M-Step Sample is available for online evaluation

Website:  https://wbte.drcedirect.com/MI/portals/mi/ott1 

The new M-Step sample questions are out for educators, parents and students to checkout.  This is a sophisticated online test that takes place of the age old MEAP assessment in Michigan.  Questions are designed in the "smarter balanced"  design.  Recently, I administered a similar math interim assessment for Kindergarten and 1st grade students.  Let me just say that the first day of administration was not as successful as the second day.   Students were somewhat clueless how answer each of the uniquely designed questions.  Day two of the assessment was completely different, they knew what to expect and how to answer the uniquely designed questions.

So, how are we going to prepare out students for these assessments?  Two recommendations I can offer #1. have teachers start prepping students now (add the URL to your school website for easy access) with the sample online test (or search for online assessments with smarter balanced questions) and #2. make sure the students (and teachers) have more than enough time allotted to slowly go through sample questions in the student tutorial.

TYPING!

Begin with a test here to create a baseline for your wpm: Typing Test
Click on Start Test.  The site will keep track of your WPM (words per minute) and errors. Document your score and move on to:  BBC Dancemat---this is great because it shows where fingers go on keys in a fun way

Here is a list of other fun games (I will continue to add to these games as I find them):

• ACBYA Typing
• Typing Games: Free Typing games but advertisements
• Z Type- fun Atari like game
• Fun Safari type game  Super sweet game with a character leaping from stepping stone to another stone.  Students can earn points based on speed and accuracy.  
• Typing Factory- Learn how to type slowly

A worth while read for any Teacher

Visit the Site below to read the whole story!  A worth while read for any teacher.
A veteran Teacher turned student for 2 days....thoughts and reflections

Download the Free Full-Version Autodesk software - No Catch- Serioulsy Awesome!

Website: students.autodesk.com. 

Cost:  FREE  for students, teachers & Schools

Difficulty Level: High School Students 

Device: PC

Level- 7th-12th grades

Back in the day when I taught Business classes, I was assigned to teach AutoCAD. Students who have the engineering logic for that software adored AutoCAD.  Back then, it was thousands of dollars to purchase the software and provide to a lab of students.  Today when I heard it is now available for students, teachers and schools for FREE I was surprised and excited.  This program is outstanding for the engineering students and it is free (3 year license).  What are you waiting for??  I can 't wait to download mine.

Math On Time - FREE Math ACT Prep

Website: Mathontime.com

Cost:  FREE + options for paid areas

Difficulty Level: High School Students prepping for ACT

Device: PC

Level- 9th-12th grades

This is a great site for students who are preparing for the ACT test.  It offers many free videos that go over Math Practice problems for the ACT.  The videos are sectioned in 3 formats Easy (1-10 videos), Medium (21-30 videos) and Hard (41-50 videos).  I would highly recommend this site to any student prepping for the ACT!

Day One Journal iPhone App Tutorial

One of my Favorites for my iPhone!

App:  Day One App

Cost: $4.99 (Well worth the $4.99)

Difficulty Level: Easy-Medium (depends on what you use)

Device: iPhone/iPad/Android

Level- Teacher

Read:  NY Times How Keeping a Diary can Surprise you!

 Okay - I have to be honest, I downloaded this app a while ago while it was free and didn't start using it until recently.  I think this app is the BEST!  I can quickly and easily journal wherever I am- as long as I have my iphone or iPad.  Now, I am using this app for personal journal entries but I can see a HUGE benefit to using this in the classroom to document students work or learning of the day.  The awesome thing about this is that it is quick and easy to create.  You can choose to share to social media or keep for classroom use only.  There are many options to print and share.  I selected email as pdf and Day One emailed me a beautifully formatted pdf of my journal entries with pictures, locations and whatever else I opted to have stamped on the journal entry.  I wish I had started this when my children were babies!  This is a super sweet app and in my busy world it is so easy to use and document special events.   Give it a try and let me know what you think!  Watch the video above for a quick easy tutorial.

Create an Edmodo account for your class!

Website: Edmodo
App:  Edmodo

Cost:  FREE 

Difficulty Level: Easy-Medium (depends on what you use)

Device: PC/Mac/iPad

Level- 2nd-12th grades

Happy end of the school year!  Teachers, are you looking for something to do this summer?  Join the bandwagon and create an Edmodo account for next year's class.  What is Edmodo?  It is when  students and teachers can reach out to one another and connect by sharing ideas, problems, and helpful tips. 

Over the past two years, I have helped several teachers within my school district join Edmodo.  Our Jr. High has achieved every teacher joining Edmodo.  What does this mean?  When students login to their Edmodo account, the teacher can send out reminders for homework, tests, field trips or just about anything they want their students to know.  It is awesome when numerous teachers register in the Jr. High and High School.  Students are then able to see all teacher's homework, reminders, etc within their one Edmodo login.  Teachers can upload files (homework, field trip notes, etc) and students can submit homework assignments and take tests and/or quizzes.  Edmodo has endless possibilities. 

I could go on and on about the wonderful uses of Edmodo.  Check out the "How to" video above.  It is very user friendly.  I currently have children in 4th and 3rd grade.  They are always grabbing my phone to check grades from Powerschool.  I can only imagine how great it would be if they could check the Edmodo app (or login to our computer) about reminders from their teachers.

Come on teachers- give it a try!  Your students will be so excited and you will be surprised how it will help you!