Using Video as a Presentation Tool and 21st Century Skills Strategies

3 12 2012

Hi all,
I have a few highlights to share with you. One is Better Lesson which is a social learning community and a place that you can find, save and share quality common core lessons. A short video explaining follows:

They are looking for exceptional master math teachers currently teaching grades 6-12 to work as part of a cohort building CCSS-aligned courses. Regular feedback and support will be available from coaches who are experts in the implementation of CCSS. Resulting lessons and best practices will be shared with the Better Learning community. The work is virtual and you would be expected to devote 10 hours weekly building curricula and sharing instructional strategies. The project has been funded by Bill and Melinda Gates the master teacher would receive a $30,000 stipend for the two years. For more information, click to go to http://blog.betterlesson.com/seeking-teachers-for-the-betterlesson-master You can get the application at that link or download from the next page after clicking this link. BetterLesson Master Teacher Program

The use of video can be a very powerful tool for learning and most especially motivation. It’s so important for us to enter our students’ worlds and use their tools. How many of them create video all the time and post to You Tube? Rather than creating a presentation using PowerPoint, how about having them create their learning experience using multimedia? Here’s a website https://www.wevideo.com that easily allows you to edit video. The basic tool is free to educators and probably more than adequate but you can upgrade (Plus is 19.99 per year and Ultra is 29.99 per year). Click on the image to see exactly what is included.
WeVideo


The following video shows what you can do:

And then…I found this video on Edutopia on 21st century Teaching Strategies. I loved it – hope you will too 🙂





Happy Thanksgiving

20 11 2012

Hi everyone,

As we recover from Sandy, I would like to wish you all a very blessed Thanksgiving.

I am also asking for help for teachers in Freeport who lost all of their supplies. As you know, we pay for many of the things we bring into our classrooms so if you have any extra of the following, please email me. The following is the message I received from their teacher center director:

“Thank you so much for your help! Teachers have lost a great deal of supplies. I know that electric sharpeners, pencils, chart paper, construction paper, looseleaf paper, listening centers, classroom libraries have been lost…… Really anything that you can get would be helpful at this time. I am so very grateful to you for reaching out! ”

Once again, if you have anything, please email me. I will coordinate delivery.

In addition, NYIT is attempting to coordinate online tutoring for students severely affected. They will train and are asking if anyone would be interested in volunteering an hour a week to help. Again, if you are able to help, please email me.

Thanks everyone and have a wonderful Thanksgiving,
Barbara





Hurricane Sandy

14 11 2012

Hi everyone,

It seems that we have begun the road to recovery after so many of you have been hard hit by Sandy. It will take time but I have no doubt that we will all come together to support one another. In crisis, you do find so much good in people. For those of us who were fortunate enough to avoid Sandy’s wrath, please remember to see your building rep or go to the website http://helpmassapequa.org to donate.

Remember, too, that MTRACT has laptops and iPads available for loan so if your computer was damaged and you are waiting for insurance or FEMA, we can help in that regard.

Comedy is always good so here’s a clip featuring Jimmy Fallon’s opening monologue to a theater filed with empty seats

Hope this gave you a good laugh and know that I am thinking of you all.

Barbara





Election Activities

24 10 2012

Hi everyone,

It’s been a while since my last post. Sorry about that. I’m almost caught up with work and will make it a point to post each week.

I know that you are all overwhelmed with work this year so with the election only two weeks away, I thought you may be interested in some of the ideas for activities at http://www.edutopia.org/search/apachesolr_search/election.

Let me know if you find anything that you can easily use.

I’m putting together information about a terrific website called LearnZillion – BY TEACHERS FOR TEACHERS and ALL Common Core. I hope to have it ready to post by Monday so I will keep this one short.

Have a great rest of the week,

Barbara





MTRACT has Moved

9 10 2012

Hi everyone,

Hope you had a relaxing Columbus Day weekend.

door

 

We have new “digs”! We are still in McKenna but located in Room 202. Enter through the front and go upstairs – our room faces Spruce Street.

Remember that MTRACT is YOUR teacher center and although our location may have changed we still have much to offer.

NEW THIS YEARiPads ! We have 10. Call ahead to reserve one.

And of course, we still have the following for you to borrow:

  •       SMART Senteo Interactive Response Set
  •       SMART Doc Camera
  •       SMART Airliner Wireless Slate Boards
  •       Digital Cameras
  •       Digital Movie Camera
  •       Dell Laptop (wireless)
  •       Mac Laptops
  •       iPod Tune Talk Stereo
  •       Snowflake Microphones (noise canceling)
  •       Plantronics wireless headset with microphone

Taking Classes? Come to our library:

  • Books straight from ASCD (don’t buy them – borrow them)
  • Journals
  • Teachers Helper Magaziner

 

 Don’t re-invent the wheel:

Collegial Circles that have been completed for various subject areas

 Better yet – create your OWN collegial circle for INSERVICE and to count toward your 175 HOURS!!!

And you know about the equipment

  •       Hot Laminator
  •       Binding Machine
  •       Button Maker
  •       Poster makers – color and black and white
  •       Letter cutout maker

Our hours will be changing. More information on that will be forthcoming. Just make sure you always call before you come.

Have a great week,

Barbara





September 17, 2012

16 09 2012

Share My Lesson: By Teachers, For Teachers (FREE and sponsored by the AFT)

Talk about a collaboration! Watch the video below for information on Share My Lesson. This site was developed by the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and TES Connect. You will find a plethora of FREE Common Core resources for your use! Think about forming a collegial circle (inservice and/or professional development hours) with members of your department to not only use Share My Lesson but contribute to Share My Lesson. We are all in this together – and this site is a community we should all belong to.

What NYSUT has to say: “It’s a little like a desktop faculty room, a place to share great ideas and create a community.”

“AFT’s Heidi Glidden explained the content will be supplemented by tens of thousands of contributions from hundreds of content partners, including Sesame Street and Encyclopedia Britannica. Users are also encouraged to form special interest communities, such as music teachers or English as a Second Language educators. “It’s about more than loading materials,” Glidden said. “It’s about sharing and building communities.”, I was fortunate to have in a class on the role of data over the summer states: ” To read more from NYSUT, click here.

As for teachers who are paying off student loans, register by October 31st for a chance to win $5000 to help!

Have a great week,

Barbara





September 4, 2012

7 09 2012

Welcome Back and welcome to MTRACT’s new website! I hope you had a great summer.

As you can see, the site has been updated with pages for the APPR and the Common Core. I will continue to update both. Information regarding the APPR is huge so it is a work in progress. I have attached the NYS Guidance Document at the end of the APPR Overview page for those who would like to investigate further.

The courses page highlights NYSUT courses that are currently being offered in Massapequa and will also highlight courses offered by other teacher centers. There is also a FAQ page for My Learning Plan as well as Professional Certification for those of you who need 175 hours.

Take a look at the right margin – I’ve moved all blog posts here and categorized them so it’s an easier search for you.

As always, I’d like to welcome you back with a video. I really liked this one because it speaks to why we do what we do. Have a great year!!!!!!





June 22, 2012

15 07 2012

Tests are done and it is time to unwind and prepare for a new year. The following video will remind you that the job you do is an important one!

Have a wonderful summer – you deserve it!





Mar 28, 2012

14 07 2012

Hi everyone!

First I’d like to thank you all for going to the website and sending faxes to your political representatives. We have been funded – the funding has been cut but we are in the budget.

Next, I found this infographic from OpenSite very interesting and thought you might too! Enjoy it…

Wikipedia
Via: Open-Site.org





Mar 22, 2012

14 07 2012

Hi everyone,

It’s been a VERY busy month! I just returned from Albany with Marybeth Rotheim (Unqua) that focused on Common Core, the APPR, and SLO’s. We listened to Ken Slentz (NYS Dept of Ed) and Glen Jeffers (NYSUT). We learned a great deal but there is much more that we all need to be aware of. Teacher Centers are committed to keep you informed

As happens every year, teacher centers need to fight for their place in the budget and we once again ask that you send a fax to your legislator. The Assembly included us but the Senate left us out. At the Committee of 100, one Senator said, “Oh, I though teacher centers were in the budget. They’re not?” We need to remind them.

Time is critical – if you could just click on the following link,

https://mac.nysut.org/faxsenate/widget/issue/73you will be brought to the following page. It will only take about 30 seconds of your time.

As always, thanks for your help!
Barbara