Kahoot is such a HOOT!

It has been a LONGGGGGG time since I have written a blog post. 202 days to be exact. Many times I have thought, "Oh! I need to share that!" but, alas I got busy with school, my kids, life. To celebrate snow day number 13, I thought I would return to blog land and share one of my student's favorite formative assessments this year. Yes, you read that right, this is by far one of my student's favorite things to do... and it can be used as an assessment. Every time we Kahoot, they beg for more and a resounding "ahhh" is heard when the game is over. My student's love Kahoot because they get to use either the Chromebooks or iPads to compete against each other. I love Kahoot because I can assess their learning, I can pinpoint exactly who is struggling and who is succeeding, I can download the results into a spreadsheet for my future planning, students can use any device to access Kahoot, and... it's just plain ol' FUN!

After signing up for a free account at create.kahoo.it, create a quiz or search the public Kahoot's someone else has made and shared. I would highly suggest watching the intro video the first time you visit the site.

When you're ready to play Kahoot with your students, direct them to the website play.kahoot.it and you stay logged into create.kahoot.it. On your screen, click play when everyone is ready. I usually do this ahead of time to cut down on precious class time. 

After you click play, you will be given a code for your students to enter into their devices that will connect them to the game. Then they will be instructed to type in their name and enter the game. 

It's time PLAY!!! I mean... assess. It's time to assess. Students are shown a question on the board along with the four answer choices. When you create a quiz, you assign a time limit for each question. Students have until the timer runs out to answer the question. Points are awarded to students based on their correct answer AND the amount of time it took them to respond. 

After all students have answered, the correct answer with a graph of each answer submitted is shown. The next screen shows the class the top five scores for the entire game. On each student's screen in the top right hand corner they can see what question the class is on, the amount of points they have, and the place they are in. 

When the fun and assessment is finished, students are given the opportunity to rate the game and how they felt about their assessment. This screen will also lead you to download the final results to either Google drive or an excel spreadsheet. 

So there you have it... my favorite formative assessment. The next time you want to spice up your assessment, give this a try. You will love it and so will your students... I promise! 

Flubaroo - Instantly Grade Online Assignments

Last week I discussed how to use Google forms for parent communication. If you are implementing 1:1, BYOD, or have at least a few computers for students to use in your classroom, Google forms can also be used for assignments and assessments. To learn how to create a Google form, check out my previous blog post here.  By using a form for assignments or assessments all of your student's answers will be organized in one spreadsheet for instant viewing and record keeping.

What about grading the responses within the spreadsheet? Currently the best choice is Flubaroo. Flubaroo is a Google Sheets add-on that grades student responses in less than a minute. By first inputting the correct responses into the answer spreadsheet, Flubaroo compares student responses to the correct answers and creates a graded spreadsheet within the workbook. After grading, Flubaroo will also give you the option to immediately email students their grades with or without an answer key. By combining Google forms and Flubaroo, formative assessment and immediate feedback can EASILY take place in your classroom in less than 30 minutes.

Previously, Flubaroo was a script that had to be written by the user to grade the form. However, it is now an add-on to the spreadsheet with no requirement for writing a script. In simple terms this means, install the add-on, link "Flubaroo" within the spreadsheet, answer a few questions, and the grading will begin. For a more thorough and visual explanation of Flubaroo, watch the 3 - minute video below.

As mentioned in the video, Flubaroo is an add-on that must be installed before using. To install the add-on, follow these steps: 

1. Open Google Sheets

2. Click add-on

3. Click get add-on

4. Search Flubaroo

5. Click +Free

6. Click Accept

If you are going to use Google Sheets and Flubaroo, I would suggest keeping a few things in mind. First make sure to have the student identify themselves either by writing in their names and email addresses, or by having it automatically recorded if you are using Google Apps for Education/Google Classroom. This option will be at the top of the form when you are creating it. Second, as soon as you create the form, complete the assignment by viewing the preview so that you will not forget to have the correct answers inputted for grading. Finally, as I mentioned in my previous post about forms, create a QR code with a link to the form for easy student access. The code can be placed on the IWB for everyone to scan, at the top of a worksheet, or on a paper posted by the door for when students enter/exit the classroom.   

Improve School - Home Communication with Google Forms

Google Forms has quickly become one of my favorite resources to use in my classroom. Forms is a Google Drive tool that can be used to create web surveys, questionnaires, quizzes, tests, and more. Each form you create is connected to a spreadsheet with time stamped responses. These responses, or results, can be tracked, sorted, and even automatically graded. Setting up a form takes as little as 5 minutes and can be revised at any time. As with all Google Drive products, forms are saved in real-time and sent to collaborators. If you have not used Google Forms before, click here for a step-by-step tutorial. 

Teachers are always on the look out for ways they can improve the home-school communication. Forms are a simple, yet extremely effective way to do this. By setting up various forms at the beginning of the school year all of your student's information can be at your fingertips 24/7. After setting up a form, the results spreadsheet is automatically created and accessible from any computer, tablet, or smartphone. 

So how can you use forms to magically solve all your communication problems? Simple! Here are six suggestions for using Google forms... 

1. Student Information Sheet: Instead of, or in addition to parents completing a hard copy form with the student's personal information, provide the option for filling out the paperwork online. For those that choose to complete a hard copy, you can input their responses into the form or spreadsheet so that all of the information is organized in one spot. See my example here. 

2. All About Me Questionnaire: As each new group of students walks through our doors each year, we all do different things to get to know our students. If you are implementing BYOD or 1:1 this would be a great way for your students to quickly fill out information about themselves. For easy access to the form in this instance, create a QR code with a link to the form for students to scan as they enter the room, read their syllabus, or complete registration information.

3. Volunteer Sign-Ups: The beginning of the year is filled with sign-up sheets... PTO, classroom volunteers, snack donations, sports team order forms, the list could go on and on. Organize all of the responses easily by creating a form for people to fill out. As mentioned above, a QR code could be created for easy access, as well as posting a link to the form on your school website.

4. Parent Communication Form: Last year I created a form that tracks all of my communication with parents. The form is very simple and includes the child's name, type of communication, and response from parent. Each time I communication with a parent, I document it on the form. Then if I'm asked by my principal to turn in parent communication documentation I can easily print off the spreadsheet. The best thing about this form is that I am able to put a link on the homescreen of my iPhone, iPad, and desktop computer. Now no matter where I am (especially if I'm at home and forgot to write down when I spoke with a parent during the day, I can enter in the communication. This form can be used for both informal and formal communication, such as parent/teacher conferences. Click here to see my example. 

5. Parent-Teacher Conferences: Signing up for parent-teacher conferences can be simplified by using Google forms. Create a sign-up sheet, post through a QR code, post on a website, send a link through your class Remind account, or email to parents. I would suggest asking for parents email address in the sign-up as they will be hyperlinked in your response spreadsheet. This will make it easy for you to click on their email address and send them notification of their conference times.

6. Multiple Class Forms: If you have multiple class periods but would like all information from your classes in one spreadsheet, click here to find out how to create a form from a spreadsheet. You will want to first set up your spreadsheet with class period tabs (similar to Microsoft Excel) and then create your form from the spreadsheet. 

I outlined in the suggestions ways that forms can be shared with others, but here is a quick reference list as well.

Share Forms By: 

1. Embedding the Form on a website

2. Providing a link to the Form on a website

3. Create a QR code with the link to the Form to put in paperwork

4. Sharing through email or social media

5. Sending link to form through class Remind account

If you have any added suggestions for using Google forms please share! I would love to hear your ideas!

Must Have Scholastic Apps

Scholastic has two great apps that are must haves for reading teachers and parents - Book Wizard and Reading Timer.

Book wizard will be a huge time saver while leveling and organizing classroom libraries. By scanning a book's bar-code using the built-in bar-code scanner, you will be able to view the book's cover image, title, author, interest level, and reading level. You will also be able to create and save book lists, as well as modify existing book lists. A brand new feature of this app will allow you to share your book lists on social media, and email book lists to colleagues, parents, or friends. This app does require a free account from scholastic.com. 

Reading Timer is a tool that can be used in the classroom by teachers or at home with parents. This app allows you to set up multiple accounts for tracking minutes read each day. Students easily play, pause, or stop an interactive stopwatch while they are reading. When they are finished reading for the day, they record how many minutes they read for the day. Logged minutes are archived and can be viewed by students and parents. Often the parents of my students ask for suggestions of books their child should be reading at home, or ideas of ways they could help their child practice reading. Reading Timer supports parents as it provides daily reading tips, helpful articles, and suggested book lists - all categorized by age groups.  

ISTE Technology Standards

Did you know there are technology standards for administrators, teachers, and students? The NETS have been in place for many years. The NETS have however been changing over the last few years from simple mouse, typing, and word processing skills to modeling how teachers and students should use technology to enhance learning and the school environment. These standards are not meant to be a benchmarking tool for grade levels or yet another piece of the assessment puzzle. Instead, they are to be used as a guideline for teachers as technology is embedded into the classroom. The six standards are based on key skills of the 21st century that students will need in their future workplace and lives. I encourage you to take a look at the ISTE Standards (formally known as NETS) as you begin to plan for the coming school year. Perhaps you are not ready to implement every standard to it's full extent for various reasons, but would consider choosing a few to begin implementing. The key is finding a starting place and building from there. As you read the standards, think about how the standards can be used within lessons and units you are already teaching to reach students of the 21st century.

Follow these links to each set of current technology standards:

• ISTE Standards for Students
• ISTE Standards for Teachers
• ISTE Standards for Administrators

Typic Kids - Fun Photo Editor

A fun new app for any age is Typic Kids. With this app, kids can easily edit a picture, add filters and frames, write captions, and even add stickers. Navigation throughout the app is simple as the user swipes between each editing option. Here is an example of a photo my daughter and I edited... (We were very excited about the prize we found at lunch!)

Besides this being a fun app to use at home, I'm wondering how could it be used in the classroom? Because I am beginning to think about the beginning of the school year, my first thought is for students to edit a picture of themselves for a classroom or hallway display. The picture could easily be paired with an "All About Me" writing. My students love scavenger hunts, so why not use this for students to record items they have found on a hunt. The scavenger hunt could include hunting for nouns in the classroom, shapes, items that have phonetic skills in the word, or whatever you may need students to focus on. Captions could be required so that students have to describe or name the picture. Or maybe your students are writing a book review and instead of them drawing the character or book cover, they take a picture of the book or character, making sure to add a caption.   This would also be a great tool to use if you would like students to record and reflect on stages of a project they are completing. 

My favorite part about Typic Kids... it is FREE! Of course there are in-app purchases you can make, but at least there is a free option. This app is so easy for even the youngest of learners to use, and great fun to keep the older learners engaged. 

Kids React to Old Computers

Here is some lighthearted technology fun for your Friday evening. It's amazing how far technology has come. I remember these Apple computers in my 2nd grade classroom!