Funny Face Picture Prompts Spice Up Class Photos

For most of us we have just two options when it comes to group photos.  Say cheese is the standard.  Okay, be silly, is next. Second grade teacher Shira Moskivitz has figured out a way to make boring class or staff photos a thing of the past.  She has come up with dozens of other picture prompts teachers can use to make this year's class photo stand out.  

Step Away from the "Say Cheese"	Instead Be a Superhero

#NYCSchoolsTech Superhero Trainer Team

Check out the funny face picture list below and find the prompts you think your class would like best.

- super hero
- favorite food
- someone else pretending to be an asparagus (or other veggie) and you eating them
- pet peeve
- surprise kiss (not necessarily at a professional function but...)
- sleeping
- favorite animal
- spell your name (first initial, or name of event/location)
- evil villain
- mad scientist
- supermodel
- body builder
- soldier
- slow motion run
- wind blown (there's a hurricane and you're being blown off the stairs/chair/etc)
- The Macarana
- Gagnam Style
- Thriller
- Robot
- sad
- nervous
- angry
- that kid...
- bored
- surprised
- one person is "it" and everyone looks at/points to him/her without them knowing
- serious
- hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil
- Mona Lisa
- Edvard Munch’s, The Scream
- riding a roller coaster
- playing basketball/baseball/soccer/hockey
- fake fight with neighbor
- group high five
- too cool for school
- salute
- ballerinas
- hold as many/big objects in your hands as possible (bonus if they're relevant to event/location)
- poker face
- strange object on your head
- pour water on one unsuspecting member of the group as you take the picture
- boy band album cover
- hug someone else/ group hug
- karate pose
- touch someone else's head
- swimming fish
- cowboys 
- point at someone random within (or outside) the picture

#NYCSchoolsTechChat: #EdTech Certifications. Thursday at 7pm EST

Join us Thursday as we discuss #edtech certification programs and how NYC uses them to support our growth. #NYCSchoolTech teacher Eileen Lennon moderates with me throwing in my two cents. 

You can prepare for the conversation by thinking about answers to these questions:

Q1 Why would you pursue an #edtech certification? #NYCSchoolsTechChat
Q2 How does/could your school/district utilize certified #EdTech teachers? #NYCSchoolsTechChat
Q3 What #edtech certifications would you be interested in pursuing? Why? #NYCSchoolsTechChat
Q4 How has/can certification help improve practice or benefit your work or career? #NYCSchoolsTechChat
Q5 Share 1 way #edtech #digcit certification benefits students or staff? #NYCSchoolsTechChat

Chat details are below:
Date: Thursday, September 6th
Time: 7:00 pm
Topic: The first five days
Your Host: @eileen_lennon (@NYCSchools)
Co-Host: @InnovativeEdu (@NYCSchools)

Remember to respond using the hashtag #NYCSchoolsTechChat and include the number of the question you are answering in your response i.e. A1 and your answer.

We hope you can view the chat live, but if you are unable, please visit our archive at https://www.participate.com/chats/nycschoolstechchat. You can also participate in the chat at that link or if you have an iPhone download the app at https://www.participate.com/apps.

#BacktoSchool List No No #1 - Graphing Calculators

It is not unusual for costly graphing calculators to be a part of back-to-school lists. The arguments go something like this. We need students to have a separate non-computer graphing calculator to know they really know how to use a graphing calculator.


Wait, what world are we preparing our kids for?  The only business place in the world in the 21st century where you'd see graphing calculators being used to do work is Texas Instruments.  The one who sells the graphing calculators. 

In the modern world graphing calculators are available free via apps and software for phones and computers. Even if you ban student devices, 
for the cost of a graphing calculator, schools can buy a much more powerful smartphone onto which you could do much more than just access a graphing calculator. 

In essence a tool has been created for the classroom, that has no use outside the school walls whatsoever. Sadly, as the Atlantic exposed back in 2011, what this all boils down to is that the mega-billion dollar testing industry dictates the technology that can be used.  That however should not dictate how a student accesses that technology.  If parents and educators are buying into the idea that we must throw children into the past to take assessments, that is unfortunate. However, even if they do, save those antiquated devices for testing day and allow students to use modern technologies they have access to in the world the rest of time. 

This simple shift to using free tools would shift millions of dollars from the pockets of Texas Instruments into the hands of our students. Desmos CEO Eli Luberoff put it best when he said this in his interview with business site Quartz: “We think students shouldn’t have to buy this old, underpowered device anymore. It’s a huge source of inequity, and it’s just not the best way to learn.”

The Real Way to Avoid Hearing from the Same 26 Facebook Friends

Innovative educators are generally good fact checkers and don't fall for chain social posts like the one making its rounds about seeing the same 26 people on Facebook.  They know to verify and that even a basic search on The Google will help you find out if what you are reading is fact or fake.

A reason so many people were quick to believe "the same 26 people" story is because Facebook does have an algorithm that limits the posts you see. Fortunately, there are fast, simple, and logical ways to change that.

If you really want to see more posts on you feed, here's what you can do.

1) View "Most Recent"

From your home page, change your News Feed from "Top Stories" to "Most Recent."

2) Edit Preferences

Under most recent you'll see an option to "Edit Preferences." Select that.  

3) Set priorities

This is most important.  You can select what and who you want to see first. Go in and select if you want to see friends only, pages only, or specific people.  If you click "People you see first" it will show you a list of your selections.

4) Unfollow people and groups

You don't have to unfriend anyone.  Just stop following them. Same goes for groups and pages.  If you don't want to see updates, just update preferences.  

5) Reconnect

If you decide Uncle Joe or that nosy colleague aren't so bad after all, don't worry.  You can always reconnect.  

6) Discover Pages

Facebook will suggest to you pages you may want to follow. If you're looking to add more to your news feed, just click "Like."

7) See more options

Was there an app that you hid, but you don't want to hide it any more? Don't worry.  Go to "See more options" and select "Show."

8) Snooze, Hide, or Unfollow right from your feed.

You don't need to search and know everyone you'd like to stop seeing posts from off the top of your head. If you notice a friend shares particular boring posts, just click on the three dots at the top right of their post and you have the option to unfollow them there. If you're sick of seeing posts about the president, just select "Hide post" and you'll see fewer such posts.  If you can't stand how much your brother-in-law posts during football season, but really like following him other times of the year, just "snooze" him for 30 days.  

If you really want control over your news feed, no need to beg your friends to leave a comment. Just follow these 8 tips. It's an instant fix. Involves just you. It's customized and it works!

Use Reflection Signs to Sum Up & Celebrate Learning

Looking for an efficient and effective way for classes to reflect upon what they've learned that works for introverts and extroverts alike. Then you might want to try this fun reflection sign technique. 

At the conclusion of a workshop, class, or unit, ask participants to speak in pairs or small groups about what they learned that they are excited to put into practice. Give participants an 8.5 by 11 sheet of paper with a reflection prompt.  This helps them keep their reflections focused and concise.  They record their reflection then share however the teacher/facilitator thinks would best work.  

Two options are:

1. Circle Up:
   Students stand in a circle and hold up their reflection sign.
2. Exit Ticket: The exit ticket for the class requires students to come up individually or in pairs holding up their reflection sign for a photo opp, then place it on the end-of-study bulletin board.

Student Voice

What is nice about this reflection is that it gives everyone a voice, even if they don't choose to use their voice. Students are given time to read the signs around the circle or on the bulletin board. Anyone is invited to speak up to share more.  After the activity students are invited to talk with one another about their reflections.

Remember Your ABCs (Always Be Capturing)

The reflections can be captured using technology.  Below you can see this as a video or posted on a bulletin board. This gives participants a useful way to remember what they learned after they learned it.  If you're doing this with school age students, you can share it with parents using their preferred method i.e. Facebook, Remind, ClassStory, etc, to give them a lens into the classroom.  

Video created by Sean Arnold

Here are some photos of participants with their signs:

Here are the signs posted on the bulletin board. 

See all the reflections here.

Consider This: Icebreaker Activity

How might you use this activity as an icebreaker?  Perhaps there is a question you ask at the beginning of a learning even that people respond to in the same way.  It could be interesting to see the responses at the beginning verses the end.  The other benefit with this type of icebreaker is it honors both introverts and extroverts and contributes something meaningful to the learning experience. 

Learn from 11 Innovative Educators in The #NYCSchoolsTech Podcast Episode 2

Cross posted at the #NYCSchoolsTech blog.

Learn about the innovative practices going on with some of New York City’s most passionate educators and supporters.  The latest #NYCSchoolsTech Podcast was recorded live at our annual #NYCSchoolsTech Summit where NYC Schools most innovative teachers come together to share ideas, network, and learn from one another and about what’s new in the world of ed tech.

#NYCSchoolsTech Podcast host, Nancy Ribak Altadonna  interviewed notable attendees and presenters who shared ideas about innovation, inspiration, who they give thanks to, expectations for students in the future, and their favorite tech tool or resource that they plan to use this year.  

This podcast features 11 innovators who work for or with NYC Schools. They share their ideas, insights, and best practices. 

Check it out on your preferred platform: YouTube, SoundTrap

Check it out on your preferred platform: YouTube, SoundTrap

You can listen to the time stamped highlights of what some NYC ed tech leaders said at the links in the caption above. Check out what they had to share. If you find something of interest, you can jump to exactly what you want to hear in the podcast.

Nancy Ribak Altadonna (Intro)

Social Studies Special Educator at Fort Hamilton High School in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn

Nancy is the host of the #NYCSchoolsTech podcast. She is the one to provide opening remarks and interview today’s guests.  

DeNora Getachew (1:36)

Keynote speaker and New York City Executive Director of Generation Citizen

Denora talks about... her vision for every young person to be given the civic knowledge necessary to be prepared to participate in a 21st century democracy.

Brook Wallace (3:36)

NYC program Director for Generation Citizen

Brooke talks about...how Generation Citizen was able to use technology to support non-verbal students with special needs in being able to weigh in, express their ideas, and have their voice heard.

Richard Carranza (4:36)

@NYCSchools Chancellor.

Richard talks about...
an example of a school that successfully incorporated technology into learning by actively demonstrating, creating, and making meaning in a math class.

Eileen Lennon (7:00)

Tech teacher at Nathaniel Hawthorne Middle School 74 in Bayside, Queens

Eileen talks about...
why the annual #NYCSchoolsTech Summit is an important event for her, educators of all grades and subjects across the city, and our vendor partners to attend. She also discusses whether “technology” should be a little T or big T when we think about STEM, STEAM, STREAM...aka school.  

Find out why her favorite technology this year is: EverFi

Find out how she believes students will use technology to change the world.

Ellen Goodman and Kristy Bernardo Lauriat (12:05)

DonorsChoose.org National Teacher Ambassadors and technology teachers in Brooklyn

Ellen and Kristy talk about…

how to help teachers reach citizen philanthropists via Donors Choose for teachers who don’t have the funding through their schools to best help meet their student’s needs. They also teach a class in New York City teaching educators to do just that.

Meredith Allen (16:53)

Soundtrap Education Specialist

Meredith talks about..

connecting classrooms globally via global collaborations through music and why it is so important for our digital citizens to understand that there are others out there around the globe that are both very different, yet very similar.

Jay Strumwasser (21:00)

Jay is the Director of Technology at Challenge Preparatory Charter School in Far Rockaway

Jay talks about…

the power of the the #NYCSchoolsTech professional network for learning.

Find out why he's excited to bring Google’s Applied Digital Skills to his school this year.

Jackie Patanio  (24:26)

Jackie is an EdTech Instructional Lead at the Staten Island Field Support Center

Jackie talks about…

how our #NYCSchoolsTech group has harnessed the power of social media to make meaningful connections and learn deeply with peers, experts, and expert peers.

She also discusses the importance of vendor partnerships and develop relationships.

Find out why her favorite tech resource she learned about this year at the Summit is podcasting to make a change and involve in civic engagement.

Katrina Gordon (30:44)

Katrina is a technology teacher at PS 181 in Queens

Katrina talks about…

what the #NYCSchoolsTech award means to her and the power of collaboration, knowledge sharing, resource sharing, and vendor relationships in the #NYCSchoolsTech group.

She also explains how pursuing certification has been helpful to her professional growth.

Find out why she is excited to bring digital storytelling to her classroom with podcasting.

Your Turn
If you attended the Summit, or another ed conference this year, what did you think?  How would you answer the questions this episode's guests discussed?

1. Why were you inspired to attend the #NYCSchoolsTech Summit? 
2. What’s the best part of being involved with #NYCSchoolsTech?
3. If you could thank someone from your #NYCSchoolsTech learning network, who would you choose and why?
4.  Technology Implementation: Think about your classroom and finish this sentence:“In the next ten years I expect my students to…….”

5. What is one innovative tool or practice that you learned about today that you plan to use to ensure your students are civically activated and educated?