Google Lit Trips

This weeks tech tip is going to focus on Google Lit Trips- which are free downloadable files that mark the journeys of characters from famous literature on the surface of Google Earth.  Each location along the journey has resources, thought provoking discussion questions, and real world applications from the text.  Its goal is to place the readers “inside the story” traveling alongside the characters.  They want to stimulate higher level thinking skills and connect the text to issues of the real world.

GLT Overview: Animation Demo from GoogleLitTrips on Vimeo.

You can also have your students create their own tours at Google Earth Tour Builder.  Here they will be able to create a tour just like in the video above.  I have included an 8 minute video explaining how to use this new tool below:

 

Integration Ideas:

     -Map a characters journey after students finish a book 

     -Create an interactive journey about famous people in history

     -Plot distances in math class

     -Map weather

Please share in the comments section below if you have any other ways you use Google Lit Trips in your classroom.

SMART Board as an Instructional Tool

This week I am going to take a break from assessment tools and share some SMART Board resources with you.  The SMART Board can be a great instructional tool but sometimes we can get in a SMART Board "rut" and not know what else we can do with it.  My hope is with the following resources you will give you some ideas to jump-start your SMART Board use this year.

Below I have listed some links to videos featuring some of my favorite tools in SMART Notebook.  I also created a list of my top 11 sites to find free interactive SMART Board resources.

Topics:

·         Interactivity

o   Lesson Activity Toolkit

o   Lesson Activity Toolkit and Tools

o   Lesson Activity Builder

·         Video and Audio

o   Link to audio

o   Embed Youtube

·         Customizing and Using Lessons

·         Finding Lessons online-Top 11 sites for finding resources

Please leave a comment with any other great instructional ideas or resources I can add to the list.  Also, let me know if I can support you in any way with your use of the SMART Board in your classroom.

Top Tech Tip #4 - 3 iPad Apps to Assess Reading Fluency and Track Comprehension

This weeks top tip is on 3 iPad Apps to Assess Reading Fluency and Track Comprehension.  In the original post I shared 3 apps that would track fluency and comprehension. These apps are useful, but I wanted to add some alternatives for those teachers who do not have access to an iPad.  One alternative is using Evernote.  I shared some links below on how other teachers are using Evernote to track fluency and comprehension notes on students.

• Penultimate-iPad App
• Using Evernote to Record and Track Fluency
• 2nd Grader Explaining how she uses Evernote to record fluency

I hope these are helpful and I would love to help you get started using Evernote in your classroom next year.

4 Free Online Storage Options

The end of the year brings excitement for the summer and reflection on all the learning that has happened over the course of the year.  You also spend lots of time going through and organizing the files and resources you have created/collected over the course of the year.  Many of us do this with our paper files, but sometimes forget to backup and purge our digital files.  

The tech tip this week is going to focus on 4 free file storage options to backup and organize files that are accessible anywhere using your computer, cellphone, or tablet.  I have listed the 4 options I would recommend and some tips to help you organize your files.

How many files can I store?

Obtained from - http://thessdreview.com/hardware/kingston-datatraveler-32gb-ultimate-3-0-flash-drive-quick-review/

This tool is a Microsoft product and a great way to store files.  You get 7GB of free storage.  

Google Drive allows you to save up to 5GB for free.

Dropbox provides you with 2GB of free storage and allows you to earn more if you refer others.

I have never used uploading it, but it provides you with 10GB of free file storage.

Flash drives are another very reasonable option to back up your files.  They are relatively cheap (under $10 for a 16GB) and are even less expensive to buy in the fall during back to school time.

File Organization Tips:

• If you haven’t used it for a few years delete it

• I would back up my files regularly, but for sure once a year
• I personally have Dropbox linked between my computer and cell phone and use that strictly to back up all the pictures I take.  It also makes it easy to access photos from my phone on my computer.
• Lose the folders-If you come up with a naming pattern for your files to make them easily searchable you can get rid of your folders. 
• Ex- Reading_unit 1_three blind mice  - I can now search by subject, unit, or story without having to sort through a bunch of folders
• Please share any other techniques you use to organize your digital files

Top Tech Tips #3- Kidblog in the Classroom

The third most popular post this year was Kidblog in the Reading Classroom.  This post highlights many of the great ways you can use Kidblog in your classroom and it also includes some great resources to help you get started using this tool.  I have also prepared some instructional videos to help you get started as well.  They are located on the Kidblog organized technology resources page. 

This site is a great tool for the classroom and we will be offering a session on it at our Ed Tech Camp on June 10th.  Matt Hardy the co-creator of Kidblog is joining us to share why blogging is important, how to best use Kidblog in the classroom, and to highlight some of the new features.  Please sign up for this session to take part in this great learning opportunity. 

Also, please let me know if you are interested in using this tool next year.  I would love to plan how this could be utilized in your classroom.

Top Tech Tips #2-iPad Apps for Data Collection and Assessment Part 2

The iPad apps for data collection and assessment part 2 was the second most visited post this year.  This post highlights the following apps;  Fotobabble, Skitch, Kidblog, Dropbox, Educreations, Readers Workshop.  I specifically focus on how they can be used as an assessment tool in your classroom.

Link to original post - iPad apps for data collection and assessment part 2

**Updates**
Since my original post Skitch and Educreations have been updated.  Skitch now has the capability to allow you to annotate on top of a PDF.  Educreations has added the ability to create multiple classes and link to them within a school.

Also, check out Kidblog over the summer as it will be adding some great features.  Some of these features will be unveiled this summer at our tech camp when the co-creator Matt Hardy will be presenting.

Top 5 Visited Tips of the Year-Kid Friendly Search Engines

During the month of May I will be sharing the top 5 visited tech tips this year.  Each week I will link to the original post and add to it.

Kid Friendly Search Engines:   In this post I put together a list of kid friendly search engines your students can use.  Most of these sites use Google, but have been adapted to be safe for students to use.

A few weeks ago I posted directions on how to create your own custom Google search engine.  This would be another option which allows you to choose the sites that will be searched.  It also lets you set other parameters for students.  Create a Custom Google Search Engine

Throughout this year I also found some great search tactics for teachers and students and Google search resources. I hope these sites and tips will help students focus their searches using "student friendly" search engines. 

Three Ring - easily collect and organize student work in a digital binder

As a district we have focused on formative assessment this year.  I know in my classroom it was always tricky to collect student work and easily keep it organized to use for future instructional purposes.  I came across Threering a few months ago, but want to share it in this weeks tech tip of the week.  This website allows you to easily set up a class and collect student work samples via video, audio, and photos.  This site has an android and IOS app that you can download and use your cell phone or tablet to collect their work. You can also access everything on the Threering website.  The other really cool feature of this tool is that students can also upload their own work using their devices and you can share all or part of their digital binder with parents via an email address.  This site is really easy to use and will allow you to collect student work samples over time and communicate easily and effectively with parents.  This would also make it really easy to bring up student data for PLC's or parent teacher conferences. 

Classroom Integration Ideas:

• capture pictures of students work (notebooks, rubrics, etc)
• record fluency data for elementary
• record video of presentations 
• peer feedback
• please leave a comment below with any further ideas

Video explaining some of the features of Three Ring

Creating a Custom Google Search Engine and Google Maps Streetview Player

Custom Google Search Engine
In my third grade classroom there were many times I wanted my students to do research or do further investigations during an inquiry project.  Of course students want to Google everthing, but I wanted to have some control over the sites that Google was searching.  That is now possible by creating a custom Google search engine.  This will allow you as a teacher to pick specific sites for Google to search.  This may be helpful if you are narrowing the search by content, reading level, or connection to the topic they are researching.  The video below shows how to set up this great tool for your classroom.

Google Maps Street view Player
Google street view is a cool way to see pictures of street views in certain areas.  Have you ever wanted to piece all those together to make a street view tour?  Well now you can by using Google Maps Street View Player.  This allows you to pick an origin and destination and the software will create a guided street view tour of the trip.  What a cool way to show a road trip that characters in your story traveled or use in a geography lesson.  This tool has tons of great capabilities for the classroom and is super easy to use.  Check out the tour I created of the Michigan Mile in Chicago.

Michigan Mile Tour

Evernote in Education Part 2

Evernote is one of my favorite tools both in my personal life and professionally.  In this post I am compiling resources that will help you get started using Evernote as a tool both as teacher and to help organize your life.  I have listed resources below that will provide you with plenty of information on how to use Evernote and how other teachers are utilizing this tool.

Evernote in Education Livebinder - This online binder is filled with tons of great resources and ideas to help you get started using Evernote.

Evernote for Teachers - Evernote itself has created a page for teachers.  This page includes programs that Evernote works with and also has an hour long webinar about Evernote for teachers.

Pinterest Board of Evernote in Education -This Pinterest board has tons of great resources to get started using Evernote

The Ultimate Simplified Guide to Using Evernote - This final resource is a simple guide to using Evernote for instruction and how your students can use it as well.

Remember Evernote is one of many tools out there, but this free tool has many implications for data collection, goal setting, and instruction.  I would love to meet and plan how you could use this tool in your classroom.

Thinglink and Evernote

This week I have chosen two tools to briefly explain.  The first one is Thinglink which allows you to create interactive images.  Here is an example. 

Thinglink allows you create interactive images by adding video, audio, links, notes, slideshows and more.  You need to create an account to use this tool, but it has limitless teaching possibilities.

Integration Ideas:

• create interactive images full of information to use during your lessons
• embed these on your blog for students to explore
• have students use these to present their learning with others
• Thinglink in Education

Many of you know I am a huge fan of Evernote and talk often about its uses in our classrooms and beyond.  I found this playlist with eight videos of one minute or less explaining each part of setting up and understanding your Evernote account.

Teaching in the Cloud with Evernote