Page Turning Software

Have you ever wanted to turn one of your PDF documents into a cool page-turning book? Well, now you can! And it's completely free. I was asked by my school to find a way to turn our back-to-school brochure and professional development catalog into a page-turning document. After doing some research, I was about to give up on ever finding free software that worked with PDF files, but today I found Issuu. This site is extremely easy to navigate, allows you to edit your documents online, share your documents with friends, add advanced features and embed your document directly onto your own website.

You can page through the document using the thumbnail that is on your site, or you can click on the center of the document to launch it full screen for easier reading. As one of the reviewers said, "It's like the YouTube of the book world!"

Here is a sample of what Issuu can do:

Open publication - Free publishing - More brochure

KONY 2012

Our school had an assembly today and shared this video with the entire student body. The more people who know about this, the better are our chances of finding Joseph Kony and stopping his crimes against humanity.

Technology at Roosevelt Intermediate School

Recently I was asked by my district to create a video using my students to showcase the many different ways we use technology at my school. I am very proud of these students for writing their own scripts and taking time out of their day to help create this film!! This will be part of a series of videos that will appear on our local television station - TV36.

One of my favorite projects that my 8th graders create is the "Music Video". Students select a song that they like and print the lyrics for it. Then they find images that reflect the words or create their own images using Adobe Photoshop Elements. Then using Adobe Premiere Elements, they insert all of the pictures on one track and the song on another track. The hard part comes when they have to time the images so they align perfectly with the words of the song. Once that's completed, students add transitions and effects. Watch a sample above and to see more go to my Music Video Page.

The world has lost a passionate and inspirational man. Steve Jobs will leave a legacy that will be remembered for generations to come. Rest in peace.

Woodshop Meets Computer Class

Last year our woodshop teacher offered the staff at my school the opportunity to work with one of her students to create a special project. I partnered with an 8th grade student, Zoe, who created a wall plaque for outside my classroom. It is an exact replica of a computer keyboard (with a few exceptions) with my name on the "monitor". Of course, it has a heart above the "i" and a pointer just like the one you see on the computer when using the mouse. I am so grateful to Zoe for all her hard work. Everyone who walks by my room and all the students who enter my classroom comment on how beautiful the plaque is. Thank you, Zoe!!! Here is a close-up picture:

Using Surveys for Pre-Assessment

Recently, I began using surveys to pre-assess my 6th grade students.  The students come from three different elementary schools and I have noticed that their computer experiences vary depending on the school and the teacher they had. By using SurveyMonkey, I was able to determine which software programs my students were familiar with, what tools they knew within each program, their keyboarding skills, and the type of websites and search engines they utilized in school. Using the results of my survey, I can spend more time teaching new skills rather than re-teaching something my students are already familiar with.

It's very easy to create a survey. Question types include multiple choice, text boxes, rating scales, drop-down menus and more. There are many different backgrounds to choose from, too. When your survey is completed, you can stop collecting responses, analyze the results, and use this in your classroom to enhance your instruction.

The Teacher's Handbook

September signifies the beginning of the year for me - not January! As a teacher, I enjoy my summer but always look forward to meeting my new 6th grade students and welcoming back my 7th and 8th graders. I also begin each school year with a renewed vigor and determination to be the best teacher I can be.

A colleague of mine, Dr. John Hrevnack, has written an excellent book for first year teachers, but this book can also provide ideas and encouragement for any teacher. The Teacher’s Handbook provides a foundation for those entering the teaching profession. It emphasizes the development of the lesson plan, unit plan, and classroom management through the integration of theory with practice. 

Here's to a great school year!

The Last 18 Years in Rap

This video was produced by Flocabulary using Vimeo
Congratulations to all graduates of 2011.
The Last 18 Years in Rap 1993-2011 from Flocabulary on Vimeo.

Videography in Education

Videography

View more presentations from pfriedman729.

This is the presentation from the Montclair State University Classroom Reset Conference on May 20, 2011.