Evernote in my classroom

How many of us scribble notes about students and then put them somewhere to never be found again??  I knew I need to change how I tracked items in my classroom!  I found an amazing app called EVERNOTE.  It has changes how I organize files, notes from kids, tracking reading skills and everything in between. 

 Think of "folders" that we all have in our classroom.  I created a Folder for the subjects that I wanted to add information.  For example...Daily 5/Cafe, Math, and checklists.  Within each one you can add your student's names.  Almost like a folder within a folder.  This is an amazing way to keep reading conference information. I have even recording my student's reading!

Probably the one feature that I love the most is to create checklists.  This is very easy to make and then display on the board.  The kids love to go up and check off their name on a given projects.  I use it to track which student brought back their dentist's forms and other important papers. 

I know that there is so much that I could do with Evernote and I am so excited to stretching myself with new technology!  I found an amazing blog that walks you through setting up Evernote.  Make sure to check it out!
                                           EVERNOTE TUTORIALS

Glitter does Matter!!!!

I want to introduce you to a brave young girl by the name of Ellie.  Ellie is an 11-year-old girl from Fairfax Station, Virginia whose diagnosis of a rare brain disease has left her sick, cognitively delayed, and with many unanswered questions. The inflamed white matter in her brain has been dubbed "Glitter Matter" by Ellie, whose positive & exuberant spirit has shone through despite all of her challenges. You can read more about Ellie here

How can we help??

 Prayer!  Please pray for strength for Ellie and her family. Pray for the doctors as they research how to treat this rare disorder.

Help us raise money!    

The only answer to her condition is extensive research, which the family cannot afford after experiencing financial hardship due to staggering medical bills over the past couple of years. Please help us raise money for her research through purchasing Glitter Matters Bundle: Everything for Ellie!

                                                   click the photo to take you right to TPT

 Included in the bundle, you will receive a bedazzling set of classroom management tools that will carry you through the year:
Positive Notes Home, Calendar cards, Punch Cards, Certificates, Birthday Kit, Glitter Science Labs, Sight Word Texting Codes, Silver Bling ABC's, Editable notebook & binder covers, editable hand signal posters, & digital papers.

Thank you to the following contributors!
Erin Waters
Christina Mauro
The Moffatt Girls
Cara Taylor
Dancing Crayon Designs
Tools for Teachers By Laurah J
Faith Siegrist
D P Sharpe
Smart Chick


Remember...GLITTER MATTERS! :)

Snow and Science!!!

What do they have in common??  Well if you are here on the East Coast you will see that we are having a lovely winter!! 2 days in a row of no school! At this rate, I will be looking for 4th of July lesson plan ideas!  YIKES

Anyway.....I have been struggling with my Science kiddos.  How much to they really retain and understand in class? How can I really know? I saw an idea of concept posters and thought, "Why can't I do that for Science?"  I could use them as individual summative/formative assessment, I could put them into small groups and give each group a different topic. So many options! With all of this snow, it was a perfect opportunity to create these to use in my classroom.We just finished up Echolocation and I am looking forward to having the students work on these.

I love the idea of having these printed and ready to go for a quick substitute lesson.  Easy prep!

Patricia Polacco Listening Centers

Many of you know that I just stumbled into the QR codes.  I thought that I must find a way to incorporate these into my LA block.  Well, I love Patricia Polacco!! So blend the two together....Listening Centers for my LA block!!  I am so excited to try them!!

So simple to use. I am so fortunate to have a set of IPADS for our school.  You must have a QR reader. I use INIGMA which is free.  Student scan the code under the book title and it takes them to a safe sight where the book is read to them!  I can have multiplies of these printed and place them around the room. It allows me to have several students on the same book at a time.

QR Code First

December has been a VERY busy month!! 2 formal observations! Foot in a cast! Christmas to prepare for!!  5 teacher Observations! 
I had a wonderful time going to see 5 other teachers in our district. VERY talented educators that make learning exciting!  This really pushed me to try and incorporate QR codes into my classroom. 

Step One:
  Figure out how to scan the QR code on the Ipads at school.  I downloaded an app called SCAN.  This is so easy to use.  The students just position the QR code in the middle of the box and it reads it automatically.  PERFECT!!

Step two:
  Figure out how to make the QR codes.  I knew that I wanted to do a Place Value test Prep.  So I used QRStuff.com. This was so easy to use!  I switch the Column on the left to Plan Text and then I was able to go to step 2 and type the answer.   Step 3 automatically defaults to black, however you can switch the color.  Step 4 allowed me to save the QR code to my folder and then I inserted it into my powerpoint. Easy Peasy!!

 So sitting  in a snowy Pa with my foot in a cast.....my first QR Code to use with my kiddos next week!  Can't wait to use it!