Free Cloud MacBook Back Up- 10 Minutes or Less!

Backing Up Your MacBook Files in the Google Drive Cloud

1. Go to https://tools.google.com/dlpage/drive

2. Double click on download

3. Click drag the google drive icon onto the folder icon

4. Go to Finder (click on your desktop) > Go (at the top in the menu bar) >Click on Applications > Double Click on Google drive

5. Click open

6. Click sign in now, go ahead and sign in with your google drive account

7. Click start sync

8. You may have to type in your MacBook user password

9. Now, a google drive folder will appear in your finder. Anything you drag there (hold down the option key- you will see a green plus sign appear then release) will be backed up into your drive account. 

FREE Photo Auto Cloud Back Up

FREE Auto- Cloud Back Up on Your iPhone, iPad

As always, I promise these steps are super quick and easy.. and incredibly functional as well! After following these few simple steps, your photos will auto-back up into the google + cloud. What this means is if your device gets run over by a car, your photos will all be saved, for FREE! Educationally, this means you have quick, easy access to photos your students take with their iPad for computer-based projects. (Tweet me if you’d like more ideas on this)

1. Go to https://plus.google.com 

2. Sign in with your gmail, yahoo, or google account and upgrade to a Google + account (it’s free!) 

3. Now, download the Google + app on your device (iPhone, iPad) - It’s available for free in the app store when you search for google plus

4. Open the app. Push “get started” 

5. Now you can add your google + account that you want to use for auto back up. 

6. Make sure the box that says back up existing photos and videos is checked, then select turn  on auto back up. 

If you already have the google + app and want to do an auto back up follow these directions: 

1. Select the = on the upper left hand side of the screen (the app should be open, and you should be signed into your account)

2. Select the gear shifter button on the top right hand side to view your settings.

3. Select camera and photos. 

4. Make sure Auto Backup is on. 

Now you can view your photos by accessing your Google + account via the Internet.

Access your google plus account (if you aren't sure how to do this just google Google plus)

Click on the small square of 9 squares. 

Click on Google +

On the left hand side scroll over where the page says home and some options will appear, click on photos. 

Now you can download/organize your photos.  

QR Quick Checks

Create Quick Checks for Students

Here is a quick, easy way to use QR codes to have students quickly check their work before completing an entire worksheet incorrectly. This also gives them an opportunity to get up and stretch their legs if you put the answer QR checks throughout the classroom. 

1. Go to http://goqr.me

2. Type in the answer(s)/text you want for the 1st QR code. 

*For example, you may have the answers to questions 1-3 inside the first QR for them to check after they have completed them. On your worksheet you can provide a little visual reminder for students to get up, stretch, and check their work. 

3. Right click on the QR code, select copy. 

4. Open up a word document, select paste.

5. Label the QR with answers 1-3 (or whatever fits what the QR scans to)

6. Return to the website, delete what you typed previously and repeat as needed. 

Test Prep in the Computer Lab

Synonyms and Antonyms Computer Lab Lesson

1. Put students into groups of 5. Each student will need a computer.

2. Pick one person to be the scorekeeper of the group.

3. Have all students open up a Pages/Word document. If you are a google apps for education school I    would recommend using a google doc and modifying the lesson a bit! 

4. The scorekeeper will type a word. 

5. The scorekeeper will say the word and each of the players will then type the word at the top of their page. 

6. Now, each of the players will write down as many synonyms and antonyms as he/she can think of for that word. After 1 minute, the score keeper will yell time. 

7. Now, each person reads his/her list out loud to the group. For each correct word the student gets a point. If a word used is neither an antonym or synonym, no point is given. (If the group disagrees, they need to look up the word(s) by using right click on the word(s) that need to be defined, then select the “look up” option to view the definition of the word-- on a MacBook the command for a "right click" or "drop down" is a two finger tap on the word)

8. Now, the kids rotate and a new score keeper is chosen. Continue to rotate until each member of the group has been the score keeper. 

Here is a link you can give to students for a free timer.
http://www.online-stopwatch.com/countdown-timer/

FREE Math Resources

Remember the Staples commercials where the just get to "hit the easy button?" Well, this is pretty much an easy button for great resources!

The Step by Step:
1. Go to http://quantiles.com
2. Click on Use The Quantiles Framework (middle tab, blue)
3. Click on Quantile Teacher Assistant (second gray box)
4. Select Common Core, your grade level, and a standard.
5. If you review each standard you can select "more" (bottom right hand of each column) to view downloadable and digital resources related to each standard!
6. If you know the quantile range of your class (you could get this score from some assessments, for example the Scholastic Math Inventory will give you this information) you can adjust the range of your class at the top of the website. Just move the bar to adjust the range of your class or a small group of students (for example, your intervention group).

This is the VERY simple version of this web resource. These lessons are ready to be taught. If you would like to "kick them up a notch", view the sample below:

Sample 6th Grade Lesson for Rate and Unit Rate:

Teacher Overview of Instructions

Student Directions (Print These)

If you are interested in learning how to create a lesson similar to this one, tweet me! I used resources from quantiles.com to differentiate the instruction. 

Becoming an Octopus in Your Classroom

Becoming an Octopus in Your Classroom (Growing More Than Two Hands)

Do you have students who need extra help learning specific topics/standards? Do you struggle with only begin able to be in one place at a time? Maybe you could try Learnzillion.

Learnzillion is a website FULL of video lesson resources for students on common core standards. You can search for anything you are looking for and quickly assign it to specific students. 

Follow these quick, easy steps and you will be 

ready to go in no time. 

1. Go to www.learnzillion.com

2. Set up an account. It’s free. (if you have a google account you can use that to sign in)

3. Tell a little bit more information about yourself.

4. Begin your search. Type in something you are looking for. i.e. 2 digit addition 

5. Now your search results will appear. Select the lesson/video you would like to use.     
    (Standards and grade level information is listed below the video)

6. Select the Quick Code option (right hand side of the tabs across the top of the video)

Now, here’s how you get your class there.

1. Group students accordingly based on their individual academic needs.

2. Search for video lessons for each group of students and get the Quick Code.

3. Have your class go to www.learnzillion.com 

4. Provide each group with their quick code. 

5. Students put their quick code into the website and their video will appear. 

Grouping Students 

Here’s one simple way you can provide students with their group information easily, even if the groups change from day to day: 

1. Write each student’s name on a clothes pin.

2. Laminate different sheets of colored paper  If you want, you could put a QR on these colored sheets of paper that links to  www.learnzillion.com (you will need the number of groups you plan to have)

3. Use a dry erase marker each day to write each colored group’s Quick Code onto their paper. 

4. Use the clothes pins to direct each student to the appropriate group. (I use these because they are quick and easy to move as students needs differ daily)

Sample 6th Grade Lesson for Rate and Unit Rate:

Teacher Overview of Instructions

Student Directions (Print These)

What I'm Thankful For

This week I'm not providing you with a tutorial. Instead I want to talk about what I'm thankful for. I'm thankful for a job that I absolutely love. I'm thankful that I get to go to work everyday to see students wave eagerly at me down the hallways and in their classrooms. "Mrs. P.- you coming to my room today?!" I'm thankful for the excitement they have for adventure. I'm thankful they accept me and my crazy ideas! I'm also incredibly thankful for the wonderful teachers I work with! They allow me to come into their classrooms to try new ideas and ways of thinking. They open their minds to a shift about education. For this, I am grateful. And lastly, because I could go on and on and on , I'm thankful to work in a district that sees the value of technology support for teachers. I work with the most incredible tech team and we stand united on a solid ground of support. As I reflect on my brave decision to leave the classroom to take on a coaching role- I am thankful! So thank you students, thank you teachers, and thank you DPS61. You have provided me with an incredible opportunity to do what I love.