Happy December

Hello Everyone and Happy December!

Hour of Code

This week's blog is just in time to tell you about Hour of Code coming up next week.  Hour of Code is an exciting opportunity to show our students how easy coding is, and that they are probably already good at it.  Hour of Code has been embraced by many of our favorites like Khan Academy and Edutopia, but the Hour of Code site supplies ready-made activites that are very much plug-and-play.  You don't even need a computer.  The activities can be done with a phone or iPad, or even on paper!  As the video will explain, it requires minimal prep and no prior experience. 

Here are some basics on how to host an Hour of Code:

If you don't feel comfortable to run an Hour of Code, try the activities for yourself.  Send me some feedback on what you thought of them!


Furry Family

On the topic of Life Science, Heredity, and Punnett squares, your students will get it in no time when you have them play the Furry Family Punnett Square game by Vitallab.  Students will be challenged with determining genotypes and phenotypes of baby bunnies and chart them in a Punnett square.  It really is fun, and pairs well with our Common Core Achieve Science chapters.

Here's an overview video, but the lovely horn music that you will experience on the actual site appears to be muted:

Enjoy, and don't forget to post any feedback about what you liked and didn't like about the resources I've shared.

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For more resources and to keep up to date with the latest news that affects all of us directly, be sure to visit the Hudson Valley RAEN website.

*Tip:  Notice that some words are a different color than the rest?  They are links that you can click on that will take you to the pages mentioned in the blog. Just click on them and they will take you to a different website. 

Welcome to my blog!

Hello teachers!

I am creating this blog to try to share some of the resources I come across with you in hopes that you will try it out in your classroom.  Some of you are pros, and some need a little guidance.  That's okay!  I can help. 

This week, I attended the Common Core Math Developers conference in Albany.  The conference was through some work by CUNY to try to develop a working curriculum for Adult Ed.  Staff Developers throughout the region attended, and it was insightful to see so many who share the same struggles we have in our area.   I have so many exciting things to share with you.  If any of you would like me to come into your classroom and share some lessons on functions, please let me know and we can set up a date.  Functions are an important item on the new TASC test, and I have lessons to share with you.

At the conference, we had some fun exploring an app called Kahoot.  Kahoot allows students to join a gameshow-like atmosphere and compete against each other.  It allows you to share a code with your students that they can type into their smartphone or other device.  There are lists of questions already loaded, but you can created your own.  If anyone tries it out, please enter a comment below and let us know what you thought.

Another timely idea I want to share is StoryCorps.  They are currently working on the Great Thanksgiving Listen. This is where teachers ask students to interview elder family members this Thanksgiving, in an attempt to really get to know their story.  Here is Robin Roberts of Good Morning America explaining the project.  If you follow this link, you will have access to an Educator's Toolkit giving you more directions.  I would love it if you or your students would be willing to share. 

I'm excited to share my experiences with you, and I will send updates once a week.  Please let me know if there are any topics you are in need of resources for, and I'll try to do some digging and will share my findings. 

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Sherri