Chalk.com - great site if looking for a great gradebook

If you have been looking for a free on-line gradebook - www.chalk.com is an option worth looking in to.

A number of teachers in and out of the District in which I teach have enjoyed the ease of use of the site as well as the support in case they have a question.

Below I have created a 5 minute tutorial on how to get your class(es) up and running. 

Chalk.com also offers a plan book as well - but this purely focuses in on the gradebook. 

Any questions, please let me know.

Thanks,

Brad

How to edit or add a signature to your e-mail in Outlook

Below is a 51 second YouTube video showing how to edit or add a signature to your e-mail in Outlook.

The steps are as follows:
1. Select File
2. Options
3. Mail
4. Signatures
5. Type in your signature
6. Click ok

Any questions - please let me know!
Brad

Simple to use and free gradebook - Learnboost.com

Teachers using Engrade accounts for a free grade book will no longer being able to access their free grade book after December 31st, 2016,

I posted over this summer about Learnboost.com being an option and a number of teachers have used it and state how easy it is to use. 

Below you will see an embedded 4 minute video on how to use Learnboost. If you have any questions, please let me know.

Thanks!
Brad

Book recommendations (as well as movies,TV shows, etc) for girls - Amightygirl.com

If you are looking for a great website to gear you to some recommendations for books, TV shows, movies, etc. - check out http://www.amightygirl.com/.

Below is a 42 second video showing what the site looks like.

Any questions, please let me know!
Brad

Amazing website for BOYS and READING - www.guysread.com

If you know any guys out there (reluctant or not) and need a website to help list authors and books geared towards boys - check out www.guysread.com 

Below are two screenshots from the site followed by a short 1 minute YouTube video below.

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Take care!

Brad

On Chrome and accidentally close a Tab? Try command shift T

If you close out of a Tab by mistake - Command Shift T will bring that Tab right back up!

Check out the embedded 15 second YouTube video below.

Have a nice weekend!

Brad

Remember to turn on that Chromebook at least once every 2 weeks so it will be updated

Just a nice reminder out there to turn on your personal (or District issued) Chromebook at least once every two weeks so it will get the updates it needs. The update will take place in the background and you will not need to do a thing.

This will keep your Chromebook working to potential.

Click here for a nice short overview on Chromebooks.

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As always, any questions please let me know.

Brad

Check your date on your iPad if it will not update properly

Just a quick post about today.

A faculty member where I teach was having issues updating her iPad. It kept telling her that the iPad could not be updated at the present time.

If you ever run in to this issue - check to be sure the date is correct on your iPad. Once we put in the correct date - it updated perfectly.

Have a great day!
Brad

Want a "Post-it" style note on a webpage? Try the extension Note Anywhere

If you would like to create a Post-it style note on a particular website - try using the extension Note Anywhere.

Note Anywhere will enable you to post reminders on almost all websites. The one site I found only stayed on for a few hours was ESPN as the main/lead story changed. Just something to look out for.

Embedded below you will see a 1 minute and 28 second YouTube video explaining how to use the extension.

Thank you to Richard Byrne for his post about this great extension.

Any questions - please let me know.
Brad

Use an add-on to be notified when someone fills out your Google Form

If you are using a Google Form and would like notifications to be sent to you when a certain number of people have filled out your Form - try using the Add-on Form Notifications.

You can select the e-mail you would like the notification to be sent to as well as the frequency of the messages.

Please watch the 42 second embedded YouTube video I created below on how to use this awesome Add-on.

Any questions please let me know!

Happy Halloween!
Brad

Add an annotation to your YouTube video

If you want some information to stand out in a YouTube video - adding annotations is one solution.

Please watch the embedded 1 minute 36 second YouTube video below. Just remember that annotations do not show up on mobile devices.

Any questions please let me know!
Brad

On an iPhone and want to quickly adjust the brightness of your flashlight?

If you want to adjust the brightness on your iPhone - try the following (if you have the 3D touch).

1. When you see the flashlight app - press firmly.
2. You will then see three different option
1. Low Light
2. Medium Light
3. Bright Light

Below you will see a GIF as well as a 15 second YouTube video (with audio).

Take care,

Brad

How to embed a YouTube video in PowerPoint

I was just asked today how to embed a YouTube video in to PowerPoint.

Here are the steps followed by a video below.

1. Under the YouTube video select Share
2. Select embed and copy the code
3. Go in to your PowerPoint
4. Select Insert
5. Select Video and then online video
6. Paste your code in the embed video and select the arrow
7. To make sure it works - play the PowerPoint

Google Docs to Word

I was just asked this very question tonight.

Actually is something that can be done with sheets as well as slides.

Simply open your file and then select

File
Download as
Microsoft Word (or Excel, or PowerPoint)

Below you will see a short video on how to do this as well!

Take care!
Brad

Awesome site for pre-K to 5th grade - ABCYA.com

My daughter Sydney came home talking about this site called Abcya.com 

Abcya offers online games from pre-k to 5th grade sorted by grade level. Games include areas such as math, language arts, social studies, and introduces computer skills in a fun game type atmosphere.

Below you will see a short video my daughter and I created.

Check this site out!
Brad

Best way to start your day with a fun routine - try Scholastic's Daily Starters

Scholastic's Daily Starter website is a great way to start the day. The site provides short and fun math and language arts prompts, as well as teachable moments and fun facts.

Take a look at a sample of what the site looks like.

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Use a form and an add-on to keep track of students checking out and checking in tech

If you have items in your classroom (iPads, Chromebooks, etc) that you want to keep track of who has what - try using Google forms and an add-on called checkitout.

Below you will see a little over 2 minute video on how to create it.

Any questions please let me know!

Brad

Use a Google form for students to sign out books in your classroom library

If you would like an easy way to keep track of the books that are signed out and returnee in you classroom - try using a Google form.

Click here for a direct link to copy a form I have created. It will ask you to make a copy of the form and will be placed directly in your Google Drive.

Below you will see a 1 minute and 23 second video of what the Form looks like. If you are interested in how the form was created, watch the 2nd video.

How to create a Google form for creating a sign out and sign in form. The sound goes in and out a few times - sorry about that.

As always, any questions let me know!

Brad

On a Chromebook - want to caps lock using a shortcut?

Try using Alt + search (search is where a Caps lock is on a notebook).

To take off the caps lock just use Alt + Search again.

Of course you can always just reset the search button to be CAPS lock all the time by clicking here or following below...

So many times this past year I have had kids and adults ask me, 'Where is the Caps lock button on my Chromebook?"

Well, good news/bad news.

Bad news 1st - there is no Caps lock button.

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Good news - there's a way to make one permanently, but I don't think you will. Ok, maybe I'm way wrong - but check this out....

1. You know the little magnifying glass that is where the Caps lock button should be? Click on it. What do you see? That's right - a Google Search button comes up without opening up a new tab - pretty awesome right?

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2. Ok, Brad - that's cool - but how do I make a Caps lock button?
All you need to do is click on ctrl and the search and it will automatically get you CAPS lock. To disable - just click ctrl search again.



Are you old school and just want the Caps lock to be where the Caps lock should be? No worries - go into:
SETTINGS (bottom right of screen) and look under the device settings.
You will see Keyboard Settings - click on that.

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Then, select SEARCH and then make it Caps lock.  Now you have it back - but no "Search" button.


Up to you. Enjoy!
Brad

Improvement to Google voice typing

Earlier this week Google announced improvements to their voice typing. These improvements include inserting links, adding comments, creating and editing tables, as well as highlighting text, stop and start voice typing, as well as edit your document. For the full list of commands (there are a lot) - please click here.