"What's in the Bag EDU?" (Episode 7: Amy Storer, @techamys)
We’re putting an EDU spin on the series originally by Amoeba Records! In “What’s in the Bag EDU,” educators share tools that they’re using in their classrooms. When possible, we’ll provide links to purchase the items discussed, just below the videos. Today, we welcome Amy Storer, or @techamys, from Montgomery, TX!
Welcome to the seventh episode of
“What’s in the Bag EDU?”
We’re putting an EDU spin on the series originally by Amoeba Records! In “What’s in the Bag EDU,” educators share tools that they’re using in their classrooms. When possible, we’ll provide links to purchase the items discussed, just below the videos.
Today, we welcome Amy Storer, or @techamys, from Montgomery, TX!
Amy Storer is an Instructional Coach and Technology Integration Mentor in Montgomery, Texas. She encourages and motivates others to reach far beyond the classroom walls to make the learning more meaningful and inspiring. Amy has a true passion for working with other educators and students to encourage them to make and foster global connections.
(please note, below could be affiliate links)
Item #1:
Buncee: Buncee is my absolute favorite creation tool as an instructional coach. I use it all the time to create graphics for presentations, school and district signage, newsletters, and more! What I love about this tool is that kids (and teachers) get it, because it gets them! I feel at my most creative when using it. Just love it!
Item #2:
Wakelet: Wakelet is a content creation platform where users can bookmark, organize content into collections, create digital stories, collaborate, design learning portfolios, you name it! Wakelet can do it! I love to use this tool as an instructional coach to create collections for frequently visited sites for our campus family, coaching menus, professional development, and for taking notes.
Item #3:
#CopierPD: I started this last year after being inspired by a conversation I had with some educators on Voxer. I was looking for ways to reach the adult learners on my campus, but to also honor their time. This is very similar to #PottyPD and #LearningintheLoo. You never know who you will impact with your words and the things that you share!
Item #4:
Four O’Clock Faculty by Rich Czyz: This book totally transformed the way that I think about professional learning. It continues to inspire me to design experiences for my teachers and others that “stick”. I even own 2 books, just in case I lose one! That is how much I love it!
Item #5:
My Space: As an instructional coach, I want my space to be inviting and a space for all. Each year, I work to add more to my room for the teachers that I work alongside. Some of my favorite things in my space? Candy jars, our professional learning library (bookshelf built by my pawpaw), and grade level tubs to stay organized.
Item #6:
Flocabulary: I love the way this tool amplifies student voice! One of my favorite features of this tool is the Lyric Lab. Students and teachers are able to design and create academic rhymes to go along with content and learning.
Item #7:
Podcasts! I love listening to podcasts while in the car or in the gym. It is a great way to explore and learn while on the go, and it’s FREE! Some of my favorite educational podcasts are Teach Like a Rockstar, Leading Equity (just started this one), and Cult of Pedagogy. I also love true crime podcasts and those that tell a story.
Item #8:
Frixion Pens! These are my favorite pens to use with my calendar! They are retractable gel pens that also erase! I have a hard time using anything else! LOL!
"What's in the Bag EDU?" (Episode 6: Kathrina Mendez, @kathrina_mendez)
We’re putting an EDU spin on the series originally by Amoeba Records! In “What’s in the Bag EDU,” educators share tools that they’re using in their classrooms. When possible, we’ll provide links to purchase the items discussed, just below the videos. Today, we welcome Kathrina Mendez, or @kathrina_mendez, from San Diego, CA!
Welcome to the sixth episode of
“What’s in the Bag EDU?”
We’re putting an EDU spin on the series originally by Amoeba Records! In “What’s in the Bag EDU,” educators share tools that they’re using in their classrooms. When possible, we’ll provide links to purchase the items discussed, just below the videos.
Today, we welcome Kathrina Mendez, or @kathrina_mendez, from San Diego, CA!
Hi! My name is Kathrina Mendez and I teach a 4th/5th grade combination class south of San Diego in California. I love learning and connecting with others. I am passionate about building relationships with my students and providing equitable opportunities for diverse learners.
(please note, below are affiliate links)
Item #1:
Presentation Remote -- My students always look forward to using this wireless remote for class presentations. It is ergonomically designed, durable, easy to use, and inexpensive. The remote uses one AAA battery and has an ultra-slim USB receiver that is stored inside the remote when not in use. The controls allow students to easily go forward, backward, full screen, and includes a laser pointer. To purchase, click here.
Item #2:
IMultipurpose Laser Leveler — I use this multipurpose laser leveler for decorating my classroom, especially when setting up my class before the school year starts. The leveler includes an 8 foot measuring tape, three bubble levels, and my favorite part--the laser leveler. The laser level helps me easily level and line up multiple bulletin boards or posters as desired. A must-have for my fellow Type A teachers! This item was found on Amazon here.
Item #3:
Ceiling Clips — If you have T bar ceilings in your classroom, these ceiling hooks are an awesome and easy way to decorate and transform your classroom. I keep these hooks close to the perimeter of my entire ceiling to hang decorations, backdrops, flags, and student work throughout the year. They are super easy to clip on and move or slide around as needed. I love using them for classroom transformations to surprise the students and physically change the look of our room. To purchase, click here.
Item #4:
Webcam Cover Slider — After having a class set of Chromebooks for 3 years, some of our webcams have gotten scratched and cloudy after so much student wear and tear. These cover sliders protect the webcam lens and have a strong adhesive and stay in place once they’re set. An added bonus is that it can help with managing the class. When students are working on video projects and I need their immediate attention, I simply ask for them to slide their cover to avoid distractions. To purchase, click here.
Item #5:
Flipgrid Tent or Pop-Up Pod — We LOVE using Flipgrid in our room and we use this tent to provide students a more private or safe space to record when needed. We also use the tent during independent reading as a comfy, distraction free reading nook. We have a few in our room and students love to use it so much that I have a rotation schedule for students during independent work. The tent can also double up as a green screen for other video projects! See my video for my pod-hack alternative! To purchase, click here.
Item #6:
Write & Wipe Magnetic Nameplates — I forgot to include these in my video but here are two photos of my last item! I use these magnets to stay organized in a visual way. I have used them as an attendance tracker as students enter the room and move their name from Absent to Present. I also use them to keep track of class jobs and flex groups in writing. I have multiple sets and sometimes print labels for the sets that get shifted around so much so that I don’t have to deal with rewriting names when they accidentally get wiped off! To purchase, click here.
Purchase Links:
Here’s where you can find direct links to purchase the items that Karie mentioned. Please note: these are affiliate links. If you have any questions, please reach out to Karie on Twitter at: @legitkfrauey!
Analog Analyzation
Technology is an awesome resource that we have at our fingertips. It creates accountability, gives accessibility and can foster creativity. But technology isn’t a bandaid that should be used to fix a lesson. It also isn’t something that your lesson should morph around in order to incorporated. As we always say, start with your content and then see if there are ways to foster more voice, involvement and creativity using technology.
Technology is an awesome resource that we have at our fingertips. It creates accountability, gives accessibility and can foster creativity. But technology isn’t a bandaid that should be used to fix a lesson. It also isn’t something that your lesson should morph around in order to incorporated. As we always say, start with your content and then see if there are ways to foster more voice, involvement and creativity using technology.
But even an avid #edtech user like myself loves some good old analog analyzation in my ELA classroom. Teach plot was our target for this particular week and we were focusing specifically on character traits and evidence supporting our descriptions. We started by reading the book The Most Magnificent Thing.
You could read any great book with a well developed character but I like this one for the beginning of the year. Its message is one of determination, hard work, frustration and the confidence that develops when you persevere. It fits nicely into the previous SEL lessons we do first week. But again, you could choose any story that fits within your current unit.
After reading, each student set out to work on their own characterizations. Using EdPuzzle to review the story, students were give three tasks:
1) Find evidence from the story they could use to support the character embodied the set of traits they were given. (I gave them the list of traits for this activity. They were responsible, innovative, confident, engaged and reflective) Students went back and watched the story read aloud on EdPuzzle pausing it along the way to record the evidence they found for the various traits.
2) Rank the traits based on how much they felt the character showed them throughout the story. This is where the students were able to pick up, rearrange and move the post-its after finding the various evidence points. This was an important part of the lesson and really the foundation for using the post-it notes in the first place. This step allowed students to reflect and revise their thinking after they worked through all the evidence. Many students changed their original thinking of how the traits should be ranked once they took the time to support the thinking.
3) Explain the ranking order they chose and discuss the importance of that #1 ranked trait to the theme of the story. In the story we read, the character sticks with her project and works through the frustration to accomplish building her creation. So for example, if confidence was their most important trait, students explain the importance of needing confidence to get through tough situations.
The next step will of course be for students to share their rankings and elaborate on their thinking using Flipgrid. But in this lesson, working out thoughts first before sharing on video was the way to go. Feel free to grab the template to use if you can or use the one without a title for you to rank and explain in another subject or with another standard.
-K 👗
*Some of the links in this post contain affiliate links and we will receive a small commission if you make a purchase after clicking on the link.*
Flipgrid and Wakelet Integration!
Learn how to embed Flipgrid videos directly into your Wakelet collections in just five steps!
Back @ ISTE, Flipgrid announced a massive round of updates. Most of which came on 8/1, but the fine folks over at Flipgrid and Wakelet have a back-to-school gift for us all!
Now, you can record Flipgrid videos right into your Wakelet collections! Flipgrid has placed their new app, the Shorts Camera, right into Wakelet. This game changer allows educators to flip the classroom easily, and provide resources to your students. You can even open up the collection to be edited by your students, so that they can add content, too. To learn how to set up your first Flipgrid / Wakelet integration, check out the tutorial below!
"What's in the Bag EDU?" (Episode 5: Jeni Long and Sallee Clark, @Jenallee1
We’re putting an EDU spin on the series originally by Amoeba Records! In “What’s in the Bag EDU,” educators share tools that they’re using in their classrooms. When possible, we’ll provide links to purchase the items discussed, just below the videos. Today, we welcome Jeni Long and Sallee Clark or @Jenallee, from Fort Worth, TX!!
Welcome to the fifth episode of
“What’s in the Bag EDU?”
We’re putting an EDU spin on the series originally by Amoeba Records! In “What’s in the Bag EDU,” educators share tools that they’re using in their classrooms. When possible, we’ll provide links to purchase the items discussed, just below the videos.
Today, we welcome the dynamic duo: Jeni Long and Sallee Clark, or @jenallee from Fort Worth, TX!
Jeni Long and Sallee Clark are Instructional Technologists with Eagle Mountain-Saginaw ISD. This dynamic duo, known as #Jenallee, is passionate about technology integration and making learning accessible & fun for all! Their blog and YouTube show highlight the newest EdTech tools and offers tech tutorials for teachers. Between the two of them, they have presented across the 27 schools in their district, at their Regional Education Service Center, TCEA, TCEA for Tots, FETC, ISTE & Central America. They are both MIE Experts, MIE Trainers, and Flipgrid & Wakelet Ambassadors. You can follow them individually at: @jlo731 and @salleeclark, or together at @jenallee1!
Follow #Jenallee!
Be sure to follow Jeni and Sallee individually at: @jlo731 and @salleeclark, or together at @jenallee1! Also be sure to check out their YouTube show at either of the links below!
Roll Your Way to More #interACTIVE Lessons
Creating an #interACTIVE learning environment is something that we strive to do as educators every day. But not every engaging activity has to be on a computer, involving song and dance or a costume change. Sometimes a simple die can go a long way!
Creating an #interACTIVE learning environment is something that we strive to do as educators every day. But not every engaging activity has to be on a computer, involving song and dance or a costume change. Sometimes a simple die can go a long way!
The first week of school is always a time where we spend time developing the culture of our classroom and focusing in our our school-wide initiatives. We read books with global lessons like kindness and respectfulness while review the expectations our school has for all students. One of my favorite activities to do is a simple rule review “Cranium style”.
The inspiration for this activity comes from the board game Cranium where players must make their way through the board by getting their team to guess glues through drawing, acting or sculpting out of clay. Although we didn’t have a game board, I used a simple blank dice template to create a fun team-building review activity. Students worked in groups to guess clues to rules we had just reviewed regarding kindness.
Every group of students had a drawing utensil (pencil, white board marker, etc.), a small tub of Play-Doh, and the teacher-made die and a pile of cut out rule cards.
Each side of the die has an image representing the way the student will try to get their group to guess the rule—pencil means they draw, the bust means they sculpt and the clapperboard indicates they will in turn act out the clue. They roll the die, grab a clue card and then turn the timer for 30 seconds. (We used sand timers but you could monitor the time in many ways!)
This is always one of my favorite activities every year because it is a perfect way to match content with collaboration. Now in this lesson we used the dice to review school/class rules but the beauty of the Cranium-style actions is that they could be used with any content. Have lab procedures to review in science—do it in an #interACTIVE style! Maybe you want students to review the week list of vocabulary words—try it in this #interACTIVE way!
But maybe you don’t want to review something as route and routine as vocabulary words or class rules. We have also included a blank template for you to take and edit for your own #interACTIVEclass! Maybe you put literature group questions on each side, or math equations for students to solve. A simple edited die could create a fun vocabulary center as well. Roll to find the part of speech, a synonym/antonym or draw an illustration representing the word. The possibilities are endless!
If you have wound up in a position where you are solely teaching students virtually, no worries! Try using a live dice video to create the same experience for students. Direct students to the video or embed directly into your LMS, and have them pause and unpause as needed to “roll” their way through any planned activity. The example below is just one of many free resources available.
As the new school year rolls out, just remember that #interACTIVE lessons don’t always have to take a long time to plan or use lots of external resources. Simple and sweet is often the best way to get students engaging with content while collaborating and creating with each other.
-K 👗
For more interACTIVE ideas on making teaching and learning more relevant and engaging, check out our book The InterACTIVE Class!
"What's in the Bag EDU?" (Episode 4: Karie Frauenhoffer, @legitkfrauey)
We’re putting an EDU spin on the series originally by Amoeba Records! In “What’s in the Bag EDU,” educators share tools that they’re using in their classrooms. When possible, we’ll provide links to purchase the items discussed, just below the videos. Today, we welcome Karie Frauenhoffer, or @LegitKFrauey, from Kernersville, NC!
Welcome to the fourth episode of
“What’s in the Bag EDU?”
We’re putting an EDU spin on the series originally by Amoeba Records! In “What’s in the Bag EDU,” educators share tools that they’re using in their classrooms. When possible, we’ll provide links to purchase the items discussed, just below the videos.
Today, we welcome Karie Frauenhoffer, or @LegitKFrauey, from Kernersville, NC!
HI! My name is Karie Frauenhoffer. I am a 7th Grade Language Arts and Social Studies teacher from Kernersville, North Carolina. I am currently entering my 9th year of teaching and this year will be the first year in 4 years I am teaching Social Studies again!
(please note, below are affiliate links)
Item #1:
PaperMate Inkjoy Gel Pens -- Every teacher needs a good pen to use for all of that lesson plan writing and grading! I love these because they don’t smear like other gel pens, they’re super comfortable to write with AND they come in such pretty colors ;). To purchase, click here.
Item #2:
I love to incorporate spelling challenges into fun classroom activities I do, like escape rooms or breakouts. Bananagrams is a great letter tile game that you can use to incorporate those spelling challenges! This item was found on Amazon here.
Item #3:
Adhesive Pocket Squares from Target Dollar Spot! They are great for labeling desks with desk numbers or providing little reminders! :)
Item #4:
An Amazon Echo Dot: This is a great little gadget to add to your classroom. I love to use Alexa for a timer, to play games & for some ambient music while the kiddos work! To purchase, click here.
Item #5:
Scotch Laminator: Every teacher needs their own personal laminator. Let’s be honest… sometimes we don’t have time to wait for others to do our laminating for us. This scotch laminator is a great deal & super user friendly -- Its my favorite B2S tool! To purchase, click here.
Never compare yourself to snapshots you see on the internet. These are supplies I’ve acquired over the years but, not something I had when I first started!
Purchase Links:
Here’s where you can find direct links to purchase the items that Karie mentioned. Please note: these are affiliate links. If you have any questions, please reach out to Karie on Twitter at: @legitkfrauey!
Classroom Management for the Beginning of the Year: "The Good Egg"
Have you checked out “The Good Egg,” by Jory John and Pete Oswald? This book can be used to promote positive behavior, and adding this classroom management tip can help keep your students on task throughout the year!
Have you checked out “The Good Egg,” by Jory John and Pete Oswald? It’s the “sequel” to “The Bad Seed.” In “The Good Egg,” a self-identified "good egg" lives in a carton at the farmer's market with 11 other eggs who all have a tendency to misbehave. The good egg tries to be perfect and take charge but eventually, the stress of it all starts to show and it becomes clear that a big change is needed. So the good egg sets off on a journey of self-discovery and self-care that involves relaxation, meditation, and even painting. Finally, the good egg returns home having learned that nobody is perfect and it's important to take time to be good to yourself and your fellow eggs.
This important message is powerful for students to learn during the first few days of school. To use this with my classroom management, I purchased these plastic egg trophies (affiliate link). I had the idea to use one of the trophies to pass around to any student who was “being a good egg.” The egg trophy can move at any time - if I catch a student doing something positive. I explained to my students that if you have the egg, and then it gets moved, that doesn’t mean that you have done anything wrong. It just means that I caught someone else doing something great! The person who has the egg trophy at the end of the day receives a prize. So, it encourages positive class behavior!
To purchase the “Good Egg” and the plastic “Egg Trophies,” check out the (affiliate) links below.
"What's in the Bag EDU?" (Episode 3: Amber Hinkel, @Hinkels_Hangout)
We’re putting an EDU spin on the series originally by Amoeba Records! In “What’s in the Bag EDU,” educators share tools that they’re using in their classrooms. When possible, we’ll provide links to purchase the items discussed, just below the videos. Today, we welcome Amber Hinkel, or @Hinkels_Hangout, from Naples, FL!
Welcome to the third episode of
“What’s in the Bag EDU?”
We’re putting an EDU spin on the series originally by Amoeba Records! In “What’s in the Bag EDU,” educators share tools that they’re using in their classrooms. When possible, we’ll provide links to purchase the items discussed, just below the videos.
Today, we welcome Amber Hinkel, or @Hinkels_Hangout, from Naples, FL!
Amber is a K-5 Technology teacher who is an absolute #MustFollow on social media. Check out the tools that she’s using in her classroom below!
Item #1:
Children’s book, She Persisted, By Chelsea Clinton. I love to read this during Hour Of Code as we are constantly reminding students that perseverance is needed. To purchase, click here (please note: this is an affiliate link).
Item #2:
Cordless COB Light Switch, Students use these battery operated lights when recording to signal to classmates to work quietly when in their area. This item was found on Amazon here (please note: this is an affiliate link).
Item #3:
Portable Charger, I have some older iPads that have a hard time holding a charge for the time that they are needed to be in use, and supplies are limited so I have a few portable chargers so that students can continue to use the device without being tethered to the wall. You can find lots of different options on Amazon, but here is an example! (please note: this is an affiliate link).
Item #4:
Bluetooth Microphone, I like to have a bluetooth microphone so students can venture further away from their device and have more mobility while recording. There are many options available on Amazon, but be sure to check the specifications to see if the product will work with your device. Here’s an example of one that works with an iPhone X!
Item #5:
Wired Lapel Microphone. I purchase the wired lapel mics because they are way more affordable and perfect for quick Flipgrid recordings and similar assignments. Again, there are lots of options on Amazon, but you can find a similar product here. (please note: this is an affiliate link).
Item #6:
RocketBook, reusable notebook, using the app you can upload your handwritten notes to a destination of your choice such as Onenote, OneDrive, Dropbox, e-mail, basically anywhere you would like to digitally store files. To purchase, click here. (please note: this is an affiliate link).
Purchase Links:
Here’s where you can find direct links to purchase the items that Andy mentioned. Please note: these are affiliate links. If you have any questions, please reach out to Andy on Twitter at: @MrCoachK15!
Social Media Sharing
Parents. Legal guardians. They are (or should be!) our partners in education but there are so many factors that often complicate this idea. Time. Work. Family dynamics. Regardless, we as teachers should be making an effort to open up the window to our classroom to those who want to see in.
Parents. Legal guardians. They are (or should be!) our partners in education but there are so many factors that often complicate this idea. Time. Work. Family dynamics. Regardless, we as teachers should be making an effort to open up the window to our classroom to those who want to see in. Social media is a great way to do this as long as you do it in a way that is safe and protected.
Before sharing, make sure you know what your school/district’s policy is regarding student sharing. Some may send home waivers for students or you may have to create one. If you need to write your own, maybe start with something like this.
There are so many different ways to share content—teacher made highlight clips, student work, school trips—but always make sure to keep certain information out of your posts. Its best to never include school name, or address and if possible, we try not to ever include student names as well.
We also recommend creating a brand new account for your classroom which helps keep it separate from your personal life. Sharing where you go on the weekend, or what you cooked for dinner isn’t necessarily bad, but if your prime purpose for using social media is to share what takes place in the classroom, it’s usually best to just toggle between two accounts as needed.
If you are unsure of which platform to use, try polling your parents or getting input from them. As the years have passed and our millennial students slowly become parents, we have seen a shift from platforms like Facebook to ones like Instagram and Twitter. Meeting parents where they already are is the easiest ways to gain added participation.
In addition to social media sites like Instagram and Twitter, we love using the student application/learning platform Seesaw. If you are worried about privacy, this is the place for you to go and explore. Seesaw is very similar to Class Dojo, but it allows student participation in addition to the teacher features. This was a game changer for us and we have been using it alongside our social media for years. If you would like to learn more about Seesaw start here.
If you are interested in incorporating social media sharing into your classroom we have some free handouts to use when introducing the idea to parents. Share with them “your why” and include your personal class handle and get started today!
"What's in the Bag EDU?" (Episode 2: Andy Knueven, @MrCoachK15)
Inspired by Amoeba Records, this spin takes an educational approach and shares some neat tools that educators are using in their classrooms. Today, we welcome Andy Knueven (@MrCoachK15 on social media), a Fifth Grade math/science teacher from Zionsville, IN!
Welcome to the second episode of
“What’s in the Bag EDU?”
We’re putting an EDU spin on the series originally by Amoeba Records! In “What’s in the Bag EDU,” educators share tools that they’re using in their classrooms. When possible, we’ll provide links to purchase the items discussed, just below the videos.
Today, we welcome Andy Knueven, or @MrCoachK15, from Zionsville, IN!
My name is Andy Knueven, 5th grade math and science teacher at Zionsville West Middle School in Zionsville, IN. I love all EdTech things that better support instruction and the learning for our students. There are lots of items that can simply be fun but as educators, we are the most creative people in finding ways to incorporate items to support establishing a great classroom environment that is welcoming and supportive of the learning for all!
Item #1:
USB Hub - Most computers don’t have many USB ports anymore and quickly fill up with items. Having a USB Port Hub eliminates this issue. I can have my wireless mouse, keyboard, a microphone, thumb drive, and any other USB powered items all accessible anytime. The one I featured is here (please note: this is an affiliate link).
Item #2:
I fully utilize my iPad within my class for notes and project apps that support the instruction occurring. Having a Windows computer but an Apple iPad, I use https://www.airserver.com/ to mirror my iPad screen to my computer. From there, that’s projected for my students to learn with too!
Item #3:
Digital Drawing Tablets - Giving students access to digital ink changes has evolved note taking within my class. I use Microsoft OneNote with USB plug-in drawing tablets which allows students to have the same access to digital ink as I do on a computer. This item was found on Amazon here (please note: this is an affiliate link).
Item #4:
Drying Racks for Tablet Organization - taking a kitchen drying rack, I was able to help organize these tablets for students to find theirs with ease.
Item #5:
Clear Pocket Chart - These can be used in so many ways from holding calculators, cell phones, chargers, headphones, or for me the digital ink pens. Each is numbered to correlate to the tablet and that student. A similar style can be found on Amazon here (please note: this is an affiliate link).
Purchase Links:
Here’s where you can find direct links to purchase the items that Andy mentioned. Please note: these are affiliate links. If you have any questions, please reach out to Andy on Twitter at: @MrCoachK15!
Follow Andy!
Andy is constantly sharing incredible ideas! We recommend following him on social media at:
“What’s in the Bag EDU?” (Episode 1: Joe Merrill, @MrMerrillsClass)
Inspired by Amobea Records, this spin takes an educational approach and shares some neat tools that educators are using in their classrooms. Today, we welcome Joe Merrill, or @MrMerrillsClass!
Welcome to the first episode of
“What’s in the Bag EDU?”
We’re putting an EDU spin on the series originally by Amoeba Records! In “What’s in the Bag EDU,” educators share tools that they’re using in their classrooms. When possible, we’ll provide links to purchase the items discussed, just below the videos.
Today, we welcome Joe Merrill, or @MrMerrillsClass!
Purchase Links:
Here’s where you can find direct links to purchase the items that Joe mentioned:
What's In My Cart.....at IKEA!
We challenge ourselves to try and find things we could not only use in our classroom, but to find things we could use differently than they were designed and marketed for. We often get questions about what we go for so we thought we would put a post together about some of of favorite finds from IKEA!
We love taking an annual trip over to IKEA every summer. We have the usual things we like to get from there but generally we just enjoy walking through the gigantic warehouse of a store seeing the creative designs on display. We challenge ourselves to try and find things we could not only use in our classroom, but to find things we could use differently than they were designed and marketed for. We often get questions about what we go for so we thought we would put a post together about some of of favorite finds from IKEA!
I use these boxes in my library. They come in patterns or just in white. They have to be assembled, but they hold up very well. They come in different sizes too. Tops come with them!
These paper file boxes come in packs of 5 for $1.99! They are sturdy and hold quite a bit book-wise.
Idea-have students decorate their own personal box on the first day of school.
We both have these bookcases in our classrooms. They do a great job holding up against the daily wear and tear of students. Mine are going strong after 5+ years!
Tip: You can also get wheels to put underneath to make them movable!
These tables sit low to the ground which makes them perfect for placing around the classroom. We found some this week for only $4.99!
This table has may variations but this particular one is pretty inexpensive. I like this table paired with high stools or chairs or even possibly used as a standing table.
We like to have these around for students to grab when using their iPads. They hold up well and keep those devices off the floor!
This is a newer stand we found this last trip. It is sized more for a laptop or Chromebook. Would also work for textbooks or notebooks.
Although the classroom is far from being like a kitchen, this could be a fun addition to the wall behind my standing desk. Most likely will use for my tablet and daily planning journal.
IKEA has a TON of affordable options for rugs. I have 2 of these in my 4th grade classroom. They hold up well, but are inexpensive if they need to be replaced.
This is a new find this year—and a bit hard to find. So many ideas on how this could be used—rewards, classroom management, literacy centers!
Keep the FUN and #interACTIVE lessons going with these. I envision some sort of Minute to Win It or Double Dare inspired game!
This paper holder and the roll that goes with it are a great addition to any maker space or art corner. I love just having the roll sit out so students can just pull the paper out and use it right on the counter.
This is the paper that goes with the roll above, but you don’t need the holder to get a good deal on a nice quality roll of paper.
This has been my solution to the earbud fiasco in fourth grade. I have round, magnetic tins from the Dollar Store numbered for each child. This hangs on the wall and holds their earbuds!
This chair is light weight and easy to move around. My classroom one is yellow and we got one for our son’s room in gray.
Over the years I have slowly phased out most of my chairs for these. They are light weight and can slide under our tables saving TONS of space in our room. They come in white and black.
If you haven’t been lucky enough to get a Flipgrid Voice pod yet, or if your students like to record videos in private, check out this inexpensive option. It zips up in the front and stands almost 5 feet tall.
This is great for anyone who wants a cheap easel. It could hold a big book, and with two sides maybe use one for posting a large poster, anchor chart etc. while using the other side for circle time lessons. One side is chalk and the other is whitboard.
IKEA is a fun place to visit even if you don’t bring back much for your classroom. But, regardless of what your do or do not buy, do yourself a favor and bring home on of IKEA’s famous cinnamon rolls!
~ K 👗
"In the Know" at ISTE
Are you as excited for ISTE as we are? Check out some of our favorite sessions, broken down day-by-day for you!
It’s that time of year again and we are so excited to be heading back to ISTE! We are so ready to reunite with friends—and make new ones—this year in the historic city of Philadelphia! Now, there is much to do ahead of time as you prepare for the crazy days ahead, but one of our favorite things to do in preparation is scope out all the amazing sessions. With over 3,252 presenters and 1,400 sessions to choose from, here are just some of the ones we are excited about.
Sunday
@MicrosoftEDU Tools that Make Learning Accessible (MIE ISTE Playground) from 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM, Playground B, Level 2, Grand Hall
DigCitKids: Digital Citizenship for Kids by Kids #bethatKINDofkid from 7:00-8:30 PM in the Posters
Monday
Early Learning Playground: Explore, Discuss, and Play! Monday , June 24th from 8-11:30 AM at Playground C
How OneNote Class Notebook Can Personalize Learning in the Classroom from 8:00-8:50 AM in Room
Rethinking the Chromebook as a Creation Device - Monday, June 24, 9:00–10:00 am in Room 116
Websites, Apps and More! from 9:00-10:00 AM in the Level 4 Terrace Ballroom.
Digital Citizenship and SEL with Minecraft: Education Edition-Monday from 10:30-10:50 room 2900.
The Fake News Challenge: an Interactive Digital Literacy Game from 10:30-11:30 AM in Room 107AB.
Going Rogue with Microsoft-Complete with Tips and Tricks- Monday from 11:00-11:50 in Room 203AB.
Everyone Can Sketchnote: Panel Discussion of Entry-Points, Ah-hah’s and Next Steps from 11:30-12:30 PM in the Nutter Theater, Level 1
Office365 Apps to Fill the Gaps: Going Mobile on iPhone & iPad (Registration required!)- Monday from 11:30-12:30 Room 115A
#StopMotionSlides (Registration required!)- Monday, June 24, 12:00–1:00 pm Room 116
A Journey Through the World With OneNote from 2:00-4:00 PM at the Level 4 poster presentations.
How Microsoft Teams is Transforming Learning at the District Level from 5:00–5:50 pm, room 203B
Tuesday
Amplifying Each Studen't’s Voice Within Teams from 10:00-10:20 AM in Room 2900.
The Learning Mixologist-Shaken and Infused Never Stirred from 10:!5-11:!5 AM in Ballroom B Level 3.
Ditch That Panel: Different, Innovative, Tech-Laden, Creative, Hands-On Teaching from 10:45-11:45 AM in the Terrace Ballroom II/III Level 4.
Empowering Student Centered Learning with Microsoft Surface from 11:00 - 11:50 AM in room 203A
App Smash with Teams: Maximizing Your EdTech Tools Inside Teams from 12:00-12:50 PM in Room 203AB.
Don’t Ditch that Tech! Using Technology to Upgrade to a Differentiated Classroom from 12:15-1:15 PM in Room 122A.
Choose Your Own Flipventure! Interactive Digital Storytelling With Flipgrid & More! from 11:45-12:45 in Room 122B.
Visual Storytelling, Creativity and Design from 12:45-2:15 PM Marriott.
Flip, Tweet and Share: Fostering Authentic Social Learning (Registration Required) from 1:15-2:15 PM in Room 115C.
The Chromebook Infused Classroom from 3:15-4:15 PM in room 116.
The App Smackdown 2: Apps For All Devices from 3:15-4:15 PM in the Terrace Ballroom II/III Level 4.
Closely Reading ThingLink from 4:45-5:45 Marriott, Franklin 8-9
Wednesday
Practical and Innovative Ways to Infuse ISTE Standards in the Classroom from 9:00-10:00 AM Terrace Ballroom II/III, Level 4
IKEA Hacks for Your Makerspace from 9:00-10:00 AM, room 105AB
Wild STEM Games with from 10:00-11:00 AM, room 115C
Nearpod and Office 365 Integration from 12:00–1:00 pm, room 118A
Stop! Gadget Time! from June 26, 1:30–2:30 pm, Terrace Ballroom II/III, Level 4
We’d love to connect with you in person at our own sessions! Find us below!
If you’re interested in checking out any of the sessions listed above, simply open the ISTE2019 app and search for the titles listed.
"Scooting" Through the End of the Year
It’s during times like this where I am challenged the most to continue making learning engaging and #interACTIVE. It’s very easy to curate a packet for students to write about end of year memories, but rather I still strive to make memories until our last day.
This can be a challenging time of year. The days seem to drag on and the students are just plain worn out. If you’re like me, we had about four weeks of state testing where all various types of assessments—both state and district—were given. I think my class had at least 7 days worth.
It’s during times like this where I am challenged the most to continue making learning engaging and #interACTIVE. It’s very easy to curate a packet for students to write about end of year memories, but rather I still strive to make memories until our last day in room 6-004.
I like to end our year reading a novel that wraps up our entire year of learning. We cover topics like using our voice to make a difference, acting courageously and focusing on what we can do where we are to make a mark in the world. But this book takes place in a very specific time period and to ensure students understand and hopefully connect with the story we must first cover some grounds in our social studies book. For whatever reason social studies seems to be the hardest content for me to engage my students in. So this year as we were working through it I took those end of unit review questions and I had my students “scoot” through them.
I created what is referred to in the edTech world as a Digital Scoot. The questions were organized in a PowerPoint presentation with one question per slide. I had some questions where students answered using Emojis, poll questions, and even one that were to be answered with drawing. Each device was opened to a different slide and each students was assigned a computer (and slide) to start at. Once they completed the activity, answered the question, or finished the task on the slide in front of them, the student simply “scooted” to the next. Around the room they rotated completing tasks as they went. It’s a fun way to get students physically moving, while also collaborating and sharing ideas with others. I like how this activity also makes every student responsible for their own thinking and contributions within the discussion and gives the teacher a real-time snapshot of where each student is in regards to their thinking and mastery of the content. For primary students you might simplify the activity from answering questions to possible leaving emojis as answers. If you don’t have a device for every student, use what you have and make it more of a center activity allowing students to rotate though the assignment throughout the week.
If you want to give your PowerPoint presentations a little facelift try using predesigned slides from sites like Slide Carnival. This is an easy way to update a lesson without having to put in a lot of extra time designing slides.
Getting students up and moving rarely every lets me down and is an easy way to mix things up! It keeps engagement up and most importantly it’s an easy way to keep students interacting with content as the year winds down.
-K 👗
When EdTech Meets Children's Lit
Maybe one of the main reasons why I love using picture books in the class is because they are responsive—they are a result of people’s reactions to the world around us. Picture books help me pivot. They help me change up what I am doing to connect with and meet the needs of the students I currently have in the classroom.
Being primarily a teacher of language arts, my lessons often revolve around picture books. And if I am being completely honest, I am a tad obsessed with picture books. I love how we can sit together and read them as a class in a more intimate setting. Illustrations always vary and exposing students to various expressions and emotions through illustrations is always a win-win. But maybe one of the main reasons why I love using picture books in the class is because they are responsive—they are a result of people’s reactions to the world around us. Picture books help me pivot. They help me change up what I am doing to connect with and meet the needs of the students I currently have in the classroom.
A while back I wrote and received a grant from a local organization who works very closely with teachers and schools in our district. Normally when I write grants I steer toward technology and other things for the class that I may not be able to provide my students with on my own. But this grant was different—it was for books! I have always been an advocate—maybe now more than ever—to not only use technology in meaningful ways in my classroom, but also to teach students how to use it responsibly on their own. I just received the order of books and I thought it would be fun to share them with you!
When Charlie loses his ability to be online or access his technology, he becomes frantic and even a tad angry. But, after he gets through his initial feelings, he finds other things to pass the time while learning to connect with the world around him.
Little Chicken gets really caught up with all she can do and buy online. She has innocent fun until her clicking has her meeting a new friend online. Chicken leaves to go meet this new friend only to realize that not everything on the internet is like it appears.
Similar to Chicken Clicking, in this book Popcorn the chicken becomes a bit obsessed with her new “friends” she meets online to the point where she neglects and offends the friends she sees face-to-face. But when her new “online” friends come to meet up, Popcorn ends up needing the help of her real friends to stay safe.
Fourth graders in Mr. Dickinson’s class learn all about finding reliable information online as they work on their presidential fact-finding contest. Students learn that the Internet can provide true facts but not everything there is true!
Technology can be useful and fun, but it can also be used to trick others. Billy Goat and his friend Cyril get caught up in using their words against someone they haven’t met in person. When they finally do meet they are in for a surprise and owe an apology for what they’ve done.
This book isn’t about technology, but I plan to pair it with the book above—Troll Stinks. It shares the theme of how words can hurt and how we need to put time into our interactions with others whether face to face or online.
A bored little mouse takes an iPhone and immediately becomes entranced into a world where all else fades away. He loses sight of what’s around him and possibly misses out on the real fun.
Video game addictions are on the rise and Jasper helps illustrate how kids can balance real life with their game life by gaining control.
This story does a great job illustrating to kids the importance of being responsible when posting texts, tweets, posts and pics. This story helps illustrate to kids how their decisions online will be around forever and helps them learn how to navigate technology that is every changing.
Nerdy Bird and his friend Vulture are very different—Nerdy loves technology but Vulture finds it boring. When Nerdy finds new friends online on Tweetster he has to learn how to balance his new “friends” with his real one.
After receiving a hand-me-down camera phone, the art of selfie taking leads to adventures and photos of everything. But at the end of the day kids needs to recharge their batteries too!
I am looking forward to reading these books with my students, and I will blog in the future as I find fun and engaging ways to integrate them into my ELA standards. You can also head over to our Instagram page @themerrillsEDU and check out our story where I unboxed the books live and shared a little about them. I would love to see any lessons you do with your students so tag me on social media @themerrillsedu with any great lesson ideas or experiences!
Until next time!
-👗➕👓
If you are looking for engaging lessons and ideas to make teaching and learning with technology more relevant, check out our book The InterACTIVE Class today!
Number Talks in Microsoft’s Teams
Mental Math in younger grades can be tough for some students. But, with today’s technology and group collaboration, we can make this area of learning fun!
Are you looking for ways to improve mental math and fact fluency with your students? Then, Number Talks may be the perfect exercise for your class!
When starting out with Number Talks, think of it as a “number of the day” activity. The teacher gives the students a number, then the students must think of ways to make that number. For example, if the teacher gives the number “25,” students might suggest: 12+13. But the purpose of Number Talks is to show as many ways as you can to make the number. So, that same student might also show: 10+10+5, or 30-5, etc. Typically this activity is done on whiteboards, and the students have a set amount of time to show their thinking. But, how can we make this more exciting for our digital aged learners? The answer is simple: Microsoft’s Teams!
For this activity, I had created a specific channel (or thread of conversation) for my class Number Talks on Teams. Once my students were logged on, I simply sent a message to the class with the number they were to use. Before I sent the message, I explained that they are NOT allowed to post the same equation twice. So if someone else beat them to posting it, then they had to think of another equation. Then, I sat back and watched the show!
I watched as they posted equation after equation. Struggling students quickly realized that they could decompose their classmates equations into new equations. It was a beautiful thing!
After the time was up, I allowed the class to go back through the equations and give “likes” for correct answers, or polite suggestions for incorrect responses. Then, we reviewed them. This entire activity was completed in less than 10 minutes, but the higher level of thinking continues with each time we complete this activity! —J 👓
Starting Slow
We as teachers need to make sure we are doing our students a favor by teaching them the right way to use the tools in the most meaningful and effective ways. Throwing tips and tricks at them in an unorganized manner, or failing to fill in the gaps they may have will only lead to more misconceptions and bigger problems for students down the road.
Being both a teacher and a life long learner, the idea of learning something new is present each and every day both in the classroom and at home. We as teachers are always looking to learn new things and then share what we learn with our students with the ultimate goal of learning in mind.
Recently I have found myself in a place where I am learning new technology at an exponential rate. In leu of our district preparing to become a unified Microsoft district, the past months have been filled with trainings, as well as introductions to new programs and devices. I have met so many incredible educators and my PLN is growing by the day. At times, this path has been bumpy and the drive has not always been smooth. But what I am starting to see emerge is a love for learning that I haven’t had in a while.
I have been looking for a challenge. Something new to work on and get better at. The challenge presented through our district has been many things—tiring, confusing, frustrating. But at the same time it has also been empowering, encouraging and exciting. In a matter of months I have learned so many new things and have added so much accessibility and differentiation into my lessons. I have been given this new toolbox full of things to help fix my so called educational car as it continues to drive down this road we call education. And I might ad—it has never looked better!
Now take that excitement and transfer into the classroom. My brain is filled with all these new lesson ideas and ways to integrate and highlight them within my lessons. The only problem is that my students may not be at the same point in their tech journey. In fact, I can tell you that in my case they aren’t. They aren’t even close. I had planned out this amazing lesson—chalked full of accessible technology, engaging interacting and digital collaboration—only to be blindsided by the realization that my students didn’t even know how to bold their words with the big, black B.
(Pause inserted here.)
A very,
very,
long
pause.
I was instantly disappointed and frustrated when it became clear that my master lesson was going to take much longer than anticipated due to student needs for more direct instruction. But after some reflection I realized that this is okay.
Taking your time is okay.
Moral of the story: take tech slow. It’s okay to meet students where they are at. Actually, we need to. It’s imperative. We as teachers need to make sure we are doing our students a favor by teaching them the right way to use the tools in the most meaningful and effective ways. Throwing tips and tricks at them in an unorganized manner, or failing to fill in the gaps they may have will only lead to more misconceptions and bigger problems for students down the road.
So we will soldier on together. No student left behind. If we need to get out of the car and push it for a bit we may. In the end, the speed we learn our tech will be the same as the speed we take in our content knowledge—student paced.
Memes For Themes
Common standard—needed a new delivery method. One of my favorite ways to engage students is by meeting them where they are at and this year we met to discuss theme….through MEMES. Student created and explained using Microsoft PowerPoint!
As always with everything, we are spiraling through our curriculum and it is time to review THEME. This standard is always hard for me to teach because of the complexity of the standard--you need to reviewing elements of plot (characters and problem) along with having the ability according to our state's standard to summarize.
So this year I do what I always do when I need inspiration--I turn to my PLN on social media. This lesson was adapted by something I saw by author, speaker and best selling author Catlin Tucker--Creating Memes to Explore Themes. (you can check out her original post here) If you aren't one of my many Twitter friends, you may not know this, but technology is a fluid tool in my classroom and something we use and learn from on a daily basis. When I saw this lesson idea I knew it would be an instant hit. I modified Catlin's original lesson a little based on my class make up and age level and you can read through those steps below.
Day 1
I split the lesson into two days to help address the multiple layers of our state standard. First, my students are required to show that they can summarize a story retelling the main events before they state and explain the theme. One of my favorite professional books is a book titled Summarization in Any Subject: 50 Techniques to Improve Student Learning by Rick Wormeli. One of the activities included is called "One Word Summary." Students use their selection of text and collaboratively come up with a list of words they could use to describe the story. Each students defends the "one word" they would use and explain/defend why they would choose that word. For this lesson, my students were working to summarize a novel we had read together as a class. This helped because it allowed me to be working on the same text with all students. After each student had brainstorm their word, their assignment was to "illustrate" their word. They drew the words with “animated” letters that fit with the topic and theme of the book.
When their word was completed, students flipped their papers over and explained why they chose the word they did. They explained their word through basic summaries of the story, using various elements of the story to support the word they chose. This part of the lesson took the first day and we continued with the memes the following day.
Day 2
The next day we picked up right where we left off. Students came to the carpet for a time of modeling and instruction. I showed them the google slides I had prepared--complete with a slide for each of them (names already on it by class number). I modeled what my one word would be using a story we read aloud earlier in the year and then started creating my own meme. I first wrote my personal theme statement in the notes section of the slide. Then I chose a picture, and we brainstormed what text I could use to make my meme communicate the same theme as the book. This entire time I was also modeling how to find an image and how to maneuver through the google slides tools such as text size, font, etc. My example slide was the last slide in the google slides so the kids could refer back to it while they worked. When finished, we talked through any questions and then I let the kids get started. I rotated the room when needed, but also managed the class progress by scrolling through the google slides.
When a student felt they were finished, they came to me and we reviewed their meme. We read their theme statement (located in the notes section) and I then checked to see if it matched what the meme was trying to communicate. I didn't use this time to correct a student with an incorrect theme statement, but rather was looking to see if they could create a meme that visually represented the theme they came up with. I used this as an assessment so I wanted their work to be their own and to represent their knowledge of theme--even if it wasn't 100% correct. I later pulled the few students that struggle the following week to review theme again and to discuss the elements that might have been lacking from those students' original projects.
I have included a few of the memes created along with the theme statement that corresponded with each.
Theme Statement: One small person can make a big impact.
Theme Statement: Doing what you think is right may be scary but if you stick with it you may find yourself enjoying it.
Theme Statement: What we work hard to do can make a big impact on others.
Tracing Character Emotions with Text Messages!
What if you could bring characters to life by generating a text message thread between them? Now, you can!
First, we read the story, “Stand Tall Molly Lou Melon.” After we read the story, the students had to think back to various points in the text to determine how the main character (Molly Lou) was feeling. To do this, we used a “Bubble Map,” which is used to record adjectives. But, I also wanted them to focus on the emotions at different times in the story. So, we combined the bubble map, with a “Flow Map.” Smashing these two together gave us a “Blow Map!”
Using their “Blow Map,” we went through the story describing Molly’s emotions. I expected this to be challenging, so I was prepared to allow the kids to give me both adjectives and emojis - which they could then talk through to come up with an adjective. To help differentiate, I put the Blow Map on OneNote and shared it to certain students on Microsoft’s Teams. Here’s a shot of the OneNote file:
After going through the story, we used the recording sheets below to create a fake text message thread between Molly Lou and her grandmother. A student quickly pointed out that some of the adjectives we came up could be used for Molly’s Grandma, too!
Next , we took the recording sheets and created a fake texting thread using the app: TextingStory. Then, we shared our responses on Flipgrid to produce a class discussion and share our ideas. Here’s a 40 second tutorial:
Last but certainly not least, we created a fake Instagram generator to post “updates” on how Molly was feeling throughout the story. The kids even used the hashtags: #Beginning, #Middle, and #End. Grandma also got in on the fun!
To create something like the images above, just google: “fake Instagram profile.” There are a bunch of options, depending on your comfort level. Don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions on how this all worked!
—J 👓