Welcome Back
Hello and welcome back! This is a friendly reminder that we are here to help you with your Instructional Technology and STEM needs. In the spirit of starting off on the right foot, I hope you enjoy the following video by Gerry Brooks. Gerry is a former educator and motivational speaker. In fact, he will be this year’s speaker at the Elementary and Secondary Technology Conferences held here at the IU13 this December.
Prepare to be inspired: Click here!
To learn more about Gerry Brooks please visit, https://www.gerrybrooksprin.com/.
Here’s what’s new with us!
*Please join us in welcoming our newest team member Andrea Fellows. Andi is amazingly talented and is an awesome addition to our team! Andi will be working in our Center-Based Programs this year.
*Be on the lookout for STEM and Literacy Resources coming soon! Learn more in an upcoming post!
*Last year our blog contest was a huge success. We wanted to share a great big “thank you!” with everyone who participated. This year we will be offering the opportunity to win more than one time a year and the prize will be a STEM book from our list or an approved book of your choice. More details to come!
*Our STEM room 108 is moving! Our department is being relocated and we tentatively plan to be settled in by November. In our new location, we will host STEM field trips, house our Makerspace materials and technology tools, and also serve as our department's office location.
Here are some helpful resources to help get you started this year.
Instructional Technology
Do you wonder what IU13 Instructional Technology Resources are available here at the IU? This link is our complete list of tools including crucial information such as website information, who has an account, and how to log in.
*Keep this link handy as updates will be added throughout the school year.
Hands-on Technology Tools
As the year begins please keep in mind that our Hands-on Technology Tools can be signed out and delivered to your classroom. If you need a mini-refresher on how to use them or would like a team member to come out and run a lesson, please reach out and we would be happy to assist!
Station Rotation, Frayer Model, and Choice board templates…oh my!
Slides Mania provides free templates for teachers as a Powerpoint or Google Slides download. Check out the Educational Bundles that include the following: Frayer models – Weekly planners – Station rotation templates – Choice boards – Bingo Boards – Layouts with one, two, three, and four blocks for analysis, comparisons, and free writing – Class debate – Parts of a story – Collecting evidence – Cause and effect / Causes and consequences – Mind maps – Bracket Challenge
Getting to Know Your Students
If you're looking for some new and refreshing ways to get to know your students this year and begin building your classroom community then 40 Back-to-School Activities & First Day Ice Breakers 2022 is a resource for you!
Common Sense Education: Expectations for Digital Use in Your Classroom
Common Sense Education has a Back-to-School resource page with helpful planning tools to create a plan that leverages technology effectively and supports students' digital well-being. You can also find Back-to-School templates that support family communication with customizable digital learning pledges/agreements for K-5 and 6-12 students.
This month, you'll see their focus on SEL resources, including their SEL in Digital Life Resource Center. Here you'll find CASEL-aligned quick activities, family conversation starters, and professional development resources, all of which align with the core themes and lessons from our free K-12 Digital Citizenship Curriculum.
Lastly, check out the Common Sense Education Featured Monthly Resources spreadsheet. The resources provided include guides for parents and teachers, lesson plans, games websites, and more.
We wish you an amazing start to the school year!
