Washington Tech Tidbits

Global Read Aloud (GRA) is a project that encourages teachers to share a read aloud with their students and connect with others from around the world who read the same book. There are many ways to connect with others:

• Tweet using the #GRA18 hashtag (or a hashtag for the book you are reading)
• Schedule a Skype or Google Hangout session (or several throughout the reading of a book) with another class
• Have students digitally reflect on the book and share out
  

Click here for this year's book list and suggested reading schedule and here to sign up. GRA 2018 runs from early October through mid November. For more information, watch this video, which features the creator of Global Read Aloud, Pernille Ripp.

If you are interested in participating in this year's Global Read Aloud, I'd be happy to help you brainstorm ideas, find resources, and seek out classroom connections. This is a wonderful activity that utilizes the 4Cs and reaches beyond the four walls of the classroom.

You may have realized some recent changes to your Gmail account, including the ability to snooze emails, view your Calendar and Google Keep from within the Gmail window, and the intuitive SmartCompose feature. Click here for more information about what's new in Gmail.

If you're interested in bringing your class on a virtual field trip, check out Exploring By The Seat Of Your Pants (free registration required). The primary goal of this site is to "knockdown classroom walls and take students anywhere in the world, never having to leave their desks." The site connects students and teachers with guest speaker lessons and virtual field trips from around the globe.

After signing up, feel free to search through their hangouts. There are many great science topics on there! If you would like to participate in a hangout, please let me know how I can support you.

Kasey Bell of Shake Up Learning created a Halloween-themed magnetic poetry template on Google Drawing. There are nearly 100 words on the template. It can be used independently or as a whole-class activity. Feel free to delete words you want to omit. To add your own word magnet, make a text box, and fill it with a white background.

Click here to try it out!

Click here for a lesson and Google Slides template that students can use to express their creativity and exercise their writing skills. The template includes a blank pumpkin and several slides of items that can be copied and pasted onto the jack-o-lantern, such as eyes, mouths, hats, arms, and more. Once complete, students can describe or write a story about their jack-o-lantern in the provided space. What a fun way to get excited about Halloween!

Click here for Halloween-themed resources for all grade levels. My favorite is Tynker's Coding with Monsters page! You can complete scavenger hunt puzzles with the ghouls of Monster High, compose a music video, or direct a trick-or-treat scene!