Computer Schedule and Ideas for Classrooms, Monday Made It

 

I'm linking up with Tara for my Monday Made it and Charity Presson for Manic Monday!  I love this new computer planning chart we made at a recent technology workshop I taught.  So feel free to read on to see how we created this time on task management tool for the classroom. I hope you absolutely love it and enjoy this awesome FREEBIE!!

 

 

 

 

This is part of our Monday Made It. I recently taught a technology workshop on how to effectively use the few computers in your classroom.  It was a ton of fun.  This craftivity was our teacher make and take and I'm going to walk you through the easy peasy steps to make this wall decoration that will help keep students focused while choosing a technology activity. In addition, it will assist you in what students should be working on as you glance at the Planner on the wall near your computers, you will be able to identify what they are working on.  This will help me see if they are off task. This will be a new focus strategy I'm using this year to help my students be more accountable for their computer time and products.

The materials I used:

Scotch Thermal Laminator (I inherited this from someone who never used it- Great and worth every penny if you have to laminate centers, task cards, etc) I'm not sure what kind of laminator you have at your school, but ours in thin and eventually falls apart from the sheet.  These never will separate, they are great for so many on the spot laminating projects in the classroom.
 
Sam's and Costco have the laminating sheets in bulk (Which is great)

Scrapbook Paper- Colors of your choice

Small magnets

Cookie Sheets- Dollar Store

Ribbon- optional

First you will want to download the computer document from my TPT store for free and change the document to what you want your computer objectives to say.  Add your email, any websites you want and any specific directions for students to access particular webpages and print. 

Trim the scrapbook paper to fit inside the laminating pouch.

Trim and back the chart on scrap book paper. 

Laminate chart and stop signs.

Tape or hot glue the computer chart on the cookie sheet making sure it goes against the cookie sheet as close as possible.  This will help to ensure the magnets don't have extra space in which they have to exert extra strength to connect with the cookie sheet.  

Print your stop signs in color or in black and white then color red.  These are used when certain websites or assignments are off limits.  For example, if students should be working on a particular project, interactive activities might have a stop sign on them. 

Laminate and connect a magnet to the stop signs.

Laminate and connect a magnet to the back of the computer #1, #2, #3, etc.  Depending on how many classroom computers you have.

Add ribbon and tah-dah!!!

Here is the link to my TPT store for the FREE activity sheets!  I hope you enjoy this activity and I would love some great feedback, thank you.  Also feel free to check out so many resources that are geared for upper elementary and middle school.  Enjoy your summer all you awesome teachers!!!!

~ Tara

Uncle Drew 1, 2, &3

Here we Go!  I'm so excited to take a little amount of time to post youtube videos on my blog.  There are several benefits I can see to using this method.  (You know a list is coming!  LOL)

1.  You can show this in class without other videos popping up at the end.  Just make sure you select no pop up selections after the video.
2.  Students can view this after school, at home, in a safe environment, again... they don't have to scroll through 'other stuff' to get to the video you posted.
3.  You can always find the video you wanted to show... always!  Because it's on your blog!  Wah- lah!  Can't wait to post more motivational videos.

My Brother and Sister in law introduced me to these awesome videos put out there by Pepsi.  Gotta love some NBA Players!  Your kiddos will love this media trickery.  I feel a writing prompt coming up viewing these videos.... Hmmmmm.

~ Tara

How to add a HYPERLINK to your TPT Description

Snow, snow go away, come again..... NEVER!  I live in FREAKING North Carolina, on the coast!  Minutes from the BEACH!  I don't want fluffy white snow.  I want soft, crunchy, hot, scorching sand, salt water and SUN! 

Okay, I will admit it was fun to enjoy my two girls excitement about making snow angels, sledding (in laundry baskets and boogie boards) down an otherwise dangerous hill. 

 This one makes me think of the fabulous movie FROZEN!  Do you want to build a snowman?

That would be my fabulous husband, who gets the father of the year award.  I get the photographer/ mother award.  Hahaha  No seriously, I guess I can handle a snow day or two.  But we have been out of school all week, and I can't help but think we are going to have to make this all up on WARM DAYS.  Oiiii.

HYPERLINK TUTORIAL FOR TPT OR BLOG

I'm sure there are several tutorials out there.  Apparently, it takes me a while to find the right one when I need to learn something.  So I spend countless minutes searching until, oh joy, finally what I was searching for. 

Here's how to create a hyperlink in your TPT file! 

What you will need:

1.  The title of the item you wish to link to in your store.
2.  Copy and paste the web address to that item

Next, open a new window and travel to this amazing blog: Gordon's Blog.
He has this handy, dandy hyperlink generator.  Fascinating I know.

Okay-

Paste the URL or web address to your store item in the URL box.
Then, type the title of your store item. (this is the pretty blue words that will ultimately send your beloved shopper to your other item)
Press the submit button!

And wah-lahhhhhh!

Copy and paste that long-butt code into your TPT description and you have a handy-dandy hyperlink that will take them to some other fabulous item in your store in a hink-pink click. 

F to the Y to the Izzy Izzy EYE!  You can also do this to insert a hyperlink for your blog when you leave sweet comments to other bloggers.


~ Tara

New Computer Desktop- I'm Lovin IT!

So I absolutely loved this beautiful picture on pinterest of a chevron background with beautiful pin boards for the desktop icons. Well, I went to actually go to the website (that's funny, because all I do is pin things.)  Ha, don't judge me, you probably do it too.  I mean you didn't think I actually looked up all 3,500 pins I have did ya?   LOL
 

 
This is my before picture of my school computer!  Horrible I know!  I just find or make great stuff and save to my desktop and file later.... or not!)
 
Blah, blah, blah... short story shorter.  It had me going here, downloading this and that (back of my mind is some hacker is going to steal all my information) purchase this, blah, blah, OH WAIT!
 
Learning how to do all the teacherspayteachers previews, pictures, and creative files.  I remembered I could take a powerpoint slide and save as a jpeg and wa...lah!  Change my desktop to fabulous!  So here's how I changed my school and home desktops to look. 
 
 
Well, here is my school desktop after.

 Much better.  Here's the scary part.  My home desktop is even worse. My excuse is because my extra job of making teacher materials keeps me from overthinking things, depression, and worry.  It puts me in a creative mood and allows me to be productive instead of CRAZY!  I'm so serious.  I get a lot of positive feedback and feel like I'm doing some good in this crazy world.  Especially the crazy world of teaching!  Ha.... right?!?!
So, drumroll please....

So, thank you for being so patient reading all this, here are the steps to creating a great digital background from a pc person.  ( I can't wait to switch to mac, but honestly I'm scared)

First create a powerpoint slide with the background you want. 
Insert digital frames where you like.
Insert text boxes to label your frames or not (preference).
Save file as ppt (just incase you need to make changes)
Save file as jpeg.
Go to your computer preferences and change the background of your display.
Super!  You have a new background to help organize your life.
 Have a super safe snowy week!  I'm so ready for summer!!!!

Let me know if you would be interest in a couple designs for free on TPT!

~ Tara

Computer Sign In

I'm not very wordy tonight. :)

~ Tara