QR Code in Action

One of Mary Flessas' students used an app called Educreations to create a math tutorial for other students to use when they need help with double digit addition.  She laminated the QR code and put it in her math center for other students to use!  A copy of the code could also be sent home with students who struggle with their homework.

Staff Meeting Tips - January 22nd

1.  Instead of using Google Image search, try these alternatives

http://school.eb.com/levels/elementary

http://goo.gl/uoYeJL

http://www.worldbookonline.com/kids/home

http://goo.gl/tVZDhd

2.  There is a Chat feature in G Mail.  Access it by clicking the text bubble at the bottom of the right hand task bar

 and manage your chats by click Chats in your label list. 

3.  There is also a video chat feature in G Mail - Google Hangouts.  Click the little video recorder icon and type in the email addresses of people you want to talk to.  You can video chat or hangout with up to 10 people at once!

  

QR Codes

If you  don't know what a QR code is, or you missed the January 21st inservice on QR Codes.  Here is the presentation.
http://goo.gl/rK0KZc 

In case you need more ideas...
Here are some additional resources.

Reflection Generator (Printable Template Available!)

Scholastic's "Ways to Use QR codes for Education"
12 Ideas For Teaching with QR Codes
Around The World in 80 Days

St. Patrick's Day Lesson (From TCI)

St Patrick_Complete Lesson by TCI

Teaching Kids News

Looking for current events articles written for kids?  I frequently use DOGONews, but I came across another resource that has articles about World News, Entertainment, Sports, Science and More!

Teaching Kids News

Internet Safety Reminder #1

Even though they are considered digital natives, our students need some guidance navigating cyberspace. Internet safety should be addressed frequently and authentically.  So next time your students are online, remind them that if they ever encounter anything online that seems strange, makes them feel uncomfortable or upset they should tell a trusted adult!

Internet Safety - Parental Controls

Tips to Keep Your Children Safe Online

Parents have an uphill battle keeping up with the new technologies and websites in order to keep their families safe.  Here at Indian Grove, we understand the challenge and would like to share some tips and tools to make this responsibility a bit more manageable.

Learn the basics of the internet at LearnTheNet.com.  If you still have some questions about the internet, or feel your kids know more than you do, this is a great place to start!

Start a “Chat” with your children.  Talk to you kids about their online activities.  What are their favorite websites or online games?  Find out who your children are talking to online and what they are talking about.

Take advantage of Parental Controls.  Many operating systems, video game consoles, internet browsers and cell phone providers offer parental controls that allow you to restrict websites, monitor activity and limit access… you can even stop/block texting and phone calls during certain hours of the day!

Windows Parental Controls

Mac Parental Controls

iPad/iPod/iPhone Parental Controls

Android Parental Controls

Chrome Browser Supervised User

Mozilla Firefox Parental Controls

Verizon Wireless Parental Controls

AT&T Parental Control

Sprint Parental Controls

A Parent’s Guide to Video Games (Parental Controls)

Share a Video!

Would you like to share the video of morning announcements with your parents?  The videos are saved in a Dropbox folder and it is very simple to get a link to the video and email it to parents!

DropBox is a cloud storage service.  Sign up for a free account, download a small app/program onto your devices/computers and drag or upload any type of file to your dropbox account.  That box, and everything inside it, lives in the cloud.  Transfer files from one device to another, share files with friends or just store files in the cloud!

When you open a file picture or video that is stored in a DropBox, You will find the "Get Link" icon somewhere on your screen.  

After clicking the "Get Link"

 icon you can use the on-screen dialog box to email the link!  

Or you can lick "Get Link" and the link will be copied to your clipboard.  You can paste it into an email or document!

TFK's Trip to Antarctica

Not only does Time For Kids have a great website packed with current event articles, content specific mini-sites, photos and videos, this month they will be having a live, free  webinar with a scientist in Antarctica.  Teachers need to fill in an online registration form and then your students can use TFK's website to read all about Antarctica.  Student's can then submit questions for the scientist.  On Thursday Jan 23rd from 12-1, your class can tune in and meet a real-life scientist!

Jazz Up Your Email Signature

Visit the Chrome Store and install the WiseStamp extension so you can design a fancy email signature for GMail!  Here's My new Signature!

You can create multiple signatures... maybe one for parents/colleagues and a different one for students? When you Compose a new email there will be a wise stamp button at the bottom that allows you to easily switch between signatures!

Go To to the Chrome Store

Search for WiseStamp and click Add To Chrome or Free+


A WiseStamp icon will appear on the right of your address bar.  Click edit WiseStamp and start creating!

Send from Gmail (by Google)

Now that we are using GMail,  you may have been missing two convenience  features of Microsoft Outlook...

• Automatically compose an email when you click any email address on a webpage. 
• Send Page by email - allowing you to automatically send a link to a webpage to someone without copying and pasting the address.

Well Google has created a fix for this... it is an extension called Send from GMail (By Google).

This extension is available for free from the Chrome Store and, once installed, can be located at the right of your Chrome Browser's address bar.