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Coonley Tech News

Volume 3

Coonley TechNewsVolume 3

Three to Try

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Countable

https://www.countable.us allows you and your students to take a look at what laws Congress is considering. There are links to current events and ways to contact your reps directly. Available on the web, iOS and Android devices for free. Check out their article on what Congress was up to the last time the Cubs and Indians were in the world series!
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Teach Your Monster to Read

We LOVE teaching monsters to read here at Coonley! Little learners can design their own monsters and complete three different game levels learning to read in the process. The web based version is free and allows for tracking of progress as well. I blogged about it here, although there have been improvements to the game since.
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G Suite Training Extention

Need a quick refresher when you are in the middle of a G Suite (formally called Google Apps for Education) app? Install the G Suite Training Chrome Extension to view short video tutorials as you are working!

Schedule Report Card Pick Up Appointments Directly in your Calendar

CPS' report card pick up date is November 9th. Use your Calendar application to set up appointments with your parents that will appear right in your calendar. Appointments only works in your education account (not your private Gmail account). Watch a quick tutorial here, or follow the instructions below to get started.

1. Log into your CPS email account and locate your calendar page.

2. You must be in "day" or "week" viewing modes.

3. Click anywhere on your calendar (as if you were going to create an event).

4. Next to the word "event" you will see "appointment slots". Select that.

5. Enter the details of your Appointment.

6. Click "create"

7. When you click on your appointment, select "edit event" to get the URL that you can send to parents to book appointments. Parents will need a Google account to do so.

Potential Projects

GEG Film Fest

Your students can become stars! From the website: GEG Chicagoland is pleased to present our first annual Student Film Festival! This film competition is a chance for K-12 students get empowered and flex their creative muscles. The goals of the fest are:
  • Building student voice
  • Creating authentic audience
  • Empowering student agency
Submissions are being accepted now through January 23, 2017. For more information visit their website: https://sites.google.com/eths202.org/gegchifilmfest/home

Letters to the President

https://letters2president.org/ gives students a voice in issues that matter most to them. Have your students create media that gets their message across during this election season. This initiative is intended for students aged 13-18.

Global Read Aloud Update

Many thanks to the fantastic teachers and students that are still participating in Global Read Aloud! Many are using Twitter to share along with Google Hangouts, Skype and Seesaw to communicate.

Professional Development Opportunities

September 27th: #ICEILchat discusses the #FutureReady initiative with Thomas Murray.

November 1st: Apple's First Tuesday for Teachers is a new initiative that features workshops for educators at Apple stores. Our area's next workshop is November 1st, with the subject being "Keynote for iPads".

November 1st: ICE members- apply for an ICE mini-grant to bring technology into your classroom! Remember, ICE membership is now FREE!

#ObserveMe

Coonley Teachers! Our pineapple chart is almost complete! Looking forward to seeing how the #ObserveMe initiative enhances our teaching practices. If you'd like to review the slideshow I presented on the concept it's here.
Created by Nicole M Zumpano for Coonley School educators, open to everyone.

Follow me @nmzumpano