My Latest Symbaloo Mix

I've said it before and I know I will say it again. Symbaloo is my favorite way to organize the web.  If I don't put a site that I like into my mix I always forget about it. It allows you to see visual bookmarks on any computer, tablet, or device that can get online. Here is my latest webmix, about 5 of the sites are specific to my school district.    http://www.symbaloo.com/mix/school98

Sharing some Symbaloo ♥: THARP EDU Webmix http://www.symbaloo.com/mix/school98 via @symbaloo

Shared Digital Classroom Notes

     Many of my students struggled in the first semester of my world history class this year. Even though I allow notes to be used on all my tests as an accommodation many of them were still struggling to find the information on the note sheets they were filling out.  I decided I would summarize the important points of each day in class as we discussed the concepts, and then have two stationary laptops always set up in my room for students to use and take notes during class. Each day two different students sit at the laptops and are responsible for taking the class notes for this lesson. This puts positive peer pressure on students when they take notes on those day because the class i s depending on them. It also helps the students that are absent or transfer into your class. When we are done with each chapter I will print out all the notes and give each student their own copy. I started off the first few days by modeling with them how to take notes. (spacing, numbering, using different colors) I am also being very specific and telling them what to put down at the beginning with the hopes of gradually releasing responsibility to them in note taking. I would share the Google doc but it is on our own school Google network and can't be viewed outside of it. Here is a screen shot of it.

Creating Videos to Expand Learning

   Teachers often do great things in class to communicate learning and information to students, but what if a student isn't paying attention, is absent, or needs that learning to be repeated? Teachers often don't have time to go back and review certain material with students again. I decided to tackle this problem in one of the classes I co-teach. I think any special education teacher can add a valuable learning experience to any class by taking a key or important concept that is taught and encapsulating it in a video that any student can access at anytime. I co-teach one industrial arts class each semester and am doing it for the second time with wood shop. The first time I co-taught wood shop I noticed that trying to teach 30 kids how to use 10 machines presents many problems. It's hard for 30 kids to see all the intricate details and movements of one person on a machine and then to try and remember all those details when they go to use it a week later. I am hoping creating a video of how to use each machine will help students master these skills and machines quicker. I just used my iPhone to record the general education teacher explaining how to use each machine and then I edited the movie using iMovie on my MacBook Pro. You could use an online site like WeVideo if you don't have access to another movie editing program.  Even if you aren't using machines you could make a video about any important concept you want to make sure that is being reinforced in your class. If it's an important concept you want your students to know, why would you not make that information accessible to them all the time from anywhere?