January 16

The new year is often a time to set new goals.  Keep us in mind if we can help you in any of the goals you've set forth professionally this year!  -Erin and Chris

1.   January's Seesaw Goal

Click the link on the left to print these shortcuts!

This month- take a 1-2 page worksheet or activity sheet you typically do, but try it as a Seesaw activity instead!  Students can type, draw, or record their responses right in Seesaw.  And in the newest update, students can also pan and zoom and annotate PDFs.  By doing so, you make it easy to add layers to student learning by letting them explain and reflect on their thinking.  It's also easier to share and save, and cuts down on paper!
If you haven't done so already, we hope you will take this month to explore this user-friendly Activities feature.  Please take 3 minutes to watch the video below on how to do so and CLICK HERE for the short cut icons *shown right) you can use when typing directions for your students. Even if your students have never completed an activity before, this is a perfect place to start!

Uploading PDF documents to Seesaw- 3 minute video

Martin Luther King Jr. Day with Seesaw

Or, if you'd rather- We'd like to come show you and your students how to accomplish the skill above.  We will create and assign the activity shown below (or another of your choosing) and model how to complete the activity with your students.  All you need to do is give a block of 45 minutes that fits in your schedule and we'll do the rest.  This is a great way for your students to learn while you are learning right alongside of them!  

K/1 Activity-  The Crayon Box- self portrait drawing activity

2/3 Activity- I Have a Dream- draw and write activity

4/5 Activity-  MLK Comprehension activities

2.  Device Clean-Up

It's that time of the year.  We wanted to remind everyone of some ways to clean up your devices.

• Devices - Please read here for the tips for cleaning iPads and laptops.
• Computers - This is a great time to clean off your desktop.  No file is safe on your desktop, so please consider moving your files to the cloud- either OneDrive or Google Drive.  Please see these basic instructions for Google Drive or OneDrive for some assistance in managing your files. 

3.  Power Teacher Pro

We have posted PowerSchool tutorial content on the Technology Integrator website HERE.  Hopefully these reminders will help answer any questions you might have as progress reporting time approaches.  Any other questions, please feel free to reach out!

Upcoming Events

• 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!

• Seesaw Social 2020

Happy New Year!

1.  One-Word Resolutions

Here we sit at the start of another New Year!  365 blank days staring us in the face waiting to be written!  What story will those 365 days tell at the end of this year? That's a big question!  It's why we write resolutions and set goals!  

This year, just pick ONE word!

Brainstorm as a class and encourage your students to think hard about a word they want to be mindful of this year.  This can be professionally, academically, behaviorally, socially, etc. 

Click Here for some video one-word resolutions from some familiar faces around the district!  Enjoy!

By picking one word and doing something, no matter how small, is a step in the right directions and that one step could lead to the next step!  Don't get discouraged if you lose focus from time to time (doesn't that always happen with resolutions!).  Any change you make with your one-word in mind is significant!

Share these one-word resolutions with Seesaw or FlipGrid!  Students (and YOU!) record their word and why they chose it! 

Seesaw- 

  Simply have the students record themselves or a peer 

OR use this activity I've created in the Seesaw Library!

FlipGrid

   Create the one-word topic, share the code with your class and let them record all on one FlipGrid!  If you've never used FlipGrid before, it's easily added in PSD Key and is quick and easy to set up,  Be sure to view the example above!

 If you want an extra set of hands for this part, make sure you let us know!  In a few months, revisit these resolutions and see how you are all doing!  It's easy and fun!

2. Sneezy the Snowman- story retelling with Ozobots

Have you been looking for a way to use Ozobots in your classroom?  We have created this Ozobot activity to accompany the story Sneezy the Snowman.  After reading the story, students cut/paste story parts in the correct order.  Using the Ozobots, they code their way through the story while retelling the story in their own words.  This is a great activity for summarizing and cause/effect, not to mention coding with Ozobots and is a great way to have students record the retelling in Seesaw!  Please feel free to use this activity as you see fit, or let us know if you'd like us to come in!  This activity is best for Grades 1-3, but can easily be adapted for all grade levels!  In addition, if you have another book you'd like an Ozobot activity with, just let us know!  We can create most anything!
You can find most of the activities we have created in this Pennridge Google folder- all activities are ready to use, or feel free to edit as needed!

3. 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.

December 12

1.  To Helpdesk or Not to Helpdesk?

Are you wondering sometimes if you should email an integrator or put in a helpdesk ticket?  Here is a reminder of what would be considered a helpdesk and what would be perfect for an integrator.  

This week's guest contributor is Diane Miller, Director of IT. 

Use the HELPDESK for:  

•    Hardware related issues
•    Software related issues
•    Staff access issues
•    Student access issues
•    Connection issues (laptops, iPads, phones, printers, Mimios)
•    PSD Key questions
•    SeeSaw questions 

Contact an Integrator directly for:

•    Help with use of hardware in your classroom
•    Help showing you and/or your students how to use a program or software

              

Why do we use the HELPDESK?

•    To ensure the request is routed to the right technician
•    To ensure someone sees the request even if the technician is out of the office
•    To help identify problems that are trending in the district
•    To provide analytics for the number of tickets received and time to complete tickets to help with IT staffing decisions

If you see a tech in your building, they are there to provide service to someone who has entered a ticket.  If they can help you quickly, they will answer a question, but if your issue requires time to be spent, you will most likely be asked to enter a ticket.

When contacting helpdesk, please email helpdesk@pennridge.org or call 855-876-6196.

 Thank you for your cooperation!

2.  Mimio Users

Below are links to Google Drive folders by grade level.  Within each of those folders, you’ll find a Mimio folder with some ideas and activities already submitted by other teachers within Pennridge.  This was the result of Mimio sessions over the past year or two.  If you have something to add or share to these folders, please send it our way to upload, or please let us know so that we can make you an editor on the folder!   Included in each of these folders are directions for downloading Mimio presentations.  In addition, please remember that Mimioconnect.com is the “teachers pay teachers” of Mimio presentations- all FREE and completely editable!  Sometimes this is a great place to get ideas of how to creatively use your Mimio and a great place to start!  

Kindergarten

First Grade

Second Grade

Third Grade

Fourth Grade

Fifth Grade

These folders will show in your “Shared with Me” in Google Drive.  If you feel you’ll use them often, simply right click on the folder in Google and choose “Add to My Drive” for quick access!

3.  Virtual Manipulatives

Check out these amazing and FREE web-based manipulatives from Toy Theater.  Students can model abstract math concepts for deeper comprehension.  There is something here for everyone- including art and music! These tools can be a great way for kids to interact with a concept and then screenshot their work in Seesaw.  Just add microphone to add an explanation and you have yourself a quick assessment!  

Powerpoint, PSD Key Trick, and Hour of Code

1.  PowerPoint "Design Ideas"

PowerPoint has a hidden "gem"  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.

2.  PSD Key "Trick"
If you use multiple tabs, you may easily lose your original tab opened for PSD Key.  To get back to your PSD Key in ANY tab, use the home button, as shown below!

3.  Computer Science Week- Dec. 9-13th

Each picture includes a link to an activity you can do at any time!
Click the link below!

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 2019 Computer Science Education Week which will be December 9-13.  

Even if you aren't comfortable with coding yourself, we have included some activities that you can do right alongside of your students! 

Click HERE for a list of activities that we have compiled that we know your students will LOVE!  

They are all web-based and can be done at anytime! Use this as a springboard or an extension activity! This will also be posted on your students' PSD Key, so you students will have easy access to the links!  Most of all- Have fun!

BrainPop, Seesaw and Thanksgiving

1.  Brainpop and BrainPop Jr.

Through our Science supervisor, we have several accounts for BrainPop. and BrainPop Jr.  If you would like, ONE TEACHER per grade level in your building should activate the BrainPop account using this code:  ZCRP4923.  If you need further assistance, please let us know!


If you haven't used BrainPop Jr. lately, they have really increased their features!  In addition to quick videos that students love, they have features shown in the image on the right!

2.  Seesaw

We found this blog about Seesaw and its features to be a quick and easy read and wanted to share with you.  Perhaps you'll read about something you didn't already know!?  Click Here!

3.  Happy Thanksgiving

We hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday with your family and friends.  We are thankful to work in this district with you all!

Twitter, Ozobots, Seesaw for Thanksgiving

1. Twitter in Pennridge

Tips from Kallie Cooper - Pennridge's Public Relations and Communication Coordinator

Twitter is an excellent way of sharing all the wonderful things happening in your classroom with the community and your colleagues. Here are some tips on how to effectively use Twitter or get started!

• Hashtag (#) vs. Handle (@): Including a # in your tweet is great for connecting with other users who are also posting about the same topic. It is also a great way to brand your Twitter account or connect large groups of people at an event. For example, with you include #MondayMotivation in your tweet and click on the hashtag, you will see all twitter users who added the same hashtag. At Pennridge, we use #PennridgeProud if possible, please include this in your tweets! To tag someone else in your tweet, you would use the @ symbol and add what is called their handle or username on Twitter. For example, if you are a teacher at Deibler, you may want to include the Deibler Twitter handle in your tweets. You would tag them by typing @PSDDeibler. These tips are great to include in your tweets to connect and engage with others.

• Professional Account: To further brand the district and also clearly define professional accounts, we are asking teachers, buildings, principals, etc. to include PSD in the being of your Twitter Handle. For example, @PSDMsCooper or @PSD_Cooper. This clearly communicates that your Twitter is a professional account associated with the Pennridge School District.

• How do I change my handle? Here is a great step by step to change your handle referred to as a username in this blog. https://help.twitter.com/en/managing-your-account/change-twitter-handle.

When using Twitter in Pennridge, please make sure to use the web version of your Twitter account, as Twitter will not work on your teacher iPad.

If you are using Twitter for professional reasons, please update your Twitter handle to show PSD at the start of your handle. For example: PSD_EReichert. Please do not do this if you use your Twitter for personal reasons.

2.  Ozobots

All 1-5 students will experience Ozobots this year in their STEM classes beginning in the 2nd marking period.  However, we encourage you to think of Ozobots in all parts of your curriculum, and we can help!

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 Google Ozobots Shared folder, as well as resources.  We can easily tie most any holiday into Ozobot use, as well, so this time of the year is the perfect time!  Please see your building STEM teacher or either of us anytime!

3.  Seesaw Spotlights:

While there are many activities for Thanksgiving,  here are a few to get you started!

•  Favorite Foods  

• Thanksgiving Word creations

• Count and Write

Seesaw Reflection

Quick Look Images with 10s Frames completed in one of our 2nd grade classrooms, Click Here to watch! This is a great way to show learning through a variety of tools ALL within Seesaw!

Labeling iPads, PSD Key App Creation, OTS Spotlights

1.  Labeling your Teacher iPad

If you have not already done so, please use a piece of tape or label to mark the back of your teacher iPad with your last name and room number.  This will help us to find the owner in a quick and easy way if your iPad is left somewhere in the building!

2. PSD Key App Creation Reminders

A couple of notes to really maximize time saving through PSD Key:

• Check the Professional Resources Folder - Many of the apps that we use professionally as teachers are already pre-loaded in the red Professional Resources folder on your PSD Key Dashboard.  These apps will now appear in the teaching library with a "lock" so that we can all tell whats already in this folder.  If you can find a moment, it is best to type in all your usernames into these apps so that you don't have to look them up later.
• To check or not to check - Teachers have started to add their own apps to replace bookmarks, which is really great!  This can be done by choosing the "Add Your Own App" in the upper right hand corner of the App library screen.  Then, PSD Key will ask you to name the app and put the url.  You will also notice a small check box at the bottom.
• Please check this box if this website requires a sign in.  Chris Brockman will create an app to save your password.
• Please do not check this box if it is a simple weblink bookmark.

3.  Upcoming OTS Spotlights:

The below sessions are all being offered for district PLT.  Talk to your building principal if you see benefit in holding a similar session for building PLT.

December 5- Mimio Basic Training-(one hour) This session will be the same session that was offered on November 5th.  However, it is back by popular demand!  In this session, we will go over the basics ins/outs of Mimio, the tools, and also a quick look at Mimioconnect.com.

December 10- Mimio Advanced- (one hour)  In this session, teachers will have an opportunity to ask questions, but also will be given time to create presentations, play with the gallery tools, and/or "mimio-fy" a previous presentation!

December 11- March 11- Teach Like a Pirate Book Study (7 hours)-  This book study offered by Erin Reichert and Ken Ehrmann will kick off on December 11th with a face-to-face meeting, following up with some online discussions, and wrapped up on March 11th with a final face-to-face meeting.  The OTS sign-up for this book study will CLOSE on Friday, November 22, so sign up today!  All participants are required to purchase their own book.