Lemon Tech Tidbits

It is so important to teach students the proper way to find quality information online. Simply telling them to Google it is doing them a disservice. Most students...and let’s admit it most adults...do not evaluate the sites Google finds. Instead, they select the first site that comes up regardless of whether it is trustworthy or not. Databases are different. The content they display come from published newspapers, papers, encyclopedias, and articles. The content is also age appropriate making them a better choice for students to use for research. We are so fortunate in our state for the work of the Kansas Library system who provides free access to many databases for students, teachers, and the general public to use. To access, simply go to the library website and click on the Research tab or Research Links. Next, click on Kansas State Library Databases. Spend some time exploring the many different databases that are available for students to use. My favorites are Britannica for backgro...

TUMBLEBOOKS If you have not heard, the Kansas State Library is providing free access to Tumblebooks for all teachers, students and the general public. Tumblebooks are animated talking picture books designed for young students. The goal is to build in and share the joy of reading. There are over 11,000 books to choose from but that is not all. Did you know Tumblebooks also has National Geographic videos? To access Tumblebooks, you will need to go through the Kansas State Library website at kslib.info or use the link on our school library website. COMICS PLUS LIBRARY EDITION Another new service from the Kansas State Library is access to two different Comics Plus subscriptions. You now have access to the Kids collection which includes children's and teens or the Full collection which includes children titles all the way to adult. Like the name implies, this database is for everyone interested in reading manga, comic, and graphic novels. Before you can access the database though,...

     This summer, I have found myself using Canva for almost all of my designs. It is fun and easy to use and I appreciate the fact that as an educator, I can use all of its features for FREE!      On Free Technology for Teachers, Richard Byrne shares 21 different ways you can use Canva within your classroom with quick video tutorials. You can learn how to use Canva to create a classroom newsletter, worksheets, comics, and even how to use it to record a presentation.      Canva has a blog and a website with many tips on how to use it in your classroom. It even provides you with a few templates to get started. Find out more here . Canva does have a subscription cost but has made an exception for educational purposes. This applies not only for teachers but for students as well. You can even set up a classroom where you can invite students and have them do activities, lesson plans, and collaborate on projects. You do need to register to create...

       In a blog post on DitchThatTextbook , guest authors Kara Rigsby and Megan Diede explain ten different ways to create an engaging hook to start a unit or day of instruction with your students.      Some of the hooks they suggest can seem to be a little daunting but once you create it, you can reuse it in the future. Others are not as challenging. They all revolve around building excitement and a little bit of intrigue to get students excited to learn more. The hooks include: Create a movie trailer Use a short video clip Start with a photo Use a mystery box Start with music Use Playdough or an art craft A short picture book! (love this) Do a gallery walk Add some physical activity Use an adventure hook      For each one, the authors give a small description on how to create the hook along with a link to another blog post with more information and ideas. If you need help with any of these hook ideas, please let me know. Remember, I...

     In today’s world, students are accessing and sharing information in video form more than ever before. Think about the popularity of social media apps such as TikTok, Snapchat, and Youtube. Thankfully for educators, we can still use Flipgrid for free!      What is Flipgrid? It is only the easiest way to create and share video! It was already great but this summer, Microsoft has released some updates to make Flipgrid even better!      In the blog, DitchThatTextbook, Matt Miller provides twenty plus ways instructors and students can use the updates to increase engagement in their classrooms.      Some of the updates he mentions, such as the Lens and Music, can only be done on the mobile app while others are available for all.      My favorite update? That would be the ability to record yourself “standing” in front of your Google Slides or picture. But then again, I also like the new filters you can use, the bor...

       Increasingly, we are using technology in our classrooms almost daily with our students. But, have we thought about how it affects the parents and guardians? Do parents realize Google Classroom or SeeSaw is where assignments are posted for students to complete? Do they know how to sign up for guardian summaries in Google Classroom? Can they help their student attach a file in Google Docs? What about email etiquette? Do they know how to access Powerschool to check their student’s grades? Are they even aware of the websites, Facebook groups, Twitter accounts, and everything else used to communicate information?      Recently, a team at Google has discovered how important it can be for parents and guardians to understand the same technology as students. They have created a series of youtube videos called the Tech Toolkit for Parents & Guardians. You can find it here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLP7Bvyb3ap44Mll5eZ8RqY9VtuELuJ4eT

Screencastify will now let you add embedded questions into your recorded presentation! Yep! Need to shout this out and share with everyone! To see this in action, watch this short video. Create a Tab group in Chrome to get all of your sites opened up at once. I have a tab called START I use every day at the beginning of school. To learn how to create your own tab group, click on this article from Tech Coach Juarez. Smart Reply is now available in Gmail and comments in Docs. What is Smart Reply? It is machine-learning responses that show up automatically so instead of having to type things out, you just click the response you want. (like when texting on your phone) Teach critical thinking skills by using https://wodb.ca/ . It is a website dedicated to providing puzzles called Which One Doesn't Belong. It was created for math teachers and students alike. There are no answers provided as there are many different, correct ways of choosing which one doesn't belong. Enjoy! Las...

Google has come out with their own whiteboard program allowing for students to collaborate in real time - ALL FOR FREE! Yep, you heard that right, it is free. Try it today! Simply go to jamboard.google.com. To learn how to use it, click here . Getting started with Google Jamboards Now, click on one of the bullets below for even more information: Five Jams to use for beginners 20 free Jamboard ideas and activities to use Jamboard templates for Secondary Students How to clear a frame in Jamboard Social/Emotional learning Jamboard templates to use Slides vs Drawings vs Jams - which to use and when Ultimate collection of Jamboard templates to use Save a Jam as an image and import it into a Google Slide Use or create a template from Canva for a Jamboard Learn more by taking this free course.