Educator Alexander's Newsletter
JUNE NEWS
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๐๐ฅSOOOO MANY UPCOMING EVENTS๐ฅ๐
ANNOUNCEMENTS
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**********JULY WEBINARS**********
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๐ THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW
Pizza Hut BOOK IT Program is Back!!!! Teachers, Enroll Your Classes Now!
Are you a teacher or homeschool family with PreK - 6th grade students? If so, you can enroll your students in our program, which runs from October 1st to March 31st.
Students earn a Pizza Hut Personal Pan Pizzaยฎ for reading each month and the program is totally free!
Share this info with teachers and homeschool families to encourage them to enroll for this fall! Learn more at bit.ly/36fJ9oJ
A Double-Edged Sword: How Diverse Communities of Young People Think About the Multifaceted Relationship Between Social Media and Mental Health from Common Sense Education
The connection between social media and young people's mental health is a big focus for those trying to end the youth mental health crisis. Our new report in partnership with @hopelab / @hopelab_org reveals that social media continues to be a double-edged sword for young people โ connecting them to support and relief, but also exposing them to stressful content that makes them feel worse.
The good news? Young people are working to make their social media feeds healthier places to be, but they admit they can't do it alone. We can all work together to make social media a safer, healthier place for young people to be โ through more research, education, and legislation.
Read our full report:
www.commonsense.org/youth-perspectives-social-media-mental-health
Flip is Gone ๐ญ Message from Microsoft...
Starting July 1, Flip will no longer be available in mobile app stores, and our web site on Flip.com will go into view-only mode. While you will no longer be able to create new groups, topics or videos after this date, you will still have access to download your Flip videos through September 30.
If you are not already using Teams for Education, visit this page and click "sign up for free". Once downloaded and set up for your classroom, you can easily share video assignments and messages with students and receive video responses using the Flip camera. This saves educators time having to onboard to Flip outside of the Microsoft 365 ecosystem, and it enhances the already rich classroom management toolset available for our Teams for Education users.
Full announcement: https://static.flip.com/email-assets/Flip-June2024-email.pdf
Padlet: Solution for Flip Going Away
Thanks for testing it. We learn and improve with every import. There are fewer bugs now. The largest import so far was over 3GB and took less than 3 minutes to upload.
Screencastify: Solution for Flip Going Away
Weโre reaching out in hopes of offering a helping hand in light of Flipโs decision to retire their web and mobile apps outside of Microsoft this week.
We understand that transitions like these can sometimes be challenging, and want to remind you that you have access to our student video assignment product: Submit!
We invite you to explore Submit, which is a fast, secure, and easy way for teachers to enable students to record and submit videos.
How Submit can help:
- Prioritize student voice: help students practice skills and gain confidence
- Save time by replacing in-class assessments with oral assessments in Submit
- Check in with students and connect more one-to-one
- Build a student portfolio over time
Check out our demo for a walkthrough of how it works!
Key features:
- Students record in their browserโnothing to download or install!
- Use our Google Classroom integration to share directly to Google Classroom
- Choose what kind of video you want students to record (screen, webcam, or both!)
- Control whether or not students can see their own videos and/or each otherโs videos
- Rotating, calendar-relevant assignment templates to spark ideas
- Easy grading workflows and grade export
Kick Off a Summer Learning Adventure โ๏ธ with PBS LearningMedia
Why Do Summer Days Have More Daylight?
Thursday, June 20 marks the first day of summer! Using this interactive lesson, your students can develop models of the Earth-Sun system and demonstrate their understanding of how the Sun illuminates the hemispheres differently during summer and winter. The context and data sources provide evidence that explains why summer days have more daylight than winter days.
Printables: Play Nature Bingo with PBS KIDS
Get your early learners outdoors and using their observational skills! This printable activity packet is the perfect way to keep your students engaged during the final weeks of school โ and doubles as a great at-home learning packet for families over the summer break. From nature bingo to an outdoor scavenger hunt, thereโs sure to be an activity thatโll entice any curious young scientist. These activities are also available in Spanish!
Explore the Seasonal Science of Hurricanes
Hurricane season is just around the corner! But why do hurricanes get their own season? Use this short video to explain the nature of this extreme storm and introduce your students to the factors that affect our weather โ like temperature, air pressure, moisture, and wind.
Explore More PBS LearningMedia Resources
- Why Are Cicadas So Good at Math? (6-12)
- Is Your Sunscreen Hurting Coral Reefs? (6-12)
- Explore Backyard Nature with Dinosaur Train (PreK-K)
- Science Crafts for Kids: Paint with Nature! (PreK-2)
- Why on Earth Are Winters Getting Worse if the Planet is Getting Warmer? (6-12)
- Explore America Outdoors with Baratunde Thurston (6-12)
LAST Google Innovator Academy Applications Open Now and Due in JULY 16
Seesaw Connect 2024 on August 2-3, 2024
Seesaw Connect is an inspiring virtual conference that fosters professional growth and energizes teachers and administrators for the school year. Donโt miss out on engaging keynotes and educator stories, interactive workshops, networking opportunities, 25+ PD hoursโand a chance to win over $6,000 in door prizes! Connect is free for all attendees. Register to join us live or access the sessions on-demand.
Kami Free for New Customers for the Rest of the Year
Get Kami free for the rest of the school year for new customers only. Valid till July 31st 2024! Find out more here!
IDEAcon Call for Proposals Due August 5
It's here! The IDEAcon 2025 Call for Proposals is now open. What creative, innovative, practical, or foundational ideas do you have to share with other educators? We want to hear them! With an audience of teachers, administrators, educational coaches, tech integrators, tech directors, and librarians, there's room for educators in all roles to share their ideas. Submit your proposal today at https://ideail.org/IDEAcon2025CFP!
Educator Alexander Consulting Provides FREE Google Training for Your District Through Google's EPSO
You may be wondering what districts are eligible and how to redeem this offer?
To learn more about the offer, check out this one-pager or this site. Still undecided? Review the quantifiable benefits and cost savings enabled by Education Plus here.
Eligibility Requirements:
Customers purchasing Education Plus for the first time
Customers upgrading to Education Plus who did not own Education Plus licenses as of Jan 1, 2024
Transition renewals moving from legacy G Suite Enterprise for Education on a price lock (purchased in 2020) to Education Plus
How it works
Purchase Education Plus licenses for your full domain
500 license minimum
Choose your services by filling out this form
Select PD and/or IT services. Learn more about each here: goo.gle/education-plus-offer
Within 30 days of receiving email approval from Google, connect with Educator Alexander Consulting to schedule your services.
Services do not have to be redeemed within 30 days, just scheduled / on the calendar
EDUCATOR ALEXANDER CONSULTING is an approved provider for these services! Choose us and we can provide your FREE training!
TCEA TECH BLOG GOODIES
PREPARING FOR NEW ADA DIGITAL ACCESSIBILITY STANDARDS
UNLEASH YOUR IPHONEโS HIDDEN POWER: FIVE NINJA MOVES!
LEVERAGING NEXT-GEN TOOLS FOR EDUCATION 4.0
WHERE IS YOUR DISTRICT ON IMPLEMENTING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE?
ENGAGE AND CONNECT: FUN SUMMER ACTIVITIES FOR STUDENTS USING GOOSECHASE
STORY BINS: THE VIRTUAL EDITION
EDUAIDE AND MAGICSCHOOL: COMPARE TWO TOP AI TOOLS FOR TEACHERS
โ๐๐๐5 Minute Tips of the Month
๐ฅ Webinars of the Month
๐ FREE Extension of the Month
This extension allows you to save items to your Google Keep with the click of one button.
๐ป ๐ฑ Tech Certification of the Month
๐ซMICROSOFT SUPPORT
Educators Can Get Office 365 for FREE
๐ Google Updates
A Couple More Google Updates
To Stay Updated, Watch ALL Here or EDU in 90: The Latest Episode: Product Updates & Tips - May 2024
Learn about how weโre bringing Gemini for Google Workspace to education communities with two new paid add-ons and how weโre adding more data protections for schools using Gemini, free of charge.
What we announced at Google I/O
Meet LearnLM: our new family of models fine-tuned for learning, and grounded in educational research to make teaching and learning experiences more active, personal and engaging.
Celebrating educators everywhere this Teacher Appreciation Week
This Teacher Appreciation Week, we thank educators everywhere who foster resilience, and inspire young minds in and outside of the classroom. Meet 2024 National Teacher of the Year, Missy Testerman, and her open letter of strength and togetherness for teachers everywhere.
Product News
See you at ISTE 2024
Join us at booth 1424 in the ISTE expo hall to see the latest in Google for Education solutions including the latest Chromebook Plus devices, Google Workspace for Education and ChromeOS demos, and plenty of swag to go around!
Educator Resources
Stay Connected Over Summer Break with Applied Digital Skills
Our Stay Connected Over Summer Break Collection features engaging lessons that include creating a digital scrapbook, a vision board and much more. While on summer break, this collection helps students learn valuable digital skills while having fun!
Teacher Approved apps to foster kids' mental well-being
Check out this collection of high-quality Teacher Approved apps curated by Child Mind Institute. Kids can find a variety of breathing, movement, mindfulness activities, as well as fun, interactive stories and games to support their mental health and well-being.
8 Google Classroom Tips Every Teacher Should Know
Google Classroom offers a suite of tools for teachers to tailor lessons, engage students, monitor progress, and provide support.
๐กSee Me Here
Click on the pictures below for more information and to register and find more information such as dates, times, room numbers and links to register HERE.
๐ฏ FREEBIES
โ๏ธ Commenting to Educator Alexander
Dr. Desiree Alexander, Educator Alexander Consulting
Dr. Desiree Alexander is an award-winning, multi-degreed educator, speaker, and author who has been in the educational field since 2002. She is the Founder CEO of Educator Alexander Consulting, LLC and the Deputy Director for the Associated Professional Educators of Louisiana. She consults with members of several schools/businesses and presents at conferences globally.
Dr. Alexander is lifetime certified in Louisiana in Secondary English Education, as a Reading Specialist, as a School Librarian, as an Educational Technology Facilitator, as an Educational Technology Leader and in Educational Leadership 1. She is certified in Texas as a Principal, in English Language Arts and Reading for grades 4-8 and grades 8-12, as a Reading Specialist for grades EC-12, and as a School Librarian. She holds multiple technology certifications, including, but not limited to, IC3 certification, Google Certified Trainer, Innovator and Partner, Apple Teacher, and Microsoft Office Specialists.
She holds a Bachelor, a Master + 30, and an Education Specialist Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Louisiana State University, a Master of Library Science from Texas Womanโs University and a Master of Educational Leadership with a concentration in Educational Technology Leadership from Nicholls State University. She also holds a Doctorate in Education with a concentration in Educational Leadership from Lamar University.
She is the author of Ready to Be an Educational Leader: Your Guide for Passing the SLLA 6990, the 2024 Common Sense Ambassador of the Year, a 2024 Illinois Digital Educators Alliance Conference (IDEAcon) Thought Leader, 2023 Louisiana Association of Computer Using Educators (LACUE) Conference Featured Speaker, 2022 & 2021 Texas Computer Education Association Conference (TCEA) Featured Thought Leader, 2020 International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) Featured Voice, 2020 Future of Education Technology Conference (FETC) Featured Presenter, 2019 Customer Commitment Award Honoree from Better Business Bureau's (BBB) Torch Awards for Ethics, a 2019 Shreveport National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) Mover and Shaker, a 2017 Young Professional Initiative 40 Under 40 Awards Honoree, 2017 Center for Digital Education Top 30 Technologists, Transformers & Trailblazers, 2017 Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) Learning Media Digital Innovator for Louisiana, 2016 Associated Professional Educators of Louisiana Member of the Year, 2015 Librarian of the Year for Louisiana Librarian Association, 2015 Campus Teacher of the Year in the Zachary Community School District and 2014 Leader of the Year for Region 2 Louisiana Association of Computer Using Educators.
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