CurTech93

Problem Based Learning offers students the opportunity to devise their own solutions to problems in their world. With PBL, students may choose to share their solution to a problem digitally. Any of these digital files (iMovie, Timeline, Google Slides, Pic Collage, Explain Everything, Word Clouds, ChatterPix, Google Documents, Prezi, etc.) can be placed in Google Drive to generate a URL that can then be turned into a QR Code. These QR Codes can be shared with others. They can be posted in the hallways at school, on a class website, in a class newsletter, on a padlet ~ the possibilities are endless! Do you want to learn more about QR Codes and how you could make use of them in your classroom? Visit the Technology Resources page on CurTech93 and look for "QR Codes." There is also a LEAD course being offered on December 1st at District Office. Questions about QR Codes? Email Karen or Becky or complete the PLS form and we will be happy to support you.

What is the best way to allow all students to have their say and NOT interrupt all the time? Let me introduce you to BACKCHANNELING! Backchanneling is the conversation that happens alongside a webinar, in the form of an ongoing chat. But it doesn't have to only happen alongside a webinar. I have experienced it during a live presentation, during a Google Hangout, and in a classroom during instruction. The link below will take you to a blog about kindergartners who have begun to backchannel during  instruction. Using the backchannel in Kindergarten So cool! And this doesn't JUST have to happen with younger students - this would be ideal for older students, as well! Would you like to use this in your classroom? Fill out the PLS and Becky or Karen would be happy to work through that with you. Do you already have ideas for using this tool in your classroom? We would love to hear any ideas you have so we can share with everyone.

Discovery Education ~ not just videos! This year all teachers and students in CCSD93 have access to the Discovery Education website. There are SO many resources accessible through this site! Here are just a few ways it can be used to support instruction and learning: Streaming Plus - a library of thousands of videos that can be used to enhance instruction, available for grades K-8. On your home page, click on My DE and then click on Streaming Plus. You can choose to search by grade level span or by common core standard. Also, if you click on the index view you will see the list of topics available. Science TechBook - this is a digital, interactive textbook organized by the new NGSS standards, available for grades K-8.  On your home page, click on My DE and then click on Science TechBook. You can then click on the drop down in the middle of the page and choose your grade level “for use with NGSS.” Explore to learn more about the upcoming NGSS topics your grade level will...

Attention all K-2 teachers, students, LLC Directors and anyone else who uses Book Creator on the iPad - they have added comic strip options to the choices!! The new choices include speech bubbles, thinking bubbles, stickers, new backgrounds, sound effects, formatting for a comic book look, and many more! Using the comic book format with speech bubbles is a great way to write using dialogue. What are some other ways your students could make use of the comic book feature in Book Creator? Email Becky or Karen with your ideas and examples and we will share them on this blog and on CurTech! An example using a number of features from the new comic book options in Book Creator

Back to School Notes and News (from the Curriculum Department) Welcome back! As you prepare for the start of the school year, there are many digital materials that need to be set up for your students. There are also a number of changes and updates that have occurred in our resources over the summer months. CurTech93’s Getting the Year Started page has been created to help you navigate these tasks and changes. You will find information that helps you to: Create classes in your online resources Add students to your online resources Access digital books Add additional grade level materials to your online resources (different grade levels) Find updates from summer curriculum committee work ELA Middle School Humanities Middle School Math Review the list of CORE APPS available for your grade level, PS-2nd grade Locate the Problem Based Learning resources for the beginning of the school year Set up and utilize Google Drive with all students I...

PebbleGo!   There are so many topics our students research - and with PBL coming up, the topics will grow! Some of those topics are available in PebbleGo . PebbleGo is not an app. It is a website that is accessible through Safari on the iPad. Your students can access PebbleGo using the QR code below. If you are not sure what PebbleGo is, or if you are unsure of your building username and password for PebbleGo, check in with your LLC Director. Before your students log into PebbleGo, spend some time exploring and discovering what is available to them. When you get to PebbleGo and have logged in, choose a category - right now the options are Animals, Science, Biographies and Social Studies. In each category there are a number of topics. Choose the one you want to further explore. PebbleGo offers options for text to be read aloud, some videos, as well as other activities that can be imported into and completed in Explain Everything if you choose. PebbleGo is also a great p...

This is taken directly from the blog iteachwithipads.com. GREAT thoughts about using Popplet as a support for young writers. I’ve included the link to the blog, as well. Organizing for Writing on the iPad APRIL 22, 2013 / KRISTI MEEUWSE ADE http://iteachwithipads.net/2013/04/22/organizing-for-writing-on-the-ipad/ (link to full blog) Why do anything unless it is going to be great? -Peter Block We have been learning about the rainforest and my students are excited and engaged in learning all about the animals in the various layers.  Recently, the students wanted to write about the rainforest and they seemed to be having trouble narrowing their focus.  Someone said, “My brain is all busy with so many animals.” As adults, it can often be overwhelming as we try to process large chunks of information.  I have to make lists or use sticky notes to keep it all straight.  We all have different strategies for managing the information and processing it.  ...

Super Stretch Yoga is a wonderful, interactive app available on all Kindergarten iPads.  The colorful character, Super Stretch, leads students through a series of age-appropriate Yoga poses.  Students interact with the app, watching the demonstration and following the specific directions. See it in action! Kindergarten students follow Super Stretch on a Yoga adventure

Welcome back! It is a Brand New Year! Hopefully everyone is well rested, and everyone is ready to come back to classrooms ready to learn and grow! As a district, our teachers have been supporting students in goal setting for a number of years. As I was reading during Winter Break (yes, I did lots of reading during Winter Break!) I came across an article from Education Week. It discusses the “promises and perils” of students setting goals. Perils? Of Goal Setting? Promises, of course! But, perils? As we work with students to set goals and work towards those goals, we need to remember to foster in them a growth mindset . The goal is not necessarily to get a “5.” The goal is to grow! The goal is to learn! The goal is to move forward from where they are working currently. Are your students excited about setting goals and meeting them? Are they looking forward to growing? Are you looking forward to supporting them in that growth? Access the article through this link: The Promise and P...