Ideas for Next Year....Right Here!

Already, I have ideas for next year!  And even though we just ended the School year and we're fresh into the Summer...sleeping in and getting started on a tan, I'm jazzed about things I'm going to do with Students next School year! Here's a few:

#1 - Exit Tickets - Next year, 3rd thru 5th will end each Lab time with an Exit Ticket and I'm using Padlet! (www.padlet.com) Each work station will have a QR code for their Grade and will ask the question: "What did you learn today" or "What do you still have questions about". Invariably, this will help plan for Lab times to come and steps to help them. This will be that added 'reflective' step that I feel I've missed this past year. Some Students went flying through each activity, while some struggled with certain steps. This might clear that up!  I can't wait to see what they will have in mind!

#2 - Document Level Checklists - Essentially, for each document we learn to create; whether it's a Word Doc, a Presentation Doc or a Spreadsheet Doc,  there will be a checklist of things they'll need to accomplish in each to be proficient.  So, if a Student is in 5th Grade, they will start at the Kindergarten Level Checklist and work their way up to the final checklist for 5th Grade.  The final check is to "Present in Peer-Review & in their Digital Portfolio w/reflective comments".  Here's the Checklist for the Word Document!  I'm really excited about this one.  There are similar ones for Presentation Documents and Spreadsheet Documents.  My favorite part is the reflective part where Students will engage in Peer Review & adding a link or screen-shot to their Digital Portfolios.

#3 - Speaking of Digital Portfolios, I was quite pleased with Students in 3rd thru 5th using Microsoft SWAY. (https://sway.com/) They added 'Cards' with pictures and reflective comments about their completed Tech projects throughout the year.  Very cheeky program and the Students enjoyed adding their content.  At the end of the year, select Students presented their Portfolios to the rest of us.  The imaginations of these Students was really quite something.  I learned so much about what they think, what they like and what still gives them issues with technology.  Glad to know....this creates a checklist, of sorts, for next year!

For Kinder, 1st & 2nd Grade Friends, we'll use Seesaw. (http://web.seesaw.me/)  A perfect program that is fun to use, while easy to add any type of content.  I love this program!  More off, Students really do too! I also like using this program for Discussions with older grades about a whole host of topics. My favorite part is that I have to approve each entry prior to the rest of the Lab seeing the posts.  This is one of my favorite programs of all time! 

For next year: Reflection...Success Checklists....More Reflection!  I think I'm on my way here to a great new start to the new School Year! Bring it on....well....after some time sleeping in and working on that tan!