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Friday, November 20, 2015

K-5: NISD Digital Badges!

Academic Technology has recently started a new Digital Badge recognition program! We know that teachers and administrators like you are making big differences everyday for our NISD students when it comes to 21st century teaching and learning. We wanted a way to recognize those difference-makers.  When you earn a digital badge, I will send you and your admin. an email recognizing you.  You will be able to add the digital badges to your email signature line.

I do my best to acknowledge teachers as I see them demonstrating these tools in their classrooms and instruction. This is sometimes a difficult task being at 6 campuses. I don't always see all of the great things that you are doing in your classroom. Please feel free to send me an email and include pictures, if you'd like, letting me know how you are utilizing these tools. You can also send me an email and nominate a coworker for the great things they are doing as well.   Click the image to see all of the badges currently available. 


2nd: Urban, Suburban & Rural Communities

This activity can be assigned in Google Classroom or used as a whole group lesson. The Google Slides presentation has several locations with links to Google Maps. Students should be able to see from the map whether the location is urban, suburban, or rural. Google Maps also provides the population.  
Click on the image and then click File, Make a copy to use this activity!  The copy will save to your Google Drive.

3-5: Fake Book Page for Historical Figures

After researching a historical figure, students can complete this Fakebook page Slideshow to share what they have learned. 
Click on the image, then click File, Make a Copy the use this activity.

Friday, November 13, 2015

K-5 Thanksgiving Activities

Here are some fun techie Thanksgiving activities!
Scholastic Magazine Article- will read aloud to students
Thanksgiving Interactive- Click "Begin Your Adventure"
Technology Rocks. Seriously! & Cybrary Man's Educational Web Sites- These sites have tons of additional Thanksgiving resources! 

Thanksgiving Boggle (making words)- assign this Google Slides activity in Google Classroom (or use as a whole group activity).  Students will make as many word as they can using the letters T-H-A-N-K-S-G-I-V-I-N-G.  Click on the image and then click File, Make a Copy to use.

K-2: Kidspiration "I am thankful" turkey! I have already added the template to the "Projects--Work" folder for your campus.  Students will just open the file from the work folder and then add text or click and drag pictures to the work space.  This is what the template looks like:

K-1: Letter Sound Activities

Here is a lesson created by another coach focusing on letter sounds.  Print and cut out the letter sound QR codes, students will scan the QR codes, listen for the sound and record the letter on their recording sheet.  The letter sounds were recorded using Vocaroo- you can use this program to quickly record your voice and create QR codes.


Click File, Make a Copy to save to your Drive
QR Codes
Recording Sheet
Augmented Reality Flashcards Animals is an engaging app for students to use to practice letter sounds. Print the Flashcards from the website (cardstock works best!), download the app on the ipads/ipods, students open the app and hover the device over the flashcard, the animal will "come to life" and if you tap the screen, it will say the letter sound for the animal.  The kiddos LOVE it!  It's even great for Pre-K.
Check out the student engagement in Mrs. Warden's class (Reading Specialist) at Ellison Elementary. https://youtu.be/RVSGqlBZFes


Monday, November 9, 2015

K-5: Veterans Day Activities

Pebble Go has a great Veterans Day article.  
Email me or ask your librarian for the username/password!

Brainstorm a list of key attributes a soldier must have and then have students complete the following Google Slides activity in Google Classroom (or complete as a whole class).  Click File, Make a Copy to use this activity. 
Have students create biographical poems about a soldier using this outline:
Students can complete this Veterans Day web scavenger hut using the U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs website.

Here are some free Thank You, Hero printables from A Cupcake For the Teacher on TPT.  A friend of mine is currently deployed, so let me know if you need a "Hero" to write to!  



Friday, November 6, 2015

Tools for Formative Assessment


In his newsletter to the staff this week, NISD Superintendent Brian Woods mentions using formative assessment to guide instruction.  Here are some tools you can use in your classroom to quickly assess your students and check for understanding!

Plickers is a tool you can use to gather data with just ONE teacher device (even your iphone or android phone will work!).  You simply print the Plickers cards from the website, create questions in your Plickers account and display on your projector, have students hold up the Plickers cards to answer, and the teacher scans the room!  



Print on Card Stock

Check out Mrs. Bunn & Mrs. Hardin using Plickers with their class at Beard Elementary!   

Kahoot! is another formative assessment tool you can use with your class.  Create quizzes on the website (there are also thousands of already created quizzes you can choose from), then students answer on their device (computer, ipad, phone, etc).  This tool is great for review and is really motivating for students because it shows a leaderboard.  The students love it!

Here is counselor Mrs. Van Allen at Beard Elem. using Kahoot with her 2nd grade class!

Formative is a tool that will show student work/results in real time. It is very easy to use, check out the website for more information.

Mrs. Spiekerman's 5th grade class at Beard Elementary using Formative!


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