Yeah...I know, it's been a while. I want to give a whole bunch of (good) excuses but they're only excuses. Over the last couple months I began REALLY using Book Creator on the iPads to share pre-made books to my students as well as using them as Reading Journals during our Reader's Workshop. Coming in January...I am going to add a little extra to their RW Journals. We have been using text boxes as sticky notes in their journals (since I despise sticky notes) and some have been using the Sticky App to write down all of their thoughts while reading and then transferring to their journals. However, now, students will be given these icons to use when they reach specific parts in their books. This idea is not my idea, but another teacher here in our district that she shared with me. Many times as kids and adults, we can sometimes forget why we write things down and then it becomes irrelevant to us. I am hoping that these icons will help them reflect on "why" they wrote down specific thoughts or reminders when they discuss their read with their partner(s). I am also hoping that we can use these to motivate students to find these specific parts of the story in their readings to encourage more thoughts and for reading.
Tuesday, December 29, 2015
It's been a while...
Yeah...I know, it's been a while. I want to give a whole bunch of (good) excuses but they're only excuses. Over the last couple months I began REALLY using Book Creator on the iPads to share pre-made books to my students as well as using them as Reading Journals during our Reader's Workshop. Coming in January...I am going to add a little extra to their RW Journals. We have been using text boxes as sticky notes in their journals (since I despise sticky notes) and some have been using the Sticky App to write down all of their thoughts while reading and then transferring to their journals. However, now, students will be given these icons to use when they reach specific parts in their books. This idea is not my idea, but another teacher here in our district that she shared with me. Many times as kids and adults, we can sometimes forget why we write things down and then it becomes irrelevant to us. I am hoping that these icons will help them reflect on "why" they wrote down specific thoughts or reminders when they discuss their read with their partner(s). I am also hoping that we can use these to motivate students to find these specific parts of the story in their readings to encourage more thoughts and for reading.
Friday, August 28, 2015
First Week.
I have no words except...whew! First week down and still so much to do with getting the iPads set up the way I want them. We downloaded all the apps we need for now, we started using Xtramath.org (which is an incredible way to get the kids practicing Fact Fluency), we created two journals in Book Creator and explored...A LOT. Next week, I need to start setting up their Google Classroom Accounts. This process is so tedious that you forget how long it took to get the kids ready to work last years beginning of the year. Again, whew!
The largest set back is the new update with Pic Collage:( They raised the age limit to 12+ and now we cannot download with the restrictions we have for the elementary grades through the district. Pic Collage was used for everything, every subject, every day, finding something as easy as it was will be a challenge.
District Policy is that we must teach Digital Citizenship to our students before we are allowed to handout the iPads. You better believe that I did that the 2nd day of school. I feel like the Cookie Monster when it comes to technology "iPads" (in my best C.M. voice). We watched this catchy music video, then each student created a poster (like the one to the right) that represented each of the topics sang in the video.
I am in love with the way I plan on using Book Creator to create student journals, such as Reader's Workshop and Science Journals. I love that the students can record themselves reading or reflecting on read alouds and insert them into the journal. Most of all, I love that they WANT to reflect and write in their journals.
Next week will be another tedious week of trying to remember that I have to be SUPER patient with how sloooooowwww learning technology for "learning" can be for students who are so used to "playing."
The largest set back is the new update with Pic Collage:( They raised the age limit to 12+ and now we cannot download with the restrictions we have for the elementary grades through the district. Pic Collage was used for everything, every subject, every day, finding something as easy as it was will be a challenge.
District Policy is that we must teach Digital Citizenship to our students before we are allowed to handout the iPads. You better believe that I did that the 2nd day of school. I feel like the Cookie Monster when it comes to technology "iPads" (in my best C.M. voice). We watched this catchy music video, then each student created a poster (like the one to the right) that represented each of the topics sang in the video.
I am in love with the way I plan on using Book Creator to create student journals, such as Reader's Workshop and Science Journals. I love that the students can record themselves reading or reflecting on read alouds and insert them into the journal. Most of all, I love that they WANT to reflect and write in their journals.
Next week will be another tedious week of trying to remember that I have to be SUPER patient with how sloooooowwww learning technology for "learning" can be for students who are so used to "playing."
Thursday, August 20, 2015
#overload #beunstoppable #ohbutdarlingwhatifyoufly
It's been a while since I've posted, but let me ask you...how many of you have been non-stop in your classroom lately?! Oh my gosh, I am exhausted. Though I cannot lie that I am always so happy to set up my classroom at the beginning of the year.
This year my best friend Krystle and I decided that this was the year to improve ourselves by applying and beginning our Master's Degree...as well as move grade levels (me), move from teacher to NCLB (Krystle), becoming CTC and remaining Webmaster...what in the world were we thinking?! #crazy
Even though we are both not teachers anymore, we are still both going through very similar issues. Dun, dun, dun...INVENTORY. This is the least fun part of our new roles as NCLB and CTC. Thankfully, we are smart enough to have plans in making that part better and more efficient for the future.
As our campus' Campus Technology Coordinator (CTC), I help our campus and teachers meet their technology needs. This includes troubleshooting technology problems, purchasing new technology, and providing professional development so our teachers will feel more confident while using that technology in the classroom.
After discussing technology with my grade level this past week, I learned that they do not use the technology they have not because they do not want to or they are scared, but because they do not know how. Therefore, my goal this year is to help TEACH them to become comfortable with simple technology such as Google Drive. There is so much that Google Drive can do, there is no reason why collaborating with teachers while lesson planning has to be difficult. I have many dreams for this campus as well as for myself in the educational technology world and we can only get better.
This year my best friend Krystle and I decided that this was the year to improve ourselves by applying and beginning our Master's Degree...as well as move grade levels (me), move from teacher to NCLB (Krystle), becoming CTC and remaining Webmaster...what in the world were we thinking?! #crazy
Even though we are both not teachers anymore, we are still both going through very similar issues. Dun, dun, dun...INVENTORY. This is the least fun part of our new roles as NCLB and CTC. Thankfully, we are smart enough to have plans in making that part better and more efficient for the future.
As our campus' Campus Technology Coordinator (CTC), I help our campus and teachers meet their technology needs. This includes troubleshooting technology problems, purchasing new technology, and providing professional development so our teachers will feel more confident while using that technology in the classroom.
After discussing technology with my grade level this past week, I learned that they do not use the technology they have not because they do not want to or they are scared, but because they do not know how. Therefore, my goal this year is to help TEACH them to become comfortable with simple technology such as Google Drive. There is so much that Google Drive can do, there is no reason why collaborating with teachers while lesson planning has to be difficult. I have many dreams for this campus as well as for myself in the educational technology world and we can only get better.
Thursday, August 6, 2015
Instagram Dojo?
Dojo has another surprise for us! We are able to create groups when our students are working in teams or just in table groups, and now you can post pictures in a photo stream, similar to Instagram. Teachers have to sign up to join the "waiting list" to be beta testers for this new feature on the website. Based on what this article says, the teacher will be able to post pictures and parents will be able to "like" the photos. Yet another reason to try out Classroom Dojo.
Classroom Dojo Updates
However, with my future 3rd graders and the growing bullying in social media, I want to take the opportunity to TEACH my students HOW to post and respect social media. Therefore, I will continue my goal of having a classroom Instagram. Here students will have to learn how to take and post appropriate pictures, add an appropriate caption (while practicing sentence structure and grammar), as well as leaving appropriate comments on other photos posted.
Classroom Dojo Updates
However, with my future 3rd graders and the growing bullying in social media, I want to take the opportunity to TEACH my students HOW to post and respect social media. Therefore, I will continue my goal of having a classroom Instagram. Here students will have to learn how to take and post appropriate pictures, add an appropriate caption (while practicing sentence structure and grammar), as well as leaving appropriate comments on other photos posted.
Friday, July 31, 2015
App Classroom Management for Devices
Kids are smart. Bottom line. They know how to get around on all kinds of devices, even if it's their first time. One thing that I have learned is that they want to be on all the apps, all at once. Including the apps that all they do is draw or color or just be on the camera to take selfies.
I tried different ways of managing what apps they were able to get on during morning arrival and after activities have been completed (depending on the subject we are currently working in). But as all teachers know, some students are audio learners and most are visual learners. Therefore, just saying "you can get on ___," did not work as well as you think it could. I finally had a couple of my parent volunteers make an iPad Poster with velcro and printed out pictures (on card stock then laminated) of all the apps that we have available on our iPads. I change out the apps based on what we are learning or doing in class each day. The students then do not argue with me because the poster says exactly what they can be on. Score. The kids love it because eventually it became yet another responsibility of my classroom helper.
I tried different ways of managing what apps they were able to get on during morning arrival and after activities have been completed (depending on the subject we are currently working in). But as all teachers know, some students are audio learners and most are visual learners. Therefore, just saying "you can get on ___," did not work as well as you think it could. I finally had a couple of my parent volunteers make an iPad Poster with velcro and printed out pictures (on card stock then laminated) of all the apps that we have available on our iPads. I change out the apps based on what we are learning or doing in class each day. The students then do not argue with me because the poster says exactly what they can be on. Score. The kids love it because eventually it became yet another responsibility of my classroom helper.
Tuesday, July 28, 2015
End of July?! Already?!
Getting ready to go back to school is so difficult especially because I enjoy my Netflix tv series and is so hard to getting used to not watching them ALL day long. I've been at my school the last two days because I like to get my classroom ready 2 1/2 weeks in advanced so I can be extremely lazy the last week before I go back. My productivity does not end there, I have also been preparing my Meet the Teacher night "stuff."
Last school year, I started using Remind 101. It has been out for a while but it took me a while to just jump into it because of the excuse "I send a newsletter home every week with information!" However, parents are more apt to reading text message than the pretty newsletter in the folder, which is in the backpack, which is where ever their child left it when they got home...What I can say about using Remind 101, is that it is AMAZING. I love being able to send out little pieces of information to the parents throughout the day. I sen out picture day reminders, field trip reminders, Red Ribbon Week theme reminders, etc...but what I also found useful was when we would have "lock down" drills/real ones, it was helpful to let them know what was going on as a whole. There are new features with a May update that allows the parents to send a direct message to the teacher (i.e. text message). Another way of communication for the 21st century human.
Behavior Management could not get any more simple than using Classroom Dojo. How many of you use the ticket system? the star system? the sticker system? It's exhausting and tedious. This app has you set up your class with each of your students and track their behavior using a point system. You can also set up how students get points such as they turned in their homework on time, had their materials ready to go, kept their hands and feet to themselves, etc... You can also set up how students lose points (if that's something you're into). In my classroom, I made a "Reward" poster for the students after they have reached so many points for the month. Classroom Dojo's most recent update allows you to set up "Groups" for your group projects or just your table groups. How awesome, right?! I cannot wait to get the groups going. Your parents also sign up using your classroom code and can track their child's behavior. Another feature, like Remind 101, is that parents can send direct messages to the teacher. #21stcenturyhuman Classroom Dojo also allows you send pictures to your parents, which is a great way to send positive behavior in action for your parents to enjoy and even get a little teary-eyed while they are at work (it has happened).
I have provided you a link to my "Meet the Teacher" night flyer for parents to download both apps using QR codes and will also add the class codes once they are set up. The QR codes are for both iPhone and Android phones. Enjoy!
Last school year, I started using Remind 101. It has been out for a while but it took me a while to just jump into it because of the excuse "I send a newsletter home every week with information!" However, parents are more apt to reading text message than the pretty newsletter in the folder, which is in the backpack, which is where ever their child left it when they got home...What I can say about using Remind 101, is that it is AMAZING. I love being able to send out little pieces of information to the parents throughout the day. I sen out picture day reminders, field trip reminders, Red Ribbon Week theme reminders, etc...but what I also found useful was when we would have "lock down" drills/real ones, it was helpful to let them know what was going on as a whole. There are new features with a May update that allows the parents to send a direct message to the teacher (i.e. text message). Another way of communication for the 21st century human.
Behavior Management could not get any more simple than using Classroom Dojo. How many of you use the ticket system? the star system? the sticker system? It's exhausting and tedious. This app has you set up your class with each of your students and track their behavior using a point system. You can also set up how students get points such as they turned in their homework on time, had their materials ready to go, kept their hands and feet to themselves, etc... You can also set up how students lose points (if that's something you're into). In my classroom, I made a "Reward" poster for the students after they have reached so many points for the month. Classroom Dojo's most recent update allows you to set up "Groups" for your group projects or just your table groups. How awesome, right?! I cannot wait to get the groups going. Your parents also sign up using your classroom code and can track their child's behavior. Another feature, like Remind 101, is that parents can send direct messages to the teacher. #21stcenturyhuman Classroom Dojo also allows you send pictures to your parents, which is a great way to send positive behavior in action for your parents to enjoy and even get a little teary-eyed while they are at work (it has happened).
I have provided you a link to my "Meet the Teacher" night flyer for parents to download both apps using QR codes and will also add the class codes once they are set up. The QR codes are for both iPhone and Android phones. Enjoy!
Sunday, July 26, 2015
iPad User Agreement
Every year I say I am going to do one of these but I never do or just do an "in-class" student agreement. So this year...finally done. You can download it, copy it, edit it, use it:) (I will also be uploading a Parent iPad User Agreement soon.)
iPad Palooza 2015 ATX
This past June I was given the opportunity, again, to attend iPad Palooza in ATX. Sometimes when you go to conferences you do not know how amazing it will be or how "ugh" it will be. This year, was incredible! I was able to really expand my thoughts for the classroom and was insprired by so many people there who started off small with technology in the classroom to those that did crazy amazing things with their students. So I have a few goals this year for myself and my classroom. 
Goal 1: To keep up with this blog. Blogging is a great way to put all your ideas and thoughts in one spot for yourself and others. Its a great networking area for a specific topic or just to peruse (or stalk) other great educators.
Goal 2: ReTweet. I have tried Twitter nurmeous times but I still do not get the point. So this year my goal is to at least stalk people and retweet great things.
Goal 3: Flipped/Blended Classroom. I really want to attempt to get into this way of learning. It would create so much time in my classroom to really delve into the skills and give the students the opportunity to show me what they have rather than grading a piece of paper subjectively.
Goal 4: Get my parents involved with our classroom through technology. I love to use Classroom Dojo for Behavior Management. This app also allows parents to login and see how their child did for the day/week/month. I also use Remind 101, which allows me to send mass reminders or information to parents-it helps with last minute things that I forget to print out. Last year, only a few of my parents downloaded the app, this year, it will be a requirement because let's face it...they all have smartphones. 
Goal 4.1: Instagram my classroom. I want to have an Instagram account and have one student "take over" for the day. Not everyday, but maybe twice a week. Plus, it'll be a great way for their parents to be involved with what is happening on the day to day.
Goal 5: Collaborate. I want myself to collaborate more with teachers outside my own campus but also for my students to collaborate with other students. We will start with collaborating on campus then venture out to finding new students within the district.
Whew. 5.1 goals. I can handle that. I will keep you update on how they go but you will be able to see if I keep up with at least one of my goals;)
New Year. New Chapter.
This year will bring many new adventures to my life. I have been in 2nd grade for the past three years and am now moving onto to the bigger leagues...dun dun dun...3rd grade! My new team and iPads are probably the most comforting part in it all. It is truly exciting to see what my students will be able to do with them in comparison to last year.
This year also brings in the start of pursuing my Master's degree in Educational Technology Leadership. Whoa, a bit of a tongue twister. I had to read a few hundred times before I did not have to glance at it to get it right. I've fallen in LOVE with technology in the classroom even more so than I thought I would before I was even in the classroom. I hope to get enough experience with providing Prof. Dev. and understanding people (introvert but can fake it) to one day be a Director of Technology...somewhere in the world. "My device is not revolutionary because of what it is. It is revolutionary because of what I can do with it." -Michael Cohen (@thetechrabbi)
But in leui of the changes in my own career, my best friend, partner in crime and classroom roommate for the last 3 years, is also going to be starting her new job as our campus' NCLB. I am so excited for her to start on her path to becoming an amazing leader on our campus. #perfectpair
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