SMA Device Care

As more and more devices roll out here at SMASD, we need to be more and more careful on how we use and transport our iPads, Chromebooks & Laptops.

The SMAMS Geek Squad Tech Assistants have come up with the following device care video.  Please take two minutes to view and share it with your students.

If you would like to print any of our slides to use as posters in your classroom, you can see the slideshow HERE.

Special thanks go out to:

*ACS: Advanced Computer Solutions for their tips and advice.
*Mr. Micale's 3rd Grade Class for their expertise and best practices.
*Mrs. Defilippi's SCORE period for their willingness to demonstrate.
*SMAMS Geek Squad Tech Assistants for putting this slideshow together.

Chromebook Tips & The Geek Squad

More and more Chromebooks are finding their way into our classrooms.  In today's TechSpot I want to highlight some of the keyboard and touchpad functionalities of the device.   As teachers working on mainly Windows machines, it makes it challenging to offer tips to students as they are working, especially at the elementary level. 

Below I have remixed a resource from another Google Trainer that illustrates some of the key functions, shortcuts and, my personal favorite, touchpad capabilities! 

Consider sharing this resource with your students by: 

• displaying it through your projector during free time
• to allow for self-discovery/exploration learning
• print the poster and display for students to reference while working
• print on 11 x17 paper if possible
• if not Print > More Settings > Scale > Fit to Page
• post on Google Classroom as a "Material" 

As always you will be fascinated with how quickly the kids can pick up on these tips!

I especially love the touchpad tips, consider starting with those!  

Click HERE to open the infographic in Google Drawings.

Feel free to File > Make a Copy of this document to save for yourself. 

Have other questions about the way your devices operate?   

• SMAMS has started a Tech Assistants - Geek Squad who are putting together resources to help teachers and students work with our devices. Check out what we have so far, and offer ideas for new posts in the comments below!   Once we get a good bank of resources we will start sharing them in a common space.  

Click HERE to open the site.  

Note this is a working brainstorm sheet, students are still figuring out permissions, etc. 

Let's Talk Elementary Math!

I am always searching for ways that math teachers can effectively incorporate tech into their classrooms.  This year at Pete & C I, along with Mrs. Bauer & Mrs. Michuck were able to attend a session on Math in the Elementary Classroom. 

The session spoke a lot to the M.A.T.H. station rotation model with some really great variations on how to implement it in your classroom, while leveraging technology tools in some of the stations.

The Math Learning Center's Website & Mobile Apps offered a space for digital manipulatives for: 

- fractions
- money
- number rack
- number frames
- pattern shapes 
& more! 

Click HERE to open an interactive PDF. Then, click on the squares to be taken to each different web-app. 

I am picturing students app-smashing these tools with SeeSaw for annotating screenshots of their work as well as creating screencast videos where the student's explain their thinking.

Also these may serve as great impromptu teaching tools on your interactive whiteboard. 

Are you an elementary math teacher?  Have you used the Math Learning Center's Web-based Apps? 

How do you think these could be incorporated into your classroom?  Pros? Cons?  

Let us know in the comments below! 

......... Interested in the M.A.T.H. Station model with Tech Integration? Schedule a visit! 

.......   Didn't find what you were looking for?  Browse this large list of elementary math resources provided by the presenter. 

Resources for this blogpost were provided by Jennifer G. Southmayd

Instructional Technology Coordinator

West Chester Area School District

Chromebooks: Select -to-Speak

Click HERE to see a full size image. 

Every child learns differently. 



For some of our students, an accomodation such as "having text read aloud" can allow the student to better demonstrate his or her knowledge in a content area.



Now that Chromebooks are present in all of our district buildings, we can easily offer "Select-to-Speak".  Select-to-Speak is a Chromebook setting that once set up will follow the user from Chromebook to Chromebook.


Once the initial setup is configured the student will only have to hit 2 keys to hear any text that he or she highlights. 



Below is a video that will walk you through the setup (Only 5 clicks!) 


And, off to the right is a set of visual directions.  Click HERE for full size.