Vocabulary Visual Representations- Word Clouds

A word cloud is a graphical representation of word frequency that can be used to analyze text.  Word clouds can be used in many ways in varied content areas.  Some ideas for use could be as a self- assessment for writing to check for overused words.  It could also be an introduction to a new topic making key words more visible to students.

Resources:

• Ways to Use Word Clouds
• 5 Ways to Use Word Clouds in the Classroom

There are some great and easy tools for students to create digital word clouds using laptops and/or iPads.

Websites: 

Wordle

ABCYa Word Clouds for Kids

iPad App:

Word Clouds by ABCYa

Engage Students via Flocabulary

Need a new vocabulary resource that engages students? Flocabulary is an online library of educational hip-hop songs and videos designed to improve vocabulary in all content areas. Flocabulary assists in building core literacy skills through engagement, mastery, and creativity. Educators create Flocabulary assignments and student activities accessible from most web browsers. Flocabulary features include interactive quizzes, reporting features, and access to lesson resources for all core content areas.

Teachers often use Flocabulary along with an Interactive World Wall. Kim Clay, a 3rd grade teacher at Spicer Elementary uses Flocabularywith her students to identify context clues in lyrics to improve academic vocabulary. Flocabulary provides additional activities, games, and built in assessments. Students can also write your own rhymes to encourage students to create their own hip-hop lyrics and videos based on classroom content. To learn more, visit https://www.flocabulary.com/ or connect with your digital learning specialist. 

Focus on Vocabulary: Quizlet

Quizlet is an online tool great for addressing the BISD Tier 1 priority of "engaging students with the vocabulary of the standard".  With a free account, teachers can create or search for study sets of vocabulary flash cards.  Student access the flash cards with a link (provided by the teacher).  Each study set link includes 6 interactive ways to engage with the vocabulary: Flashcards, Learn, Speller, Test, Scatter, & Gravity.

Explore these study sets to give it a try:

• Kindergarten Count to 10 
• 1st Grade Ten Frames Fluency
• 2nd Grade Expanded vs Standard Form
• 3rd Grade Multiplication & Division Fact Fluency
• 4th Grade Expanded Notation 
• 5th Grade Expanded Notation 

Google Apps for Education

BISD has gone Google!  We are a Google Apps for Education, or GAFE, district.  This means all BISD staff members have special Google accounts that can be used to access Google Drive, Google Classroom, and even YouTube! In addition, our 3rd-5th grade students have GAFE accounts to access Google Drive, Google Classroom, and even Gmail!  Please explore the information and resources in this blogpost to learn more about GAFE and how you can begin using it with your campus, team, and students!

Staff and student (grades 3-12) accounts are created at the time their district login account is created. Staff and students can log on to their GAFE account by visiting http://drive.google.com. Click here for staff and student login information.

GAFE Account Benefits

• Use Google Drive to store all of your important documents and access them anywhere you have internet on any device!

• Create shared folders in Google Drive to save and share documents with your students, team, or campus!

• Use Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides (inside Google Drive) to create collaborative documents where everyone can edit at the same time and the work is saved automatically!

Google Classroom

Google Classroom is a virtual environment that is designed to help teachers create and collect assignments.  Classroom features include Announcement, Assignment, and Question posts. This gives students a platform to publish their responses or ideas as well as a way for teachers to collect formative assessment data that will help focus instruction.

• Classroom can be used in multiple content areas to extend learning beyond school walls...anytime, anywhere, any device

• Classroom can be used to flip learning...students can access content to prepare for deeper learning the next day

• Classroom allows students to collaborate when sharing Docs, Sheets, Slides, and other Google apps

Support:

• What is Google Classroom?

• 20 Things You Can Do with Google Classroom

• Google Classroom Support

• Shake Up Learning Google Resources

If you would like help getting started with Google, please email your Digital Learning Specialist!

Kidblog, Edutyping, & Reflector

Kidblog

Kidblog is a safe, secure way for students to publish their thoughts, questions, or writing online.  The great thing about online publishing is that students can show their teacher and other classmates what they are thinking or wondering.  Even better is that everyone who is part of  the blog can comment back to the person making the post.  So it is very quick and easy to get feedback from others to help answer questions or shape thinking.

For teachers, Kidblog can be a great way to get students thinking about something before it is taught, collect thoughts and questions during instruction, or get exit ticket thoughts as students wrap up their studies.  Kidblog also allows for anytime/anywhere access and learning.  Teachers can stay connected with students as they move through postings and make any necessary adjustments to the learning taking place.

Birdville ISD has recently purchased access to Kidblog.  If you currently have a Kidblog account or are new to Kidblog, these instructions will get you going!   Your campus DLS is eager to help at any step of the process  Email them with any questions!

Click the link for more on what Kidlblog can do for you and your students:  Why Kidblog?

EduTyping

EduTyping is a web based application designed for teaching keyboarding in grades K-5 and can be accessed from any Internet-ready computer. Curriculum includes Course Lessons, Reinforcement, Timed Writings, and In the News. Click here to see directions for getting started with EduTyping.

Reflector 2

Reflector 2 is software you can have on your teacher computer that will allow you to display your iPad using your projector.  

Wirelessly displaying your iPad on the projector will allow you to move around your classroom while:

• Showing students how to work a problem by using a whiteboard app like ShowMe (see below)
• Demonstrate to students how to use an app
• Display student projects from an iPad on the projector for the class to see

Note: In order to use Reflector 2, your iPads must be updated to at least iOS 9.

Reflector 2 Support:

• BISD Helpdesk Directions for Installing Reflector 2
• BISD Helpdesk Directions for Using Reflector 2