Coding with Stephen Curry

It's the 4th annual Hour of Code.  Have you tried coding?  It's simple.  Go to code.org to get started today.  When you finish a section, you will receive a certificate for completing the Hour of Code!  How many certificates can you get this week?

Adopt an Element examples

Google Draw example:   https://docs.google.com/drawings/d/11zMkXz1bKhKezdbeCznjtmC9goV6pmYU_q4AVnB81JQ/edit?usp=sharing

blabberize link:  http://blabberize.com/view/id/1650095

rap link:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbJI_ON0lOM

           - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfIvdrQ6Trw)

interview your element: (this example is different but the students should get the general idea)  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NK9OvCKKF1g

Animoto or Powtoon example:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifavkrnVYsE

Bookmark examples:

  

Save the dates

Save the dates:

Hour of Code - Dec. 4-10th, 2017

STEM night - Mar. 15, 2018 at KGMS

Top 4 Podcasts for Middle Schoolers

I have posted the links to these on the student resources page as well.  There are wonderful lessons that can be associated with these podcasts.  I am happy to provide them.  

Students - if you are interested in creating a podcast for me to post, I'd be happy to vend you the equipment you might need.

1. Welcome to Night Vale
2. Freakonomics
3. The Allutionist
4. Stuff you missed in history class

Back to School || inspirational video

Welcome students and parents to a new school year!  I look forward to working together.

SOL test tips

• Get a good night's sleep
• Eat breakfast
• Be sure to use the restroom before going to your test
• SHUT OFF your phone and lock it in your locker or give to a trusted adult until the test is over.  DO NOT have it on you!  DO NOT have it on and in your bookbag.
• Bring a good book to read when it's over
• Brain dump when the scratch paper is given out (write down all the tips, info. that you remember about that subject, set up graphs/tables/etc)
• Take your time with the test, but DON'T overthink it.  Put your best answer down and trust yourself.
• For Math and Science, be sure to work out all the problems on scratch paper.

EdPuzzle test

As you can see, it's a good thing I did a test.  I have since figured it out and have it working in classrooms.  Thanks for your patience.

Jazz up PowerPoint?

Looking for a way to jazz up PowerPoint presentations?  Look no further than powtoon.com.  This website allows for animations throughout the presentation.  It's free!

EdPuzzle

Since the Google Summit, I have been most fascinated by EdPuzzle.  This site allows you to customize youtube videos with questions, comments, quizzes, etc.  Youtube is blocked for students, but I think by using keepvid.com, we can still download a youtube video, upload it into EdPuzzle, and then embed it in Google Classroom for our students.  I have one teacher working on it now.  Will keep you posted...

Google Summit

I attended the Google Summit this weekend in Charlottesville, VA.  It was a wonderful conference with many great ideas!  Here are a few of the sessions I attended:

• Totally Engaged Individuals with TEI
• CS First:  Coding with Confidence
• Accessibility, Extension, and More, Oh My!
• Integrating Chrome Extension Tools for Flipped and Blended Learning
• Flipped Learning with EdPuzzle
• Beef up your Literature Circles with Hyperdocs
• Information Literacy, Media Literacy, and Google Search

I will post ideas from the conference as I delve into them.

Thank you

Thank you to all who came out to STEM night!  It was a fun filled evening.

STEM night - March 2

What:  STEM night
Where:  KGMS
Who: everyone - parents, students, community members, teachers, administration
When:  Mar. 2 from 4:45-7pm
Why:  This evening is an opportunity for community members, parents, teachers and students to LEARN about STEM in schools, SEE examples of student STEM projects and DO STEM activities with their children.

Schedule of Events:

4:45-6:00 Free Dinner 
5:00-6:45 MakerSpace Room, Demonstration Gallery, Information Tables, Enter Raffle
5:15-6:00 Hands on Session 1
6:00-6:45 Hands on Session 2
6:45-7:00 Drawing of raffle tickets

Raffle items: Kindle Fire tablets, ozobots, selfie sticks, pocket juices, K’Nex kits, Goldie Blox kits, robot kits, a drone, and mini video recorders.  

Tickets are $1 or 6 for $5.  

Proceeds will be given to KGEF to fund STEM requests.  You may purchase tickets from your ITL ahead of time.  Drawings will be at 7pm on March 2.  You do not need to be present to win.