A Zen Classroom with Class Dojo

It's hard to believe that week four of school is about to begin.  It feels like we have been back for months already!  And while I am still getting used to the routine of my Grade 6 class, I am also trying to promote a classroom environment where all students feel comfortable and confident to express themselves.  As a class we have created a "pact" that outlines the top 5 things we can do in order to treat others with respect and to make sure no one feels left out or put down.  Rule number one being the "Golden Rule."  The students all agreed this was important.

However, during great classroom discussions, when all students feel the need to speak out and share their thoughts, we easily forget to maintain order in the classroom so that all students get a fair chance.  This is where Class Dojo comes into play.

Class Dojo is a real time, behaviour management app that allows teachers to note any positive or negative actions created by students.  With the tap of your finger, you can identify those students that are participating, disrupting the class, being disrespectful, taking initiative, and the list goes on and on.

Here is a screenshot of the app.  Click on the student's avatar and a popup menu appears.  Click the positive or negative action, and that's it!  The action is stored into the student's profile.  Actions can also be customized by you to suit your classroom behaviour needs.

The beauty of this app is that students can also download the app onto their tech devices and are notified when the teacher has selected an action.  Students can set goals for themselves [find ways to achieve the most positive actions, and reduce the negative actions].

A student report can also be e-mailed to parents.  These reports are categorized by day and whether they are positive or negative actions.  When logging on through the website, teachers can write comments and provide feedback on how students can keep up the good work, or indicate areas for improvement.

I have just inputted my students onto the website version of Class Dojo and have verified that my class appears on my iPhone.  I am giving this app a go this week!  Let's see if order can be restored into the classroom!


Class Dojo [for iPad and iPhone]
Developer's Website

GradeBook Pro [The Digital Assessment Binder]

The countdown is on... only a few short weeks left before school begins!  My Planbook planning is well underway and now I am in the process of setting up my assessment "binder" through the use of an app called GradeBook Pro.  This app is phenomenal, and here are the reasons why:

1.  It will reduce the amount of paper used when recording student marks and notes
2.  It creates a "roster" of students for all of your classes [easy to copy and paste into various strands/subjects]
2.  You set the term date!  Keep track of which units you have taught during first term, second term, etc.
3.  Keep track of student attendance [which comes in handy when reviewing their grade history - you can detect how many days they were absent for the term and also which assessments they were absent for]
4.  Create "assignments" [e.g., quiz, test, presentation, skit, etc] and give it a standard mark.  You may also add additional information to each assignment such as the learning goal, success criteria, rubric, etc.
5.  Easily input student marks - and once done, the app will give you their percentage, class average, student's highest mark in the unit, and more!
6.  Share a student's grade report with parents by sending the report via e-mail [the app allows you to store student and parent e-mails within each student's profile]. Teachers can also save the class/student report in a PDF file for quick access [if printing a hard copy is preferred]

This app does much more than what has been listed above.  I highly recommend this app for any educator, and I believe you can find ways to make it suit your needs.  It is clean, organized and fairly easy to use.  Give it a try!!

GradeBook Pro [for iPad and iPhone]
Developer's Website

A Teacher's Day Book [the 21st Century Version]

In an attempt to reduce paper consumption and to increase the use of technology, I have decided to get rid of my traditional Day Book binder and replace it with an app on my iPad and Mac Book Pro!

Thank goodness for the summer, when I am able to spend quality time with my tech devices and discover new apps that will help me succeed during the upcoming school year.  Upon discovering Planbook, I have found it to be an outstanding tool for all educators!!!

This app gives you the ability to create courses/classes and specify the days and time periods when they will be taught.  Once set, you are also able to specify the teacher's instruction [i.e. the lesson plan for the subject] and also any other pieces of relevant information necessary to implement your lesson [e.g., homework to be assigned, public information to share, and also links to files as attachments - only available on the Mac version].

This app allows you to view your lessons in sequential order.  You can select a subject and plan your lessons, one right after the other.  You have the option of viewing your lessons by day, week, or month.

All of your saved files upload to Dropbox, and if you are juggling between using the Mac version and the iPad version [like myself] you will have no problem syncing your lessons between your devices.  You may also e-mail saved lessons and print off hard copies, whenever you feel it's necessary.

I am sure I have yet to discover Planbook's FULL potential, but the more I use this app, the more I feel confident that I will never go back to the traditional ways of day planning.

As far as "other documents" that an educator may keep in their Day Book, I have been uploading PDF versions of various documents [i.e., staff list, class list, safety procedures, school year calendar, etc] and have created folders in iBook for the iPad.  I have easy access to all of this information electronically.  iBooks also syncs documents between all devices using iCloud.  Whether I am at home, on my phone or using the iPad in class, these documents are always within reach.

So ask yourself this question...
How can I dive into the 21st century and modify my day book to better suit my needs as an educator?

I am pumped to begin the new school year with new tools for success!!!

Check out the following links:



Planbook for Mac
Planbook for iPad
Developer's Website

iBooks for iPad

My GOAL for the 2012-2013 School Year

After giving it some thought, I am beginning to feel that becoming an Apple Distinguished Educator would be a tremendous honour.  To network with educators globally with a similar vision, dedication and passion would be a very exciting community to be a part of.  I have always been surrounded by technology since a very young age, and while I may feel that I am very tech savvy, it amazes me at the speed of innovation and development.  Rather than trying to play catch up all the time... I want to be a PART of the process.

I look forward to beginning the new school year with technology as my main focus.  Don't get me wrong, the students, the curriculum and all the other factors of the teaching profession will still be held with the highest priority, but using technology as a tool to bring all the other pieces together is what I intend to do.

I look forward to doing some of the following in the new school year:
- creating and implementing a PD session to all Primary teachers who now have access to iPads!!
- developing and presenting PD sessions at our staff meetings that will allow my colleagues to be exposed to many different tech tools and resources
- using technology as a tool to encourage critical thought, allow for innovation and creation when presenting student's understanding and knowledge of content
- attempting to experiment with parent-teacher communication using technology tools and apps

The month of September will be a busy month indeed.  I must set the stage for what the school year has to offer.  While things may change over the course of the school year, I do believe that my end goal will keep me focused on my delivery, my contribution and my dedication in education.


:-D

Quinoa Cookies [Vegan/Gluten Free]

Want a delicious vegan/gluten free treat without the feeling of guilt?
This recipe is loaded with high quality protein, antioxidants and fibre.  What more can you ask for?!  Check out the recipe below and feel free to share your thoughts. So far, this has been a huge summer hit for all of my get togethers and parties!  Enjoy :-D


Quinoa Cookies

4 large, very ripe bananas
2 tbsp almond butter
½ cup coconut sugar
½ tsp vanilla
1 cup cooked whole-grain quinoa
1 cup uncooked quinoa flakes (or oatmeal flakes)
1 cup unsweetened, shredded coconut
½ cup Cacao Nibs

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 380 F.
2. In a large mixing bowl, mash bananas with fork and add almond butter, vanilla and coconut sugar.  Mix well.
3. Add quinoa, quinoa flakes and coconut.  Mix until well combined.
4. Stir in chocolate chips.
5. Line baking sheet with parchment paper and drop batter on to cooking sheet.  Bake for 25-30 minutes.
6. Remove from oven and let cool.
7. Enjoy!

Otterbox Case for iPhone

Lately I had been finding myself using my iPhone a lot more frequently... especially while preparing for the upcoming school year.  I have downloaded a variety of apps that I intend to use in the classroom (along with my iPad... thank goodness for iCloud and Dropbox, eh?!)

So, it was time for me to retire my first case (the official Apple bumper case - light blue) and research a case that met the following criteria:

- strong and sturdy without being too bulky
- clear screen visibility and protection
- access to all the audio/adapter jacks + buttons
- some sort of grip on the side or back to prevent phone from sliding off surfaces

I must say that I think I have found it!!!  I ordered my new case from www.otterbox.com and I am so pleased with it.  It meets all the criteria listed above and exceeds my expectation in terms of quality.

Next time you are out searching for a new iPhone case, check out Otterbox for reliable, high quality and practical cases :-D

Mr. D

Yet another blog site...

It seems as if there are many new blog sites popping up everywhere... a bandwagon for educators to hop onto.  I am trying to figure out which blog site will be best for me.  My blog needs to meet the following criteria:

- easy to use
- pleasant to view
- easy access through a friendly web address
- mobile capabilities, if I am ever on the go

I am testing out Google's Blogger...
What are your thoughts?

Mr. D