Tech Tip of the Week
Nearpod is here to save the day!
This month, I have had the extreme pleasure of introducing Nearpod to our staff during the February Lunch & Learns. And if the app alone didn't sell itself, I was also able to give out these super-fancy 3-in-1 pens! Thank you, Nearpod!  It didn't take long for Nearpod to catch on! Here are just a few of its features:
If you missed the Lunch & Learn, you can click here to see resources I've provided including a Cheat Sheet! But you completely missed out on the Nutter Butters...  Maybe it was the contest-announcement for the three Gold licenses, maybe it's because Nearpod is totally rad, but whatever it was... it was contagious! Teachers were sending me all sorts of photos of their students using and LOVING Nearpod!    Mrs. Gonzalez' High School Physics Class Mrs. Gonzalez learned about Nearpod during the high school Lunch & Learn, which is 4th period. These pictures were taken during 6th period on the SAME DAY! She went back to her room from the Lunch & Learn, converted a Powerpoint presentation she was going to originally show into a Nearpod presentation, and had her students use their own devices to view the presentation. Students were saying things like, "This is really cool!" and "Can we please use this again tomorrow?"       Miss Maxwell's Kindergarten Class Miss Maxwell's interest was peaked about Nearpod during the Lunch & Learn and immediately scheduled a brainstorming conference so that we could come up with a way to use Nearpod in with her kindergarteners. Since the students had been learning about the -ake word family, she decided that Nearpod would be a great way to make her lesson interactive. Mrs. Robinson's 4th Grade Math Classes Mrs. Robinson was excited to use Nearpod with her math classes. She is always looking for ways to make math word problems and calculations more interactive & engaging and Nearpod was here answer! She turned a boring worksheet into an interactive opportunity for students to show what they know!    Mrs. Pratt's 4th Grade Reading Classes Mrs. Pratt had used Nearpod previously, but was thankful to be introduced to some of Nearpod's new features, especially the ability to be used on ANY device. While Mrs. Pratt has nearly 80 4th grade students, she definitely has a shortage of devices for those students. She allows students to bring their own devices everyday. So when she was ready to share her Nearpod presentation, students used the device they were most familiar with... their own! Look at all those different devices!  Ms. Garner's 2nd Grade Class Ms. Garner has been looking to differentiate instruction with her second graders to maximize her time and her students' learning. She saw Nearpod as the perfect opportunity to do just that! If you are using Nearpod in your classroom, please share photos with mindi.vandagriff@annaisd.org |
How to Make a {Cutesy} Email Signature
I've been getting a lot of inquiries lately on how I made my email signature in Outlook mail. So I decided to make a short video tutorial on how to create your own! |
Google Drive Explained!
Google Drive seems like it has been all the craze lately! And with 30 GB of FREE storage, virtually no collaboration boundaries, and accessible from anywhere…. I can see why! We are a Google Apps for Education district which means that not only do staff already have a way to login to Google Drive with Anna ISD credentials, but so do students! Being together under the same Google domain (Anna ISD) gives us a chance to share and create across the district! This presentation will explain Google Drive from top to bottom and when finished, you’ll not only be ready to use Google Drive to its fullest, but ready to help your students start using it, too!  |
Make QR Codes Work FOR You!
A QR Code is a a machine-readable code consisting of an array of black and white squares, typically used for storing URLs or other information for reading by the camera on a smartphone. QR stands for "Quick Response".  This school year, you can turn any website or resource into a scannable barcode accessible from any smart device. A great way to utilize this tool is to create a QR code for your class website or blog and display or copy for parents on Meet the Teacher Night. That way, parents can easily follow your class website or blog by simply scanning the code. Important information is literally at their fingertips. Here's how in a step-by-step guide: 1. Go to your class website, blog, or Facebook page and copy the URL. (Highlight the web address, URL, and right-click to select COPY.)  2. Go to QRStuff.com and paste the link in the box.  3. Use the color slider to select a color and a preview of the QR code will generate automatically.  4. Click "DOWNLOAD QR CODE" to save the image to your computer.   Example of flyer to hang  Example of business card |
Create a Class Facebook Page
A great way to communicate with students and parents is to create a Facebook page. Each person who signs up for Facebook has one account with login information. Each account can have a personal profile and manage multiple Pages.
Watch this short tutorial on how to create your class Facebook page: If you are a classroom teacher, be sure to get permission from parents to post pictures on social media! You can use a form I've already created. Complete the form below with your class Facebook page information, then print the form and send it home with your students!  Be sure to "LIKE" the Anna ISD Instructional Technology Facebook page for classroom technology resources throughout the school year!  |
Five Technology Lessons Every Teacher Can Teach
Do you want to jump on the technology-in-the-classroom train but just aren't sure where to start? Taken from EducationWorld.com, this Tech Tip of the Week provides five lesson plans that every teacher can teach. Click on each of the headlines below for a complete teaching resource. (Appropriate grade levels for each lesson appear in parentheses.)
More Technology Lessons Click here to view 20 additional lesson plans! For more easy technology-based activities, don't forget to check out Education World's archives of Techtorials, Scavenger Hunts, and WebQuests. Even More Technology Resources! PowerPoint -- Creating Classroom Presentations Back to School Technology Activities K-12 Technology Activities that Work That's the Way the Cookie Tumbles Excel-lent Middle School Math Lessons Web Cams Bring Lessons to Life Encourage Student Writing -- Publish on the Web Using Digital Cameras in the Classroom Digital Divide Project Computer Skills Lesson Plans K-6 Technology Lessons Kent School District K-6 Technology Lesson Plans CyberSmart K-8 Technology Lesson Plans and Activity Sheets K-12 Computer and Technology Lesson Plans Technology Lesson Plans for Grades 1-5 Computer and Internet Lesson Plans Best Practices of Technology Integration Technology Lessons Technology Lessons and Projects CIESE Collaborative Projects See more at: http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/lesson/lesson285.shtml#sthash.lzlEvOWy.dpuf |
Vocabulary: Using The Frayer Model & Google Docs
 What is the Frayer Model? The Frayer Model is a strategy that uses a graphic organizer for vocabulary building. This technique requires students to (1) define the target vocabulary words or concepts, and (2) apply this information by generating examples and non-examples. This information is placed on a chart that is divided into four sections to provide a visual representation for students. This instructional strategy promotes critical thinking and helps students to identify and understand unfamiliar vocabulary. The Frayer Model can be used with the entire class, small groups, or for individual work. The Frayer Model draws on a student's prior knowledge to build connections among new concepts and creates a visual reference by which students learn to compare attributes and examples.  Traditional Frayer Model Activities Pre-select a list of key vocabulary from a reading selection (or content area). The Frayer Model should be explained and a graphic organizer provided to each student. Then direct students to complete the template individually, in small groups or as a whole class. Model the type and quality of desired answers for the specific concept.
Frayer with Google Docs 1. Using Google Documents, prepare the group Google Documents ahead of time.
2. Pre-select the list of key vocabulary from a reading selection or content area. 3. Explain the graphic organizer to the students, and how you will group the students. 4. Conduct your normal vocabulary lesson as usual. 5. Direct your students to fill out their Frayer Model templates on the vocabulary words. 6. You can go into the templates and see the work that is being done and comment. 7. Students can work together collaboratively from home on this assignment. Why use Google documents with students to study vocabulary?
Links for more information: TEKS Objectives Met Reading
Writing
Technology Applications (Grades 3-5)
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