Ed Tech Tips with E. Mosier
Make your classroom more Efficient!
Snow Day Fun for Teachers
Overview
Yesterday, we had an "ice day," where there was enough disruption in travel with icy roads, along with the right timing, to cancel school. It started off as a 2 hour late start, but not long after that was announced, the surprise of a school cancellation arrived. For teachers in areas prone to snow, such as we are here in Iowa, the very mention of the possibility of snow or ice elicits an eagerness that is only cured once a resolution has been decided. Of course, the superintendent is the one who makes the call, but that doesn't mean teachers can have a little fun with their predictions! This week's newsletter is a little different, in the fact that below are a few tech tools, articles, and videos you can refer to when you hear the possibility of dangerous weather in the forecast.
A Wave of Emotions
The very first thing that happens when the mention of snow appears in the forecast is a piqued interest from teachers. Then, the determination of the timing of the storm. Then, using their best inferencing skills, plug those two together to make their predictions. But, an article from We Are Teachers takes this a step further to describe the "5 Stages Every Teacher Goes Through on a Snow Day." The article is a perfect summary , and concludes with the ever-popular question, "Will we have to make this up? If so, when?"
The Official Announcement
Snow Day Calclator
Most of the excitement for teachers comes even before the snow day is announced. However, thanks to these tech tools, teachers can gather even more data to formulate their predictions. The first tool is the Snow Day Calculator. Available for schools in both the United States and Canada, all you need is the zip code to get a percentage. But, you can also include further information such as number of snow days already this year, and the type of district to receive a more accurate percentage. What's great about this site is that it predicts the next two school days!
Snow Day Predictor
Additionally, if you want a cut and dried percentage without putting in a ton of information, then check out the Snow Day Predictor. All it asks for is a zip code and it will provide you with a percentage for the following day. Once the percentage has been given, an explanation is shown at the bottom. This is being pulled from a local forecast, explaining the reasoning for the data being shown.
Snow Day Chance
Google Aha! Tip of the Week
Contact Mr. Mosier!
Email: mosiere@davenportschools.org
Website: www.davenportschools.org/sudlow
Location: Sudlow Intermediate School, East Locust Street, Davenport, IA, United States
Phone: 563-445-5150
Twitter: @emosier3