Tech Thursday: How to create a great password

Technology Thursday is a weekly linky dedicated to all things technology related. Share reviews of websites or apps you've tried, tech tips that make your {teaching or personal} life easier, and helpful tutorials. Our hope is that this linky provides a place for teachers to share and learn new ways to use technology and engage students!

Be a rule follower!
Rule #1: Include the image above and a link to our blog somewhere in your post.
Rule #2: Be a good blog reader...visit the two blogs who link up before you and leave some love on their pages!
Rule #3: This linky is not intended for product promotion. You may include products you've created in your posts, but they should not be the sole focus of the post.

We all have to have passwords.  And if you are like me, you have about 100.  (Okay...maybe that is a slight exaggeration but not much of one.)  Most of us know not to use our names, birthdays, pets, or kids' names.  We also know that great passwords are a combination of numbers, capital letters, lower case letters, and other symbols. But do you know how to remember a wonderfully secure password once you have one?  Writing it down next to your computer is tempting, and let's face it, what most of us resort to.  However, it is not the most tech savvy thing for us to do.

So how do you remember all of those letters, numbers and symbols for each and every site?

I'm glad you asked!

Take a phrase, sentence, scripture, or quote that you say all the time or are familiar with and turn it into a password.

Let's use this quote from Dr. Seuss: Today was good. Today was fun. Tomorrow is another one.

Use the first letter of each word: twgtwftiao

You still say the quote in your head but only type the first letter of each word.

Next, change the word "one" to an actual "1": twgtwftia1

We have a good password but not a great one yet.  We still need capital letters and symbols.

Now, make each sentence start with a capital letter:  TwgTwfTia1

Almost there...

Add a symbol by ending the quote with an exclamation mark: TwgTwfTia1!

Letters and symbols can be added in exchange for words or placed at the beginning or end of your password.

To customize your secure password to each website you use, just add the sites' initials to the end or beginning of the password.  For example, for Teachers Pay Teachers your password would be:  tptTwgTwfTia1!

Now you have a fabulous password that you can remember!

Let me know if you have any other cool ways to remember secure passwords.

P.S. Don't use this password!  Ha!

An InLinkz Link-up

Sunday Scoop: 10/19/14

The Sunday Scoop is based on the popular 3-2-1 graphic organizers so many of us use with our students. Tell us three things you HAVE to do, two things you HOPE to do, and one thing you're HAPPY to do (because these days, we could all use a little motivation to find something to be happy about every week!). It's a short and sweet way to connect with each other every Sunday (or Monday... the linky will stay open all week!)

Here's what to do:
1. Just save the image above, add your text to it (we use PowerPoint), and post! You don't even have to explain yourself any further if you don't want to.
2. Include the button above and a link to our  blog on your post.
3. Link our post up here on Sunday morning (or whenever :) )
4. Be a good blog reader, and leave some love for the two posts before yours!

My new Amish furniture for the eating area of my kitchen! So excited to fill it up with all of my "stuff"!

An InLinkz Link-up

Tech Thursday: Multiplication App

Technology Thursday is a weekly linky dedicated to all things technology related. Share reviews of websites or apps you've tried, tech tips that make your {teaching or personal} life easier, and helpful tutorials. Our hope is that this linky provides a place for teachers to share and learn new ways to use technology and engage students!

Be a rule follower!
Rule #1: Include the image above and a link to our blog somewhere in your post.
Rule #2: Be a good blog reader...visit the two blogs who link up before you and leave some love on their pages!
Rule #3: This linky is not intended for product promotion. You may include products you've created in your posts, but they should not be the sole focus of the post.

This week, we are sharing apps. Just tell what it is, why your students love it, and why YOU love it! I want to share an app my students are crazy about...

What is it? Sushi Monster is a  free iPad app from Scholastic. It provides fast-paced practice for addition and multiplication facts.

Students choose addition or multiplication from the home screen. For both operations, students receive a set of target numbers (sums or products) and several numbered sushi pieces. The goal is to feed the Sushi Monster with numbers that make the sum or product he is asking for. when you choose the correct pair, he gobbles up the sushi.

Why my students love it: I'm guessing it's the music and the silly monster gobbling up the sushi!

Why I love it: It's backwards from what most multiplication apps do... This one starts with the product and asks students to choose two factors rather than providing the factors and asking for a product. The game also gets progressively harder, and includes multiplying by multiples of 10 (6x120=720,  for example). Best of all, it's FREE!

What apps are you using in  your class? Link up and share some with us!

   

    An InLinkz Link-up
   

Wordless Wednesday {10/15/14}

Wordless Wednesday!

I am going to link up with Sugar and Spice for her weekly linky. 

My daughter and I spotted this pumpkin on the interstate.  It was huge!

How are you getting into the spirit of fall?

Tried it Tuesday: The 5 B's

Today I'm linking up with Holly at Fourth Grade Flipper for Tried It Tuesday. 

Tired of your students running up and telling you every little thing? Trouble with tattling? Do you have students that need a Band-Aid for a teeny-tiny speck?

Teach your students the 5 B’s!

The 5 B's is a classroom management tool meant to reduce off task "teacher telling" and tattling. The 5 B’s help your students know when it’s appropriate to go to the teacher and what things a teacher needs to know about. What are the 5 B's? The 5 B's are Bleeding, Broke Bones, Being Sick, Bee Sting, and Bullying.

I start this at the beginning of the year, but it can be started at any time. I literally teach my students the 5 B's and what they mean.  I always give them examples such as a teeny speck on their finger that really really hurts but doesn't need a Band-aid or a bee sting is different from spotting a bee.  We review the 5 B's every day for the first week of school (or the first week you introduce it).  

As the year goes on, you can just refer back to the 5 B's.  When my students come up to me at recess, for example, I hold up my 5 fingers and ask if what they are about to say is one of the 5 B's. Most of the time, they just go back and play. Fabulous!

I have used this for a number of years and in a number of grades.  It works!  

Check it out at my TPT store!

Let me know if you have used something similar!