe and relax. Everything will work out and we are here to help one another.
What works for me:
make a list~I like to organize my lists first by priority and importance and then by time/effort required. This way, I am sure to complete necessary items first and then spend time on the more involved tasks.
be practical~what can I realistically accomplish during a given time? I might want to create something from scratch, but is it really necessary? Why reinvent the wheel?
know the best resources to use and the best people to ask~everyone has their own strengths.
set a schedule~this is especially important when working at home because there are so many distractions. Set a schedule that includes breaks and set specific goals for each time slot. You will be surprised at how much you can accomplish.
know when to ask for help~no one can do everything themselves!
Low-Cost Internet and Affordable Computers .
March 10, 2020
Do you know that there are resources to help students and families get low-cost internet and affordable computers?
Check out the following to see qualification requirements:
No Camera Permission on Student Chromebooks? No Problem!
February 21, 2020 (updated March 2, 2020)
Flipgrid is a great tool to use in the classroom. It helps students create content, answer questions, and share ideas easily with videos. However, in many schools the cameras on student Chromebooks are disabled for safety and security reasons. However, this tool can be used safely and securely without the camera.
I like to use Flipgrid to showcase what students know and have them teach it to others. Instead of them recording a video of themselves, I have them create a screencast of the content or topic they are sharing. Next, they upload the screencast to my Flipgrid using my Flip Code. Once the screencast is uploaded they can then add their voice to explain their screencast.
The screencast can be created from a slide show or any other document. I like using a whiteboard app and have the students explain how they solve problems.
Screencastify is the screencast program I use; it works on Chromebooks and is already an approved extension on SWSD Student Chromebooks. Screencastify is easy to use and students can create original content to show what they have learned!
Flipgrid in the Classroom
Flipgrid in the Classroom
Happy Computer Science Week!
Here are a couple of resources you might like to use with your students:)
Celebrate Hour of Code™ with CS First's latest activity, Code Your Hero
Celebrate Hour of Code™ with CS First's latest activity, Code Your Hero
Join millions of teachers and students around the globe by doing a one-hour coding activity during CS Education Week this December 9-15
Computer science is a foundational subject in today’s world that will benefit students in any career path. It not only gives them room to flex their creativity but also equips them with the tools to tackle some of the world’s most pressing problems.
How computer science is used and applied in the real world is a crucial part of learning computer science. That is why we’re focusing on #CSforGood as the theme for the Hour of Code this year. We can help students understand some of the challenges that people around the world face and inspire them to think more deeply about the role computer science can play in creating a more equitable and sustainable world.
Teaching Financial Literacy
Teaching Financial Literacy
December 5, 2019
Teaching financial literacy to our students is more important than ever. This is a life-skill that is needs to be developed long before students have their own credit cards & can sign for their own loans!
Currently, the State of New Jersey requires Financial Literacy instruction in Middle & High School. Eventually it will most likely be required in Elementary School as well.
It is never to early to begin! Here are some resources that can help you begin.
The first link is to AAA Math. This site is very dry; no bells and whistles, but it is very effective in teaching the basic concepts of math. It has EVERY standard and skill taught from Kindergarten to Grade 12 and is a useful resource. In the money section the lessons begin with basic coin & coin value identification. Each subsequent lesson builds on the previous lesson and continues all the way through Consumer Math. It is a great resource for both remediation & enrichment.
The following 3 links are games.
The first is Peter Pig's Money Counter. It is recommended for kids ages 5-8. however, many of our students found it difficult because they did not know the basics well enough to count the coins. I would recommend this game for students AFTER using the Learn About Money resource above.
The second game is a puzzle game. Students put together puzzle pieces to complete the image of paper money. It is recommended for kids ages 3-6. It also has some fun facts about money for kids to read.
The last resource I would like to share with you is My Classroom Economy. This involves some preparation on the teacher's part but can be used in a classroom to teach and practice many standards and skills as well as standards & skills in other content areas.
New Features in Google Classroom
New Features in Google Classroom
October 14, 2019
Google Classroom continues to improve with new features!
New features recently introduced:
Student Plagiarism Checker~When you create an assignment in Google Classroom, you can activate a plagiarism checker were STUDENTS can check their writing for possible plagiarism. Students can run the check up to three times while working on an assignment. When creating an assignment, you must choose to activate this feature by checking the Originality Reports box.
Gradebook~ You can now grade an assignment directly in Classroom. NO add-ons or extensions necessary. You can comment, return an assignment to be revised by the student, or just grade it. Not yet available, but I am on a waiting list for beta testing to test migration from Google Gradebook to OnCourse. (there are a couple of student management systems that are already connected, but Oncourse is not one of them. Hoping it comes soon.
Rubrics~ you can now create your rubric right in the new assignment when you create it. Students can see the rubric as they work, if you choose. This does not require add=ons like Goobric and Doctopus.
Random Student Selector~ you can now use the mobile Classroom App on your phone to randomly select students. NO need to upload or enter student names! All student names enrolled in a given class are automatically available. Beyond easy:)
Kindness Matters
Kindness Matters
September 17, 2019
By nature, young children are self-centered. They don't have the range of experiences that help make them understand that another person's feelings need to be taken into consideration. That is why teaching kindness is so important.
PBS Learning Media has some wonderful resources to teach children of all ages about kindness and thinking about the feelings of other people as well as dealing with their own feelings.
Check out PBS Kids Teaching Kindness in the classroom.
My Classroom Economy
My Classroom Economy
August 22, 2019
Financial Literacy is an essential skill for students to learn in order to be able to navigate in the world after leaving school, but in reality, how many students are really prepared to take on their own financial responsibilities? It is never too early to introduce financial literacy to students.
My Classroom Economy makes introducing financial topics easy at ANY AGE!
This is NOT a behavior management system, but a real-life system to teach students the value of money, how it can be earned, and how to manage money to be able to live a desired life-style.
My Classroom Economy provides the framework to introduce and practice basic financial skills beginning in Kindergarten through grade 12. The resources are provided, free of charge from The Vanguard Group employee volunteers. The resources can be used as is, or modified to meet the needs of your students. In addition, the resources can be used as a basis for individualized enrichment or remediation learning as needed.
The possibilities are endless! So, as you are preparing for a new school year, this is something that you will want to check out.
Google Forms: Not just for quizzes!
Google Forms: Not just for quizzes!
August 7, 2019
Do you use Google Forms?
In the classroom Forms is great as an assessment tool, however it can be much more!
It is August and we a preparing for a new school year. I use Forms to keep myself organized and track various activities:
Professional Development Hours: I have created a Form to record PD I attend. The form includes all items that are required for end-of-year summative reporting. This way I don't have to scramble trying to remember everything that I participated in at the last minute!
Student/Class Issues: This Form tracks information I need to keep fresh in my mind or refer to later. It contains student name and a place for the issue. These are reminders for me such as bathroom or nurse visits, academic concerns or behavioral issues. Because I have so many students, and I communicate frequently with teachers & parents this helps me keep everything straight!
To make using the Forms each I use Google Keep-I keep a note for the links and use them throughout the day.
Social Media
Social Media
July 25, 2019
Social Media is part of everyday life. Our students and families are exposed to it and it is our job to teach them how to keep themselves safe and learn to protect their privacy.
Check out some good tips from Common Sense Education:
Protecting Student Privacy on Social Media: Do's & Don'ts for Teachers
Imagination & Learning go hand in hand. Learning brings change, and change is good!
So Many Ideas
So Many Ideas
June 26, 2019
Summertime is for relaxing. But, even as I am enjoying the freedom of a flexible schedule I can't help but think about September and the possibilities it brings for my classroom.
Originally my purpose in creating the blog and website was to share tools for integrating technology into every content area. However, more and more I find myself expanding that goal to include adding resources for teaching topics such as diversity, social justice and tolerance.
I have found that my original idea of using STEAM as a framework for topics has expanded. Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math are still the focus, but I need another heading as well to include SEL.
As I expand the topics covered in this site, I will be changing some of the navigation features and adding new things. The best part of using technology is that the natural evolution of communication and learning can be continually updated easily and in a timely fashion. No need to wait for the next printing of a book!
September brings a clean slate to our classrooms.
Welcome Summer!
Welcome Summer!
June 16, 2019
Four more days of school! I always find these last days bittersweet. The promise of vacation is calling, but there is also sadness that comes with an ending.
I have to say that one of the things I love about teaching is flow of the school-year calendar. Not because we have the summer off from school, but the inspiration it brings.
The potential of September; a new slate, a beginning that is totally new.
Before I began teaching I worked in the corporate world. In corporate America there is a new beginning with a new fiscal year. But it differs so much from the beginning of a new school year. A new fiscal year is like New Year's Day~everyone is so excited about the New Year; preparing and anticipating the excitement with New Year's Eve parties. Then we wake up on January 1 and nothing really changes. The days just continue to move on as before.
September is completely different. We begin with everything new~new students, new assignments, new goals. We have the opportunity to completely overhaul what we do! We can take what worked well and continue to improve upon it. We can also consider what did not work and either eliminate it or revise it.
So, enjoy the summer, but don't forget that with September we all get to turn a new page!
Inbox Organization
Inbox Organization
June 6, 2019
Now is the perfect time, if you are a teacher, to think about organizing your email, especially your inbox. With the school year ending, you can prepare to start in September with an empty inbox. (Yes, I am obsessive about this-I always end my day with an empty inbox!)
Here are some tips to get started:
Create folders that will organize your emails by topic. Everyone will have different labels for the folders, so you need to think about what will make sense for you.
When creating the labels, remember that they will be organized alphabetically. You can have them sort in the most efficient manner for you by applying general alphabetizing rules. For example, if you begin a label with a number the labels will then be listed numerically. (I begin my labels with the school year)
Try to move your emails into the appropriate folders as soon as possible. This will make finding them later much easier.
For items that need attention or responses you can put them in a "needs action" folder or use the "snooze" option in G-Mail.
By taking these steps you can eliminate clutter from your inbox, and never miss a deadline for a response. It may take some time initially to get started, but in the end you will definitely enjoy the results!
April 29, 2019
the Daily STEM is incredible!
Chris Woods is the man behind the Daily STEM and is the source of ideas, resources and inspiration. His website is available at dailySTEM
He has recently introduced the Daily STEM "newspaper" for students. Since Mr. Woods teaches high school students, the newsletter itself may not be appropriate for all of our students, but I know that some of the content will be interesting to our older students. Also, the newsletter will give you ideas that you CAN use in your classroom!
the Daily STEM
the Daily STEM
Check Out this Awesome Resource for Students!
Google Keep
Google Keep
One of my favorite tools!
April 2, 2019
Google Keep is a simple tool that can help you stay organized and reduce clutter in your files. Google Keep is a note taking system that is similar to using sticky notes.
I like to teach my students to use Google Keep when they are doing research and need to cite their sources. Google Keep can be accessed easily from Google Docs so keeping a running list of sources is easy.
March 14, 2019
Students learn best by doing. Learning centers create hands on learning but can be time consuming to make. Also, many of the activities for learning centers involve small pieces of paper, lots of time at the copy machine, and laminating materials.
Now imagine a virtual learning center where students use their devices-computers, Chromebooks, and tablets to work. In addition, the virtual learning center can be used for student collaboration. Students can ask other students for help and share ideas. Same content but different delivery.
Check out Classkick
March 8, 2019
Welcome to Tech Tips for Teaching & Learning Blog.
I hope that you enjoy your visit. My purpose in creating this blog is to share technology integration ideas and programs to help you add tech to your content area classes. If you know me, you know that I love to try new apps, sites, and programs and share ideas. My problem is that later when I am asked about something I end up struggling to remember exactly what I was thinking when I shared the idea. Hopefully, through this blog I can create an easy, practical resource for you to find tools to make your lesson planning and teaching easier!
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