Benchmark Universe - Upcoming Trainings

Hello Everyone!

Just a reminder that I will be holding two Benchmark Universe trainings in the Green Lab on Monday, Nov. 2.  All reading teachers should consider which training (possibly both) would benefit them, and attend accordingly.

7:30 am Basics: 

Tour of online Benchmark Universe (what all the buttons do)

How to access digital teacher resources

How to organize teacher resources

How to put ePosters and eBooks up on your Smart Board

Customizing ePosters for classroom viewing and use

3:10 pm Advanced:

Customizing eBooks for classroom viewing and use

Creating bookshelves for yourself or for your students

Customizing eBooks for independent student reading

Creating and using student groups

Assigning books to students or small groups

Accessing and using ePlanner

Your Class Can Be a Part of an Online Sing-Along!

Want to be a part of what is dubbed as the "largest online gathering of K-5 classrooms ever"?

Click here to register, then follow the link you receive via email - at 12:15pm (Central Time) on Friday, October 30.  It is a 20-25 minute interactive sing-along.  The presenter (Dave Ruch) cannot see you, but he acts like he can and keeps things interactive and engaging.

This is a great way to integrate technology in promoting music and movement into your students' day.  Celebrate Connected Educator Month by participating!

Google Sites - How to Customize the Sidebar Menu

Have you wondered how to change the order of the items on your Google Site sidebar?

How about having one of the links go to a coworker's website, such as a specialist's blog or a teammate who works with the same students?

Click here to see a step by step guide (with pictures) to help you do this.

A big thanks to the fourth grade team for asking this question!

Digitize Your Newsletter

Image from www.kimconstable.com

Don't let your parents feel buried under the paperwork sent home.  Allow them to access your information digitally!

Ways to digitize your newsletter:

Send via email - Simply take the newsletter you already create on your computer and send it to parents as an email attachment.  Only print paper copies for students with no parent email contact information.

Post on your blog - Copy and paste your information as a blog entry.  Parents who subscribe will receive the entire contents of your post in their email inbox.

Post on your Google Site - Make your newsletter a "blog entry" on your Google Site or upload a copy onto your "File Cabinet" page.  A blog entry will notify subscribers, while placing it in the File Cabinet will not.  (You can post a link to the File Cabinet location . . . as a blog entry!)

These are all simple to learn, and I would be happy to teach you (or your team) how to do this.  Your parents will love it!

Click here to request help digitizing your newsletter.

Book Creator - Upcoming Training

Click here to watch a 1-minute video describing our upcoming Book Creator Training!

Who should come?

Every single teacher in the Elementary School would benefit from attending because:

Book Creator is on all iPads on the cart

Book Creator is for all subjects

Book Creator is for all ages

Book Creator can be used to create lessons

Book Creator can be used for students to show their learning

Two options:

Thursday, Oct.1, 3:15-3:45

or

Friday, Oct.2, 7:30-8:00

See you there!

Tech Storm!

Image from profalbrecht.wordpress.com

Hey everyone!  This school year has begun with a flurry of exciting and challenging requests for tech integration from many staff members!

I. AM. SO. THRILLED.

Please keep 'em coming!  And please be patient if I don't get back to you the same day.  I guarantee you that your question or project is important to me.  I will happily deliver the amazing tech resources you need, as soon as I can get to it!

Since I am only at school 10 hours per week, the best way to reach me with questions and requests is via email at haglinb@maplelake.k12.mn.us or fill out a request form here.

A quote from the Benchmark Universe Training, September 18th

Video for Teaching Compare and Contrast to Primary Students

Click here to see a cute YouTube Video for teaching Compare and Contrast to primary students.