Getting to know Symba....who? Symbaloo

As I was looking over a conference workshop list, I came across Symbaloo. I knew this website was used to  book mark websites and I just couldn't see how it could be used as anything more. I didn't attend the workshop and time went on. Recently, my team mate shared the lesson plan link and as I scrolled through the ideas I was amazed.

Symbaloo can be used to build resources for a lesson, to manage workflow, or as a way to keep students focused on one set of websites. The education account is free and webmixes (collections of sites or RSS feeds about a topic) can be shared among colleagues or students. Currently, I'm working through the Symbaloo educator training, even their web mix is in a sequential order. The lessons flow and all lead to a quiz. This would be awesome to provide support when teaching a unit, especially in the 1:1 environment where all students have devices. 

If you haven't tried Symbaloo, take a look...it's free.

Check out this link to view a webmix:http://www.symbaloo.com/mix/1stgrade11

Recharge, Refuel, Reignite...

This time of year is usually filled with more to-do lists than opportunities for relaxation. As schools come to a close for winter break, make sure to jot down a few important reminders right before you LEAVE. Yes, LEAVE.

Give yourself permission to walk out of the building without a bag, papers, or any other items that will interfere with enjoying the time off. Let's take a cell phone for example, have you ever tried to answer texts, calls, etc. while your phone was charging? It's take longer for it to charge.

Have you ever noticed how much longer your phone stays charged when you turn off some of the app alerts? Even your phone needs a break to recharge fully.

Breaks should be a time to recharge, refuel, and reignite the flame within us. So many people lost time with loved ones and families due to busy schedules and increased demands. Time Magazine notes some interesting facts about Americans and breaks from work:

• "Four weeks vacation is the minimum in European countries. The lone United States doesn't have any federal requirement for vacation."
• "33% increase in the risk for stroke for those who work 55 or more hours in a week."
• "47 hours is the average work week for most Americans."

These numbers continue to increase. Although work is a necessity for most, consider if you're working to live or living to work. The year 2016 has been a lesson for many, time waits for no one, use your time this holiday to be with the ones you love. Take a few moments to work on a hobby or craft. Have a safe and rest filled break. Merry Christmas! Happy New Year! 

Tuttle, B. (2015, September 4). 18 Numbers That Show Why American Workers Really Need a Break This Weekend. Retrieved December 13, 2016, from http://time.com/money/4008821/labor-day-statistics/

Track Progress with Digital Lesson Planning

Districts around the country are adopting 1:1 programs and tapping into the collaborative tools that Google offers for education, but is that collaboration among staff members? Teachers often reference how easy it is to have the students work collaboratively, yet rarely emphasize how joint efforts have increased among staff and administrators. Administrators can use online tools to monitor curriculum progress as well as view lesson plans. Some of those tools include:

Google Drive

Administrators can create folders for departments to add weekly lesson plans. Instead of referencing a notebook or a folder outside the door, administrators can create folders for each staff member to add content to. Folders can also be shared among department heads and team members. In addition to lesson plans and curriculum resources, this is also a great way to share important documents that everyone references often.

Chalk.com

Chalk.com has several tools including lesson plan sharing. There are fields for pacing guides and standards. Teachers can also upload support documents and activities that support the lesson. There's even a field for attendance and notes. The finished plan is just as detailed as traditional lesson plan. The app is available on iOS and Android.

Don't just get your kids collaborating, model what that looks like by connecting your staff also.

Tech Tools for Centers in the Secondary Classroom

           Teachers are tasked with accomplishing so much in so little time. Elementary teachers have mastered the art of using stations and centers to complete a number of tasks in a restricted amount of time. Station activities can range from review and reteaching to practicing a new skill. Technology further extends these options by proving a means for direct instruction to take place while the teacher is working with a struggling group. Try these resources out to assist with planning station activities:

Seesaw

Seesaw is a free app that is web based and has an app available on Chromebooks and iPads. Seesaw can be used for students to demonstrate, reflect, draw, or record themselves at an assigned station.

Recap

Recap is created by Swivl. Teachers can add specific questions for students to verbally respond to. Students record their responses and those responses are available for teacher review. It's free, easy to set up, and easy to use.

Youtube's Video Editor 

Often times teachers look for videos that are created by other teachers instead of making their own. Creating your own lecture snippet will not only force you hone in on the  most important parts of your lesson, but it allows students to have a reference outside of class. Take 5 minutes to highlight the most important points in a lesson, upload the video to YouTube, and use the editor to add titles or annotations. Take the link and share it in Google classroom or simply pull it up at a station for students to use.

EDPuzzle

Free resource that has a number of video platforms built in. Teachers can add questions, annotations, and their voice to any video that is available. This is a great ways to introduce or review a topic.

Adobe Spark

Infuse a spark of creativity into your stations and allow students to create a short video summarizing what they've learned. Teachers can extend this activity to allow students to view and reflect on each other's videos.

Each resource is free and is easily adaptable to different grade levels. When planning stations consider what task aligns to your desired outcome.

Teaching Vocabulary with Technology

In today’s world of abbreviated language and text lingo, teaching vocabulary can be a daunting task. Sometimes it’s difficult to decipher if technology is helping or hindering students. Here are a few ways to use technology to assist with building vocabulary:

Create a Picture Dictionary

When a new unit starts allow students to create a Google Doc or Google Slide. On the Doc or Slide, use tables to create columns and rows. Allow students to add their vocabulary word, definition, and a picture. To extend the activity, have students reflect on how the picture relates to the meaning of the new word.

Use Wordle

Wordle is a web application that creates word clouds. Allow students to enter words that are related to a common unit or have similar meanings. This can also serve as a review activity to see how many new vocabulary words students remember for the unit being taught.

Create a Vocabulary Scavenger Hunt

Using QR codes, place the definitions of new terms around the room. Allow students to move around the room adding the correct term to each definition. The QR code can be linked to a Google Form, Google slide, or Google Doc.

These are a few easy ways to use technology to add to your vocabulary lessons.

The Reflective Teacher

The reflective teacher realizes the benefits of reviewing their methods. Reflective practice results in modified planning and formative assessment that improve lessons. Recap provides a great resource for students and teachers. It keeps an ongoing record of reflections to questions entered by the teacher.

Recap as a PD Tool

The Reflective Teacher Model, TAP, and the IB program are just a few models that require teachers to reflect on lessons and necessary modifications for improvement. As administrators conduct professional development throughout the year, allowing teachers to reflect gives administrators access to their growth. Throughout the school year, principals can document and share positive changes as well as areas of improvement that teachers make. This not only supports a growth mindset within your school community, but it displays support for teachers and their efforts.

Recap as a Reflective Tool for students

Students need opportunities to reflect on lesson as much as teachers do. Recap allows students to create a short response to questions. There are several ways to implement this in classes, especially those that are in a 1:1 computing environment. Teachers can go beyond entrance/exit slips and incorporate fun characters from Pokemon Go or other games that students identify with. In addition to creating a Recap-Go activity, teachers can allow students to move around to stations while answering questions about each one. Teachers can select the amount of time that students can record for a reflection. Watching a few quick videos sure beats carrying home notebooks that students are using for journal writing.

If you’re searching for a free and easy tool to use in your classroom, look no further.

Visit: https://letsrecap.com/

Are You Teaching with Pokemon Go?

   

     Pulling in popular trends is a great way to engage students and get them excited about the lesson of the day. If you've engaged in the game, it's difficult not to get sucked in. Although students can't roam freely around the school, teachers can capitalize on this concept. Here are a few ways to integrate Pokemon Go in your classroom:

Writing Prompts

Everyone is responsible for teaching literacy skills regardless of the content, use characters as prompt starters. Students can write about the Pokemon's super powers or describe a habitat where it might live. The lessons can be extended so that students are using additional skills such as comparison, publishing writing, or descriptive language. 

Create a Game Environment

Post characters around the classroom and use QR codes to add questions, videos, or tasks for students to complete. Get creative about where characters are placed so that students have to move around and look for them. As an added bonus, offer an incentive or a prize for students that find all of the Pokemons. 

Use Parts of the Game to Teach a Concept

In the game the Pokemons evolve, use this to introduce topics such as adaptation. Eggs are also collected during the game, teachers can use this as a hook to discuss eggs. 

Even if the teacher hasn't played the game, a Google search will display everything anyone would need to know about Pokemon Go. It's a free download, take a look and give it a try with students.