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Google Forms in the classroom!

As we start thinking about Back to School, I began thinking about some tech tools that can stream line some of those beginning of the year paper trails!  Google forms is one resource that, especially for older students, can be a huge asset.  Not only is it easy to create, but it can be made easily accessable using bitly.com to shorten the URL's  or making a QR code using a tool like QRstuff.com.

Ideas for this coming school year, using Google Forms:

1. Parent survey
2. Student survey
3. Parent volunteer sign up
4. Class Surveys
5. Assessments

Connecting technology to existing classroom practice

Chapter 3 of Amplify! offers great advice and practical ways to implement technology into the classroom starting on the first day of school!

Main Ideas:

1. Balance Digital text with Printed text
2. Teach, Model and Practice online reading and research
3. Teachers role is to serve as a guide on the side
4. 
   

Apps/tools I want to investigate (they were mentioned in the reading):

1. SonicPics
2. dotEPUB
3. Wonderopolis

Finally, after reading this chapter I need to read finish reading Comprehension and Collaboration.

Padlets, Word Walls, & QR codes

Do your students have problems typing in long URL's?  Me too!  Solution, Padlet!

Looking back I can now see that I could have used the Padlet tool for my reading vocabulary.  My students could have drawn a picture that represents the word we were studying using Doodle Buddy, then save it to the camera roll and then upload it to a Padlet!  What a great way to share student work and provide a study guide for the class!  This takes the take a word, draw a picture and write a sentence for the classroom, then do a walk around the room to view!  Here students will find inspiration in creating the drawing on the iPad and then post it to be shared all students very quickly.  In the sentence line I would have students either define the word in their own words, use the word in a sentence, provide 2 antonyms/synonyms, etc....  I got this idea from this writing project and checklist found at a blog post by Fabulous 5th Grade Fun!  If you go to the post you can get a free template for this give thanks project as well as general directions for drawing and sharing and a math problem example!

The Fred Factor

So, I have been working on my new leadership class...this is one of the three books I am looking at using! The Fred Factor! What a great read...I am almost done with it...and I want to get a copy for all my colleagues...inspiring! I do wish there were more Freds in my school...and maybe with a little luck I can help bring about more "Freds" in our town through my leadership class.

Some of my favorite lines from the book:
"The fact is that everybody is already making a difference every day. The key question is, What kind of difference is each of us making?" (p. 35)

"The truth is that we compete against our own potential every day. And most of us fall short of what we are capable of doing or being." (p. 14)

"I've met many people who were concerned that they might become victims of downsizing and lose their jobs. I always tell them to quit worrying. My indifference shocks them. Actually my intent is to refocus their attention from being employed to being 'employable'...Being employable means having a skill set that makes you desirable to any employer, regardless of industry or geographic location." (p. 13)

"What we haven't been told nearly enough is that people give work dignity. There are no unimportant jobs, just people who feel unimportant doing their jobs. That's probably why B. C. Forbes, the legendary founder of Forbes magazine, said, 'There is more credit and satisfaction in being a first-rate truck driver than a tenth-rate executive.'"

Definitely food for thought!

Fahreheit 451--middle school or not?

I just finished reading Fahrenheit 451 and did exactly what the author despises to his book.  I have marked every curse word that I don't believe should be used in literature for children or young adults with yellow/green tabs, marked all sexual or suicide references with purple and scenes with what I feel inappropriate subject matter with pink tabs.  I find it ironic that have done exactly what the author is writing to fight against. 

Originally, I did an observation of a blended middle school classroom of both 7th and 8th graders.  This observation went fine in the since there were no red flags rising from the ashes as the class read aloud.  I was intrigued...so I asked the librarian for a copy.  At lunch she delivered my copy and another teacher asked why I wanted it.  I explained I was interested and wanted to see what the students were reading.  She proceeded to tell me that book was inappropriate and had a hooker in it.  At this point I became concerned and more interested in reading the book to see whether there was or not. 

To put all minds at ease there isn't...however, some of the content seems inappropriate for a middle school student.  And knowing that my daughter will be in our middle school in two years...I am a concerned mother.  I wouldn't mind if this book was read in high school...I think students could understand the main concept and have perhaps an intellectual conversation about this typic and how it is related to society as a whole. 

In contrast I don't feel that a 11-12 year old can really comprehend this books content without just seeing it as proof that they can say and do whatever they want.  AGain, I know I am a rule follower and too controlling...but seriously, our student have enough real world issues do we really have to introduce suicide, overdosing, murder, sabotage, and so much more to their turbulent teen years?

All in all, I enjoyed reading the book...and think it could have a roll in a high school classroom...history or english....however, it should not have just been pulled off a shelf, because I read it a few years ago and can do a cool project with it...without a lot of careful and considerate planning.  Least to say...my children won't be participating in this book when they are in that class.  I truly believe there are other books worthy of their educational time and instruction. 

The question now it what to do about it...do I pull the tabs and return it to the library or raise hell and contribute to what the author is trying to prevent in the first place....  I feel guilty on so many levels...

Amplify! 2nd Chapter

Chapter 2 was a quick read!  Out of this chapter I took away three main ideas:

1. Find like minded teachers:  seek out school cohorts, online learning communities, teacher blogs, webinars, conferences, social media, or "your tribe".  It is really important to have someone to share, discuss, and brainstorm with when it comes to integrating technology in the classroom.  This is the one thing I missed the most teaching third grade.  There was none to collaborate with or discuss content with.  I found some teachers in Pendleton who are amazing...but they are so involved in their own PLC's in their district they really didn't want to give up more time to work together.  Now that I am moving back to middle school science I feel like I have a whole network I can tap into!  Also, I have another science teacher (HS--one of my former students) to collaborate with!  She is young, but seems willing to learn!  We will be attending the NSTA convention this fall!  I can't wait to see what else I discover and can share with her and my new colleagues!  
2. Play time is important:  We all know that when introducing new content or new tools it is important to provide students time to play with it!  Just like students, teachers also need to take the time also play with technology!  When choosing technology we as teachers have to know not only why we are choosing this tool, but also how to use the tool, at least the basics.  After that, the students will explore and take over the teaching part!  They are natural leaders when it comes to technology!
3. Technology should allow kids to do 3 things: create, collaborate, and connect!  I think this might be one of the most important pieces to consider when picking apps for classroom use.  This idea has been presented at every workshop, conference, blog and webinar I have taken.  They all say, choose one app/tool that does a variety of things--create, interact with others and share with the world--and become a professional at it!  The piece I am struggling with is the sharing piece.  Last year I used SeeSaw to share my third graders work with their families...I didn't teach my kids to upload content themselves and this was a problem.  It definitely made too much work for me to keep up with and I won't do that again with middle schoolers.  I am wondering at this point if using a blog is a better option--like Kidblog.  I wish that I could get other teachers at the school to use it as well, and perhaps they will if I can model for them how to use it!  This might open the door for a PLC at my own school.   It will be interesting to see where this leads within my own school district!

One questions I still have:  on p. 32 (second paragraph), last three lines talks about using Twitter and Youtube in the classroom by demonstrating  their students learning.  I would like to know how these tools are used to enhance learning in their Chicago classrooms. 

Time for chapter 3!