National Week of Code: Coding at Roosevelt, Alliance Charter, and Tullar Elementary Schools

Coding at Roosevelt, Alliance Charter, and Tullar Elementary Schools

I love to see my students get excited about new things.  Even better, I love to see them "think" they won't be able to do something and then rock it! 

This week and next week, students at my three schools will be celebrating the National Week of Code. Computer programming/coding has come a LOOOOOONG way since I was a student. in the 1970's 1980's 1990s. Many thanks to the parent volunteers to who helped students get started.

Many of my students asked if they could continue to code at home. Below are the websites and apps we used -- although there are a TON more out there!

Free iPad Apps:

Kodable

Lightbot

Hopscotch

Coding Websites for Kids (and Grown Up, Too!)

This is as basic, beginners website -- perfect weather you are 8 or 80. Okay, to be honest, it's perfect whether you are 4 or 94!

Code with the Angry Birds: Studio Code

Although this site is a little more complicated, students loved having Frozen's Anna 

Code with Anna and Elsa from Disney's Frozen

This is the most complicated coding websites students tried -- although most were still able to do it! What students enjoyed the most about this site was that once they programmed a Christmas tree light display, their display would ACTUALLY play on the Wisconsin State Tree at the White House!  Pretty cool!

Made with Code

See Our Students Coding! Look at the Joy!

Our new computer applications aren't always playing "nicely" with our new email program -- Google.  Last year, teachers were able to use Google Drive to share KidPix and Pages documents with their students.  This year, in order to do that, there is a bit of a work-around.

To be able to share/hand-out Pages and KidPix documents, you'll need your students to use their Google Drive Sync App.

The first thing they need to do is move anything you have shared with them into their "My Drive" folder.

Then, they'll need to set up their Google Drive Sync app on the laptop they usually use.  Video directions are below, but as always, if you need help, just say the word!

-- Your Library Goddess, Mrs. McMahon

Access Your Google Drive From Home

Calling all NJSD students!  Calling all NJSD parents!  

Do you need help getting to accessing your Google Drive from home?  It's really quite simple!  Below are step-by-step directions for you to follow.

1. Open up your favorite browser (Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, Safari, Firefox, etc.)
2. Search for "njsd"
3. Click on Neenah Joint School District
4. In the top banner, hover over "For Students"
5. Click on "Google Apps Login"
6. Type in your email address (EXAMPLE: 12345@neenah.k12.wi.us) -- use your LUNCH NUMBER!
7. Type in your "super secret password"
8. You should be in!

If you prefer to watch it being done, there is a video below that shows you how to access your Drive account, too. 

And as always, if you need help, just let me know! You can contact me at jmcmahon@neenah.k12.wi.us

-- The Library Goddess

Google Drive Image From: https://www.google.com/search?q=Google+Drive+images&es_sm=119&biw=1001&bih=562&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=TcAgVKqQING1sQTa4IHQDA&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ#imgdii=_

Creating a Hand Out Folder Using Google Drive

It's pretty easy to create a hand out folder for your class.  Below is a video showing you step-by-step directions.

To make it even easier, I've created .txt files for you with your students' email addresses already typed up, so all you need to do is copy and paste.

Let me know if you need that file!

Of course, if you don't want to create a Hand Out folder you certainly don't have to. I have already created one for each grade level for Information Literacy -- we've had these for years.

And as always, if you need one-on-one help, just let me know! I'm always happy to help!

Jenn McMahon, Library Goddess

Getting Ready for a New School Year!: Setting Up a Homework Tub at Home

Okay, so I will quickly admit that this post has nothing to do with what most people would

consider technology; however, considering that at one point in time, pencils and pens, staplers, and binder clips were "new technology," I'm going to try to get away with this post.

I would encourage all teachers to share this post with parents at Back-to-School night as a way to show them how they can help their children be more organized when it comes to doing homework each night. I'll provide a shortened URL and QR code to make it REALLY easy to share. There will be a link for teachers to PRINT at the bottom of this blog post.

Both of my children know that the dining room table is the place to do homework.  In our dining room, I've always kept a "homework tub" with all the supplies they've needed to quickly get down to the business of doing their work. 

The contents of the tub have changed a bit over the years -- for instance in kindergarten, Margaret Alice's word flashcards were kept in the bin. When each of my kids were working on Rocket Math facts, math addition and subtraction flash cards were kept in the bin.  This year, I've added a ruler and stapler into the mix as these seemed to be items I kept running to the closet to grab last year.

This homework tub doesn't have to be expensive.  I found the container in the Target dollar bins a few years ago, but I've seen them elsewhere -- including Family Dollar. The school supplies I stock up on during August Back to School sales, so they also don't break the bank.   

The smaller containers are mason jars and old candle holders I had laying around the house. 

To keep the jars from sliding around as the kids push the homework tub back and forth across the table, I use putty on the bottoms of the jars. 

Finally, the bin itself is kept in a cupboard in the dining room. 

What exactly is included in this small homework tub:

• Colored pencils
• Markers
• Crayons
• Glue
• Glue sticks
• Small stapler
• Extra staples
• Ruler (it's rubber, so it bends to fit inside the tote)
• Scissors
• Highlighters
• Pencils
• Pens 
• Large eraser
• Post-it Notes

Teachers: Click on the link below to print a handout for Back-to-School night or to send home with students during the first few weeks of school.

Organizing a Homework Tub Handout

--Jenn McMahon, Library Goddess

Secure Printing

You may have noticed that with our new computers, when you print a document, it is no

longer automatically using Secure Print.  This can cause issues with multiple people using one printer -- you can end up getting your documents printed on card stock, colored paper, or even "designer" paper.

You CAN add secure print to you print jobs.  Below is a short video showing you exactly how to do it.  Keep in mind, you'll need to do this every time you want to print a document -- similar to how we have to change the print to "color" each time we want something to print in color.

Any questions, as always, just let me know!

-- Jenn McMahon, Library Goddess

Online Lesson Plan Book with Planbook.com

I've been using this online plan book for three years now, and I absolutely love it! For a mere $12.00 a year (not much more than the cost of a paper lesson plan book) I have quick and easy access to all my lesson plans!

What do I LOVE about planbook.com?  Let me list the reasons:

1. I travel between buildings. Having an online plan book means I don't ever have to worry about leaving my plan book at the wrong building. It also means I always have it available at home.

2. If a lesson runs long and I need to extend it to another week, it's simple to do -- simply click a button! This is also very helpful when a class gets canceled because of a field trip, assembly, or snow (cold) day.

3. I can easily copy and paste lessons (I don't have to rewrite them by hand) for multiple classes with the same lesson plan for the week.

4. I can attach files, website URLs, etc. to the lesson plans, so I have EVERYTHING in one place.

5. It's EASY to print the lesson plans out for a sub when my kids are sick -- and that ALWAYS happens at the most inopportune times, doesn't it?

6. It keeps my lesson plans from previous years. So, if a lesson went particularly well, I can go to the previous year's lessons, and simply copy and paste the lesson, materials needed, files, etc. in a couple of clicks!

Below is a screen shot from my plan book from LAST school year.

Screen Shot Of My Plan Book from Last School Year

There are so many reasons to love this inexpensive and easy-to-use resource!  I am not getting any kickbacks or commissions from planbook.com for advertising their product. It's simply a product I love. It's made my life so much easier, and I want others to know about the product.  

If you have any questions about this product, how to use it, etc. just let me know! They do have a free trial option. That's how I started. I tried it for a month for free, but to be honest, I knew after one week I would purchase it.

To check out more, go to www.planbook.com!  Happy Planning!

Jenn McMahon, Library Goddess

Adding A Printer

I've had a few people ask me how to add a printer to your new laptops.  Below is a short video that will walk you through the VERY quick and easy process.  

Steps for Adding a Printer:

1. Make sure you at in the school building where you would like to add a printer (For example, to add the Roosevelt printers, I had to physically be AT Roosevelt. To add Tullar printers, I had to physically be AT Tullar. You cannot add a school printer from your home.)

2. From your doc, click on the Self Service App.

3. Log into your Self Service App when propted.

4. Along the right-hand-side of the screen, you'll see a category called "Printers." Click on that.  You'll then find all the printers for that building.  Simply click on "Install" or "Add Printer" next to the picture of the printer.

5. If for some reason you do NOT see the printers listed, try restarting your computer while you are in your building. 9 times out of 10 this will solve any issues you may be having not being able to "see" printers.

Video for Adding a Printer:

As always, if you have any questions, just let me know!

How to Subscribe to my Blog

I've received a couple of emails from people asking HOW they can subscribe to my blog. 

Below is a SHORT video that will show you three different ways you can get notified when I've written a new blog post.  Feel free to simply watch the video, subscribe, and be done; however, if you want to learn a little bit more about RSS Feeds, continue reading below the video.

Watch: HOW TO SUBSCRIBE TO MY BLOG:

What IS is an RSS? RSS Explained.

RSS stands for Rich Site Summary. It's format for delivering regularly changing web contact -- oftentimes news-related sites, blogs, etc.

Why might I want to use RSS?

I follow 17 blogs on a regular basis.  Without an RSS, I would have to visit each of those websites daily to see if they've been updated. That's a lot of running around the net! 

To save me time, I use Protopage as my reader -- although there are a TON of RSS readers out there. This means I go to ONE website, and I can find all the sites I follow in one place. Without having to go to each website, I can see if there is an update, and even read the title to see if I want to go to the site to read it -- similar to using the subject line of an email to determine if you want need to read it.

What if I don't follow a lot of websites?

No problem!  Then just subscribe using your email address or Google+.  

Snowball Microphone for Skype

If you aren't sure what a Snowball Microphone is, just take a look at it, and you'll see where

Snowball Microphone

its name comes from.  This is an amazing tool when working with a large group of students doing a recording or a Skype/Face Time chat.

I'll be using this cool tool on Wednesday with a group of students as they do a Skype visit with Lauren Tarshis, the author of the very popular I Surivived . . . series of books.

What's so great about this tool?  It's a highly sensitive microphone that allows students to be able to record or talk via Skype without having to be really close to the computer's microphone.  Just plug this mic into your computer's USB port and students can still sit in their desk and be heard by the visitor!  This is HUGE!  No longer will students who have questions have to get out of their seats and come in close to the computer.  They can stay where they are and ask their question!  This saves time -- allowing more time for additional questions!  Yeah!

Do you want to use this cool tool with your class for a recording in iMovie, QuickTime, or for a chat via Skype, FaceTime, Google Talk, etc?  Just stop at your school library!  Both of my libraries have this cool tool available for check out, AND they are iPad compatible thanks to a couple of adapters I was also able to purchase!

Have you had good luck with the Snowball microphone?  Tell me how in the comments section!

Google Certified Educator

Whew!  When I "signed on" to get my Google Educator Certificate this summer, I had no idea how much work it would be, how difficult it would be, or how much I would learn!

To become a Google Educator, you need to take and pass five courses -- four on Google Apps (Drive, Calendar, Gmail, & Calendar) as well as one "elective." I chose to take my elective on Google Chrome browser as this was the elective I thought my students would benefit from the most -- we use iPads rather than Chrome Books.

Each exam is 90 minutes long, containing 60 multiple choice questions, and trust me, I needed every minute to complete and pass (80% or higher) the exams!  And I didn't do it alone!  There was a small group of us this summer who committed ourselves to the task.  Throughout the summer, we offered each other support, help, and encouragement -- and look, ladies!  

WE DID IT!

This year, each of the buildings should have at least one, Certified Google Educator to help students and staff as our district migrates to the Google Suite of Apps.  

Looking forward to an amazing year!

-- Jenn McMahon, Library Goddess

Welcome to Library Goddess Techie Tips and Tricks!

Welcome!  My goal with this blog is to offer short, simple tips and tricks with regards to technology.  With my school district's very recent shift to Gmail, Google Calendar, and Drive, I'm hoping this will be a go-to place for staff to get quick answers to questions they may have.

If you have a question or a suggestion for a future post, please let me know!

Please also check out my wikis -- a place where I showcase student work.

Tullar Library Wiki

ROACE Library Wiki

  --Jenn McMahon, Library Goddess