Innovative Idea - Scavenger Hunts

Kids are more likely to make connections when they are activly moving while learning.  Try a scavenger hunt to get them up and out of their seats.

Automatic QR code Scavenger Hunt Creator - Enter in the questions, and the QR codes are generated automatically!  It's so fast and easy!  Cut and paste the QR codes around the room to get your kids moving and answering questions.  A great review/warm-up activity.  Kids use the tablets to read QR codes.

Graphic Organizers with Google Drawing

Matt Miller does it again with infographics for all your classroom needs!  Click on the samples below to see the many capabilities of Google Drawings.  What a timesaver!  

Venn diagram: Lets students write similarities and differences on a topic.

KWL: Lets students list: what I know, what I want to know, what I have learned.

Timeline: Lets students plot dates and events over a specified time period.

Evaluation: Lets students identify criteria, explain whether it was successful and why, and     provide evidence.

Cause and effect chain: Lets students identify actions that caused other actions and their effects.

Fishbone planner: Lets students list advantages and disadvantages of a topic.

Word web / semantic map: Lets students branch ideas out from a main topic into subtopics.

Flow chart: Lets students display the linear relationship among several things.

Hexagonal thinking: Lets students connect ideas with multiple contact points.

Character map: Lets students list important information about a character, like what the character says and what the student thinks of the character.

Cornell note-taking: Lets students list main points and evidence, details and location.

Plot diagram: Lets students show how a plot builds, climaxes and resolves.

Vocabulary cluster: Lets students identify synonyms, antonyms, and related words to a specific word.

Vocabulary concept map: Lets students make connections to other words from a specific vocabulary term.

Think about your thinking: Helps students think through their decisions and how they arrived at their conclusions.

Frayer Model (by request!): Provides a framework for a thorough understanding of new words.

Argumentative Writing (submitted by Melissa Rasmus of Chippeway Falls Area USD in Wisconsin): Helps students organize essays by breaking down parts of the essay in different sections.

BONUS: Click here for the entire folder of all of the graphic organizers in one shared Google Drive folder!

Digital Citizenship - Organize your Drive

Imagine what your bedroom would look like if you had no drawers or  hangers for all your clothes.  Piles and piles of shirts, pants, and socks, all in a random order.  Image how hard it would be to find something you want to wear.  This is what happens to your Drive if you do not stay organized!  Start the new year off fresh by creating folders for your important go-to documents.  Students need to be reminded of this important skill also.  They can create folders for each school year to organize their Drive, which ends up bring the ultimate digital portfolio.



 Practice being a good digital citizen and get organized!

Increase Classroom Comunication

Here are some ideas to increase communication in your classroom.

1) Google Classroom - Post assignments and announcements, and organize all digital assignments.  Helps build a community of learners.

2) Remind - Students/parents sign up to receive a text message from you for reminders.  Parents love getting reminders about important deadlines!  You can do this from your computer, or from the app.

3) Gmail - Create contact groups for each class period.  Send emails to kids quickly!

4) Google Forms - Use google forms to create surveys for students or parents, digital reading responses, formative assessments, or reflective exit slips.

5)  Twitter - Start a twitter account for students and parents to follow.  Share the great things kids are doing in your classes!  Also a great way to promote a team sport or club.

6) CCSD59 Teacher web pages.  Update the page so it doesn't read "Welcome back 2012!"  Add a homework calendar, or whatever else you need.

7) Find Someone Who... Google Slides activity Fun Team building activity, for Chromebook or Tablet. Make a copy first and add any necessary slides. (Thanks for sharing Coach Suzie Rocha!)

New Year's Resolutions - Follow innovative blogs!

Looking for new innovative ideas for the new year? I love sharing innovative ideas with everyone I work with. My New Year's resolution is to house all these ideas in one place for others to follow. The best part about blogging is learning from others. My favorite bloggers are Alice Keeler and Matt Miller. Alice Keeler is a Google expert and shares scripts to accomplish just about any task you can think of. Matt Miller, the author of "Ditch that Textbook," provides many activities you can take and use right in your classroom.  Start with his list of 20 Google-apps-activities-for-classroom-innovation.    You can also subscribe to receive his weekly inspirational newsletter.