Building Relationships with Students

I have been a member of ASCD (formerly the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development) for most of my educational career.  I have found many of their publications to be of use to me, not only when I actively taught in the classroom, but also as I have continued my own education.  They publish books, newsletters, and are a wonderful online resource.  ASCD was founded in 1943, so they have been assisting educators for a long time.  In the latest edition of Education Update, dated December 2011, Brad Kuntz discusses how important it is to build personal relationships with students.  Even though this isn't necessarily a technology article, I could see how technology could be used to do some of the things he mentioned, so this week I'm going to paraphrase some of what he has said and include how technology could be used.

Kuntz says he has seen students who are failing all other classes receive the highest test score in his class.  Why?  Because the student felt a connection to Kuntz and wanted to do his best for him.  The relationship between a teacher and a student can have as much to do with a student's success as anything else.  The teacher who has earned the respect of the student is much more likely to keep that student engaged during instruction.  

Kuntz notes teachers can engage students by carefully sharing a more personal side of who they are and by getting to know the individuals in a classroom.  Giving students a glimpse of your personal life (without revealing anything private or controversial) can show them you are willing to open yourself up, invite them in, and trust them with a part of who you are.  Share humorous, exciting, meaningful, or even humbling or embarrassing stories that, at least, loosely relate to your content area.

For example, a math teacher could tell a story about screwing up a currency conversion while traveling overseas and grossly overpaying for a souvenir.  What if students entered the classroom seeing a picture of all sorts of currencies/monies on a screen projected from the teacher's computer?  You could even ask students if they could identify the money (which country) before sharing the personal story.

A history teacher could explain how they felt overcome emotionally while visiting the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, D.C.  Again, using a projected image of the Wall or other symbolism could be the "hook" to get students interested.  Sharing the personal story could then lead into the lesson or discussion on the Vietnam Conflict.

A foreign language teacher could share a humorous story about a mistranslation with embarrassing consequences.  There are several examples of these types of misses to find online, especially in the area of advertising.  Many common phrases used in the United States do not translate well into other languages and result in hilarious sayings!  After hearing the teacher's personal story, students could research the issue of translation from one language to another online and then share what they find.  This easily could lead to a discussion about advertising and how careful a company must be when designing an ad, especially when it involves language.

Students appreciate the opportunity to relax and be entertained, but in the meantime, they can see examples of your subject area in a real-world context.  Don't forget to share personal experiences which might also interest students who have similar experiences.  For example, on Monday tell your students about your weekend fishing trip or attendance at a sporting event or a concert.  There are bound to be students in your classroom who fish, like sports, or share an interest in music.  Make an effort to notice and comment to individual students about details specific to them.  This is difficult with as many as 40 students in a class, but that's also why it's much more important to students to be noticed.  Comment about the band on a student's t-shirt; compliment a student on the impressive doodle on their math notebook; or commend a student on their performance in a game or in a concert.  Show students you pay attention and you see value in what they are doing.  

No matter the method, developing personal relationships with students is a win-win!  Be a good role model and personally influence the young people in your classes in a positive manner.  Perhaps at the same time you'll increase their motivation to succeed and improve their academic habits.

Using Rubrics

Rubrics are a great way to quickly mark a student's performance.  In the Teacher Tip Newsletter of December 19th, from Teachnology, there were lots of quick, free rubrics spotlighted.  For most of the rubrics, you enter a title for the rubric, your school name, and your teacher name.  For several of them, you can select a graphic to appear on the rubric.  Once you make your selections and enter the required information, simply clicking the Generate button will give you a rubric ready to use.  In my case, once the rubric showed on the screen, I clicked the Print button in my browser and saved it as a pdf file so I could print it to use over and over.  I looked at samples of the following:

• Behavior
• Class Participation
• General
• Paragraph Writing
• Project
• Teamwork
• Writing

If you are truly tech-savvy and save the rubrics in Adobe pdf format, you might be able to run form field recognition on the rubrics and use them electronically, saving printing, ink and paper in the process.  It worked quite well for me on several of the rubrics.  The rubrics could then be sent by e-mail to the student or even to the parent/guardian.  

I hope you will try one of the rubrics provided free by Teachnology. 

The holidays are here!

There are only 5 shopping days left until Christmas, so if you haven't finished buying and wrapping your gifts, you still have time!  I wish all of you a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year.  I hope we all remember the reason for the season. 

I particularly enjoyed the way Germany observed the season when I lived there, so I thought I would share a little bit of information about their celebrations.  In Bavaria, St. Nikolaus comes on December 6th.  Children write letters to the good saint and put something to feed his horse/donkey at their door the night of December 5th.  They put their shoes beside the door, too, in hope St. Nick will leave them a gift of some kind - hopefully enough to fill their shoes!  Tradition says during the night St. Nickolaus goes from house to house carrying a book n which all the children's deeds are written.  If they've been good, they receive fruits, nuts, candies and maybe a small gift.  If they've not been good, they may find potatoes, coal or twigs in their shoes.  December 24th and 25th are reserved for the celebration of the Christ Child.  Candles are lit on Advent wreaths in the weeks previous to Christmas Day and stories and songs are shared about the birth of Jesus Christ.  Many homes have a Christmas pyramid which depicts the nativity scene.  The pyramid I have is built on the premise it "runs" on candle power.  The nativity scene is depicted on the bottom and the four candles surrounding it make just enough heat to turn the small fan blades at the top, which then turn the nativity scene.  The one I have is about one foot tall, but in Germany there are many Christmas pyramids which reach heights of many feet and are very elaborate.  On the night of December 24th, the Christkindl, or Christ Child, brings gifts to the children.  After the twelve days of Christmas (which run from December 25th to January 5th), January 6th is celebrated as All Kings Day.  This is the day the three wise men supposedly found the babe lying in a manger, worshiped Him and gave Him gifts.  Many doorways are marked in chalk with the initials of the three kings and the new year, for example "G+M+B+2012" (for Gaspar, Melchior and Balthasar), and hopefully this brings prosperity and good health to the inhabitants of the home during the coming year. 

If you want to find out more about St. Nicholas and different traditions, visit the St. Nicholas Center. 

Also celebrated during this time of year is the festival of Hanukkah and the celebration of Kwanzaa.  To find out more about Hanukkah, visit the Jewish Outreach Institute.  To find out more about Kwanzaa, visit The Official Kwanzaa Web Site.

Again, I wish all of you a very happy holiday break and hope everyone stays safe in your travels and gatherings.  Enjoy your  time with family and friends and come back in January ready to teach, learn, reach, and share!

Ring in the New Year with Writing!

In the latest edition of the Teacher Tip Newsletter, there are some writing prompts for the New Year I thought I would share:

1.  What is your New Year's resolution?  Do you think you can accomplish it?
2.  If you could make five positive changes in your life, what would they be?
3.  You are coming back from a New Year's Eve celebration when the snow starts to fall so hard you can't see in front of you.  You pull into a diner.  What happens next?
4.  Create a timeline of your entire last year.  Include all important events.
5.  What was your happiest day of last year?  Describe it in detail.
6.  What do you wish would happen to you this year?
7.  Think back to last year.  Describe the day that you wish you never got out of bed.

I thought these were great 'food for thought' questions and might be a good way to start out the new year/new semester.  Even if you don't use them as a specific writing assignment, you could project one or more of the questions on a screen the first day back as a bell ringer, an individual journal entry, or even as a whole-class discussion topic. 

Nothing like being sick to make you appreciate everything more!

Once again the pneumonia bug grabbed a hold of me.  I didn't feel too good over the first weekend in December and by Monday afternoon I was in the doctor's office.  Thinking I would get over it, I got an excuse for two days but by Wednesday it had moved into my chest and viral pneumonia set in.  I feel like I missed an entire week of my life, but at least I am on the mend and back in my office today!

I want to share a quick site which was suggested by Thinkfinity.  It's mainly for primary school ages, but could be used in elementary as well.  The site comes from ReadWriteThink and is called Puzzle Me Words.  To use the site, simply go to the link, click on Get Started and listen to the school bus introduction.  It is very simple!  There are two levels - beginner and advanced.  The beginner game gives the student a limited amount of letters to select from as they build a three-letter word.  A graphic of the item they are to spell shows and the student hears the word pronounced.  Then the student simply clicks and drags the appropriate letters to the puzzle piece spaces provided.  If they get the word correct, they'll hear it pronounced again, along with a congratulatory phrase and the school bus moves along the road at the bottom of the screen.  When the school bus moves across the finish line, the student earns a piece of a prize puzzle.  For the beginners, three pieces must be earned and for the advanced students, six pieces of the prize puzzle must be earned.  At the end when all the prize puzzle pieces have been earned, the student will have the option to print, save or e-mail their prize puzzle certificate.  The certificate can be printed for the student to color, so that's a nice option rather than just printing an already colored certificate. 

If you haven't checked Thinkfinity lately, you might think about taking a look there to see what you might be able to use for next semester!  They've spent quite a bit of time aligning lessons and activities with the new common core standards.  Content is being added all the time so give it a look soon!

Just five more weeks until 2012!

I realized this morning that 2011 is close to its end.  In a short five weeks with the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, the time will pass so quickly and the next thing we know it will be 2012!  I hope all of you had a relaxing Thanksgiving holiday with family and friends and hope you enjoy the next weeks as we celebrate Hanukkah, Christmas, and Kwanzaa.  The Time and Date site is a good place to check for information on current time, time zones, date calculators, sun and moon calculators, daylight saving time, weather and calendars.

In a recent communication I found a listing for "Bloom's Digital Taxonomy".   On this pyramid, you will find all sorts of links to technology you can use for the various levels of the taxonomy - remembering, understanding, applying, analyzing, evaluating, and creating.

For example, within the understanding portion, there is a link for JeopardyLabs.  On this site you can create your own Jeopardy style template online or browse and use templates created by others.  Some of the templates designed by others were obviously done by students, so be careful when selecting and using a template with a class.  If you find a template you'd like to use, simply click on the link, enter the number of teams and click Start.  The Jeopardy format will show and you can make your selections.  As a team answers correctly, you can click the green plus sign to add the score for the question to their total.  If they answer incorrectly, you can click the red minus sign to subtract the score.  As you work through the questions, you can click on the Correct Response link to see the correct answer.  One word of caution, though - make sure someone is keeping up with the questions which have already been selected and answered.  It doesn't look as if the template changes according to the questions already selected.  According to the JeopardyLabs site, you can utilize the Quick Build which does not require an account.  Or you can create an account with a password for your template.  Or you can become a paid member to receive more benefits - from what I can tell, it looks like this site is run by a college student and you can send whatever amount you deem appropriate ($20.00 is the automatic fill-in as a contribution amount, but it can be changed).  Note: PayPal is the method of payment.  If you decide to try building one on your own, I would suggest using the Quick Build method with a password.  Once you build the entire template (don't worry - the numbers disappear from the template as you build it, but they'll be there when you play it), you will receive an URL or Web site address to use.  You can also edit the template using another Web site address they provide.  Once your entire template is ready for use, simply give the URL to others by e-mail, instant messaging sites, text messages, etc.  If you have a site of your own and want to utilize an HTML link, that is also provided for use.

The JeopardyLabs link from the digital pyramid is only one example.  There are many other links for you to try, so spend a little time exploring - I bet you will find something you can put to use immediately in your classroom.

Have a great week and remember, it's only a few weeks until we welcome 2012!

Looking for math help? Here's a site to try!

TenMarks allows teachers to set up a free math program for one class.  TenMarks is mapped to state and common core curriculum standards for grades 2 through high school.  You can customize the curriculum to fit your lesson plans, engage students with interactive hints and videos, assign work and track scores instantly, and get reports on student performance.  On their home page, you can download a brochure or click on the learn more link to find out more about them.

If you click on the link for Schools and then click on the Curriculum link at the bottom of the page, you can see the various "albums" or concepts for different grade levels according to state.  For example, I selected Algebra I and Kentucky and found 17 different albums ranging from factoring polynomials to exponential functions to the foundations of algebra and equations.  You can take a interactive tour to find out more.   (Don't forget to watch one of the video lessons as you take the tour.)

I decided to try building a sample assessment.  I entered myself as a student learning about Algebra I.  I was given an access code and was allowed to take the assessment right away.  There were 30 questions with no time limit.  The questions started out fairly easy but got progressively more complex and difficult as I went along.  It was interesting to see how much I remembered (or more accurately, didn't remember) about Algebra!

One of the more interesting points to me is the fact they have a program for families, too.  It costs $10 per month, but might be worth it for someone who is struggling with math. 

I created a teacher account and entered an Algebra I class.  Once I complete the process, I was shown some tutorial slides which guided me through the process of assigning work.  I received an e-mail which stated TenMarks was free for the whole school year and that they also had free Webinar workshops each Wednesday, as well as a downloadable user guide for getting started.

I think this might be worth a look for any math teachers!

I hope all of you have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday with family and friends.....

Break Down Classroom Walls

I am a member of SimpleK12 educational technology community and I cannot say enough about the Webinars they have.  I have promoted their free Webinar days before but I've taken several outside of the free days and today I want to share information from one I took with Kyle Pace.  Pace is a Google certified teacher and instructional technology specialist who works in the Kansas City, Missouri area for the Lee's Summit School District.

Pace says educators are often too quick to ban technology tools students are using outside of the classroom, like Blogger, YouTube, Twitter, Skype and Facebook, just to name a few.  He emphasizes students are learning outside the normal classroom because these tools allow them to be mobile and educators are missing a great opportunity.  A networked teacher is able to share digital photos; use blogging (like Twitter and Blogger); use technology to communicate with colleagues across the school, the district and even the state, nation and world; chat using typed words, audio and video with colleagues and students via various methods; share bookmarks/favorites from the Web; . . . and we could go on and on and on . . .

Here are eight popular tools Pace suggests -
1.  Blogging - use blogs to help students find their voice, even if they don't have a voice in class; blogs are user-friendly, have security built-in, and are a great way to communicate; some ideas - WordPress, edublogs, and KidBlog
2.  Google Apps for Education - Lesson Plans -  search plans by subject or grade level
3.  Twitter - use to send out short communications to students and parents; only 140 characters allowed (forces you to be precise and to the point); parents can check without a twitter account because they can go directly to your twitter Website
4.  Skype - a great way to communicate with homebound students; also a great way to communicate with authors, experts in fields, artists, etc.
5.  Sophia - the description for this site is "social teaching"; some people describe Sophia as a mash up of Wikipedia, YouTube and Facebook, focused solely on teaching and learning; the site is organized by learning packets, which are small, bite-sized tutorials focused around a specific learning objective
6.  Popplet - Popplet is a graphic organizer tool; there is a short introductory video on their homepage worth watching to find out more
7.  Linoit - this is a free sticky and canvas service; you can try it for free; basically it is a blank canvas where you can "post" sticky notes; once something is posted, you can edit it, assign a "due date" to it, or peel it off (remove it); you can add images, video, etc. 
8.  Type With Me - a place where many users can contribute to a conversation online; use for collaboration; simply click on New Pad and share the URL (Web address) with students; then type away!  (Another similar site - Todays Meet)

I hope you will try some of these in the near future! 

This week will be a busy one for me.  Wednesday and Thursday will be two days of learning and networking with other Infinite Campus users across the state of Kentucky when we meet at the annual Interchange in Louisville.  On Friday I will attend the monthly Region One TIS meeting in Lyon County.  This is a wonderful group where lots of information is shared and discussed with time to actually practice and use some of these Websites and technology integration ideas.  I hope your week will be just as busy and productive as I hope mine will be!

A new tool to share!

I regularly receive e-mails from Russell Stannard, a terrific teacher and speaker I found a few years ago.  He is a principal teaching fellow at the University of Warwick and is a specialist in the use of media and technology.  He maintains a site, Teacher Training Videos, and his e-mails usually highlight his latest and greatest videos, amongst other ideas and new sites to try.  Stannard has won many awards and travels worldwide to share his knowledge with others.  If you go to the TTV site, you can sign up for his e-mails.  All the videos on his site are free!

I got an e-mail this past weekend from Stannard which mentioned myBrainshark.  The promotional information says you can create online and mobile video presentations for sales, marketing, eLearning and more.  Some of the uses for myBrainshark are "Add Voice to PowerPoint, Narrate a Document, Upload a Video, Make a Photo Album, and Produce a Podcast."  For a good example of adding voice to PowerPoint slides, search for "A Guide to Facebook Security" (at the time of this writing, it was a featured "Most Viewed" presentation on the home page).  Not only is it a good example of how you can add voiceover to a slide presentation and upload it to myBrainshark, it's a wonderful 7 minute presentation on how you can protect yourself on Facebook.  And not only can you watch the video, you can actually download a pdf file entitled "Guide to Facebook Security".

myBrainshark has free accounts, so that's the perfect price for most educators!  It is simple to register for a free account, but if you want more features, you can always purchase the pro versions.  If you register and login, they have a terrific help section with getting started videos and tips & tricks.  Maybe some of you can find something you can use in the classroom, or better yet, start uploading presentations and use myBrainshark yourself!

Since turkey day is coming in just a short time, I thought I would also give you some quick ideas for your students:

1.  Grades K through 2 - Measurement is difficult to visualize.  This lesson helps students gain a perspective on how big the Mayflower actually was.  First, have a class discussion on how big the students think the Mayflower was.  Have them give examples of objects they think might compare to the size of the ship.  Then take students outside and have them help you measure and mark a 90 foot by 24 foot space.  Talk about what would fit in that space to help students have an idea of how big it is.  For example, a tractor trailer is about 75 feet long including the cab and about 10 feet wide.  Discuss what items the travelers would have taken on the ship and how it would all fit.  Also discuss the time frame of the trip and how long it took them to make the voyage.  Using a word processing program, students can write a short paragraph about the ship and the trip or using a drawing program, students can produce a picture of the ship. 
2.  Grades 3 through 5 - Have students create a poster showing foods which would be appropriate for a Thanksgiving meal.  To help them plan, use grocery store ads to let them cut out pictures of items they would like to eat.  Then on their poster, have them write the food group names and glue their pictures in the appropriate places.  As they are working, help students make sure they put the correct foods in the correct groupings.  (This could easily be adapted to the computer - using a word processing program, students can list the food groups and then find appropriate clip art or pictures on the Web to copy and paste into their document.)
3.  Grades 6 through 8 - Several of the Thanksgiving "facts" we teach are historically inaccurate.  This lesson helps students separate fact from fiction.  Have students research on the Internet to find Thanksgiving myths and then using a presentation or word processing program, have them mention the "fiction" or myth item and then what the correct information or "fact" is.  If they google "thanksgiving myths and legends", several sites are available for them to get information. 
4.  Grades 9 through 12 - Thanksgiving is the most traveled holiday of the year.  Use this opportunity to have students practice statistics and probability.  To start, ask students if they have ever flown anywhere over the Thanksgiving holiday.  If so, have them share their stories - Did the trip go as planned?  Were there any delays?  If so, what were the reasons for the delay?  Have the students research statistical data from the FAA or other Web sites.  Some questions to answer might be - What is the average length of time a plane is delayed?  What is the percentage of plans that are delayed between 3 and 9 p.m. on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving?  What is the probability a plane would be delayed during that time this year?  As an extension of this lesson, have students plan a holiday trip, considering when the best time to leave would be, which airline would be the best to travel on, and what time their flight is and when they'd need to arrive at the airport.
5.  Another idea for multiple grade levels - use Google Earth to investigate where the Mayflower departed from, where the Pilgrims landed, and the voyage in between.  Also use the Internet to research what the weather would have been like for the trip. 

These ideas all came from the teAchnology site, the online teacher resource I've mentioned in several past blog entries.

Have a great week and don't forget to exercise your right as an American citizen to go vote on Election Day - Tuesday, November 8th. 

Professional Meetings and Trainings

In many cases, budgets have been cut and travel has been reduced for educators who wish to participate in professional meetings and trainings.  Even though I understand the reasoning behind the cuts, I hate to see the cessation of being able to gather with professionals across other schools districts.  Many times this is the avenue to finding an answer to a question or a solution to a problem within your own district.  Hearing what others are doing (and what they are NOT doing) is very helpful.  Even though we can utilize a listserv through e-mail, it's just not the same as having a face-to-face dialogue.  

With that said, I am glad our district has not yet restricted travel to such meetings and trainings, even though I believe this will affect us soon.  I have the opportunity to gather with other teachers and administrators across the west Kentucky region once each month to have professional discussions on what is happening in the districts and in the schools, plus have the time to learn about new technologies and actually try them out or at the very least, see them in action through a demonstration from a colleague.  On Friday, October 28th I traveled to a nearby district for our Region One TIS Meeting, a gathering of technology integration specialists.  In our case, some of us are teachers actively instructing in the classroom, some of us are working in a central office as a district person helping teachers integrate technology in their classrooms, and some of us are leaders of technology in the district, serving as CIOs or CTOs or under whatever title the district has given them.  

Just to give you an idea, our agenda for last month included learning about QR Codes (Quick Response) and how to use them with students, what a Wikispace is and how to use it, instruction on a few Web 2.0 tools like Blabberize, Read the Words, and Audioboo and the beginning of learning about the nine themes of digital citizenship.  Last Friday our agenda included learning about iPad/iPhone apps which could be used in a classroom, what the SkyDrive is and how to use it, information about Arstonia, a place to upload student artwork and much more, and again, information about the nine themes of digital citizenship.  The latter included a Skype session with a KETS engineer in another district for a demonstration of iDrivedigital.  This technology is tied to helping students (and adults) learn how to use technology responsibly and effectively.  Some districts are using this tool to gauge how much access to the Internet and technology resources of a school they receive.  For example, if a student does not complete any modules, they would be restricted to very little access - basically the minimum of what they would need to complete a teacher's assignment in a particular classroom.  As they take and "pass" modules, the student would be given more freedom since they would have demonstrated responsible and effective use of the equipment and the network.  The end of the day included a presentation by our region's KETS engineer, keeping all of us informed about what is going on at the state level and in other districts across the state.  Also, some area CIOs were invited to come share information about assessing students (and staff) on technology.  At this point nothing has been decided about how to proceed in the future, but the discussions that are taking place are helpful and informative and enable all of us to make a better decision for our students and staff in the future.

As you can see, these meetings are a good way to learn and share with others.  In the future, I hope to post some of the apps we have learned about and share how they can be used in the classroom.  I just hope we don't lose the ability to come together periodically and share information.  Maybe if funding is cut for travel to meetings and trainings like this, we can all learn how to implement new technologies so we can still come together and share electronically instead!  

Happy Halloween to all my readers!  I hope you have a treat-filled day!

Graphic organizers and much, much more

In a recent e-newsletter the importance of graphic organizers was discussed.  Along with the e-newsletter was a link to several free graphic organizers you can print or e-mail.  Click the links below to see if they can be of use to you! 


Concept Map


Life Cycle


Venn Diagram


Paragraph Format


Character Analysis Pyramid


SQ3R Chart (survey/question/read/recite/review)


Meeting New Vocabulary


It's All in the Title


If you'd like to see more, go to GetWorksheets.com and take a look at what they have to offer.  Right now their membership for a full year is only $29.99 and that gets members full access to over 50,000 printable worksheets, lessons, and teacher resources.  (They point out the membership costs less than 8 cents per day.)  They also have a site licensing program in case your school wants to provide access for all staff members. 


If you just want to see a few samples, though, you can click on "Sneak Peak" from their homepage.  The site is both Windows and Mac friendly and all workbooks/worksheets are provided in PDF format, so whatever computer you are using is not a problem.

Quizlet - The best way to study almost anything!

This week I am sharing a site recommended by two teachers at the high school - Mr. R. Miller and Mrs. C. Phelps.  Thanks!


Quizlet is the largest flash cards and study games Website with over 7 million free sets of flashcards covering every possible subject.  It is great for mobile studying and easy for teachers to use.  Plus, it's FREE!  On their homepage, you can access their blog, find out what flashcard sets are new, try out a quick flashcard set, and browse for already created content by subject.  There's also a quick minute video which shows you a basic idea of what they have to offer.  It's well worth a look!


Since I had never used this site before, I decided to find something from the social studies curriculum to see how it worked.  I found an African Map Test within the geography section.  The flashcards included the country name along with a colored section of the African map to show me where the country was located.  I had the ability to go back and forth within all the flashcards, so that was nice to be able to compare, for example, the difference in Congo and the Democratic Republic of Congo.  Further down the page it had the feature where I could listen to the pronunciation of the country name.  On the right-hand side were a list of the most commonly missed items.


There was a spelling link which was interesting.  The audio of the country name was spoken and I was asked to type the name.  If I missed one, it would repeat the audio and show me where I went wrong in the spelling.  Then I had another chance to spell it correctly.  The learn link took me to a page which showed me the country visually on a map of Africa and I had to type the name.  Next came a test link which included 5 written answer questions, 5 matching questions, 5 multiple choice questions, and 5 true and false questions.  There were two games available - scatter and space race.  In scatter, I had to match the name of the country with the actual geographical location.  At the end it gave me a score of 56.2 seconds.  If I had an account, I could save my score.  In space race, as the map scrolled by I had to type the name of the country.  If I missed one, it would show me the correct name and I would have to type it.  The scoring page showed me my score, as well as the high score of all those completing the space race. 


Just seeing this much of the site, I must say I was impressed, so I kept going!  I went back to the Quizlet homepage and clicked on the link for Teachers.  There was some content on the page such as FAQs (frequently asked questions), a quick video, and some teaher comments.  What caught my eye, though, was the link right in the center which said I could take 5 minutes to create my own set of flashcards.  On that page, I could give my flashcard set a title, a description, the subject matter and select the language (I've never seen so many listed in one place!).  I even had the ability to add images to my flashcards.  If I already had, say, a vocabulary list set in a spreadsheet, I could even import the data so I wouldn't have to type everything in by hand.  I very quickly made a flashcard set of spelling animal names with 12 entries.  I don't think they could have made this any easier and quicker!  The interesting thing to me is once I set up my "Animals" spelling flashcards, the three study modes and the two game modes were automatically designed for me.  I quickly completed the Speller study mode and was even rewarded at the end with a short video once I mastered each term. 


As I built my first flashcard set, I was asked to set up an account.  There is a paid version of Quizlet available for $15 per year.  The paid version adds the features of being able to upload your own images, having no ads, and having an unlimited number of groups.  I think the free version, though, would be enough for most teachers and students. 


I know the high school students are using the flashcard sets made by our teachers on their mobile devices as a method of studying for quizzes and tests.  How easy it would be to go through the flashcards one by one for an upcoming Spanish vocabulary test after I finished a project or test in another classroom.  Using every moment of the day as study time, rather than just sitting and staring into space!  What a novel idea!


This is truly a terrific site and I'm so glad the teachers shared it with me!  Check it out for yourself soon!

Sharing ideas is terrific

I don't normally promote any particular product on this blog but when I do find something worth sharing, I figure, why not?  A few weeks ago I found a product which claimed it would clean electronic equipment quickly and efficiently, but I didn't have a chance to actually try it until this past weekend.  Wow!  It absolutely does what it claims, so I have to share.  The next time you are in a store, look for Windex electronic wipes.  They come 25 in a re-sealable package made by the Johnson company.  These wipes easily clean televisions, cell phones, desktop and laptop computers, etc. with no residue left behind and a streak-free shine!  I was very pleased with the results after cleaning my laptop, my desktop, my cell phone and my main television at home over the weekend.  I could have cleaned a lot more with the same wipe, too!  I was impressed with this product and highly recommend it. 


In the latest edition of eSchool News (October 2011), there was a resource mentioned which I'd like to share.  SAS has released a new version of its free Curriculum Pathways resource.  The new version includes expanded content, a more user-friendly interface, and enhanced search capabilities.  Teachers can find material for specific state or Common Core standards either by looking at a standard and finding resources to fit or by looking at a resource and finding the standard that goes with it.  At no cost, teachers and students can access highly interactive content for grades 6-12 in English/Language Arts, Math, Science, Social Studies, Spanish and Technology.  The only drawback I found is after signing up for an account in order to access the information, they specified an account executive would contact me to determine the best way to set up an account - in my case, this meant an e-mail was received instructing me on how best to serve my district in my role.  This was due to the fact I am a district-level employee and not a classroom teacher.  It was not a problem to go through their instructions and set up a coordinator account, though.  It would be worth a look at their demo to see if this is something you might be able to use in your classroom.  From what I could see, it looks like a solid resource across the board.  Here is the link to their portal where you can see the product demo or subscribe.  Here is the link to their main education Website where you can read more about their company.  Clicking on the K-12 Education link will take you to more information about their efforts to help K-12 educators.  Very quickly I looked at an economic systems lesson.  I watched a 7 minute video and then took a quiz on the material.  (Interesting to note - I couldn't access the quiz until I had watched the video.)  After taking the quiz, I had the option of saving my results and the actual quiz questions and e-mailing my results.  This would be a teacher choice - either save and print the results to hand in or save and send the results through e-mail.  I found the lesson to be very informative and I assume other lessons in the other disciplines would be just as good.  Again, this would be worth a look for teachers in grades 6-12. 


One other resource I want to share today is the Homeland Security Department's effort to help students learn about Internet safety.  Their "Stop.Think.Connect" campaign is a national public awareness campaign aimed at increasing the understanding of cyber threats and empowering the American public to be safer and more secure online.  With students constantly online, the topic of cyber security has never been more important.  You can sign up to become a Friend of the campaign and receive periodic e-mail notifications if you wish.  For more information, simply click the link above. 


Don't forget - if you find interesting sites or information about educational technology to share, please e-mail me at melissa.earnest@caldwell.kyschools.us.  I'd be thrilled to include your ideas and suggestions, especially if it's something you've found to be successful in your classroom.  I will promise to give you credit, too!


Have a great week!

Sometimes the body overtakes the mind . . .

Well, I'm a little late this week with my usual blog entry due to the fact I was sick for two days.  It's no fun being at home and not feeling well, especially when I couldn't seem to get rid of the fever.  I've heard of several others with the same symptoms as me, so apparently it was a virus.  I'm just glad to be back and work and feeling  better!


As Halloween is my favorite holiday, I thought I would share some ideas from a recent e-mail newsletter I received from Teacher Tips:


1. A Broom Story - Using a word processing program, have students write a story about a witch from the broom's point of view.  Discuss point of view with the students before writing.
2. Candy Collage - All students have a favorite Halloween candy.  Using a drawing program, have students create a collage of different Halloween candies.  Encourage students to fill an entire 8.5 x 11 page with the candy drawings of their choice.  Students could also take digital camera pictures of their favorite candies and use these photos to create their collage.
3. Candy Graphs - Using a spreadsheet program, have students collect information about favorite Halloween candies.  This can be done school-wide or as a classroom project, or even as a homework assignment.  Once the students collect the data, have them create a bar graph to show which Halloween candies are the most popular.
4. Halloween Safety - Create a flyer of Halloween safety rules to post in your classroom or school (or even in local businesses).  Have students work together to brainstorm safety rules and then create, using a Word processor or an online drawing program, a flyer sharing those safety rules.  Encourage them to use both words and graphics on the flyer.
5. Halloween Then and Now - Have students investigate what Halloween was like in the early to mid 1900's and compare it to what it is like now.  Using the Internet, have students research what Halloween was like for children in the early to mid 1900's.  Encourage the students to interview family members as well about what Halloween was like during their childhoods.  Ask the following questions: What kinds of costumes were popular? What kind of candy did you get? Who did you trick or treat with? Did you do anything mischievous? If so, what?  Write a report on the findings.
6. Average Temperature on Halloween Night - No one likes to wear a coat over their costume.  Using the Internet, research the temperatures for October 31st over the past ten years.  Using a spreadsheet program, graph the temperatures and find the average.  Look at the projected temperature/weather for this year's Halloween.  Ask these questions: What year had the coldest temperature? Did any years have the same temperature? What was the range of temperatures? What was the average temperature? Based on the data collected, do you think you will need a coat on Halloween night this year? Why or why not?


All of these activities can be adjusted for students of all ages.  Enjoy!

Wow - an extra entry this week!  Whenever I find something new or something neat, I just have to share it!


The YouTube teacher site has now been opened.  You can access it here.  I watched a couple of science videos about chemical reactions and balancing chemical equations and loved them.  Here are some ideas of how the YouTube teacher channel can be used as suggested by the site:


1.  Engage students by showing a video relevant to their lives.  Video clips can bring in different perspectives or force students to consider a new viewpoint, helping to spark a discussion.
2.  Playlists are a way of allowing you to organize videos on the site: a playlist is a series of videos you put together.  They don't have to be videos you upload yourself and you get to choose the order.  When one video ends, the playlist plays the next video without offering 'related videos', thus creating a curated environment for your students.  You can select which YouTube videos you want your students to view by creating a playlist.
3.  Capture and save projects and discussions so you can refer back to them year after year.  This will also help you save time as you can assign old videos to your new students. 
4.  Give students the option to dig deeper into a subject by creating a playlist of videos related to that concept.  By creating a playlist of relevant videos you allow students to pursue their interests without wasting time searching (and finding potentially objectionable content).
5.  Videos can supplement in-class teaching for struggling students.  Students can review your playlists at home.  You can even align the videos to state standards so students who need to review a particular standard can get the help they need.
6.  Turn test review and flashcards into easy-to-watch videos.  This way students can hear explanations as they study.  You can create a 'test review' video students can access at home to study the night before a big test.
7.  When working in stations or centers, have students use your YouTube channel to complete an assignment, freeing you to work with other small groups of students. 
8.  Create a quiz students complete after watching a video.  You can use such a quiz to get instant feedback on what they are learning.  Consider embedding your quiz on a class blog or site so students can watch the video and complete the quiz at the same time or immediately after.
9.  Use YouTube annotations to create 'Choose your own adventure' style video quests.  You can also create a video guide.
10.  If your students watch a video of basic concepts at home, then  you can focus in class on applying the concepts, working collaboratively with their classmates rather than simply listening to a lecture.


All of these ideas have accompanying video examples and that's how I found the science ones to view.  This site is definitely something you will want to check out!

This week I am still relying on the New Teacher Advocate published by Kappa Delta Pi to give you some information about "Computeritis", an article written by Anne L. Becker.

According to Becker, a couple of years ago the average student spent one to two hours using computers in the classroom.  Today, students spend all day at school using technology and then go home to more!  As a result, "computeritis" is seen in middle school and high school students and Becker predicts we will see the same in elementary students soon.  "Computeritis" is a name for symptoms resulting from extended computer usage or improper ergonomics while sitting at a computer.  Symptoms range from eye strain and headaches to neck or back pain.  Also, "mouse elbow" and "gaming wrist" are common complaints.

Students are captivated by technology.  As more devices are invented and made available, students spend more time with technology.  If you walk by a typical computer lab in a school,  you are likely to see students hunched over glowing rectangles with plugs in their ears.  In contrast to a normal classroom, this silence may be eerie!

Studies are showing students are developing vision problems and stress-related tension issues and complaints about aches and pains and discomfort are increasing.  Another issue is computers are used daily by multiple users, so a computer lab harbors an environment prone to all types of problems.

Since computers are here to stay, students need to learn healthy habits and ergonomic practices.  Here are some things you can do to help:

1) Make sure the classroom has some ambient light.  A few hanging or portable lamps around the room can provide subdued light which will relieve stress and eye strain.

2) Establish ergonomic work stations.  Chairs and desks need to be at an appropriate height which allows students to see and work comfortably.  Proper placement puts the physical distance between the students' hands and the mouse or keyboard at any easy right angle to their torso.

3) Keep disinfectant wipes available for students to clean their computer area and equipment.  Provide computer monitor wipes to clean iPads, too.

4) Provide individual headphones for students.  Headphones should not be shared.  Inexpensive headphones can be purchased and stored individually in sealed plastic bags, or students could bring in their own headphones.

5) Interject movement throughout the day to break up computer time.  This gives eyes and hands a rest and will allow muscles to relax periodically.

These routines should be started early in the school year to establish the proper habits.  Also, don't forget to share information with parents and guardians so they can encourage healthy computer usage at home.  Becker says awareness of habits and symptoms is key to combating "computeritis" and preventing long-term effects.

So what about instant communications and how they should be handled in schools?  Instant access to others via technology, such as e-mail, can be both an asset and a hindrance, according to Madeline Kovarik.  Parents and guardians who previously had to think about contacting a teacher can simply pick up a cell phone and send a text or e-mail.  This immediate access has created a need in most districts to create guidelines.

1) Clearly state times your e-mail or text messages are checked.  Determine whether it will be before school, after school, during planning, during lunch, etc.  Relay this information to parents, gently reminding them your responsibility is to teach the students and keep them safe.

2) Designate a time-frame for responses.  Keep in mind some parents will expect an immediate reply, even if they contact you at night or on the weekend.  Again, clearly stating your policy will help eliminate these issues.

3) Ask parents to provide their e-mail address or cell phone number to you.  Teachers need to be able to confirm the individual corresponding via e-mail or by text is the actual parent or guardian.  It's all about student safety and privacy laws.

4) Request an identity in the subject line of an e-mail.  Ask parents to identify themselves and their students' first name in the subject line.  This will help you distinguish quickly which messages are important.

5) Provide your school e-mail address to parents/guardians.  Do not provide your home or personal address.  If a parent requests a second contact, simply state your work communication is limited to the state provided e-mail address.

6) Delineate e-mail purposes.  Be sure parents realize e-mail is not a substitute for face-to-face  conferences.  Explain concerns of an emotional or highly confidential nature are better addressed in person.  A suggested reply to an e-mail or text would be "Thank you for your e-mail (text).  Because of the sensitive (confidential) nature of this concern, it needs to be discussed in person.  I am available . . . what would be a convenient date / time for you?"

Communication with parents and guardians is critical, but must be manageable.  Stating your position and expectations regarding communication will eliminate conflicts and disappointments.

Thanks  again to Anne L. Becker and Madeline Kovarik for their informative articles in the Fall 2011 edition of the KDPi New Teacher Advocate.

Online safety continues to be an issue both for educators and for parents.  Matthew J. Bowerman had an interesting article in the Fall 2011 New Teacher Advocate titled "Online means all the time".  "Being online also means increased opportunities for cyberworld dangers, such as cyberbullying."  Cyberspace is still relatively unsupervised.  According to a study cited by Bowerman, 93% of children ages 12-18 are online with 32% of those being harassed in some way.  26% are also victims via cell phones.  So what can schools and teachers do?

According to Bowerman, being safe doesn't mean blocking out or locking down all technology.  A better option would be to teach students how to be informed online community members and to be more aware of what students are doing and how they are using their computers and cell phones in the classroom.  If teachers and staff become more informed, then they can help parents become more aware and educated.  "Teachers can - and must - navigate students toward safe and positive computer and technology usage!"

Ask yourself these questions:

• Do you know where your students are when they are online?  In school and at home?

• Do you know who your students are talking to online and what they are doing?

• Do you know what you can do to help them (and yourself)?

Here are some ideas:

• Block known inappropriate sites - be aware, though, that usually by the time a block is established, a student somewhere has already created a way to evade it)

• Translate acronyms and icons - familiarize yourself with LMIRL, POTS, TDTM, PRW, TIR, ASL

• Be observable - keep computers in open areas where you can monitor the screens

• Monitor history - check the Internet history of browsers used by students periodically

• Get alerts - fix your browser to show, or consider having messages e-mailed about, potentially dangerous online behavior

• Learn about online safety and its risks - be aware of resources

• Educate students on the acceptable use policy

• Create a class contract regarding how students are to treat the computers and one another while using them in your classroom

• Practice what you preach!  Maintain appropriate and professional online behavior yourself (think about what you have posted - pictures, persons who are your "friend", affiliations with groups, etc.)

Next week I will share some information about "computeritis" and how instant connections with others can be both an asset and a hindrance.  Thanks to the Kappa Delta Pi, an international honor society in education, for their New Teacher Advocate publication!  It is always full of wonderful and inspiring information. 

Better late than never!

As most of my district is aware, I am helping at the high school each morning while an employee is off due to surgery.  So, I did not get to complete my blog entry this morning as I usually do.  I apologize, but know everyone understands.

I know this has nothing to do with technology per se, but I wanted to remind everyone of the organizational meeting for KAPE on Tuesday afternoon at the high school library about 3:15 p.m.  KAPE stands for the Kentucky Association of Professional Educators.  I discovered this organization last fall when I was working on a class for my doctorate and joined to see what they were all about and what they offered.  I was very impressed with their vision and mission and their offering of liability insurance at a much lower cost than other organizations also appealed to me. 

We will have all sorts of brochures and comparison information for anyone who is interested in learning more about KAPE.  KAPE accepts memberships from both certified and classified employees.  I hope to see a lot of interest in KAPE - come visit us on Tuesday afternoon!

History 2.0

I'm borrowing my title for this blog entry from the latest edition of the History Channel Club magazine.  Given this past weekend was full of thinking about events in history, specifically the 9/11 terrorist attacks of 2001, reading about the changes in how history teachers are teaching was very timely.  Even though some of this entry will target history teachers, there's quite a bit that applies to all teachers.

Michael P. Lavelle is quoted as saying, "The real key to connecting learners with history in the digital age in a meaningful and lasting way is combing the scholarly authority of the textbook with virtuoso digital storytelling and visualizations."  Again, this could also apply to many of our other subjects, like literature, science, and even math.  The methods of teaching have changed just as history has changed throughout the years.  First was a class where an adult paced at the front of the classroom, using a piece of chalk and blackboard or greenboard to emphasize points.  Then came the projector and teachers could show some film strips to enhance the learning.  Next the overhead projector came into the classroom and this was especially a great tool for math teachers (and still is).  Then came the televisions, the video cassette recorders (VCRs)s, and then the DVD players.  Now we have computers, both desktop and laptop, and teachers can utilize software like PowerPoint(r) and Keynote(r) to give spectacular presentations that catch the student's eye and hopefully, their brain! 

In today's classes, digital is much more than a new delivery method.  Energizing and engaging students, it creates new learning opportunities.  Students and teachers can co-create, collaborate, and use primary sources like never before.  These digital tools can help students with critical-thinking skills and help them form great questions, which are at the core of inquiry-based learning.  The best thing about digital tools, though, is that many of them are available for free! 

Back to history and social studies classes, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (HMH) and History have banded together to offer free materials and links to teachers, regardless of which textbook and curriculum programs they use.  Go to their site and look at the Resources and Current Events sections.  Naturally, if you use the HMH textbook/curriculum programs, you can also get a private URL to gain access to additional materials at no additional cost. 

One last caution about the use of digital tools in teaching . . . To be effective, digital materials must be presented in an orderly way targeted to learning outcomes, rather than simply arriving on the computer screen as a cool data dump of possibility.  Well said!

Resource:  Brataas, A. (September/October 2011).  Launch History 2.0.  The History Channel Magazine. 

Free Flashcards!

Free ESL Flashcards has many flashcards that are 100% free to download and use.  Currently they have 968 total images and 2,904 total flashcards available.  Every set comes in color and 3 different sizes to make teaching easier.  According to their Website, the big set is great for vocabulary presentation to a larger group, the medium set is good for teaching small groups of students and playing language learning games, and the small set is good for games such as Go Fish.  You can use the flashcards for teaching English, Spanish, Chinese or whatever language your students are studying.  As I looked at these, though, I could see how they would be valuable to younger students in preschool or in the primary grades, not just those who are learning English or another language for the first time.  For example, there is a set called Body Parts which include items like foot, toes, mouth, nose, shoulders, ears, etc.  These would be terrific for teaching preschoolers the parts of the body.  Also, they have two sets for the alphabet - one set has colored uppercase alphabet letters and common punctuation and the other has all the letters of the alphabet in both uppercase and lowercase.  These might be good to use in kindergarten classes.

To use the flashcards, simply select the set you want on the initial page.  Take a look at the preview of the flashcards on the next page.  Then if you want this particular set, scroll to the bottom and select either the big, medium or small size and download them.  You can then decide whether or not to print them on cardstock paper or regular paper and cut them apart for use. 

Hopefully some of you will find these flashcards beneficial.  Enjoy your shortened week!  I hope everyone had a good Labor Day holiday.