So You Have an iPad......Now What?

Brrrrrr.....What a change in the weather!!  Fall most definitely arrived this weekend.  The leaves are still green, but the red on the thermometer is dropping.  We may still have a couple of warm days, but the early morning will very consistently be chilly for sure.  I have been wondering if the drought conditions this summer would impact the fall foliage show.  See what New England Today has to say about "Leaf Peeping" in New England.

By the time you read this, you should have your iPad which means you should have it with you right now.  We are going to take a look at your devices, do some organizing, and do some reviewing.   I hope the experience so far has been positive.  This is the first time we have used this MDM (multi device management system.)  I would like to know what your first impressions are about the process.
We will put your apps in some folders and get your iPads ready to roll.  We will end class by using one of the shortcuts on your iPads.  I wonder if you can figure out which one?!!!  I have also created a Kahoot iPad review for us to work on together.

You will work on a pre-assessment during class two this week (except for my Monday peeps!!)
You will take the first part of the 21st Century Skills Assessment.  It is a pretest. This will not be a content grade on your report card, but it is very important.  Please take your time and read each question carefully.  It should take you the entire class to finish.  If you do not finish by the end of the period, don't worry.  If you should be done before the bell I expect you to sit quietly and read.

Please use the resource link below to get you to the site.  If you have any trouble logging in, please raise your hand and I will come over to help you.

I would like to repeat; this will not appear on your report cards.  There was no study guide and I did not want you studying for this.  This is a baseline; showing me where you all are right now.  It will help me plan for our year so you are ready to take this assessment again in June.  Take a deep breath and do your best!!!

Please click on this link:  21st Century Skills Assessment Resource  

So Much Excitement

The day has arrived!!!!  You will be receiving your iPads some time today.   I am so excited to be a part of this day.
Because I will be busy in the library handing out iPads, a substitute will be in my lab working with you.
I know I can trust you to follow my instructions below and do a great job.  You should have brought a reading book to class with you.  You will need it when you have finished taking our Tech DDM.

Today you will take the first part of the 21st Century Skills Assessment.  It is a pretest.  This will not be a content grade on your report card, but it is very important.  Please take your time and read each question carefully.  It should take you the entire class to finish.  If you do not finish by the end of the period, don't worry.  If you should be done before the bell I expect you to sit quietly and read.

Please use the resource link below to get you to the site.  If you have any trouble logging in, please raise your hand and the teacher will come over to help you.

I would like to repeat; this will not appear on your report cards.  There was no study guide and I did not want you studying for this.  This is a baseline; showing me where you all are right now.  It will help me plan for our year so you are ready to take this assessment again in June.
Take a deep breath and do your best!!!

See you next class!

Please click on this link:  21st Century Skills Assessment Resource

Tools of the Trade

Did you get to see the amazing moon on Friday night?  What a glorious spectacle!!!  That moon was called the Harvest Moon.  Check out this interesting video about the calendar year of full moons.  There are so many "myths" surrounding full moons.  Here is a link to "Ten Common Moon Myths."

This week we will make sure you are able to access all of your school/professional accounts or the "tools of the trade."    You will use a resource I have created and shared with you in Google Classroom.
It is important for you to know all of your usernames and passwords.  It is also important for you to keep your digital life organized.  You will be given an opportunity to do some cleaning out and organizing this week.  Please make the most of this time.

The second part of our week will be dedicated to the art of emailing; another tool.  Creating professional emails is very different from texting or even creating personal emails.  I will share a document in Google Classroom.  This document has links to many resources for you to use when you create school or professional emails.  You will need to add all of your teachers to your GMail contacts.  Please use this resource.

Have a great week!
  ~Mrs. White :)  

First Full Week

Ladies and gentlemen fasten your seat belts!  We are entering the first full, five day week of the 2016/2017 school  year.  Before we get started I wanted to take a moment to reflect upon yesterday's events.  It is mind blowing for me to think the students sitting in front of me were not even born when 9/11 occurred.  That day still seems like yesterday to most Americans.  Fifteen years have passed since that tragic day.  As I watched the news last night, and then again this morning, I was moved by the many tributes paid to those who lost their lives, and those whom have now become known as the, "First Responders."  May we never forget that day, and those who are now gone.

Moving forward, a new year is upon us with many new eager employees sitting in front of me.  I will do my best to make my blog a useful resource and a model of good and responsible blogging for all of you!  This week we will take a look at the expectations for iPad use.  You will be receiving your devices at the end of the month.  We have a little work to do before you get them.  We will start our discussions  by watching a TV commercial??!!  It will all make sense shortly.  Please be sure you understand your commitment letter before signing as it is a contract and you will be held accountable.

Have a super week and welcome to work!!
  ~Mrs. White

Welcome

I was shocked when I realized I hadn't touched my blog since the end of last school year!  I guess it is time for me to reconnect and get back in the flow of this new school year.  This blog is one of the ways I will communicate with you and your families this year.
Let me start off by welcoming you to ILT!!  As you will find out during our first meeting, I run my classroom as if it were a company.  Your first meeting will be with the director of the "Human Resources" department; me.  You will find out what it take to be a grade 7 tech student in my room; company.  We will start classes by watching a video, "Two Sides to Technology."  You will receive the copy our company policy.  During our second class you will find out about our LMS (and find out what those three letters stand for) Google Classroom.

I hope you had time to check out the #'s on the door.  I am especially excited to #learningsomethingnewfromyou!!

 WELCOME!

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