Tech Tuesday: Google Forms

Check out this site for ten ways to use Google Forms

http://oupeltglobalblog.com/2013/12/11/10-ways-i-use-google-forms-in-my-tablet-classroom/



Just want to wish every a great Christmas Break!

Tech Tuesday: Using your Mobile Device as a Custom Reading Experience

This article is about reading and how you can use mobile devices to enhance the experience.  There are two types of reading that students perform: focused and connected.

Check out the link:
http://www.edutopia.org/blog/custom-reading-with-mobile-devices-beth-holland?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=post&utm_campaign=blog-custom-reading-experience-howto-RSS-3

Tech Tuesday: Independent Thinking

I don't know about you, but my students struggle with independent thinking.  This really isn't about technology, but I thought it was useful. Click the link below.

http://www.edutopia.org/blog/3-strategies-promote-independent-thinking-margaret-regan?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=post&utm_campaign=blog-3-strategies-independent-thinking-trending

Also, only 18 teachers have completed the Speak Up Survey.  The link is to the left at the top.  Please look below for the directions and complete the survey.  We will use the results to create a technology plan for the 2014-2015 school year.

Tech Tuesday: Aspire writing prompts

Teachers:
Below is the link for the Aspire exemplars for writing. See pages 9 - 17.
http://www.act.org/aap/alabama/files/ACTAspireWritingExemplar.pdf

Tech Tuesday: "I choose C."

Teachers:
This is a video that Mrs. Brewer found.  I think that it is so very thought provoking. Please take time to watch the video.  It is animated.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dY2mRM4i6tY

Tech Tuesday: Barnes & Noble Free Resource List

Maggie, from Barnes and Noble, sent the follow links...many of them you already know about.
Maybe you can find a least one that you can use!

Free Websites with great activities for the classroom:

 

www.brainpop.com

 

www.dovewhisper.com

 

www.mrnussbaum.com

 

www.funbrain.com

 

www.knowledgeadventure

 

www.edmodo.com

 

www.spellingcity.com

 

www.goanimate.com

 

www.chompchomp.com  (Grammar Bytes)

 

www.awesomelibrary.org

 

www.nearpod

 

www.studyjams

 

www.adaptedmind

 

www.english-guide.org

 

www.highschoolenglish

 

 

 

 

 

Tech Tuesday: Common Core Resource

Check this link out from Best Practices.
http://www.bestpracticescenter.org/blog/a-book-to-help-us-link-ccrs-to-literacy-best-practices

Speak up Survey

Click the link below to connect to the survey site.
http://www.speakup4schools.org/speakup2013/

1.      Click on Educators. 

2.      Click appropriate position… 

3.      Type in our zip code…35750

4.      Click Find.

5.      Click Meridianville Middle School

6.      Click Teacher Survey (Or Whatever is appropriate for your position)

7.      Click Log In

8.      You will see a letter or note.

9.  At the bottom click Next (Note that there are 35 questions).

10.  Then answer the questions. Thank you for taking the time to do this.

Tech Tuesday: Open Ed...Common Core Resource

There is another Common Core resource that has so many things to help teachers.  I think this site is worth you time!

http://www.opened.io/#/search/standard_groups

I like this site because it is organized in a way that you can get to the standards by grade and it gives you different resources per standard per grade.  Most of the resources are videos or podcasts. If you use Edmodo you could link to a site that you want your students to see or use.

You can do so much with this!!!

Tech Tuesday: Madison County CCRS Pages updated

CCRS webpage for Madison County has been updated.
https://www.madison.k12.al.us/departments/instruction/studentassessment/Pages/CCSS.aspx
Please look at the new link called Implementation Team Resources.
There are several tabs at the top of the LiveBinder page that the Implementation Team has created.

Tech Tuesday: iPads--36 ways to use them in the classroom

I found this really cool article about ways to use iPads.  Actually, it is an article with an embedded video listing the ways that you can use iPads in the classroom.  It is being edited all the time so there could be more than 36 ways. Some of the ideas are for elementary, but there were some good middle school ideas.

http://www.edudemic.com/the-ultimate-guide-to-using-ipads-in-the-classroom/

Tech Tuesday: Edmodo App Quizzes for iPads

Edmodo released a new update with the Edmodo App which includes quizzes.
Check the link below for more information.
https://blog.edmodo.com/2013/09/20/introducing-quizzes-for-ipad/

Tech Tuesday: 11 Tips for Common Core

Below is a link to an article about teaching vocabulary for the common core.

http://www.edutopia.org/blog/teaching-ccss-critical-vocabulary-marilee-sprenger?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=post&utm_campaign=blog-11tips-ccs-vocabulary

Hope you find this insightful.

Tech Tuesday: More Edmodo info

This is an article about five ways to get your students on Edmodo..
https://blog.edmodo.com/2013/09/13/five-ways-to-get-your-students-on-edmodo/


Mrs. Brewer & Mrs. Baum found this website about Edmodo.

http://www.educatorstechnology.com/2013/05/21-ways-to-use-edmodo-in-your-classroom.html

Tech Tuesday: Edmodo

The STI PD course for our training is MEM 1305.
Click here to register:
https://pdweb.alsde.edu/PDWeb/login.aspx?navarea=entry&ReturnUrl=%2fpdweb%2fdefault.aspx

The link below takes you to an Edmodo site that has helpful hints and tips.
https://edmodosupport.zendesk.com/home#entries/22460840-quick-guides-to-edmodo

Tech Tuesday: 5 free resources

Check out this link to see the top five edtech free tools for back to school.
http://ictevangelist.com/back-school-top-free-tools-edtech-classroom-year/

Tech Tuesday: Resources for Collaboration

This article has great information about collaboration between students. We read about this in the TWEENS book. Examples of good discussions are in the article. There are some downloads available as well.

http://www.edutopia.org/stw-collaborative-learning-resources?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=post&utm_campaign=download-stw-collaborative

I personally thought the resources brought out the boundaries for discussions.
Hope you get something from the article!

Tech Tuesday: Resources for Brainstorming and Promethean Boards

I just wanted to give a few new resources that I have found through other school systems.

Answer Garden
Answer Garden is a super simple brainstorming tool. No login is necessary but teachers can add an admin password which allows them to edit the results. Students add words or phrases to the "garden" and the results "grow" the more frequently they are answered.

A QR code can easily be created that will make it easy to access and then the results may be exported to either Wordle or Tagxedo.

http://answergarden.ch

Promethean Resources
Since we have several teachers with Promethean Board I wanted to give a few websites that would help you use your board more effectively.

Promethean Planet(FREE Resources): www.prometheanplanet.com/en-us/
There are lots of already created interactive lesson.
You can sign up on the website for free.

Forsyth County Schools Promethean Resources page: http://www.forsythcountyschools.org/its/kadkins/activ/pb.htm


Enjoy your Technology!

10 Tips to teach kids to be nice online

I thought this article was a great reminder that we all have a responsibility to teach digital citizenship.
http://www.weareteachers.com/community/blogs/weareteachersblog/blog-wat/2013/07/10/teacher-helpline-how-can-i-teach-kids-to-be-nice-online-

Professional Development

Please go to STI PD and register for today's session.  The number for your session is MEM1302. It is called Technology Integration Introduction. 

The link to STI PD is below:
https://pdweb.alsde.edu/PDWeb/login.aspx?navarea=entry&ReturnUrl=%2fpdweb%2fdefault.aspx

FactFlipper using PowerPoint

I found this idea on another blog. This is old but really easy to do.  It fits right in to the Writing Common Core Anchor Standards. This could be used for any subject.

This idea is from 50 Quick and Easy Computer Activities for Kids by Tammy Worcester, published by Visions Technology.

The Fact Flipper gives students a great way to publish facts and research on any given topic. The Fact Flipper is a PowerPoint presentation with six question slides and six answer slides, printed in handouts six per page. The first six slides on page one are the question slides and when they print, students cut around the two sides and bottom of each slide to form a flap. That page is then glued on top of page two which has the six answer slides. The student is then able to read the question and lift the flap to find the answer.

Directions: Students do research on their topic and compose five questions and answers. Open a blank PowerPoint presentation Choose "Title Only" slide layout Slide One - Click and type in the Title and instructions for your fact flipper Click on the striped text box border (not the handlebars) and drag your text box down to the middle of the slide Insert > New Slide > Choose "Title Only" slide layout for Slide Two Click and type in your question Click on the striped text box border (not the handlebars) and drag your text box down to the middle of the slide Repeat steps 6,7,8 for remainder of slides. Slide Three is a question Slide Four is a question Slide Five is a question Slide Six is a question Slide Seven should have the students name, date, class, etc. Slide Eight is the answer to Slide Two Slide Nine is the answer to Slide Three Slide Ten is the answer to Slide Four Slide Eleven is the answer to Slide Five Slide Twelve is the answer to Slide Six. Students should add images wherever they want by clicking "Insert" > "Picture" > from File or Clipart Save the Fact Flipper Print as Handouts - Six Slides per page. Page One - cut a slit on the two sides and bottom of each slide to create a flap and then glue Page One on top of Page Two.

Common Core Resources

Many of you attended the Common Core Training back in June.  I know that I learned so much from the training.  Feel free to comment on this post if you would like to share what you learned. 

Just a few things that I learned:

• Social Studies, Science, and Electives have a part in all the writing, reading, and math, common core standards.
• There are so many common core resources--free--online.
• Common core is law.  We are responsible for these standards. It began August 2012.
• Technology is used through out all the standards.

Here is an example of technology written in the 6th grade Common Core writing standard.

27. With some guidance and support from adults, use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing as well as to interact and collaborate with others; demonstrate sufficient command of keyboarding skills to type a minimum of two pages in a single sitting. [W.5.6]

If you would like to share, feel free to leave a comment.

Resource Blog

Meridianville this blog has been created for you! It will have many resources that you can incorporate into your strategic teaching.