January 29, 2018



Westfield Washington Schools

Tech Tuesday Newsletter



November 21, 2017



Odds and Ends
What is a Connected Educator?



This week’s newsletter is all about being a connected educator. Connected can mean a few different things. On one level, it means being connected to electrical power or the Internet. More importantly, it means you are connected to other educators. You are part of the education conversation. My humanities professor always said, “Art is a conversation.” Artists and musicians learn from and expand on the artistic work of those that came before them. Connected educators do the same thing with their teaching. There are so many ways to get connected. You can read books and blogs. You can listen to podcasts. You can follow other educators on Twitter. You can join Facebook or Google Plus groups about education. You can even just talk to teachers in your own building. The important thing is that you are part of the conversation.



Power cord and outlet.png      two people connected educators.png


App Pick of the Week
Twitter and Twitter Chats

twitter.com

Twitter is a fantastic way to connect with other educators. There are hundreds of educational Twitter chats every week. There’s even a website that compiles a list of all the chats so you can see which ones will be of interest to you.



Google Tip of the Week
Google Plus Communities



Google Plus Communities allow teachers to come together around a certain education topic. Here are some Google Plus communities that have been helpful to me. We also have a Google Plus community just for Westfield educators!



Chromebook EDU

G Suite for Education

HyperDocs

Google Classroom

Indiana eLearning Coach Community



What I’ve been training on
Connecting with teachers



I recently spent all day at Carey Ridge. I met with each grade level during their prep time. We mostly talked about Google Drive and Google Classroom. I am available to do training for your building or department on whatever educational technology will help you. Please reach out to me and we can set this up.



Teachers Using Technology
Do you know of a great use of technology by a Westfield Teacher? Share your own technology tip with me or nominate another teacher!



Teacher of the Week: Charme` Smith, WWES Kindergarten Teacher



Charme’ is a connected educator for sure! She has shared a ton of resources with us. Most of these are geared toward working with younger students so the specific resources may not apply to you. However, the takeaway is to see what it looks like to be a connected educator. If Charme’ needs to find a new tool or resource, she is connected with other educators so she knows where to go looking and asking for help. She also uses these resources also help her to stay up on the education trends by being part of the conversation.



Resources:

Education Groups on Facebook


Seesaw Teachers Kindergarten


Word Work Ideas for K-2 Teachers


Benchmark Literacy PLC


Fountas & Pinnel Literacy


Primary Collaborative


Twinkle Toes Training


Whole Brain Kindergarten Teachers


Kindergarten Tips & Tricks by Miss Kindergarten


Dr. Jean and Friends


Simply Kinder


Importance of Play


For Shopping and supply ideas


Teachers Stretching Dollars


Teachers Bargain Basement


Blogs or Email Serve Lists


Kindercraze


Simply Kinder


Mrs. Willis’ Kindergarten


Kindergarten Kindergarten


Mrs. Jump’s Class


The Butorac Group


Cassie from Create-abilities.com


Happies4Teachers


The Edge Foundation


The Curriculum Corner


Danielle at Teacher Sherpa


Understood.org


readingandwritingproject.org


Seesaw App: a way to include families in the learning process as well as to send quick reminders or even the class newsletter https://web.seesaw.me/




As a kindergarten teacher, Charme` is always looking for ways to use technology and other resources to improve student learning and to connect with parents. Charme` has implemented Seesaw as a fantastic parent communication tool. Parents can receive reminders, photos/videos of the work being done in the classroom, and can communicate with Charme`. Child-specific messages and classwork can be shared in each child’s private family folder. Throughout the year more and more responsibility for documenting and sharing learning on Seesaw will belong with her students. Kindergarteners are able to do this with a little training!





Connect with Charme`:  smithc@wws.k12.in.us                    Phone: x7954

November Edition

Posted on by Anonymous with


Westfield Washington Schools

Tech Tuesday Newsletter



November 21, 2017



Odds and Ends
What is a Connected Educator?



This week’s newsletter is all about being a connected educator. Connected can mean a few different things. On one level, it means being connected to electrical power or the Internet. More importantly, it means you are connected to other educators. You are part of the education conversation. My humanities professor always said, “Art is a conversation.” Artists and musicians learn from and expand on the artistic work of those that came before them. Connected educators do the same thing with their teaching. There are so many ways to get connected. You can read books and blogs. You can listen to podcasts. You can follow other educators on Twitter. You can join Facebook or Google Plus groups about education. You can even just talk to teachers in your own building. The important thing is that you are part of the conversation.



Power cord and outlet.png      two people connected educators.png


App Pick of the Week
Twitter and Twitter Chats

twitter.com

Twitter is a fantastic way to connect with other educators. There are hundreds of educational Twitter chats every week. There’s even a website that compiles a list of all the chats so you can see which ones will be of interest to you.



Google Tip of the Week
Google Plus Communities



Google Plus Communities allow teachers to come together around a certain education topic. Here are some Google Plus communities that have been helpful to me. We also have a Google Plus community just for Westfield educators!



Chromebook EDU

G Suite for Education

HyperDocs

Google Classroom

Indiana eLearning Coach Community



What I’ve been training on
Connecting with teachers



I recently spent all day at Carey Ridge. I met with each grade level during their prep time. We mostly talked about Google Drive and Google Classroom. I am available to do training for your building or department on whatever educational technology will help you. Please reach out to me and we can set this up.



Teachers Using Technology
Do you know of a great use of technology by a Westfield Teacher? Share your own technology tip with me or nominate another teacher!



Teacher of the Week: Charme` Smith, WWES Kindergarten Teacher



Charme’ is a connected educator for sure! She has shared a ton of resources with us. Most of these are geared toward working with younger students so the specific resources may not apply to you. However, the takeaway is to see what it looks like to be a connected educator. If Charme’ needs to find a new tool or resource, she is connected with other educators so she knows where to go looking and asking for help. She also uses these resources also help her to stay up on the education trends by being part of the conversation.



Resources:

Education Groups on Facebook


Seesaw Teachers Kindergarten


Word Work Ideas for K-2 Teachers


Benchmark Literacy PLC


Fountas & Pinnel Literacy


Primary Collaborative


Twinkle Toes Training


Whole Brain Kindergarten Teachers


Kindergarten Tips & Tricks by Miss Kindergarten


Dr. Jean and Friends


Simply Kinder


Importance of Play


For Shopping and supply ideas


Teachers Stretching Dollars


Teachers Bargain Basement


Blogs or Email Serve Lists


Kindercraze


Simply Kinder


Mrs. Willis’ Kindergarten


Kindergarten Kindergarten


Mrs. Jump’s Class


The Butorac Group


Cassie from Create-abilities.com


Happies4Teachers


The Edge Foundation


The Curriculum Corner


Danielle at Teacher Sherpa


Understood.org


readingandwritingproject.org


Seesaw App: a way to include families in the learning process as well as to send quick reminders or even the class newsletter https://web.seesaw.me/




As a kindergarten teacher, Charme` is always looking for ways to use technology and other resources to improve student learning and to connect with parents. Charme` has implemented Seesaw as a fantastic parent communication tool. Parents can receive reminders, photos/videos of the work being done in the classroom, and can communicate with Charme`. Child-specific messages and classwork can be shared in each child’s private family folder. Throughout the year more and more responsibility for documenting and sharing learning on Seesaw will belong with her students. Kindergarteners are able to do this with a little training!





Connect with Charme`:  smithc@wws.k12.in.us                    Phone: x7954





Westfield Washington Schools

Tech Tuesday Newsletter



December 05,  2017



Book Pick of the Week
9780325074733.jpgAmplify by Katie Muhtaris and Kristin Ziemke

Guest writer Tonya Moody shares how Amplify has impacted her teaching and learning.



As technology becomes a larger part of classrooms, how do we effectively incorporate it in a meaningful way? Amplify helps guide educators on how to incorporate technology in a way that balances a child’s need for print while also allowing a teacher to provide a future-ready education! "When introducing technological tools, we often apply the same practices and strategies we use in our daily teaching, but amplify their power with technology,” write Katie and Kristin. “We model what we want students to do with the technology, guide them to try it out with us, provide time for practice, then share as a class.” Ultimately, this book will provide strategies to inspire your students and open up a world of possibilities for teachers! Check out the book on Amazon or browse Kristin Ziemke’s website for more resources. You can also follow Kristin and Kate on Twitter. Kristin Ziemke Katie Muhtaris



Google Tip of the Week
Get training on Google Classroom

Google Classroom is an efficient and highly effective resource for teachers. One of the best tips for using Google Classroom is allowing students to post questions on a discussion board where other students can answers those questions. Let’s empower our students to help one another!



Elementary teachers, please reach out to me or your Instructional Coach to help get started with Google Classroom. We are here to help! You can also check out my 4 minute quick start video that answers the most common questions I get about Google Classroom.



Connected Educators
Twitter list for WWS Educators



Tonya Moody has created a Twitter list for all educators at Westfield. This is a great way to stay connected with other educators. You can subscribe to the list here. Tweet @MrsMoodyIC if you want to be added to the list.



Teachers Using Technology
Do you know of a great use of technology by a Westfield Teacher? Share your own technology tip with me or nominate another teacher!



Teacher of the Week: Tonya Moody, MTES Instructional Coach



Favorite Technology Items:

Top Five Blogs Recommendations


The Principal of Change-Stories of leading and learning


MindShift


The Innovative Educator


The Recovering Traditionalist


Cult of Pedagogy


Top Twitter Must Follows


Dr. Grate


Tom Loud


NCTE


Jo Boaler


Edutopia


We Are Teachers


Happify


SELinSchools


Google for Education


Education Week


Teaching Channel


Mindset Works


Teaching STEM


Three Must Haves for Teachers and Students


Google Classroom


SeeSaw


Flipgrid




Tonya uses Twitter chats to connect with other educators. This enables her to interact with Instructional Coaches around the country. Twitter chats also give Tonya the opportunity to learn and grow from leading educational voices. Start growing your PLN (Personal Learning Network) today and join a Twitter chat. Tonya recommends #Satchat every Saturday morning at 7:30 am. Ask your Instructional Coach how to participate in Twitter chats!



Tonya uses Seesaw to engage and assess students. It works because students use Seesaw as a tool to build their digital responsibility and drive their own learning and assessment. It saves time because it allows teachers to focus on small group instruction while students respond to essential questions or show their understanding on Seesaw independently.  Other benefits include building using Seesaw as a formative assessment by having the students check for understanding. Finally, it gives parents the opportunity to view student work through a digital portfolio. Seesaw is a MUST use tool!



Connect with Tonya:   moodyt@wws.k12.in.us           @MrsMoodyIC       Extension: x8625

Newsletter Blog Post Dec 2017

Posted on by Anonymous with





Westfield Washington Schools

Tech Tuesday Newsletter



December 05,  2017



Book Pick of the Week
9780325074733.jpgAmplify by Katie Muhtaris and Kristin Ziemke

Guest writer Tonya Moody shares how Amplify has impacted her teaching and learning.



As technology becomes a larger part of classrooms, how do we effectively incorporate it in a meaningful way? Amplify helps guide educators on how to incorporate technology in a way that balances a child’s need for print while also allowing a teacher to provide a future-ready education! "When introducing technological tools, we often apply the same practices and strategies we use in our daily teaching, but amplify their power with technology,” write Katie and Kristin. “We model what we want students to do with the technology, guide them to try it out with us, provide time for practice, then share as a class.” Ultimately, this book will provide strategies to inspire your students and open up a world of possibilities for teachers! Check out the book on Amazon or browse Kristin Ziemke’s website for more resources. You can also follow Kristin and Kate on Twitter. Kristin Ziemke Katie Muhtaris



Google Tip of the Week
Get training on Google Classroom

Google Classroom is an efficient and highly effective resource for teachers. One of the best tips for using Google Classroom is allowing students to post questions on a discussion board where other students can answers those questions. Let’s empower our students to help one another!



Elementary teachers, please reach out to me or your Instructional Coach to help get started with Google Classroom. We are here to help! You can also check out my 4 minute quick start video that answers the most common questions I get about Google Classroom.



Connected Educators
Twitter list for WWS Educators



Tonya Moody has created a Twitter list for all educators at Westfield. This is a great way to stay connected with other educators. You can subscribe to the list here. Tweet @MrsMoodyIC if you want to be added to the list.



Teachers Using Technology
Do you know of a great use of technology by a Westfield Teacher? Share your own technology tip with me or nominate another teacher!



Teacher of the Week: Tonya Moody, MTES Instructional Coach



Favorite Technology Items:

Top Five Blogs Recommendations


The Principal of Change-Stories of leading and learning


MindShift


The Innovative Educator


The Recovering Traditionalist


Cult of Pedagogy


Top Twitter Must Follows


Dr. Grate


Tom Loud


NCTE


Jo Boaler


Edutopia


We Are Teachers


Happify


SELinSchools


Google for Education


Education Week


Teaching Channel


Mindset Works


Teaching STEM


Three Must Haves for Teachers and Students


Google Classroom


SeeSaw


Flipgrid




Tonya uses Twitter chats to connect with other educators. This enables her to interact with Instructional Coaches around the country. Twitter chats also give Tonya the opportunity to learn and grow from leading educational voices. Start growing your PLN (Personal Learning Network) today and join a Twitter chat. Tonya recommends #Satchat every Saturday morning at 7:30 am. Ask your Instructional Coach how to participate in Twitter chats!



Tonya uses Seesaw to engage and assess students. It works because students use Seesaw as a tool to build their digital responsibility and drive their own learning and assessment. It saves time because it allows teachers to focus on small group instruction while students respond to essential questions or show their understanding on Seesaw independently.  Other benefits include building using Seesaw as a formative assessment by having the students check for understanding. Finally, it gives parents the opportunity to view student work through a digital portfolio. Seesaw is a MUST use tool!



Connect with Tonya:   moodyt@wws.k12.in.us           @MrsMoodyIC       Extension: x8625
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