Tech Thursday: Blocking Ads Online

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.

How many times have your students been on a perfectly legitimate educational website, and BAM! an ad pops up on the sidebar that is totally inappropriate and not at all related? I'm talking about the bikini-clad woman selling diet pills that sends your students totally off-track... or worse! It happens to me all the time! If you can convince your students to use Google Chrome as their web browser (or do like I did, and make it nearly impossible to even find Internet Explorer on our classroom computers!), there's a plugin that will totally fix your problem.

Google AdBlock is a FREE plugin for Chrome that removes almost every ad from websites! Installing couldn't be easier, just follow this link. Where I have "Added to Chrome" in the right hand corner, you will see "Add to Chrome" instead. Click the button, and you're done! FYI - depending on how your students log in, this might have to be done for each student.

It even shows you a little counter in the top right hand corner of the browser with how many ads have been blocked. I've seen this number in the 20s or 30s after a little while on Facebook! It even blocks those annoying auto-play video ads!

Don't forget to link up your tech tips and leave some love for the links ahead of you!

   

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Sunday Scoop {10/26/14}

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!

Here's the Scoop on my week...

Link up below and share what you're up to today (or this week)!

   

    An InLinkz Link-up
   

Five for Friday + a Freebie!

Happy Friday! Today I'm linking up with Doodle Bugs Teaching for Five for Friday to share what we've been up to in my class this week.

This weekend, we officially had FALL at my house! Pumpkin carving for the hubs and I, and pumpkin-stick-in-the-Mickey-parts for our Little Apple. The Mickey pieces were perfect because little guy was able to participate right along with us without getting too close to the knives. I carved a Mickey because that's what he wanted... Hubs carved a traditional jack-o-lantern.

 

We started division this week by dividing up some candy corn for Halloween. 

I passed out a zip-lock bag of candy corn, a couple of napkins, and a couple of Halloween treat cups to each pair of students. Then, I put a number on the board and asked them to make equal groups using that number of candy corn pieces. (So for 42, they might make 6 groups of 7.) Once a group had a correct representation, I asked them if they could make a different number of groups. We did this over and over with different facts, writing all of the fact families we could make for each number into our math journals each time. Of course, the last time, I asked them to divide all of their candy corn evenly and snack away. This gave me a great chance to sneak in a mini-lesson on what remainders are too! The kiddos loved it, and it really helped cement their understanding of what we are actually doing when we divide.

Speaking of division, I gave a pretest on simple long division equations, and was surprised to learn that almost none of my students remembered anything about how to do long division from fourth grade. It's actually a blessing because last year, my class had a lot of exposure to it, thought they knew how to do it, but didn't. This way, I kind of get to start fresh!

I'm teaching them the partial quotient method (or the line method). If you want to learn more about it, and see a super embarrassing video I made last year, you can check out this post. I love that it focuses on the whole number rather than the usual "How many times can 4 go into 9?" that we all try so hard to avoid. To help  my friends learn this method, and to give them something to refer back to later on, I made a quick foldable for our notebooks. You can grab a FREE copy by clicking the image below! It doesn't include teacher notes, but if you watch the video in the other post, you'll know what to do.

I got to do a little crafting this week (finally!) So I'll be sharing details on a Monday Made It soon! Here's a sneak peek of "Project Menu Planning" - So far, it's going really well, so I can't wait to tell you about it!

Something special is coming to Teaching Trio soon! But you'll have to wait to find out what it is :) We are really excited though!

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!

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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! 

Sunday Scoop {10/12/14}

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!

Here's the Scoop on my Sunday... Family mini-vacay edition!

Since the hubby and I are both off for a four-day weekend, we decided last minute to take a quick weekend trip to Gatlinburg, TN, just the three of us! It is so wonderful to not be able to come up with more than two things I have to do today! One more day of hanging out here, and we'll be headed back home to reality.

Link up and share your Sunday Scoop! (I need some reading for the drive home!)

   

    An InLinkz Link-up
   

Tech Thursday: Keyboard Shortcuts I love!

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.

The 2nd week of the month means TECH TIP TIME!

I am going to continue on with a couple of previous posts we have had on shortcuts.  Why?  Shortcuts make life soooo much easier and save oodles of time! Hummmm... probably why they are named shortcuts....

The short cuts for this week are some of the new ones I am trying to learn.  Now, don't wig out on me and go cross-eyed thinking you can't remember all of these short cuts.  I can't either!  That is why I have re-posted a special tip at the bottom to help us remember and learn the shortcuts we need. So KEEP READING!

CTRL + ESC :  Qpens the start menu!  Yay! No more searching!

CTRL + SHIFT + ESC:  Launches the Task Manager directly without closing everything else down when you use CTRL + ALT + DEL.

ALT + F4: Closes the current program that you are using.  This saves you the time of moving your mouse up to that teeny tiny x.

CTRL + W:  Closes the current window that you are in.  This is especially helpful when you have a lot of browser windows open but only want to close the top one.

F6:  Jump to the browser address bar from anywhere on the page.  Love this!  No more moving to my mouse and dragging the cursor to the address bar!  F6 and BOOM, you are there!

ALT + TAB: Cycle through all of your open windows on your computer!  One of my new favorites!  Love this since I always have lots open at one time and am constantly going back and forth between windows and programs.  It is also kind of fun....

CTRL + TAB: Cycle through all of your browser window!  Okay, I love this one too!  I don't have to go to my mouse and drag it to the tabs at the top of my browser anymore!  I can do this one with my 2 little fingers!  Fun!

Now you are probably wondering, "How am I ever going to remember all of these?" Take a look below!

Have you ever seen those huge lists of keyboard shortcuts?  

Just looking at one of those lists stresses me out.  How am I ever supposed to learn them all?  AND if I have to look up the shortcut every time I have to use it, how would that save me any time? Who knew that "shortcuts" could be so overwhelming and time consuming?

I wish I could take credit for this tip, but, of course, like the good teacher that I am, I have "borrowed" it from a technology class I had on Microsoft Excel.  The instructor handed out a sheet of about 100 or so keyboard "shortcuts" and then gave us this tip on how to learn them all.  Yes, my friends, I did say ALL.  And the tip is soooo simple ...

Write 3 keyboard shortcuts on sticky note.

Stick the note to your monitor.

Leave it there until you have learned those shortcuts and they become automatic.

Remove the learned shortcuts' sticky note.

Replace it with a sticky note with 3 new shortcuts.

Continue the cycle until you have learned all of the keyboard shortcuts!

Brilliant!

You will also want to check out our other entries in our "shortcut" series!

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