#MACUL14 Wrap-Up {Erica & Jamie's Take}

MACUL Wrap-Up

This post is one in a series about the MACUL 2014 Conference.  These posts are from those Godfrey-Lee staff members who attended the conference.

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This post was written by Erica Hilliker, District ELL Coordinator.  You can find Erica online at http://ellandsiopresources.weebly.com.

Last week I had the pleasure of attending the MACUL conference. One of the presenters I listened to at the conference went through a list of 60 recommended sites for Early Elementary. She now has a Google Doc posted on her blog with links to each of the sites divided by subject area. Here is the link to her blog in case you decide that you want to follow her: 

http://tech4kinders.blogspot.com

Also, here is the link to the google doc. of resources that she created:
https://docs.google.com/a/godfrey-lee.org/file/d/0B1TttYJ7N_LmYlRVVjVlb0VnZXc/edit

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Erica also collaborated with Jamie Bellant, Lee Middle School Special Education teacher, to create a Google Doc that has all of their notes from their time spent at MACUL.  You can find their Google Doc here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1jJPI3OAnzl81_AAwiS3KMNUBfHj4u3eq0SmojOkD7yM/edit?usp=sharing.

Kagan Cooperative Learning in Action

Recently, a few members of our Tech & Media helped produce some videos of our middle and high school teachers using Kagan Cooperative Learning structures in their classrooms.  If you would like to learn more about how our teachers are implementing these structures and the learning model in their classroom, please check out the videos below.

Kagan Structure: Stand Up, Hand Up, Pair Up  
Kagan Structure: Quiz, Quiz, Trade  
Kagan Structure: Round Robin

Tech Integration Idea of the Month: March Madness

Come visit me over at my blog to check out ways technology can be used as a resource in the classroom for some March Madness fun!
Vote on our EdTech Madness 2014 too for your favorite tech tools!

Tech Integration Idea of the Month: March is Reading Month

Come visit me over at my blog to check out ways technology can be used to support March is Reading Month!

Play YouTube Videos without Advertisements

Have you heard of quietube.com? Quitetube.com is a website that allows you to stream YouTube videos without advertisements at the beginning of the video, or as many distractions on the rest of the page. This could be great for the elementary classroom if you don't want those not so educational advertisements to distract your students.

To begin using it simply go to quietube.com and drag the quiettube icon into your bookmarks toolbar as shown below.

Now you are ready to find your videos. Go to youtube.com and find the video you wish to show in class. Once you have selected your video click the quietube button in your bookmarks toolbar. 

This will bring you and your video to quietube.com to play advertisement free!

Accelerated Reader App for iPads & Automatic Downloads

Many teachers at Godfrey Elementary are using the iPads in their classrooms for AR quizzes and progress updates.  Before the Apple ID's were created, some teachers utilized Safari to access Accelerated Reader. If you would like to use the app simply go to the App Store on one iPad and search AR, then download the AR app.

In order to make sure that all iPads that are attached to your classroom Apple ID download all apps automatically you'll need to turn on Automatic Downloads for apps and updates. To do this go to Settings>iTunes & App Store>Then turn on both apps and updates under the heading automatic downloads. This setting will make it so you only have to download the app on one iPad and it will automatically push it out to the other iPads that are attached to your classroom Apple ID.

Rebel U 2014 Call for Presenters

It is that time of year again!  Time for Rebel U planning for the fall!  There is a lot of planning that goes into this event, which is why we have to do our call for presenters well in advance of the actual date.  Please contact us if you have any questions about our professional learning day or presenting for Rebel U. Our call for presenters is open now until this Friday, February 28.