PASD LTR for Staff

 As we continue to navigate the 2020-21 school year's twists, turns and bumps, here are a few reminders regarding Google Meet. There are two highly suggested ways to go about setting up Google Meets with students.  Option 1: Use the Meet Code generated in Google Classroom Eric Curts does a fantastic job in describing this in his Blog Post from April 10, 2020:  Google Meet is now integrated in Google Classroom!  There is even an amazing video of him giving those directions! Since we already strongly urge you to have Google Classroom set up with students with GoGuardian this is a great way to set up Meets for drop ins on the days that we are virtual.  You can toggle the Meet link on and off through your settings. Maybe you don't have Classroom or you want to set up a more 1:1 session with a student? This is where Option 2 comes in. Option 2: Create your own Meeting using a nickname 1)Set up a time with student(s) either while you are face to face or send them a ca...

This guest blog post is brought to you by Andi Achterberg! Have you ever used Flocabulary with your students?  My class LOVES IT!  If you aren’t familiar with it, it’s an online program that has fun videos for students.  They introduce grade-specific vocabulary words, then have daily activities you can assign, including a vocabulary game, read and respond, vocabulary cards, and a quiz.  There is everything from Reading and Writing skills, to general grade-level vocabulary, and even Science and Social Studies vocabulary.  You can also share it right to Google Classroom!  I’d be happy to show you how it works, if you’re interested!

Other Video Options video shared on 3/19/2020: https://www.wevideo.com/view/1617882812 Update for 3/20/20: I used Screencast-O-Matic today to record my Pandemic @ PASD with great success. If you are using your Chromebook I found it helpful to have the app and the extension on. Here is the app: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/screencast-o-matic/ofhomjgaaamjpmjogmkglfojkdlabekg/related Here is the extension: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/screencast-o-matic-launch/eefedolmcildfckjamddopaplfiiankl If this is something that you want students to use it is on the Web 2.0 list for MS and HS. You would want to share the links with the students so they can add it.

I am going to post the videos that I create on the Blog and share this way. That way if you want to reference an older video you can do it in one place rather than searching the Bazillion (slight exaggeration) emails that I send a day. Please don't hesitate to send in MOJOs or contact any of the Tech Team while we do this. I will be in District on Wednesday mornings while school is closed. This is the video on Meet Settings:

Many teachers a re using IXL in their classrooms, however, what are you doing with the results of what your students are doing?  Did you know that there is a way to drill down and see what your students level is within each domain? Did you know that you can look on your account to see what your students are working on at the moment?  Do you know what the Smartscore really is? Do you know that you can ability group your students and assign certain skills? If this intrigues you, please reach out to me as I’m very willing to share this information with you.  Below is an outline of a meeting I held at the elementary level. I would love to come visit and show you what this program can really do! Continuous Diagnostic What is it? What does it do? How do the students get there? Choose ELA/Math or both What to do with the information when you have it. Real-time Analytics Shows who is logged in Shows if they are actively learning Shows what sk...

Today Tina brought an article that was published in the December 2019/January 2020 copy of Tech & Learning magazine titled "Lateral Phishing: What K-12 Schools Need to Know" It is a really eye opening article and so important that we all know about it and take steps to protect ourselves from it. Not sure what phishing is? Here is a great, short video (less than 4 minutes) that I use with students from Google for Education: Hackers are taking their game one step further and are using applications to embed themselves into other applications that you may want to use. Like a tapeworm, you think you are eating a delicious bite meat and when you swallow it you also swallowing a worm. (sorry for those who just ate) You don't know it's there and it is thriving off of your diet. These programs are attached to another source and when you grant Google access, when you sign up for Google and you just click accept to use this cool tool that you read or heard about, yo...

Chances are if you are focusing on differentiation, problem-based learning or personalized learning that Empowered Learning  is already happening. Studies have proven that more learning happens when the student has the CHOICE in what they are doing. Students who feel empowered will go the extra step and have deeper learning than those that just learn enough to pass the assessment. via GIPHY Differentiation can mean many different things in each classroom, but Learners who feel empowered are immersed in an environment where they have access to resources, can explore relevant to them topics and utilized critical thinking skills. With much of the district going 1:1 this school year our students have access to so many resources. One of the most important resources that we have access to are the library websites. (Though I have a bit of bias here) The elementary  and the middle/high  websites are both organized in similar headings of Reader, Researcher, and Listener. The...