0 Oh Wow! Who Wants to Try This???

With Freckle, your students automatically work on the Math, ELA, Science and Social Studies lessons that are perfect for them. That way, they are always engaged and challenged, never facing material that is too difficult or easy for them.

Teachers can peruse a set of sample student questions as well, allowing teachers to differentiate standards-based content for students (from basic math facts to writing skills to science inquiry lessons)

Upon first logging in, students are prompted to complete a baseline assessment. They'll choose one of the program's 11 domains, targeting either foundational or more advanced skills before answering at least 10 questions. Teachers can use the results to assign students additional practice as needed throughout the program. Students can access Freckle using a tablet or from a web browser.

Freckle has:

• Over 40,000 questions aligned to Common Core and state standards, covering all of K-8 math
• Over 400 non-fiction articles that are written at 5 different levels covering K-12
• Over 2,400 common core aligned videos
• A diagnostic pre-test so every student starts at the right level
• An adaptive engine that automatically gives every student the perfect lesson
• Collaborative features that motivate students to help each other
• Motivating features to make sure students are engaged
• Real-world questions that allow students to practice their math knowledge in exciting real-world settings
• A powerful dashboard so teachers know exactly how students are performing across standards and skills.

Freckle for Grades K-2

Freckle for Grades 3-5

0 So What is an ePortfolio/Digital Portfolio Anyways?

Digital portfolios are:

• Student-driven
• In Seesaw, students “show what they know” using photos, videos, drawings, text, PDFs, and links.
• Collection of digital artifacts representing hard work, creativity and collaboration
• Allow students to show their individuality
• Provide a means of tracking student growth from Kindergarten through high school and beyond.
• And.....One of the most important ingredients in a portfolio is the student’s reflection on their work. Students should include reflections on each performance to clarify why pieces are included in the portfolio. This is perhaps the most valuable part of the portfolio, since it provides a much clearer window into the learning of each student

0 Do Your Students Have Trouble Responding to Other's Work? Do They Always Say "Good Job"?

Having students reflect on their work and their peers may make learning more meaningful for them. Feedback is important part of peer assessments. Students tend to respond better and engage more fully with the feedback they get from their peers than they do with comments from their teachers.

However, sometimes their reflections are superficial like: "Good job!" "I like what you wrote/said!", "I like your story." In order to have your student provide thoughtful and constructive feedback, consider setting expectations from the start of the lesson that peer review is not about judging each other’s work, but helping each other out.

Also, remind students that it is important for the peer feedback to be safe and judgement-free in order for everyone to truly benefit from the feedback.

• Have students focus on the positive aspects of the work before pointing out areas of improvement.
• Show students how they can phrase things constructively. Consider posting these possible prompts so students may refer to them when commenting on other's work in Seesaw.
• Or consider having your students utilize use TAG: Tell them something you learned / Ask a question / Give a compliment
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

0 Don't Forget About Texting Story!!!

Texting Story app allows students to write texting stories between two characters and then saves the conversation as a video. This app is so easy to use and very intuitive! An online version may be found here.

The possibilities are ENDLESS. Here are a few ideas:

• Dialogue between two characters or contributions of historical figures.
• Dialogue on the characteristics of what makes a good digital citizen.
• Conversation between the Bill of Rights / Constitution and citizens.

• Dialogue between fiction and nonfiction / fact or opinion.
• How would you use a specific text feature to help you learn more about a specific topic.
• Describe characteristics of a various types of poems (narrative free verse, limerick lyrical , humorous and how they creates imagery and /or meaning.
• Compare the various forms of energy (i.e. mechanical, sound, electrical, light or thermal).
• Dialogue identifying and comparing the physical characteristics of the Sun, Earth, and Moon.
• Dialogue between synonym and antonym, parts of speech, punctuation, types of sentences or cause and effect..
• Dialogue between the types of season or day or night or rapid changes in Earth’s surface.
• Describe the physical characteristics of place such as landforms, bodies of water, natural resources, and weather.
• Describe tell difference between coins/money ( i.e. nickel and a quarter).
• Why you should know the different ways to do something (i.e. addition and subtraction)?

Check out this example:

• Family discussion about mixtures and solutions ends in argument in form.

0 Flipgrid: Analyze a Nonfiction Text

4th grade ELAR teachers had their students utilize Flipgrid to analyze a nonfiction text to determine the author’s text structure (cause and effect, sequencing, and comparison) and support their thinking with text evidence.

Additionally, students commented to each other’s responses and communicate to their peers (via a response flipgrid) on what they thought was interesting about the text they chose and how the text structure helped them better understand the nonfiction text.

Students loved this activity!

Initial Activity:

  

Student's response to another student:

0 Flipgrid: Student Communication and Formative Assessment!

Flipgrid is a K-12 resource that is designed to promote open discussion between all students within your classroom. Teachers post topics, videos, or links for discussions and students respond to the prompt and to each other with short video reflections. It’s a wonderful resource and Flipgrid offers a free plan as well as paid versions.

Flipgrid is meant to provide a digital space for students to share and reflect on ideas with their teacher and with their peers. It’s a wonderful way to get students participating equally in discussions, and for students to hear their peers voices and insights. FlipGrid is available on the ipads and can be used with Chromebooks.

• Check out this FlipGrid on how educators use FlipGrid in the classroom
• Consider following Flipgrid on Twitter @Flipgrid
• 15 Ways to Use Flipgrid in your class
• 10 Ways to Use Flipgrid beyond the classroom
• Check out the below introduction and student example videos:
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Quick Walkthrough Video from Flipgrid on Vimeo.