Have you had a student in your class who has had difficulty completing assignments on time? Maybe you've had a student who performs well in class but poorly on assessments, or one with a consistently negative attitude, or someone who has had difficulty making friends. What if that child could record himself/herself repeating positive affirmations and revisit the recordings when feeling distressed? ThinkUp is a free app created to support kids and adults alike in changing their mindset. Discover ThinkUp in my sample below:

Learn how to use ThinkUp by viewing the video tutorial below:

ThinkUp is a free app for iOS and Android. Begin enjoying it today!

In short, HyperDocs are interactive, digital documents (i.e. Google Docs or Slides) containing links to activities, videos, and resources that drive and engage student learning. HyperDocs take the teacher lecturing in the front of the room  off stage and encourage students to follow the paths that ignite their curiosity. While students are navigating a HyperDoc playlist, the teacher is able to move about the classroom, working one-on-one or in small groups with students. Discover more in this short video created by West Ada School District, and check out this template for a visual.

How might HyperDocs support your curriculum? Could you create HyperDocs for fast finishers to access? Are you interested in modifying a unit so one day consists of student learning being guided by their choices? Or do you want to make HyperDocs a more regular part of your teaching? Learn more about how HyperDocs could change the way you teach by checking out the examples below. 

Check out the free templates and additional resources below.

Book Creator is a tool for creating, collaborating, and sharing across all subject areas and all grades. Discover grade-appropriate fiction and nonfiction ideas below.

Watch the following clips to learn briefly how Book Creator works on both on iPads and computers. Interested in MORE? Check out the webinars listed below the videos. These webinars spotlight elementary, middle, and high school curricular ideas.

On a computer...

Follow the links below to learn more with webinars tailored for your age group.

Do even more with Book Creator by exploring additional ideas on Pinterest.

Are you interested in free virtual classes geared toward upper elementary - high school students? Discover how to access NewseumEd virtual classes by watching the short video below.

NewseumED offers free 30 - 50 minute virtual classes for your students. These classes run Monday - Friday, 9AM - 4PM, and can be adjusted to fit YOUR schedule. They are aligned to standards and often include additional teaching ideas/handouts. A few examples of classes are: “Is It Fair? Evaluate Your Media”, “Fighting Fake News: How to Outsmart Trolls and Troublemakers”, “Media Ethics for Students”, “First Amendment and Tinker” and “You Can’t Say That in School?"  Follow the links below to review grade-appropriate content for your students.

Request a free virtual class for your students by following the link below. You should request a class with at least a two week notice, as you will be provided with a test date to ensure properly working hardware/software.

What is the Global Read Aloud? The Global Read Aloud is designed for all age groups and was started by Pernille Ripp in 2010. She had one ambitious goal, and that was to have a single book connect the world. Since its launch, GRA has created millions of connections in more than 86 different countries, and now is the perfect time for your class to connect globally and join the fun. Discover more by watching the short video below.

Learn more about the Global Read Aloud below. Contact me if you want a copy of the flyer.

It's time to get started! Sign up to receive updates via e-mail and check out the weekly schedule. Then, order the texts and join the conversation using  the 2019 Twitter hashtag. The links are provided below.

In my Lower School Computer Science class, students use Scratch to program book trailers. In this post, I will tell you how I tackle this project. First, watch the video below to discover the power of Scratch.

Ready to get inspired? Watch the video below to see a few book trailers created by my fourth graders, and then learn the basics of Scratch with the resources below.

Resources:

To begin this unit, I show my students the Book Trailer Presentation below. Then, in pairs or individually, students complete the Book Trailer Storyboard. From there, the sky is the limit!

A digital portfolio is an invaluable asset that sets you apart from others interviewing for the same position. It really brings to life what you do every single day. Discover the possibilities in using a web portfolio by viewing the video below. This is a screencast of my own web portfolio. 

Learn about two of my favorite sites in the tutorials below.

Are you interested in creating your own? Below are two websites I would recommend for creating a web portfolio. If you are interested in outsourcing this project, I'd be happy to talk more about creating your resume, cover letter, and/or web portfolio for you.   Contact me to chat!

Have you heard of The Cardboard Challenge? It's a great way to start the school year, as it allows for creative expression, teamwork, and play. Watch the video below to see how The Cardboard Challenge was born:

As a teacher, I wanted MORE. I wanted my students thinking more critically while also providing them this opportunity. To do this, I have created cardboard challenge units that utilize the Design Thinking Process for students in kindergarten through fourth grade. What is Design Thinking? Follow the link below to learn more.

While these are still works in progress, I have designed the following units. I've combined Design Thinking and the Cardboard Challenge to create FUN, relevant learning experiences.

Interested in discovering some examples of how Lab third grade students are making their thinking visible and documenting their learning?  Check out the exemplars below!

Learn how to use Seesaw in one of the following posts:

1. Digital Portfolios with Seesaw - An Introduction
2. Seesaw in Action​
3. Seesaw Task Cards

Get started here!

What is a Doodle Poll? Discover by watching the video below.

​Are you looking for a quick way to create conference sign ups? Consider a Doodle Poll! 

• Select the conference dates
• Enter the time slots
• Change the settings to "Participants can only choose one option” and “Limit the number of participants per option to 1”

​Learn how in the video below.