End of the Year Procedures 2014 (RCPS Teachers Only)

Here’s all the info I’ve sent out in emails over the past couple of week regarding End of the Year Procedures.  If you have questions, check here first.  :)

Bus

 

Tracbook (SOL cards) info:

Make sure sure you log into Tracbook, NOT OnTrac.  You have to change tabs before logging. A couple of people have been asking for a refresher on TracBook (for SOL cards).  I’m attaching the handout in case you have lost it. I think it will really help you out if you take a look.  The trickiest things to remember are:

  • There are no classes.  Just search for each student using the blue tab to the left.
  • You can find SOL cards under the Achievement Records Tab
  • Some people find it easier to use Tab and type the number than using the mouse.
  • Login with your email address and the password you set up at training.  If you don’t remember your password, use the “forgot my password” link on the login page.
  • Third grade must print these.  K-2 printing is determined by your principal (see them for clarification).
  • If you save all of your pdfs to a folder as you go along, you can then open up the folder, press Ctrl+A (select  ll) and then Ctrl+P (print), and all of your pdfs will print to your default printer.  Just step back and let your computer do it’s thing….
  • If you are having difficulty or technical issues, it is okay to complete SOL cards this year on paper.

Tracbook Handout

Starbase

I have set up 2-3 computers in each of the following locations for you to use to enter Starbase Grades beginning Monday, May 26thschool_a_plus.  If starbase is not on your computer, or it does not work  correctly on your computer, use one of the stations.  Here are important things to know:

  • You have to be inside our network to use Starbase.
  • Special Area teachers and K-5 teachers have to enter grades in Starbase.
  • If starbase is not on your computer, or it does not work  correctly on your computer, use one of the stations.
  • Directions are located by each computer or below.

Starbase Station Locations at GES, OGE, and CBE (computers with yellow or orange stars)

  • Computer Lab 1
  • Computer Lab 2
  • Library

Starbase Handouts:

Login info:

  • Login: School # 3 letters of last name first initial (OGE-54; CBE-45, GES-48)
  • Password:  (same for everyone)–see your computer coordinator or secretary or ask someone

Remember, the window for entering grades will not be open until Monday, May 26.  No, it will not work before then.

Summer Laptop Checkout

If you are transferring to another school next year, retiring, or otherwise leaving RCPS, I will need to collect your laptop and all accessories (docking station, keyboard, mouse, & 2 power cords) prior to you leaving on last teacher work day.  If you are a teacher at Glenvar or Oak Grove, you will also need to turn in your iPad, case, charger, and VGA cables (OGE only).  Please email me so we can make arrangements!

If you are returning to the same school next year and want to use your laptop and iPad over the summer, your original agreement allows for this.  If you’d prefer not to take your laptop or iPad home over the summer, please email your computer coordinator or I so we can make arrangements to store your them in a safe area for the summer.

school_joy
New Laptops Next Year (Oak Grove Only)

Exciting news… New teacher laptops are being ordered this summer!    Yay!!! You have this summer to start thinking about how you can be ready to make the transition when we come back next year.

Be aware that you will turn in your old laptop as well as all accessories (docking station, two/three power cords, a keyboard, mouse, and speakers) when the new laptops arrive.

Make arrangements to back up your Internet Explorer Favorites as well as any documents that are stored in locations other than the My Documents folder prior to the date that the new laptops are distributed. Anything in My Documents should be available to you as soon as you sync the new laptop in your school building. If you have been ignoring a My Documents message folder that says “Server Disk is full” during synchronization, please take care of that problem before you transition to the new laptop.  Teachers will not be allowed to keep the D630s once the new laptops have been distributed.

If you are using Internet Explorer 8, this link gives step-by-step directions about how to export and import Favorites. Please let your computer coordinator or me know if you need help.

Also, make a list of any personal software that is important to you on your D630. For example, you may want to add printer software for your home printer. This will help you remember what was important to you so that you can install it on your new laptop.

schools_out (1)

 

 

End of the Year Procedures (RCPS Teachers Only)

Here’s all the info I’ve sent out in emails over the past couple of week regarding End of the Year Procedures.  If you have questions, check here first.  :)

Bus

 

Tracbook (SOL cards) info:

Make sure sure you log into Tracbook, NOT OnTrac.  You have to change tabs before logging in. http://www.interactiveachievement.com/Teacher-Login/VA-TRACbookA couple of people have been asking for a refresher on TracBook (for SOL cards).  I’m attaching the handout in case you have lost it. I think it will really help you out if you take a look.  The trickiest things to remember are:

  • There are no classes.  Just search for each student using the blue tab to the left.
  • You can find SOL cards under the Achievement Records Tab
  • Some people find it easier to use Tab and type the number than using the mouse.
  • Login with your email address and the password you set up at training.  If you don’t remember your password, use the “forgot my password” link on the login page.
  • Third grade must print these.  K-2 printing is determined by your principal (see them for clarification).
  • If you save all of your pdfs to a folder as you go along, you can then open up the folder, press Ctrl+A (select  ll) and then Ctrl+P (print), and all of your pdfs will print to your default printer.  Just step back and let your computer do it’s thing….

Tracbook Handout

Starbase

I have set up 2-3 computers in each of the following locations for you to use to enter Starbase Grades beginning Friday, May school_a_plus31st.  If starbase is not on your computer, or it does not work  correctly on your computer, use one of the stations.  Here are important things to know:

  • You have to be inside our network to use Starbase.
  • Special Area teachers and K-5 teachers have to enter grades in Starbase.
  • If starbase is not on your computer, or it does not work  correctly on your computer, use one of the stations.
  • Directions are located by each computer or below.

Starbase Station Locations at GES, OGE, and CBE (computers with yellow or orange stars)

  • Computer Lab 1
  • Computer Lab 2
  • Library

Starbase Handouts:

Login info:

  • Login: School # 3 letters of last name first initial (OGE-54; CBE-45, GES-48)
  • Password:  (same for everyone)–see your computer coordinator or secretary or ask someone

Remember, the window for entering grades will not be open until Friday, May 31.  No, it will not work before then.

Summer Laptop Checkout

If you are transferring to another school next year, retiring, or otherwise leaving RCPS, I will need to collect your laptop and all accessories (docking station, keyboard, mouse, & 2 power cords) prior to you leaving on last teacher work day.  Please email me so we can make arrangements!

If you are returning to the same school next year and want to use your laptop over the summer, your original agreement allows for this.  If you’d prefer not to take your laptop home over the summer, please email your computer coordinator or I so we can make arrangements to store your laptop in a safe area for the summer.

school_joyNew Laptops Next Year (Glenvar and Clearbrook Only)

Exciting news… New teacher laptops are being ordered this summer!    Yay!!! You have this summer to start thinking about how you can be ready to make the transition when we come back next year.

Be aware that you will turn in your old laptop as well as all accessories (docking station, two/three power cords, a keyboard, mouse, and speakers) when the new laptops arrive.

Make arrangements to back up your Internet Explorer Favorites as well as any documents that are stored in locations other than the My Documents folder prior to the date that the new laptops are distributed. Anything in My Documents should be available to you as soon as you sync the new laptop in your school building. If you have been ignoring a My Documents message folder that says “Server Disk is full” during synchronization, please take care of that problem before you transition to the new laptop.  Teachers will not be allowed to keep the D630s once the new laptops have been distributed.

If you are using Internet Explorer 8, this link gives step-by-step directions about how to export and import Favorites. Please let your computer coordinator or me know if you need help.

Also, make a list of any personal software that is important to you on your D630. For example, you may want to add printer software for your home printer. This will help you remember what was important to you so that you can install it on your new laptop.

schools_out (1)

 

 

Blog Excitement

There is quite a bit of excitement in the 4th and 5th grade hall at one of my schools.  And believe it or not, it’s all about WRITING.  Yep!  Writing journal entries, writing free writes, writing news reviews, writing assignments.  Why? Because students here are using blogs to write!

After a few lessons on safety, blog set up, writing blog posts, and commenting on blogs, these students took their blogs and ran with them.  It amazes me every time I walk in the computer lab and hear excited writing discussions, or in the hall or lunch room.  I even heard a group of students discussing what they wrote (or were going to write) outside on the playground!  And really, they have just scratched the surface.  They have been commenting on each other’s blogs, but really staying within their own school.  Today I challenged them to branch out and read other class’ blogs around the world.  And once again, the excitement was palpable…

I want to try and encourage their efforts by finding folks to comment on their blogs as well.  I’ve been following the #comments4kids hashtag on Twitter, and reading through the Comments4Kids site to find other similar classrooms.  And now, I’m posting here too in hopes that you might have  a moment to leave a comment (and a location) on one of their blog entries.  If you have time, here they are:

5th Grade

A big, big thanks in advance, and an offer to return the favor.  Leave me a comment (with a url) if you want me to comment on some of your students’ blogs!

Exciting News: ActivExpressions!!

ExpressionsA set of ActivExpressions will be arriving at Oak Grove, Clearbrook, and Glenvar Elementary.  I’m so excited for you and your students!!  The ActivExpressions work much like the ActiVotes, BUT they also include features that allow you to ask more than just multiple choice questions.  Now, using the Expressions, students can “text” in answers…and do things like put a series of items in order, or rate something on a Likert scale.  The kids are going to love them!

I have a flipchart which I’ve altered (Debbie Dawson created the orginal form) that we can use to introduce both you and your students to the ActivExpressions.  After you get an idea of how they work, I also have directions for creating your own activities!!  If you are interested in having me come into your room with the Expressions, just send me an email and let me know.

O.R.E.O.s

First Grade classes around the county participated in an O.R.E.O. project, including Mrs. Chapman’s class, Mrs. Williams’ class, Mrs. Braun’s class,  and all of Oak Grove’s First Grade!   It was tons of fun, and it all centered around cookies!!

Students stacked cookies to see how tall of a tower they could make before it tumbled and tallied their results. Then, they entered results on a spreadsheet to find a class average and to view a graph.  They discussed the data using words like greather than, less than, and equal to (see example below). 

Oreo Project Example

Oreo Project Example

Click here for a  blank version of the spreadsheet.

Finally, they entered their data into a project database that included data from across the United States, and even a few other countries! To view the project results (including a map of all the participants), click here!  Globally, the class average for stacks was 18 cookies!

 

Here’s a few pictures from the event:
O.R.E.O. Project 2009 on PhotoPeach

Oh…and just in case your wondering, we did NOT eat the ones we stacked! ;)

McGlothlin Award Nomination Call

apple2Do you know a wonderful teacher who deserves recognition?  What about a chance to travel and bring “the world” back to their classroom?  If so, please consider nominating this teacher for the McGlothlin Award.  This Award is one of the largest monetary awards in the country ($25,000,  $10,000 of which must be spent on international travel), provided by the very generous McGlothlin foundation.  Their goal is to recognize teachers for their hard work, reward them, and inspire others to enter the teaching profession.  It is open to full-time elementary or secondary teachers of core curriculum areas within the Blue Ridge PBS broadcast area.  To check to see if your division is eligible, look here.  Teachers must have five years experience and plan to continue teaching in the years to come.

This year they are opening nominations to the public and asking that all entry materials be sent electronically, to mcglothlin@blueridgepbs.org
The following elements should be sent no later than November 6, 2009:

Resume or curriculum vitae that lists the nominee’s
• education history
• employment history
• continuing professional development
• awards/honors
• conference or other presentations
• volunteer service to the community

Three letters of recommendation, forwarded from the authors.  (Suggested sources: principals, supervisors, parents, colleagues, current or former students.)

Nominees must provide a personal statement about their teaching (limit is two (2) typewritten pages) that demonstrates how they fulfill the criteria of the McGlothlin Awards. Please include the answers to these important points:
• How do you bring the world to your classroom?
• Where would you choose to spend $10,000 of your award for international travel?

Click here if you’d like more information about nominating someone you know!