Easily determine the Lexile, F&P or other levels of books

If you have books and want to determine what level they are you can use Scholastic's free Book Wizard.  There is a website and an app that you can easily use.  Check out the information for the site and the app.

6 new technology classroom tricks

Thank you to Roxanne F-B for today's tip.  Here is a great website that provides 6 simple tech tips for your classroom.
http://www.teachhub.com/6-new-technology-classroom-tricks

Bird Brain Science

BirdBrain is a site similar to ReadWorks in that it has various non-fiction articles for students to read with questions at the end.  You can take the same article and see it in a variety of reading levels in order to differentiate in the classroom.

Here is a link to sign up: https://www.birdbrainscience.com/schools/instructor.php?ic=PILOTFRIENDS

Video that explains more.

Tips for using YouTube in the classroom

The original document shown below can be found here.

Tech Tips

Heidi Bernasconi

hbernasconi@ccsd.edu

@BioBernasconi

Youtube Playlist

Past Tech Tips

Tip of the Week: Click here for the following Tips Safety in Youtube Advanced Searches in Youtube

Safety in Youtube

Sick of seeing ads in front of your students that you can’t control?

Download Chrome Extension AdBlockPlus

• This blocks ads on Youtube
• Banners
• Facebook advertisements
• Pop ups (you will have to disable or modify this extension for websites that require Popups)

Sick of seeing recommended videos when going to youtube.com in front of your students that you can’t control?

Easy fix:

Youtube is designed to “learn” who you are. Subscribe to baby channels like “Kids Play”, Baby Einstein. Youtube will start to think this account is for a young kid. This will help filter (but not 100% get rid of) inappropriate video recommendations

Other Chrome extensions to play with:

• Quietube
• Turn Out the Lights
• Focus on Videos
• Youtube Options for Chrome
• Cinetonic

What can I do to get rid of the bad recommended videos?

Go up to the subscribe link and click the three dots and hit, HIDE THESE VIDEOS

Is there a safety mode?

Sure is!!! Scroll down to the bottom of your browser

This blocks Comments on videos!!!

Safety Review
  1.     AbBlockPlus blocks ads from videos

2. Safety mode blocks comments from videos
3. Subscribing to baby channels helps filter inappropriate video recommendations.

___________________________________________________________________

Advanced Searches in YouTube

You can set advanced settings in a youtube search to help filter what you are looking for.

Type in your search phase into the Youtube omnibox, hit enter.
You will see a button that says “Filter”

You can search for most recent, length, features, etc.

Result type:

1. Video: searches single videos
2. Channel: searches for channels (Everyone that has a Gmail account has a Youtube “Channel” where you can upload your own videos and where your playlists are stored). If your channel is public, people can search for it and find all your resources you created.
• Link to my Youtube Channel
3. Playlist: about your search phrase (ie. A playlist made by another teacher for the cells unit…...Holla...they did the work for me!)
• link to one of my Youtube Playlists

How to make a playlist. This is an old Tech Tip……..

Notes about Playlists

• You can search for other people’s playlist by clicking filter OR typing in the word “playlist” in the search box.
• 

• You can save other people’s playlists.
•  
• OR by hitting save
• 
• You can merge other people’s playlists into your playlists. Click ADD ALL TO after the three dots
• 

Other resources for you: 1. North Sign Up  for Tech Time 2. My Youtube Playlist for Google App Help 3. My Google Classes Website (has handouts for each of my courses) 4. 100 Best Web  2.0 tools for teachers 5. 40 Ways to Use Google Apps (great slideshow, not made by me) 6. Chrome Apps and Extensions (Made by Lisa Thumann, a Google Certified Teacher)

Do you have a Google Question or Google Tip? Fill out this form and maybe it will make the next Tech Tip!

iPad Running Record App

For those teachers who use Running Records in their classes, this is a great iPad app to help you with this process

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/record-of-reading/id543574721?mt=8 

Description:
Running records, developed by Marie M. Clay, are a method for observing and assessing a child’s oral reading. The Record of Reading app is designed to provide an electronic form for taking a running record. The app provides embedded formulas for the accuracy and self-correction rate (no need for a calculator!), but of course, the teacher does all the coding and analysis. Once the running record is complete, it can be saved in a file or emailed. In addition, the app records the student’s voice while the teacher simultaneously takes the record. When replaying the running record, the oral reading and the record are synced. For more information on taking running records, please see "An Observation Survey of Early Literacy Achievement" (Clay, 2005).

Delicious.com

Delicious.com is a free web service led by the founders of YouTube that can be used to bookmark your favorite websites.  This site allows you to create your own personal, organized search engine.  You may keep your search engine private or share your links via Facebook or Twitter.  After creating an account, you will have access to your bookmarked sites from any computer or smartphone.  Another great feature of this site is that it does NOT feature spam

Submitted by Clinton Pierce

ClassDojo Messenger

ClassDojo has a new update called Messenger.  It's an Android and iOS app that allows you to easily message parents.  It is important to note that it is private, so you never share contact information.

With the new ClassDojo Messenger app, you can:

• Easily engage parents by instantly sending updates home
• Privately message 1-on-1 with a parent, or Broadcast to all parents in your class!
• Share photos of wonderful moments from the classroom :)
• Know who’s read your messages with ‘Read receipts’

It sounds like it's similar to Remind, but allows you to send messages to individual parents not just all parents.  If you haven't checked out ClassDojo, take a look at it and this new messenger app.

Educanon - insert questions into a video

Educanon is a program that allows you have students watch videos and answer questions along the way.  You can insert questions into the video timeline so the video will pause while you check comprehension, test vocabulary, concept check etc.  You can use your own videos or add questions to any video from the internet - a TED Talk for example!

eduCanon is offering premium features for free this week only in return for getting others signed up so if you would take just a moment of your time to click the link below we can make this already amazing free tool even better.

If you sign up with this link, we will be on our way to getting all of the educanon  premium features free for our school: http://www.educanon.com/signup/teacher?referral=25651

40 Sites/Apps for creating presentations

40 Sites/Apps for creating presentations….

http://www.techlearning.com/Default.aspx?tabid=67&entryid=5908

Class Dojo - student behavior tracking

ClassDojo is an easy way to record the behavior in the classroom.  Students and parents have access to these records so they can see how they are behaving.

ClassDojo gives you the option of updating behavior instantaneously using a laptop, tablet, or smartphone and can be displayed via computer, projector, or interactive whiteboard. The availability of data engages students and helps actively shape behavior, thus creating a more positive learning environment in the classroom.

ClassDojo also automatically generates behavior reports that you can send home to parents or share with students. These reports have given parents and students insight into the classroom that hadn’t been previously available. 

PowToon - Animated Videos (free upgrade to premium)

PowToon is a way to create short animated videos.  It's a really simple way to introduce things to your students or at a presentation.  Well PowToon has been generous enough to give away a free upgrade to their premium version plus accounts for all of your students.  All you have to do is go to their site and either create an account or sign in with your existing account.  The code to use is: ToonUp5M.

This won't last for long, so hurry up and sign up today!

Create an excel spreadsheet from eSchoolData

How to create an excel spreadsheet for eSchoolData

 It will go into your downloads folder and will be called Report

Post a supply list and get free tissues

Schools that post four (4) or more 2014-2015 school supply lists between May 1, 2014 and August 1, 2014 and include "Kleenex® Brand Facial Tissue" on each list will be entered for a chance to win a $15,000 donation and a year's supply of Kleenex®Brand Facial Tissue! Three lucky schools will win. Plus, get a free box of Kleenex®Brand Facial Tissue for every list posted, while supplies last!

http://www.teacherlists.com/schools/?tt!pID=2162&tt!bD=1064249_1

How to insert Tables in Word and Google Docs

I've noticed that many of my students don't know how to insert a table into a Word document or Google Doc.  I made two short videos (about a minute each) to help my students with this task.  The two videos are shown and linked below.  Feel free to share with your students.

Inserting a table in Word - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgiOpM44q04




Insert a table in Google Docs - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u92g_9Tp4OQ

Organize your desktop

If you are anything like me you have a ton of things are your desktop.  I came across this website with this idea for background for your laptop.

Here is a link the page that explains how to make this background - http://teachingjunkie.blogspot.com/2014/04/organize-your-desktop.html 

What are these quarantine reports?

You may have noticed that we have been getting theses quarantine reports.  These are a listing of all of the e-mail that have been caught by our spam filter.  You can choose to release these messages into your mailbox or delete them all.

Take a look at the picture below to see what I'm talking about.

Let a TAC Team member know if you have any questions.

Twitter as PD

Twitter is a great resource for learning new things and share what you know in education.  Here is a great podcast https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=y_qJrPtzew8  that goes over how to use Twitter as a resource.  You can also participate in Twitter chats.  Here is a link that shares various PLN (personal learning networks) twitter hashtags 

- https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AiftIdjCeWSXdDRLRzNsVktUUGJpRWJhdUlWLS1Genc#gid=0 

Newsela - integrating literacy

Newsela is a website that helps to build close reading and critical thinking skills. It provides you with nonfiction reading comprehension passages, from fourth grade to college-ready.  Each article can be adjusted to various reading levels.  Articles are accompanied by Common Core-aligned quizzes to provide quick and powerful feedback.  It covers a variety of subjects.  Visit it at www.Newsela.com

Keyboard Shortcuts

Top 10 keyboard shortcuts everyone should know

Ctrl + C or Ctrl + Insert

Copy the highlighted text or selected item.

Ctrl + V or Shift + Insert

Paste the text or object that's in the clipboard.

Ctrl + Z and Ctrl + Y

Undo any change. For example, if you cut text, pressing this will undo it. This can also often be pressed multiple times to undo multiple changes. Pressing Ctrl + Y would redo the undo.

Ctrl + F

Open the Find in any program. This includes your Internet browser to find text on the current page.

Alt + Tab or Alt + Esc

Quickly switch between open programs moving forward.

Tip: Press Ctrl + Tab to switch between tabs in a program.

Tip: Adding the Shift key to Alt + Tab or Ctrl + Tab will move backwards. For example, if you are pressing Alt + Tab and pass the program you want to switch to, press Alt + Shift + Tab to move backwards to that program.

Tip: Windows Vista and 7 users can also press the Windows Key + Tab to switch through open programs in a full screenshot of the Window.

Ctrl + Back space and Ctrl + Left or Right arrow

Pressing Ctrl + Backspace will delete a full word at a time instead of a single character.

Holding down the Ctrl key while pressing the left or right arrow will move the cursor one word at a time instead of one character at a time. If you wanted to highlight one word at a time you can hold down Ctrl + Shift and then press the left or right arrow key to move one word at a time in that direction while highlighting each word.

Ctrl + S

While working on a document or other file in almost every program pressing Ctrl + S will save that file. This shortcut key should be used frequently anytime you're working on anything important.

Ctrl + Home or Ctrl + End

Move the cursor to the beginning or end of a document.

Ctrl + P

Print the page being viewed. For example, the document in Microsoft Word or the web page in your Internet browser.

Page Up, Space bar, and Page Down

Pressing either the page up or page down key will move that page one page at a time in that direction. When browsing the Internet pressing the space bar will also move the page down one page at a time. If you press Shift and the Space bar the page will go up a page at a time.

Tip: If you are using the space bar to go down one page at a time press the Shift keyand space bar to go up one page at a time. 

Google as a Timer

Did you know that the Google search box can be used as a timer.  All you need you need to do is type in "set time for ___" filling in the blank with how long you want the timer to run for.  Press the start button and go about your business.  Make sure your leave the tab open with the timer in it and that they sound on your computer is one.  Once the time is up the timer will beep.

Google Lit Trips

Google Lit Trips provides excellent models for using Google Earth in language arts lessons. The concept of Google Lit Trips is to help students gain a better understanding of stories and their authors through mapping. Students and teachers can use Google Earth to map a story or map the biography of an author. On Google Lit Trips you can find and download lessons and Google Earth files created by other teachers. The two videos below offer overviews of how Google Lit Trips work.

http://www.googlelittrips.com/GoogleLit/Home.html

http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2013/12/have-you-looked-at-google-lit-trips.html#.UrBl72RDvlY

Zooming in and out

There may be a time when you want to zoom into a particular spot on the screen. There are two ways you can do this.

1.  If you are more comfortable with the keyboard you can zoom that way. Place the cursor where you want it and then press command, alt(option) and the plus or minus key.

2. If you are comfortable with the track pad you can pinch your fingers (thumb and pointer) together and then pull them apart to zoom in. To zoom out place your thumb and pointer fingers at opposite

corners of the track pad and pinch your fingers together.

Sharing files with AirDrop

Share your files with others near you

AirDrop lets you quickly send files, clippings, webpages, and more to anyone near you—wirelessly. AirDrop doesn’t require passwords, setup, or special settings. It makes sharing with neighbors as simple as dragging and dropping.

.

1. To see other people nearby, click the AirDrop icon in the sidebar of a Finder window. The other people must also click the AirDrop icon on their computers. The computer names of those near you appear in the AirDrop window.
2. If you like, for extra security you can verbally confirm the exchange before you share files to make sure you’re sharing with the right person.
3. Drag the item you want to share to another person’s icon. Once the person accepts the file, it’s transferred directly to his or her Downloads folder. Here are some examples of things you can share:
• Text documents, photos, and folders
• A snippet of text that you’ve highlighted inside a document or webpage
• The URL (web address) of the webpage you’re currently viewing
• An MP3 (audio) file
  
4. When you’re done with AirDrop, close the Finder window you used to transfer files. Your Mac is no longer visible to others.

You can also use the Share button to send files to your neighbors via AirDrop. In a Finder window, select the item you want to share, and then click the Share button in the toolbar. 

Add folders to your e-mail inbox

Need to create new folders in your e-mail?  The steps are below.  As always, let us know what we can do to help you out!

1. Right click on the word “Inbox”  (If you don’t have right click enabled you may have to hold down control and then click.).  You will see a list pop up.  Click on “Create New Folder.”

2. You will then see a blank folder appear in the list and you can type in what you want to call it.

3.  Hit enter and you’re all set!

Remind 101 - safely send texts to your students/parents

Remind 101 - send text messages to students without sharing your phone number

I've started using Remind101 for the clubs that I lead. It's a great way for me to send messages to the kids without having to have their phone numbers or giving out mine. Below is some information about Remind101.

WHAT IS IT?
Remind101 provides a safe way for teachers to text message students and stay in touch with parents for free. Teachers use remind101.com, the Android app or the iOS app to send texts to students and parents phones without ever having to share their own phone number. Students and parents also never have to share their phone number with teachers. Ever.

HOW MIGHT YOU USE IT?
Field trip reminders, motivational messages, homework, exam reminders, schedule changes, fun facts, and trivia. It’s a great way to communicate information to students and parents safely!

HOW DO STUDENTS OR PARENTS JOIN? 
Students and parents sign up by sending a text message or email. They never need to visit the Remind101 site or create an account.

REMIND101 FEATURES
Add your Remind101 messages to your class website or blog with the simple, embeddable, and beautifully designed Remind101 widget. You can also preschedule all your messages to be sent at a later date or time

WHAT MAKES IT SAFE?
Teachers never see their students’ phone numbers. Students never see theirs. Remind101 is a one way broadcast system. Teachers cannot send individual messages to students or parents, and students/parents cannot reply. Remind101 also keeps a log of all message history, which can never be edited or deleted. Teachers never see their students’ phone numbers. Students never see theirs. Remind101 also keeps a log of all message history which can never be edited or deleted.

Preparing for the Regents Exam

Today's Tech Tip Tuesday comes from Education Portal.

They have created bite-sized, engaging video lessons that students can use to prepare for New York State Regents Exams.

 All videos have been developed by professional educators. They include quizzes so students can test their knowledge.  Students can watch each video as many times as needed to fully understand the material.

 At Education Portal, students, teachers and parents can access prep materials for the following New York State Regents Exams:

• Chemistry
• Comprehensive English
• Earth Science
• Geometry
• Integrated Algebra
• Living Environment
• Physics
• U.S. History & Government

They hope you’ll share these videos with students, so that they can use Education Portal as a supplemental resource while they prepare for Regents Exams. 

Making Folders on your computer

Folder basics

All the items on your computer—including your documents, pictures, music files, apps, and more—are organized in folders. As you create documents, install new apps, and do other work on your Mac, you can create new folders to keep your information organized.

Create a new folder

1. Click the desktop (the background area of your screen) if you want to keep the new folder on the desktop; otherwise, open the window where you want to keep the folder.
2. Choose File > New Folder or press Command (⌘)–Shift–N. If the New Folder command is dimmed, you do not have permission to create a folder in the current location.
3. To give the folder a new name, click to select it and press Return. Then type a name for the folder and press Return again.

Move items into folders

• To put an item in a folder, drag its icon to the new folder.
• To put several items in a new folder, select all the items, and then choose File > “New Folder with Selection.”
• To keep an item in its original location and put a copy in a new folder, hold down the Option key while you drag the item.
• To keep an item in its original location and put an alias for it in a new folder, hold down the Command (⌘) and Option keys while you drag the item.
• To make a copy of an item within the same folder, select the item and choose File > Duplicate or press Command (⌘)–D.
• To copy files to a different disk, drag the icons to the disk. To move files to a different disk without copying them, hold down the Command key while you drag the icons.

Group multiple items quickly

You can quickly create a folder of items on the desktop or in a Finder window.

1. Select all the items you want to group together.
2. Control-click one of the selected items, and then choose “New Folder with Selection” from the shortcut menu.
3. Type a new name for the folder.

Merge two folders

If you have two folders with identical names at two different locations, you can merge them into a single folder. To do so, you must copy (not move) one folder to the location that already contains a folder with the same name. In the dialog that appears, click Merge.

The Merge option appears only if one of the folders contains items that are not in the other folder. If the folders contain different versions of identically named files, the only options are Stop or Replace.

StudyBlue - online flashcards and quizzes

StudyBlue is a site that I started using with my classes this year and the students are really getting into it.  I set up my classes and then invited my students to join.  The site allows users to create flashcards and then share them with the other members in the class.  Not only can definitions be added, but the cards can have pictures on them as well.  The flashcards can be turned in a review sheet and an online quiz.

I have been setting up folders for each unit and then the students make the flashcards.  This way it is not extra work for me and the students get the added learning experience of making the flashcards.

StudyBlue is not just a website; it has android and apple apps as well.

How to turn a document into a pdf

You can also access the document by clicking here

Keyboard shortcut - switching between applications

Keyboard shortcut:

If you want to easily switch between applications all you need to do is hit command and tab

How to take a screen shot on the mac

How to take a screen shot on the mac

To take a screen shot of the whole screen press: command, shift and 3 all at the same time

To take a screen shot of a specific area press: command, shift and 4 at the same time. You will then be able to select the area you want

 to take a picture of.

If you have your sound on your will hear a shutter noise to indicate that the picture has been taken.  It saves to your desktop and then you can move it wherever you want to.

CrashPlan - getting your backed up files

As you may have noticed, we have a new method for backing up our files.  It's called CrashPlan (it's the house icon on the top of your computer).  The great thing about it is that it is always backing up your files no matter where you are (you no longer need to be at school for your files to back up)

This means that if you log into another person's computer (or a library computer) you will not be able to access your files.  If for some reason you don't have your laptop with you and need to access a file there is a way for you to get it. 

If you have any questions please contact a tech team member.

 You can also find the document by clicking here.

Saving Student Work

How to have students save their work

A video of this process can be found at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKgxqtBxoNs

1

 The document above can also be found at by clicking here.