Knowledge Constructor

January's ISTE Standard is Knowledge Constructor

Happy National Compliment Day!

1.  Have you been looking for a resource for:

Students to type their responses and, as a teacher, be able to see them instantly?

Students to organize their work all in one place? 

Does making notecards impossible to lose sound like wishful thinking?

Sharing templates, resources, and links in a quick and efficient way?

If you answered yes to to any of these, then creating a OneNote Class Notebook might be right for you!  This is the perfect time of the year to introduce your students to a digital notebook for organization of projects, research, pictures, and more!  And don't forget, if you're the leader of a newspaper club, after-school club, or other extra-curricular club, a Class Notebook can be a wonderful tool in those areas, too!  Just let Chris or Erin know and we'd be happy to help you and your students get started.  Or, if you would like to try it yourself, view this step by step tutorial to get started and this information page on how to use the class notebook.

2.  World Read Aloud Day is February 1!

Every year, on World Read Aloud Day, people all around the globe read aloud together and share stories to advocate for literacy!

On this day, we encourage you to Skype with an author, a teacher-friend in another state, or perhaps a teacher-friend right here in Pennridge!   Pick a favorite book and take turns reading pages across the globe, state, or across Pennridge and share your love of reading with your students!    If you need help accessing regular Skype or Skype for Business, please contact us at ANY time!
Here are a few authors you might contact through the Microsoft Educator Community:

Duck Sock Hop author Jane Kohuth
Circle Needs a Ball Gown author Lisa Rose  (as availability Mondays and Fridays)
Children's Author and Illustrator Gina Perry

OR perhaps you'll read the same book as another teacher and share your love of reading via FlipGrid, Padlet, or another piece of technology!

3.  Chatterpix (iPads only)

Chatterpix is a wonderful tool for your students to share their knowledge of a research topic, MLK project (perhaps one that the students already created last week), their point of view as a character in a story, and MORE!  Chatterpix allows your students to take a picture (or a screenshot of an online picture), draw a line for a mouth, and record their voices for up to 30 seconds while they share their knowledge of that topic in a quick and fun way! Here's an example!

If you're a Seesaw user, you can simply upload right to Seesaw, or your kids can save it to their Google Drive. 
*Bonus- Chatterpix is on ALL district iPads already!
Need an extra set of hands to pull this one off?  Email us!

Martin Luther King Jr. Day

January's ISTE Standard is Knowledge Constructor.

This post includes some activities for Martin Luther King Jr. Day that will allow your students a chance to construct and share their knowledge.

1.  Using Seesaw (on iPads or laptops):

Although there are many activities in the Activities library, we wanted to share two.   The first (pictured below) includes directions for a Directed Drawing of Martin Luther King which the students then take a picture of, and add adjectives (labels) to describe him within Seesaw.  The Directed Drawing activity can be found here, which can be used with or without Seesaw.  Another very simple one has been posted by Michelle Hague and allows students to draw, type or record dreams they have- great for all ages!

2. Using EPIC! (on iPads or laptops):

There are many books, including many that are "Read to Me" for MLK Day on Epic, and it's easy to build a collection of books for your students.  Collections can be built for leveled reading groups, but also built by topic.  To create a collection, find the book you want, and click on the icon that looks like the image found here.

Other sources to check out for non-fiction articles are Newsela and PebbleGo!  If you need the district username/password for PebbleGo!, please contact Erin.  This is a fantastic resource that we pay for and we love to see it used to its full capacity!

3. Using Nearpod (on iPads or laptops):

There is a free Martin Luther King Nearpod activity by Jennifer Nichols in the Nearpod Library.  It is recommended for older grades, but can easily be adapted to meet your needs.

This is also a good time to remind you that in the District Library there are Pennridge teacher-made SEL lessons by grade level, so if you're looking for a different way to teach this month's skill of Service, look no further!

Simply login to Nearpod, Click "Explore," "District Library," and then your grade level!

January Events Coming Up:

• Although the weather might not permit, there is a lunar eclipse for January 20, 2019 
• January 24th is National Compliment Day.  The power of a compliment is pretty remarkable:  Either giving or receiving one can boost your happiness and confidence- making it a win-win! This can tie nicely into this month's TAKES PRIDE word- Service!  National Compliment Day is a fun day that can easily include everyone!

Technology Items for the New Year

1. Use of the Microsoft Outlook Desktop Application

When in district, you should NOT be accessing your email through the internet.  It's mandatory for all teachers to be using the desktop version of Microsoft Outlook, which is found in the start menu of your device.  This is important for several reasons:

• Your signature includes a district-wide initiative supporting SEL and our TAKES PRIDE theme, and will only work when you use the desktop application.
• Calendars will function and be shared more effectively.
• Files are easier to attach when sending e-mails and more reliable to download when received.
• OneNote connections will not work when using the web version.
• There is no need to type your username and password each time - the computer will know what your credentials are.

2. Office 365 Free Licenses

The holiday season might bring new devices into your household. A reminder that all students and staff are entitled to five free licenses of Microsoft Office through their Office 365 accounts.  Instead of purchasing this software through stores or other vendors, please download Office for free using these simple instructions.

3. Have a wonderful and restful holiday with family and friends!

Computational Thinker

Computational Thinker   

Today's post will deal with the theme of Computational Thinker, which looks to solve problems using data analysis and digital applications.  

Coding fits into this objective very well, and we have focused much of this blog post to creating an introductory lesson to coding for your students.

1.  Ozobots

Ozobots are small coding robots that are programmed using colored markers or using the computer, and are fantastic devices to introduce students to coding, from Kindergarten all the way through much older students.  We have 18 Ozobots that we would love to come use in your classroom!

All you need to do is let us know 2-3 times that might work for you.  We will bring all the materials needed for a 45 minute-1 hour lesson.  If you want to get some ideas of how we might use Ozobots , you can find lessons in the Lesson Library on their website here. Some of our favorite lessons that we've done in the elementary schools in the district can be found in this Ozobots Shared folder, as well as resources.  We can easily tie most any holiday into Ozobot use, as well!




2.  Hour of Code

The Hour of Code started as a 1-hour introduction to computer science to show that anybody can learn the basics (even Kindergartners and First Graders), and to broaden participation in the field of computer science.  It has become a worldwide effort to celebrate computer science, starting with 1-hour coding activities but expanding to all sorts of community efforts.  We hope you'll pick 1 hour in the month of December to give this a try, and we hope to see many teachers expand their knowledge during the 2018 Computer Science Education Week which will be December 3-9.  

Here are some suggestions per grade level, but we encourage you to take a look at their very user-friendly website!  If we can help in any way, please let us know!  We'd be happy to set-up your class, teach/co-teach the lesson, and more!  Some ideas:

With a Device

• Make a Flappy Game
• Little Dot Adventure

Unplugged - Conceptual Coding Activities Without a Device

• The Little Artist Inside Your Computer
• Team Hardware v. Team Software
• Dance Party Unplugged

3.  PowerPoint "Design Ideas"


PowerPoint has a new feature that will help you create some fantastic variety within your slideshow.  In PowerPoint, cue up a slide that has some content on it, perhaps some with both text and at least an image.  Then, click on the "Design" tab and look all the way to the right for "Design Ideas."  After choosing this icon, PowerPoint will automatically create some unique and beautiful combinations for the content on that slide.

PowerSchool and PowerTeacher Gradebook

Conference time often brings considerable attention to PowerSchool Gradebook and we are hoping to offer some tips on using the software most effectively.  For a full tutorial of the Gradebook please click here.

1.  Launching the Gradebook

The new version of PowerTeacher Gradebook is no longer compatible with the "old launch".  Please use the "new launch" method.  Directions created by IT can be found here.

2.  The font may appear too small in the Gradebook

While this continues to be problem that we cannot fix completely, there are some things that might help:

• To make your text larger in the Gradebook, click on "View" in your toolbar, and select Zoom.    You may notice the comment box/text does not get bigger with this fix.  We have looked into this issue and it continues to be unresolved.  Because of this, we suggest using the magnifier tool.  To access the magnifier tool, you can click on the small magnifying glass at the top right of your browser.  Or, you can hold down the CTRL button and use the + and - keys.  (If you have a new laptop and haven't yet changed the default font of your computer, you will want to click here.)
• You might consider viewing your Gradebook using your projector.  While certainly not ideal, it will magnify the screen real estate enough to make comments a bit easier.

3.  Reports in Gradebook

Some teachers find it helpful to run reports for students prior to conferences. 

• Reports Tab in Gradebook: This will allow you to customize the report you'd like to run.  The steps below frame a basic report, but click here for some visuals and more detail regarding how these reports can be created.

• Make sure you've selected the correct class.

• Choose Individual Student Report

• Select Student and customize the screen for what you're looking for

• OR choose "All Enrolled" to get a report for each student

You can also run a report in the PowerSchool Portal (the screen where you take attendance) without being in Gradebook.

• Quick Look Up-This is especially quick and helpful for a parent phone call, or a student who is wondering where they are throughout the marking period.

• In the PowerSchool home screen, click on the backpack icon.  

• Select the student, and in the Select Screens dropdown menu, click on "Quick Look Up".  There you'll see grades to date, and an overall grade for the year.

Attention Seesaw Users!

Keep Seesaw in mind for sharing student work at conferences.  In addition, a few teachers had their students do a self-reflection video in Seesaw (or a separate app and uploaded to Seesaw) and the teacher will share with the parents at conference time.  Click here for an example sheet that can easily be made into an activity.  This example uses the Shadow Puppet app, but keep the Chatterpix app in mind too.

Google Tourbuilder, VPN, Snipping Tool Delay Button

Global Collaboration

For the month of October, we will focus on the "Global Collaborator" and we will focus on tools that provide students with the opportunity to engage with people and places outside of their own community. 

1.  Google Tour Builder

One of the best ways for your students to experience a new place is to take them on a virtual field trip, and Google Tour Builder is the perfect application to create your own trip that will help bring your ideas to life.  Think of Google Tour Builder as a combination of a slideshow presentation and a tour of Google Earth, allowing you to add text, images, links, and even video on one side of the presentation, coupled with a Google Earth interactive view on the other.  The software is really easy to use, which allows students to do their own presentations and share out with the class.  Check out this tutorial for the basics.

2. Benefits of the VPN

Whenever using your laptop outside of the district, please consider connecting to the VPN while working (please see a tutorial on how to connect to the VPN here.)  When you are connected to the VPN, you will be able to use any of the functions of your machine just as if you are at school, such as:

• Accessing the U: Drive
• Using Microsoft Outlook, including sending e-mails, managing your calendar, and viewing your to-do lists.
• Using the Follow Me Printers, including the ability to print the night before and release the document right when you walk in the building the next morning.

3.  Snipping on a Delay

We have talked about the snipping tool before, but a new feature of the tool includes a delay, which is handy for capturing items that require a click.  Simply click "Delay" and choose the amount of seconds you would like to wait.  Then, choose "New" and cue up what you want to capture.  The snipping tool with automatically capture the screen after the amount of time you have chosen has passed.



Office 365 Subscription E-Mails
Please ignore any e-mails you might receive regarding your Pennridge Office 365 teacher and student subscription.  Bucks County IU, whom we negotiate our subscription renewal process, is finalizing our contract with Microsoft.  Office 365 will not be interrupted or canceled during this process, so please continue to use Office 365 as you normally would.  As always please contact Chris or Erin for help or suggestions regarding Microsoft applications!

Nearpod Field Trips, Global Read Aloud, Guided Access on iPads

Global Collaboration

For the month of October, we will focus on the "Global Collaborator" and we will focus on tools that provide students with the opportunity to engage with people and places outside of their own community. 

1.  Nearpod Virtual Field Trip

Chris and I have used a few Virtual trips in Nearpod already with students this school year, and they LOVE it!  It's so simple to add a virtual field trip to an already existing Nearpod presentation, or to simply create a quick field trip within Nearpod.  There are no special Virtual Reality Glasses or anything else needed!  Maybe you'll take a trip to the setting of a book your class is reading, or perhaps to a place where a music composer or Olympic athlete grew up, a board a ship in Ketchikan, Alaska, Glacier Creek in the Rocky Mountains, or the Botanical Gardens in Florida?   The opportunities are endless and can fit into all curricular areas!

1. Log-in to Nearpod
2. Select Create
3. Choose Add Content and Select Virtual Field Trip
4. Use the Search feature to find most any location you'd like!

That's it!!!


For all other features of Nearpod, please review "Nearpod in a Nutshell" that Erin created (previously posted in September).  Log in using the code APMCT.

Week 3's Book - You Hold Me Up

2.  Global Read Aloud

If you didn't read this week's book You Hold Me Up yet, we highly recommend it, as it fits nicely into our SEL curriculum, and can easily be found on EPIC! books, too.

Please know that you can participate as much or as little as you would like, and to contact Chris or Erin if you would like to be partnered up with another classroom at Pennridge to talk about the book.  Remember to share you pictures and/or stories in this Google Drive folder!

Week 4's Book - A Day with Yayah and
Week 5's Book When we Were Alone

Next week's book is A Day with Yayah by Nicola I. Campbell, followed by the final book in the read aloud When we Were Alone by David Robertson.  It doesn't appear there are tons of resources out there for this book, but we did see one in the Seesaw Activities Library if you're interested.  

3.  Guided Access on iPads

Do you have a student or group of students that can easily get side-tracked when using the iPads?  You might want to give Guided Access a try!  Guided Access limits your iOS device to a single app and lets you control which features are available.  Follow the quick steps in Erin's tutorial here, set a passcode and time limit, and you're ready to go!