A Break Through with the iPads!

Good News on the iPad front! There is finally a way for you to get photos and movies from the student use iPads to a student use computer!

If that is NOT something that has been causing you heartburn......you can stop reading now!

For those of you who have wanted to do something like this.....read on to find the surprisingly simple way to do it!


Would you believe it is all about GOOGLE DOCS!?


All of the iPads have an APP called Google Drive.  This gives the user access to his/her Google Docs account.

 Chances are that when you open it, you will find yourself in the account of someone else.  Go down to the left hand corner and open the settings. 
This will let you sign out and sign into your own GoogleDocs.

Like this:

Then.....the most amazing thing!

When you click on the + sign in the top corner of your Google Drive APP on the iPad, you get a choice of whether to use the photos on the iPad Camera Roll or actually take a photo using the camera.  All you do is click upload and these items will now be in your GoogleDocs.

You can even use the camera to take video and directly upload that.

The beauty of this.....especially for older students....they can move photos to their own GoogleDocs to use in activities!

Hope this makes sense....if not....of course I can show you in person!

New Primary Level Website Resource!

This is a screen shot of the Home Page for a great Spanish Language web site.

Mi mundo en palabras

This site is chock full of great vocabulary activities.  Don't let the primary look of the site keep you from taking a look.  There are activities that would suit up to second grade.  This would also be a great resource for a small group intervention.  Sadly.....this runs in FLASH so it does not work on the iPads!

Enjoy!

Grade Level iPads Have Been Distributed!

There is now a teacher iPad checked out to each grade level team!

There is an additional teacher iPad in the cupboard for other adults to use.!

The grade level iPads are yours to manage as you see fit.

They are set up so that photos and movies can be downloaded to your computers.

ENJOY!!!

Read Across America 2014

Read Across America Day will be celebrated nationwide on Monday, March 3rd.

Like always....the celebration at PSI will be simple and sweet!

•  Listen for the announcement at 8:30 Monday Morning!

• I will read a Dr. Seuss inspired poem telling kids to go out in the hall and read!

• ALL you need to do is have kids ready with books that will keep them busy for at least 10 minutes!

Here are some additional resources if you want them!

• We will display all of the Dr. Seuss Books that we have and "reserve" the Spanish Titles for staff.
• Please remember to "be nice and share"....meaning.....return the books when you are done with them.
• I will be giving out book marks to all the kids...I found one in SPANISH...yeah me!
• There will be  a link to Seussville on the Main Student Resource Page....alas...this is NOT in Spanish! (I am not going make the link live until this weekend)
• Here is a link to some things that you might enjoy doing with your class....ideas that need tweaking for the Immersion environment....but ideas non the less!

Huevos Verdes (You Tube Video)

 Finally....a link to a well written (as best this rookie spanish reader can tell) SPANISH biography of Dr. Seuss 

 Have a great Day!

New Stuff You Need to Know!

Check out the new procedure for reserving equipment and spaces in the Media Center!

LINK HERE OR CHECK YOUR GOOGLE DOCS

This sign up is shared with all of you in your Google Docs. 

I think it makes sense to have this on-line!

I have purposefully left it open-ended so that you can indicate the space or equipment you need.

With any schedule.....it only works if everyone is faithful about signing up!

Here are some examples of things you would write on the schedule:

• Reserving the tables for small group Amity Instruction
• Reserving the "Nikon" Camera
• Reserving the presentation area or the tables for special events
• Reserving the scanner
• Reserving the BIG SCREEN TV Computer Carts (2)

Speaking of those BIG SCREEN TV Computer Carts.....

We have just spent some time getting these updated!

There are 2 set ups.....and each works exactly the same!

The log in information is posted on the little Mac Mini Computer.

These machines have a wireless connection!

There is NO SMART BOARD Software on them, but otherwise, they would be good to use when you have a substitute who needs internet access for your lessons!

The DVD Player and VCR Player have been removed..this will further simplify the set up.  (No one will be pushin' buttons and messin' it up :)  )  If you need to use this for a DVD....use the computer to play it!

Have a Great 4 day week!

New English Audio Materials

Thanks to a donation by the Long family (Anna), we now have several wonderful books on CD.

These resources are in English.

We have had several instances in the last couple of years with students who for some reason are not able to read text on the page or screen.  (concussion issues)

These audio materials will provide quality literature for these kids.

For that reason, the books will be housed in the back with the Writing Craft model texts.

Just let us know if you need them.

Fun New Resources!

I just found the most amazing Spanish Language Videos that are great for K-3 learners.

The Calico Spanish or Kids Immersion, LLC is the producer of these You Tube Videos!

Here are a couple of examples:













You can find more by doing a search "kidsimmersion" on the You Tube site!

You might also enjoy these stories produced by the Georgia Public Broadcasting System.
This link will give you a list of 45 different little puppet plays!  

SALSA EPISODES

 

Enjoy!

 

Happy BRRR Year! January in the Media Center!

Welcome Back!

The two extra days of "break" were sure nice.

BUT....

Now that we are back, the shortened week means that many of you have missed out on book choice time.

NORMALLY, this is something that we just chalk up to the "fates"!
 

Our kids have already been without new books for a long time.

It doesn't seem fair that they need to wait another week for new books.


So here is the plan.....with an explanation of how it will work. 

Please read this carefully, even if you DID NOT miss your book choice time.

Another wrinkle in the schedule is that MAP testing starts this week!  (The window runs from Jan. 9-Feb. 7)
That schedule will be shared with you as soon as Corey and I review it!
When the testing is going on, it is very difficult for me to assist with that AND do media lessons during book choice time!

During the month of January, plan to bring your students at the regular time for book choice.  Assume that I WILL NOT meet with the kids other than to get them set to check out their books.

You can plan to be in the center for about 20 minutes.

THIS WEEK....if YOUR class missed book check out because of the "POLAR VORTEX"....look at the schedule and sign up for a time that works for you to come in and do a 20 minute book choice!

Jumpstart will be cancelled for the entire MAP testing window. 

This is necessary because of the need to have the tests set up and ready for kids.

I hope this all makes sense.  If you have any questions, you can always stop in and ask.

Here's to a great start to 2014!

Mark Your Calendars for the THIRD ANNUAL Make and Take Holiday Extravaganza!

 On Monday,  December 9th 
the PSI teacher lunchroom will become....

A Holiday Decor Workshop!

This will be the 3rd Annual Edition of this fun event!

Time: Dec. 9-3:30-5:00

Location: PSI Teacher Lunchroom

Cost: $10 (your contribution will secure your spot at the table)

If a picture is worth a 1000 words....these photos will let you see the fun we have had in the past!!

 

As you can see.....this is a gender neutral event!!!  Without this Freddie would have to figure out something else to give his Mom for Christmas!!!

 

Your $10 gets you all the greens you will need.....wire,,,,,ribbon.....floral foam and other fun accents for your creations!

You should bring your own containers.....a quick trip to the new Good Will might be in order!  If you want a candle or any other "special" ornaments....bring those and you will get LOTS of good advice for incorporating them into something wonderful!

 

Maybe it is a door swag that you need.....a few greens, a bow.....how easy is that?

RSVP with your contribution before December 4th! 

 I need to know how much STUFF to Buy!!!!

Have A Wonderful Week!

What's New?

You might wonder what I have been up to while you all have been busy getting ready for and having your conferences!

Noooo....I haven't just been sitting around drinking coffee and eating leftover Halloween Candy...DARN!  Here are a few things that have been happening around here!

I used the Media Center PTO money to purchase an additional wagon for the upstairs kids to use to move books to the library!

Watching the kids try to bring those big boxes of books down the stairs......made me nervous!

The wagon is stored in the little Science storage room.  Encourage your kids to get it to put the "returns" in. 
Have them put the wagon in the elevator....then go down the steps to "meet" it.....wheel the books in to the center and then send the wagon back upstairs.

No....we didn't buy a GOLD plated iPad for PSI.....

BUT this might make you even happier!

Nate and Angela have been working with me to create a process to streamline our syncing process for the student iPads!!!

The goal is to set up a "GOLDEN iPAD" that will be the model for how all student iPads look.  This will allow us to set up screens for the APPs...and more easily manage them. 

I will keep you posted!

We have started doing an inventory!

If you see me crawling around on the floor beeping books....you will understand how much FUN this is!

Imagine....every single book needs to be scanned!!!  Well at least we do it with the scanner and not the drawers of cards like in the olden days!

I would ask that if you have a secret cache of books in your room that you might be able to return....that will help when we get to the end of the process and need to go searching for items!!!

Look at all the books that came to us for FREE!

Thanks to the Book Fair!

Diane has been feverishly getting them cataloged and out on the shelves.

What Fun!

So there you have it....what's new around here!!!

Have a great week!