Category Archives: Uncategorized

Classroom Management Funny Series #1 – Pretending to Work

Classroom Management Funny Series #1

  • These strategies are intended to be fun
  • They are not designed to transform classroom culture but may help a few students to self-regulate
  • After teaching how to pretend to work, it is fun and helpful to remind students about it occasionally throughout the semester (but don’t overdo it)

Why? (For Teachers)

  • Students require different amounts of time to complete assignments
  • Students who finish early sometimes act inappropriately when given free time
  • Teach students how to behave properly (in a fun way) when given free time
  • “Pretending to work” (self-regulation) is a key skill, both in the classroom and the work world

Why? (For Students)

  • “Pretending to work” should be used after finishing your work! (Not Before or During)
  • Enjoy the downtime so you can relax and re-energize
  • Be productive without constantly being bombarded with more new work
  • If you pretend to work, your teacher will give you less work to complete
  • How you come across to your teacher or employer (How they view you) is very important
  • Self-Regulation is a key skill, both in the classroom and the work world

Keys to Pretending to Work

  • Stay in your seat
  • Be quiet
  • Keep a low profile (do not draw attention to yourself)
  • Make yourself look like you are doing work
  • Have a tool (pen, binder, computer mouse etc.) in your hand or nearby to enhance the appearance of working (especially effective technique)
  • (Advanced Strategy) Put an angry expression on your face because busy people are angry about all the work they need get done

How this Applies to the World of Work

Scenario

  • You have your first job working at at fast food restaurant. It is late at night and no customers have entered the store in over an hour.  You have 2 options…

Option A

  • You and your co-workers decide to have a food fight. Your manager hears you and suddenly find lots of items for all of you to clean.

Option B

  • Keep quiet, pick up a broom and look busy

Pretending to Work Guide

Prezi Next – Recently Released!

I just got an email from Prezi today about this new format and I am currently exploring the new features. One of the big changes includes “conversational presenting”
Prezi Next lets users move freely between topics and adapt their delivery on the fly. Through this non-linear approach called “conversational presenting,” presenters can utilize the same presentation for each meeting, but switch its focus to what any given audience cares most about.

https://blog.prezi.com/prezi-next/

Emoji Keyboard

• Use emoji keyboard to make writing assignments more fun and interesting for your students
• Simply click on an emoji or emoticon symbol to copy it to the clipboard and paste emoji anywhere you want
• Insert your text and emojis into Microsoft Word, Google Docs or another program of your choice

Emoji Keyboard Guide

Create Choose Your Own Adventure Stories using Google Slides

This lesson and guide shows teachers and students how to create “Choose Your Own Adventure” books in Google Slides

• These stories can be interesting, fun and challenging for students
• Students will need to plan out their stories because of the somewhat complex nature of “choose their own adventure” stories
• Use the following planning slides in this resource to help students prepare. They can be shown on a projector, shared through Google Classroom or photocopied.
• These stories can also be created in Groups. Each member of the group could be responsible to write one adventure. All members could work on the story at the same time using Google Slides.
• After they are finished preparing, use the instructions in this resource to show students how they will create their stories in Google Slides

Using Google Slides…
• This lesson will show you how to add links in Google Slides to create your stories
• Readers of your book will click on the links to be taken on different adventures
• The links will take your reader to a different slide in your Google Slide story

Choose Your Own Adventure Stories using Google Slides

Cloud QR Scanner – New Kids friendly QR reader

• Free and Kid Friendly QR Reader
This step-by-step guide shows teachers and students how to install and use this Free App
• Requires iOS 9.0 or later
• Compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch

QR Codes
• A QR code (Quick Response Code) is a type of matrix barcode first designed for the automotive industry in Japan
• When scanned with a smartphone, tablet or laptop they will take you to a website, article, video, social media page and more
• All you need is a camera lens on your device and a free QR code scanning app
• QR Codes can be used for many classroom activities including website and video investigations

Cloud QR Scanner Guide

AutoDraw New Google Drawing Tool Uses Artificial Intelligence

Google recently launched this new drawing tool that pairs machine learning with drawings from artists to help students create images quickly. It is really simple to use and fun for all ages.

“Machine learning is a type of artificial intelligence (AI) that provides computers with the ability to learn without being explicitly programmed. Machine learning focuses on the development of computer programs that can change when exposed to new data.” (http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/machine-learning)

“Fast Drawing For Everyone”

www.autoDraw.com

Sharing a Prezi to Google Classroom

Do you use the amazing Google Classroom platform?
Do you have your students use Prezi to create dynamic presentations?

If you answered no to these questions, I would suggest you start using both of these amazing tools.
If you answered yes to the above questions, take advantage of this free guide.

I recently had my classes create a Prezi and share to my Google Classroom.  I put together some step-by-step instructions to guide my students through this sharing process.   I am sharing those instructions below in case you plan to use Prezi this semester with your students.  I plan to have a link to a free download for you soon, so that you will have a copy to keep for future reference.  UPDATE: The link to this free guide has now been added below

  Click on the link below to download this free guide…

Prezi – Share to Google Classroom guide

MyStoryBook – Digital Storytelling Tool

Use MyStoryBook.com to teach digital literacy and storytelling

This lesson includes screenshots and instruction bubbles to make it easy for teachers and students to quickly learn how to use MyStoryBook. It also includes 2 activities for students to perform using the features on this website.

How do we start using it?

If your students have email addresses, they can simply sign up and start using My Storybook right away. When they finish writing their story, students can choose to publish their story and share the link with their class!

If your students don’t all have email addresses, they currently recommend logging in to each computer or tablet with a single email address. You can make as many stories as you’d like and all your students’ stories will show up in your library under “My Books”.

What does it cost?

MyStorybook.com is free to use. You can make unlimited number of stories, upload images, and share your stories for free.

MyStoryBook.com Lesson and Activity