So starting this school year, I have borrowed the concept of having a Tackky Thursday for edtech training on my campus.  If you haven't Tackked lately, you should.  It is an easy and effective way to communicate information, embed and share.  Create a classroom blog with students or just allow the students to be creative.  Use it to make newsletter for your class or school.  Be as creative as you

Survival - the first week of school; that is what most teachers think as Friday if finally here!  We survived the first week now we can settle in!  In my district, we had to add to the mix password resets for grades 5-12.  Necessary but seems to be at the worst possible, stressful time for most.  Amid all the chaos of the week, I am reminded of needing to communicate more and #teachsmall .   I am again encouraging our teachers to use Remind to communicate daily and often with students via text.  Keeping with the teach small concept means it is the small things you do that matter most.  Big learning can take place when the small pieces come together to foster a better relationship with your students and their parents.  In this world of information, why not use it to your advantage and make it as easy as texting a reminder, a homework note, or words of praise and encouragement.  I know I often want to write thank you letters and will eventually get around to possibly an email but sometimes a simple text goes a long way.

Make sure you join EdmodoCon 2015 on Tuesday, August 4th to learn more about how Edmodo is changing classrooms across the globe.  The event is all day via your computer connection- choose to hang all day and join the group discussions, or simply pick the sessions that interest you.  Register today!

Stumbled across this today as my co-worker and I were watching a Google Zombie challenge-- and it looks promising for easy sharing of URLs.  ShoutKey was created by someone that wanted to quickly share a link to others collaborating in small groups rather than trying to get an email, or write out the long URL--ShoutKey gives you a QR code or a common word as a hyperlink to share with a set expiration time.  Works pretty well.  I could see the benefit of using it with students collaborating and needing to quickly share a cool find.

Last fall I had the pleasure of presenting and attending TCCA for the first time.  If you are in the Houston area, this is an AMAZING and FREE edtech professional development.  Not only were the sessions great, but there was an Apple academy, lunch was provided and they had giveaways!  Did I mention it was free!  A must do so please check out the flyer below and register now!  It is a great time!! I plan on going (and hopefully presenting) again!

Well I am half way through a power week of edtech at the Texas Computer Educators Conference in Austin, Texas.  If you haven't ever gone- GO!  There are so many presentations on all things edtech that are instructional and curriculum based.  As an educator you will get tones of 'take aways' that will make your head hurt ...(but in a good way).  I know I have been a bit 'radio silent' but I will catch up this week.  I was excited to present again with @tw33terW again on Symbaloo, Edmodo, and the whole middle team for TechFAT.  I have linked to all the presentations here if you want to take a look at them yourself.

Thanks to Mrs. Hoff for sharing this super awesome tool that is high touch and high tech.  Plickers uses cards that you print from their website and then assign to a student to hold up during question/ response.  Using your smart phone, you simply add questions and answers then scan your classroom using the camera on the app, and it captures the students A,B,C, or D responses for you.  When you log in to the website, you can view your classes and their responses - color coded - red (incorrect)  and green (correct).  I find this is easy to use when incorporating a PowerPoint or simply a paper quiz by groups to respond to as a formative assessment tool.  Students enjoy it once they realize the direction they point the card determines their answer submitted to me.  Have fun plicking!

One of our new team members at work shared this cute plug in that creates embeddable 'bling' titles for you.  You simply type in your text, select a glitter style and copy the embed code to paste. *Note: It is a flash based plug in, which means if you use Apple products or tablets, the flash may not appear.  It is super easy and fun to use - and if you are into bling...this is definitely for you!