Flipgrid

https://info.flipgrid.com/

Create a wall/page where students can share ideas and respond to questions using quick, short videos!  It's easy, fun and has more potential classroom uses that I can count... like a digital "I Wonder" wall, exit slips, essential questions, your class newsletter......

Here's my first Flipgrid... 


Flipgrid's Library of Ideas (Topics of Discovery)

Even more ways to Use Flipgrid

Downloadable instructions for teachers and students!

Getting Started Video (2 minutes)



Quick Walkthrough Video from Flipgrid on Vimeo.

Adobe Spark!

Adobe Spark is a graphic design app that enables you to create 3 types of projects: a post, a web story or a video.

Classroom Uses

• Sight word proficiency
• Narrative prompts /Story starters/Creative storytelling
• Book reports
• An alternative to written assignments 
• Research/Genius Hour reports
• Field-trip reports/ 
• Vacation Journals
• Student portfolios
• Classroom newsletters 

Here are 7 simple steps to create your own a Spark video!

Create an account and log in to https://spark.adobe.com

Rotating Pictures

Rotate Pictures in Bulk

The simplest  way to rotate a bunch of pictures at once is to use your Windows laptop.  Once the pictures are in a folder on your laptop, you can select all the pictures you want to rotate, right click on one of them and choose the rotate left or rotate right option.  



Then, if needed, the whole folder can be uploaded to your Google Drive.

Rotate One Picture

If you have only one picture to rotate, or you want you students to rotate a picture, your best bet is PixlrExpress (https://pixlr.com/express/). You can use a Chromebook or your Windows computer.

Click Browse and choose a picture from your computer or your Google Drive

Click Adjustments>Rotate

When you are finished, click Apply

Then Save your picture to your computer or your Drive

PS.. I LOVE PixlrExpress for basic photo editing and especially making collages.  It is quick and simple to use.  You should check it out!  

Home Button in Chrome & ClassLink

​To set your home button in Chrome...

Go to your Chr​ome settings

Enable the show home button.

Type the website you want to open whenever you hit the home button.

Hint:  If you want it ti be the ClassLink page for RTSD26 staff, type http://launchpad.classlink.com/rivertrails

If you want to be able to use the Sign in with Google button on ClassLink, you must
1.  Log into ClassLink
2.  Go to the profile dropdown arrow on the top right
3.  Click My Profile
4.  Click Sign In Options
5.  Connect to Google.

Drive Slides (Faculty Meeting 1/11/17)

This extension creates and instant Google slide show from pictures with in any folder on your Google Drive! Great way to organize, present and even print your pictures from Drive! 

Get it at the Chrome Web Store!!

"DriveSlides allows you to create a Google Slides presentation out of images in a Google Drive folder. Simply open a folder in Google Drive that contains JPG, PNG or GIF images. Press the DriveSlides Chrome extension icon to open the Google Slides presentation with your images automatically added. The Slides are created in your Google Drive, within the same folder." - Description from Web Store

Too Many Extensions?

The Chrome Web Store has so many great extensions that enhance the functionality of the Chrome browser.  Extensions can help keep you organized, make it easier to share information, save you time, declutter websites... the list goes on.  Unfortunately, having too many extensions running can slow down your machine.

I can admit, I have way too many extensions.  I don't use all of them everyday, but I know once I delete one, I'll need it in a day or two and have to go to the store and download it again.  So they keep piling up and taking up space on my tool bar.

Introducing the Extensity extension!  (Yes, it is a little ironic that getting yet another extension will solve my problem.)

Extensity allows you to easily turn on/off extensions from your extension tool bar!  It can declutter your toolbar and give you more room to see website addresses!  

Look these AMAZING results!!! 

Before Extensity




After Extensity


The extensions are still there... within seconds I can turn on anyone I need.  They just aren't wasting space or memory when I'm not using them.  I love it!!!

Sketch Pad 3.5

Sketch Pad 3.5 is the closet drawing app to KidPix that I've found... and I've been looking for a while. Chose different brush sizes, add text boxes, stamps, shapes, clipart and even use the web cam to take a pic of yourself!  The background can even be transparent in case you want to add a graphic to a website, slide or doc!

Google Tone

You can use Google Tone to send the URL for any web page, including news stories, pictures, documents,YouTube videos to  any computer within earshot (that also has the Google Tone extension installed and turned ON). 

Visit the Chrome Web Store to install the extension!

https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/google-tone/nnckehldicaciogcbchegobnafnjkcne?hl=en

You Tube AdBlocker Extension

YouTube is an awesome resource for teachers, but the commercials that automatically play can really stop the flow of your lesson.  If you are using Chrome as your browser, you can get rid of those annoying adds using the AdBolock extension!

When you visit YouTube, an icon will automatically appear in your omnibox reminding you that the extension is working!

Find the extension in the Chrome Web Store!

Padlet

Need a quick and easy assessment tool?  Create a Padlet in seconds hand have your students post to your wall!

The wall can be shared via email, with a link on your website, embeded on your website or with a QR Code!

There is a Padlet app at the chrome store!

Thanks for sharing Mrs. Polenzani and Mrs. Flessas!

Oct 7 Staff Meeting Tips

Make Chrome your default browser

1.  Click the little 3 lines on the top right of your Chrome browser

2.  Click Settings

3.  Click  Make Google Chrome the Default

Google Image Search - Safer Alternatives

Subscription Services
United Streaming
Ebsco Kids Search
Britannica Elementary
World Book Kids
World Book Students

Search Engines
KidzSearch
Google Junior
GoGooligans

Adding a Bookmark to Your Google Doc

 Create the bookmark first.

1. Click where you want to place the bookmark in your document.
2. Click the Insert drop-down menu
3. Select Bookmark
4. Create a link to a bookmark

 Then, create a link to a bookmark

1. Highlight the text you'd like to link from
2. Click the Insert drop-down menu and select Link
3. In the 'Edit Link' window, select the 'Bookmark' option to see the bookmarks you've created
4. Click the bookmark you'd like to link to
5. Click OK.

Powtoon

Powtoon is a free, simple, web-based presentation tool.  For chrome users, there is a Powtoon app in the Chrome store!


Teachers and students can use Powtoon for book reports, tutorials, current events, research reports, vocabulary development, study guides... Just log in using your google account and get started!

My Sample: Critical Vocabulary Chapter 3

(I know what your thinking!  You hit the jackpot by reading this today! Not only do you learn about an amazing presentation tool, you can get my answers to the Critical Vocab Chapter 3 Assignment... I can't guarantee they are correct, but use them however you want!!)

Math Apps form the Chrome Store

If you are using a Chrome browser and you are signed in,

you can get apps from the Chrome Store.

Chrome apps are actually just links to websites.  You can add any of these links to your own website for your students to use.   You do not need a chromebook to use these apps.  Many of these sites also work in internet explorer.

Here are some Math Apps that are pretty cool!

Sokikom - 30 Day Trial…

Common Core Aligned Math for Grades 1-6

Usually I don’t get excited about free-trials, but I think this one is worth it!

• Super teacher friendly interface
• Quick and easy online teacher tour
• Pre-assessment assigns appropriate lessons
• Lessons, instructional help videos, and games

If you want to wait a month and see whether it is worth it or not, Mrs. Suchecki is using my 30 day trial.  So we will know more in 30 days!

Splash Math - 30 Day Trial

Common Core Aligned Math for Grades 1-5

• Interactive Math Lessons
• Fun, engaging games
• Monitor your class with a quick glance
• Easy-to-generate class reports

Hundreds Grid - Customize, color and play with a hundreds chart!  Love it!!!

Math Jong...fun game you can play with your kids (grades 3-5).

SmartKids Maths - free lite version… cute math games for k-2.

Numbers Game - 1-4 players… make 24 with given numbers and operations.

Hidato -Math a path through the bee-hive with this Logic game.

Use And Set Browser Tabs

Make your internet surfing more productive and efficient by customizing your browsers home page and tabs.

Watch this YouTube Video

Written instructions Chrome Set Home Page Tab Set Multiple Home Page Tabs Internet Explorer Set Home Page FireFox Set Home Page Tab Set Multiple Home Page tabs

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!

Staff Meeting Tips Oct 9

1.  Anatomy of Chrome
2.  Search Bar vs. Address Bar
3. Pin Tabs and Restore Closed Tabs

Chrome's New Look

You may have noticed that when you open a new tab in Chrome you no longer see your icons for apps/sites like Gmail or Google Drive.

To find those icons you will need to click the little Apps icon near the top left corner of your browser.

You can also add bookmarks to your favorite apps/sites...

Or set tabs to open to your favorite apps/sites...