Media Updates - Week of January 11

Student Devices - home care

Please take time this week to talk with your students about being responsible with their devices while at home. Students can keep their devices safe by doing the following:

• closing device while moving it from one place to another.
• carrying device with two hands. 
• setting device down on a flat service where it cannot easily fall (ie. not near the edge.)
• storing device and charger in a safe place away from pets, younger siblings, etc. 
• being careful about placing device in a book bag. (Device is easily broken when bag is dropped.)

We are fortunate to have replacement devices, but our supply is quickly diminishing as devices are being broken. Thanks for your help!

Student Devices - when back at school

As students come back into the building, let me know if a student needs a device to use daily at school. (This would be students who have a device at home, but cannot bring it to school.) 

If students are borrowing an Underwood device to use only at school, the device is labeled with blue tape. These devices are to stay in the classroom. If a student is no longer using a device, please turn it in to the media center. 

Destiny Collections

Elizabeth has put together some AMAZING resource collections that can be found on Destiny Discover. To locate, go to Follett (Destiny) on Rapid Identity. On Destiny Discover, scroll to the bottom of the page.  Click here for a tutorial.

Recent collections include Black-focused literature and award winners. Check it out and share with your students! 

Book Checkout

Continue to encourage your students to check out library books....let's keep improving our circulation numbers! For instructions - Underwood Book/eBook Checkout. Consider sharing this document in your Morning Meeting, during ELA, or on your Classroom. Elizabeth and Andrea are always willing to join you class to share the book checkout process. Email us to schedule a time.

Lunch and Learn  - Wednesdays 11:30 - 12:30

Lunch & Learn sessions include a mini lesson, work time with DLC assistance, and time for questions and discussion. Participate live or watch a recorded session. All session recordings and materials are posted here - https://bit.ly/3i4bcJx  

This week's topic is Student Engagement through Station Rotation. It is facilitated by Tanya Churchill, Jennifer Underhill, and  Kurt Hurelbrink.

Known Screen sharing issue in Meets

When presenter clicks on "Share this tab instead", he is being kicked out of the share screen feature completely. There are also instances where students only see the letter of the presenter's name and not the screen being shared. 

WCPSS and Google are aware of this issue, which is being caused by the latest Chrome OS update. They are working on a fix.

Media Updates - Week of December 7

Book Fair

Continue to talk about the Book Fair with your students and families. Please share the Mission Possible Book Fair 2020 website in your communications this week - bit.ly/UnderwoodBookFair2020. Also, consider showing the Book Fair intro video to your class ...this will help to build excitement.  Students will need to create an account with their families in order to browse or shop. 

It's not too late to create a wish list! For detailed information on creating your teacher wish list, participating in Moonlight Reading, and other fun activities - Mission Possible Book Fair 2020 Staff Info. 

Let's keep Moonlight Reading alive! All staff and students are invited to record themselves reading a favorite picture book or chapter from a book.   Moonlight Reading Flipgrid   A BIG shout out to Ms. McKenna for being the first person to record a read-a-loud!

Circulation

We have settled into a routine with our new "curbside pick up" circulation procedures. Books reserved by Tuesdays at noon can be picked up on Thursdays from 8:00am to 4:00pm (virtual and remote students) or will be delivered on Thursdays (to at school students).

If you would like for Andrea or Elizabeth to visit your class to help your students check out books, please reach out. 

For more information - check out books remotely  Regular books eBook instructions

Everything Book Fair!

Our Book Fair runs from Nov. 30 - Dec. 11. We are SO FORTUNATE to have Megan DeLong and her hardworking Book Fair team, who have creatively and thoughtfully planned a virtual book fair for our Underwood community. Like everything else this year, the format is new, but there are many of our traditions intertwined. As always, the goal of the Underwood Book Fair is to encourage the love of reading in our school family. 

Please share the Mission Possible Book Fair 2020 website with your students and families - bit.ly/UnderwoodBookFair2020.    There are fun activities that involve staff members, students, and families. (Hint....need something for your last week of electives? Check out the "Just for Fun" and "Moonlight Reading" activities.) 

For detailed information on creating your teacher wish list, participating in Moonlight Reading, and other fun activities - Mission Possible Book Fair 2020 Staff Info

Please contact Megan (blumeg3@gmail.com) with any questions. 

Media/Tech Updates Week of November 23

 Media/Library Updates

Due to the Thanksgiving Holiday, eBooks are your only checkout option for next week-What a great time to ‘check-that-out’ 

eBook Titles include: ‘Big Nate’, ‘Harry Potter’ ‘Diary of a Wimpy Kid’ ‘Last Stop on Market Street’, ‘Weird But Trues’ and many, many others-

Monday, 11/30/2020 resumes the hard copy library book check out. Please check out books remotely We have great new titles and old favorites- It’s easy to do, and it’s FREE!  Regular books and eBook instructions 

Keep your eyes open for information on the 

1st ever Virtual Book Fair 

Nov. 30-Dec. 11th

(the Bookfair MUST go on)

The Media Center is closed for in-person circulation

All books will be checked out through the Remote Holds/Pick Up process

Questions? Email Mrs. Mankin emankin@wcpss.net or Mrs.Trowell atrowell@wcpss.net 

Media/Tech Updates - Week of November 16

Not able to see participants in Meet?

Suggestions from WCPSS...

• Restart (not just shut down) laptop daily
• Do not use Meet related Chrome extensions (ie. Grid View, etc.)
• Restart (not just shut down) laptop daily
• Check for Chrome Updates - Tutorial
• And, did I mention....restart (not just shut down) laptop daily

Reminders for Students coming back on Plan B this week

https://bit.ly/36sLhG9   Includes info on....

• tech office hours
• Chromebooks for students in school
• connecting to Guest wifi
• BYOD

#MissionPossible Book Fair COMING SOON! 

Mark your calendars for November 30 - December 11 for our virtual Book Fair.  We are looking for staff members to record virtual read-a-louds. Please consider recording yourself reading a book for our Moonlight Reading night. Info coming soon!

Media Updates - Week of November 2

Reminders for Cohort B

Info to get you started with Cohort B in school.

Google Updates are Here (officially!)

Breakouts, polls, and more! Here is the info from WCPSS - Using Google Meet for Remote Learning

If you do not have full functionality of the upgrades, make sure that you are doing a Restart (not just Shut Down) daily so that WCPSS updates are pushed out to your device. 

What if a student forgets his/her device from home?

Chromebooks can be loaned out for a day on a limited basis. If a student comes to school without a device, email Andrea and Elizabeth before 10:00am. A Chromebook will be cleaned, charged, labeled, and delivered for you student. The Chromebook will be picked up at 2:30. 

If a student forgets their device, please help them to problem solve ways to remember their device each day. ***If a student forgets their device more than twice, we will need to reach out to the parent(s).

Media Collaboration

Please let me know if you or your grade level are interested in collaborating. Some ideas - email instructions and etiquette, any digital literacy topics, digital portfolios, eWise research model, team work protocols, STEAM activities, etc. I am available to plan together, to create lessons for you, to collect resources, or to teach lessons. 

Media Tech Updates - week of October 26

Mrs. Trowell's Tech Help Office Hours

I will no longer be available full time to assist with technology. Please note my Tech Help Office Hours: 

8:00am - 8:50am Tuesday - Thursday             10:00am - 10:50am Monday - Friday

I will be using these times to respond to tech related emails, texts, and heat tickets. The best way to get help with a device or internet issue is to submit a heat ticket (icon found on Rapid Identity). I will be checking these during Tech Office Hours and passing those I cannot solve onto tech services.  

Please direct parents to contact the help desk if they are having issues -  https://www.wcpss.net/GuidesToTechnology - scroll down to "Contact the Help Desk." Again, I will see the ticket and solve what I can and pass the others onto tech services.

If you are having a tech issue, this blog is a great starting place to quickly find information. You can either search topics or click on a label.  

I ask for your patience as I adjust to a new teaching schedule while continuing my responsibilities as tech contact.

Chromebooks for Plan B Students while in school

• Only students who are on the device list will have a Chromebook assigned for the week. 
• Borrowed Chromebooks and chargers stay at school.
• We will not be giving out Chromebooks at the last minute (ie. xxxx forgot his device today.) 
• Email me if there is student who needs a device at school. 
• Chromebooks for students who have requested a device while at school will be distributed on Monday between 8:30-9:00. 
• Borrowed Chromebooks need to placed outside your doors by Friday at 2:30. 
• Chromebooks will have a charger; both the device and charger will be labeled. 

BYOD

• Info for connecting wcpssguest
• Students who bring their own device need BYOD permission. I will be taking care of this.
• REMINDER: Only the student is allowed to touch his/her device. Staff members are not to touch students' personal devices. 

Smartboards

If your laptop is not connecting to your Smartboard, please let me know. We are ordering new HDMI cords.

Google Meet and Classroom features

https://bit.ly/31OidaL  Includes separate videos for student view and for teacher view.

I have not heard officially from WCPSS about using the new features (remember that they were pushed out to us from Google earlier than planned). Just know that they may still have bugs and are not yet fully reliable.