Unsuccessful Narrowing Down

Friday is pretty packed with Common Core, but please let me know if I can help with anything at all. All morning I've been unsuccessfully narrowing down all the great ideas I have for you to just five, so I decided to just sort them instead...

Something about Google... 

http://www.google.com/webfonts Check out all of the awesome fonts that you can add to your Google Docs account! 

http://goo.gl/kg2lw Here is a place for you to try out Google Docs WITHOUT logging in! Test the waters, see how it works and play with it. You will find that it is very similar to PowerPoint.  

Something about Common Core... 

Friday morning seems pretty packed with Common Core follow-up, so I am going to remind iPad users of the 

app at: http://goo.gl/I5f76 so that you do not have to print out the Common Core standards. 

Something to make you think... 

http://goo.gl/y8dA7 Despite being blocked in China by the Chinese Government, the most active Tweeters are from China. I experienced firsthand social media being blocked by a government entity when travelling in Turkey, but ironically enough the concierge at the hotel gladly provided me with a route around that he said "works for today, let me know if problem tomorrow." So, I pose the unanswerable question, is a social media site the most active website during school hours (regardless of device) across America, despite being blocked? 

Something to help you collaborate... 

http://pinsi.de Pinside is a quick way to create an online board to share information: http://pinsi.de/board.php?id=419 This example shows a way that we could post different iPad apps that we like to this site. It might be a great way for 1:1 students to study as well. 

Something to download... 

https://www.dropbox.com Dropbox is a great way to share documents from one computer or device to another. You can download it on your computer at school, your home computer, your iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch or Android Device and access the documents. I know I have talked a little about this previously when you can hook it up with http://dropitto.me so students or parents can "drop" something right into your Dropbox. 

Something with videos... 

http://www.youtube.com/teachers boasts over 300+ curated YouTube playlists of videos that align with the Common Core. Might be worth checking out if you are interested in flipping or just some videos to integrate into your classroom. 

Something about Nature (for kids)... 

http://www.maine.gov/doc/foliage/kids/movie.html has a great video by the Maine State Parks about why the leaves change color. http://www.usatoday.com/weather/environment/2007-10-08-fall-colors_N.htm?csp=34weather Has a great infographic by the USA Today about fall with interactive graphics as well. 

Something about writing... 

http://oneword.com will give students one word as a prompt and they have 60 seconds to write about it. Student can submit themselves to the website and then email a copy to their teacher. 

http://www.plinky.com gives quick writing prompts and would be a good bell ringer activity. 

Something for iPad users..

Sync your iCal to your Webmail Calendar by going to your iCal app, tapping the 'Calendars' button in the upper left-hand corner and selecting Exchange to make sure that your Webmail calendar is synced with your iPad. You can do the same with your other email addresses and your other iDevices as well. 

Something about Google... again.. 

http://www.google.com/edu/collegetips/#tab=prospective This site has video tutorials about using Google Apps for College Students. I know we aren't all college students anymore, but these are well done tutorials. The 'Current College Students' talks about using Google Calendar as well as how to create groups. 

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Get out and VOTE!

We are all busy with Homecoming this week, but here are a few resources to check out. As you can see... I am a bit biased and think that casting our vote for President is pretty important, so there are a lot of resources for you to check out there. 

Let me know if I can help with anything and have a great day!

Samantha 

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1) I will readily admit that I am very opinionated on many political issues, but more than anything, the fact that everybody needs to become an informed voter. So, I will get on my soapbox for a bit and list a few resources that may help you to integrate "Decision 2012" into your classroom. 

• http://www.nbclearn.com/portal/site/learn/decision2012 
• http://magazines.scholastic.com/election-2012
• http://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/28/election-2012-teaching-ideas-and-resources/
• http://www.teachervision.fen.com/elections/teacher-resources/6615.html
• http://constitutioncenter.org/education/educators/learning-resources/election2012/
• http://www.c-spanclassroom.org/Lesson/659/Featured+Lesson+Idea+Primaries+and+Caucuses.aspx 
• http://www.c-spanclassroom.org/Lesson/658/Featured+Lesson+Idea+Road+to+the+White+House.aspx
• http://www.livingroomcandidate.org 
• http://www.nwp.org/cs/public/print/resource/2642

2) http://www.wordner.com Wordner is fun, online game that is like Apples to Apples. You can create a free account (or a more generic student account) for students to play. I also like that you can create and print out your own cards too. 

3) https://docs.google.com/present/embed?size=l&id=dhn2vcv5_8323t58h3ft Here is a Google Doc on using Google Docs in the classroom that was created by somebody else, but free to share. I am hope you take some time to look through some of it and then insist on trying it out yourself! Let me know if you are interested and I can help, too! 

4) http://www.timetoast.com Timetoast is a site to make online timelines and share them as well. You can sign up for free and see other examples of timelines and also assign students to make one themselves. 

5) http://www.pimpampum.net/bookr/ Bookr is a free, online book creator. The student indicates a 'tag' for the photos or a 'user' (like NationalGeographic or China) and hits go. They simply drag the picture up to the book, add titles, captions and drag the page over to go to the next page or add content. When complete, hit Publish this book! Here is an example: http://www.pimpampum.net/bookr/index.php?id=41035 

Webinar Anybody?

It's starting to feel like we are getting back to business now, but don't let yourself fall into a rut! Remember, everyday is a chance to try something new. 

It sounds like this Friday will be busy with in-service for MS and HS, but I'd like to try to touch base with the teachers using blogger after the MS meeting. We can play this by ear. Otherwise, I should be available after the HS meeting at 10:00 am. 

I haven't been able to connect on the Elementary schedule, but I will head to your halls to the see if we can do some informal app sharing meetings with elementary teachers too.

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1) https://code.google.com/p/course-builder/ Those of you that are interested in flipping or just putting your courses online, here is something that came out yesterday- Google Course Builder. I haven't had a lot of time to explore, but make sure you view this on the 'bypass' so you can watch the youtube video to introduce yourself to it. I think this may have some positive implications for the MS/ HS Classroom.

2) http://www.harnu.com/ This site is really quite cool for exploring another culture. There is a tutorial video that opens right away that explains it well. You select a country/ region/ state, at it will give you all the current news, sports and music of the area. Very cool.

3) http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/flipboard-your-social-news/id358801284?mt=8 Flipboard is a great app to visually review the tweets, posts, and current national or world news that interests you. You need this app on your iPad. It will help you keep up to date with news (and we may need to talk about hashtags and twitter to check out free Friday apps... let me know your interest).

3) http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/build-with-blocks-hd-lite/id553045618?mt=8 Build with Blocks is an app for kids that is meant for lower grades to build with blocks and learn how to actually manipulate the functions of the iPad. 

4) MasteryConnect webinar to create "Awesome Common Core Assessments" is free on September 18th from 7- 8:00 pm. You can register here: https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/955765646 and learn more about this webinar here: http://www.masteryconnect.com/ I have already recommended Mastery Connect's free app to help you in carrying around the Common Core. 

5) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Au9QJJSvpCo Google Docs Video! Here is a 3 minute video on Google Docs. I want you to please take three minutes to check it out and think about the implications that this could have for your class. Let me know if you are interested in this for your classroom. It is a great way for formative assessment and earning the writing process. As Google Apps for Edu is set up already, we can use it with our students without the hassle of setting up accounts. Check it out-- it's only three minutes. 

Have a great week!!

So you want to present "different"

I had a great email question from a teacher today! I will quote part of the email for you:

"I was trying to think of something "different" to do for presenting information"

Being willing to try something different just makes my day! I have given the idea for Prezi presentations before. Here are a few links to some other ideas for online collaboration and video/ audio enhanced presentations. Check them out if you have time.

www.zoho.com

www.prezi.com 

http://museumbox.e2bn.org

http://voicethread.com 

http://animoto.com/education 

PicView, Pixoral, TypeWith.Me

The past few days have just flown by! I have gotten the chance to get into a few classrooms this week and it was great to be there to see all your hard work pay off with the students' reactions. Keep up the good work! As a heads up, I will be at a Counselor training tomorrow, but will be back Friday.

I have noticed many teachers have found a website to be very useful in their classrooms. Teachers are using them for assignment calendars, announcements, and just a place to put links to good sites to use for class. If you are interested in me helping you set one up, let me know what times you have available, and I will gladly come down. Even if you only have 15 minutes one day and 20 minutes the next day, we can start. Here is the upcoming schedule for Fridays: 

Friday, September 7th: 

School in Session

Friday, September 14th: 

Review Blogs

WTL Review (Mrs. Boyd, Mrs. Lessman, Mrs. Konold, Ms. Eggers, Ms. Wiedrich) 

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1) http://www.meegenius.com/ is also an iPad app: http://itunes.apple.com/app/meegenius/id364734296?mt=8 

MeeGenius is a place for free ebooks! Right now you can sign up for a FREE school and library account to have access to more ebooks. There are only 6 free ones if you do not sign up for an account. I do not know how long the free account offer will last and it does take awhile for them to approve your account. 

2) http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/picview/id538356858?mt=8 PicView is a FREE iPad app that allows you to take a picture and record a short caption to the picture. I think that could have a lot of fun applications for any grade level. 

3) http://www.pixorial.com/pixorial/educators Pixoral is an online video editor that will give you a FREE account to edit your videos. It is also compatible with Google Drive (formally Google Docs) to share info. 

4) http://typewith.me TypeWithMe is something you can do quickly in the computer lab or with 1:1 computers.  

1) Click on link and name your 'Pad' 

2) Click on "New Pad" button

3) A blank "Pad" will open (For example: http://typewith.me/p/It's_Wednesday! 

4) It will say: "Welcome to Etherpad Lite!"

5) You can delete everything on the pad or leave it, if you want. 

6) As it says, everything is synchronized, so anybody that writes on the "pad" will say the same thing. You can click in the upper right hand corner and put in your name so your words are highlighted in the corresponding color. If you click on the example above, I have a few ideas for you. 

7) You can use the bottoms on the top to share your pad via a link or embed it on your website. You can also export it as well to a pdf or other document and even do a 'time slide' to see if anybody deleted anything on the pad too. 

Let me know if you are interested in using this and would like more directions. 

5) http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/humanbody/ Human Body and Mind This site has an interactive human body and human mind psychological tests that you could have students complete. I could see applications in both science classes and Psychology class. Just explore this site as there are lot of fun things to see. 

If anybody with an iPad would like me to put a lot of apps/ interactive books on their iPad, bring me your iPad and it takes me about an hour to put on some fun apps for you.

Have a great week!