Malchow's Tech Bytes 👩🏻‍💻~ September 21st

 

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☀️ Ongoing Professional Development Opportunities ☀️

Looking to take your professional knowledge up a notch? What better time than over the summer months, sipping umbrella drinks by the pool, and catching some rays! Check out the variety of options below. There's something for everyone! 

Malchow's Tech Bytes 👩🏻‍💻 February 17th

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Malchow's Tech Bytes 👩🏻‍💻~ February 3rd 💖🌎📚

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Well, Bobby the groundhog saw his shadow here in NE Wisconsin, so we are in for another 6 weeks of winter. Personally, I'm ok with it as we haven't had much snow and fun yet. Bring it on!

Malchow's Tech Bytes 👩🏻‍💻~ November 4th

Are your parent teacher conferences coming up? Looking for a way to have your students reflect and/or share their voice with their parents? Be sure to check out the Flipgrid ideas in this week's newsletter. 

Specialists, we all know that not all parents head our way during conference nights, so these ideas may be a wonderful way to have your students share with their parents! Be sure to take a look!

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Malchow's Tech Bytes 👩🏻‍💻~ May 20th ☀️⛱

Gearing up for the end of the year? You'll find a great Flipgrid idea to implement as well as a summer PD opportunity.

Malchow's Tech Bytes ~ May 20th

You can access all slides at bit.ly/malchowstechbytes2018

👩🏻‍💻Malchow's Tech Bytes~ April 8th 🦅

Malchow's Tech Bytes~ April 8th

Malchow's Tech Bytes 👩🏻‍💻~ February 4th 📚💯

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Tech Bytes Vol. 31~ Global Collaboration 🌎

Hi all! Are you looking to connect your class globally? You'll find several resources to help you out this week! Global learning opportunities aren't just fun, they allow your students to learn from others while connecting to an authentic audience and building empathy and understanding!! Global learning doesn't have to be complicated... come see for yourself!!!

Malchow's Tech Bytes, Volume 31~ April 30-May 4th

Tech Bytes~ Feb 26

Is your class taking part in Read Across America Week or celebrating Dr. Seuss' birthday? If so, there are several resources this week that you may find helpful in this week's Tech Bytes newsletter. Don't forget about the Read Across America Flipgrid resource that was highlighted last week as well~  https://flipgrid.com/drseussbirthday

Malchow's Tech Bytes~ Feb 26th

One of my long time favorite apps is Padlet. If you follow them on Twitter, you probably already know of all the fantastic new upgrades that have recently been released. If you haven't heard about these new features, you definitely need to take a peek! Lots of great new features that will make this tool even more accessible for our youngest learners and provide a variety of on board tools for all grade levels!

Flippin' for Read Across America 📚

I ❤️❤️ finding and creating opportunities for students to connect and share their learning outside of the 4 walls of their classrooms! This year for Read Across America week I've put together a Flipgrid that has multiple topics to give each of your students a place to share their ideas and learn together. If you're looking for an opportunity to amplify your students' voices and have them share their love of reading and Dr. Seuss books, then please come and take a looksie! 

If you've never used Flipgrid, let me be the first to tell you that it is SUPER easy for students to use and I've used it successfully with both kindergartners and 1st graders! So if you've ever wanted to try Flipgrid here's your chance!  https://flipgrid.com/drseussbirthday. I'd love to have you join in and connect with us and others!

Here's a link to download a copy of this image so you can print and post it in your classroom. 

Read Across America Flipgrid Poster 

Simply have your students open the Flipgrid app and san the QR code shown with the built in QR Reader OR have them enter the Flip Code: drseussbirthday

Tech Bytes! Feb 19-23

Hard to believe that February is wrapping up and march is just around the corner which means, Read Across America Week! Believe it or not, March 2nd is NEXT Friday- YIKES! You'll find several ideas this week that you may find helpful as you plan your week!

Malchow's Tech Bytes- Feb 19-23

Here's a Seesaw Activity to also go along with Read Across America week and Dr. Seuss' Birthday

Martin Luther King Day Resources~ Tech Bytes Jan 8th

Tech Bytes~ Jan 8th

Next week Monday is Martin Luther King Jr. Day. 

How can you make the world a better place? Check out this weeks' Tech Bytes for a variety of resources you can use in your classroom including a collaborative Flipgrid that your students can add to. Responses are moderated to be sure that content is appropriate. I hope that you'll check it out! 

Hour of Code 2017

Is your class participating in the Hour of Code next week? Not sure what it's all about? Check out the video below and then commit to having your class take part next week.  

Ready to jump in? Try a one hour tutorial designed for ALL ages in over 45 languages!! My first graders loved taking part in the Hour of Code and really enjoyed working through the Minecraft activity. (The one on the Code.org website has been updated and is now listed for grades 2+). 

If you're not familiar with coding, DON'T let it hinder you from giving your students a chance to try it. You'll be surprised at what your students will figure out on their own. You may even be surprised at which of your students grasp the concepts right away. It never ceased to amaze me how some of my struggling students were the ones that excelled at coding. What a wonderful opportunity for ALL students to experience growth mindset, critical thinking, and problem solving... all while opening doors to their futures. 

Check out this week's Tech Bytes newsletter for a variety of resources to get you going. Who knows, you may decide that you'll even want to continue beyond next week! If that's the case, Code.org has a wonderful, FREE curriculum that you can use. Check out the Beyond an Hour of Code website.

Malchow's Tech Bytes~ Hour of Code Edition

Still wondering why you should invest in the time to teach coding? Check out the 10 reasons below by Brian Aspinall.

EpicPals is Flipping Out!

Do you have Flipgrid Fever? Flipgrid is an awesome tool that is rapidly gaining popularity. It is similar to Padlet in that students will be able to share their thoughts about a book but instead of having to write their thoughts, they will create a video which will post to a Flipgrid board.  The videos are incredibly easy to create and are done right on the site or on the free app. 

After a lot of thought about how this could benefit the students using EpicPals, I've decided to integrate this tool into one of the primary books this month to see how it goes. Padlet boards can be overwhelming for our struggling readers and writers so to level the playing field so all students can participate in some fashion, I'm going to include a Read to Me book each month which will have an attached Padlet board as well as a Flipgrid board option. Have your students choose (or you can choose) which way they would prefer to leave their thoughts. The Flipgrid board will also have a QR code for your students for easy access as you can see on the inset below. 

Since the Flipgrid board involves video and audio, please have a discussion with your students about proper digital citizenship skills and remind them that others can and will be viewing their videos.  I have the Flipgrid board set to be moderated so I can be sure that the videos are appropriate before they are posted. If there is anything that I deem questionable, I will not approve that video. I hope that this option opens up some new doors for you students and allows them a little more voice and choice with EpicPals!


On a side note, Epic Books just released a fantastic update which provides word by word highlighting for students with the Read to Me books. Another great feature for our struggling readers!