Flash, you served us well, delivering Reading Challenges for the past several years, but it’s time to bring a new partner into the world of TCI Subscriptions. Coming this summer, we’re welcoming HTML5. What does this mean for you?
1) Full iPad compatibility for Student Subscriptions. Reading Challenges, text tools, and all other student features will work flawlessly on the iPad. 2) New features. HTML5 gives us access to new resources and allows us to integrate new features like super cool drawing tools. 3) Improved performance. Faster load times, more consistent experiences, and that beautiful iPad display are just a few benefits. 4) It may be time for a browser upgrade. If you have Internet Explorer 9.0 or higher, Firefox, Safari, or Chrome, you’re already covered. You don’t need to do anything. If you’re using Internet Explorer 8.0 or lower, you’ll need to add Google Chrome Frame. But don’t worry, it’s not scary. Just click hereand you’re all set!
We hope you’ll love all of the great features HTML5 allows us to bring you as we continue to strengthen your subscriptions.
TCI won the prestigious CODiE award on Monday night. We are thrilled and excited with this news. Yesterday, I had the pleasure of doing two interviews regarding the award. We’d like you to vote for which interview you like best….the interview with Dr. Bert Bower -TCI Owner and Founder OR the interview with the actual award itself. Comment with your choice…and don’t worry, Bert will not have hurt feelings at all if you decide against him!
See if you can spot the several times our Geography Alive! text book appears in this Glee clip. You’ll get to watch our book show up in an original music/dance about the rain in Spain.
With the school year winding down and coming to a close, it gives everyone in a school community (administration, teachers, parents, and students) a chance to reflect and be thankful for all those working together to make our education system meaningful. There will be many gifts shared by students for their teachers. Some of my most treasured items would fit this category. I’ll never forget the many Donald Duck-themed gifts (he was my favorite character). Coming up with gift ideas teacher to teacher, teacher to staff member or administrator can sometimes be tough. Good news! I’ve got two super ways to really blow them away with a thank you gift they will never forget. Both ways use words to create stunning works of art.
THE WORD CLOUD THANK YOU
This can range from simple to the more complex. The basic idea is this. Create a running list of positive words and descriptors of the person you want to thank. It’s okay if you’d like some to be mentioned more than once. If the administrative assistant is a fun person, type fun down four or five times. Then after generating a nice long list of words, copy them and paste them into a word cloud generator website like WORDLE or TAGXEDO. Wordle is simple to use…copy, paste, and generate. Voila! Tagxedo is a little more challenging but you can actually shape the word clouds with that site. HERE is a little primer on how you can use Tagxedo. Whichever one you use, once you have your word cloud complete, print it out at the highest resolution your printer allows onto some nice cardstock or photo-quality paper. Go to your local craft store and purchase a picture frame. Mount the word art within the frame and your gift is complete! See an example of how easy it is to do this here the video!
PICTURES AS WORDS
Another great idea for using words as gifts is to create a series of picture frames (like 4×6) with each picture frame having one letter of the person’s name. Now, instead of just boring ole typefaces found on word processors, use your camera to capture images around you that help to make the letters. Perhaps the frame on the window outside their class makes a perfect lower-case t when snapped. Maybe the positioning of a pen or pencil would make a suitable letter I or L. See the embedded video below (note: video was made in 2011) to see how easy and fun making this art can be. Don’t be too judgmental on my video capabilities, but look at the end result!
Whether its word art or some other type of gift, take the time to reflect on your year and thank the people around you. Be creative and sincere and like that Donald Duck piggy-bank of mine, it’s a gift sure to leave a long-lasting impression!
As another school year comes to a close, we’d like to take some time and thank you on behalf of the children you serve so selflessly for. Thank you teachers!
A growing trend among teachers is “flipping” their classroom and having students view lectures outside class and do constructivist work inside class. Outside or inside, it’s the pedagogy that matters and you can find great activities for your class with TCI!
Mariners winterize their boats. Teachers should summer-ize their students. Get your students ready for summer break by providing resources and outlets for their learning to continue. You’ll discover enrichment activities and opportunities your students and their families can embrace. Summer-ize Your Students – How to get your students ready for next year.
On June 30, TCI will reset your subscription and classes. You don’t have to do a thing to start the school year fresh!
Here is what will happen:
-Your students will be removed from your classes and their Reading Challenge results deleted.
-The number of Student Subscription available to you for the new school year will be reset to the original amount you ordered from TCI.
What you will need to do:
-Beginning July 1, you will need to select the program you will teach in the new school year when you sign in to your subscription. If you select the same program, your custom presentations and assessments will be available to you.
-Create new classes for the new school year. Once you get your student and class assignments, you can create classes and add students.
What you might want to do:
-If for any reason you want to save your students’ Reading Challenge results, you’ll need to export them to a spreadsheet prior to the June 30 reset. To export scores, go to “My Classes” and click the “Student Scores” button. Click the “Export scores to CSV” button and save the data on your hard drive.
Cinco de Mayo celebrates the Mexican army’s victory over the French at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. In the United States, many people use this occasion to honor Mexican contributions to our country. Take advantage of this holiday to have your students look around your community for examples of Mexican tradition and heritage. What better way to do that than with photographs! In this scavenger hunt, students are challenged to capture three photographs depicting architecture, food, and arts/sports that have a direct connection to Mexican contributions.
Like this activity? In our History Alive! The US Through Industrialism program we have a whole lesson built around Mexicano contributions to life in the Southwest. See a teaser video of it HERE.
Flash, you served us well, delivering Reading Challenges for the past several years, but it’s time to bring a new partner into the world of TCI Subscriptions. Coming this summer, we’re welcoming HTML5. What does this mean for you?
