Differentiating with SMART

Differentiating your instruction can be difficult at times. Besides needing baseline data to determine exactly where a student is, you need to create lessons that will meet everyone's needs. At the secondary level, you are often teaching the same content several times a day. You can use SMART Notebook software to help you differentiate your materials in many different ways.

For instance, you can group your different levels within one notebook. Each group can be used for a different class, but be contained in the same Notebook. This will keep things organized and easy to keep from year to year. One group might have audio support with tough words linked to your voice saying the word and others might have extension activities.

You can also color code your lessons. For instance, if you have a choice activity, the more challenging choices can have one color, the "average" another and the simpler choices yet another color. You can tell students which color they should choose. This will allow everything to be on one page and easily identified by you, but not by the students.

Story Starters

Most Writing teachers struggle with finding topics that will help students get started writing. One thing that you can do is use a picture to help evoke memories or a student's imagination. This story starter site shows a pic with a topic that could easily be moved into notebook by using your print capture to notebook function. This will allow you to model a few together and/or print them for student use.

http://www.meddybemps.com/9.700.html

Check it out!

3rd Annual SMART User Conference

Save the date on your calendar for the 3rd annual SMART User Conference! On April 28, 2012 we will be holding a conference at Parkside Junior High in Normal, IL. Trainers are currently being lined up and registration will be sent out in late January or early February. The cost this year will be $50 and include four training sessions, breakfast, lunch, flash drive and notebook w/pen. We will have over ten of our certified SMART trainers doing sessions all day to insure that every session you attend is high quality.

More details to come in the next month!

Sites for Art Teachers

A huge thanks to Julie Basting from Unit 5 Schools in Normal for sharing these sites that she uses in her classroom. Exploratory teachers often struggle with finding appropriate resources for their SMART board since SMART exchange is limited for their content. Interactive websites are often the key to using your board effectively and allowing your students an opportunity to learn while out of their seat. A few sites that Julie uses that work well with her students:

http://www.princetonol.com/groups/iad/index.html

http://www.artsconnected.org

http://www.middleschool.net/art-lesson-plans.htm

http://www.art-rageous.net/Art-Plans.html (Virginia art teacher’s site)

http://www.picassohead.com/

http://www.handsoncrafts.org/000-a.htm
http://www.haringkids.com/lesson_plans/learn/drawing-with-wire

Julie also recommends Usborne books - they have links for their books on their website.

Vocabulary Game

I just read about this in a Teacher Love SMARTboards email and thought I should share. The vocabulary level for this game is pretty high. For instance one of the words that I had when I first played was writhe. You are asked to find an antonym or synonym of the word given and if you are correct you get to feed the robot. This would be a great game for the board to be done as a whole class to learn new vocabulary.

http://www.wordcentral.com/games/bigbot.html

Alpha bot is for spelling....which most of us are no longer teaching, but this would be a nice game when students can choose an activity.

http://www.wordcentral.com/games/alpha-bot.html

The last game that was shared is a word jumble. This would be another great game when students can choose an activity.

http://www.uclick.com/client/mwb/tmjkf/

SMART Notebook 10.8 - What's new?

If you haven't had a chance to update your Notebook software to 10.8 (which just came out), I highly suggest that you do. There are several new features that will definitely put a smile on your face. There are also many changes to SMART Response that will make creating and implementing assessments easier.

A few of the Notebook changes:

1. Image Optimization - large images can be automatically optimized to make your notebook files smaller and easier to share. An image can be optimized when you insert it or you can right click and select image optimization from the drop down menu.

2. Full Screen zoom - switch between entire page length and page width zoom while in full screen mode so your pages always fill the screen.

3. Gesture feedback - feedback is provided when you use the zoom gesture or swipe gesture so you always know what page you're on or what zoom level you've reached.

4. Pages are now numbered sequentially when you create groups rather than starting back at one with each new group.

5. From the file menu you can share your notebook on the exchange by selecting "Share on the SMART Exchange."

Response Changes:

1. Answer keys can be created - click response on the file menu for the choice

2. Set up tools shortcut is located on the Response desktop menu

3. When changing the remote type, you do not have to have classes stopped or notebooks closed. It also will let you know which type of question is supported by the type of remote that you are choosing.

4. When you are in transparent mode in Notebook, SMART Response icons are available on the floating toolbar making it easier to insert questions.

5. Icons have also been added to the full screen floating toolbar

6. No need for title pages to save data in Teacher Tools!!!

7. Easier duplication of classes and classes can be imported from one to another

8. Remotes now connect more easily - no need to scan for classes when joining previous classes

Be sure to update your software now so you can try out these changes - they are definitely worth it!

More Video Options

There are many options to embed videos onto a notebook page. You could type in the word save in the address of a youtube video after the www. or convert a file to an flv using an online converter. Another simple way to convert videos that are web based is by using firefoxes add on video helper. First make sure you have firefox installed as a browser on your computer - if not, go to google, search firefox and install. Next, install the add on video helper . This will an icon to the left of the address bar in firefox that has three circles.

When you find a video on firefox that you want to embed into notebook, click on the icon (the circles will be rotating if you can do this with the video) and save the video. When the save box comes up, be sure to add .flv to the end of the file name so your computer knows it is a .flv. Once the video is saved, you can drag and drop it onto a notebook page.

Another great thing to use is qik.com. Qik allows you to videotape something with your smart phone and it is instantly uploaded to the web. You can then use the firefox video helper to save it as an flv and embed it. At the Qik site, create an account and the download will be sent to your phone. Once the free application is loaded, you can open it and take a video. The video when done is on the qik site. Play the video and then save it as an flv. This is an easy, FREE, quick way to shoot movies in your classroom and share on your board.

Animated Banners

Creating an animated banner is very easy with wigflip. Simply write your text, choose the size of the banner and click "generate." You can then right click on the banner and save then drag and drop onto a notebook page. The one downside of this site is that you can't change what the banner looks like, but definitely a quick and easy way to create one for a notebook page.

Animated Text

I blogged about gif and adding animations awhile ago, but found out about these new sites that are easy to use to create text and wanted to share.

Often you may want your letters animated or a banner box that welcomes students or gives a direction. With a few free sites, it is simple and easy. The first one is textanim. Once you have the site open, fill in the text, font type and size and change your background color to NO. You can also change the direction. Choose a font color/style and then click on "generate." Your text will appear at the top under textanim. Right click on the text and choose "save image as." Once your image is saved it can be dragged and dropped onto a notebook page. A very easy way to create sentences and text boxes that are animated.

Automatic Sound when you enter a Page

In many trainings, I have been asked the question about whether or not you can have a sound byte automatically play when a page is entered and I have answered no. I have just learned that there is a way that you can make that happen. If the MP3 or other sound byte is converted to a SWF or flash sound file, you can embed it onto a page and when the page is opened the sound will begin playing.

The easiest way to do this is by using the website Format Factory. Once you have format factory installed, open the software and on the left hand side under video click on "all to swf."

Secondly, choose "add file" and be sure to change the browse search to "all files" since the default is video and you will be choosing a sound file. Choose the music or sound byte that you wish to play when the page is opened.

Next click on "OK" - this will take you back to the format box where you began. Highlight the sound you selected and click on "Start." The sound will then be converted to an swf. If you click on "output folder," you will see the folder where it was automatically saved as a shockwave flash.

You can now drag and drop the swf file onto a notebook page. The file will look very similar to a video flv and you will have a blue handle at the top to use to move it. Place the file behind another object so it can't be seen by using ordering. The sound will play when you enter the page and stop when the page is exited. A simple way to engage students.

You can also use audacity to record yourself giving directions for a page and convert that to a swf and embed onto the page that the directions are needed. A student can simply page forward and back to repeat the directions if they need them played again.

Good luck! Email me if you have any problems with making this work.

iPad vs Netbooks for 1:1

Many districts are looking at implementing a 1:1 program. EdReach published a piece in April that discusses the differences both financially and educationally that would be useful for anyone thinking of writing a grant for their classroom, school or district. The author plans on writing more - it will be interesting to see how things turn out for his district. His choice for financial and application use was netbooks.

iPad vs Netbook for 1:1

Using Google Docs

I took a google docs class today and learned a ton of info on how to use it in the classroom as well as using it to help share docs on websites. Most school district websites have space issues and they don't want you uploading a ton of files. This can be tricky if you are trying to share notebooks with families since most of them can be quite large. Google docs is a great way to plow through this problem.

First step - start a google account and log in
Second - Click on "more" and then "documents"
Third - click on the "upload" link and find the notebook that you want to upload. You do NOT want the notebook converted so make sure that both boxes are not clicked.
Fourth - Once the file is uploaded, hover over the file listed in your documents and click on "actions" - choose "share" and then share again.
Fifth - Documents are automatically set as private - change this to public. I chose to share with those having link so the file couldn't be found arbitrarily.
Sixth - Once you click on save, you are then given a URL for the document - copy
Seventh - On your website - highlight the text you want linked and choose to link a URL and paste the address for the doc

That's it! When people click on the link, google will open and they are able to download the file. You don't have to worry about any space being taken up on your school's server. Also, if you use word press you can't attach notebooks so you must do something like this. Lastly, you get 1G of space when you open an account on google. If this isn't enough it costs only $5 per YEAR to have 20G. This would be more than enough to upload every single notebook that you could possibly want to share.

Fakebook Page

Are you tired of assigning book reports? Looking for something new and different next Fall when students need to share information about a subject? Try this idea - have students create a fakebook page for the person, content or book.

The "Daring Librarian" has a great blog that is definitely worth following. One of the ideas that she shares is fakebook pages. She discusses how she used Comic Life to create fakebook page templates and then laminated them (time in the lab was tight) so students could use overhead pens to fill them in. This would be a great thing to model on your SMART board. What a great idea to link what students know to what they are learning about.

After checking out the fakebook page - I highly recommend you check out the other entries in her blog. She is a middle school librarian that has won awards for her blog. She has some great ideas.

Check out an online version of fakebook - scroll down and click on some of the samples. AMAZING

Comic Life Tutorial

Are you a Comic Life user? If not, consider trying the software. It is a great way to get hesitant writers interested in sharing. Students create graphic novels using photos and images. I used it in many ways including expository writing for science. For instance, the students explained the different states of matter using photos and captions for one assignment. For a Language Arts assignment, I had them create an autobiography using photos from home. The software is very easy to use and students enjoy creating files.

A nice tutorial on how to use the software is available - check it out.

Webinar Ideas

I will be working out a schedule for webinars using SMART Bridgit software, that will be free and open to anyone. They will be held on a regular basis in the late afternoon so classroom teachers can attend. Please email me if you have any ideas on things that you want to learn more about regarding your SMARTboard, SMART Ideas, SMART Response or any other SMART product. I want to make sure that the webinars are easy to follow, contain information that teachers need as well as being accessible to anyone.

Thanks!

Shawn - shawns@bradfields.com

iPads and SMART boards

EdCompass has an article that explains a few ways that you can use an iPad with your SMART board. There are three different things that they explore.

1. Creating docs using google docs and have them open on the board while the student accesses them on their iPad.
2. Use Dropbox to share files back and forth so the student can find photos and images and create files that can be added/linked to a notebook file easily.
3. Use Splashtop Remote software to take over your desktop (SMARTboard) with the iPad. This will allow the student to interact directly with the class.

As iPads are used more and more in the classroom, it's great to know that ideas are flowing on ways to incorporate them with the use of a SMARTboard!

UK Resources

Often, we need to look outside the U.S. to find great resources to use in our classrooms. The NGfL (Wales organization) has a great site that includes resources for all ages. Many of them are good additions to the curriculum you are teaching in the states and are SMART board ready.

One of the ones that I enjoyed is called Supermarket. It is a descriptive writing exercise that would work well with many levels. It starts out with students spinning the fruit machine handle. They then need to drag words to the work area that describe the fruit that they see. Words that are incorrect will not stay in the area. The adjectives that are given are difficult and this is not an activity for the primary set. They then move to the grocery store and roll over blacked out areas and hear a sound that the area is making. For instance, a baby in the cart is blacked out and when they roll over it, the baby starts crying. They describe the situation and why the baby might be crying based on the picture. Another level shows them an enlarged area of the supermarket - i.e. the bakery and they have to describe the way it smells and sounds. A great starter activity to have students use adjectives and describe a known place in their life.

Earth Day - 4/22

A great idea for celebrating Earth Day is by reading The Lorax by Dr. Seuss. Combine the reading experience with an interactive game at seussville.com. Collect seeds so you and the Lorax can plant a new tree. A nice way to incorporate your SMART board with Earth Day.

Google Image Swirl

Do you have trouble finding the perfect picture to add to a Notebook file? Google images is often a place to go to that helps you find images that fit what you are teaching. Google Image Swirl makes this even easier. Once at the site, you can search for any topic. The topics are then categorized for you and you can easily see which image is perfect for what you are trying to convey. It's always great when you can find a good tool to help you search for things easily.

Kindle & your SMART board

If you have a kindle, did you know you can use it with your SMART board? Students who struggle are often reluctant readers and any time we can bring a new piece of technology into the mix, we can help more students. If you already own a kindle, you can download the free Kindle for PC app (or Kindle for Mac) from amazon.com. Once you have the app on your computer, you can open your Kindle library on your SMART board.

You can interact with the text using Digital Ink Layer, writing notes and capturing them for your students. You can also use tools like the spotlight, screen shade and magnifier to emphasize certain lines of text. If you choose to use the transparent background, you can also place anchor objects, bring in graphics and highlight important text.

Picture books will also show up in full color allowing you to truly bring the experience of reading to the entire class. No more walking around trying to show everyone the picture at the same time.

Are you a Math Teacher?

Check out this month's EDCompass newsletter from SMART - it is entirely about math. One thing you should definitely check out is the Webinars that SMART will be hosting - there are two different ones to choose from (you can view both) and they are viewed on demand. How easy is that?

Ancient World History Game Site

Very cool site called Fling the Teacher allows students to build their "victim" with different attributes and then answer questions that allow the device to be made that will fling their teacher. The questions are multiple choice and are pretty difficult. They have the option of choosing vote, ask or -2 for help. If they are wrong they have to start over.

A few more great sites!

A show of hands is a great site to use when teaching students the students graphing. There are several different questions that can be used to poll the classroom on your SMART board. The results are put into a bar graph, pie chart, and pictograph. You could easily use Notebook's transparent background to overlay different questions.

Fraction Spinner is a wonderful tool to use when you start teaching fractions. The spinner reveals a fraction and the questions specify what a student should do based on what the fraction is - for instance, "stand up if it's a whole number," "put your hand up if it can be simplified," "hum if it is an improper fraction." What a great way to incorporate multiple intelligences. A great idea would be to borrow these types of questions to other content that you use in notebook software.

Probability Line is a tool that can be used to evoke discussion in cooperative groups. Each group can decide how they would rank the items listed (snow in London, seeing a UFO, rolling the die and getting a number bigger than 3 etc.) from most likely to least likely. They can then take turns moving them in their order on the board. The nice part is that there is no wrong or right answer and they can click on save and see how the majority of people who have done the activity believe they should be ranked. A great discussion piece and a nice segue into ranking content material items that they are currently learning.

Google Lit Trips

Google Lit Trips - Overview

Google Lit Trips

Google Lit Trips is a great way to expand a student's experience with literature. Several trips have already been created and accessible and you have the ability to make one of your own. Trips are available for K-5, 6-8, HS and higher ed. Some of the titles available are:

A Family Apart by Joan Lowery Nixon
Underground to Canada by Barbara Smucker
Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

TitanPad

Imagine google docs on steroids - that is what you get with TitanPad. TitanPad is a free web 2.0 application that is used to create collaborative digital documents. Google docs and TitanPad are different in that Titan occurs during real time. Each person that is logged onto the page (each page you create has a unique address) can write and edit at the same time. Each person has a designated color as well. A teacher can create separate pages for each group and the group can collaborate online. At any time, the teacher can choose the "timeslider" tool. This will generate a doc that has the time that each item was posted as sell a key that lets them know who said what so each student can be held accountable. Docs can also be exported into word so they can easily be printed out.

TitanPad

GeoGebra

A great math site that I just found would work well on your SMART board if you are teaching algebra or geometry. Lessons range from elementary to high school. Since some of the activities are java based they offer quick interactive lessons that will enhance your instruction. Of course the best part is .... it's free!

GeoGebra

Aegom - Science, Math and ELA lessons

Are you interested in free science, ELA or math lessons to use with your SMART interactive whiteboard? Check out these free evaluation lessons at Aegom. They do charge for a subscription, but you can try a few out for free.

Aegom

YouTube Channel

Did you know that Bradfield's has a youtube channel? I have posted several instructional videos this past month and will be adding more in the next few weeks. If you are looking for an easy convenient way to have professional development the videos will work well for you and your district. In the next few months I will also be hosting several Bridget sessions that will be an hour long and held in the late afternoon. I am in the beginning stages of planning these and eventbrite will be used for people to register. Email me suggestions on things that you would like to learn and I will include it in the topics. shawns@bradfields.com

http://www.youtube.com/bradfields61602

Yodio

Another way to use student's cell phone in an instructional manner is Yodio. Yodio is a free web service that can be used to create digital storybooks. Students can call into the Yodio phone number and record their message as well as send photos. Imagine how this can change a field trip. A chaperone can use their phone and students can take pictures of interesting things that they are learning about as they proceed through the day. They also leave messages with their comments. Back at school, they log into Yodio and use their recorded comments and photos to create a digital storybook. Another easy way to use the cell phone to create an educational experience.

Cell Phones in the Classroom?

Over 90% of schools have some type of rule about cell phone use by students during the school day. However, cell phones have the ability to help teachers teach more effectively if they are used correctly. I will be posting several things today that I learned while reading February's Educational Leadership. I encourage everyone to grab a copy and read it thoroughly. It is titled "Teaching Screenagers" and every article focuses on technology in our student's lives and ways that you can take advantage of their tech abilities in the classroom.

One of the articles about the use of cell phone's caught my attention. It is titled "Adventures with Cell Phones" and is written by Liz Kolb. Activities that were shared in the article, Poll Everywhere, using Google Voice for giving oral quizzes, Mobile Geotagging, creating digital storybooks using yodio as well as many others.

Poll Everywhere is having students use their cell phones to text a response anonymously to a question you post as they enter the room. The example that they cited was one in which a teacher asked students to give their opinion about the most important cause of the U.S. Civil War. Students text'd their responses to Poll Everywhere and the responses were quickly seen on the interactive whiteboard. Responses are anonymous and students can quickly look up and see what their peers are saying. The teacher continued using the web application having them text why they chose their answer. This is just one way that a cell phone can be used as an educational device. Poll Everywhere could also easily be used by a teacher who is conducting a training for adults or for staff meetings when a principal wants to quickly get the pulse of his staff.

Google Voice is one I definitely will look into further. You are able to set up a free local number for students to call with Google Voice that is associated with the teacher's phone number or voice mailbox. Students can leave recorded messages, assignments or test answers. One example that was cited was a Spanish teacher who sent a text message to her students letting them know that an oral exam was ready to take. The students called in the the Google Voice number and listened to her pre-recorded instructions and questions. They responded in Spanish with their answers. When the student hangs up, their quiz becomes an MP3 file in the teacher's private Google space. She can then call into Google Voice or log in online to hear the quizzes. The teacher can also text message from Google Voice to each student their individual evaluation. Because Google Voice archives voice mail and text message communications you will have a running record of the activities and progress. If the teacher chooses, they can also make the oral quiz into a podcast by uploading them to a podcasting service such as iTunes and requiring students to subscribe to the podcast.

Pretty cool right? Let me know if you use any of these and how it went.

Central IL - Moveable Feast

If you are looking for a great opportunity to hone your tech skills and be able to integrate technology more effectively in the classroom, Moveable Feast is for you.

For over ten years the University of Illinois has worked with the Feast and have helped over 10,000 participants enjoy low cost staff development with a 5:1 participant to trainer ratio. The trainers are teacher who use technology daily to provide meaningful instruction. The feast covers a variety of topics including SMART, Moodle, web development, RtI, podcasting, Office 2007, Windows 7, Google applications, Web 2.0 tools and much more.

Check out the website for more information. Registration begins on April 1st for this awesome week long tech experience. I have been a participant as well as a trainer and it is by far the best staff development that I have ever experienced. You also have the opportunity to earn graduate credits through the U of I. Moveable Feast

There are three weeks to choose from - don't delay your registration to insure your spot!

New Common Core Standards

If you haven't had a chance to check out the new Common Core State Standards that are going to be adopted in 40 states, you should. The English Language Arts appendix PDF files have examples of text and clear objectives that the student should be able to complete. This will be much easier to decipher for new teachers and create continuity among states. I look forward to familiarizing myself as we make the change.

Common Core State Standards

Calligraphy Pen

One of the nicest things about the new 800 series boards is the calligraphy pen. If you choose it from the toolbar, everything you write will appear as calligraphy. What most people don't realize is that you can have the use of a calligraphy pen with your 600 series board.

10.7 updates are now available for your SMART notebook and driver software. Once you update (and are attached to hardware) the calligraphy pen will available. It is a wonderful tool and definitely something that will benefit those that don't have the best handwriting. Try it out!

Marzano weighs in on Interactive Whiteboards

Dr. Robert Marzano is one of the leading researchers in education and I highly recommend any of his books. He's a true believer in data driven instruction and uses research to back his claims on the best way to instruct.

I ran across this article in Educational Leadership that he wrote about interactive whiteboards.

A few interesting tidbits...

"The study results indicated that, in general, using interactive whiteboards was associated with a 16 percentile point gain in student achievement. This means that we can expect a student at the 50th percentile in a classroom without the technology to increase to the 66th percentile in a classroom using whiteboards.

A second feature is the use of graphics and other visuals to represent information. These include downloaded pictures and video clips from the Internet, sites such as Google Earth, and graphs and charts. Use of these aids was also associated with a 26 percentile point gain in student achievement.

A third feature is the interactive whiteboard reinforcer—applications that teachers can use to signal that an answer is correct or to present information in an unusual context. These applications include dragging and dropping correct answers into specific locations, acknowledging correct answers with virtual applause, and uncovering information hidden under objects. These practices were associated with a 31 percentile point gain in student achievement."

He also weighs in on the use of "clickers" that allow the teachers to use data driven instruction. The best part of the article however is when he explains specifically what you should or shouldn't do to have the best results. For all of us SMART users - think SMART notebook when he says "flipchart."

Marzano's recommendations:

• Teachers should think through how they intend to organize information. They should group information into small, meaningful segments before they start developing the digital flipcharts. Once they've organized the content, then they can design the flipcharts to complement the organization. To ensure that they don't run through the flipcharts too quickly, teachers can insert flipcharts that remind them to stop the presentation so students can process and analyze the new information.

• Digital flipcharts should contain visuals, but those visuals should clearly focus on the important information. Also, no single flipchart should contain too many visuals or too much written information.
• After asking a question and getting student responses using voting devices, the teacher should typically discuss the correct answer along with the incorrect answers, making sure to elicit opinions from as many students as possible.
• When using reinforcing features like virtual applause, teachers should make sure that students focus on why an answer is correct or incorrect. Although these features can produce high engagement and certainly enliven the atmosphere in a classroom, they can also be distracting if used without a clear focus on essential content.

Read the full article here.

SMART Response VE

Don't have access to a Response receiver in the lab? Want to try out something new? Response VE is a way to have students respond to a test that you are giving online. Any tool that they have that has internet access can be used. If a student is at home sick, on vacation or you are in your lab - you can give an assessment (without using a receiver). If you are a teacher who is presenting to other teachers - this would also be a great way to give an assessment if you don't have a receiver available. Do a pre-assessment and find out what they know before you begin your presentation.

1. Create your assessment in notebook as you normally would. However, I have found that multiple choice questions are the only format that worked. I am assuming it is due to it still being a beta version. Save and close your notebook.

2. Go to "all programs," "SMART technologies," "SMART Response," "Set up tool," and change the response type to VE.

3. Open your notebook, start a class and start assessment. The assessment will be processed and a 6 digit code will pop up on your screen.

4. Students go to response.smarttech.com and log in with the code and their ID. They take the assessment on their device at their own pace.

5. Stop the assessment and review the results as you normally would. The student sees their score on their device.

Email me if you have any questions - shawns@bradfields.com.

The Games That We Play! - Zack Gilbert

Check out Zack Gilbert's list of games that he suggests that teachers use in the classroom. Zack is a former teammate of mine and awesome 6th grade social studies teacher who effectively integrates technology. Games are a great way to entice students to further their learning and better their understanding.

EdRead - The Games That We Play!

Planbook

If you haven't already read about planbook or aware of what it is, now is the time to check it out. There are new features that have recently been added.

Planbook New Features

Planbook is an online lesson planner that is free the first year. After that it is only $7.95 per year. Open an account and check it out. It is definitely worthy of a look.

planbook

Shout Out

I have been traveling a lot lately and wanted to give a shout out to all of the teachers in East Aurora, Carpentersville and Deland who I have met in the past few weeks. I am always impressed with the educators that I meet and learn so much doing this job.

Today, a teacher at Krug (East Aurora) came up with a great solution to one of the hide/reveals that I often teach. If you have been in one of my sessions or familiar with hide/reveal it is the one where the name of the object is written on the object and revealed by the magnifying glass. This is a great hide reveal if the object is one color. In the past, I have shown that you can create a frame around the object and put the name of the object on top of the frame if the object has many colors. This wonderful teacher said, "can't we make the background a different color?" DUH - Yes, you can! Put as many objects on a page that you want and make the background a dark color (or keep it white if you want to use a black reveal object). Bring in your magnifying glass after placing your objects. Type the names of the objects underneath your objects in the same color as your background. The magnifying glass will now reveal the names of your objects. A huge thank you to this fellow educator for helping me find another easy way to help teachers find their way with SMART!

The Hat

There are different ways within notebook that you can use to randomly choose a student, vocabulary word or item. This free software allows you to have another method outside of notebook. It is a free download. You enter your student's names and they are randomly pulled out of the top hat with a drum roll. A cute new way to keep your students interested.

The Hat

7-12 Interactive Web Sites

It's often difficult to find interactive sites to use with students at the secondary level. The links off of this site include all subjects and will definitely keep your students engaged. Imagine your students performing a heart transplant on the SMART board or computing ratios from a recipe.

7-12 Student Activities

3-6 Interactive Websites

Whether it's music, art, social studies or science that you are teaching, this site has links that will help make your lesson more engaging. One of the cute activities is in the Language Arts section called "Huggy Freeze Dance." Students are given a word that is shown as well as said and three monkeys. One of the monkeys is behaving like the word. Words such as irked and lackadaisical are used that would be great writing starters.

3-6 Student Interactive Activities

Wonderful Primary Sites

More great websites to help students stay engaged with your SMART board.

This first one has different activities that enhance your student's listening skills. One is titled "Pounce." The students hear the word and then have three word choices. The cat pounces on the word that they choose and they are given instant feedback. Another called, "What's in the Bag?" gives the students three clues on what could be in the bag. Students use inference and listening skills to determine what the object/item is. The 2nd link is the main site with other activities besides listening.

K-2 Listening activities

Main K-2 site

SMART Exchange - Change coming!

Most of you are familiar with the SMART exchange and have probably downloaded a lesson or two. There are some significant changes coming up that you should be aware of. Please read below information from SMART. The "My Resources" area will be a great tool to utilize.

Registration on SMART Exchange™ Required

Starting February 28, SMART will require users to register and become members in order to download or upload files on the SMART Exchange website. This change will provide educators with more control over the resources they share.

Membership benefits
Once registered, members will continue to have full access to all educational resources and interactive lesson activities. As part of their account, each member will also have a My Resources area in which to edit, delete or replace their uploaded files at any time. The My Resources area also enables users to view all resources they have shared and view statistics on how many times they have been downloaded or recommended.

This update will streamline the process involved in uploading teacher-created content to the site, shortening the time from when a teacher shares a file to when it becomes available to others.

SMART Exchange
The SMART Exchange website is SMART’s home for content and community, providing users with more than 50,000 lesson resources created by SMART, publishers and educators. It is easily accessible from within SMART Notebook software, and it adds significant value for customers who are considering buying SMART products.

Magic Table Reveal

This is one of the coolest hide reveals that I have seen. It is easy to do and you can easily edit the choices and question for any subject or content. Email me if you need more direction than what I give in the video. I am working on creating some examples that I can send you.

Magic table reveal how to video

SMART notebook express

Great facts about notebook express from SMART in case you aren't using it yet.

• Universal – Anyone, anywhere can use SMART Notebook Express to access SMART Notebook software content, regardless of the operating system or device being used

• Based on SMART Notebook – SMART Notebook Express includes some of the most popular editing and delivery features of SMART Notebook software

• Easy to access – SMART Notebook Express is a web application that does not require you to install software, register or log on to access it

• Easy to share – With SMART Notebook Express, you can share your SMART Notebook files with other educators, students and parents, regardless of whether they have SMART Notebook software

• Integrated with the SMART Exchange – Use the SMART Exchange to find and access thousands of SMART Notebook lesson activities and content – then open them with SMART Notebook Express

• Automatic feature updates – As SMART Notebook Express is a web application, updates to features are made automatically

Check it out and be sure to link the site to your classroom web page so parents can view notebooks that you have linked. Notebook express