Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Welcome Your Students with a Video!

Want to tell your incoming students more about yourself, or what to expect this year?

Try using a video.  It can be posted on your class blog or website for students to view from home.  Or, you can show it to them at Open House or on the first day of class.

You simply provide your lovely self - I can help you with recording, creating, and posting the video.

Here are some examples of Welcome Videos done by the Kindergarten Team last year:

Mrs. Haglin's video

Mrs. Jost's video

Mrs. Tongen's video

We had many parents say that the kids liked to watch the video over and over.

If you want help getting this started, fill in the form here.


Sunday, July 27, 2014

Classroom Blog FAQ


Classroom Blog - FAQ

Is having a blog different than the ClassPage we already have?

Yes.  It looks different.  It is more customized to you and your class.  Rather than deleting and changing what your web site says, you add new posts to it.  This leaves previous posts still visible for parents.  It can also be more interactive.

Can this replace my paper newsletter?

Yes.  
However, be sure to print each blog entry for families that do not have internet access.

Is this connected to Facebook?

No.

How can I ask questions or get started?

Click here to learn more about getting started.

It's summer.  Do I need to do this now?

Only if you want your blog to be up and running when school begins.  If you want to wait until September - that's fine!  You can notify your parents about your new blog whenever it's ready!

Is having a classroom blog required?  Is this something we are supposed to do?

No.  Do this if you want to.  We still have our ClassPages, so everyone already does have digital communication with parents.  

Monday, July 14, 2014

Classroom Blogs!

It's the time of year when teachers lament the fact that Target now has a "Back to School" aisle.  Yes, in many ways it's too soon for that kind of talk.  But most of us really never turn it off.  We are at garage sales noticing the perfect items to enhance learning . . . and we are reading blogs like this one, preparing slowly but surely for that fresh, new start.

What will be a student's first impression of you this year?  We know they race to their mailboxes every day in August until those letters finally arrive.  What if, after the jumping up and down, your students had yet another way to get to know you better?  

I can help you prepare a welcoming classroom blog before the year begins.  

This is a good fit for you if:
You normally send out a newsletter, but would like to replace it with communication that is more personal and interactive.  
(Your blog updates can still be printed and sent home with families that do not have internet access.)

You would enjoy sharing pictures of what goes on in your classroom, with parents.

You want to connect with an online generation of parents and students, many of whom access their online devices several times each day!

Click on any of these blogs to see examples from our very own Kindergarten Team last year:


 Mrs. Jost's Blog

 Mrs. Tongen's Blog


Indicate your questions or interest here:

            


Tuesday, July 8, 2014

Shamrock Tech is Coming Soon!

Welcome to Shamrock Tech, your one-stop-blog for Maple Lake teachers who want to integrate technology!  More updates coming soon.