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Back to School!

 

Weekly Tech-y News August 22nd-26th

 

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Weekly Tech-y News August 17th

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Weekly Tech-y News August 23rd-27th

 

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Weekly Tech-y News August 24th

 

Weekly Tech-y News: September 9th-13th

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Weekly Tech-y News: August 26th-30th

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Weekly Tech-y News

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Weekly Tech-y News August 27th

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Weekly Tech-y News August 20th!

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Back to School Seesaw Go!

Using Seesaw Go QR code games are a fun, interactive and engaging way to get your students actively involved in the learning in your classroom. I created this game as a way to have your students practice using the FREE learning journal Seesaw, while reflecting on the beginning of a new school year. This would be a fun activity after you have introduced Seesaw to your classroom and your students have become familiar with the basics of using this tool. Click the image below to download the game! Happy Seesawing!

Back to School!

Just like the Pink Ladies and the T-Birds, it's time to go back, back to school again!  (Woah,woah!)

(If you've never seen Grease 2 and you have no idea what I'm talking about, please stop reading this and visit Netflix immediately.  Cool Rider will change your life.)

So ... one of my favorite places for back to school inspiration is ... Twitter! Followed closely by Instagram. Social media has opened up a whole new world for teachers to collaborate, connect and share ideas.  I noticed the hashtag #bestyearever on Twitter, and clicked on it to find a ton of great back to school ideas.  Here are a few of my favorites.

Back to School Newsletter Using Seesaw!

I absolutely LOVE this idea from Angela Gadtke from Seesaw.  She has created a back to school letter template that can be posted on Seesaw and scanned using the Seesaw QR code feature.  This would be a fun way to introduce students and parents to Seesaw, as well as a fun "meet the teacher" intro!  Click the image to be taken to an editable Google Drawing with instructions on how to use this template.

Another idea is to create an "about me" collage using the free app Pic Collage for Kids, then post this to Seesaw and provide parents and students with the Seesaw QR code to scan.  Here's an example of that idea from Kami Butterfield.

Do You GoNoodle?

GoNoodle is an amazing FREE resource for your classroom. GoNoodle is perfect for brain breaks, transitions, inside recess, or just a bit of fun.  If you haven't used it, CLICK HERE to check it out. And if you have used it, click to see what's new!

I love the free printables they offer to deck out your classroom in GoNoodle style.  Click the image below to download welcome back postcards, labels, desk plates, etc.

Happy back to school!

Get Your Seesaw Class Set Up in 5 Minutes!

We hope you use Seesaw again this year! Here's how to set up your new class in just a few minutes:

Step 1: Archive Your Old Class  Tap on your profile icon (top left) Tap on Manage Class Scroll down to the bottom and choose "Archive Class" button.   No need to delete students

Step 2: Create Your New Class! Tap on your profile icon (top left) Tap on + New Class (at the bottom)  Follow the prompts to create your class!

Or, watch this PD in Your PJs video for a walkthrough of creating a new class.

Need Help Getting Started?

Get Our Back to School Resource Pack! Including:  Step-by-step teacher planning calendar Intro lesson plans for students Intro presentation for parents

️    Have an amazing school year!    ️   —The Seesaw Team Ps. Follow @Seesaw on Twitter, or join Seesaw Teachers on Facebook to connect with other amazing educators!

iPad Rules Posters

A lot of teachers have been asking about setting classroom expectations for iPad use in the classroom. I used this cute poster from Heidi Songs in my kindergarten classroom.  Click the image below to read her post and to find the FREE download of this poster.

I also just found these and they are FREE on Tpt.  Absolutely adorable and they cover many useful expectations.

I always began by discussing the expectations with my kindergartners, and then working together to create a set of iPad Learning Community Guidelines.  I love Ms. Zigmond's idea of collaborating and recording these ideas on a Popplet!  Click the image below to read her post on beginning the school year with iPads.

Don't hesitate to start allowing your kids to learn and create in your classroom using iPads because you're nervous about getting started!  Use one of these FREE tools or get in touch with me and I will help you get started.  Let's make some #happyclassrooms!

Back to School!

The beginning of this school year was a different experience for me - for the first time in a long time, I didn't have my own classroom to prepare.  It was strange and exciting at the same time.  What is most exciting about my new position as a Technology Integration Specialist is that I have the opportunity to visit other teachers' classrooms to see all of the awesome things they are doing, and share with others!

Last week I spent time in several primary classrooms at Arrowhead, Broadwater, Highland, Eagle Cliffs and Beartooth Elementary schools.  I was so happy to be in the classrooms, meeting new students and helping the teachers with whatever they needed.  In Mrs. Risser's 1st grade classroom at Arrowhead, I loved all of the blank space (I can't help singing a little Taylor Swift whenever I say that) on her walls.  It showed me that she is very student centered, and she is waiting for her students to help her decorate the space with their artwork, writing and ideas.

While visiting Mrs. Niemeyer's 1st grade at Eagle Cliffs, I got to participate in an unplanned fire drill. Wahoo!  :)  I loved how she is organizing her classroom, giving students space to store their 1:1 iPads and other learning materials on shelves situated by each pod of desks.  This will save so much time by keeping all necessary supplies organized and close to each student.

I also love how Mrs. Niemeyer intentionally balances technology in her classroom with hands-on learning experiences.  It is important that students have opportunities to use tech in meaningful ways, but that this is balanced by traditional learning experiences.  Here, students practiced spelling their names with a tactile fine motor activity, tracing and building their names using glue and Fruit Loops.

I am thrilled to be able to visit classrooms and see the great things that are happening!  Please check back often to see photos of classes and examples of class projects that you can implement in your own classroom.  And remember, you can book me to come into your classroom by clicking the link at the top of this page.  Happy teaching and happy tech-ing!

Back to School with iPads

Beginning the year with iPads, whether they be 1:1, small sets, or in a shared lab, is exciting!  The iPads can be an amazing learning tool, allowing you to provide your students with rich, meaningful opportunities to explore, create and share.  However, at the beginning of a new year, it can be overwhelming to know how to best introduce the devices to your students.

I love this article by Kristi Meeuwse on her site iTeachwithiPads.net.  In this article, she talks about her process for introducing 1:1 iPads in a kindergarten classroom, however, the basic ideas can be applied to many grade levels and situations.

When I introduce iPads to my kindergartners, we begin by interactively writing rules for our iPad Learning Community.  I let the students help determine what these guidelines should be.  I also have students sign an Acceptable Use Policy, and ask parents to review and sign it at our Open House in September.  The AUP that I use is from Soaring: A Teaching Blog and can be downloaded for free from her site.

As you introduce apps, it is important to remember that students don't need to know 100 apps on the first day.  Introduce them slowly and intentionally.  As you introduce them, give students time to play.  This was an important lesson learned from Desiree Caskey.  The kids need free time to explore how the app works and what the app does - many times during this exploration time, they would learn things I didn't know and anxiously shared these tips and tricks with me and the class.  When they are familiar and comfortable with the app, they will be more able to use it intentionally when given a task or purpose.

My Weebly site has a collection of resources I have found helpful while implementing iPads into my classroom.  You can also follow me on Twitter @TraciPiltz, or book me into your classroom by clicking on the link from my website.

Happy back to school!