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Six Ideas for Pool Noodles in the Classroom

by Peggy Reimers
written by Peggy Reimers

Pool noodles are wonderful. They’re inexpensive, versatile, and colorful. Of course, I have to put up with my colleagues teasingly threatening to throw away my pool noodles all the time, but that’s okay. They are totally worth it. Here are six noodle-rific ways you can use my favorite product in the classroom.

1. Robotics Challenge Border

pool noodle robotics boundaries

I found this super idea on Twitter from Kim Collazo (@kcollazo). She duck-taped pool noodles to the floor to make a border for a robotics challenge called the Predator/Prey Challenge. She tweeted that her 4th graders learned the importance of armor and other animal adaptations with the Sphero Bolt- just in case you were curious to know what robot is hiding under those red solo cups. Check out the video! Bonus: Kim shares her lesson for the Predator/Prey Challenge here.

2. SPIKE Pool Noodle Runner

pool noodle robotics

Mr. Hino of Mr. Hino’s LEGO Robotics YouTube Channel shares a unique robot he built that travels along a pool noodle. Check out this Youtube video on his channel for the Pool Noodle Runner. I love this build because it is not moving the standard way of a vehicle. I also reversed engineered his robot, and you can find the building instructions on a slide deck here. My slide deck comes with six steps and a video of my own personal SPIKE Pool Noodle Runner. 

3. Breakout EDU

breakout with pool noodles

If you are a fan of Breakout EDU, try incorporating pool noodles for a clue. The very first breakout I designed for a professional development Breakout EDU session was based on Dr. Johnson’s Lab (Zombie Apocalypse!) by James Sanders. I tweaked James’s original game to engage the audience and have their participation in the game. I designed it where objects and costumes held the puzzles to unlock the locks on the breakout box. I had one participant, complete with a beach towel and sunglasses, walk around the room calling out, “Where, oh where have my pool noodles gone?” All of a sudden 10 people popped their noodles out from hiding. Five green, two blue, and four orange noodles appeared which were used to solve the three-digit combination lock.

4. Goose Chase

How about incorporating pool noodles into an interactive experience called a Goose Chase? Below are a few missions I have used at TCEA conventions and conferences. My tip here is to encourage your participants to “think outside the box” and create different ways to improvise with the pool noodles besides lasers and swords.

  • Mission ETC: Improvise with a pool noodle or two. Please do not turn your pool noodle into a weapon.
  • Mission CTS: Act out a movie scene using one or more pool noodles. Think beyond Star Wars.
  • Mission ETC: Create a math problem using some or all the pool noodles you will find hiding down the hall. 
  • Mission TCEA 2018: Form a letter using the pool noodles.

5. Cardio Desk Drumming 

desk drumming with pool noodles

I found this one a year ago on Facebook and have been holding onto this terrific find – until now! P.E. Coach, Mr. Kent Hamilton of Middlebranch-Avondale Elementary School in Canton, Ohio has created routines called Cardio Desk drumming with pool noodles. It sure looks like a bunch of fun. This”get moving” activity is great for the body and the brain! He has several videos on his YouTube channel. He includes two of my favorite songs: Queen’s “We will Rock You” and Imagine Dragon’s “Believer.” Don’t miss “Shake it Off” or “Uptown Funk,” too. Follow him on Twitter for so many more ideas.

6. Pool Noodle Pass

pool noodle pass

Hanging out on Twitter is such a good thing. I also found the 2021 National Elementary Physical Education Teacher of the Year, Kyle Bragg. He is a P.E. teacher at Anasazi Elementary School in Arizona. Oh, to be a second grader and try the Noodle Pass! Follow him not only for his pool noodle activities but other energizing and engaging lessons in the gym.

Feel free to share the unique ways you use pool noodles in your classroom in the comments. Let’s spread more love for pool noodles!

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Back to SchoolClassroom ManagementDigital CitizenshipLeadershipLibrariesPlanning and PreparationSocial-Emotional LearningSTEM/STEAMWeb 2.0 Tool

Back-to-School Roundup

by Sara Qualls
written by Sara Qualls

Where did the summer go? With the start of a new year, I’ve gathered back-to-school resources from our amazing PD team and staff here at TCEA. Check out this categorized list full of ideas to create a successful school year.

You can skip to a section by selecting a category below:

Icebreakers

Bellringers

Leadership

In the Library

STEM

Social Emotional Learning

Activities

Templates

Lesson Planning

Choice Boards

Tools

Classroom Management

Classroom Walls

Coaching

Artificial Intelligence

Icebreakers

Bellringers

Leadership

Image of a bingo card for a Staff Summer Bingo Game

In the Library

STEM

  • Prepping for a STEM/STEAM Year
    STEM/STEAM activities are a powerful way to engage students. Here are a few resources to help you prepare for a stem-rific school year.
  • Back to School with STEM
    STEM activities are a powerful way to engage students. Here are a few resources to kick off your school year in the STEM direction.

Social Emotional Learning

Activities

Templates

self-reported grades

Lesson Planning

  • 2000+ Lesson Plan Templates and Ideas for K12
    Discover a wealth of lesson plan template resources and treasures in this searchable collection for grades K-12 in all subject areas.
  • Back to School Apps for Lesson Planning
    Looking for tools to make lesson planning easier? Look no further than these three free apps that can assist you in designing amazing learning experiences.
  • Lesson Planning: 5E Model + Technology
    Lesson planning remains a tool for teachers to use to make sure they are covering the required material. If you follow the 5E Model for planning and add technology to it, you end up with a very powerful way to bring the curriculum to life for all students.

Choice Boards

Tools

Classroom Management

Classroom Walls

Coaching

  • Ten Ideas for Tech Coaches to Help Their Teachers Grow
    Explore creative and fun ways for tech coaches to encourage teachers in their growth with technology integration. Ready, set, ed tech!
  • Conference for Educational Coaches
    Sign up for the Conference for Educational Coaches (CEC) to discover the latest in professional development, best practices for coaching, and even more ideas for supporting educators. Attend in person in Austin, Texas or online from October 9-10.

Artificial Intelligence

For Texas Educators

I hope these strategies, activities, templates, and more get the brain flowing with ideas to create a successful start. Have a wonderful new school year!

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RoboticsSTEM/STEAM

How to Build Jitter and JoJo: Two LEGO® Education Robots

by Peggy Reimers
written by Peggy Reimers

Worldwide, many people have been inspired by the fabulous works of Yoshihito Isogawa– myself included. I consider him a legend in the LEGO world of robotics. Yoshihito Isogawa lives in Tokyo, Japan. His biographies describe him as a LEGO master builder, a LEGO® luminary, and a technical writer. He gives LEGO workshops and lectures at schools and science museums. 

Yoshihito Isogawa has also published ten books. His latest is “The LEGO MINDSTORMS Robot Inventor Idea Book.” This book has 125 models (interactive inventions, toys, cars, games, and more) built with the LEGO Robot Inventor set (#51515). This particular set is the retail/home set of SPIKE Prime. If you own a SPIKE Prime, you might pick up some great ideas from this book. Please remember the part selection for the Robot Inventor is quite different from the educational SPIKE Prime set. 

“The LEGO MINDSTORMS Robot Inventor Idea Book” by Yoshihito Isogawa

One thing to note is Yoshihito’s willingness to build and share all kinds of robots and contraptions through his Facebook page and YouTube Channel. He always comes up with ingenious building techniques and clever creations. So one day, believe it or not, I was exploring the internet and stumbled upon a YouTube video called, Two Wheels Car: LEGO SPIKE Essential. Check it out!

I am sure once Yoshihito got a hold of a SPIKE Essential set, his creative juices started flowing. This little robot is easy to build and just plain CUTE! 

Two Wheels Car: LEGO SPIKE Essential

As you probably guessed, I was inspired to see if I could build this cutie-pie robot. It was fairly easy to replicate this build after watching the video and pausing it at specific times to figure out part placement. I’m happy to report I was successful, and the only major change I made from the original was the name. In my honest opinion, the robot needed a name upgrade. TCEA’s Communications Specialist, Emily Hopkins, and I changed the name to “Jitter.” Here is the video of Jitter, and you can see how he got his name. If you want to build Jitter, check out my eight-step building directions.

Jitter in action!

I just couldn’t stop here. Next up was SPIKE Essential’s big brother, SPIKE Prime. Here are the directions for JoJo using a SPIKE Prime core set. It was pure joy to use the 5×5 light matrix for JoJo’s mouth and the biscuits (new technic building element included in the SPIKE Prime and SPIKE Essential sets) for sunglasses.

Two Wheels Car: LEGO SPIKE Prime

If you and your students build Jitter and his brother JoJo, please send me a photo or video. I would love to see your take on these two robots!

Interested in learning more about robotics? Register for TCEA’s Robotics Camp! Learn all you need to know about SPIKE Prime in just a few days. Build robots (and your confidence!), explore the possibilities, and gather up fun, adaptable lessons. Sign up today!

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ChromebooksGoogle Tips and Tricks

Eight Google Goodies You Want to Use

by Peggy Reimers
written by Peggy Reimers

If you live in the Google ecosystem, you know some things get rolled out without a bunch of fanfare. But sometimes, gems get snuck in and we are pleasantly surprised. I wonder if Google secretly smiles as they go into stealth mode and slip new features in? Let’s check out some Google goodies, and if you have more you know and love, please drop a comment below.

Google Docs

1. Dropdown Chips

Example of Dropdown Chips

Google recently rolled out a new feature in Docs called “Dropdown Chips”. These were intended to indicate the status of a document or various project milestones. There are two default dropdown options:

  • Project Status– Includes selections for “Not Started”, “Blocked”, “In Progress” and “Complete”
  • Review Status– Includes selections for “Not Started”, “In Progress”, “Under Review” and “Approved”

But the best part? You have custom options and colors! So you can create some cool things. Eric Curts turned this new tool into a “Cloze Reading” activity. Check out the Flipped Tech Coaching blog for three more ideas.

2. Add an Emoji Reaction

Available now, one can add an emoji to the body of a Google Doc. All you need to do is highlight some text. Then, three little icons pop up. You then have the choice of adding a comment, emoji, or suggesting edits.

3. Watermark

Example of a Google Docs Watermark

A watermark is usually an image superimposed onto a document. You can now watermark a Google Doc! Just find the watermark feature under Insert. This is very handy if you would like to make sure everybody knows your working document is in draft form, for example. And a school or district can display its logo as a watermark.  I had some fun watermarking one of my robotics agendas with an image we had made into a button. 

Google Sites

4. Small Business Templates

Adding to the education, personal, and work templates in Google Sites is a new section titled Small Business. This category includes:

  • Dog Walker
  • Holiday Party
  • Photo Portfolio
  • Restaurant 
  • Salon

5. Anchor Image Tool

Google Site Header Anchor Tool

This neat feature allows you to customize the position or focal point of your header image. Upload your photo and click the anchor icon in the bottom right corner of the header. Directional arrows will appear. Click the arrows to preview the image in any anchor position you’d like.

Google’s Cloud Run

6. Coloring Pages

Turn images into a coloring page with Google’s Cloud Run

Use this link to upload a file, and, voila! You have a coloring page that you can download and print. Just for fun, I tried our ETC strawberry and it turned out great. I also tried a photo of my dog, Tuff, and as you can see – he turned out pretty scary-looking. I can see this feature being very handy for teachers who work with our littles. If you are looking to customize an image for coloring – you now have the coloring book power!

Google Sheets

7. Publish to the Web

This took me a while to find. I thought this handy dandy tool was gone, but Google just moved it. If you are looking to publish a spreadsheet, now you will need to go to:

  1. Share
  2. File
  3. Publish to the Web

Chrome Browser

8. Confetti

Last I will leave you with my favorite goodie. Inject a little fun into your day and celebrate with your class using this extension. If you use Google Chrome for your browser, add the Confetti extension. When you press command + B, confetti blasts out on your screen. You will lose the shortcut for bolding words by using this; but if you are like me and forget, the celebratory surprise is worth it.

If you have a Google goody, please consider sharing it with a comment post below. A gagillion cheers to all the google-goodness on planet earth.

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Digital LiteracySocial Media

How to Search Twitter for Anything

by Jennifer Bergland
written by Jennifer Bergland

Twitter is a great place for you to connect with others who share common interests. You can discover people who teach the same subject or grade levels you teach. Perhaps you are passionate about robotics and would like to connect with others who are as well. Or maybe you are concerned about the exodus of teachers from the classroom and want to find some resources on this topic? You don’t have to look too hard to find others with similar interests or concerns. But do you know how to search Twitter and find what you’re looking for?

Like other applications, you can use some search terms to help you locate exactly what or who you are looking for. The inspiration for this blog post came from the Twitter user @TessaRDavis. She tweeted a thread that illustrated how to search Twitter, and I thought it was pure gold! So I wanted to share some of her insights with our educator readers. 

Search Terminology

Search operators are words, phrases, and symbols you use to tell a search engine what you are searching for. The operators tend to be the same or at least similar on different search engines. Thus, you can use the same phrases or words to search in Google as you would on Twitter. I will demonstrate how to use these, and then I’ll provide a list of terms at the bottom of the blog. 

How to Search for Tweets about a Person

You can search for any mention of a user by simply typing in their Twitter handle (for example, @jbergland).

Searching using a Twitter handle.

How to Search for Tweets from a Person

You can also search for tweets from a specific person.

Twitter search by person
Searching tweets from a specific person.

Note that in the first search, @LLeneWinokur is tweeting about Desiree Alexander (@educatoralex), and in the second search I was searching for Peggy Reimers’ tweets. 

How to Search Tweets from One Person to Another

I might also want to search for tweets from one individual to another. In the following example, I searched for tweets in which Miguel Guhlin specifically tweeted Peggy Reimers. 

How to Search Tweets from a Person about a Topic

I might also want to find out what an individual has to say about a topic I’m interested in. In the following example, I wanted to know what Andre Daughty had to say about “math.” I discovered that this is a topic he frequently tweets about. 

Twitter search by topic and person

How to Search Tweets by Topic

Searching is also useful if you are wanting to see others’ thoughts on a specific topic. For instance, I am extremely interested in the topic of virtual learning. Let’s see how I can use the search operators to help me find some resources related to this topic. 

First, I did a simple search with the phrase virtual learning. I found a variety of topics that were mentioned. The one below reminded me that virtual learning is happening in all types of fields, not just in education. In this example, virtual learning is being used in the field of agriculture. 

Also, in this example note that the phrase virtual learning stands alone. There are no other symbols or terms placed around it. This will pull up any tweet that has those two words in the text. They do not need to be placed together in one phrase. If I only want tweets with words in a certain order, then I need to place quotation marks around them, i.e.  – “virtual learning”. 

How to Search Tweets by Date

Next, because I don’t want to look for tweets that focus on the failure of online learning, I am primarily interested in posts that were tweeted after the first year and a half of the pandemic. I’m looking for how schools have adapted to it. In order to do this, I will need to include a range of dates. 

The placement of the dates is critical. You must start with the year, then the month, and then the day. If you want tweets from a specific date range, you will need to use the terms “since” and “until.” Here is an example: “virtual learning” since:2021-09-02 until:2022-05-05. Of all the search terms, following this formula seems to be the pickiest. Follow it exactly. I actually found that it helped to copy and paste it in the search field and then change the dates to fit my needs. 

Twitter search by date

I also used the date search with these two terms robots and dash to find this gem: 

Twitter search by date

How to Narrow a Search by Location

I am especially interested in any public policy discussions that involve virtual learning, so it might be helpful to narrow my search to those tweeting from the Austin area– which is where most of the legislative hearings are held. I used this search term to narrow my search to Austin: near:austin within:10mi. 

I found a tweet that mentioned a hearing that I haven’t watched yet. Once I discovered the tweet, I scheduled some time to go back and watch the recording of this hearing, so I can see what else was mentioned about virtual learning. 

virtual learning

How to Search for Viral Tweets

Sometimes we are wanting to find tweets that have gone somewhat viral. You can do this with a variety of search terms: 

min_retweets: x

min_faves: x

min_replies: x

In the following example, I wanted to find tweets about Ukraine that had more than 1000 retweets. 

Ukraine Twitter search

You might be searching for tweets that include a link to a blog post, news article, or video. You can do that by filtering your tweets. In the example below, I wanted to find news articles about the teacher shortage. I used this operator to accomplish that: filter:links

teacher shortage Twitter Search

How to Search for Tweets with Media

Sometimes our favorite ed tech presenters have posted one of their recommended tools. Here is one I found that Leslie Fisher posted using the filter:media. 

Conclusion

As you can see, there is gold to be mined using Twitter’s search feature. You just need to know what search operators can help you find what you need. To be honest, I had a hard time stopping my search once I got started. I kept thinking of new ways I could unearth tweets that would help with my work or just for fun. Happy searching!

List of Search Terms

  • @twitteruser – Any mention of a twitter user
  • word 1 word 2 – Simple word search 
  • from:@twitter user – Tweets from a specific individual
  • from:@twitteruser to:@twitteruser – Search for tweets from a specific person that they directed to a specific person
  • from:@twitteruser math (or other word) – From a twitter user and a word or topic they mention
  • from:@twitteruser filter:media – From a twitter user with some type of media image
  • Word or phrase filter:links – Specific word or topic in which the tweet contains a link
  • Word or phrase min_retweets:x – Looking for viral links – search for a minimum number of retweets
  • Phrase or twitter user: since:YEAR-MONTH-DAY until:YEAR-MONTH-DAY (ex: 2022-05-08) (since:2022-01-01 until:2022:05-08) – Looking for tweets that fall within a specific time frame
  • Phrase:min_retweets:x since:2022-01-01 until:2022:05-08 – Search for tweets that mention a topic with minimum retweets within a certain time frame
  • Phrase near:austin within:10mi – Tweets about a specific topic by people living in a specific location
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Announcements/Important DatesProfessional LearningTCEA Membership

TCEA’s New, FREE, and Open Community Groups

by Kristi Starr
written by Kristi Starr

If you’ve been a member of any of TCEA’s SIGs (Special Interest Groups), you’ve hopefully seen the messages about the end of the SIGs. As an active member of LIB-SIG, I admit that I was initially upset to hear that the SIGs are ending, but as I visited with TCEA staff and members of the Board of Directors, I realized that this doesn’t really mark an end, rather a transformation that will benefit more educators. 

If you’ve been a SIG member, in the past, you paid a fee to join. Even when TCEA began offering free, automatic membership renewal, SIG membership required purchasing. While some SIGs offered perks such as prize drawings, event discounts, or exclusive learning opportunities, many members of the TCEA community were left out. As we bid farewell to the SIGs, we find a new, inclusive model offering targeted communication and content. 

Discover TCEA's Groups

As indicated in recent communications from TCEA staff member Robert Bennett, the new Groups are completely free. Interest-driven community membership is open. This fosters greater inclusivity and offers more opportunities for increased interaction and broader communication among members who share common interests. 

TCEA's Groups Announcement

Why should you consider joining one or more of TCEA’s Groups? For precisely those reasons. You might be missing important announcements, information, resources, or questions that relate specifically to that group. Do you have a question that you want to pose to other members who work in the same capacity or with the same tools? This is the perfect forum. 

Groups designed to engage specific roles are: 

CTEInstructional Coaches
CTOs and Technology DirectorsJob Board
ElementaryLibrarians and Media Specialists
Equity and InclusionSecondary
Higher Ed

Platform and interest-related Groups are: 

AdobeMicrosoft
AppleRecordings and Resources
Computer Science Robotics
ESportsTech Helpdesk
Emerging Tech TrendsTechnology Applications
GoogleVirtual Learning 

As a TCEA member, you have access to the Community, both available in a web-based format and as an app. Choose your Groups and go into your settings to adjust and set notifications. Anyone can post questions, comments, and share resources. And it’s free! 

The TCEA Community is a fantastic membership perk. Take advantage of what TCEA’s Groups have to offer, and leave your own mark by interacting and contributing.

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tcea 2022
Professional LearningTCEA Convention & Exposition

What TCEA 2022 Convention Attendee Type Are You?

by Meaghan Rhame, Director of Conferences and Events at TCEA
written by Meaghan Rhame, Director of Conferences and Events at TCEA

There’s something for everyone at TCEA 2022 with practically unlimited events and experiences. And each participant’s personality comes out in the way they tackle convention. You may be one attendee type or a combination of multiple. So…let’s discover what kind of convention attendee you are! Be proud of your individuality by sharing your attendee type with us on Twitter(#TCEA and #TCEA22) or in the comments.

The Newbie 

New attendees can be spotted every year, and we love our Newbies! You’ll know them when you see them. And when you do, give them your top tips to help them feel welcome and let them know you’ve been there, too. Newbies can also be found at the Attendee Services counter building their best personalized convention schedule. All our convention attendees are supportive and amazing educators happy to help our new attendees, and between the Meetups, exhibitor functions, sessions, and more, Newbies are sure to find some convention BFFs in no time.

The Coach 

The Coach is one you can lean on when attending a convention. They are a big support to the Newbie especially. The Coach has done their homework, knows where the best concessions are, can point you to those restrooms that don’t have a long line, and knows the top special events happening at convention. They are a dedicated volunteer here to help you, wearing the popular 2022 volunteer t-shirt. And they have connections with convention staff to find the answers to all your questions. You’ll also spot the Coach taking meticulous notes in sessions, sharing ideas with others, and cheering on peers excited about new tools, methods, and resources.

The Representative 

The Representative is at convention on a mission from their school or district and is sometimes with a team. They are challenged with the goal of gathering as many new ideas, strategies, and technology solutions as possible. And they aim to soak up all the learning to take back and share with their peers and colleagues. They typically set up daily meetings with their team to discuss what they’ve learned and create a game plan. Representatives plan strategically to hit as many sessions and exhibitors as possible to help meet their district and campus needs.

The Techy 

You can easily spot this attendee by the number of gadgets, dongles, and cables they brought to the event. They can also be identified by their excitement at learning about the latest in apps, robotics, and devices. They are on the hunt for cybersecurity or infrastructure solutions for their district or campus. You can often find the Techy at the Recharge Lounge powering up or in the exhibit hall exploring. And they’re often to be thanked for providing technical support for fellow attendees.

The Veteran

The Veteran has been attending convention for many years, and they’ve got it down. They have a bag, a badge, and a slew of ribbons for every convention. Convention is their natural habitat! They are happy, energized, and at ease in the convention environment. 

The Veteran is equipped with: 

  • Comfortable shoes 
  • Charged devices
  • A water bottle to stay hydrated
  • Yummy snacks
  • The TCEA 2022 mobile app 

Learn from the Veteran. Become the Veteran.

The Socializer 

For this educator, it’s all about learning through connection. Whether it’s a speaker, someone they follow on Twitter, an exhibitor, or an author whose book they have read, the Socializer wants to connect with as many people as possible. Find the Socializer on Twitter using #TCEA and #TCEA22 as they’ve started their own Twitter chat. They’ll likely also have a list of all the Twitter handles they’ve collected along the way. The Socializer may treat the meet up area as their office as new networkers arrive. They don’t hit their hotel room until late at night after attending every exhibitor function possible. Connect with the Socializer and become Twitter buddies or connect using the TCEA 2022 mobile app messaging!

The Gatherer

The Gatherer collects all the things they can find at convention. They can be spotted on the exhibit hall floor as they seek out their next classroom set of sticky notes, pens, and student trinkets. They are not shy in asking for the best giveaway, participating in an activity, or scanning their badge for goodies. The Gatherer seeks out the next door prize and finds the booth with the best food and beverage. They have participated in all the fun offered by exhibitors, all while learning something new. Ask the Gatherer about their favorite discoveries!

The Handout Hunter

The Handout Hunter is at the convention to gather all the resources and information they possibly can. They are all about digital loot: new Web 2.0 tools, Google extensions, iOS apps, Windows tips, formative assessments, lesson plans, and anything else contained in a handout. This attendee has been known to “session hop” because their greatest joy is collecting URLs, scanning poster session QR codes, and scurrying from session to session to grab the links containing those amazing handouts before moving on. You can find the Handout Hunter sharing their digital collection via Wakelet, Padlet, hyperdoc, or website just for TCEA 2022. They will also download as many session materials as they can from the TCEA 2022 mobile app.

Share with Us

No matter what type of convention attendee you are or your main objective for TCEA 2022, there’s sure to be something for you. Share your attendee type or combination of types with us on Twitter (#TCEA and #TCEA22) or in the comments. We look forward to seeing everyone at TCEA 2022, February 7-10 in Dallas, Texas. See you soon! 

This week is your last chance to get a discount on your registration and hotel room! Register by January 14 and be sure you don’t pay full price. 

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ed tech blogs
ChromebooksContent AreasEducational TrendsEnglish Language ArtsGood TeachingGoogle Tips and TricksInstructional CoachingLibrariesSocial-Emotional LearningTechnology ApplicationsWeb 2.0 Tool

Our Top 20 Ed Tech Blogs of 2021

by Sara Qualls
written by Sara Qualls

We have closed the door on 2021 and have just opened the door to 2022. For myself, 2021 was an improvement from 2020, but it was still filled with lots of new situations to navigate. I can say that I am excited to see what 2022 will bring all of us. One can only hope that we are moving onward and upward!

But before we fully say goodbye to 2021, I still want to recognize what the team at TCEA has accomplished this year. Along with creating new online learning opportunities for you, they were busy pumping out useful resources and tools that you can use and sharing their thoughts on the latest research. They were able to tackle writing more than 275 ed tech blog posts this year. Bravo! Here are the top 20 ed tech blog posts that mattered the most to you and the rest of the world this year. Let the countdown begin!

20. Frayer Model Template for Word Analysis. Need a quick way to introduce students to tough vocabulary? In this follow-up to “Semantic Maps Made Easy,” see and download Frayer Model templates.

19. Blending High-Effect Instructional Strategies with the 5E Model. Curious about how you can blend high-effect size instructional strategies into the 5E Model of teaching? Come along as we explore this idea and process.

18. Five Fantastic Browser-Based Digital Tools. Here are a few browser-based digital tools you didn’t know you needed, but that can save you time and effort. And they work on any device.

17. Eight Chrome Extensions and Sites You May Not Know (March 2021). Explore these eight Chrome add-ons, extensions, and websites. From passwords to reading to games, at least one of them will be new to you.

16. Nine Technology Tools for Accommodation, Modification, and Intervention. Looking for a few technology tools to help with accommodations, modifications, and interventions? Check out these nine gems.

15. The EV3 Robot Retires. What’s the future of LEGO robotics with the announcement of the EV3 being phased out? Here are all the answers and recommendations for you.

14. The Power of Post-It Note Teaching. The lowly Post-It note can be a powerful teaching tool. Learn how to print things on it and about an app that is Post-It fantastic!

13. Easy End-of-the-Year Activities. In this post, we’ve collected activities for both in-person and remote learning that can help you end the school year with some fun.

12. Seven Spooktacular Activities for the Elementary Classroom. It’s fall, ya’ll, and that means it’s almost Halloween. Get ready to have some fun with these seven spooktacular elementary activities.

11. Choice Boards for Elementary Learners. Take your elementary classroom to the next level with these choice board examples and templates. Your students will thank you.

10. Pineapple Charts: Learning from Your Peers. Pineapple charts help educators easily learn from each other. Using pineapple charts makes scheduling that learning simple and convenient and doesn’t cost a dime.

9. Assessment-Based Feedback Tool: Blooket. Dig into another game-based system you can use to enhance blended learning, formative assessment, and practice testing. The free tool? Blooket.

8. Fun Icebreaker Jamboard Templates for Back to School. Try these fun back-to-school icebreaker Jamboard templates with your students. You’ll be amazed at how quickly you’ll get to know them.

7. Free Jamboard Templates for Secondary Students. Engage your secondary students in collaborative or individual learning with these free Google Jamboard templates.

6. Five Interactive Tools for Learning the Periodic Table. Wish you had a list of amazing interactive science tools? Explore these periodic tables of elements that help make science interactive.

5. Free Classroom Posters to Engage Students. The classroom posters in this blog can be used for special months of celebration or hung all year long. Take a look — they’re all free!

4. Google’s New Storage Policy: Avoid the Terror. Heard of Google’s new storage policy? Has that new policy got you thinking you need an exit strategy? We’ve got you covered.

3. 2000+ Lesson Plan Templates and Ideas for K12. Discover a wealth of lesson plan template resources and treasures in this searchable collection for grades K-12 in all subject areas.

2. Digital Math Tools. Get your students excited about math with these digital math tools and resources, all of them free and ready to use!

1. Social Emotional Learning Activity Templates for Google Jamboard. Have you been looking for Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) activities for your classroom? If so, check out these Google Jamboard templates.

I know the team will have even more amazing ed tech blogs to bring you in 2022. Happy New Year!

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STEM/STEAM

Free Lesson Plans and Resources for a Magical STEAM Project

by Peggy Reimers
written by Peggy Reimers

What do you get when you cross a robot, a Xerox paper box, and one of America’s oldest department stores, Macy’s? You get a marvelous and magical STEAM project that will have your students creating, engineering, and programming Macy’s-esque animated holiday Christmas windows. 

Examples of Students’ Fabulous Animated Windows

The Chinese Dragon
The Grinch’s Sleigh
Santa’s Legs Coming Down the Chimney Top
Moana
Maligayang Pasko (Merry Christmas) Philippines

Details About the STEAM Project

Peggy Perkins, a 30+ year veteran teacher, and Kathy Holberg, a retired educator, used their collective brainpower to put together a robotics STEAM project to go along with the magic of the holiday season. But I will say– you can put a spin on this theme and modify animated windows any time of year!

Peggy teaches GT at Bluebonnet Elementary. Her students build and program the LEGO WeDo 2.0 robots in the fall. Then, in the middle of November, they built their own Macy’s Holiday Animated Christmas Windows out of a Xerox paper cardboard box. The students can work individually or in pairs to decorate and add robotic animation. The theme varies from year to year, and the goal is for projects to be finished by the school’s holiday program held in early December. 

Here are some themes that have been celebrated:

  • Books of the Season: For this 2021 theme, students chose a holiday-themed picture book as the basis of their creations.
  • Christmas Around the World: Students chose a country to research. Then they represented holiday traditions from that country. 
  • The Magic of Disney: Learning was centered around the history of Walt Disney, his theme parks, and his creativity. The animated windows were based on a favorite Disney story. 
  • Winter Festivities: Students focused on holidays celebrated during the winter season such as Christmas, Kwanzaa, and Hanukkah, just to name a few. 

PRO TIP: Put a spin on the theme and hold this STEAM project any time of year! Additionally, any robot platform could be used: LEGO, VEX, Ozobots, Dash– your creativity is the only boundary!

Project Lesson Plan and Resources

Peggy Perkins shares all her resources here to get you started:

Thanks so much, Peggy, for sharing this wonderful STEAM project.

Peggy is a native Texan from the big city of Houston. She has taught for many years in the Bastrop Independent School District in afterschool science labs, robotics, Camp Invention, summer camps, summer school, and more. Her motto is, “I support creativity in education. I believe that schools must spark passion, ignite innovation, cultivate curiosity, embrace failure, and foster creativity in students, teachers, institutions—everybody.”

On December 10, Peggy Perkins was awarded the 2021 Texas Stand Up for STEM Award presented by the Texas Girls Collaborative Project (TxGCP). Please join me in congratulating longtime TCEA member Peggy Perkins on a well-deserved honor.

Want to explore even more STEAM and STEM activities? Take a look at these TechNotes articles.

All videos courtesy of Peggy Perkins

Featured image: Designed by TCEA staff

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Tips, Tricks, and Tech Tidbits

by Lori Gracey
written by Lori Gracey

My collection of cool websites and resources for ed tech enthusiasts is bursting. So it must be time for another issue of this blog series. Get ready to be wowed!

Math Virtual Manipulative Collection

Help your students master critical math concepts using this wonderful collection of free virtual math manipulatives. It’s been put together by Julie Smith, the Techie Teacher, and can be shared with students in Google Classroom, Seesaw, Canvas, or any other LMS you’re using with this link: https://bit.ly/TechieTeacherMath.

Small Shifts in Teacher Talk Make a Big Difference

How we phrase things everyday to students makes a big difference in whether they are excited to learn or just wishing the activity was already over with. As this article from ASCD emphasizes: “Do you tend to emphasize student or teacher ownership? Does your language emphasize engagement or compliance?” Check out the table below and then take a look at how you are talking to students.

teacher talk

Learning Styles Is a Myth

Jennifer Fritschi gets it. As she tweeted out: “Data from an analysis of over 15,000 educators showed that over 85% still believe in learning styles. This article explores why this myth is so widespread in education, and how to change it.” Yep, there is no such thing as learning styles.

Free, Online, Interactive Courses in STEM for High School Students

If you are looking for ways to help better engage those difficult high school students in complex content, look no further than Brilliant. They provide free access to more than 60 different courses after the teacher completes an online application. Each courses focuses on stimulating student curiosity through problem solving and interactivity. Students will have access up to six courses at a time and Daily Challenges for free. You can add, remove, and change courses as much as you’d like throughout the year. Some of the courses include:

  • Mathematical Fundamentals
  • Number Theory
  • Joy of Problem Solving
  • Algebra Fundamentals, Algebra 1, and Algebra 2
  • Geometry Fundamentals, Geometry 1, Geometry 2, and 3D Geometry
  • Waves and Light
  • Classical Mechanics
  • Electricity and Magnetism
  • Solar Energy
  • Computer Science Fundamentals
  • Cryptocurrency
  • Machine Learning

Removing Shading from Copied Text

Have you ever copied some text from the web to use (and cite, of course) in a lesson or handout, but the text, when pasted, was shaded and you couldn’t remove the shading? That happens to me all of the time. Tiffany Carey shares that highlighting the copied text while holding down the CTRL key and the space bar will remove the shading.

Computer Science, Coding, and Robotics Unplugged

If you teach a STEM subject, you will want to follow Erik Murray on Twitter; he has some great resources. He recently lost power in his classroom and had to teach his tech subjects anyway. So he came up with this choice board of coding and robotics activities for his students to choose from.

Use Immersive Reader on Websites with the Chrome Browser

Immersive Reader from Microsoft is an absolutely amazing tool for students that improves comprehension and encourages independent reading. And it’s free add-on for OneNote and works in the Edge browser. But what if you’re not using OneNote or Edge? Here’s a free extension that adds Immersive Reader’s functionality to the Chrome browser. It can read any open page in the browser as well as PDF files in Canvas, emails, and more.

More Choice Board Templates

Tom Spall offers these five fantastic choice board templates, including the tried and true restaurant one, which I absolutely love!

Another Student Reflection and Sharing Strategy

Having students reflect on their learning is critical to ensuring that the learning is sustained. One teacher shares his “Give One, Get One” strategy for accomplishing this, along with some templates and ideas for doing this if you have to go virtual.

tech tidbits

I hope that you discovered at least one new resource in today’s blog. You can catch up on past Tidbits blogs here.

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