My grandmother passed away from Alzheimer's. Years ago, she left home and was lost for hours before a policeman found her. She didn't understand English. Please record a video about your loved one using Flipgrid,and create a QR code bracelet for them. It could make a difference.

This could also be useful for small children on vacations and field trips, medical alerts, people with autism, and nonverbal people.

DIRECTIONS:
1. Go to https://info.flipgrid.com/ and create an account.

​2. Create a grid and a topic for your loved one.  By creating a topic, you will be able to record and upload multiple videos.  You can hide old videos and update as often as you need to.

3. Allow topic guest access so anyone with the guest code can view videos in the topic.  Turn off the "Allow Recording" option.

4. Download the Topic Guest QR code and use this code to create jewelry, zipper pulls, and labels to locate your loved one.  You can also share the QR code and the link through email, social media, posters, and flyers.

5. When someone finds your loved one they scan your QR code and will have access to your grid, the topic, and all of the video responses.

PURCHASE QR CODE MEDICAL ALERTS AND MISSING PEOPLE IDENTIFICATIONS.  

Memes are a creative way of promoting literacy with visuals and text. You can create them digitally with Canva, Buncee, and Google Slides. Or you can go "old school" with pictures cut from magazines and writing.  There are many ways to do this:
* You provide the content, and your students find an image.
* Your students apply the content to your image.
* Your students choose the content and the image.
* Your students choose the content and create the image.
* Your students create the content and the image.
* You provide the content and a variety of images, and your students match them.

Create video memes with Flipgrid by adding text and images while recording.

Sites for Royalty-Free Images:
https://pixabay.com
https://morguefile.com
https://avopix.com
https://www.pexels.com
https://www.publicdomainarchive.com
https://unsplash.com
https://www.stockvault.com
https://nos.twnsnd.co
https://gratisography.com
https://picjumbo.com

*Please use your discretion when recommending sites to your students.

As a matter of fact, yes.  Yes, I'm going to wear that apron in the library and here's why...
1. Making is messy.
2. Here's to the end of calling myself from the library phone to find my cell phone.
3. Who needs to see the sauce spot on my shirt from my lunch?
4. A granola bar is just what a teacher needs to wolf down on between classes.
5. It's always handy to have a pen and post-it notes to jot more things down on the endless "To Do" list.
6. Librarians are always "cooking up" something, especially during book tastings.
7.  Pockets are perfect for holding change for kids who forgot their lunch money.
8. Students can scan the QR code on my apron to access their Flipgrid of book recommendations.
9. If students are already late to their next class, don't waste time by finding a hall pass.
10. Book fairs can be busy, and an apron can help you be organized.

I just love this photo of my co-author Stony Evans and his co-librarian during a book tasting.

Here's a cool hack:
Use Wakelet, Buncee, or Flipgrid create a digital cookbook. Then print the generated QR code on an apron. You will have access to a wonderful collection of recipes whenever you scan a QR code.  What a wonderful gift for a teacher if each child submitted a recipe from their culture.

So proud to be able to present one of my favorite tools (Wakelet!) with three of my favorite people (Kathi Kersznowski, Amy Storer, and Brad Dale!)

​​Wake Up! Top 10 Ways to Boost Productivity and Creativity With Wakelet - ISTE 2019 People's Choice Panel Presentation 

Wakelet Webinar: Top 10 Ways to Use Wakelet in the Classroom

10 Awesome Ways to use Wakelet in School Libraries
https://blog.wakelet.com/2019/02/19/use-wakelet-libraries/

​Turn the tables on the first day of school. Instead of discussing supplies and syllabi, build relationships. Ask your students to record Flipgrid videos about themselves, with their preferred names and pronunciations. Then YOU go home and study!

​Here's a video of one of my graduating 8th graders watching a video of himself when he first entered the middle school.

I've always believed that there should be opportunities for students to learn with their heads, their hands, and their hearts.  Our students may understand the effects of the Cold War, how to balance equations, the scientific method, the proper format of a persuasive essay, how to speak another language, score a goal, mix watercolors, and play in tune but what will any of that matter if they don't develop a sense of compassion for others and pride in their work.

This year I was fortunate to continue my career in a district where I met an occupational therapist with a focus in assistive technology.  She and I were both familiar with the benefits of sensory walks for ALL children.  These walks reminded me of the painted footprints that I used to follow from the lobby to the Children's Room in the basement of my public library.  If you have never seen a sensory walk before, check out this video.

While brainstorming we began thinking, "Wouldn't this be a wonderful opportunity for kids to do something FOR kids?"  My colleague invited two special education elementary classrooms in our district to be part of our pilot program.  Then we approached a special education teacher who helps to prepare students for work study opportunities.  With her advisement, a graduating special education senior was invited to become the project manager for this endeavor.  Applying the skills that she had learned in the program, she created a Google survey for pilot classrooms, assisted with cutting and weeding the designs created by the Cricut Maker, and even created a PowerPoint presentation about proper line up procedures that she shared with the elementary students.  This student developed leadership skills that will last a lifetime.

Using the Cricut Maker to design and cut the shapes...

The Cricut Maker in action...

The student project manager teaching the elementary students about proper line up procedures...

Trying out the sensory walk before it is installed...

These first sensory walks are fairly simple designs, and we look forward to working with classrooms in other district elementary schools on more elaborate projects.  Although sensory walks are available for purchase, the benefits of this project were more far reaching...
* using technology and resources already available
* ability to customize during the creation process
* making connections among schools in the same district
* involving special education students in the process so that they can apply what they have learned in the classroom
* empowering students and educators