May 2017

Cat Care 101: 8 Tips for A Happy and Healthy Kitty

There’s so much to love about cats: they’re cute, clever, and charismatic furry friends. And as pet parents, it’s our job to help maintain their wellbeing so they can stay happy and healthy. After all, when our kitties thrive, we do too!

While there are many ins and outs of cat care, we highlighted eight important ways to promote your best friend’s wellness in between visits to the veterinarian.

#1 Feeding a Cat

Selecting a high-quality cat food will ensure your cat enjoys a well-balanced diet and receives optimal nutrients. Your feline friend’s diet and food intake requirements depend on their health, activity level, and age, so consult your veterinarian to discover the best choice for your cat. Keep in mind that treats should only make up about 5 to 10 percent of your kitty’s diet, according to the ASPCA.

And of course, be sure to fill your cat’s water bowl daily so they stay hydrated; a general rule is that cats need between 3.5 to 4.5 ounces of water per every 5 pounds of their body weight a day, according to Preventive Vet. These are some of the most efective flee treatment for cats.

#2 Choosing Cat Supplements

A proper diet for your cat’s age and lifestyle typically offers many of the essential nutrients required. However, supplements can help promote specific aspects of your cat’s wellbeing, especially those where felines commonly need added support, such as urinary tract or digestive health. Every furry friend has their own, unique needs, so consult your veterinarian when considering cat supplements.

For instance, while cat multi-vitamins may help support overall health, supplements with cranberry extract may help maintain a healthy urinary tract. To help aid in supporting upper respiratory health, cats can benefit from a supplement containing L-lysine. Additionally, a pre & probiotic supplement for cats may help keep their gut health in check and regulate their immune system.

Learn more about the benefits of pet supplements and what they do.

#3 Maintaining Cat Dental Care

Like humans, cats develop plaque and tartar on their teeth. Therefore, it is important to establish a cat dental routine to keep their smiles healthy! Along with preventing bad breath, regular dental care helps avoid future problems down the line such as periodontal disease, according to PetMD. When cleaning your furry friend’s teeth, be sure to use a cat toothbrush—which is specially designed with an angled head that’s easier to maneuver in your kitty’s tiny mouth—and a cat toothpaste to ensure the ingredients are safe for felines.

It is recommended to brush your cat’s teeth daily, but if that is not attainable, aim for a minimum of three times per week, according to the VCA. You can also consult your veterinarian about a professional teeth cleaning for additional cat dental care!

#4 Grooming a Cat

Cats are self-groomers, but contrary to popular belief, they should also be groomed by you—the pet parent. Regular brushing removes loose hair and promotes a healthy, shiny coat. Not to mention, this routine cat care also helps you grow more familiar with your best friend’s body and therefore notice anything out of the ordinary to discuss with your veterinarian.

Although cats are proficient self-groomers and typically don’t require frequent baths, you will occasionally need to bathe your feline in instances where they are dirty or muddy, or if they have a skin condition that requires regular baths. Always be sure to use a cat shampoo because it is specially made with a mild formula to gently cleanse a cat’s sensitive skin and coat.

Lastly, it’s important to clip your cat’s nails every few weeks. This not only prevents their claws from getting too sharp and scratching you (or the couch), but helps avoid any painful broken claws that may occur from nails getting stuck in the carpet or other furniture.

Along with all these benefits, grooming also strengthens the bond between you and your furry friend—and you can’t beat that!

April 2017

Supporting Best Practices

Formative Assessment


ABC lettersABC Brainstorming –
Working individually, in pairs, in small groups, or as a class, students brainstorm words or phrases that begin with each letter of the alphabet and are related to the current unit of study.  – Use SMART Shout It Out or Padlet to capture it digitally.

Idea from – Book Two: 60 Formative Assessment Strategies

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Instructional Strategies

Rock n Roll Vocabularyred dice

  1. Organize students into pairs
  2. Provide students with a numbered cube (die).
  3. Present students with a vocabulary term aligned to a difficult concept or skill.
  4. Student pairs take turns rolling the dice.
  5. The number rolled dictates the activity they complete with the term.
  6. Students continue rolling the die until they have completed all the activities.
  7. Teacher clarifies and verifies correct responses for each of the numbers rolled.

Use this document as a template! GREAT way to review for STAAR!

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Digital DooDads

Google Chrome Update

Chrome Browser IconGoogle Chrome Browser Update: Please take some time to update your Google Chrome browser to thenewest version in the Software Center (or NEISD Application Catalog). Please do this to avoid any possible issues with web tools/applications that you might use.

Back That Google Up!
Google Takeout BannerGoogle Takeout
:  especially useful for graduating seniors, teachers or students, who are leaving the district and want to take their Google files with them.  Allows users to backup Google Drive, gmail, Youtube, and other Google files. Check it out! Google Takeout Instructions document

Watch this helpful video!

Google Classroom IconGoogle Classroom Archive: At the end of a semester or the school year, you may want to archive a class to preserve the class materials, assignments, and any postings to the class stream. When you archive a class, you no longer see it among your other classes and work—it’s moved to a separate area to help keep your current classes organized.  Unless a class is archived, it continues to show up in student’s active classes so teachers may want to archive inactive classes.

Watch this helpful video!

Breakout EDU

According to an article on D2store, BreakoutEDU is a game that will have your students thinking critically, problem-solving, troubleshooting,Breakout EDU Sketch Note working collaboratively and having so much fun they won’t even realize how much they are using their brains! It’s also a great choice for a teambuilding exercise for your staff!

 

 

Check out this resource to help you create a DIY Kit. https://www.smore.com/fqazh-breakoutedu

 

Vocabulary.com

vocabulary.com iconAre you looking for a way to reinforce vocabulary in your classes? Vocabulary.com offers adaptive learning games that will have your students mastering new words in no time.

 

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Professional Resources

Edudemic – The Teacher’s Guide to Twitter

Edudemic and Twitter BannerTwitter has become such a powerful tool for educators. If you’re interesting in Tweeting or just want some
tips as a current Twitter user, here is an awesome Twitter
resource for you. Everything from PLC’s to hashtags are covered. Check it out for yourself.

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Social Media – Who to Follow

Russell Stannard @russell1955Russell Stannard Photo

Russell runs teachertrainingvideos.com and tweets about using technology in education. 

Innovate My School shares top resources and ideas with educators using #EdTech and #UKEdChat. @InnovateMySchl

Steve Woods @TheSteveWoods

Steve calls himself a ‘digital sommelier’ and is dedicated to providing teachers with the information and tools they need to teach effectively in the 21st century.

NEISD Twitter Chat

*Interested in getting started on Twitter?  Contact your ITS!

 

NEISD PD

  • PD in your PJs: Saturday, April 22 2017 @9:00am – 11:00am – Learn from home with this Saturday morning PD webinar.  Choose from the following topics: YouTube, SMART Lab interactive activities, and Nearpod.  Sign up in Eduphoria.  View the Course Catalog.
  • Save the Date: Tech Camp 2017 – June 7th – 8th @ Hill MS
TIP:  you can always search for professional development opportunities offered by Instructional Technology by browsing the “Online/Web,” “Technology Services,” or “Webinar” categories in Eduphoria.

 

 

 

March 2017

Supporting Best Practices

Formative Assessment

List 10 Things – About midway through a unit of study, instruct students to list ten things they have learned during the unit. Gather these lists and read through them to get an idea of where students are in regard to understanding. Look for gaps in learning or misunderstandings. These gaps and misunderstandings can be addressed in future lessons.

Idea from – Book Two: 60 Formative Assessment Strategies

Easily collect feedback from students using Google Forms, the questions option in Google Classroom, or Shout it Out in SMART Notebook. See video for Shout it Out Instructions: https://youtu.be/3pxr0KLeb8o  

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Instructional Strategies

Consensogram

This is a great way to collect feedback from students. Use this strategy as an icebreaker, pre-assessment, or as a way to introduce a new topic to get kids thinking. Develop an essential question.

  1. Develop an essential question.
  2. Develop 3-4 degrees of response.
  3. Students place a dot in the cell representing their initial response.
  4. Students place a dot in the cell representing their response after instruction takes place.

    Consensogram

Try using “Dot Storming” to easily collect responses from your students digitally:  https://dotstorming.com/

For more great strategies from Lead4ward click here  

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Digital DooDads

TobyToby

With Toby, a Chrome Extension, you can finally manage your tabs the way you’ve always wanted. No more time wasted hunting for the information you need before your meetings – Toby is a free productivity tool that provides easy access to all of your sites. It lives in every new Chrome tab you open, so you always have instant access to your work

Get SMART

SMART UpdateWant to create a formative assessment piece in a few minutes that will give you feedback on student understanding without breaking the flow of your lesson? Try SMART Response 2. Check out the video with instructions on how to get started. You must update to  SMART Notebook 16.1 in the software center to get started

MySimpleShowMySimpleShow

Are you looking for a tool to create a simple explanation video? If so, My Simple Show is the tool for you. This easy to use tool gives you the ability to add animated images, voice narration, and other visuals to get your point across. Best of all, you can login using your Google account. Videos work great as part of your blended learning strategy. Raise students’ attention or inform interested learners. Give an overview or provide context, introduce topics or lessons, create powerful presentations and make learning fun again! This would also be a great way for kids to demonstrate understanding on a topic, or provide an informative explanation.  Consider using it for ELL as it uses Text to Speech.

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Professional Resources

Google Teacher TribeGoogle Teacher Tribe

The Google Teacher Tribe Podcast is a weekly podcast designed to give teachers practical ideas for using G Suite and other Google tools . Check it out for Google tips and tricks, important updates, and effective strategies for K-12 teachers. But wait…there’s more! There will  also be interviews with innovative and inspiring teachers.

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Social Media – Who to Follow

Matt MillerMatt Miller – @jmattmiller

Matt Miller is a blogger who provides practical, “use it in class tomorrow” solutions to teachers’ classroom needs. He also helps them focus on what’s most important to keep education relevant. He is the author or “Ditch That Textbook

NEISD Twitter Chat

*Interested in getting started on Twitter?  Contact your ITS!

NEISD PD

Search for the title of the following courses in Eduphoria:

Face-to-Face courses:

  • Shift the Way you Deliver Content with Hyperdocs 3/6 @ 3:45; Encino Park ES
  • Assessment Tools (GoFormative & Socrative) 3/7 @ 5:15; Nimitz MS
  • Technology Playground 3/9 @3:45;
  • Web-based Product Creation Tools Online Course 3/10 @5:00
  • Shift the Way you Deliver Content with Hyperdocs 3/20 @ 3:30; Castle Hills ES
  • Assessment Tools (GoFormative & Socrative) 3/21 @ 4:30; Nimitz MS
  • Google Chrome Apps & Extensions 4/4 @4:30
  • Google Chrome Apps & Extensions 4/11 @4:30
  • Teaching With YouTube 4/18 @4:30

Webinars:

  • *None at this time

Online Self-paced:

  • Rethinking Classroom Space Due 3/10
  • Introduction to Google Drive Due 3/10
  • Google Slides Due 3/24
  • Google Sheets Due 3/21
  • Web Based Product Creation Tools Due 3/19
  • Digital Anchor Charts (online)  https://goo.gl/Jinpem
  • Using Read and Write for Google: An Accommodation Tool for K-12 Teachers
  • Web Based Product Creation Tools Online Course 3/10 to 3/19
  • Google Sheets – Chart & Formulas – Part 2 Due 4/7

TIP:  you can always search for professional development opportunities offered by Instructional Technology by browsing the “Online/Web,” “Technology Services,” or “Webinar” categories in Eduphoria.

 

February 2017

Most business owners will tell you that starting a business is both one of the most challenging and most rewarding ways to earn a living. Being a successful business owner requires a large amount of hard work and dedication, but also generally relies on a set of personal qualities and business practices that are common characteristics of successful entrepreneurs. These characteristics lie as much in a business’s founding principles as in its day-to-day operations and dictate every decision the entrepreneur makes. By following these guidelines, you can up your chances of founding a successful business or getting your existing business back on track, learn more from this Harold Matzner article.

Focus and Mindset

  1. 1
    Start a business that you’re passionate about and knowledgeable in. That knowledge can come from either prior work experience or a personal hobby that you’re ready to turn into a career. Even if a business idea seems highly profitable in theory, don’t start that business unless your heart is in it. While profit is important, it likely won’t keep you coming in early every day and driving growth. [1]

    • For example, imagine you have experience making coffee as a barista or waiter and want to turn your passion for good coffee into a small business. You would already know a good amount about the industry and be able to apply not only your knowledge but your passion to your work.
    2
    Start with a well-defined purpose. While the financial benefits of business ownership can be great, most successful business owners don’t start with money in mind. To get your business off the ground, you’ll need a clear purpose. This purpose should be something more intangible than money, like giving back to your community by creating jobs, solving a problem that you see in your daily life, or pursuing a passion. This doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t also strive for profitability, just that your primary goal should be the achievement of a greater purpose.[2]

    • For our coffee shop example, your purpose would be serving the perfect cup of coffee to every customer. Alternately, it could be to form a community in your coffee shop where people can meet and spend time with friends.
  2. 3
    Understand your customer. Before you get started, take some time to do market research and get to know your customers and your industry. The U.S. Small Business Administration provides a great deal of information on which services and products are in demand.[3] You will also want to think about who will be buying your product or using your service and learn the best way to appeal to this population.[4]

    • With the coffee shop, ask yourself: Am I trying to appeal to “coffee snobs” who don’t mind waiting five minutes for their pour-over? Or is my focus on the people who are on their way to work and want to grab a cup and run? Or both? Understanding the people you plan to serve can help you serve them better.
  3. 4
    Find a first step instead of a destination. You should always start with a business model that can be up and running quickly on a low budget. Too many small businesses start with grandiose goals that will require a large amount of startup capital and investors. However, successful businesses will have a model that can be used on a smaller scale. This proves to potential investors that your idea is a valid way of making money, and increases your odds of ever getting investment money (if that’s what you’re looking for).[5]

    • For example, imagine that in our example, you want to start a large operation that sources, imports, roasts, and packages its own coffee beans that are then either sold or served to customers at its coffee shops. Rather than seeking huge contributions from investors to buy all of this equipment, you should start with a small coffee shop first, then maybe try sourcing and importing beans, and work up from there to build a brand.

January 2017

Supporting Best Practices

Formative Assessment

Misconception ChecksMisconception Checks

Present students with common or predictable misconceptions about a designated concept, principle, or process. Ask them whether they agree or disagree and explain why. The misconception check can also be presented in the form of a multiple-choice or true-false quiz. Consider using the following ways to easily collect information: Google Classroom’s Question option, Google Forms, Padlet, Notebook entries, exit tickets…

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Instructional Strategies

Bubble When You StruggleBubble When You Struggle

  1. The teacher develops 3-4 key questions students may ask themselves when students are stumped on an assessment item to help them move from “frozen” to “starting” the problem.
  2. When students answer these 3-4 questions, they draw a bubble out beside the item and list the answers to those 3-4 key questions the teacher provided.
  3. NOTE: Teachers may also create an acronym to help students remember their “bubble when you struggle” questions; for example, in social studies, the Bubble When You Struggle might be EPIC (E = what Era? P = what People? I = what’s Interesting? C = what’s Comparable to other things you know?)

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Digital DooDads

If This Then ThatIf This Then That (IFFT)

 Would you like to make life a little easier? Of course you would. This tool will help you automate common tasks such as silencing your phone when you arrive at work. Have a look at all of the applets (they used to be called recipes) that can do work for you!

https://ifttt.com/discover


ClassLinkClassLink

ClassLink OneClick is your personal cloud desktop giving you access to all your apps, files and classes from anywhere. Accessible from any device, OneClick is ideal for BYOD and 1to1 initiatives.

https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/classlink-oneclick-plug-i/fdnnkenilcdalikbiegdpmdnppdgpep


NearpodizeNearpodize Chrome Extension

The Nearpodize extension allows you to ​turn your ​existing Google presentations into Nearpod ​lessons in just a few steps. After installing the extension, you will be able to edit your lesson: Add videos, draw it activities, polls, virtual reality experiences and more engaging features before sharing it.:  Click here to download the Nearpodize extension for Chrome: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/nearpodize/obaclhgeioenpfkcekijanhfbfhhbkig?utm_source=chrome-ntp-icon

 


Hyperdocs

HyperDoc is a term used to describe a Google Doc that contains an innovative lesson for students- a 21st Century worksheet, but much better. With one shortened link, students can access a lesson that contains instructions, links, tasks, and many clever ways to get kids thinking.  Want to know more about Hypderdocs?  Check out these resources:

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Professional Resources

Teachthought.com

A winner of the National Digital Principal Award (NASSP), Eric is a passionate and committed educator whose tweets provide consistently new and exciting education technology ideas and resources. Often first to introduce a new idea, his tweets are frequently trail-blazers in the online community. Follow him to get the best ideas first.

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ericEric Sheninger – @NMHS_Principal

A winner of the National Digital Principal Award (NASSP), Eric is a passionate and committed educator whose tweets provide consistently new and exciting education technology ideas and resources. Often first to introduce a new idea, his tweets are frequently trail-blazers in the online community. Follow him to get the best ideas first.

Kyle PaceKyle Pace – @kylepace

District instructional technology specialist Kyle is a great source of information on all things e-learning. From innovative new resources for getting students involved in technology to thought-provoking observations on teaching ideology, he’s guaranteed to bring valuable contributions to your education technology feed.

NEISD Twitter Chat

*Interested in getting started on Twitter?  Contact your ITS!

NEISD PD

  • Doing More with Vocabulary (Part 1) (online)- http://tinyurl.com/h84fx3k
  • Social Studies Event: Conversation with Chair of the Federal Reserve A Teacher Town Hall Meeting – (January 12 – 5:00 PM): NEISD Social Studies teachers are invited to join the conversation via webcast from the Federal Reserve Bank in San Antonio for Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen’s first town hall for teachers. After opening remarks, Chair Yellen will take questions from audiences across the country.
  • Taking the Pulse with Formative Assessment (online, self-paced) (January 12): How important is it to you to know that your students understand all the concepts associated with your curriculum? That’s a rhetorical question, because ensuring that students comprehend the curriculum is why we’re here! This course will walk you through the purpose for formative assessment and some traditional and digital methods for assessing student understanding. To begin this course, simply go to nearpod.com and enter the following code (GPEQH) in the spot where it says “Enter CODE to Join a Lesson”
  •  SE Google Read and Write Application Session (January 18 – 4:30 PM) CLC 116.1: Come with classroom digital documents you want students with accommodation to access through the Google Read and Write extension. We will be there to suport with questions, road blocks, or ideas on how to implement.
  • Classroom Management Strategies (online, self-paced course) (January 23rd): One of the constant struggles in education is behavior management. Teachers work hard to provide the best instructional environment and strategies for their students, but it often only takes one or two distracting students to have a major impact on the effectiveness of that instruction. Not only do these distractions take away from the instructional process for that student, but it can have an impact on the entire class. You’ll learn a variety of behavior management philosophies and the best strategies for effectively improving behavior in the classroom with a positive approach. Online courses do not require participants to be online and complete course during date and time listed – the scheduled date/time is a placeholder in Eduphoria so that teacher choice credit may be granted for successful completion of requirements. Coursework MUST be done outside of contract hours. Final due date is February 13. Course links and instructions will be emailed by 4:00 pm January 23.
  • YouTube for Educators (online, self-paced course) (January 23rd): This online, self-paced course uses Atomic Learning video series to discuss how to use YouTube, and how it can be an effective tool for educators wishing to incorporate the use of video in the classroom. Participants will create their own YouTube Channel, as well as create and upload an original video. Online courses do not require participants to be online and complete course during date and time listed – the scheduled date/time is a placeholder in Eduphoria so that teacher choice credit may be granted for successful completion of requirements. Coursework MUST be done outside of contract hours. Final due date is February 21. Course links and instructions will be emailed by 4:00 pm January 23.

TIP:  you can always search for professional development opportunities offered by Instructional Technology by browsing the “Online/Web,” “Technology Services,” or “Webinar” categories in Eduphoria.

 

December 2016

Supporting Best Practices

Formative Assessment

Sticky BarsStudents are presented with a question and choose their response from a selection of answers. They record their answers on sticky notes then attach them to a board or wall to create a bar graph that shows the opinion of the class in an easily read way. A discussion follows.

PROCEDURE

Present students with a question. A selection of answers are listed on a board or wall (or an unlabeled space can be designated for each answer during step four). Students can generate these answers or the teacher can supply answers to select from.

Each student writes one answer on the front of a sticky note with their reasoning written on the back.

Students place sticky notes in their answer’s designated space on a board or wall, creating a real-time bar graph of answers. For the best sticky bar visual, ensure that students place these answers side by side, creating lines of sticky notes that each have the same answer.

Students participate in a whole-class discussion using the information shown by the bar graph created by the sticky notes. Student reasoning listed on the back of the sticky notes can be used to gather information about students’ thinking and can be used to uncover and address misconceptions.

 

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Instructional Strategies

Inside OutInside Out

Students arrange information in a graphic organizer as they explore a topic. The Inside Out graphic organizer consists of three circles inside one another, similar to the image on the front of this card. By the end of the activity, each circle will contain a different kind of knowledge as newer information visually builds out from the student’s own prior knowledge.

PROCEDURE

  1. Have students draw three circles on a piece of fabric, one on top of the other-similar to the image on the front of this card, or print the image, depending on the type of screen printing project you have choosing the right frame is really important, and make sure each student has a print.
  2. Present students with a question.
  3. Give students some time to jot down any prior knowledge they already have about the concept in question and write it into the innermost circle.
  4. After that, have students partner up and share prior knowledge with their partners. The new information they learn during this discussion should then be added to the middle circle.
  5. Distribute a text on the subject (this text could be anything,from an article to a video) and have students explore this text, writing any new knowledge from the text into the outermost circle. 

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Digital DooDads

Hour of CodeHour of Code is Coming!

Hour of Code is around the corner.  Click here to learn more and see how you can support HOC with your students in a lesson. Check out this flyer for more information.


Don't Forget!Unplug Your Lightspeed Mic!

The Lightspeed classroom mics are not designed to be charged for an extended period of time without use. Before you leave for holiday break, unplug your mic and make sure it is not left charging.


byodUsing NEISD Wifi for the BYOD Network

As BYOD is rolled out across NEISD high schools this fall, users will access the NEISD Wifi network, NOT the Guest network.  The Guest Network will remain in place, but will be reserved for visitors to North East (non-NEISD students and staff).

 

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Professional Resources

Kathy SchrockKathy Schrock is an amazing resource in the technology integration world. Kathy teaches online, blogs, leads professional development and presents nationally and internationally. 

horlineleafSocial Media – Who to Follow

Steven W. AndersonSteven W. Anderson known as a Learning Evangelist and travels the world sharing his wealth of Ed-Tech knowledge. 

Tom Whitby is a co-founder of #edchat. Follow him @tomwhitby.

NEISD Twitter Chat

*Interested in getting started on Twitter?  Contact your ITS!

NEISD PD

  • Digital Anchor Charts (online)- https://goo.gl/Jinpem
  • Doing More with Vocabulary (Part 1) (online)- http://tinyurl.com/h84fx3k
  • Microsoft Sway Online Course (online) – December 5, 2016
    Reimagine your ideas with Microsoft’s newest Office app: Sway! Easily create, publish, and share interactive online presentations, reports, and newsletters. Upload content from your computer, or drag and drop from the web. Sway’s built-in design engine takes care of formatting for you; and since it’s cloud-based, it’s easy to share and looks great on any screen.
  • Think Pair Share Online Course – December 12, 2016 In this online learning course, you’ll learn the Think-Pair-Share cooperative learning strategy and consider some of the benefits of using technology for Think-Pair-Share learning activities. Final due date is January 13. Course links and instructions will be emailed by 4:00 pm December 12.
  • Twitter for Educators December 12, 2016 – Online Course This online, self-paced course uses Atomic Learning videos to discover how to use Twitter as an educator. The course is designed to be completed in approximately 30 minutes. Note: this course is done through Google Classroom and is self-paced. Course links and instructions will be emailed by 4:00 PM December 12. (Actual “Start Date & Time” is just a placeholder in Eduphoria: you do not have to be online at that exact time.) FINAL DUE DATE IS January 13.
  • Google Forms Online Course – December 19, 2016 Learn how the new Google Forms allows you to create, share, collaborate, and analyze forms and surveys for free. This self-paced course will be through Google Classroom and participants will be emailed course links and instructions on or before December 19th. FINAL DUE DATE IS JANUARY 20.
  • Work SMARTer with your SMARTboard – December 13, 2016 4:30pm – 6:00pm Lee High School  In this class, attendees will learn how to import documents, presentations, PDF’s, and other media into the SMART 16.1 Notebook software and be able to annotate and manipulate over these files.

TIP:  you can always search for professional development opportunities offered by Instructional Technology by browsing the “Online/Web,” “Technology Services,” or “Webinar” categories in Eduphoria.

 

November 2016

Roof maintenance tips for preventing leaks and damage

Basic maintenance can help extend the quality and lifespan of your roof.

When was the last time you examined your roof? Most homeowners rarely think about it unless there’s clear damage or it begins to leak. Keeping your roof well maintained can help prevent water, wind and snow damage, and prevents damage to your roof deck and attic from slow leaks. Stay on top of maintenance and your asphalt shingle roof is more likely to last its full lifespan of 15 to 20 years*.

Here are several roof maintenance tips to ensure your roof does its job for as long as possible:

  • Avoid walking on your roof as much as possible. Use a ladder to access gutters and eaves.
  • Leave roof vents open, even in the winter, to allow ventilation. Good ventilation also prevents buildup of damaging heat and moisture in the summer months.
  • Trim your trees so they don’t rub against the roof and leave debris behind.
  • Clean out your gutters regularly. Leaves, twigs and litter that become trapped on the roof and in valleys, gutters and downspouts can cause serious damage.

Monitor for damage to combat extreme weather

Climate change brings more frequent, intense weather events – like hail and wind storms – that can damage and tear off shingles. Poorly maintained roofs are more susceptible to storm damage. Get the most professional assistance from Roofing company Austin TX.

Use binoculars to check the condition of your roof. Look for:

  • lifting, curling or cracked shingles
  • wear around chimneys and vents
  • leaking or damaged gutters
  • missing shingles (you may spot these on the ground around your home)

 

These signs indicate your roof may need repairs or to be replaced.

Watch out for ice damming in winter

Periods of fluctuating melting and freezing can cause ice dams to form at the edge of your roof and prevent drainage. Unless they’re removed, trapped water can leak into your home and cause extensive damage.

Consider these steps to prevent ice damming.

If your roof needs repairing or replacing

Hire a certified professional. Contact two or three qualified roofing contractors and ask for a detailed, written estimate that offers:

  • Material quality and lifespan estimates
  • Labour charges
  • Estimated start and completion dates
  • References and certificates of insurance

If you’re concerned about extreme weather events, ask about roofing materials that are more resistant to wind and hail storms. You can also consider having your shingles hand-sealed. This process involves adding extra adhesive under each shingle tab to improve the roof’s durability during wind storms.

If you replace your roof and have home insurance with us, let us know so we can keep your file up to date.

Find home insurance solutions for all your needs by contacting a Financial Advisor.

*Roofing materials have a defined lifespan and their replacement is part of the routine maintenance required with home ownership. To ensure that our insurance programs are sustainable and that our premiums remain affordable, depreciation factors apply to roofing material installed 10 or more years prior to the date of loss.

October 2016

Supporting Best Practices

Formative Assessment

 SMART LabOne Sentence Summary

  1. List: During a lesson, have students list of the most important ideas of the lesson.
  2. Compose: Students review the important ideas they’ve recorded so far, then use what they’ve reviewed to compose one sentence to summarize the entire lesson.
  3. Time: Set a timer for one minute and ask students to compose their sentence. At the end of one minute, students share their sentences via Shout It Out in SMART lab in SMART Notebook 16.1 (download SMART 16.1 NOW) or Padlet. Or use the old fashion way and have students write them on paper and share out.

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Instructional Strategies

K20 CenterFirst Turn/Last Turn

Working in small groups, students collaborate to identify key ideas, themes, and concepts from a reading. This structure specifically encourages students to take turns offering their insights on the text without interrupting others and serves as a guide to help students learn to converse productively in a group.

  1. Form groups of four to eight.
  2. Silently and simultaneously, members read a section of text and highlight three or four items that have particular meaning for them.
  3. Name a person to start in each group.
  4. During their turn, students share one of their highlighted items but do not comment on it. They simply name it.
  5. In round-robin fashion, the other group members comment about that item with no cross-talk.
  6. The student who shared the highlighted text takes a turn speaking last, sharing his or her reasons for highlighting the item and thoughts that may have arisen as a result of the discussion.
  7. Repeat the pattern around the table, each person sharing one of their highlighted items, so each member has the opportunity to comment on each person’s statement.

For more information on this strategy and to learn others, visit the K20 Center.

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Digital DooDads

Twitter Chat

Twitter ChatWant to learn about the basics of participating in a Twitter Chat for the purpose of professional development? Visit this site to learn more:

Interested in facilitating a Twitter Chat in your classroom? Have a look at Alice Keeler’s resource on the topic.


Digital Scavenger Hunts

map

Are you looking for “real world” examples of math in your classroom? Here is a great way to get studentswalking the campus to see actual examples of math and how it applies to our everyday lives.

Check out this resource.


Lightspeed FlexmikeLightspeed Mic: Record Audio!

Did you know that you can use your Lightspeed microphone system to help you record videos? With a few simple steps, you can connect your microphone to your docking station and record videos with high quality audio while working on your SMART Board.  Check out these instructions.


byodUsing NEISD Wifi for the BYOD Network

As BYOD is rolled out across NEISD high schools this fall, users will access the NEISD Wifi network, NOT the Guest network.  The Guest Network will remain in place, but will be reserved for visitors to North East (non-NEISD students and staff).

For more information, visit the NEISD BYOD site.

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Professional Resources

Dr. Brad Gustafson

t6prbjmqDr. Brad Gustafson is an elementary principal, author, and speaker. He believes schools can be spaces where creativity and innovation thrive, but only when we prioritize relationships and a relevant, connected pedagogy.

Glean some powerful resources at bradgustafson.com

horlineleafSocial Media

Follow Todd Bloomer @yankee_todd for more information regarding the upcoming NISD/NEISD collaboration. Please also join us on Mondays at 7:30pm for our weekly edchat by using the hashtag, #NEISDpln

neisdtwitterchat1

*Interested in getting started on Twitter?  Contact your ITS!

NEISD PD

  • #edcampneisd – Saturday, October 29, 7:30 am – 12 pm – Visit Todd Bloomer’s site for details and to register for this free event
  • Digital Anchor Charts (online)- https://goo.gl/Jinpem
  • Doing More with Vocabulary (Part 1) (online)- http://tinyurl.com/h84fx3k
  • Using Google Classroom with Your Students: (Monday 10/3/16) 3:45-4:45 PM at Hill MS (
    E106 7th Grade CLC)
  • Part 1: Google Classroom Toolkit (Monday 10/3/16) 4:00-4:30 PM at Northern Hills Elementary Library 0r 7:00-7:30 PM WEBINAR
    Description: In this session participants will learn how to use their Google Classroom to provide student access to external content as well as how to have students respond to external content within the Google classroom.
  • Part 2: Google Classroom Toolkit (Monday 10/24/16) 4:00-4:30 PM at Northern Hills Elementary Library 0r 7:00-7:30 PM WEBINAR
    Description: In this session participants will learn how to use their Google Classroom to have students respond on a template and also have students create products from scratch.
  • Part 3: Google Classroom Toolkit (Monday 11/14/16) 4:00-4:30 PM at Northern Hills Elementary Library 0r 7:00-7:30 PM WEBINAR Description: In this session participants will learn how to use their Google Classroom in conjunction with Google forms.
  • Secondary SMART AMP Cohort (Thursday 10/20/16) 4:45-6:15 PM at Tex Hill Middle School E106: Learn to connect students to a workspace using Smart AMP. Bring your laptop; skill level beginning to advanced.

TIP:  you can always search for professional development opportunities offered by Instructional Technology by browsing the “Online/Web,” “Technology Services,” or “Webinar” categories in Eduphoria.

 

September 2016

Supporting Best Practices

Formative Assessment

Give one, get oneGive One, Get One

Ask participants to write down 3-5 key learnings or important ideas about the topic of study. You may choose to have people write each idea on a different index card or sticky-note to give away to his or her partners or use Google Slides or Padlet and have each idea on a slide.

  1. Invite the group to get up and mingle with their peers or colleagues.
  2. After about 30 seconds, call out “GIVE ONE to a partner.”
  3. Participants form pairs and each “gives” one of his or her key learnings or important ideas about the topic to the other, so each person “gives one” and “gets one.” Time may range from 1-3 minutes. If using Google Slides, have the student share the slide with his/her partner
  4. Call out “MOVE ON” and participants mingle again.
  5. Repeat the sharing for as many ideas as people have to share.

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Instructional Strategies

Baseball playerTriple Play

  1. Choose 5-7 important terms that students need to review.
  2. Organize students into teams of three and assign each team member an A, B, or C role.
  3. Assign each group a different vocabulary term from the list of 5-7 words.
  4. Team members help each other to complete the following three tasks:
    • A = Write the term on one paper
    • B = Describe the term or give an example on another paper
    • C = Sketch the term on a third paper
  5. At the teacher’s signal, students wad their papers into “baseballs” and have a brief snowball fight with their paper baseballs.
  6. Students toss three total paper baseballs.
  7. On the fourth paper baseball, students open it, analyze their paper, and try to make a TRIPLE PLAY by finding the other students who have snowballs that complete the three parts: word, description, and sketch.
  8. Students call out “TRIPLE PLAY!” when they find the other students who complete their three word parts.
  9. Students add value by drawing another sketch or adding to the description.
  10. Students then return to their original group of three and teach their TRIPLE PLAY term to their group.
  11. Teacher sees and hears the students’ thinking and clarifies/verifies as appropriate

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Digital DooDads

Google Keep

Google Keep

Google Keep – https://keep.google.com/ Google Keep is a note-taking application developed by Google. Google Keep has several features including color coding notes, inserting images, creating lists, geo-fencing, shareable notes, and search by color.  Students and teachers alike can use Google Keep to help keep themselves organized!

Check out this resource: http://alicekeeler.com/2015/12/06/7-features-of-google-keep-for-you-to-teach-with/ 

ClasskickClasskick

Give students more feedback than ever! Classkick is a magic whiteboard that students work on and get help instantly from their teacher and peers. Students work on assignments with their Chromebooks, laptops, or iPads, while getting help from teachers and peers instantly. Teachers create assignments, see all their students’ work in real-time, and give LOTS of student feedback. Best of all, students can help each other anonymously.

Google Read & WriteGoogle Read & Write

Have you seen this icon in your Chrome browser?  If not, you should add this helpful Chrome extension from the Chrome Web Store!   Read&Write for Google Chrome™ works by offering text-to-speech support for Google documents and webpages. As a teacher, you can apply for a FREE premium account which unlocks all features.  There is also an app for the iPad. For more information, check out this help doc or video.

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Professional Resources

Hippocampus.orgHippocampus

HippoCampus is a repository of FREE, high-quality educational resources from The NROC Project and from Khan Academy, PhET, SIATech, and others. Teachers can create a FREE account to customize content and create playlist for their students.

 

freetech4FreeTech4Teachers (Repeat)

Freetech4teachers.com – Richard Byrne provides a great blog on a wide variety of emerging tech for teachers. Richard’s site provides information about free resources that teachers can use in their classrooms. In 2012, Free Technology for Teachers received the Edublogs Award for Best Ed Tech Blog. Free Technology for Teachers is read by an audience of more than 58,000 daily subscribers (current as of December, 2013)

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twitter-poster-for-neisdpln

Follow Todd Bloomer @yankee_todd for more information regarding the upcoming NISD/NEISD collaboration. Please also join us on Monday, October 10th, for our weekly edchat by using the following –  #neisdpln

Upcoming District-Wide PD

  • #edcampneisd – Saturday, October 29, 7:30 am – 12 pm – Visit Todd Bloomer’s site for details and to register for this free event
  • Digital Anchor Charts (online)- https://goo.gl/Jinpem
  • Doing More with Vocabulary (Part 1) (online)- http://tinyurl.com/h84fx3k
  • Using Google Classroom with Your Students: (Monday 10/3/16) 3:45-4:45 PM at Hill MS (
    E106 7th Grade CLC)
  • Part 1: Google Classroom Toolkit (Monday 10/3/16) 4:00-4:30 PM at Northern Hills Elementary Library 0r 7:00-7:30 PM WEBINAR
    Description: In this session participants will learn how to use their Google Classroom to provide student access to external content as well as how to have students respond to external content within the Google classroom.
  • Part 2: Google Classroom Toolkit (Monday 10/24/16) 4:00-4:30 PM at Northern Hills Elementary Library 0r 7:00-7:30 PM WEBINAR
    Description: In this session participants will learn how to use their Google Classroom to have students respond on a template and also have students create products from scratch.
  • Part 3: Google Classroom Toolkit (Monday 11/14/16) 4:00-4:30 PM at Northern Hills Elementary Library 0r 7:00-7:30 PM WEBINAR Description: In this session participants will learn how to use their Google Classroom in conjunction with Google forms.

TIP:  you can always search for professional development opportunities offered by Instructional Technology by browsing the “Online/Web,” “Technology Services,” or “Webinar” categories in Eduphoria.

 

August 2016

Supporting Best Practices

Formative Assessment

3, 2, 1 – Have students provide feedback in a variety of ways

  • 3 things you learned, 2 things I found interesting, 1 question I still have
  • 3 things you learned, 2 questions you have, 1 summary sentence
  • 3 differences between ___ 2 effects of __ on ____ 1 question you still have about the topic
  • 3 important facts, 2 interesting ideas, and 1 insight about yourself as a learner
  • 3 keywords, 2 new ideas, 1 thought to think about
  • Write 3 questions about the text (unfamiliar words, confusing passages or ideas), write 2 predictions based on the text (what will happen next based on the reading), and make one connection based on the text (connect to something you know or have experienced). 

Have students generate an exit ticket, or use one of the following tools to collect the information:

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Instructional Strategies

Beginning of the Year Ice Breakers: 

Nearpod provides a great way to get seamless feedback from your students using any device with a web browser.  With Nearpod you can turn off your project and interact with your Nearpod.comstudents on any mobile device, iPad, or your laptop.  Feel free to circulate in your classroom and interact with your students. You will no longer be tied to the front of the classroom.  You can easily create a Nearpod account by using your Google log-in.  

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Digital DooDads

Survival GuideBeginning of Year Survival Guide

The Secondary Instructional Technology team would like to extend a warm welcome to all returning and new teachers, alike.  It’s going to be a GREAT year!  We understand that the beginning of the year can be a tenuous time, and we are here to help.  Please check out our Beginning of the Year Survival Guide.

Who is my ITS or technician?Who is my ITS/Technician?:

What’s the difference?  Instructional Technology Specialists (ITS) are here to provide you with best practice solutions to instruction as it applies to technology integration in the classroom; whereas, Technicians are available to help whenever you encounter a hardware or software difficulties. They are best reached with the submission of a Help Desk Ticket.

Training for Google Chrome ExtensionGoogle Apps Training (Repeat):

Interested in learning more about how to use Google products.  Introducing the “Training for Google Apps” extension for the Chrome browser.  Simply install the extension by going to the Chrome Web Store at this link,  and whenever you are in a Google app (e.g., Google Docs, Google Classroom, etc.), click on the “Training for Google Apps” logo (*pictured here) at the top right for on-demand training in real time!

Lightspeed Flexmike Lightspeed Mics (Repeat): 

Looking for resources for your new Lightspeed classroom mic?  Click HERE for resources.  Also, wondering why you have a Lightspeed mic?  Watch this VIDEO to better understand why NEISD purchased these classroom tools.

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Professional Resources

Edudemic.comEdudemic: Edudemic was created in 2010 and has since grown into one of the most popular destinations to cover teaching, learning, and how technology positively shapes our education. Check out their “Teacher’s Guides” page: http://www.edudemic.com/guides/

 

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Upcoming District-Wide PD

  • Save the date:  Super Saturday September 17

TIP:  you can always search for professional development opportunities offered by Instructional Technology by browsing the “Online/Web,” “Technology Services,” or “Webinar” categories in Eduphoria.