And We're Up and Running!

We've completed the first 5 days of school.  Students have learned their schedules, begun working on assignments, and even had a few quizzes.  Everything is going well.

Today, I finished setting up my phone, computer, and tablet to use mysms.  This SMS messaging app allows me to send out one text to all of the parents of students in my class.  I can do this from the phone itself, from my desktop, or from my tablet (in WiFi).  It has been a really neat experience so far.  I sent out a reminder this morning and have heard positive responses so far. Check it out if you have a chance.  You can leave me a comment below if you like.

Study Blue...Flashcards!

I've been looking for a way to get kids digital flashcards so they can review their science and reading vocabulary.  In my search, I came cross StudyBlue.  This site says you can create flashcards, share those cards and access them on a variety of mobile devices.  So far, I've not been able to get it to do anything but allow me to create some cards.  I'll keep taking a crack at it, but I'd love to hear of other options you all have come across.  Leave me a comment. Thanks and God's Peace.

One Day Is Done

We have completed our first day of school!  What an exciting experience for all of the teachers and students.  I can safely say that it went well.  Students were on their best behavior and most things worked...sort of.  My speaker system (Lightspeed) didn't work for more than a few minutes and I couldn't get my Prezi to work super well, but overall it was a good day.  Today, I showed the students who had their AUP's turned in now to login to the computers and get to their desktop.  We also had the chance to use our Renaissance Learning site to take some STAR tests.  Overall, it was successful.  Hopefully, I'll get the AUPs from the rest of the 7th and 8th graders so I can begin going into detail on Google Drive.  I'm also going to get them set up with TypingWeb.com so they can start working on their keyboarding skills.  Keep praying for us!

God's Peace!

2012-2013 School Year Begins Tomorrow

It has finally come, the start to the 2012-2013 School Year.  This year's theme is Serving Our Savior based on Joshua 24:15b.  I've been working hard to get my room ready to serve this year's class of eager 8th graders.  The desks are arranged, posters are posted, and announcements are displayed.  One new thing for me will be the use of a classroom blog.  I'm hoping that this blog will be a blessing to my students, their parents and myself.  Thus far, I've created a few posts that are 'waiting in the wings' until we actually begin classes.  I'll be using Prezi to draw the students in for our first activity and helping them get the 'lay of the land' regarding logging in for the first time on Windows with their new user accounts, using Google Drive, and getting acclimated to using the new computers in the computer lab which are running Windows 7. Besides all of this, I'll be working with the students in grades 3-8 to get them up and running with our typing program TypingWeb.com.  It should be a fun, exciting, and eventful first week.

Besides getting things ready for my students, I'm dropping my little guy off for his very first day of school tomorrow.  I'm such a proud daddy.  Blessings on your school year and God's Peace!

Fantastic Place to Find Free Kindle eBooks

I was checking out the data from our Home Technology Survey and was pleasantly surprised to find that of the families that have taken the survey so far (73) about 51% have some kind of tablet or eReader in their home.  Many of them have more than one.  And I also saw that of these people, over 93% have a device that handle the Kindle eBooks from Amazon.com.  This is exciting news since I've been using a site all summer that has given me TONS of material to read and enjoy.  That site is eReaderIQ.com.

When you go to the site, you will find that it has thousands of free books for you to download to your device.  Simply click on Free Kindle Books and you can start choosing what you would like to look for.  If you select a particular genre, you can apply a filter to choose a specific area of eBook to search in.

Now, I will say that you need to weed through a fairly long list of some questionable quality, but if you are patient, you just may find that diamond in the rough.  It also helps that Amazon.com has a 'list price' that is slashed to $0.00.  My first day accessing this site, I picked up almost $100.00 worth of books for nothing.  If only I had all the time it will take me to read them.  Oh well, I guess that's what weekends are for.

Have you used eReaderIQ yet?  What do you think about getting 'free' books on Kindle or Kindle enabled devices?  Leave me a comment below.  I'd love to hear your thoughts!

God's Peace.

Learning How to Blog Correctly

This morning, I've had the opportunity to watch a webinar put on by Discovery Education entitled Fear Factor Taking the Fear Out of Blogging.

What a wonderful video.  I have learned several points about beginning my own classroom blog, my professional blog, ways to get my blog noticed, and the process of teaching kids digital citizenship through their comments and blogs.  Here's the list they made of resources throughout the video.

About 6 years ago, I took a course through Concordia University Wisconsin to help me learn how to use Blogs and Wikis in the classroom.  Between then and now, I've dabbled here and there with some attempts, but never really sank my teeth into the idea.  After watching this video, I think have a much better grasp of what it means to blog, to share content, and to provide students with an opportunity to write.  

Look for my continued use of the classroom blog at http://stpaulbonduelgrade8.blogspot.com/ and posts here at St. Paul Tech Coach.  I am planning to create my own version of paper blogs too as a get-to-know you piece for students (16:00 in the video).  Keep following to see how that goes.  God's Peace!

Away and Still Working

I'm working here at Sandy's parent's home in Denmark.  It is wonderful how I can continue getting things done and knocked off my list even when I'm not at school or home.  So far today, I've reminded a few parents of the Home Technology and Media Permissions Survey, the Communication Survey, created my Discipline Chart and Late Work chart, and read through my Google Reader posts.  It has been a somewhat productive morning...at least until Jaden decided she wanted to work on using the mouse to do some Curious George activities.  Oh well, it gives me some time to work on my blog post... which I'm updating on my Asus Transformer Infinity Pad TF-700.
On Tuesday, we will be having our first day of school.  Afterwards, I'm hosting another Teacher Tech Training session about using Google Spreadsheets to sort by columns and tips to find what you're looking for in that sheet.  I'm hoping I get a better turnout this time, but we'll see.
God's Peace!

Technology Training Attempt 1

Today, I'm holding a training session on using Google Drive, Chrome, assisting students as they login for the first time, and other bits and pieces that teachers may have questions about.  I'm hoping it will be a great experience and opportunity for me to show teachers how to best use these tools in the classroom.  The apprehension I have is that I've sent them an invite to the event on Microsoft Outlook, and I've heard NO replies.  No 'accepts', no 'declines', not even any 'tentatives'.  I hope they're getting the information.  That may be one of the things we need to keep working on here at school.  We have SO many ways to communicate with our teachers, our staff, our parents and our students that it can become overwhelming at times.  I'm never quite sure what the best way to get information out to them is.  I'll let you know how the tech talk goes after the break.

Update: 9:50 AM

Well, I had two teachers come to the session.  I really appreciate Brandon's and Jesse's desire to hear what their ole tech coach had to say.  I think they learned a few things and we had some laughs too.

My concern is: Where were the rest of the teachers?  I know one had other engagements, and I'm sure that the low numbers was simply due to the communication of the meeting time/opportunity.  I sent an email request, but how many of them actually checked their email yesterday or today.  This prompts me to do my next idea: create a survey to gather data about the best way to get information out to teachers!  Hopefully that goes well.  God's Peace!

I am BLESSED!

This Sunday was our yearly Teacher Rededication Service at church.  At this service, we as teachers rededicate ourselves to our calling to teach students.  It was wonderful, because it was the 10th time I've been rededicated.  That's right, I've completed 10 years of teaching at St. Paul and I have to say that I am BLESSED.  Blessed because I had the opportunity to come to school here in my youth.  Blessed to have grown for 10 years in my understanding of the craft of teaching.  Blessed to have a newer classroom (2007 addition).  Blessed because of the diverse and committed staff we have here at the school.  Blessed because the Pastor and Principal are on the same page regarding Christian education.  Blessed because we have over 20 acres of forest to use as we teach.  Blessed because we have three full sized softball fields right outside my window.  Blessed because I live a mere 9 blocks from school.  Blessed because we offer a variety of sports for students to enjoy.  Blessed because we have a new wooden gym floor (circa 2010).  Blessed because of the wonderful education I have received through Concordia University of Wisconsin.  Blessed to be married for 9 years and have two wonderful children.  The list could go on and on.

Thank you to all of the people who came out to celebrate the milestone of 10 years.  I pray that God would grant me strength, health, continued understanding in this new and changing education field.  With the implementation of new technologies, 1:1 laptops entering the public school up the road, and our transition to a new technology administrator I know I'll need it. God's Peace!

Fun Friday, Getting Things Ready

I have done many things in my 10 years of teaching here at St. Paul Lutheran School.  I have not, however, used all of the old, left-over teacher materials filed away on the bookshelves, file cabinets, and other nooks in the room.  Some of these materials were left by my predecessor, others by the teacher before him, and some items were even used when I went to school here some 20 years ago!  It was time for some cleaning.  Thanks to that, I've found additional space for all of my new materials, hands-on activities I've built, and a couple of drawers for additional technology items.  (Who doesn't need a handful of extra cables and tech tools).  It is amazing how technology transforms.  Knowledge can be found literally at our 'finger-tips' so quickly that the regular hard covered, dust collecting books are not as necessary for students to learn.  While I do have a shelf of Dictionaries (the blue covered books on the fourth shelf), this is only true until we can get our students closer to a 1:1 classroom.  Read more about that here. 

I think I've done enough for today.  Time to enjoy some weekend fun and get ready for the Parent/Student meeting on Monday, August 27th.  God's Peace and Blessings.

Early Morning...Good Start to Memory Work

This morning I had the opportunity to finish up the 8th grade memory work schedule for the year.  We cover a variety of passages that will be used in their Confirmation Examination Questions as well as various Psalms they have learned over their years here at St. Paul.  This year's Psalm is 130.  The memory work schedule can be foundhere and the actual confirmation memory passages are available here. 

In addition to these items, I've been working diligently with our Technology Committee to bring additional resources to the school.  We have a meeting today and I'm looking forward to seeing where we go with that.  Until next time, God's Peace!

Getting Things Ready

What a wonderful summer we've all had.  The teachers are back in the building and getting things ready for the upcoming school year.  They are hard at work with home visits, classroom preparation, and professional development.  Today, we had the opportunity to listen to Clay Reisler and Katie Titler present on their use of Google Apps for Education in their classrooms.  What a wonderful experience!  There are so many possibilities that I can't name them all here.  Check out Clay's and Katie's blogs for more info on what they're doing and check back here to see how we use this wonderful blessing here at school.  God's Peace!

Let the Blogging Begin!

Welcome to Blogger!  We will be using this site to share information, assignments, and additional content.  I am looking forward to what Blogger can do for us in the classroom.  Please feel free to comment, discuss, and post about this entry.  Each of you will have the opportunity to create your own blog which will hold some of your pieces of work from your time here at St. Paul.  Check out this video to help you post a comment to a blog.  Watch this video to learn how to post in Blogger.  Happy times and let me know if you have any questions. - Mr. M. Schmidt