NWEA Testing Tutorials

The purpose of this article is to serve as a resource for teachers who will be proctoring NWEA tests. I have created a series of tutorial videos to help you through the process and hopefully trouble shoot any issues that may arise. At the end of the article I wrote out some trouble shooting tips.

NWEA Teacher Log-in and Starting a Test

*To find my website... google search "mrs gleason". 

The first link is my website or you can click here.

NWEA  Computer Set-up and Student Log-in

NWEA Student Log-in (Student Version)

You could show this video to your students ahead of time,

to prepare them for logging in before you go to the computer lab.

Trouble Shooting Quick Tips:

1. If a student gets booted out of their computer... Go to the test session on your teacher computer. Click on the box before that student's name so that it is checked. Click on Select Action. Choose Suspend. Then you will have to select the student again, then Test Again in actions. They will have to sign in and be confirmed again. You need to complete the Test Again part of the instructions before the student can sign in, otherwise their name will not be on the list.

Sometimes a student will be booted out of the test before they begin. If that happens, instead of changing the student's testing status from Testing to Suspend in Select Actions, you will need to choose Do Not Confirm. The object of this trouble shooting process is to always get a student back to Awaiting Student so that they can log in from their computer. You can use any of the options in Select Action except Terminate. The Terminate option will end a test and not save any of the student progress. 

2. If a question does not load properly... On the lower left of the students testing screen there is a reset button. Click Reset and then click yes. Sometimes after this step there is still the instructions for a student to raise their hand. If you feel that the message does not interfere with the student reading and answering the question, the student can continue. If you want to remove the message, go to your teacher testing page, click in the box next to the student's name, go up to Select Action, choose Pause, click on the student's box in front of their name again, go to Select Action, choose Resume. The student will need to click Resume on their computer and then a new question will appear.

3. If a student does not finish their test. Click in the box next to student's name and in Select Action choose Suspend. This will allow the student to pick up on the same number question the next time that they log in. There is a time limit to a suspended test. I think it is 14 days... When the student logs back in to test again, make sure to choose resume where they left off when prompted on the teacher computer. When you end a test session, any student that was testing will automatically be suspended. You can use this option to save time from checking boxes in front of student names.

Resources:

Trouble Shooting Document
NWEA Site

Hour of Code

Learn to Code

( * = Works on iPads using Safari.)

Sites...

*1. Artist with Anna and Elsa from Frozen (Grades 2-5)

*2. Angry Birds (Grades 3-5)

3. Lightbot (Grades 2-5)

*4. Tinker (Grades K-5)

5. Scratch (Grade 5)

*6. Coding Projects by Google 
(Grades 2-5)

Apps...

Grades K-2: BeeBot & Kodable

Grades 2-5: Lightbot, Tynker, Cargo-bot, Run Marco & Daisy the Dinosaur

Grade 5: Hopscotch  and Codecademy

Great intro video to show students before the coding event!

President Obama speaks about coding.

Last year during "Hour of Code" my students were selected to chat with Jack Dorsey. Because we had a snow day on the day of the chat I invited some students to my home so that we could still take part in the live chat. Delaney asked a great question. (The very last question.) Check out the video below.

Removing Pesky Ads from YouTube

A great question was asked of me today... How do I make it so the ads do not display when I show YouTube videos to my students? 

With a few easy steps, you can block ads:

1. Click this link while using Google Chrome. https://chrome.google.com/webstore/category/extensions

2. Scroll down to the bottom of the page.

3. Click, "Get more extensions".

4. Search "YouTube".

5. Click where it says, "+Free" next to "Adblock for Youtube".

6. No more ads, woohoo! 

iPads Enhancing Literacy

Recently I taught a session at ACTEM, a Maine technology conference. The session covered strategies for using iPads to enhance literacy in the elementary classroom. I set up the topics according to the Daily Five. However, if you do not use the Daily Five, the ideas are still valuable to anyone teaching literacy in an elementary classroom. Click on the photo below to visit the webpage that I used for the conference session. This photo is only a snippet of what is on the webpage.

Topics covered:
1. Read to Self
2. Work on Writing
3. Word Work
4. Listen to Reading
5. Read to Someone
Plus making iMovie book trailers.

Best iPads Apps for the Elementary Classroom

For three+ years I have worked with teachers integrating iPads into their classroom curriculum. During those years I have found some favorite apps that I would recommend have a permanent home on classroom iPads.

Top 12 Creation Apps:

1. AudioBoo (free) is my all time favorite app!!! Great app for literacy and adding voice to any project. Visit my blog article about AudioBoo to learn more about you can use AudioBoo with your students.

2. Educreations (free) is right up there with the best creation apps.  In the last few years they have made some wonderful updates, however some of the cool features are paid features. With this app, students can explain their thinking on math problems, report out on anything that they have learned, practice reading fluently, demonstrate how to do something, and the list goes on and on. Article on Educreations in K.

3.  iMovie - ($4.99 or free) Who doesn't LOVE iMovie? What a great and intuitive app for creating book trailers, demonstrating learned standards, and creating reports. Free for iPads purchased within the last year. Student's Love it, iMovie Article

4. Moldiv - (free) A wonderful picture editor and collage creator. Use to create a robust vocabulary collages, annotate on photos, give step by step instructions, etc.

5. Pic Play Post - (free) Make collages that can include photos as well as videos.

6. Popplet Lite - (free) A wonderful brainstorming and project creating app. There is no need to get the paid version, as the user can move the canvas around to find space for new creations. Once saved to the camera roll, projects can be erased from the app to make more space for new Popplets. Article

7. Scribble Press - ($3.99) Students create storybooks in a variety of formats. The books can be illustrated by the students or they can use Scribble Press gallery drawings. All creations are saved in the app on a bookshelf. Students can publish their books to the Scribble Press Gallery, email the link, or export to iBooks. Students may also post links on a website or blog. For a fee Scribble Press will publish your book or use one of your drawings to create a few different products. Article

8. Tellagami - (free) Tellagami is an extremely enjoyable and engaging way for students to record themselves reading fluently. I have used this app with students ranging from Kindergarten to Fifth Grade. Article

9. StoryKit - (free - Purchase as an iPhone app, but will work on iPads.) Using StoryKit students can create books by taking photos with the camera or import from the photo library. Users can also create their own illustrations. Another great feature of Story Kit is that students can read the text to add voice to the book or add their own sound effects. The story will be uploaded to StoryKit. After uploading the user will receive a private web address to share via email, or save the link to put on a blog, website, or wiki. Article

10. Keynote - ($9.99, but free for recent device purchases) I have mostly used this app with fourth and fifth grade students to create presentations. The students love it because there are a lot of effects. If you are an "Apple District" then having your students use Keynote, iMovie, and Pages on an iPad will prepare them for using the same apps on a laptops when they get to Middle and High School.

11. AutoRap - (free) A very fun app that changes what students record into a rap. Have students read a passage from a book or a story that they have written. Article

12. Skitch - (free) A great way to annotate on a photograph. Article

Utility Apps

1. Google Drive - (free) A must have app if your district is a Google Apps for Education district. Google Drive makes a wonderful digital portfolio. Not only can students create documents, but they can upload picture and video files to their own accounts.

2. Instagrok - (free) An excellent research app. It helps students stay focused on what they are researching and less likely for students to find something that is not appropriate for a school setting.

3. iBooks - (free) Many creations can be opened in iBooks (like ScribblePress books), along with .pdf, and there are many free books available in the store.

4. QR Reader for iPad - QR Codes can open up your classroom to many possibilities!  Article on several ways that you can use QR Codes in your classroom.

Great Sites to use from Safari/Browser:

1. TenMarks - Math practice and tutorials according to state standards.

2. XtraMath - Math fact practice.

3. Tar Heel Reader - On-line book creator. Article

AutoRap for a Class Vision Statement

Today I worked with a second grade class who recorded their vision statement via the AutoRap app. After the students recorded the class rap together, they then broke out into pairs to practice reading their StoryTown stories fluently using the AutoRap app. What a great way to put a vision statement to music and practice fluency!

The Class Vision Statement via rap form:

Must Have Apps for the Elementary Classroom

In the image above I created a venn diagram displaying Must Have Apps for the Elementary Classroom. As you can see there are many creation apps on the diagram and most can be used for both math and language arts. Almost all of the apps are free or have been free at one point in time and may be again some day. A few of the apps require an account, but many will allow for several users at one time on a single account. I have found that to be the easiest course of action when using apps that require an account. Less time spent logging into an account and more time for productivity. Create one class account and then have students log into that account. If you share iPads with another class the students can log in and out quickly and help each other since they share a user name and password. If iPads remain in your classroom, the account can remain logged in throughout the school year.

Most of the apps are great for students to demonstrate their understanding of concepts or standards plus allow for sharing finished products quite easily. Have fun and be creative with these apps and the students will too.

Mystery Hangouts Increase Geography and Problem Solving Skills

Did you ever hear a teacher talking about a Mystery Hangout/Skype before and wonder what it is all about? This concept has been around for awhile, but not having my own classroom and teachers needing my help for integrating iPads in their classroom, I had yet to try one. That has changed recently. With my teachers becoming quite skilled and ready to branch out, we are trying new things in the classroom, with Mystery Hangouts being one of them. Within the last few weeks I have had the joy to assist in several Mystery Hangouts. There are so many reasons why you should get your students involved in this wonderful experience…

First of all a Mystery Hangout or Mystery Skype is when two classrooms from different parts of the world meet with each other via a video conference. We have been using Google Hangouts, but there are certainly other ways to video conference. During the video conference, the classes take turns asking and answering yes/no questions to figure out where the other class is from, hence the word mystery added to the title. Once the mystery is solved by both classes there is usually time to learn about each other. Some classes have interesting facts about their school/town/state all ready gathered to share. Some classes have a Q & A session following the mystery and some classes decide to narrow the search even further and try to solve another mystery by narrowing down the location to the town or city. There is no right or wrong way to do this and it can be a combination of all options, but it is a good idea to decide with the other classroom teacher what you will do after the mystery is solved.

So back to the statement; why mystery hangouts are educational. Some of the benefits for students include… 1. Geography skills - With all of the new standards students must learn and with the focus on literacy and math, map skills have been pushed to the side. During a hangout students are using mapping skills in a real life situation and therefore increase their map skill knowledge. 2. Problem Solving and Collaboration Skills - Nothing like a contest with a group of students they don't know to get students motivated to solve problems and work together to solve the mystery. 3. Communication Skills - Students learn fairly quickly that they need to communicate well with the other class and their own classmates while asking and answering questions. The better they communicate, the better the mystery plays out. 4. Literacy Skills - Depending on how far a teacher takes the concept, a Mystery Hangout can be followed up with students writing a news article about the event. Students could also research information about their community ahead of time to share with the other class. Students could even become pen pals with their new found friends. 5. Engagement, Engagement, Engagement - Need I say more.

It is good practice to have a debriefing session with your students once the call has ended. During this time ask students what went well and what can they do to improve the next mystery. Students have really great ideas once they have the experience and have participated in one.

How do you find a class to conference with? What I did was put the question out to the Twitter World and received a lot of responses. You can use hashtags #MysterySkype or #MysteryHangout. There are also communities set up for this through Google and Skype. See links in the second paragraph of this article.

For more information on jobs for students during the session and other information, click here.


Student Reporters captured the footage to create the following video.

Fluency Funtabulous with Tellagami and AutoRap Apps!

Thanks to Allison Burka I have discovered two more fantastic apps to get students excited about reading fluently.

With Tellagami students get to create an avatar and then record themselves reading/talking for 30 seconds. There are two reasons why this app rocks! 1. You do not have to have an account to share a created Gami. You can either send the link via email and whoever you send the link to can watch the creation through a browser. You can also save the Gami to your camera roll. Once in your camera roll you could use the Gami in a variety of apps including stringing several together in iMovie. Plus you can email the creation to anyone. 2. The app is very user friendly and intuitive. When using this app with kindergarteners I had them pretend that they were stuck inside a book and then they read the book or a page of the book. The results were adorable. Tellagami could be used for more than reading fluently like talking about things that students have learned or explaining something orally.


Auto Rap is an extremely enjoyable way to practice fluency. Students are
amazed with the results. A kindergarten student was telling me over and over that it is the best app ever. Students record themselves reading and then the app turns recorded words into a realistic sounding rap. The only downside is that only one song/beat is free. Students may get bored with this app after a few reads. This week I am going to be in a second grade classroom that wrote a song about simple machines and they are going to use the Auto Rap app to make their Simple Machine songs into raps.


Student Examples:


I Like to Go Out by Sophia (Kindergarten)



Link to a Kindergarten Auto Rap creation.


If I Ran the School by Abby (5th Grade)



My Stuck in the Book Example


Student Auto Rap: Simple Machines

Classroom Lesson: