Free Online PD

I’ve attended this session for several years and wanted to share this year’s information.

It’s called the Ditch That Textbook Digital Summit. There are nine video presentations from awesome presenters on topics related to tech and solid teaching and learning. Including previous years’ sessions, you’ll have access to more than 60 video presentations! 

Get your free ticket at: DitchSummit.com.

HOW IT WORKS: New presentations are released every day from Dec. 14-22. They remain available until Jan. 8 so you can re-watch or catch up on any you’ve missed. They’re pre-recorded, so you can watch them whenever you want until Jan. 8. After that, the summit ends and the videos are unavailable to watch anymore.

FREE PD HOURS: You can get FREE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CREDITS for watching the videos. There’s a form to fill out after each presentation, and you’ll get an automatic PD certificate emailed to you.

Sign up for the digital summit at DitchSummit.com.

This year’s new speakers include: 

• Dr. Lindsay Portnoy, cognitive scientist, professor, and parent

• Knikole Taylor, educator, lead learner, and Google Certified Innovator

• Dee Lanier, educational technologist, equity enthusiast, and Solve in Time Creator

• Dr. Desiree Alexander, education consultant, presenter, and speaker

• Esther Park, high school ESL / ELA teacher

• Maria Arfanakis (Galanis), innovation curriculum specialist, Google Certified Trainer

• Paula Martínez, designer and slide template creator, Slides Mania

• Nyree Clark, curriculum program specialist, culturally responsive teaching advocate

• Matt Miller, author of 5 books, Ditch That Textbook Digital Summit host

Research (and a little civics on the side)

TeachersFirst has shared a collection of research sites- and many of them are related to Civics (Eagle Eye Citizen and My Case Maker are just two). There is something for every grade level.

But I saw it on the internet!!!

Media Literacy is a major topic- and something our students need.  Just because you read it online- it doesn’t mean it is true!  In this content collection from TeachersFirst, you will find a wide variety of resources (and it includes one of my personal favorites- All About Explorers!).  Their reviews include grade level as well as an overview of the site.

Math and Jamboard

This interesting video from Math Boardom has several good ideas for Jamboard in the math classroom.  Don’t worry about the Zoom platform-these will work in Google Meet (not so much with Breakout sessions) and in Webex (breakout rooms will work there). New to Jamboard? This video also does a nice overview as well.

He’s got some good ideas about keeping a copy (so you always have access to a new game) and the YouTube link includes copies of the games shown.

How to create Info-graphics

Matt Miller has done it again - he shares step by step directions to assist you and your students in the creation of infographics!  Click here for directions and samples!

Helping students learn during the pandemic

We are all feeling the
additional stress related to the trying times.  Here are six suggestions to help your students succeed.

Slides and more slides

In the most recent We are Teachers newsletter, I saw this captivating collection of slide templates.  While I have used SlideMania and Slides Carnival before, some of the others were new (there are some from Teachers Pay Teachers but they are free). SlidesGo had a few interesting game formats that would work in a blended environment.

We are thankful

 Kathleen Mc Dade’s preschool class created a ChatterPIX with their hand made turkeys.  Please listen to their voices as they share what they are thankful for.  ChatterPix and iMovie are perfect together.  Consider leaving them a comment on this post.

Taking choice boards to a new level!

Student engagement in this time of hybrid/virtual instruction can be challenging.  So what if you could make it more like a game (with new levels and XP) and add some choice?  Alice Keeler has the answer- her badge game template will allow you to add activities (to an assignment), allow student choice (yet there is ample space for directions), and then make a copy for the students!

Start by watching her video and then make a copy of the template. Add your activities and points and then create a student copy.  You are then ready to assign it in Google or OnCourse classroom (make a copy for each student). Everything you need is here.

Getting to know your students

 

It’s not the same in the virtual or hybrid world- here are some suggestions from Nora Fleming (via Edutopia).  I really liked the Three things I’ve seen activity.

Blogging in Google Slides

Matt Miller shares step by step directions on using Google Slides as a blogging platform.  There are many pluses (it is free, the students are familiar with it) yet it will not be visible to the public (just folks within the domain).

Please see the blog post here.

Hashtags are not for Twitter only

Alice Keeler shares her suggestion for using hashtags in Google Keep.  It will add to your organization - such an easy way to add a label!

There’s a tool for that - Citations

 

One of the newer Google tools is the Citation option.  Not only does it work you through the process, it will enter the inline citation and create the bibliography!  Here is a short video from Kasy Bell (Shake Up Learning) with all you need to know!

Thanksgiving Escape Room

Matt Miller has shared a digital escape room for Thanksgiving- and even better he 1) provides it in two formats (Google Sites- which our students cannot access as well as Microsoft Sway -which our students can access) and 2) he provides the answer key! This download includes Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Holidays Around the world! Download this PDF for the FREE holiday digital escape rooms! 

Pasting a long list into a Google Form

In this short video, Alice Keeler shows have to easily paste large lists (i.e. student names) into a Google Form.  If you want to sort the data, it is easier to use multiple choice or drop-down questions rather than short answer.

What’s on your list?

 

A few minutes after this appeared in my Facebook feed- I got Sarah Kiefer’s post via a Google group.  She has created slides for an A-Z journal along with an instruction slide.  Please click here to read her post here.  This could be a class or individual student activity.

Putting Buttons in your Google Sites

Alice Keeler demonstrates how to add a button (and why you would want to do it) in a Google Site.  (Just a reminder- Google Sites are not visible outside of our domain).

Robots in your slides

Slides Carnival has introduced another template- and this one is filled with a variety of robots!  Click here to view.

If you need to start a new Google Classroom

 

Marking periods will be closing shortly and depending on the classes you teach, you might want to start a new Google Classroom.  While not everyone needs to do this (if you teach a full year class for example), I think it is still a good idea to pause and re-evaluate your classroom.  Sarah Kiefer shares her suggestions here for the optimal Google Classroom.

Everything you want to know about forms

In a recent edition focused on assessment, TeachersFirst shared their review on Forms.  Click here to learn more.

Isn’t every day a STEM day?

OK, I missed national STEM day- but we were off on 11/8!  Here are a variety of resources from Discovery Education- family activities, field trips and more! 

Storyboardthat - adding a template

 

Here is a short tutorial from Storyboardthat demonstrating how to add a premade template to an assignment.  If you need assistance with the district Storyboardthat accounts, please see your media specialist.

Everything you need for Thanksgiving

TeachersFirst has shared their list of Thanksgiving lesson ideas.   Looking for more interactives- check out You are the historian!  This site does require flash to make sure your students know how to manage it.

Why are you thankful?

Even though I still have the candy for Halloween, it’s not too early to think about Thanksgiving.  Please see these lesson plan ideas from Storyboardthat to celebrate the holiday.  There are a variety of suggestions for different projects. Please see your media specialists for account support.

Native Americans from Storyboardthat

If you are celebrating National American Indian Heritage Month or learning about Indigenous Peoples, you might want to check out the resources on Storyboardthat.

Merging cells (the easy way!)

Alice Keeler shares this short video on how to merge cells (and then copy into a Google Form).  As she demonstrates, this is great when you want to merge both first and last names. Please see the video here.

Discovery Education SOS and Jamboard- a perfect match

 (This is from Cindy Wallace via Facebook)

Hey y'all! I have been using Jamboard almost daily for the past few weeks and love it!!! It is so helpful in fostering collaboration with learners of all ages.

Of course, I am incorporating the SOS Strategies and have created several boards to use as templates which I am linking to this post.

The rectangles within the resource labeled strategy or Jamboard are active links. "Strategy" takes you to DE (be sure to log in first) and "Jamboard" allows you to make a copy of the actual Jamboard I created.

The copy will be stored in your Google Drive, but can be accessed from the waffle under the Jamboard icon.

I plan to continue to add new Jamboards as we continue in this online world of teaching and learning, so I would love your input. What strategies should I add next?

Here is the link to her Jams.

Style tips for text presentations

 

While looking at the email from SlidesCarnival (with their newest template- it’s all about food!) I noticed their blog post with tips for designing text-heavy presentations.  I found the content interesting and useful:

1. Make the most of text hierarchy

2. Format your text like a pro

3. Hold onto white space

4. Introduce, then separate your content

5. Vary layout to maintain interest

6. Let your audience take a breath

New in Google (new course in Teacher Center)

There are several new Google offerings shared in this video (family support is one of them), I was interested in the learner engagement class.  The free Google class-Inspire creativity through learner engagement is here.

Have you used Explore in Google slides?

Looking for additional information for a slides presentation?  Need another photo for two?  Or how about a change in layout?  Check out this EDU in 90 video on the application of the Explore feature in Google Slides.

Got a financial question

Wetheecomony has the answers!  In these series of short videos,  each one begins with a question ( What is a recession?  Why is our tax system so complicated?  Where does your band deposit go).   This site is suggested for high school grades but I think you could also use it with middle school students. For a complete review of the site, please see Teachers First here.

Google Classroom App

Using the Google Classroom app on your phone?  Take a look at Alice Keeler’s suggestions for the three dots.  Her post is here.

Looking for Google Projects?

In this blog post, Matt Miller shares 30 collaborative Google activities for your students. There are ideas for all of the Google Apps!