Formative Assessment and Google Drive

Using tools expedite the process of finding out if your students "get" it. Makes your life easier.

Educators learn some handy tips and tricks for using Google Drive (Docs, Spreadsheets, Forms and more) to receive formative feedback from your students! This session is for anyone who loves feedback and uses Google in your school!
Topics discussed:

• Conditional Formatting 
• Flubaroo 
• Concept Mapping/Graphic Organizers with Google DrawingUsing a Google Form to go to question based on answer of a previous question
•  Exit tickets

Please let me know if you would like to further explore any of these items or if you have any questions.

Fake Tweet Builder

I recently came across Fake Tweet Builder.  This website allows user to create Twitter conversations between users without actually using Twitter.   Conversations can then be downloaded and shared. 

So, what is Twitter?  Twitter is a way for instant communication and information sharing.  These text messages are limited to 140 characters.

How to make a Fake Tweet:

What are some ways to use Fake Tweet Builder in your classroom?

• Math:  Students could explain how to solve a math problem.  Each step of the solution could be 140 characters or less.  Students could create conversations between students on solving that problem.  
• Social Studies:  Students could "be" a person from a student era, i.e. Civil War, and record their experiences and in 140-characters or less.  Students could create an ongoing dialogue between 2 historical figures.   (One Teacher asked students, "If Twitter was available in the 1930's, what do you think Hitler and Stalin would tweet?")
• Science:  Students could explain a science experiment.  Students could have a conversation with a famous scientist. 
• ELA:  Students could be challeneged to tell a story in 140-charcter segments.  Students could create a dialogue between two characters from different books.  
• Foreign Langauge: Practice writing conversations in Spanish or French.

What other ways might you use Fake Tweet Builder in your class?   

Google Drive Basics

This morning, I took part in a Google+ Hangout with Dan Rezac and Elizabeth Greene from Northbrook/Glenview School District 30.  During this hangout we shared Tips on the Basics of Google Drive.

Some things that were discussed:

• The Black Bar Removal -where's your stuff?
• How to get back to your Drive list, when you're in a Doc.
• Folder Organization
• Searching for a Document
• Using the Research Tool
• Using the Paint Formatting Tool
• Using the Define Tool

Malala Yousafzai

"At 16, Malala Yousafzai would have become the youngest recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, if she had been awarded it Friday. In addition, she would have been the youngest winner ever of a Nobel Prize in any category.  (From Michelle: She did not win the prize, but her story and message is worth sharing/discussing.)
The activist from Pakistan, who has stood defiant against the Taliban in the face of death since age 11, has become a global figurehead for a girl's right to an education. A year a go, an Islamist militant shot her in the head. It looked like she would die." (From CNN article)

Malala was on the Daily Show...she actually left Jon Stewart speechless at one point....

 

This blog post has the the segment divided in to 3 parts...
http://thefischbowl.blogspot.com/2013/10/malala.html

While there are ads at the beginning of the segment, you can blow it up full screen.  I have not been able to find the segments so I can download them.  I will let you know if I end up finding them.

Newsela

During the summer PD class I led on Technology Integration to Support the Common Core, I shared Newsela
 

What is Newsela?

• Newsela is an innovative way for students to build reading comprehension with nonfiction that's always relevant: daily news. 
• Newsela builds close reading and critical thinking skills. Give your students a new way to climb the staircase of nonfiction reading comprehension, from fourth grade to college-ready.
• Articles written at multiple levels of text complexity.
  Newsela automatically gives each student the version of an article that's just right for his or her reading ability.
• Articles are accompanied by Common Core-aligned quizzes to provide quick and powerful feedback.

Where do I find Newsela?

http://www.newsela.com/

How much does it cost?

Newsela is FREE...

Every kid needs a champion

Happy Teacher Appreciation Week!

A timely TED Talk

Rita Pierson: Every kid needs a champion

Tomorrow night Ted Talks in Education is teaming with PBS for a 1 hour special. 

TED Teams with PBS

For more inspiring Talks from Teachers visit:
10 Talks from Inspiring Teachers

Read&Write Chrome Extension

The Read&Write Chrome Extension has been shared in the past.  I recently found some new classroom uses for this Extension.

What is the Read&Write Chrome Extension?

Reads Google documents.
Use Google Docs with all of your students including those with dyslexia, learning disabilities, struggling readers, and English Language Learners. This Chrome Extension makes any Google document accessible.  
-Text To Speech with Dual Synchronized Highlighting.
-Talking Dictionary
-Picture Dictionary
-Vocabulary Tool
-Study Skills tools to capture Google highlights

New uses in the classroom:

You can get word definitions, and more importantly, create Picture Vocabulary.

Watch this video to learn how to install and use the Read&Write Chrome Extension:

croak.it

Croak.it is a simple-to-use online audio recording tool that can be used by even pre-school children!  It is easy to use, no logins required, FREE, and limited to 30 seconds.

A sample Croak.it

Classroom ideas:

Students can record themselves reading and then listen to see how fluent they sound.  Students could speak in a foreign language and then listen. Students with speech disorders could record themselves and listen back.

Sharing the recording via a URL, students can share their work via Edmodo, or a Google Doc.

To use Croak.it:

1. Go to http://croak.it
   
2. Click to allow it to use your computer’s microphone. (Note - You will only need to do this one time.)
3. Click the only button on the page to start recording.
   

   

   
   
4. Click the same button again to stop recording.
5. Click the “Copy” button to copy the url of your uploaded recording.

Power of Words

I attended a workshop with Jim Knight yesterday. 

He shared this YouTube video:
The Power of Words 

When I was watching it I thought it would be a great video to use in your classes.  

Some classroom use ideas:

-Stop the video before the sign is shown and ask students what they think the sign says.

-Have students do a writing activity base on the video and their thoughts/feelings

-Share and discuss in Advisory

Disclaimer: As with most YouTube videos, there are some inappropriate videos on the side and at the end.  I have downloaded this video and placed it on the Server in the Videos folder for use in the classroom. 

10 Good Video Sources for Science

One of the great things about teaching today is the wealth of educational videos that are available on the web. No longer do we have to flip through catalogs, order a VHS cassette, wait for it to arrive, and hope that it is as good as the catalog made it sound. Now we can quickly access and screen educational videos.

In a recent blog post on Free Technology for Teachers, Richard Bryne shares video sources for Science. 

10 Good Video Sources for Science

Classroom use ideas: To introduce, to reinforce/review, link to a video from your website for at home help.

10 Good Video Sources for Math

In a recent blog post on Free Technology for Teachers, Richard Bryne shares video sources for math.

10 Good Video Sources for Math Students and Teachers

 

Classroom use ideas: To introduce a skill.  To reinforce/review a skill.  Link to a video from your website for at home help.

10 Good Video Sources for Social Studies

In a recent blog post on Free Technology for Teachers, Richard Bryne shares video sources for Social Studies.  

Ten Good Video Sources for Social Studies Students and Teachers

Classroom use ideas: To introduce a skill.  To reinforce/review a skill.  Link to a video from your website for at home help.

Spinning Match Trick

I recently came across this video and lesson via Twitter:
Spinning Match Table Trick

I have shared some other Steve Spangler videos before. 

Steve Spangler's blog
Steve Spangler's YouTube Channel

Speed Painter

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHUXmIW6Bhc

3D Paper Models

Paper Models of Polyhedra - A site that has EVERY 3D shape imaginable as a PDF so your kids can print, cut, fold and glue! Even lists the number of faces, edges, and vertices

Please let me know if you have any questions and/or would like to explore the use of this website as a classroom tool and/or with students.

3 Simple Tools to Support the CCSS Academic Vocab Shift

I recently came across this blog post (3 Simple Tools to Support the CCSS Academic Vocabulary Shift) that shared 3 technology tools (websites) to assist with the the Common Core Shift to vocabulary. 

This post will explain more, but here is an overview of the tools. 

• VocabGrabber - VocabGrabber analyzes any text you're interested in, generating lists of the most useful vocabulary words and showing you how those words are used in context. Just copy text from a document and paste it into the box, and then click on the "Grab Vocabulary!" button. VocabGrabber will automatically create a list of vocabulary from your text, which you can then sort, filter, and save.
  Select any word on the list and you'll see a snapshot of the Visual Thesaurus map and definitions for that word, along with examples of the word in your text.
  
• WordSift - Place text into a box and then press sift to create a word cloud in which the most frequently used words appear larger in size. The words can be sorted by subject area or by a word list. (Similar to Wordle)
  
• Instagrok - A visual search engine and interactive learning tool collects educational content and displays it in the form of a web of related words.

Please let me know if you have any questions and/or would like to explore the use of these as a classroom tool and/or with students.

New look for the Create menu in Drive

http://googleappsupdates.blogspot.com/2013/02/new-look-for-create-menu-in-drive.html

So why does this matter to you? 

If you use TEMPLATES these are now accessed by Creating a new Document and then going to File-New-From Template

New Layout and Features in Google Form

Google Forms has a new layout and features!

A cheat sheet:
https://sites.google.com/site/flippededu/the-latest/newlayoutandfeaturesingoogleforms#gafesummit

Please let me know if you would like to further explore Google Forms and how to use it in your classroom.

Common Core Videos for Math

I came across this resource via Twitter:

Support Videos for the Common Core State Standards in Math
From the Website:

The Common Core State Standards (CCSS) videos are designed to support states, schools, and teachers in the implementation of the CCSS. The videos were created in collaboration with the states in the Southeast Comprehensive Center region based on their needs for professional development support for the implementation of the Common Core State Standards. Each video is an audiovisual resource that focuses on one or more specific standards and usually includes examples/illustrations geared to enhancing understanding. The intent of each content-focused video is to clarify the meaning of the individual standard rather than to be a guide on how to teach each standard, although the examples can be adapted for instructional use.

A Pep Talk from Kid President

Forget about Al Pacino in Any Given Sunday, this might very well be the best inspirational pep talk ever. And the one who gives this speech is none other than a young, very classy, kid.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=l-gQLqv9f4o

Notes from NICE Mini-Conference

On Saturday I attended the NICE MiniCon.  Below are some notes/resources from the morning:

• Google Apps for Education Newbie Resource Site -
  
  
  This introduction to Google Apps will help newbies become aware of ways to communicate, create, collaborate, organize and share information.

• Integration Isn't Enough: Redefining the Innovative Classroom - For years we have heard the term "technology integration." This session begs the question,"What if simply integrating technology isn't enough?" Explore what it means to truly redefine a learning space through digital devices.
  

• The Power of Blogging
  

• Teaching World Language for the 21st Century
  

Please let me know if you are interested in learning/exploring more.

Assumptions Video Playlist

 I recently came across this Playlist of YouTube videos on Assumptions. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNbF006Y5x4&list=PLN0iiojvFNR5FarsAEp-t4DCaIXb-A4PI

IMPORTANT NOTE: I watched the first couple of videos in the playlist and all was ok, however as with any YouTube video be aware of the surrounding videos/comment when applicable. 

Make a Difference Lip Dub

The goal of this lip dub is to make a statement that they are going to make a difference with their actions.  They won't put up with bulling and they are going to change the school.

http://news.agps.org/vnews/display.v/ART/50f56ad284648