Skype and FaceTime

Bring the world into your classroom! With all the technology that we have at our fingertips these days, why not invite visitors to your classroom without them actually being there? Use Skype or Facetime to connect with other classrooms, authors, community helpers, etc. A first grade class at McGowen recently connected with Dori Butler, author of the Buddy Files series. Shana Prugh(McGowen first grade teacher) contacted Ms. Butler and asked about visiting via Skype. Mrs. Prugh's class had just finished reading The Case of the Lost Boy. They loved the book so much they wanted to talk to the author themselves so they could tell her just that!

Before the visit, each student in the class wrote a question for Ms. Butler. This way, the students would feel more confident when it was their turn to speak to Ms. Butler. They didn't have to worry about what to say or fumbling on their words...they were well prepared! Also, to make sure the network worked properly, we did a practice skype visit with another classroom to make sure our voices were loud enough and to practice where to stand, etc.  We simply plugged Mrs. Prugh's macbook into the SMARTBoard and made the connection. It was simple to do, since the macbook has a built-in webcam. You can easily do this in your classroom by sharing your macbook screen with your mac mini. Click here to find out more about screen sharing on a MAC.

Many authors will do Skype visits for free - you just have to ask! Here are a couple of resources to help you get started.

http://skypeanauthor.wetpaint.com

http://www.katemessner.com/authors-who-skype-with-classes-book-clubs-for-free/

Padlet (formally known as Wallwisher)

Remember Wallwisher?  It got a makeover and is now called Padlet.  It is a cool web application that is like a virtual bulletin board of sorts.  You post discussion questions and students can create a virtual sticky note to join in the discussion.  It could also be used for group projects, brainstorming, collaboration,  and much more!  Check out the homepage and click on WHY PADLET for some quick intro videos.  You can also peruse the Gallery for ideas.  With the makeover, Padlet now has the ability to download and print.    

Sign up and give Padlet a try to earn another star for your cape, and let us know how you are using this versatile and FUN web tool by posting a comment below!

Twitter

Twitter is an amazing social network to use for professional growth and with your students. You may think Twitter is tricky to use with elementary students, but here is a way that it is being used at McGowen in a 3rd grade classroom.

In Mrs. Karls' class, students take turns posting a tweet to Mrs. Karls' twitter feed. They post something about what they learned during the day, then finish the tweet with their initials. Before the tweet gets published, Mrs. Karls approves it:) We got this idea from TCEA this year at a session about communicating with parents and community. We thought this approach would give a great snapshot to families about what their children are doing at school by using something other than a standard weekly newsletter. Here is a link to Mrs. Karls' wiki so you can scroll through her twitter feed.

Mrs. Kasper, 4th grade teacher at McGowen, also uses Twitter in her classroom. She also posts many pictures showing samples of student projects. What a great way to share what is going on daily at school!  Click here to see Mrs. Kasper's twitter feed.

Give Twitter a try in your classroom! Explain to your parents how you are using it. Our elementary students do not have their own twitter accounts. They are just given permission to post tweets on their teacher's accounts.  If you want to try Twitter, I'd be happy to help you set it up. Once it's established, make it a "job" for one of your students and the twitter feed will be taken care of! 

Get a twitter feed going and earn another star for your superhero cape! If you're using it or have other ideas for using Twitter, please share in the comments below.

CopyPasteCharacter.com

I love a fun emoticon in my text messages, but I never knew you could put them in emails or documents!  Check out copypastecharacter.com.  This site makes it super easy to insert special characters in all things digital.

Need a unique math symbol?  How about a special graphic shape or a 👍? When you need to use a special character, go to the site, FIND then CLICK on the desired character.  It will be copied to your clipboard, then you can head back to what you are working on and PASTE.  Poof....it's there!  Be sure to notice the drop down menu in the top/middle of the webpage that lets you toggle between the different sets.  Yes, it is THAT easy!😉

Edmodo - social networks for students

McKinney ISD has been using Edmodo a LOT this year! At McGowen, we’ve used it at almost every professional development day – to collaborate, to post answers to questions, to turn in assignments, and more. 4^th and 5^th grade teachers have used it this year to implement a “flipped classroom” model. Edmodo has been used to organize virtual book clubs, so students can “talk” about their books without having to be in the same room.

Ideas for using Edmodo in the classroom:

• ·      Professional development
• ·      Book clubs
• ·      Flipped classroom
• ·      Use folders within Edmodo to keep files for students and teachers for future use
• ·      Set up an Edmodo group for new teachers so they can comfortably ask “newbie” questions.

Below is a few screenshots of Edmodo examples and how they’re used. Thanks to Ms. Ellison and Mrs. Evans for sending me these!

If you have used Edmodo in your class or with your teachers, let us know so you can earn a STAR for your superhero cape!