Wednesday, December 2, 2015

Augmented Reality - Quiver & Holiday Writing

During these last few weeks of school . . . consider a few fun writing activities. 
The Quivar app, formally know as ColAR Mix, has a some holiday pages for students to color. Yes, a coloring sheet . . . not just any coloring sheet, but an augmented reality sheet! Download the Quiver app and hold it over the sheet that has been colored. Watch the picture come to life! These 3D coloring pages will amaze your students!
Once, students see their picture come to life, they will be ready to write!


Writing with a bit of Relaxed Ambience 
Project the crackling fire on your screen or a few computers around the room to create a "warm" and cozy environment for writing. This might even be a wear your slippers to school day!



Have some great writing prompt ideas for these augmented reality pages? Please feel free to add them to the Padlet!



Or . . . try some QR Codes and Holiday Judging
Click {here} to access the post and download this free activity.



Happy writing!


Thursday, November 26, 2015

Join #Skypeathon! - Global Movement - Sign up!

How fun is this global movement?!
What a great way to collaborate with classrooms across the world!
Be part of this global movement to travel 1 million virtual miles in 2 days!

Looking for a class to Skype with . . .  I created a Google Sheets sign up to help classrooms find others interested in Skyping.




















A word from Ellen . . .


Step 1: Schedule a Skype Session, a Virtual Tour or Talk with a Guest Speaker
Sometimes the hard part is finding classes to Skype with . . . so if you are interested . . .
click ----> Google Sheets sign up to register for a Skype session.



Ideas for Skype sessions . . .
Mystery Skype
Share a classroom pet
Play a game of guess my word (using Google Docs)
20 questions
Share book recommendations
Guess our number
Share town celebrations

Or . . . try a . . .
Virtual Field Trip



















Step 2: Show How Far You Traveled!
Use #SkypeaThon to share creative photos through Twitter or Instagram!












Don't miss out! Sign up now!


Monday, November 23, 2015

Write, Direct & Star in Your Own TV Show!

Have your student write, direct & star in their own TV show with the TeleStory app!
TeleStory is an augmented reality video camera that has face-detecting costumes and special effects.

It includes themes such as The Band, Star Adventure, Eye Spy, and The News.
It was perfect for the weather unit our 2nd grade students were starting.
TeleStory is a ton of fun! It is the perfect app that inspires students to be creative.
TeleStory has numerous templates for students to use to write their scripts. Students type the script and then it appears as they record.


For the weather unit, our students selected a city to investigate the weather.  Using weather.com they looked up the temperature and wind speed. Then, they had to determine the type of clothing to wear and fun activities to do in that type of weather. After completing the script, they worked on fluency.
Click {here} for the template.



TeleStory has "spot on" steps for creating a broadcast!

Creating a TeleStory TV show is as easy as . . . 

1. Pick a theme, then mix and match over 30 animated scenes to film your own story

2. Craft a script using our playful TV tropes (or write your own)

3. Dress up in 50 different digital costumes with face tracking

4. Perform and record your own show with animated settings and special effects

5. Broadcast your by exporting it to the camera roll.

There are so many themes that encourage students to really write a unique tv show.

Happy broadcasting!


Saturday, November 21, 2015

Padlet for Showcasing Student Work

Padlet is a great tool to use to post student work!
Using the iPad students create using any number of apps (depending on the task) and save it to the camera roll.
Then, they use a QR code reader to access the Padlet so they can post to the wall.

Thankful for . . .
I had a wonderful time in Stephanie's (@LearninginTX) second grade class.
Students wrote about what they were thankful for in their life. Then, using the Doodle Buddy app, students created a picture and saved it to the camera roll.

Stephanie then posted the Padlet QR code so the students could quickly access the wall.
On Padlet they uploaded their picture and wrote a complete sentence explaining the picture.
It was fun to watch their eager little faces as their work popped up on the screen. They were so proud of their work! Copy the URL and share with parents!

Click {here} to see the finished product.





To help students stay on track with multiple step directions, we create checklists.
Below, you will find several of the different checklists we use.
Click {here} to access the folder with all the checklists.











































and an answer document.

Have fun!

Sunday, November 1, 2015

November Currently!

Hello, November!
It's Currently time! I am thankful for Farley's monthly currently. It is such a great way to connect with other bloggers and see the wonderful things they are doing in their classrooms.

Welcome to my November Currently . . .

Listening: I love Blue Bloods!

Loving: My daughter just finished her first year on the Cross Country team. I am super impressed that she got up super early to run at 6:30am every morning. Love her coach! He created  scavenger hunts! Had the kids bussed over to the high school to run and joked about running the Starbucks triangle!

Thinking: I can't wait to see Eric Sheninger! I get to attend Eric Sheninger's Digital Leadership sessions this week! The other Instructional Coaches and I head out tomorrow for 2 days of inspiration and learning!
My well loved book, a bit water logged (it fell in the pool) is marked up . . . tagged, dog eared and sticky noted! There are so many amazing parts that I really had to stop myself . . .
I reference the book when I'm meeting with some of our administrators.
We are going to use the book for a book study! A call to action!


Wanting: We keep looking at the lake for that perfect property!

Needing: Ugg! When life drops an opportunity in you lap . . . change is hard!

Yummy! My mom's cheese bread! I really need to laminate the recipe. Preserve her handwriting...

Have a wonderful November!
Head over to Farley's Currently cuz she is so good about bringing bloggers together!
Stop, read and write to bloggers!

Saturday, October 10, 2015

Fun Writing, Math and Science Halloween Activities


October is a fun month! 


Chatterpix Kids is a great app that allows student to use their own voice to make things come to life. I also love it for fluency practice. You only get 30 seconds! Write a poem, short story, but do it in 30!


First up . . . Monster Mash!
We often say that our students need to have fun, but so do our teachers! Cristie, one of the Instructional Coaches and I met with our second grade team for a Play Dough Monster activity. We brought play dough, google eyes, chenille rods (aka-pipe cleaners) and beads. We asked each teacher to make a monster! Too much fun!

We talked with the team about creating a writing assignment geared to where they were with their students. Verbs . . . Monsters in Action! Adjectives . . . Describe your Monster! BME! Sequencing...

I've written before about the importance of having students write a script prior to recording. A script allows students to practice fluency and inflection.
Only 30 seconds . . . be sure to add emotion!
Click here or on the image to see an example.

Next up!
Monster Money and Problem Solving!
Keeping with the monster theme, we shared how students could take a set of coins, write a word problem using a script and record using Chatterpix.
Upload the video to your Google Drive.
Create a QR Code using the URL and post the finished products around the room. Students record their answer on the recording sheet and lift the flap to check their answer.

Create any kind of problem solving question! Subtraction! Perimeter! Area!
Click here or on the image to see an example.


Pumpkin Poetry!
I love the app Carve a Pumpkin! Have students write a poem about a Jack-o-Lantern.
Practice reading it . . . fluency!
Carve a pumpkin! Record using Chatterpix!
Click {here} for the Pumpkin Carving sheet.


Storybird Educator
I love this site! 
Storybird is a fun site that “lets anyone make visual stories in seconds.” Artists have created a lot of images especially for the site, and writers then use those images to inspire new stories.
Post the links on your class webpage so other students (and parents) can read all the stories. 
You can also create a QR code for students to access the story. There is even an embed code!



Augmented Reality!
The Quiver app, formerly known as ColAR mix, has dancing 3D pumpkins. Students can color the sheet and write a story about their pumpkins. Hover the app over the sheet and watch the pumpkins come to life!

The science of candy! Be a chemist and learn about transforming matter from one state to another!
This fun website that compares the amount a heat that is needed to create candy. 



Story Time!
"It's Halloween night, and creatures and critters from near and far are starting to gather outside the front door. And now here comes a whole army of monsters, on broomsticks, buses, and bikes, all clamoring in the darkness. What is it they want? Are they coming for you?"
This is a fun series. There are books across the US. Click {here} to see if your state has a book." ~Amazon
Not just Texas . . . find a scare in your town!



Click {here} for a previous Tech or Treat post! 
Hope you enjoy the tech or treats!

Friday, October 2, 2015

Currently - October

It's Farley's Currently linky time!!!!



Listening - I just dropped the daughter off at 6:30am cross country practice, so the only sound in the house is that of the dogs crunching on their breakfast and me typing away!

Loving - Every day I get to work with amazing educators. I'm very lucky that my role is one where I support teachers in the classroom with integrating technology . . . really just best practices. I love that my role is not tied to me evaluating them . . . just supporting! 

Thinking - Working out is much more fun with a buddy! Thanks, Alma!

Wanting - There are some super cute ankle boots out there . . . brown, black  . . . really want some leopard ones!

Needing/Boo-tiful - Cut and Color!!!! Badly! All it takes is a phone call to make that happen! Why can't I?!! Ug! No more excuses!

One more thing . . . my shameless plug at the end.
Texas teachers! Great FREE PD opportunity in San Antonio! Tech Field Day at the Region 20 Service Center co-hosted by the TCEA Area 20 Director . . . that's me!
Also, looking for presenters!
Join us!

Hop on over to Farley's blog to see what others are Currently doing!

Have a boo-tiful Friday!

Saturday, September 26, 2015

Tech Field Day

Texas teachers and all other teachers that might like to make a trip to the Alamo city . . . I am super excited to share with you the FIRST TCEA Area 20 Tech Field Day!

There is NO FEE for this event! So that makes it FREE! Who doesn't love free?

Who is this for?
Teachers, administrators, tech directors, library media specialists, tech support staff and anyone who is interested in finding out more about the integration of technology in education.

Currently, we are looking for presenters Topic strands to be addressed include:
Google Apps
iPads
Web 2.0 Tools
Global Communications


Registration is now open! Join us!


Saturday, September 19, 2015

FlipQuiz Me



FlipQuiz Me is a great site for creating fun reviews for students in a gameshow format. Boards are quick and easy to create. 

There is a free version and a Pro version.




Creating your board is simple . . . give it a title . . . create your categories . . . add the questions/answers!


You can add an image using a URL. Also,  you can add a hyperlink. This link could send students out to a site that has a bit more information on the topic.


There is a search feature for boards that are created by other educators.


Create an account to save all the boards you create. You can share the board with your students by posting a URL or the board can be embedded in your class webpage.