Oakland Schools Digital Learning
Newsletter - May/June 2022
In this issue you will find
- A collection of articles and resources for dozens of curriculum units curated by Media Specialists for TeachersFirst
- Information about Wonderopolis
- A link to 68 QR code cards for Storyline Online read alouds
- A video series on "Imaginary Numbers are Real"
- A brain break opportunity with "Quick, Draw" where students can support AI research by doodling
- Information about Classroom Screen which lets you quickly display and use a variety of digital classroom tools
- A free, online avatar generator that does not require a login
- A link to free, printable awards and certificates
- A quick explanation on how to change the theme color of your Google Classrooms
- Guidance on how to access and use Storyboard templates in iMovie for iPads
- Links to resources from the Michigan Learning Channel for grades K-6
- Links to Discovery Streaming teaching strategies and information about the audio files that come with your subscription
- Information about our summer workshop series on EduProtocols
Please reach out if you have questions about any of the information in this newsletter.
~Laura and Vinos
Digital Resources
Articles & Resources for Many Units of Study!
New features appear about once per month and include background information, resource suggestions, activities, extension ideas, and correlations to standards.
Wonderopolis - Ever Wonder Why?
Wonderopolis also features a place to submit questions for future posts and to vote on questions that have already been submitted to help choose what should become the next "wonder of the day."
Elementary Resources
QR Codes for Easy Access to Storyline Online Read Alouds
Secondary Resources
"Imaginary Numbers are Real" Video Series
Brain Break
Quick, Draw
Digital Tools
Classroom Screen
When you are on the tab for My screens you will see two more helpful tools, You can Add poll (one question where students respond from your device) and/or Add group maker (automatically make student lists into groups). An example of groups is pictured below.
Avatar Maker
Your students can use this free avatar creator to design what a character from a book they are studying should look like. They can also use it to design characters for their own writing or characters from history. No login required to use Avatar Maker.
Completed avatars can be downloaded as PNG files which can be used in Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, and Seesaw. There are four different styles of downloads available for each avatar. The images below show three of those styles.
Printable Awards and Certificates
Google Workspace
Google Classroom Theme Color
Apple iPads
iMovie for iPad: Create a Storyboard Project
Michigan Learning Channel
- Read, Write, ROAR!: "Problem Solving and the Letter Q" and "Making a Difference and the Letter X."
- Math Mights: "Counting Groups 11-20" and "Count Groups to 20."
- Read, Write, ROAR!: "Who Makes the Rules?" and "I Can Follow the Rules."
- Math Mights: "Measuring Lengths Longer Than 100" and "Story Problems With Length."
- Read, Write, ROAR!: "Around the world and the -ed Suffix" and "Around the World Again, and -ed Word Spelling."
- Math Mights: "Coins and Values" and "Coin Combinations."
- Read, Write, ROAR!: "What are the Types of Syllables?" and "Decoding Types of Syllables and Rocking School."
- Math Mights: "Equivalent Fractions" and "Equivalent Whole Numbers as Fractions."
4th - 6th Grade
- Extra Credit: "Literature" and more.
- Story Pirates TV: "Cast Out Common Words-Said" and "Hero Stories-Introduction."
- Math Park: "Multiplying by 3" and "Multiplying by 4"
- DIY Science Time: "Thermal Energy."
Free Activity Books
Keep your students engaged in learning during the summer with these fun activity books. Each age group book contains a PBS KIDS 24/7 Channel schedule along with weekly lessons. The books can be downloaded and printed to give to your students or you may share the link with parents.
- Early Learners - PreK - Kdg students
- Elementary - 1st - 3rd grade students
- Tweens - 4th -6th grade students
Discovery Streaming
SOS Instructional Strategies
Get started with these community favorites:
Discovery Streaming Audio Files
Discovery Streaming audio includes songs, sound effects, podcasts, audiobooks, short stories, poetry, historic speeches, and more. Discovery Streaming audio resources include many of the same features and functionality of other resources. Audio resources can be saved to your QuickList, organized into folders in My Content, and shared with or assigned to students if your site has student accounts setup.
More information about an audio file is available beneath the audio player including description of the audio, suggested grade ranges, the publisher, and dynamic citations for the audio. Some audio has associated teacher’s guides, transcripts, speech guides, or song lyrics. If available, these assets are found in the Materials section.
To get started with Discovery Streaming audio, check out the Audiobooks Channel where you will find The Hunger Games, Readings from William Shakespeare, Goosebumps HorrorLand, Allie Finkle's Rules for Girls, and so many more.
Free Professional Learning Opportunity
EduProtocols: Lesson Frames to Engage Students in Learning
The third offering of our professional learning series on EduProtocols, instructional lesson frames that are designed to engage students in learning through the 4Cs - critical thinking; collaboration; communication; and creativity, will begin on June 22. This workshop series will be both fun and informative. Some examples of EduProtocols are Iron Chef, Cyber Sandwich, and Thin Slides. Besides increasing student engagement and understanding, using EduProtocols can also help you reduce the time you spend planning for upcoming lessons.
Feedback from educators who participated in the first two offerings was very positive. Some of their comments are listed below.
- I am really enjoying this PD format and content.
- Thanks for a great book study! I thoroughly enjoyed it and learned so much!
- This was a fantastic PD opportunity! I have already shared the ideas with my administration team and fellow teachers
- I love how you developed PD into a fun, game - it was very entertaining and so useful!.
In this FREE workshop series, you will
- attend a virtual session on June 22, 2022 from 8:30 AM – 10:30 AM where you will be introduced to several EduProtocols, experience what it is like to use them, and place your order for the free book.
- 2 SCECH credits available for this session
- receive a copy of the book, “EduProtocol: Field Guide-Book 1,” currently selling for $30.95, at no cost to you!
- Books will be mailed to the address you provide.
- Thank you REMC Association of Michigan for providing the funding for the books!
- have the option to get credit for reading the book over a seven week period of time by responding to prompts about the text via a fun game set up just for this purpose. Rewards, items to use in your classroom, will be given to individual players for high scores and/or great reflections.
- The game will begin on June 22, 2022 and will end on August 12, 2022.
- 1-11 SCECH credits are available for this portion depending on how much of the book you read and how many game prompts your complete.
- have the option to attend a second virtual session on August 2 from 8:30 AM – 10:30 AM to learn more about how to start the school year with EduProtocols and get access to several Smart Start EduProtocol templates.
- 2 SCECH credits available for this session.
- Whether you choose to earn 2+ or all 15 SCECH credits there is only one $10 fee to pay to process your credits. 😊
Oakland Schools Digital Learning Team Information
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Oakland Schools Digital Learning Twitter posts can be found at os_edtech.
When you are posting to Twitter about things related to digital learning and educational technology, don't forget to use the hashtag #oakedtech.
Using the hashtag will help Oakland County educators, who are interested in the effective use of digital learning, to connect and better collaborate with each other.
Oakland Schools Digital Learning Consultants
Laura.Cummings@oakland.k12.mi.us
248-209-2283
Vinos Kassab
Vinos.Kassab@oakland.k12.mi.us
248-209-2229