#NHCSchat is a monthly twitter chat for, about and by educators in New Hanover County, North Carolina. #NHCSchat is an opportunity for teachers, administrators and other educators in southeastern NC to grow and develop their personal learning network (PLN) by connecting to other educators in our district and around the world. This monthly chat will create a forum for NHCS educators to gather virtually around the common interest of providing the best possible learning experience for students in our district. Chat topics will vary but will focus on best practices for teaching and learning in the digital age and will be moderated primarily by NHCS educators.
Hey everyone! I'm Desiree, a first grade teacher at @PineValleyElem ! I'm looking forward to chatting and possibly collaborating with you all! #NHCSChat#Pvttchat
A1: My "go-to" app is @Seesaw! My students and I use it for everything - collaborating with peers, documenting learning/growth, curating student work, communicating with parents, etc. So many great ways to use this app in the classroom!
#NHCSchat#seesaw#digitalportfolio
A1: I know it's been around for awhile, but I'm loving the Autocrat add-on with #googlesheets and #googleforms right now. Finally able to put into practice what I learned from @katebtayloe and @DeannaLeake at Summer Institute! #NHCSchat
A1: I love @Seesaw as a way for parents and families to be apart of their student's learning & stay connect. I also love love love @ProdigyGame because it is a fun way to practice math & has awesome teacher resources! #NHCSChat#pvttchat
A1: My favorite app is @FlipGrid. I love it’s versatility and the connections it allows my students to make with each other and students around the world! #nhcschat#FlipgridFever
A1: I love to use @quizizz to review learning across all content areas. It's fun to play as a group and easy to set up as an independent task! Just post the quiz code and go! Plus there are fun memes involved! #nhcschat
A1: My "go-to" app is @Seesaw! My students and I use it for everything - collaborating with peers, documenting learning/growth, curating student work, communicating with parents, etc. So many great ways to use this app in the classroom!
#NHCSchat#seesaw#digitalportfolio
A1: One of my favorite apps (on my iPad) right now is Clips. Makes it easy to assemble a quick video with title cards as lead ins AND, if you choose to enable it, it will caption your speech...although not always accurately. 😖 #NHCSchat
A1: I love @Classkick , @goformative , @quizizz I also love just a dry erase board app so the students can do all their math and I can see the steps they took. #nhcschat
A1: I love to use @quizizz to review learning across all content areas. It's fun to play as a group and easy to set up as an independent task! Just post the quiz code and go! Plus there are fun memes involved! #nhcschat
A2 For me, it just depends on what I am going to use it for and how much it cost. Fortunately, I work in a school that has readily available resources, so I seldom have to purchase any extra resources. Super grateful because that has not always been the case. #NHCSchat
A2: I will splurge for paid apps if I've tested the tool, plan to use it frequently with Ss, and it has a series of great reviews. @breakoutEDU and @kodable are two I think are worth the cost. #NHCSchat
A2: Some apps are well worth the money! I like buying one and then testing it before buying more copies and adding it to a cart. But free is the way we try and go if we can #nhcschat
A2: It depends on the app. Obviously free is great! But if a paid app is affordable & offers features that are worth the money, i.e. increasing student engagement & critical thinking, then I’ll pay! #nhcschat
A2: It truly makes a difference with accessibility to try something new within your classroom. The research and benefits behind paid app also make a difference. Free apps or apps that allow a trap period are awesome. #NHCSChat#pvttchat
A2: Most of the best educational apps are free! If an app costs money, I go to twitter and do some research before investing. @DoInkTweets green screen is a paid app that is a great investment! #NHCSChat
A2: I do prefer free apps over paid apps, but if there has been positive feedback regarding a paid app, then I certainly would consider using a paid app. #NHCSchat
A1: @GetKahoot is always a favorite for review. I’m also trying out @Seesaw for the first time this year & my kiddos love it! I also ❤️ that I can check on my 📱what Ss have published during stations from across the room and give them praise or jump over to help! #nhcsChat
A2: Free is always worth a look, but often free apps that have paid versions are very limited. When suggesting apps to others, I always lean towards free ones - unless I find a really great paid one! Some apps are worth the small investment. #NHCSchat
A2 It depends on what I am using the app for. If using an App for any type of assessment then I want data and that may cost. If I want my students to create then free may be fine as long as the adds are not annoying. #nhcschat
A2: If I see a price I usually just keep searching and scrolling. I am not sure as to why my brain is like that. I tend to only look at free apps or sites. #nhcschat
A2: I think it depends on the app. I’m a fan of the free ones, but only if they’re awesome. I don’t put up with glitchy stuff or a billion ads. I will pay for an app if I just can’t make what I need to happen without it. @DoInkTweets is one of the few I have paid for. #NHCSchat
Hey there! I’m Deanna Leake, grateful principal @CBElementary. Jumping on a little late...but super excited to be here with some of my favorite people! #NHCSchat
A1: I think it does. You want to make sure you get the best bang for your buck. You definitely have to spend time making sure the app really is going to help your students also! #qualityoverquantity#NHCSCHAT
A2: Paid apps seem to have a higher perceived value, although not always worth the cost, imo. I WILL pay for @breakoutEDU, otherwise if I can find it free my teacher mind says yes. #NHCSChat
And, when purchasing for students, how many students will be able to utilize the app? And can it be used in different grade levels and content areas? #NHCSchat
A2: Y’all. I’m a teacher. Free, please! 😂There’s so much goodness out there! @ChatterPixIt, @ProdigyGame, @GoNoodle ... wonderful quality and more than enough for me and my Ss. #NHCSchat
A3: Again, @Flipgrid! I love that @Flipgrid allows my students to interact with our #gridpals & that they can respond to classroom activities & each others videos; raising the level of conversation I wouldn’t get otherwise. #nhcschat#FlipgridFever
A2: Y’all. I’m a teacher. Free, please! 😂There’s so much goodness out there! @ChatterPixIt, @ProdigyGame, @GoNoodle ... wonderful quality and more than enough for me and my Ss. #NHCSchat
A3: Right now, @ProdigyGame is the app my students are able to utilize the most and collaborate by battling each other while solving math facts! They get excited and it is a healthy competition. Often times, they help one another out. #NHCSChat#pvttchat
A3: @gsuite is my go-to tool for collaboration! Effective and easy to use with both colleagues and kids! @zoom_us is great for face-to-face collaboration. I used it to facilitate a book study and to meet with my NHCS Mastermind group. #nhcschat
A3: If you can get your hands on a Dash or Dot robot, the @WonderWorkshop apps are great ways to introduce coding to young Ss. It's amazing to see them communicate, plan, and work together for a common goal! #NHCSchat
A3: Has anyone used Trelloboard and, if so, how do you use it? I've heard good things about it from @mcnairan3, but have not experimented with it yet.
#nhcschat@trello
A3: You need to check out @Classkick Ss can virtually raise their hands and their classmates can go on their screens, virtually, and help them by writing on their screen. It is so cool,or as my Ss say FIRE! #nhcschat#traskmiddle
So thankful for our @breakoutEDU online platform subscription. I have been using digital breakouts across all content areas, and love assigning specific ones to students! #nhcsChat
In reply to
@christychowe, @breakoutEDU, @kodable, @breakoutEDU
A4: Did I mention @Flipgrid? Having to organize your thoughts is a difficult skill! Ss also use @ClassDojo to create portfolios. Deciding what to post, why requires critical thinking & problem solving. I require a caption! #nhcschat
Q3: I love using #flipgrid to encourage communication, collaboration, and expression. I am also excited to have had the opportunity to learn more about how to use #seesaw as a collaboration and communication tool from @mrhuntsheroes & @KristinBazemore ! #NHCSchat
A4: This is a question I am interested in learning more about! I'd love to gain access to these type of apps that I can use in my first grade class! #NHCSChat#pvttchat
A4: Both @Seesaw and @Flipgrid are great video tools that allow students to reflect, explain their thinking, and learn from the ideas of others. #NHCSchat#eatonolympians
A4: It's no secret that I love @Seesaw. The students can create their own content and explain their thinking. They can also respond to a variety of pre-made activities available in the app. My next goal is to utilize more @Flipgrid in first grade. #NHCSchat
A4: It's no secret that I love @Seesaw. The students can create their own content and explain their thinking. They can also respond to a variety of pre-made activities available in the app. My next goal is to utilize more @Flipgrid in first grade. #NHCSchat
A3: @padlet, @Seesaw, and @ProdigyGame get the conversations rolling in my classroom! Recently we logged into a Padlet created by @Kahrs3rdgrade‘s students. Rich discussions and insight into thought of our friends across the hall! #nhcsChat
If your a science teacher, I would investigate @GScienceJournal. It has some really cool data collection especially if you are lacking equipment. I haven’t used it in my class yet but love playing with it #NHCSChat
A4: Last year (with fourth graders), I used @goformative for students to solve math problems. We also used @Seesaw to solve problems and the screen recording function allowed them to show and explain their thinking. #NHCSchat
If your a science teacher, I would investigate @GScienceJournal. It has some really cool data collection especially if you are lacking equipment. I haven’t used it in my class yet but love playing with it #NHCSChat
A5: My favorite communication tool to use with parents is @RemindHQ! It is like texting. I can schedule messages, translate messages and quickly reply throughout the day. I also set business hours! I love the new features! #NHCSChat#pvttchat
A5: I love @ClassDojo for communication with Ss & parents! Our 3rd grades use it too, so it helps to get them more familiar with it. We post class stories, S portfolios, send message to parents, etc. #nhcschat
A5: @seesaw is my favorite way to communicate with students and families. @Twitter is a great tool for highlighting & sharing the amazing things happening in our classrooms with colleagues and a global community. #RedForEd#NHCSchat
A5: My favorite app to communicate with parents is @BloomzApp! It allows you to message parents directly, ask for donations, post photos, and schedule parent teacher conferences. I couldn't manage my classroom without it! #NHCSchat
A5: Remind is great for communicating. You can also embed your feed into your google site! Same with your twitter feed which is great for those who aren't on those platforms #nhcschat
A4: There are several apps that coincide with spheros and drones...all of which are great for building critical thinking and problem solving skills. #NHCSchat
A5: I also use @wakelet in my Friday emails home to parents. This allows me to put my posts from Twitter and turn it into a newsletter, so parents who do not have Twitter can see my posts. #traskmiddle#nhcschat
A5: I use @RemindHQ to send out text reminders to Ss and parents. They also love it because they can respond to me individually. Students love being able to send me a problem they do not understand and I can walk them through it. #nhcschat#traskmiddle
A5: It’s @Seesaw for the win again! I send messages to families a few times each week with news and/or photos. We also use it to share our work with families. #nhcschat
A5: @Seesaw is a great communication tool for teacher-student, peer-peer, and student-parent! BUT I use @RemindHQ EVERY SINGLE DAY. I have a high ELL population & the translate feature is a life saver! I communicate with my non-English families more than ever. #nhcsChat
A6: My 4th and 5th graders love to use @Venngage to create infographics. The app helps them to share a lot of information in a visually appealing way. We use it to highlight global issues and as evidence to support our TED Talks. #nhcschat@TEDTalks#GlobalCitizen#GlobalGoals
A6: @google Classroom is our new app for this! Ss are learning the tech so they can create their own slideshows, drawings, spreadsheets, ANYTHING! #NHCSchat#GoogleClassroom
A5: I definitely use REMIND as a way to keep in touch with my parents about music events. I also like having access to classroom teachers class dojo. Not only can I communicate with parents, but the teachers as well. #NHCSChat
A3 I used FlipGrid to let students record each other reading children's books, so that we could send the link to a refugee camp in Tanzania. It was a part of our service learning project in 2018; building empathy for others who aren't as fortunate to have access to books. #NHCSc
A6: I'd love to learn more! I currently love @Seesaw for students to share their work. I also love @ChatterPixIt kids! @Flipgrid is also a great tool. I haven't been able to use it yet this school year & have only used it a few times. #NHCSChat#pvttchat
A6: There are so many apps and tools that allow for creating content. Canva is a great app to create posters, infographics, etc. Even Google draw is a great tool for creating content! Other apps include Tinkercad, powtoon, and cospaces! #NHCSchat
A6: Green screen technology is a great way to encourage hesistant writers. Using @DoInkTweets the Ss can retell stories, create digital book reports, and so much more! #nhcschat
A6: If you haven't yet, go sign up for Google's #CSFirst kit. It's completely free, organized by grade level, & perfect for helping kids create content using computer science & coding. Everything ships directly to your classroom in a nicely-packaged box! #NHCSchat@GoogleForEdu
A6 I just had PD Saturday on Seesaw and look forward to using it in my classroom. It gives opportunity for students to create products in a variety of ways (journal responses, drawings, photos, and more!). I am excited to find ways to incorporate it into 5th grade Math!
A6: Really looking forward to trying some 360 creation tools like Roundme and Tour Creator. Also love all the ways you can create in Google Slides and Drawings #nhcschat
A5 I have strategically used ClassDojo as an effective communication tool for parents and students. Specifically, utilizing the "Class Story" portion to post things from anchor charts to school notices to links to videos to help with Math instruction at home.
A1 One of my favorite apps right now is i-Ready because it used to not be available in that format. Now it is easily accessible on i-Pads and tablets, which in turn makes it easier for my students to access it from home.
Q6: I’ve used @StoryboardThat to let students publish comic strips showcasing their knowledge of figurative language. This week my 3rd graders are trying @Google Slides for the first time to teach peers about a specific landform or water feature! #NHCSChat
A7 Like I mentioned earlier, I use Class Dojo extensively and am new to Seesaw, but super-excited to use it. @library_parker is going to do mini-PD with us @FHGES about Seesaw, as she is a Seesaw Ambassador (*shout-out!*)!
A7: So many are great, but @goformative is still a favorite of mine. An amazing formative assessment tool for all ages & subject areas. Best part: @davidwkwan and the team constantly add new features based on feedback from users! #NHCSchat
A7: Currently working towards getting my BeAwesome badges for @ProdigyGame and @EpicKidsBooks. With Prodigy, I can schedule math content (and assessments) for my Ss and connect parents at home. It is the most popular app in my room! #NHCSchat
A7: I have used several of the apps in which you can earn digital learning credit with the badge program! We use Canva to create the promo images for the #nhcschat! Using the Google Apps such as Google docs is great for collaborating! #nhcschat
A7: Last year I used @ChatterPixIt Kids to app smash w @Seesaw. Students took a pic of their Black History Month project & uploaded an image to speak as they shared facts. Then, students uploaded their ChatterPix video to SeeSaw to share with their families. #NHCSChat#pvttchat
A7: I LOVE the BADGES!!!!! I just submitted one last week! I have used @GooseChase and the students loved it! It is a virtual scavenger hunt! I would love to see a badge for @Classkick#nhcschat
A7: Like previously stated, seesaw and class dojo. I’ve also used nearpod before but not recently! My students would seesaw every second of the day if I let them! #nhcschat
I have done a few badges and I started with ones I was most familiar with GoogleDocs and GooglesSheets. As a result of those badges I learned so much more about what they offer and some great add on tools I now can't live without! #nhcschat
A7: I’ll be honest, I haven’t used as many apps as I’d like.@MandiJames2014 has used goose chase and Kahoot! with our staff for review on testing information and it was so fun. And I loved the talking self portraits that @PineValleyArt did with chatter pics last year! #NHCSChat
A7: Goose Chase is one of my favorites! If my #CBSeaStars staff continue to play along with me like they do...they may find themselves in the middle of a faculty Goose Chase before they know it! 😉 #LoveMyJob#LoveMyWorkFamily#NHCSchat
A7: I have 1 badge, and another recently submitted. I wrote down a list of ones that I’m 💯% sure I should already have, and am committed to carving out time to submit one per fortnight! LOVE that our county provides these! #nhcsChat
A8: I haven't yet...but want to try @ChatterPixIt & @Flipgrid for students who are a little shy about recording themselves! Did retell of a book & using @ChatterPixIt would have made Ss more comfortable #NHCSchat
A8: @Seesaw is a great tool for app-smashing. My Ss have used @ChatterPixIt to create talking characters (so many literacy tie-ins!) and added it to their Seesaw journal. Seesaw lets you create a QR code for an interactive experience! #NHCSchat
A7: I love using @ProdigyGame in my classroom. Student love getting on and casting spells. I like that I can assign specific topics for my students to work on. #nhcschat
A8: Google Street View to capture 360 images and then using apps like Storyspheres, Round Me, and Tour Creator to add layers. We've also used Google Drawings to create an image then pulled it into Thinglink to add info #nhcschat
A8: One of my favorite things is to have learners create in @ChatterPixIt then use that as the image that is revealed using @hpreveal Reveal (formerly Aurasma) or to have them share something from their camera roll using @padlet (also an app) #NHCSchat
Agreed again! I’ve switched from iPads to Chromebooks this year and it has been a steep learning curve for me. I haven’t app-smashed this year like I have previously. #NHCSchat
A8: I don’t know about “app-smashing” but I wish students could create a “school only” Facebook account to let parents know what their school day and such things like that through technology! #NHCSCHAT
A7: I have a few Be Awesome! badges and hope to add some more. Goosechase is one I’d like to learn more about this year. Should prob work on that Twitter one too. #NHCSchat
A9: I'll frequently check Twitter or ask any of my colleagues @PineValleyElem if they are using anything new! @MsBrittsClass@mslaurenstroud and myself will chat about things we use in our classroom! Also I learn from our DTLC meetings! #NHCSChat#pvttchat
A9: My go-to for everything education is Twitter! The plc I have with my fellow twitter users is rich with ideas & I steal from them all the time!! (@mrhuntsheroes) #NHCSchat
A9: I'v always checked out apps that students have told me about - they <3 it when it can be incorporated! I also like to look on Twitter, especially to see new ways to use apps that I am already familiar with! Also excited for #DitchSummit starting Dec. 14! #NHCSchat
A8 I'd like to app-smash Seesaw and Chatterpix. I think the possibilities would be endless. Specifically, I would like to see my students explain their mathematical thinking/reasoning in a super-fun way using Seesaw and Chatterpix.
A9 I think our best resource as educators is EACH OTHER! Sharing ideas and resources is how we get better and help others get better. Collaboration is the key to success! If it works for you in your classroom, it could work for someone else in their classroom. SHARE :)
A9: I love seeing what other teachers are doing! I also love reading different blogs! I’m from Washington DC, so it’s fun to see what my teacher friends are doing there also! #NHCSCHAT
A9: I'v always checked out apps that students have told me about - they <3 it when it can be incorporated! I also like to look on Twitter, especially to see new ways to use apps that I am already familiar with! Also excited for #DitchSummit starting Dec. 14! #NHCSchat
I love having @MsTaylorsClass_ and @AshleyBritt519 as our go to technology helpers! I try to use my resources and not be afraid to ask questions of my colleagues who I see using awesome apps in their classroom. #NHCSChat
A9: I became my school’s DTLC member this year & so enjoyed the 1st meeting with @jeannietimken and @bergincolleen. @tmulvey5 and @Kahrs3rdgrade are also my favorite “let’s try it!” peeps. Also, following all of you amazing educators on Twitter inspires so much! #nhcsChat
A10: Yes, there is! I get excited about new ideas all the time, but force myself to evaluate their effectiveness & value. You have to be willing to let go of ones that Ss are not getting enough out of & switch if needed. #NHCSchat
A10: I try to make sense of it all by organizing apps into groups based on their primary purpose - communicating, creating, image making/editing, coding, etc. Curating the resources in this way helps me to find the tool that best supports my learning goal. #nhcschat
A10: Look at whether it meets one or more of the following: creativity, collaboration, critical thinking, communication, citizenship, etc. Also, look at the lesson you have - which app would work best for the lesson/activity? #NHCSchat
A10: I believe it is okay to try new things, but not too many at one time. It is best to be great at one or two and do them well versus having a bunch. It can be overwhelming for students and their families along with yourself! #NHCSChat#pvttchat
A10: Start with the STANDARDS. Use the content you are teaching to guide your app choice. And if you're unsure of what app would enhance your instruction, use @Twitter to ask other #NHCSchat colleagues for help!
A10: definitely pick the app that you think will work for your class and that they can get the most out of. Also pick apps that will interest them. Let them become familiar with one app before introducing another one! #NHCSCHAT
A10: Choices depend on the comfort level of the teacher and student. Does that app assist with student learning? That is always the main goal for using any digital tool #nhcschat
A10 Start by choosing an app that interest you, would interest your students, while also increasing rigor and engagement. Then just try it! Technology is meant to enhance instruction. Also utilize the resources (people, especially!) that can help you implement it.
Can I just say I completed this chat with my toddler pulling at my arm the ENTIRE time! I’m sure I had words spelled wrong and everything lol! #nhcschat
A9 I think our best resource as educators is EACH OTHER! Sharing ideas and resources is how we get better and help others get better. Collaboration is the key to success! If it works for you in your classroom, it could work for someone else in their classroom. SHARE :)
A10: My choices are normally based on two main criteria: does it increase student engagement and does it efficiently deliver or enhance my curriculum. 🙌🏼 #holla#NHCSchat
A10: There are so many great tools out there, but I think being a beginner I need to find one or two new apps I can use successfully in my classroom. Start small and add more once I can use them meaningfully in my instruction. #NHCSChat
A10: I think it all depends on your students. I am never afraid to try something one time. If it doesn’t work with my current group of Ss I will just put it away until next year. #nhcschat
So glad you could join us tonight. Be sure to join us on January 9 for the next #NHCSchat when we’ll be chatting about trying new strategies in the new year! https://t.co/JMNEHu1WD9
A10: I always think about what we are learning and how we are going to show what we’ve learned and then backwards map my app choices from there. I find that a few do me pretty well. #NHCSchat
