Reading and the Common Core

There are resources available that can help teachers determine the reading level for a text that educators can use that meet the the Common Core Standards.  The Lexile range is used to determine the Lexile framework for reading.  The following resources are available that will help educators determine the Lexile range of published works.

Lexile.com
This is a free analysis tool to help parents, educators, and students measure the Lexile ranges of books already published.  This will help determine if books are age appropriate for students or if they will be too difficult or easy for students to read.  The tool basically matches readers with texts! Creating a free account allows users to create and save reading lists that been compiled based on Lexile measures.

Level It Books
This app can be purchased for an iOS or Android and returns Lexile information after scanning the bar code of a book.  The app also suggests a "Book of the Day" that students enjoy reading on a K-8 reading range.  Books are also suggested on a high school reading level.

The resources below can be used to help students increase their reading abilities and their Lexile Levels using the Common Core as a guide.  

Rewordify
This is a free online software that helps educators find text that is at a higher reading level for their students and also helps incorporate informational text into their curriculum.  Student accounts can be created along with word games and lessons that will help students increase their vocabulary and reading skills.

AbiTalk
AbiTalk offers a variety apps on the elementary level that will help students with their comprehension, phonics, building sentences, and vocabulary.  There is a Nonfiction Reading app that includes 20 nonfiction science stories and reading comprehension activities.  This is a great resource to help students develop their reading skills.

DoGo News
This is a site for kids of current events and nonfictional articles written at appropriate grade levels for students in grades K-8.  The articles are provided with common core state standard based activities and each resource also provides comprehension questions and a critical thinking challenge.

Evernote Peek

With Spring approaching standardized testing looms on the horizon.  How do you prep your students for the test?  Do you make reviewing the content you've worked on all year fun?  Evernote Peek is a great app that turns reviewing into a fun activity!

Evernote Peek is a fun tool that takes your notes and turns them into flashcards...but not just any flashcards. This app uses your iPad's Smart cover (if you have one) or an on screen version (if you don't have one) to display the content in sort of a game style format. It's very cool!

It's really easy to set up*.
1. Take notes in Evernote (on your computer, iPad, or phone)
2. Open Evernote Peek and sign into your Evernote account
3. Select the notes you wish to turn in to flashcards and it does it for you. Here are some tips on how to set up your notes.

One of the really cool things about this app is that it has the capability to add voice notes! You'll see a great example in the video below. There are also a bank of notes already created for you to draw from (like the periodic table, world capitals, etc.), or you can create your own. This app would be a great way to review as a whole class, or for independent practice.

If you were going to use this in an Elementary classroom for independent study you could set it up this way:

• Create a class Evernote account
• Prepare the notes ahead of time
• Have your students sign into the class Evernote account when they open the app
• Have students download your notes to begin using Peek

In a secondary classroom for independent study you could use Peek like this:

• Have students create their own Evernote accounts using their CSDdocs accounts
• Have students take or copy notes on the topic of study
• Have students sign in to Peek and download their notes to begin studying

*Click here for more detailed instructions on how to set up Evernote Peek.

SAGE Writing Summative Test

The time of year has come that we begin to look at preparing for the end of year SAGE Summative tests.  The SAGE Writing test window for Canyons School District is February 2-10. As teachers begin to prepare for administering tests, the EdTech Department has been working hard to prepare training and support for the teachers and students.  A few things that will help prepare your students for the writing test is Utah Compose.  Utah Compose will help your students learn, use and practice writing skills with instant feedback. Visit the department webpage or ask your EdTech for more information.  In regards to the preparation for the actual test, students should explore in the SAGE Training Test.  This training site will allow students to explore the format that most closely represents the actual test.  New features to be aware of include the dictionary feature and the tutorials.  The tutorial videos are a great resource for students to explore the question types.  The dictionary feature allows students to choose from a list of similarly spelled words as well as look up the definition. There is also a thesaurus to find synonyms.  More information will follow and include testing information on the English Language Arts, Science, and Math tests that will occur April 20-May 30.      

Timelines made easy!

I love timelines and maps, it's the history teacher in me, but they lack an interactive piece that my mind craves, it's the Ed Tech in me.  As a teacher, I used timelines all of the time and had my students create a timeline for the American Revolution and Civil War. Students can read a textbook but all of the dates will get lost (In our textbook there are 52 dates or years in the paragraphs from the French and Indian War to the signing of the Declaration), but the visuality of a timeline helps show cause and effect over time and increases comprehension of the topic.  No matter how great the timeline, I always wished it was interactive.  A timeline with large pictures, links, videos that added depth, and embeddable.

Thanks to my PLN on Twitter I found a great tool for making timelines, Timeline JS.  Timeline JS makes building visual and interactive timelines easy and its free.  It can pull media from twitter, Flickr, Google Maps, Youtube, vimeo, and soundcloud to name a few.

There are only four steps to making your timelines interactive (listed below).  The website does a nice job walking you through the steps.  If you would like help with step 4, embedding the timeline into a Canvas or a classroom website contact your Ed Tech.
    1)  Download a Google Spreadsheet template and fill out the spreadsheet.
    2)  Publish the Google Spreadsheet to the web.
    3)  Paste the "publish to the web" url on Timeline JS's website.
    4) Copy the embed code and add it to your site.

Whether you are creating a timeline for your students to interact with, having your students create their own timeline, or having your students collaborating on a Google Sheet to make a class timeline, Timeline JS makes it easy and fun.

My Sample:


Other tools that can be used for timeline creation:
Facebook (Article), Infographics (Sample), and Hstry.co (A vertical timeline)

Timelines are not only for history class:
1)  Have students plot a story your reading in class
2)  Have students create a timeline of their family or their future
3)  Have students create timelines about famous people in your subject area.

What are some other ways you can use timelines in your class?  Tell me in the comments below.

Made with Code

With the Winter Break quickly approaching, it’s time to Code the Holidays.  Google has created the website, https://www.madewithcode.com, where you can code the light sequence for a Christmas tree. After your code sequence meets your satisfaction, you can click the done button and submit your project to the Google website.  Okay, okay, now here’s the best part… Your light sequence will actually appear on a tree in the nation’s capital! You pick which tree, and Google will give you the date and time it will be displayed! 

If coding tree lights isn’t your thing, then try out some of the other project that Google’s Made with Code has to offer.  You can construct your own unique snowflake, create a 2D or 3D Avatar, or even build your own musical beats.

Made with Code has something for everyone. It's entertaining, educational, and anyone can do it! The website contains resources for other coding websites, as well links to at-
home projects. 

Enjoy your Winter Break, and don't forget to Code the Holidays!

2014 Ed Tech Endorsement Graduates

December brings white fluffy snow, crazy shoppers, multicolored lights as far as the eye can see, and a winter break to rejuvenate your technology soul. For eighteen Canyons school district teachers, December also brings a graduation ceremony. A ceremony celebrating completion of the full year Ed Tech Endorsement program. The ceremonies on December 16th celebrated the following teachers: Lori Anderson,  Karalee Birima, Anne Clyde, Ashley Fricker, Michelle Johnson, Cindy Krueger, Anthony Leavitt, Sandra Lecheminant, Karen Millenbach, Ed Mondragon, Lidia Ordaz, Kesha Prince, Ana Rodriguez, Doug Rolley, Meghan Schott, Lynn Smargis-Shumate, Alison Stroud, Eileen Struna, Marcus Voght, Susan Williams, Sarah Young.  Congratulations to all!

Wondering if you should participate in the Ed Tech Endorsement program? Eileen Struna shares the Top 10 Reasons you should consider the endorsement program.

The Education Technology Department is currently in the process of restructuring the Educational Technology Endorsement program.  As a result, a new cohort will not begin until August 2015.  Information about the new program will be available and distributed to teachers in April 2015.  Even though a cohort will not officially start until 2015,  a few classes will be offered through which participants may earn USOE or SUU credit, and the credits can be applied toward a future Educational Technology Endorsement. Registration is now open for the Digital Storytelling and Online Safety classes.  Register for classes online at http://training.canyonsdistrict.org. Class sizes are limited to 30 participants, and is first come, first served.  Click here for information.

I Learned So Much from the Hour of Code!

I wasn't going to post about this, but after seeing the reaction and watching the engagement from the students' discussions with each other, interactions, true cooperation, and thinking, I decided to change my blog post.

I was deeply inspired by what I witnessed this past week. These students are SMART. Smarter than I ever gave them credit for. I am excited about the promise that these kids bring!

Here is a video clip of one of the students during the Hour of Code  in a class this week. It was EXCITING!

One of the principals at one of my schools also participated. He yelled, "I'm awesome. I just want you to know that." Here he is.... Priceless.