Applied Digital Skills: Study Skills

WEBSITE ↬ Applied Digital Skills: Study Skills & Learning Strategies

AUDIENCE ↬ teachers & students

CONTENT ↬ all subject areas

GRADE LEVELS ↬ grades 4 & up

Google's Applied Digital Skills is a WONDERFUL ready-to-go collection of lessons and activities. This particular set of lessons - there are 4 lessons - is all about study skills. Every student will benefit from them.

If you've never checked out Applied Digital Skills, they are pre-made, mostly video based lessons. Teachers can opt to create a class within the platform OR connect it with your Google Classroom OR use it on it's own without logging in. 

DocStickers

WEBSITE ↬ DocStickers

AUDIENCE ↬ teachers

CONTENT ↬ all content

GRADE LEVELS ↬ all grades

This resource is for all of us who have students turning in digital work. (Isn't that pretty much everyone at this point?) The creator is Stephanie Filardo (@i3algebra). Her brilliant idea provides "stickers" that you can put on your student's digital work! How awesome is that?!?!

Stephanie shares an entire Google folder with pre-made stickers; a video to get you started; and a video to help you make your own!

This is a perfect time to further your tech skills AND surprise your students with some awesome stickers!

Need a spinner? Flip a coin? How about a metronome?!

WEBSITE ↬ no "website" ... just do a search for "spinner"

AUDIENCE ↬ teachers

CONTENT ↬ any/all

GRADE LEVELS ↬ all grades

I read - sometimes to a point where I wonder if I'm addicted? I came across something pretty awesome that I HAVE to share. How often have you wanted something SUPER QUICK - a spinner? Roll die? Metronome? Calculator? Color picker? Flip a coin?

Well, do a quick Google search and I bet you'll find it. And ... it's FREE. And in this digital - hybrid - remote - face-to-face - whatever situation you are in, you AND your students can use these tools.

Music teachers - be sure to check out the metronome.

Math teachers - roll a die (or multiple ones) for probability lessons

Art teachers - how about that color picker? 

Science, ELA, History and other teachers, go ahead & check them all out! I bet once you start using them, you'll see that the possibilities are endless.

All of these are cool ... now here's a warning ... if you show it to your students (which I encourage) please also note there is a tab that also gives quick access to games & toys! See screenshot below. 

Ditch That Textbook: Remote Learning 101

WEBSITE ↬ Ditch That Textbook: Remote Learning 101

AUDIENCE ↬ teachers

CONTENT ↬ any/all

GRADE LEVELS ↬ all grades

These last 3 months or so has really shined a light on the need for teachers to better understand "Remote Learning". For most of us, this period came very swiftly and unexpectedly, and we learned a lot.

Let's not lose this - let's keep moving forward and capitalize on this energy.

To help, today I'm sharing Matt Miller's FREE online course to better help teachers feel comfortable and confident when teaching remotely. Matt is known for his book and site, Ditch that Textbook. Video based and resources included, sign up and continue building your tool belt! 

Hopefully we won't need this in it's entirety again but I'd bet, some of what you learn can go a long way in helping your teaching when we are face-to-face, too!

If you are looking for MORE professional learning, I have a Wakelet with numerous FREE or low-cost opportunities. Take a peek! You just might find a gem ... and get some professional learning, too!

https://wke.lt/w/s/FEGf63

National Geographic: Learn at Home

WEBSITE #1 ↬ National Geographic: Learn at Home 

WEBSITE #2 ↬  National Geographic: Education

AUDIENCE ↬ teachers, parents, students

CONTENT ↬ any/all

GRADE LEVELS ↬ all grades

National Geographic is an amazing resource ... and it's not all strictly Science related content. (Can I say my heart skipped a beat when I saw the map resources they have???) 

I was browsing around their curated collections for the different grade levels and I was impressed with what I found. If you are a math teacher, might I suggest taking a look at the "Interpreting Data" collection? What about an ELA teacher - there is a Storytelling & Photography collection? Science teachers? So many good ones to check out - Infectious Disease, Earth Day, the Age of the Earth? History/SS teachers - yep, good stuff here for you, too - maps & finding out about explorers, might be 2 spots to start. And all of that from the Learn at Home page!

The 2nd link I've included is their Education page. Here you will find a great filtering system (type of activity, grade, and subject) to better guide you in finding something you'd like to use. There's even a decent number of professional learning activities, too!

And here's an even better piece to both of these sites ... you can click and navigate and get lost finding some pretty amazing "stuff". This is a site where being curious and willing to click around will prove beneficial and fun. You are sure to find some real treasures here.

#PodPeeks Innovator's Mindset - George Couros & Dr. Jody Carrington

YOUTUBE link ↬ Connecting with Kids & Teachers in Challenging Times - A Convo with Dr. Jody Carrington

PODCAST (ListenWise) link ↬ link to listen - (I listen via the podcast app on my phone)

AUDIENCE ↬ educators & administrators

CONTENT ↬ SEL, mental health, future of eduction, solid philosophy

GRADE LEVELS ↬ all grades 

I make no secret of the fact that I LOVE listening to podcasts. I listened to this one on my morning walk. I will admit, at first I wasn't super excited, but I thoroughly love listening to George Couros. Then as he & Dr. Jody Carrington got to talking, I became captivated. Dr. Carrington is a child psychologist and loves working with the "toughest" of our kids. (She's someone I think I'd love to have on speed-dial!)

Both George & Jody said so many wonderful things - PLEASE take the time to listen to this podcast or watch the YouTube video. If I could shout from the rooftops to listen to this, I would. Ours kids deserve it.

I won't spoil the episode for you, but there were a couple of things they said that really made an impact on me.

1 - Jody said she has this quote nearby - "Leaders must either invest a reasonable amount of time attending to the fears and feelings, or squander an unreasonable amount of time trying to manage ineffective and unproductive behaviors." ~ Brene Brown

*** Spend a minute unpacking that quote ... I've spent nearly ALL day contemplating it!

2 - All behavior has meaning. 

*** Yes! Yes, it does!

3 - George said, "School is about ensuring that every kid has the opportunity to be successful in a way that is meaningful to them." (He also noted that we often define what success is for others.)

*** Yes! Let's contemplate the purpose of school.

I now have 2 more books to go on my "Books" Wakelet ... "Kids These Days" & the soon to be released, "Teachers These Days". 

Goodness. Looks like I have a busy summer ahead! 

50 Easy Science Experiments

WEBSITE ↬ 50 Easy Science Experiments Kids Can Do At Home With Stuff You Already Have
AUDIENCE ↬ students & parents

CONTENT ↬ science

GRADE LEVELS ↬ all grades

This site is awesome! Science is everywhere and now that we have time on our hands, we can explore so much more. These experiments use simple material - most of which is found around the house.

We Are Teachers shares this awesome site perfect for families to pick and choose. And while learning, they can have some fun. Each experiment includes a link to more details and info.

Teachers - share this and encourage your students to try one of these out and then share about their experiments ... videos, writing, photos ... let them choose how they want to share.

Digital Experience Calendar

WEBSITE ↬ Digital Experience Calendar
AUDIENCE ↬ students, parents, teachers

CONTENT ↬ any/all

GRADE LEVELS ↬ all grades

I came across this website this morning during my early morning quiet time. The Digital Experience Calendar is probably hands-down the easiest and simplest calendar of all the digital events going on right now. 

What kind of events you might ask?

* Cincinnati Zoo daily safari
* drawing with Mo Willems
* karate lessons
* Virtual Marine Biology Camp
* the Metropolitan Opera.

And those are only a TINY set of examples ... for today!

It is a simple Google Calendar laying out a curated collection of the digital events being offered - from anywhere in the world - AND, if you know of an event that isn't on here, you can add it. Of the numerous events I clicked on, all seemed to have a short description, including the link to event.

I love the simple design. Literally all that is on this site is a short paragraph and the calendar. And you know what? That is perfect. That is all that is needed.

Thank you, Jonathan Redeker (@JonRedeker)! This is brilliant.

Lincoln Center at Home

WEBSITE ↬ Lincoln Center at Home
AUDIENCE ↬ students & families

CONTENT ↬ musics & the arts

GRADE LEVELS ↬ all grades

I came across this little gem today & couldn't wait to share! This site is from the Lincoln Center for Performing Arts in NYC. What a great find!

Are you & your kiddos interested in learning ballet? Listening to concerts? Sculpture class? And so much more! Check out their daily schedule and keep scrolling to find the "on demand" section.

Great addition to the routine of math and reading!

#PodPeeks: EduDuct Tape - episode #39

WEBSITE ↬ Educational Duct Tape Podcast
AUDIENCE ↬ teachers

CONTENT ↬ any/all

GRADE LEVELS ↬ all grades

I have been a BIG podcast listener for the past few years. It's a fantastic way to learn while commuting or working out.

Today I want highlight a series of episodes Jake recently put out ... all focused on shared tips & ideas about remote learning. 

• #EduDuctTape S02-E039a ↬ Live, Synchronous Video Options, Advice, Thoughts and FUN!
• #EduDuctTape S02-E039b ↬ Formative Assessment in Home Learning Situations and lots of FUN!
• #EduDuctTape S02-E039c ↬ Tracking Student Progress in #RemoteLearning

I really encourage you to take a listen. Once you start listening to these 3, I'm sure you'll find ALL of Jake's episodes are worth a listen. What a great mix of learning & fun!

***BONUS*** Jake also offers a certificate for possible PD credit for listening to most of his podcasts. Listen for the "super secret password"!

Books, Books, & more Books! (digitally)

 WEBSITE ↬ I've got several listed below ↴
AUDIENCE ↬ teachers, parents, & students

CONTENT ↬ reading

GRADE LEVELS ↬ all grades

These are unprecedented times for sure! Are you looking for ways to get books to your students? There are several ways to do this. I've found several links to sites that make books available. Check them out & share the ones appropriate for you & your families.

• We Are Teachers "The Big List of Children's Authors Doing Online Read-Alouds & Activities"

• Dolly Parton Will Read Bedtime Stories To Kids Online Every Week

• Storyline Online website

• Audible - providing FREE audio books for students while schools are closed; no account needed!

Be sure to check out social media for many authors reading their own books and sharing them out, too!

And don't forget to check out your local public library. Most have a large collection of ebooks and audio books that can be borrow digitally. 

Digital Breakouts

WEBSITES ↬ Breakout EDU "Fun at Home" & CoffeyITRT Digital Breakouts
AUDIENCE ↬ teachers, students, & families

CONTENT ↬ any/all

GRADE LEVELS ↬ any/all

As we write & create lessons for our students, don't forget about adding in a little fun while stretching your students brains. (And the best part? Families can do this together!) And this isn't meant solely for time at home - playing them IN school can also be very rewarding!

I have long been a fan of digital breakouts in connection with content. But they require a bit of thinking to plan and create. (And WELL worth the time!) Today I have 2 excellent sites with ready-to-go digital breakouts that you can share with your students & their families. I know that these are games & have the goal of being "fun" ... and that's very true! But they also require a heavy dose of problem solving and critical thinking.

Breakout EDU Fun at Home has the site broken down by grade levels, making it easy for you to find age-appropriate games to gear your students and families toward.

Tonya Coffey has her site also easily organized into categories. Love them both!!!


*** BONUS ***

Want to make your own, but you feeling intimidated? Check out Flippity.net's "Flippity Scavenger Hunt" template. Make a copy, and replace the demo's questions & answers, publish to the web, and then share the link! It's a super fun way to review content or practice knowledge.

Teach from Home

 WEBSITE ↬ Teach from Home
AUDIENCE ↬ teachers

CONTENT ↬ any/all

GRADE LEVELS ↬ all grade levels

Have you seen this? I hear the song, "We're all in this together" right now ... do you? I can't think of a time where I've felt so united with the world wide education community than now - when we are all doing our best to provide an education for our students through this unprecedented times. The sharing and support is heart-warming!

In typical Google-fashion, they have created an entire hub to support us teachers who are finding ourselves in such an unusual spot. You simply have to check out the newly released, Teach from Home website. I can't explain all the amazing-ness that is found here, but here is a quick overview.

Simple. Direct. PACKED.

The site is broken up into 6 sections:

• How do I teach remotely with video calls?
• How do I teach remotely without video calls?
• How do I make lessons accessible to all?
• How do I keep students engaged?
• How do I keep in touch with other teachers?

and ...

• Learning resources for the whole family

The final section is JAM-PACKED for families to help supplement & extend learning at home.

And a final note, personally, I love that they are referring to it as a "temporary hub" ... it gives me hope that this will not last forever. I KNOW we will come out of this. We will be stronger ... we will reunite with our students "IRL" ... and we will be even better than we were before. 

Thank you, Google! 

Storyline Online

WEBSITE ↬ Storyline Online
AUDIENCE ↬ teachers & students

CONTENT ↬ ELA

GRADE LEVELS ↬ all

Storyline Online is not new. It has been around for awhile. While this is a highly valuable resource during this time of distance learning, this is a resource that will be valuable long after. Students of all ages LOVE to be read to, even myself! Share this website with your students and their families and provide hours of reading enjoyment.

Want to level up a bit? 
Select a book for your students to read and make it a bit more interactive. Use a tool like Flipgrid or Google Classroom or even something as simple as a Google Doc for students to be able to share their thoughts (or respond to questions from you) about the book.

AND ... several of the books come with activity guides!

💖 this website!

One more thing to note --> a lot of my teachers want to do their own read alouds to their students. This sounds wonderful & personal & a fantastic way to reach out to their students. BEFORE you record & share out, remember these books all have copywrites & we need to be diligent about being responsible in our use. To help guide you, I'd like you to read "Publishers Adapt Policies To Help Educators" from the School Library Journal website (published March 18, 2020). Let's continue to be good examples for our students - near & far. 👊

***UPDATE: from Storyline Online --> "Be sure to check out the standards-based teachers' guides for each book."

Stay Connected with Video

DOCUMENT ↬ "Video Options to Help Stay Connected"
AUDIENCE ↬ teachers

CONTENT ↬ any/all

GRADE LEVELS ↬ any/all

We are one full week in to this new "reality". I'm confident it is only temporary. But it's not like a snow day ... it's going to be a few weeks. Today starts day 3 of our distance learning opportunities and I've already heard from several of my teachers they would like to connect visually with their students. At the elementary level, it is quite normal to read aloud in class. This is a relatively simple and phenomenal way to remain connected to your students. Curious how? I created a simple guide to help you out. Check out my doc "Video Options to Help Stay Connected". 

*** Note: this is by NO means a comprehensive guide. I'm not going into deep detail for most of these ideas and I only listed 5 options. Let's help ourselves out ... there are TOO many options out there and we can't possible synthesize all of them right now. I keep coming back to "simple" and "simplify". "Paralysis of choice" is a very real thing. Too many options can paralyze us. Choose one and stick with it. Good luck! *** 

Reach out if I can help. We are all in this together & I am happy to connect to assist you. I don't have all the answers, but 2 brains are always better than one. You aren't alone in this.

"Today we make it a habit to do the impossible."
~Sticker Mule