Good morning.
Very very short and to the point this morning. YouTube. Yes, YouTube. If you only use it for fun then you are missing a HUGE opportunity. Personally, I have over one hundred lectures I have done over the years. I post these for my kids on every chapter that we do. There are usually 3-5 videos per chapter. Now why do I do this? Simple, where I teach we literally have NO time to actually lecture anymore. Classes are just too short. By the time the kids get settled, roll has been taken, something to take notes with has been handed out to over half my students, there literally is about 15 minutes to lecture. And then when you consider the time I have to take repeating myself, spelling words like Pericles, it turns into about eight minutes. So what do I do? I record the lectures and the kids are suppose to watch them at their convenience. They can rewind, they can take notes, twenty-fours hours a day, seven days a week. I never stop teaching. Greatest thing ever. So, YouTube, it's not just for watching kitties fight anymore.
http://www.youtube.com/ When you get there just type in Coach Apperson in the search bar. I am the first thing that pops up.
Thanks,
Coach App
Friday, January 24, 2014
Thursday, January 16, 2014
Study Blue
Good morning. As with the last post this post will be quite short. I actually made a video for my kids that I will just link to this post.
Study Blue....this is an app that I have been using now for over four years. It has just gotten better over time. For the most part you need to be on a desktop or I-Pad to have the full range of usage but a smart phone is great for just reviewing with flashcards that you make. As a parent it is a wonderful tool that you can use to personally set up quizzes in about five minutes that you can use to help your student. It's just one of many, Quizlet is another that comes to mind but I am only posting about things I have used for the first couple of weeks. After that I may do research if people ask me about something I don't know about.
Please note that my videos are made for my students, not the parents. I act goofy, I speak quickly, I move at a level that keeps THEM entertained. Well, hopefully.
Study Blue....this is an app that I have been using now for over four years. It has just gotten better over time. For the most part you need to be on a desktop or I-Pad to have the full range of usage but a smart phone is great for just reviewing with flashcards that you make. As a parent it is a wonderful tool that you can use to personally set up quizzes in about five minutes that you can use to help your student. It's just one of many, Quizlet is another that comes to mind but I am only posting about things I have used for the first couple of weeks. After that I may do research if people ask me about something I don't know about.
Please note that my videos are made for my students, not the parents. I act goofy, I speak quickly, I move at a level that keeps THEM entertained. Well, hopefully.
Monday, January 13, 2014
Edmodo
Good Morning.
My post this morning will be short and to the point. It will be such as I have actually created a video for those parents that are truly interested.
The site I want to talk about today is called Edmodo. I have been using Edmodo for the last three years. It appears to finally be catching on as I know the Grand Prairie ISD requires basically all work to be done via this site. Edmodo is a teacher/student/parent website/app in that order of importance. I use it to communicate and get info to my kids. The kids use it pretty much like a textbook if they are savvy. The parents use it to monitor how much their kids actually work. Pretty simple.
Now again, if you are interested I made an 11 minute video for the kids to see how it works, for parents just watch the first five and you will get an idea of how to better monitor your student. Now, in the beginning I give a code on how to log in, please don't try and do that. I made this video years ago and that was how you got into the class then. I have evolved since then and now the classes are divided up and each parent would have their own code to follow their own student. Just sayin, there is always one who tries to actually log in and then messages me that they can't get in. Click on the link to watch the video if interested.
My post this morning will be short and to the point. It will be such as I have actually created a video for those parents that are truly interested.
The site I want to talk about today is called Edmodo. I have been using Edmodo for the last three years. It appears to finally be catching on as I know the Grand Prairie ISD requires basically all work to be done via this site. Edmodo is a teacher/student/parent website/app in that order of importance. I use it to communicate and get info to my kids. The kids use it pretty much like a textbook if they are savvy. The parents use it to monitor how much their kids actually work. Pretty simple.
Now again, if you are interested I made an 11 minute video for the kids to see how it works, for parents just watch the first five and you will get an idea of how to better monitor your student. Now, in the beginning I give a code on how to log in, please don't try and do that. I made this video years ago and that was how you got into the class then. I have evolved since then and now the classes are divided up and each parent would have their own code to follow their own student. Just sayin, there is always one who tries to actually log in and then messages me that they can't get in. Click on the link to watch the video if interested.
Sunday, January 12, 2014
Skyward
For my first post I am going to briefly discuss an app called Skyward. Now let me clarify, I am going to call just about all things that help out an app, even if they don't have an actual I-phone or android app. I just happen to know Skyward does have an app because I use it everyday on my phone to take roll in class.
Now why is Skyward my first post? Well let's just cut to the chase. If as a parent you don't care about your child's grades then you are not even going to read this in the first place...but....if you do care you might not know just how informed you can be. You might email the teacher daily, ask your kids how his grades are, etc. Now if your child is one of mine they know EXACTLY how to answer your questions. Why? Because the first week of school I show them this. I find it funny to see the kids out in the hall "checking" their grades. I always ask, does your teacher NOT show you how to look this stuff up? All of my tests are taken online via the Skyward method. Yes, kids can look up the answers. Sadly though here is the kicker. Many of my kids actually end up NEVER using this great tool that is offered. Why? Because their parents don't know.
As a parent you have your own access to your kids grades/assignments, absences, and many other things. No more emailing the teacher for grades. When a grade is entered the grade is updated instantly. You can see all the assignments. Parents in my classes can click a link that shows them all of the quizzes/test I have up and running and when they are due. It really is a pretty good app for the informed parent. Take the first step. Email the counselor. Ask for you parent log in. Do it and start playing around with it. You can't hurt anything. You can only SEE things, you can't actually take things like the test/quizzes that teachers like me put online. Why? Because those are sent to the STUDENT, not the parent.
So, what are you waiting for. I am attaching a link to the help page. Have a good time.
http://www.wfisd.net/cms/lib/TX01000557/Centricity/Domain/1/FamilyAccessInstructions.pdf
Coach Apperson
Now why is Skyward my first post? Well let's just cut to the chase. If as a parent you don't care about your child's grades then you are not even going to read this in the first place...but....if you do care you might not know just how informed you can be. You might email the teacher daily, ask your kids how his grades are, etc. Now if your child is one of mine they know EXACTLY how to answer your questions. Why? Because the first week of school I show them this. I find it funny to see the kids out in the hall "checking" their grades. I always ask, does your teacher NOT show you how to look this stuff up? All of my tests are taken online via the Skyward method. Yes, kids can look up the answers. Sadly though here is the kicker. Many of my kids actually end up NEVER using this great tool that is offered. Why? Because their parents don't know.
As a parent you have your own access to your kids grades/assignments, absences, and many other things. No more emailing the teacher for grades. When a grade is entered the grade is updated instantly. You can see all the assignments. Parents in my classes can click a link that shows them all of the quizzes/test I have up and running and when they are due. It really is a pretty good app for the informed parent. Take the first step. Email the counselor. Ask for you parent log in. Do it and start playing around with it. You can't hurt anything. You can only SEE things, you can't actually take things like the test/quizzes that teachers like me put online. Why? Because those are sent to the STUDENT, not the parent.
So, what are you waiting for. I am attaching a link to the help page. Have a good time.
http://www.wfisd.net/cms/lib/TX01000557/Centricity/Domain/1/FamilyAccessInstructions.pdf
Coach Apperson
Salutations
Good morning. My name is Kyle Apperson. Those that know me call me Coach App. Had I really been intelligent I would have copyrighted my name, I have been called App since first grade and I do believe that is what they called my dad. My son somehow also got the name, though while at Rider the football coaches called him Lil App to me. Anyway, enough history. I teach at Rider and am going to start a blog to help my parents, not my kids. My class is World History. I do not teach the regular way. I use technology. I use apps. When a student of mine has an issue I do my best to accomodate them. For the child with dyslexia, my class is perfect. No better class than mine for the kid on ADHD medications. I can go on and on but why is it perfect? Technology. But many of my students DON'T take advantage of it. Why? Well in my opinion it's because the parents themselves don't know about all that is available. My goal is to help those parents that truly care about their child's education help their kids out at home. Once a parent learns about all the teaching apps that are available they can easily set up quizzes, tests, assignments that will help their kids study at home and learn. Now obviously this is not for everyone, and yes I do have a class set of books in my room for those that don't have the internet. But for those that want to help their kid learn they way their kid actually is doing things these days, and had better be doing in order to be successful in today's business, well then hopefully you jump on board and help them out. From what I have witnessed over the years, it is not usually the teacher, class size, building, or anything else that makes a kid successful in school, it is the fact they have someone at home who monitors their work. Now this is just my observation after eight years of teaching, and just my opinion, nothing else.
My future posts will be about things I personally use. There is obviously going to be a myriad of things that I don't use that you might have a question about. Feel free to ask and if I don't know I probably can find out pretty quickly and I will try and respond. I am also available to come actually tutor parents. All you would need is an email, a computer/laptop, phone, and I will come set your stuff up for you and walk you through what to do. Then after that you just play around with stuff. You won't hurt anything playing around with educations apps. Rarely do they ask for a credit card or stuff like that, they just need an email to sign you up.
Now on a side note, please don't hammer my writing skills. They are lacking and I know this, but I teach history, not English.
My future posts will be about things I personally use. There is obviously going to be a myriad of things that I don't use that you might have a question about. Feel free to ask and if I don't know I probably can find out pretty quickly and I will try and respond. I am also available to come actually tutor parents. All you would need is an email, a computer/laptop, phone, and I will come set your stuff up for you and walk you through what to do. Then after that you just play around with stuff. You won't hurt anything playing around with educations apps. Rarely do they ask for a credit card or stuff like that, they just need an email to sign you up.
Now on a side note, please don't hammer my writing skills. They are lacking and I know this, but I teach history, not English.
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