Selfie Grids

I created a “Selfie Grid” activity for teachers and students.  For teachers it was a great way to start off the 30 hour teacher training.  Participants created selfie grid that had to be electronically sent to me by the end of the first training day.  They were able to collaborate and get to know one another a little better.  The “Selfie Grid” for students was a Back to School activity that gave them the opportunity to use digital cameras, a collage creator web tool, and to go around the school to greet everyone.

                 

 

              

              

                  

Teacher & Parent Training

Parent & Teacher training are two things that I enjoy doing.  My purpose in life is to teach. Not only do I teach kids, but I also teach teachers, parents and pretty much anyone who needs help and takes the time to heed my lessons or advice.  I enjoy sharing my knowledge of technology features and applications 

GT Training - Day 5 - Differentiating with Technology

Literacy Night - Coding Activity --  Computer training for parents.

Family Literacy Night - Coding Activity

Henry B. Gonzalez Elementary School Files

At Henry B. Gonzalez Elementary, school principal, Yolanda Salazar-Meave strive to move to a digitized environment.  We created a school Google account because over the years there have been many changes to the web hosting services that the district has provided, and this was an alternative to having something stable that would not need to be changed year after year.  I collaborate with the administrative team to discuss ways to host the multitude of documents electronically. We began with lesson plans. We host all of our lesson plans on our HBG Google Drive.  Every teacher has a Google account and they upload their lessons to their Google Drive and share it with the HBG account.  The administrative staff no longer has to physically carry lesson plans home to be checked.  They simply log on to the HBG Account and they have access to all of the lesson plans that are to be checked for the week.  Lesson plans are share with Support Staff who access them to make sure the same lesson are being taught by them.

We host our faculty handbook on the Google Shared folder as well as all forms, calendars and Weekly Updates.  The Shared folder is even used to host a gallery of pictures and videos that are taken throughout the year. 

 We share the google-hosted video links through Class Dojo, so parents can view the latest happenings at Henry B. Gonzalez Elementary School or can get updated information about upcoming events.  

3D Holograms

3D holograms are an amazing augmented reality tool.  After learning about this, I shared it with my students and teachers who attended my Gifted & Talented professional development training.  It is such a simple activity.  Transparencies are used to create a 3D projection pyramid to view the hologram.  Then look for a hologram video on YouTube.  A note of caution:  some videos may not be appropriate for students (so pick some out in advance).

Amazing 3D Projection Pyramid

Online Literacy

There are many online tools that can be used to improve literacy.  Student take quizzes after they read library books using Reading Renaissance.  They can access online books via Youtube, Bookflix, SafeShare, and District Resource Online. 

Khan Academy

Khan Academy offers practice exercises, instructional videos, and a personalized learning dashboard that empower learners to study at their own pace in and outside of the classroom. They tackle math, science, computer programming, history, art history, economics, and more. Their mission is to provide a free, world-class education to anyone, anywhere.

I used Khan with student who struggled in Math and to prepare 5th grade students for the Algebra Track Test.  

Using Google Forms for School Election Activities

Google forms is a great tool for surveys, questionnaires, tests, quizzes and elections!  We held two elections this year. One for the presidential election and one for student council.  For each one we created a ballot. Everyone was able to vote electronically for both elections.  When the elections were over the results were just a few mouse clicks away!

Student hold a Presidential Election and a Student Council Election using
Google Forms for an electronic ballot.

Student Created Product Using Google Drive

My students have had the opportunity to utilize their Google GAFE accounts.  Students are able to log in to their google drive to store their work, to collaborate with others and to conduct research.  Students were able to share their work with me.  As they worked on their projects I was able to check their progress and give them feedback and guidance about the work they were completing.  Once their work was complete they had access to print a hard copy of their work for display.

5th Grade TPSP Project and Parent Night Displays

Students use Microsoft word to complete science fair project labels. I taught them to enlarge the font and change the color and style to create attractive titles.  They were able to search for graphics and clipart to enhance their projects.

Students used Microsoft Word to create an acrostic poem about themselves that was also illustrated with graphics.

They created bookmarks about the 13 Colonies and related to their TPSP Science research.

Some of the 13 Colonies bookmarks created by 5th grade GT students.

4^th grade students prepared a powerpoints about Native American tribes they researched and created graphics that they posted on an interactive Information Chart Bulletin board.

 

4th Grade GT tudents practicing their Native American Presentation

  

                                  

3^rd Grade students researched about their favorite toys.  Learning about the creation of their toy and acquiring a graphic for their TPSP display.  

3rd Grade GT students  sharing their "Favorite Toy" Project during GT Parent Night

Element 3D

I learned about this Augmented Reality site that is great for Secondary Science.  It's great for teaching the Science Elements.  I don't teach this in elementary, but I made sure to include it in my training for differentiation for secondary teachers.  They were amazed!

Brain Breaks with GoNoodle

      GoNoodle for Brain Breaks

 Brain Breaks are a quick and effective way of changing or focusing the physical and mental state of the learners in your group. They are also a useful tool for students to use to help activate, energize and stimulate their brains.

 GoNoodle helps teachers and parents get kids moving with short interactive activities. Desk-side movement helps kids achieve more by keeping them engaged and motivated throughout the day.