With technology changing every industry on the planet, computing knowledge has become part of a well-rounded skill set. But fewer than half of all schools teach computer science! Good news is, we’re on our way to change this. If you heard about the Hour of Code last year, you might know it made history. 100 million students have now discovered how accessible and fun computer science can be by doing just one Hour of Code.
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The Hour of Code is a one-hour introduction to computer science, designed to demystify code and show that anybody can learn the basics. Discover how to run an Hour of Code below.

To make implementation easy for you and fun for your students, I've curated resources for art, music, PE, and Young5s - 12th grade! Learn more by reading the short description of the activity that corresponds to your grade or subject area below and clicking the image to the right to access the resource.

Run an Hour of Code with your students from December 9th - 13th! Want an extra hand? I would love to come in and support you and your students. If that would be helpful, book time with me at your school. Please check your email for more information.

Print participation certificates for your students and share about Hour of Code in your class newsletters:

The Great Thanksgiving Listen is an initiative that is encouraging and empowering students to create an oral history of the United States by recording interviews with their elders using the free Story Corps app. And while the program requires students be over 13 to publish their work using this specific app, the curricular ideas (check out the toolkit at the bottom of this page) can be modified and used by students of all ages. Discover more in this quick 1 minute video.

The best way to learn more about this movement is to listen to some the heartwarming, and sometimes heartbreaking, stories. Below is a video of one animated story, as well as a link to many of the stories Story Corps has captured over the years. You can sort the stories by collection (i.e. justice, military, parenthood, etc.), date, and more.

Check out the toolkit and podcast below. There are many great resources that you can put to use right away.

Do you want your students to connect with students outside the four walls of their classroom? Consider the value in a global learning community. Discover these amazing resources by watching the following brief introductory videos. When one of the programs sparks your interest and you want to learn more about it, check out the section below these videos to learn how to move forward and engage globally.

Learn more about using these tools to connect globally by watching the  following instructional videos.

Get started! Follow the links below to  connect globally with another classroom.

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!