I.T. Monthly: December Issue

West Point Consolidated School District

DEAR TEACHERS AND STAFF!!

Christmas break is right around the corner! We want to sincerely THANK YOU for an amazing first half of the school year. We are so grateful for all you do for our students and their families. We pray you enjoy this time and are able to relax and rejuvenate.


Please read through newsletter completely. Contact us with any tips, tricks, or suggestions to help improve our communication!


~I.T. Department

'Tis the Season 🔔

Hark! the district angels sing

Vacation's coming; it's a thing.

Parties in school, the kids are wild

I can't wait till grades are filed.

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Newsela: Instructional Application Spotlight

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As one of the digital applications provided by MDE, Newsela is an instructional content tool that allows teachers to find articles with appropriate reading levels for their students. Newsela articles also feature questions and writing prompts that extend the English Language Arts standards.


Newsela gives teachers:

  • Unlimited access to standards-aligned article and video content
  • Embedded ELA, social studies and science instructional resource
  • Interactive teacher-student annotations, standards-aligned quizzes, and customizable write prompts
  • Ability to review student progress in your Teacher Binder
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Getting Started with Newsela

Click the link below on how to get started using Newsela in your classroom. Teachers can sign in to Newsela via Clever or Google.

Mississippi State Discovering Newsela ELA

Professional Learning & CEUs

Newsela and Mississippi Department of Education are offering the course called Discovering Newsela to ELA teachers in grades 3rd-12th. The course is a 90 minute asynchronous session.


In this course, you will explore Newsela content, tools, and strategies to support meaningful classroom learning for all your students.


Learn more about CEUs for MDE Educators HERE.

Newsela and Canvas Integration

Teachers are now able to log in, sync classes, embed Newsela articles in Canvas, and review student submissions within the Canvas SpeedGrader. In order to access these features, teachers must first sync their Canvas courses with Newsela.
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Newsela in Canvas Teacher Guide

Click here for the instructions on how to sync your classes and creating assignments for students.

Newsela in Canvas for Elementary Teacher Guide

Click here for the instructions on how to sync your classes and create assignments for students.

MDE Newsela Newsletter November/December

Click here to read the MDE Newsletter November/December Newsletter.

Paper Tutoring

New PAPER Product Features

New PAPER Product Features

PAPER is excited to announce some new product features!


  • Whiteboard in Chrome Extension
  • Stickers
  • PaperLive Progress
  • Camera in Live Help
  • New look for Google Chrome Extension
  • New Student Dashboard

New PAPER Product Features

Top 3 Teachers for the Month of October

For the month of October, the 3 top teachers using PAPER:


1st Place - Madeline LeBlanc, Fifth Street

2nd Place - Tracy Washington, West Clay

3rd Place - Erica Puckett, South Side

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Top 3 Schools for Month of October

For the month of October, our top schools using PAPER:


1st Place - Fifth Street

2nd Place - South Side

3rd Place - West Clay

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❄️ 12 Days of Paper Missions Challenge ❄️

❄️ 12 Days of Paper Missions Challenge ❄️

As the holidays quickly approach, Paper is thrilled to announce the ☃️ 12 Days of Paper Missions Challenge ☃️ across the state of Mississippi to encourage all 3rd-12th grade students to complete the new, daily Paper Missions from December 5th-20th.


Paper Missions are a fun, interactive way to practice math by offering a low-pressure learning environment where students can practice their skills and learn concepts at their own pace.


Students can enter the challenge by:


  • Logging into Paper between December 5th-20th

  • Completing as many missions as they can by clicking on the “Paper Missions” tab on their dashboard


Click here to view the FLYER.

❄️ 12 Days of Paper Missions Challenge ❄️
PAPER Tutoring Resources

Click here to see a compiled list of Paper Resources!

Instructional Apps Available for Teachers

WPCSD Digital Resources

Here is a list of each schools' digital applications provided by the district. Click here to download a copy.

MDE Digital Resources

Click here to download a copy.

KAMI

What's New in Kami ➖ November 2022

See the latest releases and changes in Kami for November 2022
  • Subtitles for video and audio annotations
  • Interacting Shapes, Lines, and Drawing improvement


Coming Soon:

  • Dictionary definitions in Text Boxes
  • Grade passback feature on Grade by Page
  • Draw with ease with a Virtual Ruler
  • Toggle Voice Typing in Feature Control


Click the picture below to learn more about the new features!

Free Professional Development Opportunities

Digital Learning Cloud Conference

Digital Learning Cloud Conference

friEdTech in partnership with MS Connects is excited to offer this exclusive digital learning opportunity FREE to ALL Mississippi Educators!


  • One-day VIRTUAL conference

  • Wednesday, January 4, 2023

  • Participants who attend all 5 sessions will qualify for 0.6 CEUs | 5.0 SEMIs.

  • A schedule of sessions and links to join each session will be emailed to registrants on or before December 16, 2022.


Click here to REGISTER!

Digital Learning Cloud Conference
FriedTechnology On-Demand Learning Opportunities

FriedTechnology On-Demand Learning Opportunities

Upgrade your technology skills with these free asynchronous courses provided by friEdOnline for all Mississippi educators at NO COST!


Browse through the list of courses and register at https://www.friedonline.com/mscourses. Once enrolled, participants have 10 months to complete the course. Course completers will receive a Certificate of Completion and can apply for CEUs or SEMIs within 6 months of completing the course. For more information, please contact ms.help@fried.tech.

FriedTechnology On-Demand Learning Opportunities
APPLE LEARNING VIRTUAL CONFERENCES

APPLE LEARNING VIRTUAL CONFERENCES

Click HERE to explore helpful resources, practice new skills, and reflect on ways Apple technology can support great learning and teaching.
APPLE LEARNING VIRTUAL CONFERENCES
Mississippi Connect

Mississippi Connects along with MDE professional development partners are pleased to offer a variety of professional learning opportunities and resources to Mississippi educators to support their digital learning needs.

MDE: Professional Development Calendar

Click here to see all of the Professional Development opportunities MDE has to offer.

MSU Extension: Center for Continuing Education

Click here to learn more about MSU Center for Continuing Education offers online and in-person trainings for teachers to earn CEUs.

CANVAS QUICK TIPS

Attention Semester 2 and Term 3 Teachers!!

Teachers who have a second semester and/or third nine weeks Canvas course, your courses will sync to your dashboard on December 12th.


Please make preparations to set up your new course(s). Please ensure that it has a homepage, modules are set up and the course is PUBLISHED, so that students will be able to see it on their Canvas dashboard on Thursday, January 5th.


Your 1st semester and/or 2nd quarterly course will remain visible to students until December 20 at 3:00 pm. Teachers will have access to all their courses until January 4, 2022 at 11:59 pm.

How to Import Content into New Canvas Course

  1. From your dashboard, click on your NEW Canvas course.
  2. Click on the Settings Navigation at the bottom left side of screen.
  3. Click on Import Course Content on the right side.
  4. In the Content box, select Copy a Canvas Course from the menu.
  5. In the Search for a Course box, click the arrow and select the previous course you are wanting to copy from.
  6. In the Content area, select the All Content option.
  7. Click the Import button.
  8. Under Current Jobs: you will see a progression bar showing the status of the copied content.
  9. Once all content is copied, you will see a message of completion.
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Elementary Canvas - How to Copy Content

  1. From your dashboard, click on your NEW Canvas course.
  2. Click on the Manage Subject at the top left side of screen.
  3. Click on Import Course Content on the right side.
  4. In the Content box, select Copy a Canvas Course from the menu.
  5. In the Search for a Course box, click the arrow and select the previous course you are wanting to copy from.
  6. In the Content area, select the All Content option.
  7. Click the Import button.
  8. Under Current Jobs: you will see a progression bar showing the status of the copied content.
  9. Once all content is copied, you will see a message of completion.
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How to Import Content into a Canvas Course

Click here to download a copy of the instructions on How to Copy Canvas Content.

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Check for Updates on Surface Pro

Your Surface Pro needs to be updated every two weeks; think of it as your phone. If you notice it running slow, or having any other issues, then it's probably time for some updates.


Be sure to check for updates on your computer and online Microsoft updates.

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How to Check for Updates on Your Surface Pro

Complete instructions for checking for updates.

Previous I.T. Staff Newsletters

Missed a Staff Newsletter issue? What to go back and see a resource posted from a previous month? Click here see previous newsletters.

MDE DIGITAL LEARNING RESOURCES

MDE: Digital Learning Best Practices

Click on the picture below to learn about the nine Digital Learning Deep Dives.

Click the picture below to learn how to align your lesson targets with using technology.

MDE: Digital Learning Instructional Guide

Click here to learn how to integrate digital learning into classroom instruction.

DIGITAL CITIZENSHIP

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COMMON SENSE EDUCATION

Digital Citizenship Playlist for K-12: Youtube

Click here to find Digital Citizenship YouTube Videos for K-12

ITS Cyber Tips Newsletter: November

West Point Consolidated School District: I.T. Department

West Point Consolidated School District: I.T. Department

West Point Consolidated School District: I.T. Department
Contact us with any questions or tips you may have!
359 Commerce St, West Point, MS 39773, USA (662)494-6364 westpoint.k12.ms.us/technology
Katie Roach

Katie Roach

Katie Roach
Instructional Technology Coach

West Point Consolidated School District

katie.roach@westpoint.k12.ms.us (662) 295.9412 westpoint.k12.ms.us/technology
Meon Carroll

Meon Carroll

Meon Carroll
Instructional Technology Coach

West Point Consolidated School District

shekia.carroll@westpoint.k12.ms.us 662.295.0322 westpoint.k12.ms.us/technology