Sunday, December 18, 2016

Leadership in your classroom - Try a bookstudy

Happy Holidays from the Tech Guys at Region 9

Here is a great fireside holiday activity to get prepared for coming back to school in the New Year.

Ask yourself these questions:
  1. Do my students have easy access to technology in my classroom?
  2. Would I like to engage my students with some reflective activity after they read?
  3. Would I like for my students to learn about peer review?
If the answer to any of these questions are yes.  You should try using a blog to fill the void with a blog.  You can access blogger on your school email account.


Here is an outline to build and create your blog:
  • Instructions to create a Blog
    • Rubik's cube
    • Choose more - possibly “even more from Google”
      • Find blogger and select
    • Then select New Blog
      • Give it a Title - use the following format
        • BD Class Blog    (initials and Class Blog)
      • Give it an address (URL) - use the same as the Name-no spaces allowed
        • Example: BDClassBlog
          • Blog will become available at the address listed
      • Select Simple for the Theme
      • Click on “Create Blog”
      • A pop-up screen will appear. Click no thanks! You don’t have a need to purchase an actual domain name
    • Do Not Skip This Step!
      • From the initial blog page, you will see an orange pencil. To the right of it, click the drop down screen. Select settings (the last entry)
      • On the left hand side of the screen you will see a wrench that says settings. Below that, click Posts, comments and sharing.
      • In the center of the screen, you will see “Who can comment.”
        • Select user with Google Accounts (this would allow you to invite other students from different schools if you wish)
        • Under Comment moderation be sure to select ALWAYS--enter your email address. This makes sure that you have viewed every comment prior to the class seeing it.
    • Click on New Post (upper left)

    • Give your post a title: Book Study Chapter 1
      • Now begin your post: Example In The Grapes of Wrath Chapter 1…..
        • Format is similar to Google Docs and Microsoft Word (you can add videos, pictures, select fonts, links, etc.)
    • When your post is done, click Publish
      • Options are: save, preview, discuss
    Have a great Holiday and Happy New Year:   Bryan, Stacy, Robert, Thomas, Patrick