Plickers

Do you have a cell phone or iPad?  Do your students have limited access to online devices?  Then Plickers might be for you!  Plickers is a simple tool that lets teachers collect real-time formative assessment data without the need for student devices.

Setting Up Plickers is Easy!

Plickers Icon - Blue
Step 1: Teacher downloads the Plickers mobile app.  It is free for both iOSand Android – find them on the App Store and on Google Play. It will work on iPads too (just make sure to search for iPhone app)!

Sample Card Image
Step 2: Print Plickers cards.

Step 3: Set up Classes on Plickers Website.

Step 4: Add Questions on the Plickers Website.

Step 5: On the mobile app, choose the question you want to use.

Step 6: Have students hold up cards with the correct answer facing right-side up.  Scan the room with your phone/iPad.

Step 7: Use LiveView Tab on the Website to display results to students.

Step 8: Use Scoresheet under Reports on the Website to monitor student progress, save time on grading, and run detailed reports.

Check out this Slide Show for Help getting started or watch the video below:

How will you use Plickers in your classroom?  I can’t wait to hear about it!

 

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)

 

 

Mission 005 — Latitude and Longitude

Mission 005

Need a fun, cross curricular way to introduce Latitude and Longitude to your students?  Here’s a Math/Social Studies Lesson using spies, secret codes, and google earth.  What can be better than that?

It addresses Math SOL 4.15, 5.14 and Global Studies SOL GS.1.

First, make sure students understand how to use Google Earth to find specific points on Earth using latitude and longitude.  You will want to make sure that the status bar in google earth is showing (View>Status Bar) so that you can clearly see the latitude and location of your point on the globe. You will also want to cut off all layers except those that show countries.

If you are using the Google Earth App on an iPad (or iPod), make sure to change a few settings.
Check out How to Change Settings in Google Earth by Tina Coffey on Snapguide.

Students also need some background in finding patterns in a series of numbers.  It may also help if they’ve done a bit of code breaking before (although it’s not necessary).  Then, present groups of students with their secret envelope and access to Google Earth, and sit back to see what they can figure out!

Here’s are the documents to create your own Mission packets:
Mission 005 – Latitude and Longitude

I’m working on a follow up STEM activity that has students designing their own codes.  I’ll add it when I’m done.

 

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)

 

 

Signing Out of iTunes Store on SPED iPads

For Roanoke County SPED Teachers Only!

Here is a quick How-To on signing out of the iTunes Store.  The steps are simple:

Go to Settings>iTunes and App Stores

Click where it says Apple ID: xxxxxxx@gmail.com

Choose Sign Out.

Remember that SPED iTunes Accounts are not to be used to purchase apps…only to update the existing ones on your iPad.  Your iPad should never be logged into SPED accounts in the area above.

 

Help! My Screen is Sideways!

I sometimes have teachers email me about this problem, so it makes sense to have a blog post that tells them what happened, and how to fix it.

It may have been by accident (at least the first time), but once kids learn this fun trick, they are apt to try it again.  And you have to admit, it IS kind of funny!

To turn a screen sideways or upside down, push one of the arrow keys while keeping Ctrl and Alt held down. The left and right keys will rotate the screen 90 degrees, and the down key will flip the screen upside down.

To fix it, push the key that points in the direction that you want the top of the screen to point. This means that pushing Ctrl+Alt+Up will return the screen to normal.