So here  I am again...posting about cool stuff. This time, I came across an article about classroom spaces. I perked up since in a few months' time, we will be moving into a new environment with what I hope will be more options for classroom design. The article I read is: Digital Spaces: 12 Best Practices for Multimedia Learning. But, it also provided a link to The Science of Classroom Design [Infographic]. I think it is so cool that this infographic includes both physical classroom design as well as virtual design tips. Check it out!

So, I am here at our District PD day, September 28th, 2015 and in the Literacy and the CC session. Some participants brought up Chrome extensions that support struggling readers. I wanted to share a few resources with everyone. Find below a few links to some lists of extensions and what they do:

1. 3 Text-to-Speech Chrome Extensions to Support Struggling Readers and ELL
2. Read and Write with Google- This extension is probably the best one to use with struggling readers and ELLs. 
3. Spreed This extension was developed to help users learn to speed read.
4. Enhance the Reading Experience - clutter free and reader-friendly interface and eliminate distracting features around online articles and blog posts.

One Google Doc to rule them all -- The Continuous Journal

I love this simple and effective method a teacher can use to keep up with the students' thinking as it develops.

Just have each student share 1 Google document as a journal with you. Put them all in a folder. Then, and this is the magic, have each student add their daily work to the top of the document. You don't need a new document for each little check in. Just add it to the top. Google preview makes it simple simple to check in and see what your student are thinking, what they are getting and where they need help.

Check it out http://www.litandtech.com/2015/07/one-google-doc-all-year-long-english.html

Want to foster rich academic discussions? Try a student #Edcamp

If you are contemplating implementing "Genius Hour" (or "Genius 20"), then you may be interested in this idea. This article tells the story of a teacher who tried out the Edcamp model with his students. It includes a few good practical tips on how to pull this off. I'd love to help anyone who is willing to try this out.

5 Tips for Getting More out of Gmail - Techlicious

I just came across this and thought it might be helpful as we move on with gmail. It includes some good tips on how gmail uses categories and filtering.



5 Tips for Getting More out of Gmail - Techlicious:



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The 20Time Project: how freedom can help prepare students for the future

Google for Education: The 20Time Project: how freedom can help prepare students for the future:



Excerpt from the post:



20Time affords students the opportunity to follow the three critical ingredients essential to innovation as described in Drive:

1. Autonomy: freedom in what they learn and how they learn it 
2. Mastery: the ability to track their learning growth 
3. Purpose: meeting the needs of an audience outside the walls of the classroom

I love this idea! So much could be done in this amount of time and this concept supports differentiation and personal learning.



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Turning SAMR into TECH

I like this post regarding SAMR because it addresses some of the same concerns I have with the model when it comes to working with new-to-tech teachers. I like her redefinition and the focus moving from teacher-centric to student-centric. Check it out.



Literacy, Technology, Policy, Etc....A Blog: Turning SAMR into TECH: What models are good for:



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