Betty’s Bytes

Do you need a warm-up, introductory, or review activity for a unit? Do you want to engage your students using technology? Use Wordle to create a graphic of words. It is fun, easy to do, and engaging! Visit the Wordle site http://wordle.net/create; cut and paste or type words and VOILA! you have a graphic of vocabulary words. If you have cut and pasted from a document, the more often the words are used in the document, the larger the words appear in the graphic. Then for fun, allow the students to use the features to change the fonts, colors, backgrounds, etc.

I awoke this morning remembering September 11, 2001; I feel blessed to have the technology and the tools to share the following message of peace on the anniversary of such a tragic and violent day in our history.

Our students undoubtedly learn more in a peaceful environment. Share this site HeartMath – Peace Day with all your colleagues, family, friends, and foes.

Peace and love to all.

This Vision of Students video was published a year ago and remains relevant. Are you using PowerPoint as the new chalkboard? Do you believe that using PowerPoint every day is engaging your students in learning? Are you still the center of the classroom? Are your students ACTIVELY engaged or just listening to you? STOP! LOOK! LISTEN! Engage your students! Have your students make the multimedia presentations, and, PLEASE, do not limit them to PowerPoint.

What a powerful way to begin the school year! Will your students have the same level of confidence as this young man? Do you believe in your students? Do you believe that you can make a difference? Take the time to view this video; it may change the lives of the young men and women who are entering your classrooms today! Click here to view the video.