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The Seesaw Classroom: Engagement for Students & Parents!

Seesaw

Click the link below to access my google slide about Seesaw:

https://goo.gl/bZimMY

It’s a new kind of see saw....

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Storyboard That!!

Storyboard That is a web-based tool that students LOVE! It can be accessed on any device because it is web-based. It is user-friendly because it allows users to sync with google accounts, which is very helpful for us, elementary teachers. Once students create an account, it will allow them to create two storyboards for free. However, if your kids LOVE it as much as mine, you can purchase a classroom  account with 50 students for 9.99 a month or 59.99 a year. The purchased account allows for you and your students to print, download, upload, and send creations without the “DEMO” covering their creations. 

 How can you use Storyboard That in your classroom?

-THEY will find thousands of ways to use it.. including for recess fun, However, here are my top 5 favorite ways to use it:

#1. Book Clubs: They can share what happened in their chapter, share their favorite line, present a book review or summarize the whole book.

#2. Writing: They make excellent planners for stories because students can get ideas from images that help use figurative language and sensory details in their writing. 

#3. Math: Students can make their problems come to live with all the characters, scenes, and text boxes. 

#4. Science: Students can share research or steps for a specific topic with the easy boxes of information and images. 

#5. Social Studies: We love to share a timeline of a persons life through the storyboard. Since it has so many eras, it offers more real like characters of past people from history. 

GO EXPLORE FOR YOURSELF! YOU will have fun...

Click below to go to Storyboard That:

http://www.storyboardthat.com/

Click here to watch a how to video about how to use 

storyboard:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zsDryTkqdrY 

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Google Classroom

Google Classroom seemed like a foreign deity when I was trying it out and even attended workshops on it. It seems like most people want you to experience it as a student, but not really share with you as a teacher. So my goal is to share some things from both sides.  My students are third graders and LOVE it, actually, they are better with it than I am at times. It is a great tool for teachers to get assignments out to their students quickly and for students to turn in assignments as well.

 Here is a quick video about google classroom that explains how to get started.

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

Here are the notes to video if you want to print them out as you do what the video suggests...

http://docs.google.com/presentation/d/12m6C-fbpUPlQK8ucG45RmUFU_lc54-ht0bdAlDe2tbA/present?slide=id.g8ee6bbba9_00  

Quick Things to Double Check FOR YOURSELF:

-MODEL how to raise your hand when there is a problem and you cannot figure it out, 22 kids saying, "AHHH!" is stressful!

-MODEL, ask a buddy before you... there is always a tech expert near you...

-MODEL how to have a growth mindset... you are learning something new, so do not FREAK OUT when you cannot get it.

-LET STUDENTS have a "non-curriculum" assignment first, to explore!! THEN, add in content... -If you want students to edit, make sure you give them editing rights.

-If you want them to make a copy DO NOT GIVE THEM EDITING rights

.-If you are having them fill out a form, make sure you use the share link NOT add people to share. 

 -REMEMBER EVERYTHING CAN BE FIXED! DO NOT STRESS! GIVE YOURSELF GRACE & YOUR STUDENTS!  

 Quick Things to Double Check WITH STUDENTS: 

-Add Google Classroom to your webpage, so students can log-in and bookmark for later usage. (Check to make sure ALL bookmark!!)

-Make sure they log in as a student.

 -Make sure you model how to: file, MAKE A COPY, as soon as they click an assignment. 

-Make sure you model how to turn in the assignment they made a copy of...

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Notability

WHAT IS NOTABILITY?

 Notability is a app that you can use for many things in the classroom. It is used best with IPADS!! It allows students to make sketchnotes, or visual notes about a specific topic in a fun engaging way. It consists of both words and images to tell about a story, topic, generate ideas for writing or explain a vocabulary word that is important to the student. 

WHY YOU SHOULD USE IT IN THE CLASSROOM?

This type of note-taking is using higher order thinking skills because they are using a combination of listening, thinking, and visualizing all at the same time. The use of the visuals will help students recall information more easily because it was created own their own, versus just getting a handout with the given information. It also allows students to make more personal connections to what they are learning about and include that in their sketch. IT IS FUN AND CREATIVE, TWO OF MY FAVORITE THINGS!!!

 HOW TO USE IT?

 Here are a couple videos on how to use it and you can watch those anytime you need a refresher on how to use it:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=evGDb1mNJAQ 

 Here are a couple of things I have made in Notability to show you:

Book Review- drive.google.com/file/d/0B3J_muYuYxJ_Zl9RXzg4cXJJU2c/view?usp=sharing 

Writing Brainstorm- drive.google.com/file/d/0B3J_muYuYxJ_V3N3RFZ2NGhHd2c/view?usp=sharing

Science- drive.google.com/file/d/0B3J_muYuYxJ_V3N3RFZ2NGhHd2c/view?usp=sharing

Math- drive.google.com/file/d/0B3J_muYuYxJ_bnNRaURiX0xMMlk/view?usp=sharing

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I love using music in the classroom. They are great for inspiration, motivation, transitions, and lyrical poetry. When students have to think deeply by inferring what the lyrics mean with evidence, they are really growing their brain. 

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Using Google Forms

Click the link below to see how you can use google forms in your classroom: 

http://docs.google.com/document/d/1IPlhDCDUpL35-IobWHZ6USeSJoKiSWoZEK9taRIizME/pub 

EXAMPLES:

Here is an example of what I use on the first week of school:

 http://goo.gl/forms/GX65dBYdx3 

 Make a copy and edit version:

 http://goo.gl/forms/foOG6YKL8dqrY6oG3 

Using it with the quizzes feature:

http://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdVMZ7vqeSPYDnlOclxZe92dOMcwKT4Ahd5tDVfl-hOFx4RIQ/viewform  

Here is an example of how to use it for parent conferences:

 http://goo.gl/forms/CdAr9QmjcR  

Here is an example of using it for ELAR:

http://goo.gl/forms/L3pzWGEfNgqi7xpe2 

Here is a Math Example:

  http://goo.gl/forms/Kx83bSqaJ0DbNzFq1

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Google Docs

Click on the link below to see how to use Google Docs in your classroom: 

http://docs.google.com/document/d/12N_DZVBNheZ57h-FJ1yblLTiMIP6gFZYJPZXaPhK30U/pub

Click below to see an ELAR doc we use in class a lot:

http://docs.google.com/document/d/1-3bRXhD5AjF_IebjyyzmnyARD6lLoJlZqjjgQ89ykiE/edit?usp=sharing

This is a instructional strategy from www.leadforward.com that is used along with a text you are reading. It could be a picture/caption, fiction/non-fiction, whatever your needs are. 

Here is a student example that was created: 

http://docs.google.com/document/d/1FsKhJgRhWJEiItuH77BDjg3KxZbWWjEGfQlwRHst524/edit?usp=sharing

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QR CODES!

WHAT IS A QR CODE?

QR CODE- A QR CODE STANDS FOR QUICK RESPONSE. IT IS A BAR CODE THAT CAN STORE LINKS TO WEBSITES, SPECIFIC TEXT OR INFORMATION, PHONE NUMBERS, EMAILS, AND OTHER DATA.

http://www.teachertube.com/video/qr-codes-what-are-they-266984

QR CODES BENEFIT STUDENTS IN MANY WAYS:

1)      ENGAGEMENT!! THEY LOVE NEW THINGS AND THIS IS A GREAT HOOK TO GET THEM EXCITED ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE LEARNING!

2)      QUICK ACCESS!! I AM A FAN OF SAVING TIME AND THIS ALLOWS YOU TO DO THAT!!

3)      EASY TO USE!! THERE ISN'T ANYTHING TOO DIFFICULT ABOUT USING THESE, KIDS CAN USE THEM AND USE THEM IN MANY WAYS ALL YEAR LONG!

4)      EASY WAY TO DISPLAY STUDENT WORK!! YOU CAN LINK THINGS STUDENTS HAVE CREATED TO A QR CODE AND THEY LOVE SEEING WHAT OTHERS ARE MAKING OR ARE INTERESTED IN.

 *** BE SURE YOU HAVE CHECKED WITH THE SECRETARY ABOUT WHO CAN AND CAN'T BE PHOTOGRAPHED BEFORE YOU ALLOW THEM TO CREATE THINGS!!***

WHERE CAN I GET THEM OR HOW CAN I MAKE THEM?

1) PINTEREST AND TEACHERS PAY TEACHERS HAVE A LOT OF ALREADY MADE QR CODES DEPENDING ON WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR. IT IS WORTH SPENDING SOME TIME LOOKING AT BOTH!

2)YOU CAN GO TO SEVERAL WEBISTES TO CREATE QR CODES, HERE ARE SOME I USE:

WWW.QRSTUFF.COM

WWW.GOQR.ME

WWW.QRVOICE.NET

WWW.CLASSTOOLS.NET/QR

3)AFTER YOU HAVE MADE ONE OR FOUND ONE YOU LIKE, YOU WILL NEED TO DOWNLOAD THE APPS SO STUDENTS CAN SCAN THEM TO ACTUALLY USE THEM! HERE ARE A FEW, YOU CAN DOWNLOAD:

-NEOREADER

-QUICKSCAN

-QRAFTER

**IF YOU ARE A BYOT CLASSROOM, PROVIDE PARENTS WITH A LIST OF APPS TO DOWNLOADAND HAVE THAT AVAILABLE AT MEET THE TEACHER OR THE FIRST WEEK OF SCHOOL! ****

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First Things First!

"AS WE GROW AS UNIQUE PERSONS, WE MUST LEARN TO RESPECT THE UNIQUENESS OF OTHERS."

That quote was from Robert Schuller in Richard Lavoie's book: THE MOTIVATIONAL BREAKTHROUGH

Motivation and Engagement through technology sounds amazing, but in truth, THEY WILL FAIL without building relationships with your students.  

http://youtu.be/mWJs2Gof538

   The video above states: "If we don't come together, right here, on this hollow ground, we too, will be destroyed. I don't care if you like each other or not, but you will respect each other and maybe we will learn to play this sport like men. "- Remember the Titans 

Richard Lavoie discuss 6 C's to motivation and in each motivation technique he gives, the underlining focus is one thing...YOU! YOU, as the teacher have the biggest impact in a student's life, your tone, your approach; your actions foster learning or crush it. I'm sure there is a gray area in there, but if you look through the eyes of a child there aren't as many gray areas developed yet. 

Lavoie mentions that physicians, nurses, and counselors have a motto, we should follow: "BEFORE CLIENTS CARE HOW MUCH YOU KNOW, THEY MUST KNOW HOW MUCH YOU CARE." I would like to add GENUINELY to that statement and then maybe, that might help us truly see through all the fluff and chaos of education, and find the heart of why, we do what we do. Kids of ALL ages can sense and feel "genuine care," so when you do that 1st, engagement and motivation will follow suit. 

Every technique we try in class are merely fun approaches to learning. Today, I will show you several ways, I have personalized my approach to building relationships, thus fostering motivation and engagement through technology. On my teaching team, we say, “USE, TWEAK, OR TRASH any ideas you hear or see.” That is the way of life, we learn the best from those around us and hope I can offer something you can use in your own classroom. 

 If you would like to read more about Richard Lavoie and his book, follow the link here:to buy his book:  

http://www.amazon.com/The-Motivation-Breakthrough-Secrets-Tuned-Out/dp/0743289617

His website:

http://www.ricklavoie.com/motivationbreakthrough.html

 Here are tools I use to motivate/engage that are based off of building a relationship with students:

1. Positive Affirmation- I use “bucket notes”, which comes from https://twitter.com/BucketFillers1

 You can also use other things like: sticky notes, picture frames, or a pat on the back, as long as it is a intentional positive word to let students know you appreciate their efforts and who they are as a human. 

 2. Positive Rewards NOT prizes- try a call home to their mom or another teacher to tell them about a success they had that day, a cool necklace badge that says "ask me about a goal I met," or a eat lunch in the classroom pass. 

3. Conversation log/journal- a place where students can write down what they are feeling and get those things off their chest. Most kids need time to let go of what happened on the way to school or the night before, etc.. 

 ~ All these are tools, that can be changed or altered based on the needs of your students. The idea is to try something and see what works and what doesn't work. ~