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.

Grading Content, Not Layout

Providing Choice is Powerful!

Take a deep look into what you really want your students to be showing you. Do you really care about the "how"? Does it really matter if they write a paper, make a poster, or produce a movie as long as the CONTENT is there?

Providing students with guided choices can be incredibly powerful in your classroom. You can still remain in "control" by creating content guidelines for students to follow, and you can allow for choice and creativity by allowing choice for the final product.

Using rubrics for grading can be incredibly powerful. They are also easy to use and provide very clear expectations for students. I urge you though to take a deep look at your rubric and really ensure that it is content-based. The reason I say this is because you only want to be scoring kids on the core-content material. You don't want them to end up with an A because they had a gorgeous, perfectly edited video that did not include any of the content you wanted them to research/learn.

So, here's the how.

1. Create a checklist or rubric of your content expectations.
For example: Students need to learn about order of operations
____ Include PEMDAS
____ Include what each letter of PEMDAS stands for
____ Include the PEMDAS order
____ Include the problem your teacher provided for you.
____ Include an explanation of how you solved the problem.
_____ Each step of PEMDAS is clearly labeled/noted in your explanation
____ Restate the PEMDAS explanation/order as a review
____ Include your Name(s) and School Name

2. Provide a few examples to students or ideas of apps/web-based programs they could use.
3. After students have started working ensure that you check in with each group to make sure they are on the right track.
4. Enjoy watching your class really shine as they display their creativity and ideas.
5. Provide time for each group to share out their project.
6. Have reflective conversations about each groups project. You can use TAG to get the conversations going. T- tell something you liked about the project, A- Ask a question, G- Give a suggestion

You will be amazed at some of the ideas students come up with during these reflective conversations. The next time you do a project like this again they will make huge improvements in their work! Remember, this is a learning process and new way of thinking for many kids!

Here's an example I used for a staff meeting. The activity was to take a bunch of note cards (labeled with words of district responsibilities--ie RTI, ISAT, Tier 2, etc) and link them together. Then, they had to create an explanation to explain why they put the cards in the order they did. Here is the checklist and output options sheet they were given.

Teacher Product Samples!

http://bit.ly/FranklinPLC

As always, get a hold of me if you need a bit more information or explanation!

Educreations- The Data Collection App

Data Parents Will WANT To See

One of my favorite apps is Educreations. I love it because no matter what grade or subject you teach I can almost guarantee you I can find a way that your students can use it that will benefit you. If nothing else it's an excellent data collection tool. One of my favorite ways to use Educreations is to collect data samples of students throughout the school year for parent teacher conferences. What type of data you ask? What type of data do you need? Some examples include writing samples, reading/fluency samples, math problem solving, site word reading, etc. The list can go on and on. Now that your brain is flowing full of ideas (I've successfully implemented my "hook") I'll tell you how to get started. No, it's not hard or time consuming. 

* Side note * That's something you'll learn about me as you continue to follow my blog. I don't do a lot of time consuming set up things. I understand that teachers don't have a ton of time to implement and test out new things. So, to get you going I will help you use quick easy things to begin your classroom's transformation. After I've hooked you, well, then you will get lost in the world that I live in and the sky won't even limit your possibilities! 

Setting up an educreations teacher account: 

*This can be done from an iPad or a regular computer. 

1. Go to Educreations.com
2. Click     
3. Click on teacher and follow the steps.