Bunhead With Duct Tape
  • HOME
  • AUTHOR
  • CONSULTANT
    • "BOOK" KRISTINA
    • PRESENTATIONS
  • SPEAKER
    • CONFERENCE APPEARANCES
    • "You Can Write a How to Book" & STEM activity for kids!
    • Flipgrid Guides
    • ARTICLES & BLOGS
    • TWITTER CHATS
    • INTERVIEWS & VIDEOS
  • COLLABORATOR
    • EDCAMP CARDIGAN CAMP
    • THE DIGITAL LIBRARIAN'S SURVIVAL TOOLKIT
    • THE DIGITAL LIBRARIAN'S SURVIVAL TOOLKIT
    • The Epic Ebook of Web Tools & Apps
  • ADVOCATE
  • CREDENTIALS

ARE YOU REALLY GOING TO WEAR THAT APRON?

7/25/2019

0 Comments

 

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.

Picture
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.

Picture
0 Comments

WAKE UP WITH WAKELET!

7/25/2019

1 Comment

 

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/

Picture
1 Comment

USE FLIPGRID TO DEVELOP RELATIONSHIPS

7/25/2019

0 Comments

 

​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.

0 Comments

ADVENTURES IN CREATING A SENSORY WALK

7/18/2019

0 Comments

 

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...

Picture
Picture

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

0 Comments

free library newsletter wakelet template

7/12/2019

11 Comments

 

Some of my favorite professional development moments are during Twitter chats.  Last night while moderating the monthly #wakeletwave chat (archived under the portfolio tab), I saw Erin Flanagan's post about monthly newsletters that she had created.

I just added 12 monthly newsletter templates on @wakelet you can copy, remix, and use this school year! Grab them at the link and be sure to follow me because I'll be adding more templates this summer! #thehumansarecoming #wakeletwave https://t.co/bV9y3d2S8Q pic.twitter.com/4IuHvLH75D

— Erin Flanagan (@Erintegration) July 10, 2019

Erin's idea was simple, user friendly, and a timesaver...all ingredients for an epic hack!  This immediately got my mind going.  What about a Wakelet newsletter template that LIBRARIANS could use? So here it is...

Save time and money by using Wakelet to create a library newsletter each month! With Immersive Reader technology by Microsoft, your newsletters will automatically be read aloud and even translated. Embed the newsletters on your website, and share them through email, social media, or Remind. Remember...this is just a template to get you started. Have fun and be creative by adding your own images, videos, links, tweets, PDF files, and Google Docs. 

1. Log in to Wakelet.
2. Make a copy of the newsletter at 

https://wakelet.com/@lieberrian.  Scroll down until you see my logo.
​3. Edit it by deleting, adding, and modifying information. 4. Then share it with your students, their families, and your colleagues.
5. Each month you can copy, create, and title a new newsletter.

TEMPLATE LOGO

Picture

LIVE VERSION OF THE NEWSLETTER TEMPLATE

IMMERSIVE READER DEMONSTRATION

11 Comments

Two Truths and a Lie

7/7/2019

1 Comment

 

Sometimes a post pops up into your twitter feed that inspires you to create something.  This is what happened with Heather Lister posted about a website called the Breaking News Generator, and suggested to use it to create fake news posts.  I immediately thought about the "Two Truths and a Lie" game where participants have to determine which two statements are true and which statement is a lie.  It also reminded me of the books by Laurie Ann Thompson and Ammi-Joan Paquette, as well as my Amazing Makerspace True Books.

Make your own #fakenews "Break Your Own News - The Breaking News Generator" https://t.co/BtTXm1QaEI #tlchat #futurereadylibs #istelib #edtechchat #palibchat pic.twitter.com/GGB0OOQoK3

— Heather Lister □ (@heathermlister) July 7, 2019
Picture
Picture
Picture

So I set out to create a Flipgrid topic using these "Breaking News" posts as the prompts.  Take a look at the finished product.

There are several ways to transform images into videos, but this is how I did it. Follow the steps to create your own.  
1. Decide on a topic to establish prior knowledge or to review content. Research the topic and write three statements that seem plausible, yet only two are actually true.
2. Use http://www.breakyourownnews.com to create three posts with appropriate headlines, tickers, and images.

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture

3. Since Flipgrid only always video submissions in .MOV. .MP4, and .WEBM format you must create a video file.  First I take my image and use https://giphy.com to create a GIF.  I like doing this because I can add stickers, text, and drawings to my images.  This animation really gets students' attention. If you create a free account you, you will be able to save and access your GIF's online. 

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture

Here is my finished GIF.

Picture

4. Now go to https://ezgif.com/gif-to-mp4 to convert your GIF's to MP4 files so that you can upload them to Flipgrid.

Picture
Picture
Picture

5. Create a grid called "Two Truths and a Lie," and then create separate topics for each activity.  Upload your videos to responses to the prompt.  You can either provide links to resources and databases, or require that your students locate their own as evidence.  Share the link to the topic that you would like your students to focus on.  After your students research the statements, they will determine which two of the three statements are true and which is a lie.  Then they will record their reply to your response giving their opinion with evidence and citing their sources.  Empower your students and encourage them to create their own "Two Truths and a Lie" Flipgrid activities.

BREAKING NEWS - FLIPGRID UPDATE
You'll be excited to learn that soon you can bypass the above hacks and just import your own images as stickers.  Check it out!

1 Comment

The heart of art

7/5/2019

0 Comments

 

I remember when each of my sons during separate locations was recuperating from routine outpatient surgery. Ceiling Tiles
Hospital Gowns
Maker Nurse
IV Bag
Cancer Letters
Sending Smiles 2 is

0 Comments

IMMERSive reader + wakelet = inclusive curation

7/4/2019

0 Comments

 

What is Immersive Reader?

Immersive Reader is a free tool by Microsoft EDU that helps users to read, track, and even translate.  It's a game changer for special education students and English language learners.  With its universal design, users can opt in to use Immersive Reader without feeling stigmatized
​


​Immersive Reader Wakelet Demonstration

0 Comments

BAN boring pd!  CREATE AN epic Breakout edu + wakelet + flipgrid appsmash CHALLENGE

7/3/2019

0 Comments

 

Put your teachers in the driver's seat.  Create a Breakout EDU (physical or digital), create Wakelet collections of apps, web tools, articles, or teaching strategies for them to discover.  When they document their learning with Flipgrid they can earn their next clue.  Try this at your next faculty meeting or conference day. Check out the "Epic Breakout EDU Appsmash Challenge" that Melissa Bazner and I created for ISTE 2019:
https://conference.iste.org/2019/program/search/detail_session.php?id=112201625

0 Comments

DIGITAL PORTFOLIOS FOR NEW TEACHERS

7/3/2019

0 Comments

 

Dear New Teachers,
If you aren't going to create a website, PLEASE use Wakelet 
to create a digital portfolio for your resume. Potential employers should be able to "Google" you & see a positive digital footprint. Make it easy for them & curate your awesomeness. 

Check out mine at ​https://wakelet.com/@lieberrian

Picture
0 Comments
<<Previous

    Kristina A. Holzweiss

    Ed Tech School Librarian
    Professional Developer
    Author
    Maker

    Archives

    July 2021
    April 2021
    February 2020
    December 2019
    September 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    January 2018
    December 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015

    Categories

    All
    AASL
    Advocacy
    Alzheimer's
    Appsmash
    Aprons
    Autism
    Awards
    Bitsbox
    Bloxels
    Book Fairs
    Books
    Book Tasting
    Book-Tasting
    Brag Tags
    BrainPop
    Breakout EDU
    Buncee
    Business
    Buzzers
    Canva
    Coding
    Conferences
    Contests
    CoSpaces
    Creativity
    Cricut Maker
    Curation
    Design
    Digital Book Bentos
    Digital Portfolios
    Doink
    DonorsChoose
    Dry Erase
    Ducks4Laryssa
    EBooks
    Electronics/Circuits
    English Language Learners
    ESBOCES
    ESL
    Failure
    Fake News
    First Day Of School
    FlipGrid
    Fliphunt
    Folger Library
    Games
    Gamification
    Genially
    GIF
    Google Slides
    Grants/Funding
    Green Screen
    Grit/Perseverance
    Growth Mindset
    Guest Post
    Hacks
    Howtoons
    Immersive Reader
    ISTE
    Kapwing
    Kids Deserve It
    Kits
    K'Nex
    Legos
    Literacy
    Little Free Library
    Madison-Oneida BOCES
    Make A Difference
    Make Magazine
    Makerspaces
    Making
    Malala
    Manners
    Memes
    Microsoft
    Music
    Newsletters
    New Teachers
    NGSS
    NYSCATE
    Organization
    OSMO
    Ozobots
    Pedagogy
    Planetarium
    PLN
    Productivity
    Professional Development
    QBall
    QR Codes
    Reading
    Reading Logs
    Recycled Materials
    Relationships
    Research
    Resumes
    Scholastic
    School Librarian Of The Year
    School Library Journal
    Sensory Walk
    Shakespeare
    Shopping
    Skype
    SLIME
    SnapCircuits
    Social Media
    Special Education
    Standards
    STEAM
    STEM
    STREAM
    Stripling Model Of Inquiry
    Student Engagement
    Tackk
    Target
    Teen Tech Week
    Thank You
    Thinglink
    Think It Up
    Twitter
    VersaTiles
    Video Games
    Virtual Field Trips
    Visitations
    Visual Literacy
    Wakelet
    Webinar
    Web Tools
    Wireless Door Chime
    YALSA

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • HOME
  • AUTHOR
  • CONSULTANT
    • "BOOK" KRISTINA
    • PRESENTATIONS
  • SPEAKER
    • CONFERENCE APPEARANCES
    • "You Can Write a How to Book" & STEM activity for kids!
    • Flipgrid Guides
    • ARTICLES & BLOGS
    • TWITTER CHATS
    • INTERVIEWS & VIDEOS
  • COLLABORATOR
    • EDCAMP CARDIGAN CAMP
    • THE DIGITAL LIBRARIAN'S SURVIVAL TOOLKIT
    • THE DIGITAL LIBRARIAN'S SURVIVAL TOOLKIT
    • The Epic Ebook of Web Tools & Apps
  • ADVOCATE
  • CREDENTIALS