Newsletter March 11, 2015

M A R C H

2 0 1 5

TIS & THAT Volume 3, Issue 14

Music in our Schools Month

By Leslie Tedesco

Did you know that March is Music in Our Schools Month? Musicians and teachers are celebrating the 30th year for MIOSM. For more information, please visit http://musiced.nafme.org/events/music -in- our-schools-month/ .

What better way to celebrate music in our schools than by making some music?

Here are some great music making apps, software, and websites: *noteflight.com – great music notation software for that composition student (web based) *http://www.musictechteacher.com/-an entire library of web based music games and quizzes *quavermusic.com – music software that would fit the needs of ANY level of music education. There is also an app for your iOS device!

Music Tutor (free) – Free app excellent for that band student wanting to work on sight reading and bass/treble clef note drills.

Rhythm Cat- This app is for beginning note readers and steady beat learners!

Staff Wars- A great parody of Star Wars that will test your music reading knowledge.

Guitar Bots- Excellent for beginning and intermediate guitar students

TIS & THAT

MARCH 2015

Apps for Agriculture

By Trevor Cummings

In the last couple of years I have searched for a few apps that the kids could use outside and get them out of the classroom. The kids enjoy getting out of the classroom and doing hands on activities. The agriculture classes are well known for being hands on learning and for me, these apps have really helped me either in the fall or spring.

Leafsnap

This app allows students to take pictures of leaves and helps them identify the species of the tree. This works well to get the kids outside and collecting leaves. The kids can learn how to identify trees by their leaf shape.

They also can learn more about the tree species in the project as well. The app is free to download.

ID Weeds

ID Weeds allows students to search for weeds either by their common or Latin name, view a list of weeds, or identify weeds based on numerous characteristics. This app also works well in the spring or fall to get the kids out and learning about the plants growing in their lawn or field. The app is free to download.

FFA New Horizons

This app allows students to see the magazine that is produced by national FFA. The students can learn about up to date information about the FFA, read about success stories from members across the United States, and they do a spotlight and six high school members from different states. The app is free and can be used for reading in the classroom.

Ag Web News & Markets AgWeb app provides the latest news and agribusiness advice. This app is free to download. I really like this app especially if I’m looking for an article for my kids to read in class. This app or website provides up to date information on agriculture issues that are current in the industry today. It also provides current prices for commodities in the United States.

2

TIS & THAT

MARCH 2015

Test Ready Technology

By Traci Crowder

With the statewide assessments edging closer here are some websites and apps that will help you and your students be ready for the new SmarterBalanced assessment.

SmarterBalanced.Org This website has practice and training test for Math and English Language Arts. Although there is no way to track students’ scores, this website allows students to get use to the format and tools that the test will be utilizing. The tests can all be assessed for free.

Edmodo SnapShot Any teacher that uses Edmodo as a LMS, can enjoy the SnapShot assessment tool. SnapShot has a free and paid version. The free version allows you to choose which common core Math and/or English standards you would like to assess your students on.

You are able to assign remediation lessons for those students who need them and it gives you a great data. The paid version allows you to access more customized reports. This is available as an app TensMarks.com and website.

This website is complete for math! It has interactive questions and lessons that compliment the common core standards. This website allows you to assign lessons to students and see how they are progressing. TenMarks has premiere features that can be purchased; however, all teachers are able to sign up for a free account. The questions are set up in a similar fashion to the SmarterBalanced questions.

IXL IXL is a website and app that uses common core standards for students from Kindergarten to 12th grade.

This is not a free site; however, it does offer free trials for 30 days. It allows students to work on one standard or a mixture of standards and is beneficial for students that need a little extra practice.

3

TIS & THAT

MARCH 2015

Springtime is coming! Learn about gardens and planning your soil

By Trevor Cummings

During the springtime I love teaching a unit on soil testing and web soil survey. Web Soil Survey is a great website for kids to use to learn about the soil around their house. Web Soil Survey provides soil data and information produced by the National Cooperative Soil Survey. It is operated by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and provides access to the largest natural resource information system in the world.

This website will tell the kids how big their plot is in acres and it allows the students to learn about the soil series. From this information students can determine if they can make a garden on the site or what adjustments they new to make to grow crops there. Students can print information they develop on the website or they can email it to themselves.

This is a great website to introduce soil to your students and for them to learn about how to interpret the information in the program. The next step is teaching the kids the importance of soil testing. West Virginia University will test your soil for free. The link to the questioner sheet is http://tinyurl.com/wvusoilquestion This sheet needs to be filled out and sent in with each soil test you may have. The link to Web

Becky Butler gave us the details: What is Digital Learning? Digital learning is any instructional practice that uses technology to enhance a student’s learning experience. It encompasses many different facets, tools, and applications to support and empower teachers and students, including online courses, blended or hybrid learning, or digital content and resources.

How? Go to the Digital Learning Day website and register a Digital Learning activity for a Classroom, District, Library, Afterschool Program, Flipped Classroom, or School-wide Celebration! It’s easy and doesn’t take much time. Let’s fill the WV map with activities! Go to http://www.digitallearningday.org/ and add your activity.

Soil Survey is http://tinyurl.com/USsoilsurvey.

Written By:

Leslie Tedesco ltedesco@k12.wv.us Music Education McNinch Primary School Moundsville, WV

Trevor Cummings tcummings@k12.wv.us Agriculture Education Cabell Midland High School Ona, WV 4

Traci Crowder tfinch@k12.wv.us Special Education Kimball Elementary School Kimball, WV