Recently, CISD teachers (PK-12th grade), administrators and students (3rd – 12th grade) participated in the beginning of the year Clarity – BrightBytes technology survey. This data collection was the first time CISD (district-wide) utilized Clarity-Bright Bytes to survey and measure how our technology program(s) are impacting student learning.With the first set of data collected, the district technology plan will be reviewed and modified to better support the development of...
What is your brand? No, I don’t mean are you a Coke or Pepsi person (even we all know Coke is the better choice). What I am asking is, when a student found out that they were going to be in your classroom for this school year, what do you think their reaction was? Was it, “Yes! I’m in Mrs. Batchko’s class she’s...
I absolutely love Popplet! My students and I will be using it on a weekly basis to create anchor charts, organize thoughts, assess understanding or help students create connections of concepts. What is Popplet? (directly from their website) "In the classroom and at home, students use Popplet for learning. Used as a mind-map, Popplet helps students think and learn visually. Students can capture...
Put a mouth on anything and make it talk with Chatterpix and Chatterpix Kids! App: ChatterPix - by Duck Duck Moose Cost: Free Lesson Ideas: - Shapes: Have students take pictures or find pictures online of various shapes and then have them explain the attributes and the name - Hero essay? Have students fine a picture of their hero and then have them...
When creating lessons are you SMART with your time? Do you create all your Smart Notebook lesson from scratch? Every unit I taught I would always curate all of my resources into a Smart Notebook file, this would prevent me from searching my computer for files and it kept me on pace... I have the tendency start a lesson about elapsed time and...
What if you could wirelessly project and RECORD (YES RECORD, YES LIKE SCREENCAST/RECORD YOUR IPAD SCREEN) everything that was created on the iPad, iPhone or iPod, on your SMART Board?! Well with Reflector you can! Software: Reflector Cost: Free to CISD Employees or $12.99 Lesson Ideas: - In math students use tons of little maninpluatives to better understand concepts, well instead of having to...
App: Sock Puppets is a Apple device app that allows students to create digital puppet shows that can be uploaded to YouTube. Cost: free, 30 second of recording Lesson Ideas: - Drama: in ELA have students write a script and then act it out so they understand the components of a script - Summarize: have students summarize a story by putting on a puppet...
Perhaps it's me being ADHD but, the mention of any meeting seems to make me run in the other direction. Maybe it's the thought of having to sit still, not being able to check my email, or just the idea of being in a closed area with a bunch of people... yes I know, I'm a very special person. This past week I...
Yesterday I had the opportunity to take part in and witness something pretty spectacular. I was in Ms. Camille Waters Cardenas' pre-kindergarten classroom and her students were logging into their student accounts and accessing word documents! I know this may sound pretty simple, basic or lower level to you but let me explain what a pre-kindergarten students has to obtain in order to do...
