Tech Overview

This course is based on a newsletter I wrote summarizing critical technologies needed for the moment. Please go to the newsletter by clicking here and read it after watching the introductory video. The exit ticket for getting credit is there, too. You have until April 3rd end of day to complete it.

Google Docs for Beginners

This course is meant to put you through the paces of a basic online word processor.
You need not create anything "real" for this course, but feel free to if you can think of something you want to send a colleague or child. Share your doc with linsem@victorschools.org by end of day Friday April 3rd for credit. It should have:
*modified font
*an image
*and a hidden hyperlink (a website address attached to text or an image)

The full agenda for the course will include:
*how to create a doc
*how to share and adjust viewing/editing permissions
*how to modify font
*how to insert and modify an image
*how to add a hyperlink
*how to spell check
*how to voice type
*how to comment
*how to spawn copies for kids to use without destroying the original

LET'S GO!

Please watch this intro first: create, share, font, image, comment
Please watch this next on Natural Reader and Voice Typing.
The 2 videos above were cut for students so feel free to share them if needed.

This video next for: templates, more font, cropping, hidden hyperlinks, spell check, and spawning.

Google Forms for Beginners

Forms are surveys!
With that critical understanding under our belt...

In this course you will make a Form/Survey and discover 3 key ways you can use it in your classroom: student to student data/opinion collection, family data collection, and quick assessments. 

Please watch  this movie for Forms 

In order to get credit for this course, you will need to send me:

a link to the Form you create or an email invitation to take it, 

        *which should have at least 2 questions with different types of responses         
         (Ex short answer and multiple choice)

        *and an embedded picture.

HINT: Use Google's Templates!

This is an introductory course meant to move you through the product in guided practice. So with that in mind, you need not put the Form you create into practice--they can be nonsense questions with nonsense answers. HOWEVER, if you can make it practical to yourself, then please go for it! Perhaps you could be inspired by this Form some 3rd grade teachers sent out last week. 

Children's Literature Reviews

Welcome to KidLit Fun!

You are going to choose what to read. Please select texts totalling approx. 100 pages. For instance, you may read 3 picture books, or a longer novel. They should be things that are new-to-you. You may read them in any format--audio, ebook, or print. May I suggest using whatever digital reading platform you're asking the kids to use to find your texts: Myon, Raz, NewsELA, etc. 

I brought home 3 new picture books: Wild Eggs by Napayok-Short, Here to There And Me To You: A book of bridges by Keely, and Yucky Worms by French. 

Here on the blog, please post your reviews in the comments by end of day Friday April 3rd. Please login to blogger so your comments are labeled or put "This is Michele" as a byline in the text of your book reviews because it posts as Anonymous and I won't know who completed the work. You are encouraged to read the blog comments and add your own thoughts to other reviews. However, peer comments, aside from your summary, are not required.

Some suggestions for how to post a review:

a one sentence gist that mentions the main character and main plot thrust,

a one sentence opinion as a reader-perhaps a favorite part,

and a one sentence opinion as a teacher-perhaps with a comment about teach points or the type of reader you'd rec the book to.

Picture book readers will do this for every book. Fun Challenge: Use your new skillzzz and post a link to a video review with screencastify or zoom if you like! Like... what if... you could make a little book commercial you could end up using for your students! 

Digital Reading

Welcome to an overview of current Digital Reading Choices.

Please click on the colored text to watch each video. There are a total of 8.

Big 3 Overview: Differences between RAZ, Myon, and Epic

The following websites are managed by VCSD and all students will have access through classlink:
Myon UPDATE: Since I recorded the Big 3 Overview lecture, I figured out how to banish the trash quizzes from Myon-- and no more placement test either!
PK LifeScience
PebbleGo
Brainpop and Brainpop JR (see video below)

The following websites are external to Victor. The teacher will need to do setup and students will need to be guided into adding them to Classlink. 
Basic RAZ UPDATE: RAZ has been opened! Free access to their content!
Epic UPDATE: Epic has been opened! It's school day limitations have been lifted.
Tumblebooks <---This is a link just for our district, just for this season.
NewsELA

Click here for Brainpop, Tumblebooks, and NewsELA video. 

In order to receive credit, you will need to post a comment below WITH YOUR NAME IN A BYLINE by Friday April 3rd explaining which resource you will likely be using next with students and why. If you already use any of these resources and have tip you'd like to share, let's pool our knowledge!

Google Slides for Beginners

Think about instruction you'd like to offer.
This could be a reading lesson, a math lesson, or a spelling/word work activity.
How would you have told the children about it in the classroom?
What would you have shown them?
If you can't think instructionally right now, you can do a personal slideshow
about your family, house, or current covid19 life... in a way you'd want to share with kids.

For this workshop, you are going to create a Google Slides presentation as your exit ticket, so you might as well make it be something you can use with students!

Your slideshow needs to include 3 elements:
Modified Font
An image
3 different kinds of slide templates

Share it with linsem@victorschools.org by end of day Friday April 3rd for credit.

Click here for your video lesson!

Close Captioning and Subtitles

REVISION: Here is the newest instructional video on captions!

This workshop will teach you how to add subtitles to videos.

If you really want a quick and dirty on screencasting, here's a short. 

Remember to always shift a youtube link to safeyoutube.net

Watch the 22 min instructional video HERE.

Please email linsem@victorschools.org by days end April 3rd with your subtitled safetube link for your exit ticket to credit for the workshop. If you do not have a screencast, loom, zoom, or cell phone video you want to subtitle, email Michele and I'll put you to work on one of mine! However, you don't have to create a "real" video for this--just practice subtitling. 

Optimism

This one hour workshop is hosted by Jeff Pistritto, based on Jon Gordon's work in the book Energy Bus. To get credit, please read this slideshow, then leave an exit ticket at pistrittoje@victorschools.org by end of day Friday April 3rd. 

The exit ticket can be:  
Develop a gratitude list of the people and things you are thankful for. 

OR

What is your one focus that you can have during this "pandemic" to transform it into an "opportunity?"