Innovation Exchange 2017

Here are my presentation slides for todays conference. I'm going to be talking about technology in the classroom, Showbie, Google Forms, using social media to communicate with parents, and creating a classroom blog.

Camp Wonderopolis

Wonderopolis is a great tool to use in your classroom for informational texts. I like during Daily 5 to have the kids, for read to self, go explore the Wonder of the Day. I wanted to post their website to my classroom Facebook page for my students and families to have access to over the summer. During the summer students lose reading skills they had gained during the school year. I'm trying to boost summer literacy to help retain skills for the following school year. When I went to their website it took me to Camp Wonderopolis. I was like, "what is this?" I had to start exploring it! The first thing I saw is that it is FREE!!!

I found the tour option and I quickly began exploring. Not only is their summer program about reading and vocabulary, but there are also experiments! They've created a Wonder Wall where posts have been uploaded with quick interesting facts for students to read or watch. The program motivates students to earn Wonder Cards. Their progress is charted within the site on their login page. Students can share out their progress too! What is really catchy is they created the Seven Wonders for the program. How cute is that?! I highly suggest you check this out - ITS FREE!!!!! 

Photomath

I recently discovered a new app and must share it! The app is called photomath. This app is perfect for parents or teachers. You scan a math problem and it gives you the answer with the option to see the steps to solve it. This is perfect for me since I make a lot of my own math homework. I don't have keys, well now I just scan it! This is also perfect for parents. When a parent isn't quite sure how to solve it they can scan the problem and see the steps. This is also great for parents that want to check their child's homework. It doesn't take up too much of their time! Another great thing about this app is that it's FREE!!!! There are a few things I have noticed about this app. It only works on mathematical and algebraic equations; it does not work on word problems. Another thing I noticed is that it only works on typed problems; it can't decipher handwritten. Here is a list of the types of problems it does work for:

This is worth checking out! Students may try to cheat, but it will only get them so far. This is a better tool for teachers and parents! 

Class Messenger

Scrolling through my twitter feed today, I came across Class Messenger. The ad worked and I clicked on the article. LOL I am so glad I did! I just had a coworker telling me the other day she didn't like giving out her personal cell number, but the parent wanted a text every day on their child's behavior. I have a solution!

This app runs very similar to Remind, but is way more user friendly! I love that you can send a general message or a homework reminder to parents or students (with parent permission). This will be great to use for your Parent Teacher Conference reminders! Messages you send can be set up to repeat how you want, so if it's the same message weekly, you just set up for it to send the same day of the week and time!

Class Messenger can be used on a desktop or through any device that it can be downloaded to. I currently have it on my phone and desktop. I love it on my phone because if you are sending an email or text message, you typically do those from your phone anyway! The only drawback I have learned (from many attempts of using the app with my mother and husband today) is that the recipient of the message can not respond directly from the text message. They have to click on the link in the text that directs them to the website where they respond, and not all forms of messages you send give them a link. From their email, they can respond right there! This may not be a problem for many people if you use it just to send important messages or reminders.

For those of you that use it daily for parents that want a status update of their child's behavior and they typically respond back, it may be more of a hassle. It can be more of a hassle if your text doesn't give them a link. If they have the app, they can respond with it or through their email.

Here is a video showing you the desktop version, and a brief breakdown on using it.

The only big difference between Class Messenger and Remind, that some users may miss, is the chat feature inside the app. Class Messenger only lets you send messages back and forth through the app, email, or texting. 

Another unique feature with Class Messenger is you can create a staff room. This enables coworkers to communicate messages back and forth. I could see it being used for a building coach or principal to remind staff of a meeting or items they need to bring to the meeting. Another idea is to help keep communication open for collaboration among grade level teams with their coach and principal. You can send a message out to everyone letting them know a date, time, and place. Then as it gets closer you can have your message set up to repeat to remind everyone.