Pinterest

I'm just going to say it...it's a beautiful thing.  Pinterest is, I mean.  

It took me awhile to jump on the Pinterest bandwagon.  Then when I did, I was disorganized and confused.  And overwhelmed.  Definitely overwhelmed.  

I feel like I have finally gotten my Pinterest wings...as a teacher anyway.  

About a month before school ended, I started planning next year.  Don't we all?  Here's the thing though, this year was my first year at a new school in a new job with a new role I had never had before.  So I jumped in and floundered.  I made it work, but I wasn't in love with what I was doing.  I knew I could do better but the reality was that I was just trying to get by.  

For this coming year, I feel like I have a better grasp on exactly what I want to do with my students and how I want to approach it.  Granted, I'm fully willing to accept that once life starts, I may flounder yet again and need to just get by.  However, until then...I have Pinterest!  And I am pinning away!

Let me go ahead and give you just a very small sneak peak (because I'm just not done) into my plans and then I'll show you the board that goes with it!  Each month, I'm focusing on a skill or tool that will help my students with their homeroom assignments.  In order to learn the skill or tool, we will work on a whole class assignment that is linked to Catholic Identity (we're at a Catholic school soo....).  Once that assignment has been completed, the students will have a menu of choices of projects they would like to do.  

The first full month (Sept) of school, we are going to be working on Digital Citizenship.  I haven't come up with the Catholic Identity assignment yet, but I'm thinking something to do with the 10 Commandments.  But I need to teach my students about all the pieces that fall under the umbrella of Digital Citizenship.  I need to figure out what the bulletin board will look like.  I need to have ideas for the menu.  

ENTER PINTEREST!

For me, I just knew that I had to be selective about what I pinned because I would get overwhelmed and never look at it again if I pinned too much.  I needed to be realistic about my pinning choices. These are for 5th-8th graders...they will not appreciate the ADORABLE ideas for primary students.  I also needed to be realistic for me.  I am not going to spend 10 hours crafting.  I'll be lucky if I max out at 2 hours.  However, if I can make it in Google...I will spend hours doing that!  

So now I have my guidelines, I have my framework, and I have my Pinterest.  I'm ready to go!

Meme's In Education

from Flickr account - Meme Binge

Memes have become a thing.  There's no turning back.  And in all reality, do we want to?  They are funny, they help us (ok, maybe just me) laugh at situations that maybe aren't the most wonderful, and they are easy to make (thanks to wonderful advances in technology and photo editing and random meme generating websites).  In fact, my go to Happy Birthday posting on FB generally includes a meme...because that's just funnier than "Happy Birthday!!!"  (and yes, I add 3 exclamation points because I'm that happy that my friend is another year older).

Anyway, the point of this post, is there a place in education for memes?  I mean a place besides in the teacher's lounge.  And meme's other than the ones with an owl at the beginning of the school year vs the end of the school year and the "Hey Girl" memes.  Really.  Really...do meme's have a place in education for the sake of the students?

Recently I tried them in my K-8 technology class...another tale for another time with another blogger (hoping to have a guest blogger come share about that - +Kiersten Baschnagel).  The middle school kids nailed it.  Well...let me retract that...most of the middle school kids nailed it.  Some still didn't quite understand how the humor of a meme worked.  I took it down to 5th grade and most seemed to be able to create a meme with little trouble, although the joke was a little more basic.  When I tried 4th grade, I only had a handful of kids that could come up with a joke that was applicable to the picture.

This got me thinking...what is it about memes that makes them funny?  What skill do the students need to have in order to create a quality meme?  Is this a teachable skill?  Is it a skill that they can use in other areas?  Do they need to be witty?  Do they need a dry sense of humor?  Do they need to know the background story of the picture?

I admit, I don't know or I can't articulate exactly what it is that makes memes funny, especially because when I do, I can think of other memes that don't fit that definition.

What makes memes funny?
What skill(s) do you need to create them?
And is there a place for them in education?

Video Capture

Have you heard of flipping your classroom or your lessons?

I mean yes, there are lots of definitions of flipping.

Flipping your lid: get angry
Bottle flipping: "fun" past time to challenge your bottle flipping skills
House flipping: remodeling a house to make it look nice

You get the idea.

Well, you can flip a lesson or a classroom as well.  Basically, you find a way (very often a video) to show students the lesson/content at home and then they come to school to work through questions, practice problems, small group lessons, etc with support from the teacher.  What once was the lesson is now the homework and what was the homework is now the classwork.  It's "flipped".

Like I said, very often video is the format used to capture the lesson from the teacher so that students can watch it at home.  However, I have come to rely on video capture for so much...and I not flipping my lessons.  It can be used for so much more!

And guess what...I have a poster session on it at #ISTE17!  I'm so excited about it!

Once I have my full presentation, I'll happily post it.  However, I thought I'd give you an intro to how you can use video in your classroom.

One of my favorite ways to use video or rather have students use video is to present.  Now some students really have an issue with hearing their voice.  However, typically, if you reassure them that it will not be presented to the class, they are good.  I would recommend selecting a handful that are willing to actually present to the class though.  I'll get into that in a minute.

The reason to have students record their presentations is so that you don't have to take up class time for multiple days (ex. science period for 4 days) while students present their project and you grade the rubric.  If students are recording their presentation, they are still explaining their thought process, they are still explaining what they created or found, and they are still able to show you everything you have asked to see but now take away the fear of public speaking, take away the in class time factor, take away not being able to "redo" a presentation, take away having to rearrange if someone is sick, take away not being able to grade at home (with a glass of wine perhaps), etc.  The videos provide you and your students with some flexibility.

Here is a sample that one of my students created at the beginning of the year regarding whether or not Mother Teresa should have been canonized.  I asked them a question, gave them some resources, and asked them to create a presentation using any "powerpoint" style program they wanted and then to record over it explaining their thinking.  This student chose to use Adobe Spark on their iPad.  What do you think?

Here is a copy presentation with of the rest of the videos for your Google Drive:
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1cowNXnDZpa3pJbHOt4lzIPJJJ7eH-Fas_vImmq9U-JU/copy?usp=sharing

Do you use video in your classroom?  What do you do?  Please share...always on the hunt for new and better ways to do anything in the classroom.  Thank you!

Picture Writing

It's the end of the year.  And even if it wasn't, this is a great idea for all grade levels.  At least I think.

I am using this as a "What To Do When Your Work Is Done" task.  Granted if it was the beginning of the year, I would probably do some lessons and practice brainstorming and work together as a class. However, it's not...so I'm not.  My students are finishing their assignments as quickly as they possibly can and then want to play computer games.  Can you see my face?  I'm sure you can because I'm sure you're making that same face.  Like, "Yea, right, sure kiddo.  You do that.  NO."

With writing, especially writing prompts, students can either do many many posts or they can go in depth in less posts.  I tell them it's about quality, not quantity.  But what about the kids that don't love to write?  Or doesn't love your writing prompt?  It is possible that you/I/we have a student that doesn't love to go on vacation/play with puppies/want to give advice to the incoming "insert grade level" or any variety of topics that are possible to write about.

Brilliant idea...CHOICE!  I love choice.  Controlled choice.  Selective choice.  Here are a variety of things to choose from.  BUT...I am not that creative to come up with that many choices.  I admit it. Creativity is NOT my strong suit.  I'm more of a spreadsheet and data and organizing girl.  I need help when it comes to creativity and lots of choices.  So I go to friends and I go to...THE INTERNET!

And look what I found when I was looking for Middle School writing prompts!?!?!?

Visual Prompts

You can search by genre, by grade level, or by topic.  The images vary between asking for a story, a point of view, creating a campaign or a new item, there's fiction and non-fiction, future and past, and so much more.  I love these images and the questions/statements that go with them.  I especially love that I didn't have to create them!

The images (the one above specifically) stirred intense conversations as well as really great writing that showed just how my students opinions and beliefs are being shaped by their families, their friends, and society.

We know that a picture is worth 1000 words, but do we need a 1000 words?  Do we need less or do we need more?  I guess it depends on the message.  And these images are fantastic at asking students to share their message on their interests!

When NOT In Rome...

use @DoInk Green Screen app to get yourself there!

Recently, our 6th graders read Julius Caesar. In years past, the 6th graders were able to put on a production of the play. This year our Literature teacher was new the to school (as was I and a number of other teachers) and she decided to have the kids break into groups and film select scenes instead of acting out the whole play.

Here's a quick clip of some students practicing: https://instagram.com/p/BRbTYv1jyQi/

When the Lit teacher came to me asking if the students could film and edit in my class (technology), I also suggested adding a little green screen action. My walls are painted green after all. We didn't know exactly how it would work out but she was on board!

The groups were given a choice if they wanted to film and use the green screen or not. Then they all went about filming. The groups that wanted to use the Green Screen were given either my iPad or one from another teachers classroom. They took different approaches.  One group edited their video first and then put it into Do Ink, adding their images of Rome in last. Another group put each of their video pieces into Do Ink, added their images of Rome and then edited everything.

The point was...it didn't matter what they ended up doing.  They enjoyed being able to act out what they read.  And those that added the green screen were able to search and visualize what it would have the scenery would have looked like if they really had done the play.

Internet = Truth!

A friend of mine used to (or maybe still does) has an email signature that talks about Abraham Lincoln referencing the truth of all things on the internet.  So let's first admit that the ridiculousness of this signature line is hilarious and I loved getting emails from him strictly for this reason.

Now, lets move on to the fact that there are some people that legitimately believe this to be true.  Not the Abraham Lincoln part (or maybe...I don't know) but the part about whatever is posted on the internet being true.  It's like saying that everything on TV is true or said on the radio is true.  It's not.

Perhaps when these medias first came out and they were revolutionary and unknown and it was FANTASTICAL! (yup...I said it) At that point in time, I suppose it was acceptable to believe that everything that was put out to the world could be believed as true.  We didn't know...but now, we do.
So we can no longer claim ignorance. And it's so important that we teach our children/students that everything is not true and how to differentiate between fact and not-so-obvious fiction.

I recently began working with my middle school students about evaluating the websites they gather their facts from in order to ensure their validity.

Side note: When I said that to them...they looked at me and I was informed that they didn't know what I was saying.  I told them we needed to look at websites and see if the information was accurate and legit.  They understood that.

Anyway...it was kind of a fun series of lessons.  I didn't tell the kids we were working on website validity.  I told them we were working on researching some kind of social justice/current event/make the world a better place website. Of course, I have to model what I expect.  So we visited http://zapatopi.net/treeoctopus/.

It started with choosing a cause that you have a passion for and ensuring that you are properly educated before you start spreading any message.  So I told them that this particular cause was very near and dear to my heart but I wanted them to be fully educated. Of course many of them were confused having never heard of a tree octopus. It was SO fun to be completely flabbergasted at the fact that they had never heard of this animal!!

Since they didn't know anything about the Tree Octopus, we started researching some basic questions.  Ex. Where do they live?  What do they eat?  How do they breath?  Why are they endangered?  I encouraged them to explore the website and also other websites (not provided by me).

Some classes explored outside the website others stayed solely on the page I gave them.  The ones that started exploring began questioning whether or not these animals were real sooner.  However, they came to me with "They aren't real because I've never heard of them." or "They can't be real because I've never seen one."  To which many other students jumped on board to exclaim that just because you can't see it doesn't mean it doesn't exist...i.e. atoms and molecules.  And the fact that they are only 10/11/12/13 means that they haven't explored the whole world or seen all there is to see.
It was an exciting discussion from a teacher perspective.

As time went on it was very clear that the class was divided as to whether these animals were real or not.  So we finally sat down one day and had a discussion.  No laptops, no computers, no devices.  I very seriously wanted to know what they thought since this was such a hot topic of debate in my classes.  Regardless of what they thought, I needed a solid defense...an explanation of why they felt the way they did.

In the end, I told them that the whole website was fake.  The students that believed it to be fake felt validated.  The students that believed it to be real were frustrated, amazed, and some even thought it was hilarious.  BUT, I got my point across.  Just because it's on the internet, does not mean it is real.

Virtual Field Trips

You know background knowledge is kind of important.  I mean....I think it is.  Especially for the younger kiddos who are just learning about the world outside of the little neighborhood.

So when they start learning about places like Greece and Rome and France and Great Britain...it's all (excuse the expression) Greek to them.  They (most elementary kids in my school) have never been outside the US.  So to study about the history of these countries....there is a slight disconnect.

A teacher friend of mine is teaching the American Revolution right now.  She said it perfect, they love it because they know how it ended...because we live in America...this is how we got to this point.  But with all those other countries, you can't necessarily say that.  The kids don't know how it's different from what they studied because they haven't experienced it.  And in all reality...many won't, for many years.

Here is where vacation planning came in for me.  No, I'm not having them plan a vacation.  (Well I actually had the 6th graders plan a trip to Greece.) But I found some websites that give the kids a tour of famous tourist spots in the country that they are studying.  When going on a vacation, you may want to see where you're going to visit.  What about when you're studying a country, you should see what it looks like now compared to what it was.

Are you studying Ancient Greece?  Try a Greek vacation website: http://www.greecevirtual.gr/
Are you studying Ancient Italy? Try a Roman vacation website: http://www.touritalynow.com/virtual-italy-tours or http://www.youvisit.com/tour/rome
Are you studying England?  Try a London Virtual Tour: http://www.visitlondon.com/discover-london/london-virtual-tour#zwHZOJL4xVSPhEP0.97

And all of this can be done to a degree on Google Earth as well!

Students can compare and contrast, they can talk about where would you rather live; then or now, they can rewrite history....the possibilities are endless!

Side note: this leads to a great conversation about the fact that websites are not just American...each country has their own.  My students' minds were blown when we talked about the .gr at the end of the Greek website!

Now...where will you go?

Map Scales and Google Earth

Do you remember breaking out your atlas to measure how far it was from your school to your house? Or maybe from your favorite vacation spot to your house?  Of course there was also the obligatory worksheet that had perfectly manicured streets with geometric houses, a school, and a library.  All different ways to learn that on the map, the distance is not real...it is a scale.

Now we're so used to using some kind of GPS (Google Maps is my personal favorite) that the concept of needing a scale is completely foreign now.  Even the kids know how to use a GPS app. The skill of reading a flap map, an atlas, is seemingly obsolete!  But, nope, it's still part of the curriculum - and I'm not arguing whether or not it's important, I'm just stating that it is what it is.

So, in technology the last couple of weeks, we have been learning about map scales (to compliment the kiddos 4th grade curriculum).  Since we have computers and not paper maps, we broke out Google Earth and since we have GPS that gives us EXACT distance, we worked on estimating.

The image of the kiddos searching on Google Earth and getting their exact distances from point A to point B (we also brought in some Nevada Geography and measured the important places in Nevada) was amazing!  They are pros!  Then the image of the kiddos using the rules on the monitor was quite funny.  Who ever imaged that we would use a ruler on a computer monitor?!  Not me!!

They really seemed to enjoy the exploration and realizing that a few inches can be anything from a few miles to hundreds (or more) of miles!!

Up next...longitude and latitude?!  Any ideas?!

It's all SUNSHINE and rainbows...

Recently I have taken on the task of the Sunshine Committee.

It's a little bit of a blur as to how it all started and ended with me, but I have to say I'm kind of excited!  I have a lot of support from teachers that have been part of the Sunshine Committee in the past.

With that being said...what's the point of this post in particular?

Yesterday, one of the teachers gave me a binder of stuff from the past years of Sunshine.  I barely know what to do with it.  Have things changed so much that a binder of papers overwhelms me?!

Apparently so.  

Granted I haven't done much, but everything I have done so far has been almost exclusively digital.
Let's run down the list.

Meeting Agendas: Google Doc
Cards (Get Well, Happy Birthday, etc): Word Swag app w/ Pixabay images
Ideas: Pinterest
Happy Hour Interest: Google Forms
Happy Hour Announcement: Word Swag app w/Pixabay images and email
"Binder" to keep everything: Google Drive

Granted, I'm not expanding to outside the digital box but so far what I have works...for me and my team.  I do have to keep in mind that not everyone at my school geeks out over tech like I do.  So of course I made flyers for the Happy Hour and I will print out agendas for meetings, etc.

But I feel more organized...and creative.

"Get Well" image that was made into a card for a teacher out for surgery

The image above was made with @wordswagapp (introduced to me by +Tony Vincent) and +Pixabay images that are found within the app. BONUS: Pixabay images are copyright free so they can be used without attribution.    

Anne Frank

I teach at a K-8 Catholic school.

This post is about the 8th graders specifically.  They have been reading the Diary of Anne Frank.  I read that book when I was a child.  I picked it up when I was bored one day, not realizing the weight that book carried.

Unfortunately, there were so many visual descriptions that were critical to the story that I just couldn't image.  I couldn't see them in my mind.  I feel like it took away from the gravity of what I was reading.  I couldn't possibly image how a door was hidden!  I couldn't see how small the living quarters really were.  I read the words but the images were from my life, with a few tweaks.

Back to the 8th graders.  Maybe they have a better imagination than I did as a 4th/5th grader.  Or maybe because we have never been in that kind of situation (for which I am so thankful), it's not something we can fathom, imagination or not.

This week they are going to the local Catholic high school to see the play Anne Frank.  That will give them a better visual representation.  I want to support that in my class.  I want to show them something that will really make them see how hard it was and the struggles that these families faced. I want them to understand how brave Anne Frank was...this girl who is their age.  I want there to be an impact.

So this week and next week, we will be taking the time to explore the Anne Frank museum online. Specifically, we will be looking at some of the photos and pieces of history from her life.  And I think most importantly, we will be able to go on a virtual tour of Anne Frank's Secret Annex.

I hope it gives the 8th graders a really good concrete visual of what they are reading.

It's just...Padlet

I'm trying to write up a quick blog post this morning and while I know my topic...I don't have a fun, attention getting title.  Soooo...it's just about Padlet.

I've been a big fan of Padlet since it was Wall Wisher (or something like that)...it was a few years ago.  You seriously can't expect me to remember all the different names of various websites.  ;) So I was introduced to it as a part of my RPDP class with +Jerrad Barczyszyn.

*side note: I blame him for my love of ed tech...he showed me how interesting and exciting class could be with tech integration.  Thanks Jerrad.*

Right so...the point of this post:

Yesterday was day 1 of the second week of school...the first week was all half days...this week full days.  *I'm so tired!*

I teach technology to K-8 students.  Since last week was half days and I'm teaching a "special" I had no time to start with my typical Capturing Kids' Hearts Social Contract.  So that was the plan for this week.  However, I had to figure out how, exactly, to integrate technology into that.

Now, I realize and recognize and appreciate that technology doesn't always and shouldn't always be used...especially just for the sake of technology.  So if I was a homeroom teacher, I probably wouldn't have done this...but I'm the technology teacher.  I kind of think...I'm supposed to do it this way.

Typically, students will work in a small group, brainstorming words or phrases to the 4 questions that guide our social contract.  Instead of having us work in small groups, I had them work independently on Padlet.  The way I explained it was - instead of giving them all Post It Notes to stick on the wall with their words/phrases, they needed to post them on the Padlet.  Re: CKH...I explained that even if a word came up that they were going to use, they needed to write it too because I wanted them to be heard.  I wanted everyone to have a voice.

All in all, I'd say that it went pretty darn well!  6 classes...5 were scheduled to create the social contract...and only 1, due to poor choices, had to use the paper and pencil technique!  They seemed to enjoy it.

We will see how today goes!!  Have you used it?  What did you think?

 

Google "Keep"ing It Together

So life has been crazy to say the least this summer.

1) Wedding
2) House hunting
3) Cross country move
4) New job - new school
and all the unpacking and cleaning that comes with 3 and 4!!

So today I decided to stop for a minute and do a quick vlog on Google Keep.  It has literally helped me keep my brain from exploding.

Enjoy!

What can you use Google Keep for?

Pokemon Ideas

I have been playing Pokemon Go for the past 4-5 days.

I've seen the support from fellow educators and friends and I have seen the disapproval from fellow educators and friends as well.  I don't necessarily announce it to the world, but I'm kind of enjoying it. I'm also not going out walking trying to track them down.  I look when I'm sitting at my desk or walking to a meeting or walking my dog.  Right now, Pokemon hunting isn't my priority, but it is something fun to do for a brain break...along the lines of checking my Facebook or online shopping.*

*the kind where you put it in your shopping cart and then close the window...who's with me??


However, my brain has been endlessly (or at least it feels that way) processing and trying to figure out how to make use of this game that has so many people obsessed!

My non-educator friends will argue there is no educational purpose in the game.  I won't argue because, much like their profession - I don't understand their goals and focus, and they don't understand mine.  I'm not looking for a way to make throwing the pokeball (is that what it's called?) and catching the creator educational.  Yea...at it's base, this is not an educational game.  So, why not make it one?  Why not?

So I have done some reading and I have been (like I said) doing some thinking.  Here's my very rough list of ideas...no details yet.  It's all still very theoretical and not fleshed out.
*behavior management - think Class Dojo meets Pokemon
*mapping skills - plot of a Google map where and what you catch - collaborative
*animal research - research the animal different Pokemon are based on - where does it live, what does it eat, how has it evolved, etc.  Assign points based on different aspects of animal characteristics...similar to Pokemon.  Create a Global Pokemon map showing where different animals can be caught and how many points they can get by catching them.  Go even further and plan out adventures...think Oregon Trail...what supplies will you need based on the environment and distance you'll travel. (I'm thinking this one out as I'm typing and getting kind of excited!!)
*literature/SS Go style game - students create a game similar to Pokemon Go with different characters in a story/throughout history.  As characters are caught, the designer also provides some interesting facts that are meant to entice students to learn more.  They can learn more by following clues and "capturing" more information about story/history.

Again all of these ideas are super surface with nothing carved in stone but I would love to hear from you.  Can you elaborate on anything?  Do you want to collaborate on anything?

shameless promotion OR copyright lesson

You be the judge.

Sooo, I recently decided to take the dive and start uploading to Teachers Pay Teachers.  Initially, I was very against the idea.  The very core of education is legal thievery...or at least that's how it always felt.  But that was when you were in a building and everyone shared within that 1 building. Now, just like with the kids, the audience of teachers is more global.

So why not try to help a fellow Disney lover.  Yup...at this point (and anyone that knows me will NOT be surprised) everything is Disney inspired because well that's me and my style.  I love me some Mickey Mouse.  :)  Anyway, if I'm taking the time to create something that is Disney and copyright appropriate AND someone else can use it, why not put it on TpT?  And if I can make $2 for it...I think my time spent and their time saved is worth that.  Granted, nothing has been bought or downloaded but I've also only been uploading since 5 days ago.  I think I'm ok with that.

Anyway...shameless promotion part - GO! My store is my handle: EBGtech.

Now...to the copyright lesson.  One year ago, Tony Vincent came and presented to the teachers that I work with.  He showed us so many A-MAZ-ING tools.  I was completely overwhelmed and there was no way I would remember everything.  I picked up a few tools to use right away.  Other things have been in my back pocket...just waiting.  Well, about a week ago, one of those tools came out!

The Noun Project!  It's a website with icons that you can either download for free and give attribution to OR you can buy the image royalty free for $1.99.  It's your choice.  And if you decide to give attribution, they download the information on the image for you!  The only thing you have to do is copy the link from the webpage and share that with the image.  WHAT?!  They are doing the work for you.  Cause we all know you can copy and paste at this point.

I haven't opted for the $1.99 yet just because I'm stingy and I don't mind giving credit.  However, I can see how it would be useful.  The name of the icon creator is right there in the middle of my image.  Hmmmm...I don't care enough to pay for it, but you might.

Great tool for you and great tool for your kids!  Talk about an easy way to teach them about digital citizenship.

So now you get to decide...did I shamelessly promote OR did I share a new awesome tool for images with appropriate copyright information?

https://thenounproject.com/search/?q=laptop&i=531255

There's SMORE To Do...

Before I get started I'd like to say my friends +Ms.Kiersten Baschnagel and +LaRenda Norman are the ladies turned me onto Smore.  They use it regularly and inspired me to give it a whirl!

And now....

One of the (arguably) most repeated questions in a classroom is "What do I do now?".  This is a question you become well versed with as a 1st year teacher.  I learned early the beauty of the default answer, "Read a book".  However, as I have gone through the years, I learned also, that isn't always the best response.  I figured this out when I would see kids open a book and stare with no turning pages.

Yup...they were getting a lot out of that particular activity.

I've discovered the beauty of choices for students.  Will there always be the opportunity to read a book?  YES!  Cause I was that kid.  I want to read...especially if I'm in the middle of a really good book...say for example, Harry just found out that Sirius Black, the man who is after him, helped Voldemort kill his parents?!  WHAT?!?!  I want any excuse to pick that book up again.

(Yes, I'm re-reading the Harry Potter series and even as an adult...at work...what I wouldn't give for a chance to be done so I can catch up on my book.)

HOWEVER...there will be other options.  Especially since this year I am taking the role of a computer teacher, so to speak.  In the computer lab, with so much technology at my finger tips???  I couldn't possibly ask students to exclusively read a book when they finish something.  No...they need more options.  This is where the Smore came in.

Smore is a essentially a place to design newsletters.  However, their graphic rich designs make it visually appealing.  You can add whatever content you decide is needed.  You can share online or print hard copies.  And as an educator you can get a discounted account.  The free account only allows you to create 5 smores total.  So even if you create 5 and then delete 4...nope you're done.

I know...I just tried.

So in my Smore you can see that I have crafted a variety of choices for students to do if they are done or even if they are stuck...kids get writer's block too.  I have ideas focused on their projects as well as ways to create their own projects.  And I want their feedback, their ideas, and their questions.  I want them to feel heard.

Would you use Smore?  What for?  (hahahaha - I so want to keep going)
Please I would appreciate any extra ideas or feedback on my Smore.
Leave them in the comments.

https://www.smore.com/bryq4

What is Voxer?

Ok I'm going to say that I only have a slight idea what it is.  It seems like it's a messenger app.  I can send messages.  I can send voice messages.  So what's the big deal?

Well I have an iPhone and my other half has an android.  No comment.

The point is...that I can't send him a VM in iMessage.  With Voxer I can.  That's nice.  But what else?

And then that leads me to the classroom and PD in schools.  How can I use it?

I'm writing this as I'm reading +Matt Miller post on Voxer too.  I see there are a variety of chats on Voxer.  So I'm thinking like Twitter but in a "messenger" format instead.  I laughed when he said he decided to try 3, cause I want to observe 1 first. I'm not about jumping in and getting overwhelmed. LOL but that's because I won't be able to take anything away like he does.  I'd just freak out and delete the app.  Trust me.  I did it with Twitter.  At least 3 times.  :)

So in Matt's post there's a link to some Voxer chats.  I think I'm going to go try to join one and I'll report back at a later date.  I'd like to see how it compares to what I'm imagining...which is Twitter. After I stopped deleting it.  ;)

***Update***

I now use Voxer regularly!  And I LOVE it!  I'm in a Catholic Ed chat.  It's a great support network that I go to often with lots of questions.  It's so amazingly helpful when it comes to the unique perspective of working in a Catholic school.  I also recently joined a group that is for support for blogging.  I really enjoy blogging.  It helps take what's in my head and think through and organize it. We are very new but everyone is so very active.  It's thrilling and inspirational.  I also use Voxer for my school's Sunshine Committee.  Or at least I'm working on it.  The idea is that everyone is so busy, I'd love to be able to propose ideas and/or ask questions to get feedback in real time but around everyone's busy schedule.  I want the team to know we don't HAVE to meet after school...5 seconds at any point in the day to answer is PERFECT!

I also use it with a friend of mine.  It makes it possible and dare I say "EASY" to chat while making dinner...juggling kids...working on grading...etc.

I can't wait to explore more.  I know there is a Voxer group for #edumatch and there's a Voxer Edcamp.  Please if you're in a Voxer group that you'd like to share...pop it in the comments and I'll either join or tweet it out there.  Thanks!

I'm not "SLACK"ing off...

So I have found that working 2 jobs, wedding planning, and just trying to keep up with life in general has caused me to drop the ball on a few things.  I just can't keep up with it all.

That being said, I'm OK with that. *statement retraction*

I'm not OK with that.  Funny thing is that my priorities are (maybe) a little off.  What I'm OK with is not working at home.  What I'm not OK with is that I cannot clean my home.  Laundry piles up, mail collects on my table, and let's not even talk about the bathroom that keeps the liter box for Max (the cat).

Now...personal rant over. Back to what I am OK with.

I am OK with not working at home.  One of the reasons I'm OK with that is because when I do get to work the next day, my email isn't stacked miles high.  There are a few emails and I can organize and handle that.

The reason my inbox isn't so overwhelming is because my team is testing out Slack.  Slack is really awesome because it's basically a chat that can hold documents.  You can have team chats and 1:1 chats.

It took me time time to really start using it but now I feel like it's really part of my daily routine.  If you can imagine (think wavy Scooby Doo lines and sound effects):  You send an email with facts and questions to one or multiple people.  Someone emails back (not reply all) with some answers that lead to more questions.  You have to reply all with questions and answers to some people but not everyone.  Then someone else responds with a reply all, but doesn't answer some of the questions.  So then someone else replies, but you don't see it cause it wasn't a reply all, so you don't know those answers and have to send another email to get some information.  And back and forth and back and forth and etc.  Are you overwhelmed yet?  Is your inbox overflowing yet?  And you can't delete any of them because of the various pieces of information in all the different emails.

Or you can use Slack.  All in one place.  No inbox.  Everyone can see everything.  The end.

An Island of Images

Right?  My title gives you NO indication what my post will be about.  HA!  That's ok.  I'll explain it here and I'll also explain the title.

I'm going to talk about Pixabay.

Title first: In my head a bay = an island.  While geographically incorrect, it's the word association my brain uses to remember the website.  I can call it what I want.  :)  Pix = pics = an image.  Get it?!  Get it?! Huh?! Huh?!

The "a" is inconsequential.

This summer Tony Vincent came and talked to a group of teachers that I work with and one of his suggestions for finding images for presentations was Pixabay.

Why use that when Google images has all of the possible wondrous images that you could ever image?  Well....because of copyright laws.  That's why.

Pixabay images are from users who upload the images and you have free right to use them, change them, reprint them, etc. all without giving credit.  You are totally in the legal free and clear when using Pixabay.

Why does this matter?
It matters because back in the day when the only thing teachers and students did was create a power point and show it within their own classroom or school.  While that was still not legal, nobody really knew and it could easily be "swept under the rug" and ignored.  Now your audience, whether you are a teacher or a student, is on a much more global scale.  Folks are bound to notice if you are using their material illegally.  Or maybe they won't.  But do you really want to 1) risk it? 2) set that example for your students?

Nope.

Give Pixabay a chance.  They have some really amazing pictures.  You may even consider uploading some of your own and know that other educators out there are using them and sighing in relief because they are in the copyright free and clear.

Blab Blab Blab Blab...Beta

Recently Periscope has been a tech tool that has everyone a buzz.  To be able to cast to anyone, or specific someones, in real time - at the moment - has been awesome!  And don't get me wrong, it's still awesome and still has some great potential for educational purposes.  I may even blog about it at some point.

But what I want to talk about today is Blab.  It's an app that I recently found.  I want to say that I discovered it from a Tony Vincent tweet.  I gave it as an option to one of my teachers who was looking to support his Physics classes outside of school hours.  After that, I didn't focus on it too much.  Not because I didn't want to but because I had other things I was focused on.  Don't judge...you're busy too.  ;)

So a couple of days ago, I decided I wanted to explore Blab more.  As opposed to Periscope, you can actively engage with viewers.  So I want to actively engage with you!!  Plus, you can schedule a Blab and get a link ahead of time in order to be prepared.

<Tangent> That's me.  I like to be prepared.  Probably a little too prepared if you ask any of my family and friends.  A back up plan for my back up plan for my plan.  And even then, different versions of all the back up plans.  What?! <Tangent End>

I tried to schedule and hold a test Blab yesterday, but was at the dentist getting some fillings done. BOO! And decided my mouth may be a little too tender to have strangers looking at my face.  I rescheduled the test for today at 8PM EST (because my face is not tender...my dentist is GREAT!).

Tonight's Blab will be 15 min.  It's called Bedtime Stories and I will ask 1 question.  Share your stories with me.  Teachers are amazing story tellers...so here's a chance to share.  Join me tonight: https://blab.im/erin-g-bedtime-stories-test-blab-1

See you then!

Want to get "Buffer"?

A colleague of mine, that is also pretty active on Twitter, recently introduced me to a website called Buffer.  It allows you to decide how often to send out tweets and schedule those tweets ahead of time. When he first explained it to me I admit I was a little lost as to why I would need something like this website in my life.  Then I tried it.

I now know "all the whys" that this website should be in my life!

1) It allows me to plan out and schedule my tweets ahead of time.
    I was always curious how fellow Twitter teachers always had the time to post something every 30       minutes or every hour or whatever their time frame.  I still don't know how some of them do it, but     I know what I do!

2) I want to start building a bigger presence on Twitter.
    I can't build a presence on Twitter if I'm not on Twitter.  I want what I say and do to have an      
    impact.  Again, I cannot do this, if I'm not on Twitter.  So simple solution, Buffer does all the work     for me and tweets out what I have schedule.

3) Of course, as a teacher, I immediately start thinking of the possibilities this could have for a    
    classroom.  
    Teachers know their assignments and tests well in advance.  You can schedule reminder tweets and     focus on in the moment tweets as they come up.  What about PD for teachers?  Schedule tips and
    reminders of what was covered to keep the material fresh in everyone's minds.  Do your parents
    follow you?  Tweet school events, classroom homework, blog posts, etc. to keep parents informed
    of what's going on in your classroom.  Should Admin use it?  DEFINTINELY!  It would be a
    fantastic way to send out positive notes to your staff as a whole.  In addition to reminders of  
    meetings or upcoming events.

Ok so those may not be "all the whys" but it's a pretty good start.  I definitely highly recommend using this website.  You do have to create an account (I created my account through my Twitter account so it was one less account to keep track of) but it's free unless you decide to "Upgrade to Awesome".