More about Chromebooks...

I went to a quickie training today for the implementation of the new Google Chromebooks that I will have in my classroom next year.  Read my first post here.  It sounds like an exciting venture.  

** Let me preface this post by saying, I am NOT a technology expert.  I am only sharing information that was presented to me and that I have found in my research.**

What the heck is a Chromebook, you ask?  

Well, it is an internet based netbook designed for use with the Google browser Chrome.  (My school is going to be getting 4 in every primary classroom and 5 for every intermediate classroom.  If there are times we need a class set, we will pool all of our Chromebooks to have enough.)

(This is the model we'll be getting--> The Samsung)

Why would you want to have Chromebooks instead of iPads?  

1. It is way cheaper... You can get 2 Chromebooks for the price of 1 iPad.  That means you could afford to put technology into the hands of double the students.  

2. It has an actual keyboard.  With the beginning of so many online assessments being required, students need to be able to type on an actual keyboard.  

3.  It is durable and very light.

4.  It is very individualized and secure with the use of student logins and passwords.  Students can easily access their own work from school or home through Google Drive.  Whereas an iPad that is shared is not able to be individualized for each student.

What are the drawbacks?

The Chrome Web Store does not have as many apps (they are called extensions) as iTunes but, I'm sure as more and more schools adopt Chromebooks, the Chrome Store will be offering more options.   Because it runs on the Chrome OS, it is set up a little different than a Windows or Mac OS.  (To me, it seemed a little like a combo of both.)  It will take some getting used to but, I'd be willing to bet, the kids pick up on it faster than we do.  Another drawback is that Microsoft Office is not used on a Chromebook, it uses Google Docs.  But Google has all of the same types of software and honestly, it's pretty similar in my opinion.  

I'll be getting one to play around with in a few weeks and I'll update you all more on how the process is going.  Thanks for stopping by!

iFaketext and Let's Get Acquainted!

I found this cool tip via pinterest and can't wait to share it with my kiddies tomorrow.  I thought you all might be able to use it too.  

Do your kiddies know more about technology than you do?  Sometimes I think they do...  What better way to reach your student than through texts.  Through the website ifaketext.com, you can create images that look just like a real text.  The possibilities are endless...  This is a fake text I made between myself and my student teacher to review place value.

It's pretty easy... Check out Tammy's Tech Tip of the Week.  She gives a tutorial that made it easy to do and gives ideas on how you can use this fun tool in your teaching.  The only thing that threw me for a loop was getting the image to plug into a smart notebook document, which was my plan.  But I figured it out.  After you make your fake text, click on "take a screen shot."  Then click on the image above all the links that are created to get the image of just the text.  Save the image and paste it into whatever format you need.  I hope that makes sense... I'm not the most tech savvy person!  I'd love you to share your suggestions on how to use ifaketext.com.

I'm also linking up with Latoya for my second Let's Get Acquainted!  

This week's topic is Our Classroom! We spend almost as much time there as in our own homes.  It better be a place we like.  This week's task was to pick your three favorite parts of your room.  Let me start off saying that I do check out every other blogger's pictures and most of the time I am jealous with a capital J!  My room seems like a shoebox comparatively speaking.  But, it's mine and has been mine for 10 years.  In my school, we do have a lot of restrictions on how we can set up some types of furniture and we are not allowed to have our own furniture or rug additions anymore.  That is frustrating because so many of your rooms look so homey, but I do the best I can with what I've got.  

1. Our Classroom Library

As a reading specialist, it goes without saying that the classroom library is a very special place.  I LOVE my book browser (the low wooden book holder) because it holds SO much and makes it easy for the kids to flip through books looking at the covers.  The lower level of the browser has bins where students keep their "Zip Bags" (their self-selected reading in 2 gallon zipper baggies).  The ugly metal shelf holds more books of favorite authors and characters, poetry and song books.  The wooden shelf against the wall holds our tons of basal anthologies and guided reading materials.  All of the black baskets on that shelf are leveled reading books.  I always think I have a lot of books but it doesn't look that substantial right now, haha!

2. The Rug

This is my "rug"  (actually the whole classroom is carpeted) but this is the area where most of the magic happens.  I do the bulk of my teaching at the SmartBoard.  I honestly don't remember what it was like to teach without it.  I'm trying out my new jungle theme with my zebra listening center and my newly up cycled draws.  I'll have to do another post about them.  

3. Our Lockers

Like I said, my room is tiny, but I do have a feature I think is unique and nice.  Each student has a locker.  I love that I don't have to see the coats and book bags and other messes.  The kids love them and feel so grown up having their own lockers like big kids.

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a great rest of the week!