Tech this out!
May 2021
In this newsletter:
- Star Testing resources--- next week is the window!
- KnowBe4 training module reminders and info
- Liz on the loose-- site visits for ya :)
- Google Meet update is AWESOME! For reals!
- Some cool new slidesmania templates
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The Star Testing window is next week for 3rd-8th!
That's right, May 24-28 (next week) is the window to get all our 3rd-8th graders tested with Star Reading and Star Math.
Seriously, though, this really is important because it is our district wide spring summative assessment data. But here's something cool-- there are some things we may be used to with CAASPP testing that we don't need to do this year. Less stress is a win.
- If a student is absent, you can have them take the test as soon as they return. As far as I know, you can do make up testing as soon as they are back-- but it is possible your site might have a different plan to handle make-up tests, so be sure to check with your principal.
- Students don't get extra materials (nope to the "secure 100s chart") and you can throw away scratch paper in math.
Are you missing the CAASPP DFA? I don't have robot directions for you to read, but...
We made a Star DFA (Don't Forget Allthethings) to help you!
- Screenshot guide to a lot of the things (signing in, running reports, student view etc)
- TAKE NOTE--- page 4 shows how to get student passwords. You can do this yourself!
Don't print that 13 page color document
(Read it, but don't print it)
Print this one page quick guide Cheat Sheet, instead!
Want to help students know what to expect?
We have slides to help you familiarize students with Star Reading and Math. They are not required; they are available.
You should check them out, there are some good testing tips in there for Star Reading and for Star Math, too.
Want to personalize them? Make a copy (in the file menu) and do your thing!
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Know Before (knowbe4.com)
Our final 2020-21 module is coming in June, then we will take the summer off and pick up again in September. Thanks for being vigilant!
I'll leave this here....
For those who haven't started yet, here is a quick video to show what signing in looks like, and also how to change the language. Feel free to share it with people who may not read the newsletter.
(I mean, I can't imagine who that might be, I'm just guessing....)
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Liz on the Loose site visits
And here's the other thing! All our teachers have figured out what to do this past year, and it hasn't been easy.
SO here's the plan! I am going to come to schools, just like I used to, and remember how it gave me a reason to bake, but not eat everything? I'll bring snacks, too!
A few things I would love to hear about:
* What have you been doing this year with your student devices?
* What has worked that you want to continue doing?
* What can we maybe tweak now that you are back in the classroom?
* What are you going to abandon that you did for awhile but have decided not to continue?
*** And most importantly.... What do you want to talk about?
Because, basically I'm a resource here for you. So, maybe you have something to say about my questions. Maybe you have questions for me. That's awesome, too.
Here are the days I have planned--- check out my calendar to make an appointment for me to stop by your room.
Or maybe your grade level team wants to chat together... cool! Just leave me some details in the description of the appointment slot (who, where etc)
As soon as an appt is made, I'll add the school to the rest of the appts that day, because I think one school per day is a good idea.
Side note--- did you know Google Calendar can make appointment slots? Let's see how they work!
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If you are a Google Meet-er...
That is an actual screenshot of what the new Meet will look like.
SlidesMania templates
And she has two new templates that look like they might be just what your day needs! One for creating awards, and another with a beach feel. EVERY DAY in June you should do something with this template.
Just to keep the eduprotocol flavor, I dare you to use the summer theme for thin slides and let students create a slide responding to the word ADVENTURE. Or whatever-- choose your prompt. Maybe a Brain Pop video about beach safety. Is there one? There totally is!
Slides templates are a good way to infuse some fun into learning. That beach one even has a morning meeting slide. Try starting your day with a focusing thought and some "here's what we are learning today" bullet points. Why not? I bet a lot of you already do.
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So keep reading and check it out!
A few friendly reminders
Account automation occurs overnight after their first day on the roster.
That means, day 1, a student's account won't work. Day 2 will be the first day it will be activated.
If an account doesn't work on Day 2, put in a tech support ticket.
Remove students who aren't on your roster anymore
TK-2--- go to the wrench menu in Seesaw and remove past students. If you are H@H and have a custom class set up, put in a ticket. Otherwise, I think you can do it yourself.
3-8--- go to the people tab of your Google Classroom and click the 3 dots by their name to remove past students.
Shut down those devices
Have your students restart their devices once a week or so for best performance.
Me? I might say on Friday "Let's give our devices the weekend off. Shut them all the way down. We will start them up again on Monday, but everyone/thing deserves a break after a week of hard work!"
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Spam and Phishing
If you get an annoying email feel free to click the SPAM button in gmail.
It might even be something you want--- I send all my Lakeshore emails to spam because I don't need to see them all the time. But if I'm in Lakeshore--- I go to my spam folder and search Lakeshore to see if there is a coupon I want.
Know why that works? The spam button sends it to the spam folder and deletes it when it is 30 days old. It's not like I need to know the sale from 2019 or something...
But if you get an email that you think is phishing (you should be learning the red flags in the KnowBe4 modules) then click the Phish Alert Button. Professional programs will scan it, and our tech department will check it out, too. If you aren't sure? Click that hook and it will be removed from your inbox and reported to us automatically! If it is clean, it will get sent back to you.
If your phish hook doesn't seem to be there or work correctly, put in a tech ticket and tell us what is wrong.
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Students in unmonitored Google Meets? No thanks!
Just a reminder---- DELETING the calendar EVENT does not keep students from using the Meet link later. Please don't delete the event and think it is handled. It isn't. You need to turn off Quick Access.
Want to watch a quick video to show you how it works?
Click here to watch a Screencast video
UPDATE--- if you keep getting attendance reports emailed to you, it is because you are the originator of the Meet link. If you didn't start the Meet that day and it is an unexpected report, put in a ticket and attach the report. We will try to sleuth it out.
Want to watch a quick video to show you how it works? Click here to watch a Screencast video
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Have you found the student links button?
Student links are all there in the button. Teach students there is more to the website than just the menu. That is all.
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COAST is for learning (and prizes)!
COAST is for learning!
It's there for you, anytime!
Securly, Google Classroom, curated pedagogy resources... check it out!
There's a game for teachers and a game for paraprofessionals.
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Have a great week, whatever week you read this!
Liz
Liz Hoppe, technology resource specialist
Email: lhoppe@hueneme.org
Website: www.hueneme.org
Location: The Hueneme Tech Lab
Phone: 805-488-3588 9832
Twitter: @hoppeteacher