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PicPlayPost
iOS Tips and Tricks

Pick This App

by Peggy Reimers
written by Peggy Reimers

I love working in the brick and mortar building of TCEA HQ, but it is also invigorating to get out on the road. The best part of workshops is connecting with teachers. I love hearing what their students are learning and what technology they are using to get the learning accomplished.

This past week I was in Amarillo, Texas delivering the Google for Education Educator Level 1. We kicked off the  three days with a sharing activity of  favorite tools. I overheard Jodi Stary and Krissy Clark from Canyon ISD talking about a VERY COOL iPad activity with their second graders. When you hear a great idea, it just needs to be shared with the world.

PicPlayPost is a free app to create collages with photos, videos, GIFs, and music.Here are the steps Jodi and Krissy wrote on the board for their Shapes Project.

  1. Choose your favorite app to write your shape name and take a screenshot. (Suggestions: a Chalkboard app, Doodle Buddy, Notes or ABC Magnetic Lite or use your favorite drawing or painting app.)
  2. Use the camera to take a photo of the shape found in the real world.
  3. Use the camera to shoot a video of the child explaining how many vertices and faces are on the shape.
  4. Open up the PicPlayPost app.
  5. Choose the #3 frame. (You can add up to nine videos or images per project.)
  6. Insert the pictures and videos.
A collage of three pictures of student's work with this partular app.
Pictures provided by Canyon ISD

I also asked Jodi and Krissy to share one of their student’s shape. Take a look at this wonderful example by second grader Tayden.

This is a perfect app for kindergarten, first, and second grade students. It could also be used for vocabulary words, life cycles, or math story problems for third and fourth graders. Please comment below and share how you would use PicPlayPost in your classroom.

Featured Image: Screenshot by author

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Title and a 4 emoji writing prompt of smiley face, rocket, octopus and grapes
Content AreasGood TeachingGoogle Tips and TricksWriting

A New Type of Writing Prompt

by Peggy Reimers
written by Peggy Reimers

I have been around long enough to see many crazy fads: pet rocks, Care Bears, Smurfs, and Angry Birds. Do you know the current fad in pop culture? Think. Think hard. You know it, (I know you do) because THESE are everywhere. Picture walking down the aisles of Walmart, CVS, Target, or your local grocery store, and what do you spy?

Emojis. Yes, you read that correctly, Emojis. These small images that represent emotions have been transformed into tattoos, pillows, slippers, Halloween costumes, and Pez dispensers. So why not use them in an elementary writing class?

One of my nightly rituals is to scan Twitter for resources, and while doing so, I came upon Eric’s tweet “Emoji Writing Prompt Generator w/ Google Sheets.” According to Twitter, Eric Curts is a tech integrationist, a geek, and a Google Apps Certified Trainer and Innovator. And he has a fantastic blog called Control Alt Achieve where he posts his educational creations. Eric used Google Sheets to create a writing prompt generator that produces a random set of two, three, four, or even five emojis at a time. Instead of providing words for a writing prompt, he used a formula in a spreadsheet to inspire kids to have fun writing a story or a poem.

According to Eric (and I SO agree), there are several great reasons for using emojis as writing prompts:

  • “Since emojis are images, they can be used with students of any age, language, or reading ability.
  • They can provide a wide range of ideas since each student will have their own interpretations of the pictures.
  • Emojis are very popular with students, so they will likely have familiarity with the images.
  • They are fun! And writing should be fun. And learning should be fun. And school should be fun!”

Using the Emoji Generator
emoji

To start using this wonderful resource:

  1. Click here to go to the resource.
  2. Click on the blue button, “Make a Copy.”
  3. Your copy will open up in your Google Drive.
  4. The copy will have the name “Copy of Emoji Random Writing Prompt Generator.”
  5. Click on the tab to select the number of emojis you want to generate.
  6. Press “Ctrl” and “R” to get a new set.

Other Educational Uses of Emojis

Other possibilities for the Emoji Generator:

  • Use the emoji generator and have students vote on which one they like the best. Graph the results.
  • Create a word problem using emojis.
  • For younger students, they could say beginning and ending sounds of each emoji. They could also verbally tell a story or write a sentence using the emojis.
  • Name the emoji and list its rhyming words.
  • Can you make the emojis fit into your life right now?

A Sample Emoji Prompt and Story

Screenshot of the emoji writing prompt with sad face, footprints, and bathtub.

Let me give emoji writing a try with a true story for my life today: “My refrigerator quit cooling this morning. I am sad. I used my feet to find my phone and called the appliance repair service. Now I need a hot bath to relieve my stress.” Give it a go; see what you and your students can write with emojis.

Featured image Emoji Writing Prompt, by Eric Curts

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coding
Coding/Computer Science

Go Bananas for Coding

by Lori Gracey
written by Lori Gracey

If you’re looking for resources to use with elementary and middle school students during Computer Science Education Week December 5-11, look no further than Learning.com’s free trial of EasyCode. Providing ready-to-go lesson plans, a quick-start guide, and in-depth video tutorials, the program helps students learn to code in CoffeeScript, a powerful coding language that is the foundation for JavaScript, the programming language for HTML.

“To give today’s students a competitive edge in the digital economy, it is more critical than ever that they build a solid foundation in computer science concepts,” said Keith Oelrich, CEO, Learning.com. “We are passionate about helping teachers introduce even their youngest students to computational thinking and coding, without needing any prior experience in teaching these skills.”

EasyCode offers elementary and middle school educators a fun, game-based, and turnkey instructional solution that features story and skill challenges, game lessons, a game builder, and progress monitoring so teachers can quickly and efficiently introduce coding skills to their students.

The Go Bananas movement extends Learning.com’s commitment to CSforAll, the President’s call-to-action for more computer science opportunities in all K-12 schools. CSforAll empowers K-12 students to learn computer science and develop the computational thinking skills necessary to spur the transition from consumer to creator in today’s digital economy.

Teachers interested in participating in the free trial may sign up here. Registration is open through November 29.

 

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Wonderopolis
Good Teaching

A Springboard for Innovative Ideas

by Lori Gracey
written by Lori Gracey

If you’re an elementary or middle school teacher, I would encourage you to try the free website Wonderopolis. With a tagline like “Where the Wonders of Learning Never Cease,” it’s got to be a great educational tool, right?

Created by the National Center for Families Learning (NCFL), Wonderopolis is beautifully designed and sure to draw you in. Each day, the site poses a question, the Wonder of the Day, and then explores it in a variety of ways. The content is multidisciplinary and aligned to Common Core Standards, the STEM Educational Quality Framework, and Bloom’s Digital Taxonomy. Each Wonder includes detailed but easy to read information to answer that day’s question, follow-up activities for kids to do, and related Wonders to explore.

What is especially great is its treatment of vocabulary words. Words that students may not know in the reading are highlighted and provided in a Wonder Words vocabulary list on the side. Students can even take a quiz to see if they understand the words. There is also a knowledge quiz at the end to measure comprehension.

Wonderopolis

I found myself really interested in the various wonders that had been posted previously and I think your students will, too. From questions like “Will a watermelon grow in your belly if you swallow a seed?” to “What makes the ocean blue when water is clear?”, the questions are sure to prompt curiosity and thinking.

Using Wonderopolis in class, for me, would involve first posting the Wonder question of the day on the board and asking students to think about it, reflecting on what they may already know about the topic. I would also ask them to brainstorm answers to the question and defend those answers to the class before we open the website. After discussing the question and its answer, I would ask students if the new information that they’ve learned can be applied to any other situation.

For more teaching ideas, NCFL also provides the Wonder Ground, which offers lesson plans and additional resources for each of the Wonders. There’s even a free HTML widget that you can download and use to put the Wonder of the Day on your own website for others to use.

We know the importance of fostering curiosity in our students, of getting them excited about the world, and of helping them to learn to find answers to their questions. Wonderopolis does all of this for us and makes learning fun at the same time.

 

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coding
Coding/Computer ScienceSTEM/STEAM

Coding Contest for K-8 Students

by Lori Gracey
written by Lori Gracey

Looking for a way to get your elementary and middle school students excited about coding? How about a nationwide competition?

TCEA partner Learning.com is announcing its first Code-a-Thon, a contest that will run from Nov. 14-18, 2016. The purpose of the competition is to provide an introduction to coding skills for younger students, who are often overlooked. The winning school will receive a one-year subscription to EasyTech and EasyCode Premium, Learning.com’s digital literacy and coding curriculum for grades K-8.

To participate in the Code-a-Thon, schools simply register to receive free access to EasyTech and EasyCode Basic. Then, students log in and code their way through a number of challenges – each with increasing levels of difficulty – earning points for every successfully-completed challenge. The school with the highest average number of points per student will be the winner. Schools are also encouraged to use #codeathon2016 on social media to share their progress and interact with other participants.

Get your kids coding today!

 

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Google
Google Tips and Tricks

Google It: It’s Elementary!

by Jennifer Bergland
written by Jennifer Bergland

You know something has become mainstream when it becomes a verb. If you ask me something I don’t know, my response will probably be “Google it.” Instantly, you’ll know what I’m suggesting.

Google, however, has morphed into something more. Their suite of tools is transforming classrooms around the world. Let’s look at how an elementary teacher could approach a lesson using a suite of Google tools. For this lesson on identifying and explaining the significance of various community, state, and national monuments, we will use Google Search, Slides, Sheets, YouTube, and Drawing.

Start by Googling this search string: “united+states+monuments”. It is important to put the + sign between the words. This tells Google’s search
Googleengine to search for websites that have all three of these words. After the search, click on the word Images at the top of the page. This will produce a page full of images of U.S. monuments.

Next, open up a Slides presentation and insert photos of monuments you want to show your students. You could also insert a few monuments from your state by Googling “Texas+monuments”.  Introduce the lesson by showing your students the presentation and asking them to identify the monuments they recognize. Follow that question by asking them if they know why the monument was erected.

Next, ask your students what the word “monument” means. Have one of your students type the suggestions in a Google Doc to capture student comments. Then type “define:monument” in Google Search. This will produce a definition of the word. Ask your students to compare the definition found on Google with the ones your students identified. What are the similarities? What are the differences?

GooglePrior to the class, select a group of YouTube videos about different U.S. and Texas monuments. Create a playlist and have your students watch the videos. Here is a sample. As they are watching the videos, have them identify the one monument they would like to know more about. Group the students by the monument they have chosen and ask them to research the event or person that inspired the monument. Have them create a simple Slide presentation demonstrating what they learned.

To evaluate your students’ understanding, create a Google Drawing that requires them to identify the monuments they chose to research. Here is an example.

All of these activities could be adjusted for primary students. Instead of having a student type in the Google Doc, you could type the student
Googleresponses as a group activity. Instead of creating a Slide presentation, have the students draw images illustrating what they learned about the monument on a storyboard. This helps the students make critical decisions about what images best represent their learning and the order the images should be placed to communicate their ideas to an audience. These are necessary skills that will help them when they are older and are able to create a Slide presentation. Learning what to include and exclude is important to know. You could also take photos of their pictures and put them in a Slide presentation.

Today’s elementary students have been playing with technology since they were little. Using technology for their learning feels very normal and natural to them. Google Apps provides a teacher with lots of tools to increase collaboration, engagement, and student choice. These are just a few examples. Can you name a few more?

 

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elementary
Content AreasGoogle Tips and TricksiOS Tips and TricksPodcastsProfessional Learning

#TCEATots Voxercasts: Learning for Elementary Educators

by Miguel Guhlin
written by Miguel Guhlin

Earlier this week, I had the opportunity to travel to the TCEA Tots and Technology Conference taking place in Galveston, Texas for elementary educators. When I attend conferences like this one, it can be overwhelming to process all the information that’s being shared. That’s why I took a few moments to start up the Voxer app and interview folks on the way to TCEA Tots.

Below, you’ll find short “voxercasts.” The Voxer app makes it easy to record content and then quickly share it. I bookmarked the tweets where I shared the Voxercasts and you can subscribe to the #TCEATots Voxercasts RSS feed via the Diigo social bookmarking tool.

These TCEA Tots voxercasts really help capture the flavor of this fantastic conference geared to teachers of young children. Note that links below will open to a Voxer page.

Seven Tots and Technology Voxercasts:

  1. Green Screen Tips from Dr. Bruce Ellis – This conversation really blew my mind, so to speak, and sharing the tips Dr. Ellis included in his overview of green screes caught the attention of pre-conference attendees in my Become a Storymaker session.
  2. GeoGuesser with Dr. Bruce Ellis – This conversation expands on social studies/geography connections possible with GeoGuesser, a Google feature I had never heard of. In fact, when I spoke with Lampasas ISD teachers who were presenting on virtual field trips and geo-related activities, they did not know about it either.
  3. iPad Sharing Made Easy (Part 1) with Miguel Guhlin – This conversation has me sharing about iPads and getting information out there. I highlight several apps, including Readdle Documents and Seesaw. This is a two-part series since we were having too much fun, and Part 2 also mentioned Android.
  4. iPad and Android Sharing Made Easy (Part 2) with Miguel Guhlin and Dr. Bruce Ellis – You may have noticed that the previous voxercast was cut short. This is the second half.
  5. Notecard Confessions with Pedro Delgado (El Paso ISD) – What a joy to chat with Pedro Delgado (Twitter @neuropete01), TCEA Teacher of the Year Award finalist. He describes how he and his fourth and fifth grade students adapted the Paper Slide Videos, which I shared in my pre-conference session at TCEA Tots and Technology, to create Notecard Confessions. Check out Pedro’s phenomenal web site here.
  6. sherrieshelleyVirtual FieldTrips and More with Sherrie Berry and Shelley Kozma (Lampasas ISD) (shown right) – We discussed Seesaw, as well as other awesome ideas and tips in the iPad classroom. This really addresses collecting student work from iPads. Also discussed Microsoft in Education, as well as Skype in the Classroom. And Google Lit Trips were also referenced. Catch them on Twitter @shelleykozma and @sherrie_berrys.
  7. Digital Storytelling with Dr. Martha Green (Texas A&M) and Cecelia “Cece” Porra – In this wonderfully rich conversation, Martha, Cece, and I discuss digital storytelling and its application for instructional purposes. Martha provides some insights into using digital storytelling for mathematics, as well as shares other ideas.
  8. codinginlangartsCoding in the Language Arts Classroom with Kelly Hong – Listen to Kelly share what she knows about coding in the language arts classroom. Who would have thought you could “write” or “code” fantasy stories and tales with MIT’s Scratch program?
  9. Seesaw with Brittany Adcock (@adcockb10) – Listen to Brittany share about Seesaw, a phenomenal digital portfolio tool.
  10. digitallearningctrsDigital Learning Centers with Crystal Flores and Jeanine Freeman (@techtimewithj9) – This is a fascinating presentation by Crystal and Jeanine about how Crystal created audio versions of her classroom books. Also listen to Dr. Roland Rios share his reflections, too.
  11. TCEA Tots participants were asked to share their insights: What is one take-away from TCEA Tots? Other participants Image 276(TonyaHinkebein; MalvernMRS shown below with service dog, Nelson) also offered their thoughts on Promoting Technology Use in their classroom.
  12. Collaborative Grant Writing (Part 1 and Part 2)– This was an enlightening session regarding crowdfunding (e.g. DonorsChoose) with Brandi (@aesfinearts) and Mandy Bryan (@mandyrbryan) and collaborative grant writing tools. It resulted in two parts.

Be sure to check back for even more interviews from TCEA Tots and Technology 2016 in Galveston, Texas. And if you want more learning for elementary educators, consider joining us for the Tots Frisco conference July 24-26.

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Tots
Good Teaching

Be the “Big Tot” on Campus!

by Peggy Reimers
written by Peggy Reimers

My heart and soul is invested in the elementary classroom. After all, I did teach for a quarter of a century in the K-6 setting and my students have had a profound impact on my life. My second grader, Ross, told me he didn’t eat apricots because they had fur on them. And, to this day, I still don’t eat canned apricots! On the last day of school, my first and second graders were allowed to ask me any question. Someone asked “How old are you?” I had them take a guess before I answered. Sarah G. piped up “65.” I was only 23 at the time, but to elementary kids, if you are a teacher, you are OLD. So numbers aren’t a big thing to me. But the sixth summer conference for elementary is BIG, in my world!

Haven’t you always wanted to be the Big Tot on Campus? Well, attending TCEA’s Tots and Technology Conference will give you that title. There are two locations this year for the BIG state of Texas. If you want a sunny island feel for summer learning, Galveston on June 12-14 will meet your need. The second T&T conference is located in Frisco, part of the greater Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex with art museums, amusement parks, and shopping galore. It will take place July 24-26. The Texas Rangers will also be in town during this time playing the Oakland A’s. What a great time to squeeze in a little major league play after a day of amazing collaborating and connecting!

I ask you, where else can you attend professional development:

  • in shorts and flipflops?
  • in a laid back, relaxing atmosphere?
  • with a photo booth with the best silly props?
  • that has you participate in BIG GAMES at the Sunday evening welcome reception?
  • to network with peeps that are focused on the same grade levels?

The top three reasons to attend Tots are:

  1. It’s the perfect summer learning space.
  2. You can share successes and setbacks with like-minded educators.
  3. You will get energized and empowered for the 2016-2017 school year.

But don’t just take it from me. Here are a few quotes from the 2015 attendee survey.

  • I want to come every year.
  • To be honest, I was amazed at all the knowledge that was in one place. This was my first conference and I absolutely loved it!
  • I especially enjoy attending sessions given by classroom teachers.
  • I got so many great ideas it is hard to pick just one.

The  *VIN* (very important news)

  • TCEA is planning a super-charged, super-fun time for the Sunday evening welcome reception. It involves pit balls, LEGOs, swimming pool noodles, and rock/paper/scissors, all on a BIG scale. Curious? I hope so. 
  • If you need a flyer or a letter of support for your principal, TCEA has already written it. All you need to do is access it here.
  • Don’t delay; register now. See you soon, as summer will be here before we know it.

Featured Image: Photos take by TCEA

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BYODChromebooksContent AreasDigital LiteracyGood TeachingGoogle Tips and TricksiOS Tips and TricksLeadershipLibrariesMicrosoftOnline Tools and AppsRoboticsSTEM/STEAM

Summer Learning at Its Best for Elementary Educators

by Dr. Bruce Ellis
written by Dr. Bruce Ellis

Looking for a great learning experience this summer that will enhance your teaching skills and energize you at the same time? Then look no further than the TCEA Tots and Technology Conference, an event so popular that we are offering two this summer. Join us in Galveston on June 12-14 or the next month in Frisco on July 24-26 for workshops and sessions that are designed by elementary educators for elementary educators.

With all the choices you have this summer to get ready for the fall, here are the three biggest reasons to attend one of our stimulating Tots and Technology conferences this summer:

  • Attend sessions and workshops designed especially for educators and administrators integrating technology with 3 year olds through fifth grade;
  • Network with other like-minded educators to expand your resources for the new school year and get tons of hands-on, relevant, classroom-ready ideas and activities to implement in your classroom; and,
  • Earn up to 17 hours of professional development credit for meaningful learning targeted to your needs.

 

Sessions and workshops for these events will be posted April 1, so you can plan which sessions to attend and coordinate your schedule with friends and colleagues. Get support from your administrators about the value of the Tots and Technology conference by downloading and sharing this template with them.

If you are an elementary educator or work with elementary educators, join us for a great learning experience. Find out more and register here. If you have any questions, contact Peggy Reimers at preimers@tcea.org. We look forward to seeing you in Galveston, Frisco, or both locations.

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Announcements/Important DatesGood TeachingLeadership

Elementary Educators, Have Something to Share?

by Alexis Cline
written by Alexis Cline

Are you an elementary teacher, librarian, technologist, or administrator using technology to enhance learning for PreK-5 students? Do you have advice, ideas, and tools that can help empower your peers to excite young students and differentiate their learning? Share your knowledge and experience as a presenter at one of TCEA’s two Tots and Technology conferences this summer.

Each year, the two-day Tots and Technology conference is packed with elementary educators looking for resources and best practices that will motivate students and transform the learning experience through technology. This year, TCEA is offering two elementary conferences to make travel and attendance even easier.

  • June 12 – 14 in Galveston, Texas
  • July 24 – 26 in Frisco, Texas

Tots - Split Star

Whether you’d like to host sessions at one or both events, submit your ideas today. Your insights could make all the difference for attendees and their elementary students. The call for proposals is now open and ends February 29, 2016. Submitting your proposal is quick and easy, so share your knowledge today!

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