Gmail +1 for Elementary Accounts

This great tip comes from Practical EdTech and it's a winner! It shows a workaround for websites that not only require an email address, but require verification of that email address.   This is problematic for students in lower grades because while they have email addresses, the ability to send and receive mail is turned off for K - 6.  Check out the steps below that outline Gmail+1.  It's quick, easy and allows the teacher to control the accounts.

Elementary school teachers often ask me how their students can use services that require email addresses when the students don’t have email addresses. The solution is to use Gmail+1. Here’s how Gmail+1 works. Let’s say there’s a new service that I want my students to use but my students don’t have email addresses that they can use to register for that service. In that case I can quickly generate Gmail addresses for my students by using the Gmail+1 strategy.

Here’s how the Gmail+1 trick works:

1. Create a new Gmail account just for your class. Example mrbyrnesclass@gmail.com

2. Issue email addresses to students as follows mrbyrnesclass+1@gmail.com, mrbyrnesclass+2@gmail.com

3. Gmail overrides the “1″ and “2″ at the end of the mrbyrnesclass and sends all emails to the inbox at mrbyrnesclass@gmail.com however almost all other services that require an email for registration will recognize mrbyrnesclass+1@gmail.com as distinct from mrbyrnesclass@gmail.com

4. Students can use the “+1″ emails to register for services, but I get to see all of the emails coming and going.

5. Because of #4 above I may have to confirm all of my students’ registrations on a new service.

Disclaimers:

1. This hack doesn’t work on every service so your mileage may vary.

2. Don’t give students the password to the class email address (in the example above I would not give students the password to mrbyrnesclass@gmail.com) because if they have it they could all send and receive email from the account. The passwords that they choose on  the services that they register for should all be unique and they should not share them with each other.

It's Time for the HOUR OF CODE!

It’s that time of year again, folks!  The Hour of Code is upon us. The grassroots campaign goal is for tens of millions of students to try an Hour of Code during December 8-14, 2014, in celebration of Computer Science Education Week. Is it one specific hour? No. You can do the Hour of Code anytime during this week. (And if you can't do it during that week, do it the week before or after).

90 percent of American schools don’t teach computer science. Fewer students are learning how computers work than a decade ago. Girls and minorities are severely underrepresented. And yet, technology is increasingly shaping almost every aspect of how we live our lives.

Why should you participate in Hour of Code?

While all of us know that it’s important for students to learn how to navigate today’s tech-saturated world, many teachers aren’t experienced in computer science and don’t know where to start. This event is a chance for all of us to see what computer science is about.

Hopefully  it’ll spark interest in students to keep learning. Research also shows that kids pick up programming concepts before they know how to read and write. In fact, their brains are more receptive to computer languages at a young age, just like foreign languages.

Why is it important?

In China, every students takes computer science to graduate high school. In the U.S., 90 percent of schools don’t even teach it. It’s time for us to catch up to the 21st century. We know that regardless of what our students do when they grow up, whether they go into medicine, business, politics, or the arts, knowing how to build technology will allow give them the confidence and know-how to succeed.

The Hour of Code is for all ages. Here are multiple sites from which to choose activities and tutorials:

Click on the pictures to view tutorials that will have your students (and you) writing code in no time.

• The first website takes you to code based learning that has a theme that EVERYONE loves this year, Frozen. Help Elsa and Anna and learn code along the way. There are many other tutorials available at this website.
• The next picture has code for all levels for pre-readers to high school. It's definitely worth a look. 
• Made W/ Code has kids writing code that will light the Christmas tree at the White House! Write your code, sign up for a specific time and tune in live via the net to see your lighting sequence on the tree! How cool is that?
• Next is SCRATCH. Scratch is a programming language and online community where you can create your own interactive stories, games, and animations -- and share your creations with others around the world. In the process of designing and programming Scratch projects, young people learn to think creatively, reason systematically, and work collaboratively.
• Lightbot is great fun and does a surprisingly thorough job of introducing some pretty complex principles of programming. Lightbot offers an easy way for kids to learn concepts like loops, if-then statements, and the like without typing or coding.

Tips on "hosting" an hour of code:

• Check out the tutorials and pick one for your class. Tutorials will be available in as many as 20 languages.
• Go through the tutorial yourself so you can help students during the Hour of Code.
• Test tutorials on student computers or devices. Make sure they work properly (with sound and video).
• Preview the congrats page to see what students will see when they finish.
• If the tutorial you choose works best with sound, provide headphones for your class, or ask students to bring their own.

Google Chrome: You'll Love It!

Everyone knows I fell in love with Google a long time ago.  What's great is that our "relationship" continues to flourish  as Google products just seem to get better and better as time goes on.

I've discussed Google Chrome before on the Technology Toolbox website.  I like the browser because it's fast, secure and I can personalize it in a myriad of ways.  In addition, I can have my bookmarks, extensions and apps on any computer I use when I log in to the browser.  That is a huge plus!  Top10Reviews reported that:

Google has taken initiative in making Chrome very compatible with the internet. Chrome was specifically designed to quickly and efficiently load, display and interact with the vast array of applications on the web, boasting a built-in Flash and PDF reader. The synchronization between your smartphone and your desktop browser makes saving favorites and making bookmarks a seamless process.  Most internet browsers are built for function over form, but Google Chrome succeeds in both. The layout is clean, intuitive and well organized, and Chrome manages a level of simplicity other internet browsers lack. Its features are clearly designed for efficiency and ease of use, and you can search and navigate from the same box. Furthermore, the browser allows you to conveniently create shortcuts to web applications you regularly use, which you can place on your desktop for quick and easy access.

Another reason for teachers in our district to use Google Chrome is compatibility.  If you use Hutchdocs, Google Classroom etc., they work better in Chrome because they all have the same creator - Google .

 The bottom line is, that if used correctly, Chrome can help you with your productivity, connectivity and will provide tools to help you differentiate for your students (SpeakIt, Yellow Highlighter, and Awersome Screenshot Capture/Annotate to name a few). I've been a teacher long enough to know that the proof is in the pudding.   So here is a presentation explaining the "how to" behind Chrome settings and extensions, and links to great extensions for educators.  My favorites are highlighted.

Have a favorite extension or app you're using in the classroom?  Please share it in the comments below.

Socratic Smackdown

I'll be honest, the name of this game grabbed my attention.  Then I read this description and I had to know more; " A versatile discussion-based humanities game to practice argumentation around any text or topic for grades 6 through 12".  I think you will, too.

Socratic Smackdown discussion strategies.

Socratic Smackdown is a game that supports students' developing discussion skills.  It's a fun, printable game that focuses on Common Core Speaking and Listening standards.  Reminiscent of Socratic seminars of old, Socratic Smackdown brings a fresh, engaging approach for teachers and students.  

Students, who are assigned the role of participant or “coach”,  are asked text-based questions delivered verbally by the teacher.  The coach’s role is to listen to the group and complete coaching cards with observations about what the group did well and strategies on which they can improve.  

The game packet is free for download here.  In addition, because so many of us are focused on paperless classrooms,  Google Docs versions of some key pieces can be found below.  When you open them go to FILE/MAKE A COPY to save them to your Google account.

Instant Replay Link

Coach Card

Teacher Checklist

Common Core Rubric

Flocabulary + Common Sense Media = Awesome

What a team - these two power house groups collaborated and the result is excellent. Visitors to the Flocabulary website will be treated to the top ten things one should think about to avoid over-sharing.
If you're not familiar with Flocabulary, the content is always set to music and made into a song - and this is no Glen Miller, folks, it's actually something your students will like .  (Wait, who?)   Not only will the music grab your students' attention, but the lyrics, challenge questions and a fill-in-the-blank activity can also be found on the Flocabulary site.  Common Sense Media rates, educates and advocates for kids by offering schools and parents information on Digital Citizenship and unbiased reviews on a myriad of games, apps, websites and more. Together they provide the  perfect combination of content and engagement that will help get the message of Digital Citizenship to your students.  Peace Out!  http://www.flocabulary.com/oversharing/

The "New" Google Drive?

It's the time of year for educators where everything old is new again.  The same can now be said for your Google Drive account...IF you want it to be.  Google has recently updated the look of their Drive app which will change the way you view your  files.  To take a look at this new makeover just click the settings menu (the little gear in the upper right corner) and choose "Experience the New Drive".  If you decide you're not a fan, you can always toggle back to the old Drive by repeating the same steps.  Google Gooru has some terrific screenshots comparing the old look to the new and explanations of 11 features you need to know about.   Click here to learn more.

Free Technology Posters - Just in time for back to school

Just like any teacher, I love a good freebie!  What's more, freebies that I can hang in my classroom are even better.  That's what this post is all about....free technology posters.

The first website is full of information and printable posters.  For elementary/middle school folks, this set may be what you're looking for. Navigate to the website  WE are TEACHERS and click DOWNLOAD to gain access to eight "tech etiquette" posters like these:

Next up is a group of posters that help remind us "how to" in Google.  This set of eight posters can be found here:

Technology Rocks, Seriously is a great little blog.  She has some terrific freebies located on her "school posters" link.  You can find things like this:

And finally, you'll hit the freebie motherload when you visit Venspired.  She is truly talented and freely shares her creations with teachers.  By clicking on her Posterpalooza link at the top of her home page, you'll have access to posters like these:

Enjoy putting your rooms together!  Watch for "Google Forms Part 2" later this week.

Google Forms: The Coolest App in Google Drive That You May Not Be Using - Part 1

It’s the end of July, folks.  The cicadas are sounding, the aisles at your local Target and Walmart are filled with excited kids and exasperated parents looking for all the items on back to school lists, and teachers are slowly making their way back to their classrooms to prepare for a new year.  To that end, I want to share some tips and tricks that might make the new year run more smoothly for you.  

All district teachers have a Hutchdocs account.  For those of you who’ve been sleeping or simply not reading my blogs (SMH), Hutchdocs is just another name for Google Apps for Education but it’s tailored to our district.  I digress.  One of the coolest feature of Hutchdocs is the ability to create FORMS.  Sounds boring, I know, but it can really be life-changing. In Part 1 of this three part series we'll discuss data collection.

Data Collection

The sky’s the limit with data collection and Hutchdocs when using Forms.  Teachers can collect:

• IEP Goals
• Intervention Data
• RTI Data
• Classroom Data
• Online Reading Logs/Records
• Parent/Teachers Conference Data
• Incident Reports

Administrators can get in on this, too!  Click here to see examples of walk-through forms, custodial request forms, school hotline forms and more.

For those new to Google Forms

Eric Curts does a fantastic job of explaining Google Forms.  The screenshots below are courtesy of his website.

Creating Forms

Adding Questions

There are multiple question types from which to choose.  In addition, Forms has updated to let you add pictures and video links as well.  

Seeing Results

The great thing about Forms and results is that they automatically are compiled in SPREADSHEET, Google’s version of Excel.  You can view the results by looking at the sheet, or by graph (automatically created for you).  This is such a simple way to collect important data!

Want more on Google Form creation?  Click here to continue to Eric's full tutorial.  Next up in our "Google Forms" series:  Behavior Management.

Lovin' My Google Chrome

Over the last four days I've held six different technology workshops for our district teachers.  (Yes, it was supposed to be eight but Mother Nature knocked out the internet for two, go figure.)  We've talked about blogging, tweeting, scanning, creating auras.  We played Kahoot, investigated Infused Learning and became much more comfortable with  Google Apps for Ed  a.k.a. "Hutchdocs".  It was so much fun to see teachers get excited about technology and to have the time to investigate it.  That's one of the best things about the beginning of June.

Google Chrome Icon

One take away that I keep hearing from my peeps about is the info I gave them regarding Google Chrome.  Honestly, it was just supposed to be an aside, but once one really starts to play and can see all that can be done, it gets pretty exciting.  Here's what I told them:

1.  Use Google Chrome as your internet browser.  This is a must, or you won't get the benefits of what I'm about to tell you.  Also, you need to make sure you are updated to the latest version.  At press time it's 35.

2.  Once you have opened Chrome and verified you're up to date, click on the horizontal lines on the far right side of  the top of the screen.  Mine looks like this:

3.  Once you have clicked on those lines, this is the menu you will see:

The very first thing you need to do is make sure you are signed in to the correct account.  You can see from this picture that I'm not, I'm signed in as jamyreilly@gmail.com.  I would want to sign out of my PERSONAL account and sign back in with my HUTCHDOCS account.  Once I have done that, I can move on.  Seriously, if you learn one thing here, it's to check which account you're in first thing.  :-) Next, you can change your settings by clicking on that option.  The settings I changed (completely optional...I'm just sharing):

• I set a specific location for my start page:  When I click on button that looks like a house, it will take me to this page.
•  I added a check mark by the Home button so I could see it in my toolbar.
• I added a check mark by the "show bookmark bar" because I like to have a place keeper for the sites I visit regularly.
•  I increased my font size to LARGE.  I'm on screens all day and this option makes it a bit easier on my eyes.
• I clicked on ADVANCED SETTINGS  and checked the spelling box, because who doesn't need help with that?
•  For downloads, I chose to have them ask me where to put the files and changed my folder from  DOWNLOADS to DESKTOP.

Chrome Web Store

To get to the Chrome Store, just Google "chrome store".  Yes, it's that simple. Here you will find Apps and Extensions.  

Apps:  These are applications, when you add them and click on the icon, it will open a new window to that app.

Extensions:  These are add-ons to your browser.  When you add these you will find them next to your address bar on the right.  If they are not visible, you will see a small set of arrows.  Click on those and you will see your extensions.  

 Like an extension?  Click on FREE and you'll be able to add it to your browser.  (NO, games can not be played at school.  Avoid those extensions, please, as they are blocked.)  Want to remove an extension?  Right click on it and select REMOVE.  

Let's be honest, just looking at the Chrome Store can be overwhelming, much less trying to pick apps and extensions to download.  Here's an example of what's out there and what it will do.  If you see something that looks appealing, go to the Chrome Store and search for it.

If you'd like to see how it all works instead of reading about it, click here   Google Chrome Video  In this video I discuss all of the above in detail and show you how to change your theme as well.  

I think you'll have a good time investigating this.  It really does have some great tools that will help you speed up your productivity.  And let's face it, it's pretty cool too.  See you in the fall!

End of the Year; bring on the summer!

One could almost hear the collective sigh around the district on Tuesday morning.  Teachers and students alike woke without alarms, many without a single item on their agendas for the day, with nothing to do but putter and enjoy the first day of summer break.  I was always one of those strange ones who, although I was beyond thrilled to be out of school, felt like something was missing.  I needed routine and missed the crazy of the kids in the classroom.  It took me a couple of days to settle into my summer.   Although I don't have my own classroom anymore,  I still feel at loose ends at the close of the school year, but in a much different way.   When I was in one building and people retired or moved on, it was sad, we said goodbye and there was cake - I'm a firm believer that frosting makes everything a little easier to bear. In this role I am lucky enough to see the majority of 308 teachers in action.  I am awed and impressed by your dedication to your students and your craft.  It's really a pretty great gig! That also means that have to see more of you go, and that's the worst part.  So, I wanted to take this opportunity to say "So Long" and "Good Luck" to those of you who are retiring or moving on next year.  It feels strange not to have that closure (and the cake, of course).  I wish you well in your future endeavors.
     Speaking of future endeavors...our PBL class begins on SUNDAY!  So much for summer vacay, right?  You should have received an email with detailed instructions about logging in and getting ready for your first assignments.  If you have any questions, please email me.
     Please take some time to click through this website!  I've been working to make it more user friendly.  To that end, I've started using Symbaloo (an online bookmarking site) to embed links to sites for you.  The goal it to make things easier to to find.  Let me know your thoughts!  
     Tech classes start next Friday, June 9 with Hutchdocs Basic and Hutchdocs Advanced.  I hope you'll join me at the PLC.  
     Have a terrific, restful summer.  
                

My Google is Broken...

s   Hutchdocs (Google Apps for Education) was a new addition to our district this year.  Initially it was meant to roll out for grades 7 - 12.  Teachers and students were quick to recognize the possibilities of Hutchdocs when they saw that they could use any computer or iPad to connect, they could get on their accounts from home effortlessly, they could share lessons and projects with each other which made collaboration simple, and that everything saved automatically so students’ work was never lost!   As things usually happen when technology is concerned, word spread about the ease of use with Hutchdocs and the increase in efficiency, collaboration and engagement in the classroom.  At that time grades 4 - 6 were added.  Finally, some very interested, tech-savvy  third grade teachers asked if they could pilot Hutchdocs with their students, so 3rd grade was added to the list as well.   Wow!  Needless to say, I was and still am thrilled with the reception Hutchdocs has received.  Being invited into so many of your classrooms to introduce it to your students has been rewarding as well.  Teacher and students in our district have impressed me with their willingness to try something new!  Take a look at the usage and collaboration reports below and you will see the steady gain since October ‘13.  Brilliant! As with all new things there are bound to be a few glitches.  I get emails, occasionally, asking if Drive is down  or saying that  “Drive is going crazy today”, etc.  The bad news is that if things are running slowly or you send me an email telling me things are “wonky”, there is nothing I can do to help you.  I can troubleshoot if you have shared with someone and they can’t see it, have lost your password, need a new account, want new ideas for collaboration or classroom use, but I cannot tell you why an error message is coming up.  Like you, I can guess and then I have to investigate.    The good news is there is a website where you can look for some answers.  No, you are not diagnosticians, nor do we want you to attempt to fix any hardware on your computer!  These websites  will simply tell you if GOOGLE is having any sort of problems with any of their apps, offer suggestions if you are getting error messages etc.  If you have investigated and are still having problems with your COMPUTER, a call needs to be made to TSC @ 5640. Google Apps Status Google Apps Status is a no frills webpage that shows a chart of all Google Apps  and if there has been service interruption, if service is down or if there are no current issues at that time. Is It Down Right Now? The link here takes you directly to a Google drive page to show you if the site it up and running.  When the page loads, if you are curious about another website, you can enter the URL address in the upper right corner and search for it.  Very handy! Common Errors in Google Drive This website gives a list of the most common errors (ie: syncing won’t quit), and tells you how to fix them.  This has been a lifesaver for me, too many times to count. It can be extremely frustrating when you’re working with a group of students and Google  decides to “go crazy”, “not play nice”, “have issues”, or my personal favorite from a recent email: “I think my Google Drive wants to see other people.”.  I’ve been faced with the same sort of thing myself.  There is nothing worse than walking around a classroom filled with rowdy 14 year-old's whose technology doesn't work.  Oh wait, yes there is.  I think it’s standing in front of a rather large group of teachers or conference attendees ready to present,   and MY technology doesn't work.  I’ll admit it, it stinks.  However, we as teachers know that being flexible and ready for anything comes with the territory.  Hopefully the sites above will act as additional tools when minor errors occur with Hutchdocs. Also, please remember that summer professional learning is available for Hutchdocs on June 6 at the PLC.  From 8:30 - 11:30 we will start with Basic Hutchdocs.  Basic would mean creating folders, sharing, collaborating, creating contact groups, converting MS Word docs,  Presentations (like PowerPoint), Draw (like Publisher), and Forms introduction.  From 12:30 - 3:30 we will move to Hutchdocs Advanced.  This class will dig deeper into collaboration, classroom application, forms, add-ons, research and more.  Space is limited...sign up in MyLearningPlan to attend.

App Smashing: Tellegami and iMovie

App Smashing:  The process of using multiple apps in conjunction with one another to complete a final task or project.

I have been excited to see enthusiasm for ipads explode across the district this year!  Teachers K - 12 are using them for instruction and projects and have been asking for new and different ways to incorporated them into their classrooms.  You asked for it?  You got it!

Anyone who has used an ipad with students for a given amount of time has quickly figured out that using one app to create something or complete a task doesn’t quite get the job done.  That’s where “App Smashing” comes in.   By using multiple apps, users can create an experience that is much more engaging and a project that filled with higher order thinking skills. 

Today's apps:  Tellagami and  iMovie ( Safari and Camera Roll )
Most of us are familiar with iMovie, so I won’t spend time here going through the particulars.  Tellagami, however, may be new to some of you.  It’s an app where students can create their own avatars, complete with hair, eyes and clothing choices.  In addition, they choose backgrounds that their avatars stand in front of(pictures from the internet or that they create themselves), which is key for this project.  Once those items are chosen, students can record themselves reading 30 second voice-overs or choose from a list of voices available and type in information they have gathered for whatever project or task they are completing.  After previewing and saving (Gamis are saved to the iPad camera roll) , students have a product called a Gami.  If you plan on using Tellagami as a stand alone, some quick ideas you might try: 

• Have your character tell a story.
• Pick a person in history and have them introduce themselves
• Use a plant cell as the background and have the avatar name and discuss the function of each part of the cell.
• Recite a famous poem or speech
• Read a poem they wrote
• Take a trip or go back in time and describe where the location/time period
• Speak in Spanish, French, Mandarin or any language (http://www.freetech4teachers.com)

Tellagami + iMovie = Wow
 Import multiple Gamis into iMovie and you have a larger project.   As you can see from the Youtube link at the beginning of this post, I created multiple Gamis on different subjects, inserted them all into iMovie and uploaded the whole thing.   Students can add video introductions (think common core speaking and listening skills) add music, text and a conclusion as well.  Groups could put together vocabulary reviews, make one big presentation over a particular topic - collaboration is an easy fit here.  

How does this apply to you?   These apps can be used for students K - 12.  Here are a few ideas to get you started:
ELA:

• Record vocabulary definitions. Create a separate Gami for each definition.  Put them together in an iMovie to use as a study tool.  
• Compare and contrast stories in the same genre (e.g., mysteries and adventure stories) on their approaches to similar themes and topics.
• Book Reports:  Your Gami acts as the narrator for your report on theme, plot, rising action, climax, falling action and resolution.
• Compare and contrast two or more characters, settings, or events in a story or drama, drawing on specific details in the text (e.g., how characters interact).
• Explain simple, compound and complex sentences.  

Social Studies:

• Students could create Tellagami videos explaining important events, inventions, and accomplishments in historical figures’ lives.
• Explain how a bill becomes law.
• Explain how interest rates are raised or lowered.  

Geography:

• One clip could describe the landforms of point A.  The next could do the same for point B.  Students could write directions from point A to point B with a map in the background.  

Science:

• Students could act as news reporters at a volcano (picture of volcano as their background) in their first clip.  In the second clip, they could interview a classmate about what they saw…(think formative assessment……) etc.
• Students could  explain a multi-step procedure or experiment.
• Explain the outcome of a lab and the steps they took to get that outcome.

Math:

• Student could explain what PEMDAS is in the first clip.  In the second clip, student could walk us through a specific problem using PEMDAS.  It could also be used to show the thought process behind how students solved any math problem. 
• Explain why addition and subtraction strategies work, using place value and the properties of operations.
• Describe the effect of dilations, translations, rotations, and reflections on two-dimensional figures using coordinates.
• Identify arithmetic patterns (including patterns in the addition table or multiplication table), and explain them using properties of operations. 

There are so many possibilities when using Tellagami and iMovie together!  What are some ideas you have for your classroom?

This post is about a skill that is valuable for everyone to know:  COMMAND F (NOTE: the keyboard shortcut is “CTRL F” for PC users, but I’ll refer to COMMAND F, since that’s the Mac keyboard shortcut and I have to pick one.)
You perform this shortcut by:Mac Users: Holding down the COMMAND key on your keyboard and then  pressing the F key.  A pop-up window will appear in the upper right hand corner.  You type in your keyword there.  Details are below.  PC Users: Holding down the CTRL key on your keyboard and pressing the F key.  A pop-up window will appear in the upper right hand corner.  You type in your keyword there.         Never heard of it?  Don’t fret, you’d be surprised at how many people don’t know what it does!  COMMAND F is the keyboard shortcut for FIND. In this age of overwhelming data, we not only need skills to find the correct information in a search engine, but we also need to find information on a page.    This little gem has a plethora of applications for the classroom, too.  Here are a few:Researching   Some students begin researching by entering a keyword like “Honey Badger” into a Google search engine.  They find a website and either print an inexplicably large number of pages that they begin to wade through or stare aimlessly at the computer trying to find what they are looking for.  This is long, tedious, boring and often times finds students collecting  irrelevant information.  If instead, students have three keywords they begin with like “honey badger, species, habitat” they will have many more hits that are relevant to their topic.  Once they click on a website, by using the COMMAND F shortcut and typing in “habitat”, they will be taken directly to that spot in the cite.COMMAND F (CTRL F on PCs) is the perfect tool to use when you are reading for specific content online.  Say someone sends you a PDF about Assessments that is 108 pages long.  They want you to read it and generate an outline about Formative Assessments for a meeting TOMORROW. There’s no table of contents and of course, it’s 4:30.   Gulp.  You don’t have to read the entire document or make yourself nauseous by skimming page after page trying to find the info you need.  Using COMMAND F will take you to the first instance the words appear and as long as your cursor is inside the FIND box, you can hit the return key to take you to the next instance the word appears in the text.  (In the graphic here, you see what CTRL F looks like in Google Docs.  It highlights the words in green and gives me the total number of times the word command is used in my document.)    As you click through, it will take you to all the other places in the text where those words appear.  

Editing Essays
Teaching students to edit their papers can sometimes be quite a feat.  In a world where they’re told that every stick figure they draw should be in the Louvre, it’s sometimes hard to explain to them that there is such a thing as a rough draft and that their masterpiece isn’t finished after the first go around.  Teaching students the COMMAND F trick could make things a bit easier on everyone.  Here’s how that works - upon completing their rough drafts students should search:

• AAAWWWUBBIS...if you’re an English teacher, you know what that means.  Any word that could possibly begin a dependent clause can be searched separately, allowing students to check to see that there are no fragments in their papers.

• Dead Words:  If your class has a dead word list, ask students to search for them and remove them from their papers.

• Commas(Punctuation of any kind): Commas errors always seem to top the list.  Ask students to search for commas to decide if they have been used correctly. 

• Search for then and make sure that it refers to time passing. If it’s a comparison, it should be than.

• Some words often feel vague to readers; search for each of them and consider replacing them with more concrete words. These include good, great, interesting, wonderful, and truly.

• Search for its and it’s and make sure you’re using them correctly. (Not sure which is which? Google it.)

• Search for the word that and make sure that it’s not renaming a person; if it is, you can usually safely change it to who. 

• You – type in the search box the word you. If any come up and are not in a quote, figure out how to get rid of it. You might want to change it to people or one and make sure the rest of the sentence still makes sense.

• There, their – Search there. Every time you see it check to see if it is possessing the word after it. If it is, then you need to change it to their. Example: They drove their car to the store. Their tells me whose car it is. Then search their, and make sure that every their is possessing the word after it. Remember there has here in it, and their has heir in it. An heir is someone who will inherit or come to possess property of someone who dies.

• Think about words your students misspell often.  Make your own list of the top mistakes and ask students to run them through Control-F as the final step before submitting the final draft.

So, as you're planning your lessons and kids are researching online or editing their papers, COMMAND F (for Macs) or CTRL F (for PCs) can be a great skill to teach them.  

Digital Learning Day Brings Info and Resources Galore

Digital Learning Day is Wednesday, February 5, 2014.  If you're asking yourself "what's that?" you've come to the right place.  Spearheaded by the Alliance for Excellent Education, Digital Learning Day recognizes innovative teaching and common-sense, effective applications of education technology that support teachers, improve learning, and help students achieve at their highest potential.

    In addition, thousands of state and local events will be held throughout the country, including the more than 1,000 local events that educators have added to the Digital Learning Day website. In conducting their events, educators will be tapping the interactive lesson plans andteaching toolkits available in several different subject areas, including English language arts, math, science, social studies, and more.
    “In the two years since the Alliance’s inaugural Digital Learning Day, the many uses of technology to improve student learning outcomes in the nation’s schools have skyrocketed,” said Bob Wise, president of the Alliance for Excellent Education. “Still, there are schools and classrooms where students are asked to check their devices at the door. Digital Learning Day was created to provide all educators—from those who are technology averse to the technology rock stars—with the support and guidance they need to feel comfortable using different types of technology to improve learning in their classrooms.”
   In addition to the local events, Digital Learning Day will include a national showcase event and virtual conference that will be broadcast live on the internet from the Library of Congress in Washington, DC. The showcase will be hosted by Judy Woodruff, co-anchor and managing editor of the PBS NewsHour, and it will feature Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Tom Wheeler, U.S. Representative George Miller, FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel, Acting U.S. Deputy Secretary of Education James H. Shelton III, Wyoming State Senator Rich Crandall, and Maryland State Superintendent of Schools Lillian Lowery.
    The national showcase will also feature educators and students from schools and school districts that are using technology to make a positive difference in student learning, including Talladega, Alabama; Beaverton, Oregon; Henry County, Georgia; Hillsborough, Florida; Albemarle County, Virginia; and West Windsor Township, New Jersey. Also highlighted will be key initiatives to bring broader adoption of technology into classrooms, including an urgent need to update the federal E-rate program, an immensely successful initiative that has connected 94 percent of schools to the internet, but as more teachers, students, and devices attempt to access a school’s network, it cannot meet the exploding demand for high-speed connections.
    “From simple beginnings, Digital Learning Day has become a worldwide event for showcasing how technology can improve student outcomes and support teachers,” said Bob Wise, president of the Alliance for Excellent Education and former governor of West Virginia. “I encourage everyone—educators, parents, students, and members of the media—to visitDigitalLearningDay.org or contact your local schools and school districts to see what they are doing to celebrate Digital Learning Day and learn how you can get involved.”
    Visit DigitalLearningDay.org for ideas about how students, parents, administrators and others can participate. Follow the action on the Digital Learning Day Twitter page, with the #DLDay hashtag, and on the Digital Learning Day Facebook page.
    In USD 308, we know that every day is a digital learning day, but the resources and celebration surrounding this event are truly too good to pass up.  What are you doing on Wednesday to recognize Digital Learning Day?