Websites of the Week! 12-19-14

Scholastic Daily Starters - 
http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/daily-starter/ (Thanks Ricardo Llanes!)

1. Choose your grade level at the top left.
2. Click Class View on the right to "clean up the view".
3. Use these fun, quick activities as a daily warm-up on the board, print them out for students, or use them as quick reviews during tutorials or intervention.

Crossword Puzzle Maker - 
http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/interactives/crossword/
(Read, Write, Think) 

1. Play one of RWT's crossword puzzles.
2. Or click Create Your Own!
• Spell key vocabulary words.
• Enter the definitions as clues.
• Create a crossword puzzle review!

Websites of the Week! Celebrating Creativity! 12-12-14

MUSIC

Drum Machine

http://onemotion.s3.amazonaws.com/flash/1/drums.swf

Create your own drum solo!  Use Audacity to record your musical creations.

Incredibox

http://www.incredibox.com/

Create original and unique music! No need to worry about copyright!

DJ Turntable 

http://onemotion.s3.amazonaws.com/flash/1/turntable.swf

Although not exceptionally educational.....it's alot of fun!

Jam Band

https://santatracker.google.com/?utm_source=VillageHPP#jamband

Create your own jam session with Santa and the Elves!

DON'T FORGET!

You can also use Audacity to record your musical creations.

ART

Sketch 'n Paint 

http://www.onemotion.com/flash/sketch-paint/swf/nodirectlink...swf

Create your own original paintings.  

• Identify the elements of art, including line, shape, color, texture, and form, and the principles of design, including repetition/pattern and balance, in the environment. (Elementary Art 1.B)
• Create artworks using a variety of lines, shapes, colors, textures, and forms. (Elementary Art 2A)
• Use a variety of materials to develop manipulative skills while engaging in opportunities for exploration through drawing, painting, printmaking, constructing artworks, and sculpting, including modeled forms. (Elementary Art 2C)

Santa Selfie

https://santatracker.google.com/?utm_source=VillageHPP#santaselfie

Help decorate Santa for his selfie!

Pearson enVision Math Video Error 12/05

Pearson Video Error
A few teachers have experienced this (or similar) error message when trying to open videos from the Pearson enVision Math online program. (see image)

If you see this message, you might try doing the following to correct the problem.  Disclaimer: There are no guarantees that these tips will correct the problem.  But they have proven successful in several locations.

NOTE: This seems to occur specifically when using Google Chrome, and the instructions below are specific to Chrome.

Although this is not a "scientific" 100% across-the-board solution to the Pearson Video error issues, we have found more times than not that the videos work better in Internet Explorer.  As a result, you might consider following the instructions at this site to set IE as your default browser and then make other links that require Chrome (Waterford, for example) open specifically in Chrome.
See instructions at this link for information on how to do this:

http://etnpisd.blogspot.com/2014/09/shortcut-that-opens-in-chrome-even.html

If this doesn't work, consider trying these options in Chrome to see if it works.

Clearing Chrome Browsing History

Why would I want to do this?  - In Think Central and Pearson enVision Math, there are (among other media files) Virtual Labs in Science and Lessons in Math that have videos.  When using Chrome, these videos sometimes will appear, but never fully load for the user.  Or you may see the error message shown above.  Following these steps may correct this problem and allow the video to load.

1.       Click the Options icon located at the top right corner of your Chrome browser (looks like 3 horizontal/parallel lines)

2.       Click Settings near the bottom of the menu that appears

3.       Scroll to the bottom, and click Show advanced settings

4.       Under Privacy, click the Clear browsing data button. 5.       From the Obliterate the following items: drop menu, click The beginning of time 6.       Make sure that the four top boxes are checked (these are checked by default), and then click Clear browsing data NOTE: This might take a few seconds/minutes. The window will close automatically when it is done.

7.       Close the Chrome browser by clicking the Red X at the top right. 8.       When you open Chrome again, check to see if the videos will play.

Websites of the Week! - Celebrating the Winter Holidays! 12/05/14

Winter is almost here! 

Check out these fun holiday websites.

Click here:

Celebrate Winter!

Websites of the Week! Celebrating the Rekenrek and the Protractor 11/28

Interactive Rekenrek (Math Rack) 

Rekenrek is a math rack (similar to an abacas) that is used to develop number sense by allowing students to make visual images of numbers.

Here are some interactive versions of the Rekenrek that can be used with interactive whiteboards or for student workstations using computers:

http://www.ictgames.com/brilliant_beadstring_with_colour.html

http://www.mathlearningcenter.org/web-apps/number-rack/

http://www.ronblond.com/MathGlossary/Division01/Rekenrek/REKENREK/index.html
(requires Java)

Interactive Protractors 

4th Grade math will be using protractors during the 3rd Nine Weeks (specifically Bundle 8).

• 4.7A Illustrate the measure of an angle as the part of a circle whose center is at the vertex of the angle that is "cut out" by the rays of the angle. Angle measures are limited to whole numbers. 
• 4.7B Illustrate degrees as the units used to measure an angle, where 1 / 360 of any circle is one degree and an angle that "cuts" n / 360 out of any circle whose center is at the angle's vertex has a measure of n degrees. Angle measures are limited to whole numbers. 
• 4.7C Determine the approximate measures of angles in degrees to the nearest whole number using a protractor. 
• 4.7D Draw an angle with a given measure. 

Interactive Protractors for use with whiteboards or at student computer stations:

http://www.emaths.co.uk/images/tutorials/geometrytoolbox.swf

http://www.primaryresources.co.uk/online/angle.swf

http://www.glencoe.com/sites/common_assets/mathematics/ebook_assets/vmf/VMF.swf

http://www.henryanker.com/Math/Measurement/Estimating_Angles_Set_3.swf

http://www.mathplayground.com/manipulatives/MeasuringAngles.swf

http://www.teacherled.com/resources/anglemeasure/anglemeasureload.html

http://media.abcya.com/games/measuring_angles/flash/measuring_angles.swf

http://www.amblesideprimary.com/ambleweb/mentalmaths/protractor.html

http://www.visnos.com/demos/basic-angles

Math Tutorial - Angles and the Protractor:

http://www.learnalberta.ca/content/mesg/html/math6web/index.html?page=lessons&lesson=m6lessonshell16.swf 

Office 2013 For Home Use! 11/28

You have several options for getting Office 2013 to install on your HOME COMPUTER at no cost.


Option 1:  Check this out!!

A teacher and/or administrator from PISD can go to this website, find out if they are eligible and sign in. Once they do that, they can download Office at home.

1.       Go to this site http://office.com/teachers

2.       Click Find out if you’re eligible

3.       Enter email address

4.       Click Sign up

5.       Click Continue

6.       Enter appropriate network credentials

7.       Click Start

Option 2:

• Go to the Networking Department at the Orozco Complex on Beltway 8 and Pasadena Blvd.
• Check out the Microsoft 2013 CD (Suggest that you call beforehand to make sure they have one available for checkout.)
• Take it home and install.
• Return the CD to Networking Department.

Programming Made Easy! 11/28

Try these sites with Elementary and Middle School students.
Learn how to create animations, games, etc. using programming language and logic.


Hour of Code

http://code.org/learn

Tynker

http://www.tynker.com/hour-of-code/

Kodu

http://www.kodugamelab.com/about/

http://csamarktng.vo.msecnd.net/kodu/pdf/kodu_curriculum_math_module.pdf (Math Curriculum Information)

GameStar Mechanic

http://gamestarmechanic.com/

Math Programming (formerly known as Logo)

http://www.mathplayground.com/logo/Logo_New_secure.swf

Computer Science Unplugged

http://www.ncwit.org/resources/computer-science-box-unplug-your-curriculum

Get students up and moving ......and learning about programming at the same time!

Scratch

http://scratch.mit.edu/

Better suited for the bigger kids.

Think Central Isn't Working! Is It Them or Us? 11/28

You wake up one day, and Think Central isn't responding?  Ever wonder if it is Think Central's or PISD's problem?  Or is it a problem with your computer?  

Try these two things to see if you can diagnose this before calling someone:

     Houghton Mifflin Harcourt 
     Online Application Status Page

This site shows the "Service Availability" of HMH's online applications, including Think Central.

Istation Update: ISIP Español Tier Adjustments 11/21

Important Istation Update

ISIP Español Tier Adjustments:

As previously announced, Istation has added additional items to the ISIP Español comprehension subtest for the 2014-15 school year. These items target students in pre-kindergarten through 1st grade. We have been making adjustments this year to tiers and in October noticed an issue with Fonética and Vocabulario that was not present in September. We waited until November to verify this issue, but going forward we will be adding Fonética and Vocabulario to the list of adjusted tiers.

Adjustments will not change the students' scores, just the tier assignments. All Overall, Comprehension, and other scores are valid and are not affected by this action. Delay reporting tier assignments externally until after the middle of each month.

Istation is making the following adjustments:

• Remove instructional tier goals for Overall Reading, Fonética, and Vocabulario for pre-kindergarten through 1st grade for future assessment periods. (Removing the instructional tier goals for future periods will prevent tiers from being assigned at the time of assessment.)
• Publish updated instructional tier goals for Overall Reading, Fonética, and Vocabulario by the third week of each month and update related reports.

What Are YOUR Favorite Thanksgiving Dishes? 11/21

Use this interactive, online document to have students rank their favorite Thanksgiving foods.  Use the Explanation field to describe why they like this food or what the food tastes like, etc.

http://my.hrw.com/nsmedia/intgos/html/PDFs/Rank_Order_Chart.pdf

Other ideas and tips for using this tool:
Sequencing events associated with a Thanksgiving topic.
When students read texts that tell stories, explain processes, or recount a series of events, they often need support to clarify the sequence of events or to infer cause and effect relationships.  After selecting a text that would benefit from such support, provide students with this graphic organizer.  In the downward arrows on the left, students can write a brief label/key phrase for the event.  In the boxes to the right, ask students to summarize the event, provide a reaction to the event, or explore cause-effect relationships among events-whichever is most appropriate to the text they are reading.  Have students use the back of the sheet to summarize or synthesize the text as a whole.

• For students who need additional support, provide the graphic organizer with some or all of the key events already identified in the left-hand arrows.
• If students are reading different sections of a text as part of a jigsaw activity, have them complete one portion of their organizer.  When they meet with their classmates, they can use the other portions of their organizer to jot down key information from the other sections of the text.
• Students can use the organizer as a prewriting activity for a narrative text or to prewrite for a summative review of sequential elements that come from more than one text or learning experience.

Thanksgiving Dinner Sequencing Activity 11/21

Use technology to help create Thanksgiving Dinner!

Use one of these online, interactive Order and Sequencing documents to have students organize and write about "How To Create Thanksgiving Dinner".  

Each student (or group) will have a dish to cook for Thanksgiving Dinner.  

Have them use one of these online documents to enter the steps in the correct order for creating that dish.

http://my.hrw.com/nsmedia/intgos/html/PDFs/Flow_Chart.pdf

http://my.hrw.com/nsmedia/intgos/html/PDFs/Sequence_Chain.pdf

http://my.hrw.com/nsmedia/intgos/html/PDFs/Sequence_Chart.pdf

Websites of the Week! Celebrating Thanksgiving 11/21

Ode to the Turkey. I Will Survive! (just for fun)
http://images.businessweek.com/ss/05/11/egreetings/image/01.swf

The First Thanksgiving:
http://www.scholastic.com/scholastic_thanksgiving/

BrainPop Thanksgiving video:
http://www.brainpopjr.com/socialstudies/holidays/thanksgiving/

Cornucopia Coloring Page:
http://www.primarygames.com/holidays/thanksgiving/games/cornucopia/

Silly Turkey from Starfall:
http://www.starfall.com/n/holiday/turkey/play.htm?f

Thanksgiving Dinner Bounce (mouse skills for PK-K):
http://www.akidsheart.com/flash3/thbounce.swf

Thanksgiving JigSaw Puzzles: 
http://www.billybear4kids.com/jigsaw-puzzles/animated/online/Thanksgiving.swf
http://www.billybear4kids.com/jigsaw-puzzles/animated/online/ThanksgivingTurkey.swf

Dress Tom Turkey:
http://www.cyke.com/thanks/tom.swf

Thanksgiving Symbaloo:
http://www.symbaloo.com/mix/thanksgiving
(You will want to check these before using to make sure they are appropriate and that they are unblocked under the student login!)

Thanksgiving History, Information, and Research:   (You will want to check these before using to make sure they are appropriate and that they are unblocked under the student login!)
• 1627 English Pilgrim Village • Jamestown Online Adventure • Life on Plymouth Plantation WebQuest • Mayflower II Interactive • Pilgrim Hall Museum • Pocahontas • Talk Like a Pilgrim • Thanksgiving Celebrations: Different Cultures -5th • Thanksgiving Symbols • The Mayflower and More • You Are the Historian

Social Studies Textbook Adoption Evaluation Info 11/21

Social Studies Textbook Adoption will be evaluated this year (for use next year in PISD).  For information on the various companies presenting materials for evaluation, see the information below.

The website for the K-4 SS evaluation materials is located here:

http://pasadenaisd.libguides.com/content.php?pid=615080&sid=5204206

Companies that are part of this evaluation include:

• American Legacy Publishing
• Herff Jones / Nystrom Publishing
• Pearson 
• Teacher Created Materials 

Windows 8 Tip of the Week! - Searching 11/21

To search for anything on a Windows 8 machine, go to the Tiled (Metro) page and start typing what you are looking for. 

A search box will appear from the right-hand side and give you items that are similar to what you are searching for.

Refine your search by choosing where you want to search.

Click here for a more detailed and illustrated view of these instructions.

Windows 8 Tip of the Week - Closing Apps 11/14

Many of you are using devices that have Windows 8 installed (either at home, at several schools in the district, and/or both).  We will be adding Windows 8 Tips of the Week to the blog to help transition to this functional (yet sometimes challenging) operating system.

Thanks to Sherrie Grounds for the tips!

Computer Screen is Sideways!?! 11/14

My Screen Has Turned Sideways! 
What Do I Do?

Believe it or not, it is relatively easy to accidentally turn your computer screen sideways on a Windows 7 display.  

To change the screen position, use the combination of the following keyboard keys: CTRL + ALT + Arrow Keys (Up, Down, Left or Right).

You can also correct the screen position this way: 

Right-click the desktop and choose Rotation--->Rotate to Normal. 

To prevent this from happening over and over (either by mistake or on purpose), you may disable the functionality by doing the following:

Right-click the desktop. 

Choose Graphic Properties--->Hot Keys--->Disable.

Thanks to Ricardo Llanes (Parks Elementary) for this tip!

Promethean Board Disconnect Tip 11/14

Promethean Board Loses Connection After Power Surge!  What do I do?

There seems to be a rash of Promethean Boards losing connection with the computer, resulting in the pen not working properly.

We have found that this occurs (oftentimes) after a thunderstorm or some other situation that created a power surge in the building.

If this is the case on your campus, try simply unplugging and replugging the Promethean power supply.  The power supply looks like a black rectangle with the Promethean logo on it.  There is generally a beige cable connected to a black thin cable on the power supply.  If this is successful, you should hear 3 chimes from the Promethean Board and a "double thump" sound from the computer.  And, on the computer task tray at the bottom right, a window will display indicating the ActivManager has found the device.  

Try this unplug/replug troubleshooting tip, and it just might do the trick!

If not, you may need to work your way through these other steps to re-establish the connection:

http://etnpisd.blogspot.com/2014/10/troubleshooting-activboard-connection.html 

Unite for Literacy! 11/14

Unite for Literacy!
Narrated books in a variety of languages.

http://uniteforliteracy.com/

1. You set your location to start.
2. Then, click the book you want to read.
3. Click Narration at the top left to change languages

Avervision U15 Document Camera 11/07

There's a new document camera appearing on some campuses these days.  It is the Avervision U15 document camera.  

Here is an overview and picture of it:

http://www.averusa.com/education/document-camera/u15.asp

Software it uses:  Sphere

Overview video of Sphere:  http://youtu.be/qPHCl27xWAc

(Two (2) minutes into the video, there is a demonstration of the tools available in this software.)

Brief Tutorial on Sphere:  http://www.averusa.com/education/software/sphere.asp

If you need any assistance with it, contact Instructional Technology at x-78108.

Websites of the Week! Celebrating Math! 11/07

Stone Age - http://www.edupup.com/stoneage_html_files/stone_age.swf

Addictive math addition game!

Math Man 2 - http://www.edupup.com/mathman2_html_files/mathmanE-06-ang-mochi.swf

Help Mathman defeat the evil robots by using integer addition and subtraction. What are you waiting for? Go out and get those robots! 

Dino Math - http://www.edupup.com/dinokidsmath_html_files/Dinokidsgame05.swf

Adding numbers.  Starts easy.....but it gets harder!

Counting Money - http://www.mathnook.com/math/games/counting_moneyPR.swf
Online interactive math manipulative for counting money.  Click on the denominations in the cash drawer so that they add up to the correct answer – Basic Counting ($0.01-$0.99).

Counting Money - http://www.mathnook.com/math/games/counting_moneyintPR.swf
Online interactive math manipulative for counting money.  Click on the denominations in the cash drawer so that they add up to the correct answer – Basic Counting ($0.01-$100.00).

Counting Money - http://www.mathnook.com/math/games/counting_moneyadvPR.swf
Click on the denominations in the cash drawer so that they add up to the correct answer - Advanced Counting (make change)

Sequenz - http://www.mathnook.com/math/games/Sequenz.swf
Find the next number in the number pattern before the time runs out.

Math Shooter - http://www.mathnook.com/math/games/MathShooter.swf
Solve the equations by popping the right bubbles and work your way through all the levels.  Starts out with addition and works up from there.

Space Sum - http://www.mathnook.com/math/games/game2.swf
Brush up on your addition skills....in a hurry!

Istation Books/Libros - Turn Off Password Protection 11/07

Turning Off Password Requirement for Books/Libros

Scenario: Students are required to enter a password in order to access Books or Libros from the Istation Desktop Application.  If the teacher would like this password requirement deactivated, he/she can request that the Campus Istation Manager turn this off for the individual teacher.  

Here’s how:

1.     Go to www.istation.com

2.     Click Customer Login

3.     Make sure the correct campus is displayed

4.     Enter your username and password

5.     Click Log In

6.     Click Classroom at the top of the page 

7.     Click the drop arrow to select the correct Classroom/Teacher 

8.     Click the Blue Pencil icon at the left near the word About 

9.     In the Classroom Information section, click Without a teacher’s password 

10.  Click Update Classroom Information


Contact Emily Bourgeois (78102) or Christy Foster (70143) if you need assistance.

Hour of Code! 11/07

Dear Educator,
20,000 classrooms worldwide are now signed up to for the Hour of Code! Don’t let your students miss out. Ask your school to get involved

Kick off your Hour of Code with Sheryl Sandberg or Bill Gates

We just announced an exciting roster of Hour of Code ambassadors who will welcome classrooms to their first Hour of Code during December 8-14.

·         If you sign up your class: 100 lucky classrooms will be selected for live video Q&As with a tech titan or tech-loving celebrity.

·         If you sign up your school: You’ll also qualify to win $10,000 worth of technology. One public school in every state will win. The deadline to qualify is Nov. 14, so register now.

New tutorials are coming soon

We can’t wait to share them. Let us know if you’ll be doing the Hour of Code, we’ll email you as soon as this year’s activities are ready to try.

Anybody can participate. No experience needed, no computers either.

With 5 weeks to go, give your students a chance to learn foundational 21st-century skills and help the Hour of Code get to 100 million students!

Join in


Hadi Partovi, Code.org

Istation - Writing Rules Report 11/07

Recent popular question re: Istation:

How can I print a report of what my student (or class) is doing in the Writing Rules activities, including the text they are writing?

This information and other Istation documents re located here:

\\pisdshare01\public\Instructional Materials - Electronic\Istation\Handouts

Websites of the Week! Celebrating Art and Writing! 10/31

Art Pad - http://artpad.art.com/artpad/painter/
Need a quick and easy way for students to draw a picture using the mouse or glide pad on a netbook or laptop?  Try this whiteboard painter site.
Easy to draw, and easy to print!

Color in Motion - http://www.mariaclaudiacortes.com/colors/Colors.swf
An animated and interactive experience of color communication and color symbolism.  This site might be a great resource to use with a writing activity or for creating an illustration (Door 203) for use with a writing activity.

Destination Modern Art - http://www.moma.org/interactives/destination/destination.html
Explore the Museum of Art in New York City via this animated, interactive website.

Picasso Head - http://www.picassohead.com/flash/PicassoHead.swf
Create your own version of a Picasso painting to use with a descriptive writing assignment!

Message in a Portrait - http://www.schoolsliaison.org.uk/aliens/interactive/message.swf

Learning About Landscapes - http://www.schoolsliaison.org.uk/aliens/interactive/landscape_sep.swf

Exploring Perspective - http://www.bgfl.org/bgfl/custom/resources_ftp/client_ftp/ks1/art/perspective/index.htm
Perspective is used by artists to give the illusion of space an distance.  Try these interactive scenes to discuss distance, perspective, angles, etc.

Adding Students to a Class in Pearson Realize 10/31

1. Log into Pearson Realize with your teacher account.

2. Click Classes (top middle)

3. Click Students & Groups (top middle)

4. Click Add A Student To Class (right)

5. In the Student Name box, type the last name of the student followed by a comma.

     *If the name appears, click it to choose

     *If the name does not appear, continue entering the last name, first name (don't forget the comma) 6. In the Username box, enter the following pattern:  first initial + last initial + student ID + pisd 

7. In the Password box, enter the following pattern: pw + student ID 

8. Click Done (bottom right)

Faster Istation!...We Hope 10/31

Customer Alert – October 29, 2014

Growth is good!

And Istation is seeing growth like never before. We are experiencing an exceptionally high demand for our new iPad app, with many thousands of downloads since its debut just two months ago. To accommodate this current and future acceleration in usage, we are significantly increasing our bandwidth. This upgrade will be completed within the next couple of weeks.

So what does it mean to you in the meantime?

Although we don’t expect issues, you may experience a few during peak usage times (morning hours) next week (November 3 – 7). You and your students could experience brief delays or log in errors – again, if any, these should be very brief and will quickly resolve themselves.

If you do experience a problem, immediately notify our customer support team at support@istation.com or 1-866-883-7323 option 2. This will allow us to resolve your issue in the quickest manner possible.

We apologize in advance for any inconvenience. Thank you for your patience!

Technology Integrated Lessons 10/31

At our last Technology Liaison Focus Group meeting, we worked on ideas for technology-integrated lessons.  Here is a link to the ideas and resources gathered at that meeting.

http://integrationlessons.blogspot.com/

Thanks to all of your for your input!

Thanks to Shane Tout for organizing this information.

Top 10 Office 2013 Tips! 10/31

Most people know how to use Microsoft Office (especially Word and PowerPoint).  However, Office 2013 can present some challenges.  

Click the link below for a document that lists our Top 10 Office 2013 Tips.  This would be a great weekly Technology Tip during faculty meetings or during staff development workshops.

You'll have people saying, "If only I new that a few weeks ago!"

Top 10 Office 2013 Tips 

Lab Schedule Ideas 10/24

Question: Do you have any ideas on how to go about scheduling "regular" classes into the computer lab?  

Answer:

Here are several suggestions from lab teachers around the district (elementary) - 

From: Rebecca Aronson  

We have two computer labs. The one I teach in and then another that the teachers use on their own time. I have a sign-up sheet that I post in the lounge every Thursday afternoon. They are allowed to sign up for two time slots initially.  On Monday’s I post the sign-up sheet outside of the lab…at that time it is a free for all to sign up for the remaining spots.

From: Jennifer Wyatt 

I do not have any open times except one hour in the morning. Pre-K has used that time for iStation.  For the others, I  have them check out the mobile carts that we have for each grade level. 

From: Shari Willis
We have a weekly sign-up sheet that is posted outside the lab. The times are in 30 min. increments. Several months are posted to allow teachers to sign up ahead of time. Any slot empty is up for grabs. Since 3^rd and 4^th grade pods have computers in their pods, we allow K-2 to sign up first. Some of the lower grades sign up for the same time two or three times a week. For those teachers, their name is typed on the master schedule before running it off, so that the other teachers can just sign up as needed.

From: Marie Alanis
I use facilities and events in Eduphoria.  Teachers can reserve the lab themselves if it is available. Takes a little work on the front end to reserve classes for lab rotation classes and then the rest the teachers do.  It works well for us.  Sandy Dickerson (x-78103) can help with this.

Dell Employee Discounts Gone? 10/24

Question:
Do we still have access to Dell employee discounts for purchasing computers and accessories?

Answer:

From: Jessica Vandervoort
Sent: Tuesday, October 14, 2014 2:20 PM
Subject: RE: Dell Employee Discount

We used to get monthly specials from Dell, and I would post them in the employee discounts. But I have not received any in a long while, so I haven’t posted them. The ones we used to have expired.

Jessica Bennett Vandervoort

Multimedia Specialist

Communications/Printing

Pasadena Independent School District

713.740.0971

Pearson K-4 Math Quick Checks 10/24

Question: 

When we print the Quick Checks in Pearson K-4 Math, the student name doesn't appear on the printout. The teachers are using the Quick Checks as an assessment after they teach a lesson. They want a printed copy to be able to have documentation of the skill level and/or to be able to send home as a graded paper. However, when they print it, the student name does not appear at the top.  How can they get a copy that has the student's name on it?

Answer:  

From: Flinn, Melissa (melissa.flinn@pearson.com)

Sent: Wednesday, October 15, 2014 7:23 AM

Subject: Pearson K-4 Math Quick Checks

Below is a explanation about the quick checks and how they are built into the system whether you are using print or digital.

The online Lesson Quick check is used as a diagnostic to prescribe intervention, on-level, or advanced homework and resources. A blank copy of it can be printed by selecting the "customize" option. A space is provided for the student to write their name and manually answer the quick check questions. When the students take it online it is meant to be viewed online and the score becomes a part of the data for that student.

An alternative to the online Lesson Quick Check is to use the Quick Check system built into the TE which can be sent to the parent from the write-in SE. Every lesson has pages for Independent Practice and Problem Solving. The teacher uses work the student did as part of their work in class to determine intervention, on-level, or advanced homework and resources by looking at the three problems identified in the TE (problems with a red check mark) that determine mastery. There is a 5-point rubric in each lesson to assign the student mastery level. For parents to see a graded quick check, the teacher could send that page home with the student's score written on it. The format of this page is easier for parents to understand and allows them to go over work that their child actually did in class and they can see more than a snapshot of their work. (see the Program Overview and Implementation Guide for a description of each lesson check and other lesson features in the User's Guide section).

To summarize, the quick checks are either to be done in the system and viewed in the system OR they are done from print in the student book or a printed copy from online.

Creating and Editing Videos on an iPad 10/24

iPad Users!

Here is a suggestion for a free iPad app for Creating and Editing Videos:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/adobe-premiere-clip/id919399401?mt=8 

Description

Adobe Premiere Clip is a free app that makes it fast and easy to create amazing videos. Capture the moment by shooting video on the go, and then use Premiere Clip to bring clips together and add the finishing touches that make a video look and sound great. Projects sync across your devices, so you can start on your iPhone and pick up where you left off on your iPad—and of course, you can share from anywhere. Connected by the Adobe Creative Cloud, Premiere Clip makes video editing and sharing simple.

If you enjoy using Clip, please post a review!

FAST, SIMPLE EDITING
Drag and drop clips and photos into the order you like, trim out the parts you don’t want, and add visual polish with color adjustments, transitions, slo-mo effects, and more.

AWESOME AUDIO
Great audio makes a video look better. Use soundtracks included in the app, or pick your own music. Smart Volume evens out audio levels across clips, and Auto Mix dynamically balances soundtracks and audio across your project.

EASY SHARING
Upload your finished videos to the Creative Cloud for ad-free sharing, save them to your camera roll, or post on Twitter, Facebook, or YouTube. 

Pearson Envision Math Videos Not Working 10/24

If the Pearson Envision videos aren't playing for teachers, here are my suggestions for correcting this situation.

Please read all these items before making the changes.
Note that the instructions for each suggestion is listed below the steps.
And if you need help doing this, please contact Tom, Shane, Mike or Emily.

1. Make sure that Internet Explorer is at least version 9 or higher.*
2. Set Internet Explorer as your default browser.**
3. Create a Shortcut for Pearson Envision (Pearson Realize Sign-In Page)***
4. IMPORTANT NOTE: 
• There are several applications that REQUIRE the use of Chrome to work successfully and/or most efficiently (Waterford, Think Through Math, etc.)
• As a result, you will need to set shortcuts on the desktop for these programs that automatically open in Chrome (since Internet Explorer is the default browser)****

*Upgrading to Internet Explorer 9 

1. From this folder location:  \\pisdshare01\public\Software\Microsoft\Internet_Explorer
2. Double click the IE9-Setup-Full file
3. Go through the steps of installing
4. Restart the computer

**Setting Internet Explorer as Default Browser

1. Open Internet Explorer
2. Go to Tools--Internet Options
3. Click Programs Tab
4. Click Make Default.
   (NOTE: If Menu Bar does not appear, right-click the title bar at the top and choose Menu Bar.)

***Creating a Shortcut for Pearson Envision

1. Open Internet Explorer
2. Go to the Pearson Site:  https://sso.rumba.pearsoncmg.com/sso/login?profile=realize&service=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pearsonrealize.com%2Fcommunity%2Fj_spring_cas_security_check
3. Go to File -- Send -- Shortcut to Desktop

****Creating a Shortcut that Opens Exclusively in Chrome

1. Open Google Chrome
2. Go to the website for the application (Waterford, Think Through Math, etc.)
3. Click the Settings button at the top right (3 horizontal lines below the Close Box)
4. Choose More Tools (near the bottom)
5. Choose Create Application Shortcuts
6. Choose Desktop 
7. Click Create

Websites of the Week 10/24

These Websites of the Week are all about writing.  

Share with your grade-level reading/writing teachers as a simple way to get kids writing with easy-to-use, interactive websites.

Theme Poem

Description:

http://www.readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/student-interactives/theme-poems-30044.html

Students can write a short poem or story (175 characters or so) in the picture they choose.  I used this with Kindergarten kids last year, and although they didn’t exactly write poetry, they did get a brief little story written.  Worked pretty well and the kids loved it. Good for K-2nd grade.

Interactive Site:

http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/interactives/theme_poems/

• Disadvantage – students can’t save it. Must complete the product in one sitting.
• Advantage - very easy (even for Kinder level). Student can only write 175 or so characters, so it keeps their writing brief and concise.

Stapleless Book

Description:

http://www.readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/student-interactives/stapleless-book-30010.html

Use the Stapleless Book for taking notes while reading, making picture books, collecting facts, or creating vocabulary booklets. Students can choose from seven different layouts for the pages of their books.  Good for K-6th grade.

Interactive Site:

http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/interactives/stapleless/

• Disadvantage – students can’t save it. 
• Advantage – students could type their text and then draw their pictures in the blank spaces that are provided after they print.

Doodle Splash

Description:

http://www.readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/student-interactives/doodle-splash-30022.html

Doodle Splash interactive combines the process of drawing with analytical thinking about a text by pairing an online drawing space with writing prompts that encourage students to make connections between their visual designs and the text.

Interactive Site:

http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/interactives/doodle/

Plot Diagram – Beginning, Middle, End

Description:

http://www.readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/student-interactives/plot-diagram-30040.html

Map the events in a story. This mapping of plot structure allows readers and writers to visualize the key features of stories.

The basic triangle-shaped plot structure, representing the beginning, middle, and end of a story,

Interactive Site:

http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/interactives/plot-diagram/

Changing LanSchool Channel on Student Computer 10/14

Student computers with LanSchool installed can have the channel changed by doing the following from a Teacher Computer with LanSchool installed on it.

1. From the Teacher computer, Open the LanSchool Teacher Console
2. Go to Administer—Preferences—Student
3. Check box – Single-Click toggles thumbnail selection
4. Click OK
5. Select the thumbnail(s) for the computer (from the console area)
6. Go to Administer---Change Student Channel
7. Enter the Channel # in the box that displays
8. Click OK

Campus Website Change Requests 10/14

As a result of the survey earlier this year regarding website changes, please be aware of the following information.

Photo Update For Your Campus

·         If you requested a photo update for your campus, the Communications department is going to work on that.

Mascot/Logo

·         If you have the artwork for your school logo/mascot, you may send that to Bruce Stone.

·         If you do not have artwork, you can request a Logo Design through Bruce and he will have the graphic designer work with you.

·         Another alternative is to go without using the logo/mascot on your site. It is not a requirement.

Color Scheme

·         Please provide Bruce the Hex# for the main color you would like for your campus. http://html-color-codes.com/

When Contacting Bruce Stone….

·         Submit all your change requests to Bruce Stone at the same time so he can put them on one ticket.

Need More Help?

·         Feel free to email or call Shane Tout if you need help at x-78105.

Finding One Student in Istation 10/14

Finding One Student in Istation

Need to find a student in Istation?  Not sure which class he/she is in?

This problem is more of an issue for Campus Managers (who see all students at the campus level) or for teachers who have over 100 students.

You can use the Search... box at the top right to find a student.

Enter the student's ID number or name.

The student's name will appear in the drop menu.

If you enter the student's last name, a list of all students with that same name will appear.  Choose that student by clicking his/her name.