Tuesday Tips, December 13, 2022

 TECH TIP:  The Google Year in Search

One of my favorite moments of the year is when Google releases its Year in Search.  It encapsulates those moments that captured our common attention.  For a two minute feel good moment, watch the video:

Google — Year in Search 2022 Author: Google https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WXs3sKu41I

If you want to go down more rabbit holes, you can also take a look at what was trending both nationwide or locally.

BOOK TIP:  An Article on Faculty Supporting Student Mental Health

This article from Inside Higher Ed Training Faculty to Support Student Mental Health included some good specific things teachers can do to help students who might be in distress.  The article referenced a guide that Boston University and the JED Foundation put together for faculty to support student mental health.  It is 9 pages, a quick read.  I've attached it to this email if you are interested, as these can be difficult times for many of our students (and us).

Tuesday Tips, November 29, 2022

 TECH TIP:  Use Yippity to make quick study questions

Yippity is a site that uses AI to create quick study questions based on whatever you content you input.  You can enter in either a link to a webpage or copy and paste in your notes or content:

Once you hit submit, it will then create questions which appear on the right hand side of the screen, and your original content on the left.  It also gives the answer to the created questions, which you can toggle on and off.  

This could be a good site to share with students who aren't sure how to study.  

BOOK TIP:  I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jeanette McCurdy

  My kids (and many of our current students) grew up watching Nickeodeon's iCarly.  Jennette McCurdy starred on that show, playing Sam.  This is her memoir about breaking into show business and becoming a child star.  You often hear of the controlling mothers behind child stars, and McCurdy's mom might just win the prize for the most controlling.  An honest, funny, at times difficult and sad, memoir.  I especially recommend the audiobook of this, as McCurdy herself does the narration. 

Tuesday Tips, November 22, 2022

 This week, a bit of gratitude and sharing of two of my favorite things: my favorite phone game and a fabulous book!

TECH TIP:  Blockdoku:  It's Tetris and Sudoku all in one game!

The fact that I'm a Tetris fan probably gives away my age (well, the gray hairs that I try to hide might also do it...) but Blockdoku is my favorite phone game.  It combines the block combing skills of Tetris with Sudoku, where you can also just clear a square.  I hope you enjoy it as much as I do, can't wait to hear your score!  I like to do the daily challenges, too.

BOOK TIP:  Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

   The Amazon Book Editors just announced Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zeviin as their book of the year and I couldn't agree more.  I finished this book just two days ago and loved it.  It is a sweeping novel following the lifetime friendship of Sam and Sadie.  They go on to become video game designers and form a business, but underlying it all is their friendship, with all its ups and downs.  It is about connection and staying with those who lift you up.  

Tuesday Tips, October 18, 2022

 TECH TIP:  Save a Google Doc to Multiple Folders Quickly

Ever have a Google Doc that you want to be in multiple folders?  Use these keyboard shortcuts to do that quickly!

First, highlight / click on the Google doc file and paste it using Ctrl + C

Second, highlight / click on the Google Folder you want the document in and place it in the folder using Ctrl + Shift + V.  Do this for each folder you want the document in.

That's it!

BOOK TIP:  Beauty Mark:  A Verse Novel of Marilyn Monroe

   To connect with the Netflix movie Blonde, this novel in verse takes you through Marilyn's whole life, from her traumatic childhood to the glitzy days of Hollywood stardom.  A lot of pain behind that beautiful smile.  If you are fascinated by her and want a quick read, this book is for you.  

Tuesday Tips: October 4, 2022

 TECH TIP:  Check out the safety of an unknown link at Google Transparency Report

If you ever get sent a link that you are unsure of, check out its safety status BEFORE you open it using Google's Transparency Report.   To do this, copy the link BEFORE opening it by right clicking on it and selecting Copy Link Address

Then paste that link into Google's Transparency Report and see if it is a safe link to open. 

BOOK TIP:  #booktok

  Tiktok is a platform that our students spend a lot of time on.  It is also responsible for a huge growth in the number of young adult readers, as books go "viral" on the platform unde the hashtag: #booktok.   It is a good way to keep up with what books students are wanting AND reading.  Check out the new display in the library that highlights some of these current hot reads!

Tuesday Tips, September 27, 2022

 TECH TIP:  Avatar Maker

This is just one for fun, but maybe you need a picture for your Google profile.  Simply add in the Chrome extension Avatar Maker and make your selections!  Then save and upload!

BOOK TIP:  Under the Banner of Heaven by John Krakauer

Jon Krakauer is one of my favorite non-fiction writers and this is one of his older ones that has been made into a recent Hulu series.  The book focuses on the double murder in Utah by Mormom fundamentalists.  But it is more than just a true crime novel, it delves into the history of Mormonism and what led to these murders.  Powerful, captivating, totally readable non-fiction.

Tuesday Tips, September 20, 2022

 TECH TIP: Make a Podcast at Anchor

  I worked this week with Gordie Soule's 9th graders on creating podcasts.  We used Anchor, which is a very easy to use podcast creation tool.  It is owned by Spotify.  Students created their account, and then it is a simple click and record.  You can record multiple clips, and add in transitions and music.  

Since it is owned by Spotify, if students actually hit Publish, it will go out to Spotify.  However, they can save their podcast as a Draft and then play it just for you and the class.  

BOOK TIP:  The Agathas by Kathleen Glasgow

   When students come in looking for a book, the genre I am asked most for is mysteries. Inspired by the novels of Agatha Christie, The Agathas by Kathleen Glasgow and Liz Lawson, features Alice and Iris, who are out to solve the disappearance of Brooke Donovan.   A bit Nancy Drew, a bit thriller, a whole lot of fun.

Tuesday Tips, September 13, 2022

 TECH TIP:  How to change text to ALLCAPS (or vice versa) quickly

Have you ever copied something that is in ALLCAPS or want something to be in ALLCAPS?  It is very easy to reformat in Google Docs.  Highlight the text you want to change, go to Format -> Text -> Capitalization -> pick what you want.  That's it!

BOOK TIP:  Red, White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

 A royal romance in honor of the passing of Queen Elizabeth.  The first son of the United States and the Prince of Wales fall in love, but what will this relationship cost them and their families?  How will the world react?  And can this be a moment of change?  It's funny and uplifting.  

Tuesday Tips, September 6, 2022

TECH TIP:  How to Get Your Daily Calendar Agenda Emailed Each Day

You can get your Google Calendar daily agenda emailed to you each morning.  It comes in around 5 AM.  This will show you in one email all that is one your calendar for the day.  Here is how to set it up:

Go into the Settings for your Google Calendar:

Then, on the left hand side, scroll down to Settings for My Calendar and click on your Calendar:

Finally, scroll down to the section titled Other Notifications and under the Daily Agenda, change it to Email. You can also disable any of the other settings in there if you don't want those notifications.

BOOK TIP:  West With Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge

I read a LOT this summer, but West with Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge was hands down my favorite.  I  this book.  Set in Depression era America, it is the fictionalized account of the true story of two giraffes   and their driver as they drive across the country to their new home at the San Diego Zoo.  Smart, thoughtful, hopeful and original.  

Tuesday Tips, May 25, 2022

 TECH TIP:  Easily Share Websites with Chrome's QR Code Generator

In Chrome, there is a new QR code Generator that allows you to download the QR code and easily share it to students.  Just click on the share button the Chrome URL bar:

Then download the QR Code that is generated.  It is that easy!

BOOK TIP:  Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

   I  this book.  It was quirky, inventive, inspiring and one of the best I've read in a while.  Set in the 1960's, Elizabeth Zott is a chemist whose life takes a turn when she becomes a host of a cooking show.  Definitely put this one on your TBR (aka To Be Read) list for the summer.

Tuesday Tips: April 26, 2022

 TECH TIP:  10 Facts Template from Adobe Creative Cloud

I met with Keith Wright yesterday to plan out a research unit he is planning and it is essentially an "everything but the research paper" project.  It got me thinking about other ways students can show their knowledge from research.  Adobe Creative Cloud (which used to be called Adobe Spark) is a great suite of design tools.  They have a template called the 10 Facts sheet.  Students would download this one-pager template and remix it to show their knowledge in a clear, professional manner.  

Here is what the template looks like:

And here is an example of a finished product:

BOOK TIP:  Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner

Michelle Zauner is a Korean American young woman (and lead singer for the pop group Japanese Breakfast) who lost her mother to cancer.   Crying in H Mart is her memoir of that loss and what her mother meant to her.  It is incredible and incredibly sad.  She and her mother connected over their Korean heritage and food in particular.  The descriptions of the food will make you want noodles and bibimbop.  

Tuesday Tips, March 29, 2022

 TECH TIP:  New Feature: Google Chrome Reading List

If you are someone who has lots of tabs open with articles and things you mean to read, then the new Reading List feature in Chrome is for you!  It will allow you to save those items without having to clog up your Bookmarks.  Mostly, it will safely allow you to close out all those tabs which slow down your browser.  

In Chrome, in the upper right corner is the side panel icon:

Then, go into the Reading List and hit Add Current Tab.  This will save the link there until you either mark it as read or delete the link.  This is a great way to curate important sites.  

BOOK TIP:  A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson

 Murders and mysteries are among the top genres I am asked for by students.  This is a great new series of mysteries for young adults.  For her senior project, Pippa decides to dig into the murder of a young woman  five years ago.  As Pippa begins to uncover new evidence, the person everyone thought did the murder is no longer clear.  And may in fact be coming after her.  Several twists and turns throughout the novel will keep you guessing and turning pages.  Will highly recommend this to students. 

Tuesday Tips, March 22, 2022

 Big shout out to Dede Norton and Tom Roy for showing me these two new Powerschool features that will help you out!

LOOK AT TODAY'S ATTENDANCE BY STUDENTS

When you are in PowerTeacher, on the left hand side is a new link called Attendance Today:

Once you click on that, you are at a search area where you can search by student name.  This can be filtered down by clicking on the + button:

Once you put in a name, it will show you if that student has been marked absent anywhere today.  Nothing will show up if the student is present or if attendance was not taken in a class.  But this does give you a quick way to see if a student has been marked elsewhere that day.

HOW TO TAKE ATTENDANCE FOR MULTIPLE SECTIONS AT ONE TIME:

Many have expressed frustration at having to toggle back and forth between so many sections in a single class in order to just get attendance done.  You can do it all in ONE page by selecting the Show Multiple Sections option.

For one of your sections, go into take attendance from PowerTeacher and then click on the blue Show Multiple Sections button.  

Then, all of the sections for that class period will be on one screen for you to quickly take attendance.  

All of these are archived at my blog:  https://monumentpd.blogspot.com/

I'd love to work with you and your classes on any upcoming projects or assignments.  Take care.

Tuesday Tips, March 8, 2022

 TECH TIP:  GetHuman:  Site to Help Fix Customer Service Issues Faster

  GetHuman is a site that Tom Roy recommends for all things customer service related.  Put in the company you need to contact and GetHuman will give you tools for solving customer service problems with thousands of major companies. The web service includes maps of company phone systems, shortcuts and tricks, call-backs, and step-by-step solutions to common consumer issues

BOOK TIP:  Resources on the War in Ukraine

So not really a book tip, but lots of great readings and resources for helping students understand about the war in Ukraine.

• The New York Times Learning Page:  They have tons of great stuff to use in classes, including this lesson on the Ukraine Invasion.  And remember ALL students here at MMRHS can get a free digital subscription to the NYTimes - see me to help them set it up!
• Ukraine Crisis and Lesson from the Choices Program at Brown University
• Ukraine-Russia Conflict Media Literacy Choice Board from UMass Amherst

Tuesday Tips, March 1, 2022

 TECH TIP:  Canva: Recorded Presentations

Canva is my go to for all things graphic design.  You can use their many templates for flyers, images, and now presentations.  A new feature in Canva presentations is that you can record yourself narrating the presentation (I love this feature!).  I also added to my best tools for student presentations.  

Here is my First Semester Report from the library that I created (and narrated) using Canva:

BOOK TIP:  New Spanish Language Books in the Library

Valerie Zantay's Heritage Speakers class created a "wishlist" of books in Spanish that they would like to read.  I purchased these books for them to add to the library's collection.  They came in yesterday to check out their books.  To me, it was like Christmas and Hanukkah, being able to check out these books  to them!

I'm always willing to add titles to the collection based on needs for your classes. Let's talk!

Tuesday Tips, February 8, 2022

 TECH TIP:  Google Checklist

You can now quickly create checklists in Google Docs.  Write your list, and then Format -> Bullets -> Checklists.  

When you complete a task, check it off and it gets a strike through to show completion.

You could create lists like this for projects, papers, research steps, etc. and share a copy with your students to check off as they complete each task.

BOOK TIP:  Maus by Art Spiegelman

Maus is an amazing graphic novel about the Holocaust.  It is the story of the author's parents during the Holocaust.  It is told with the Jews as mice and the Nazis as cats. Maus was recently banned by a school board in Tennessee and removed from the curriculum and library shelves.  Fortunately for you, this book is not banned here and you can read the library's copy.  

Tuesday Tips, January 26, 2022

 TECH TIP:  ListenNotes: Podcast Search Engine

I love to listen to podcasts (a few of my favorites:  Smartless, Extremities, Serial, Dr. Death, The Office Ladies, Rabbit Hole, This American Life...) and think they could be a great resource in the classroom.  Listen Notes is a search engine that allows you to find podcasts for specific topics.  There is a Discover tab with curated lists that might also be helpful.  

BOOK TIP:  Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mendel

  The novel Station Eleven came out in 2014, but is weirdly prophetic in its description of a global pandemic (in this case called the Georgia Flu) that wipes out much of society.  The novel travels back and forth in time between the pandemic period and the future dystopian world and a group of traveling Shakespearean actors.  There is a common story that connects the many characters, all of whom come under the threat of a dangerous prophet.   Station Eleven was just released as an HBO limited series (which is good, but the book is always better - or should at least be read first).