TPACK Deconstructed in 3 Minutes

This summer I had the opportunity to do some Tech work with a progressive school district. One of the assignments I was given was to create a 3 minute video presentation on TPACK geared toward school administrators.

Each year our teachers get busier and more is asked of them. Each year technology changes, improves and seeps more into our kids' lives. I have noticed that each year more teachers resist technology (understandably so). This presentation is aimed to help teachers understand TPACK and help us understand TPACK as tech support specialists. When we understand the best methodology to apply successful tech our teachers' success skyrockets.

Best App to Intro Coding

We went through a TON of resources in December as we tackled the Hour of Code. Before we return to school I am sifting through what worked, what wasn't great, what we will use again. At the top of the  Use Again list is Cargo-Bot, a FREE APP from Two Lives Left. There is a .99 version available and I have not used that so I can not speak to any improvements or advantages that offers. The free version kept Coders of ALL ages engaged and productive.

It is interesting to note that Cargo-Bot was created entirely ON an iPad using the App Codea. Codea is available in the App store for a 14.99 fee and is hailed as the "Garage Band" of coding.

Cargo-Bot is not new but I have found it to be more effective than many Apps out there. In a striking visual way CB breaks down the process of Coding. There are instant consequences when you don't think through your problem solving.CB also introduces the language of Coding along with the thought process.

Educator Protectiveness Plan - The Best Three Essential Oils for Your Healthy School Year

As a family, we have been using essential oils for a few years. My youngest daughter has asthma and oils brought relief when nothing else did, and our use grew from there. It is fair to say that essential oils are a weekly if not daily part of our lives.

As a staff we have been using essential oils just this year. The uses are endless and the effectiveness is amazing (each time)! It is easy to become overwhelmed so I put together this easy gift pack for educators interested in essential oils. Could I add and add and add? Of COURSE! But I reflected for some time and came back to these three essential oils.

We go through some Frankincense. I consider this a universal oil and effective by itself or when combined. No list or group would be complete without Frankincense.

Thaves - or Four Thieves, as it most commonly known. I can NOT begin to communicate how much I love this oil. Cooties coming? Thaves. Caught the Cooties? Thaves. In my house this is mixed with Lemon in a gelcap and given every other day to my daughter with asthma. My daughter in college applies her topically when she feels something coming on.

Clary Sage. Before I begin, this image came directly from Edens Garden. I purchase all of my oils directly from Edens Garden and have been thrilled with the quality, service and prices they offer. I can not get behind multi level marketing and paying three times the amount for a middle man. Click on the link above to go directly to Edens Garden (there is no compensation from EG for this post).

OK, Clary Sage - in my building we are 99% women and this is known as the Women's Oil for good reason. The infograph mentions many uses but it does NOT mention that Clary Sage lets you get a good night's sleep INSTEAD of waking up dripping in sweat. When I apply Clary Sage to the bottom of my feet before bed I sleep through the night. When I wake up I may be sweaty but I slept through the night and we all know that when we don't sleep not only do we suffer but our classes do also.

As I mentioned, there are many other Oils I use throughout the week but I felt that this trio is a great start for someone new to Oils.

Design Thinking Process - Free Downloads!

 We use Design Thinking almost every day as I am sure most schools and teachers do. What is new for us is naming the process. The process is intuitive and it's fun to hear a 2nd grader say "Ideate".

Click on the link above to download the whole set of stars I created to make a bulletin board so we can all become familiar with Design Thinking and each step.

Board Games to Support the Hour of Code in the Library - LINKS to TARGET SPECIALS THIS WEEK

As a STEM School, the Hour of Code is like our Super Bowl. Well, maybe like Playoffs but it is a week we plan for and facilitate throughout the school.

Usually in the Library I intro and we have activities that physically show the kids what it is to Code and Program. This may include a lot of cup stacking, instruction writing and executing along with path walking.

That happens the week after Thanksgiving into the first week of December. During the actual Hour of Code (December 7-13 2015) activities progress to the MacLab where our Tech Facilitator intros the online/ actual tech Coding in "The Hour of Code".

The best online resource for this is hands down the official Hour of Code website. Each year the games, intros, promos and extended activities are new and improved. Definitely NOT the same old same old. Click on the link above to go directly there.

So that's the norm but I am THRILLED to have discovered a fabulous group of actual CODING BOARD GAMES to use in the Library. These will arrive the week after Thanksgiving and I expect they will rotate as centers through the Winter.

THIS WEEK, NOVEMBER 22 - 29, TARGET IS RUNNING A BUY 2 GET ONE FREE GAME SPECIAL ALONG WITH FREE SHIPPING ON ALL OFFERS.  If you click on the game below you will go straight to the Target Website. *Cubelets excluded, those are available only through ModRobotics or Amazon*

Buddy the Elf Visits the Library - FREE DOWNLOAD!

Buddy the Elf is visiting the Library this year! I have multiple board opportunities in the library and I plan on using/ creating different Buddy phrases throughout.

Click on the Picture Above to Download for Free!

The next step to using this in the Library is to upload the file to Poster Razor and turn it into a large scale display that fits your needs. I love it and I use it weekly to create exactly what we need in the Library.  

Click HERE  to see my post with step by step directions for using Poster Razor - it REALLY is a tool you will value!

Balloons Over Broadway Brought to Life in the Library - Activity, History Of Parade Video

Balloons Over Broadway has long been my absolute favorite Thanksgiving Book. Kids are fascinated by the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and this book lays out the progression of this tradition in an accessible way.

This year I had a little extra money in the Library budget and thought bringing in helium balloons for the kids to design would be fun. (* Last week the 4/5 graders designed their own floats on Tinkercad but ran into problems when 3D printing).

 What I DID NOT expect was the amazing thinking the kids would use after designing their floats. Not all kids wanted their floats to work straight up so that led to much experimenting with strings and placement so the floats would "articulate" like Tony Sarg's creations.

I only did this with one third grade class - at 20.00 per class it would have been to expensive to spread through the school. That's too bad because kids were engaged, they applied the Design Thinking Process and their creativity - a lot of fun!