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Cherie Anderson

Presentation: Teaching with Picture Books in Secondary Schools

For some, the reading of picture books is considered an activity exclusively meant for young children in lower grades. In a recent professional development session for Library Media Educational Technology Specialists in secondary schools, Celia Powell, Cindy Moyle, and Cherie Anderson gave a multitude of reasons to rethink this bias, showing how picture books can be used in junior high and high school classrooms (and even with adults) to engage students and support curriculum in virtually all content areas.  [Read more…] about Presentation: Teaching with Picture Books in Secondary Schools

Highlights from Granite’s FIRST LEGO League 2018 Qualifier

On Saturday, February 3, 2018, over 300 students from elementary and junior high schools across Granite School District, 44 coaches, 67 volunteers, and bleacher-filling numbers of supportive family and friends came together at Granger High School for Granite’s FIRST LEGO League 2018 Qualifier. Student teams were judged on their robot design, project presentations (researched, innovative solutions to real-world problems), core values, and performance in the robot games.

These teams advanced to the state competition, held the following week at Weber State University:

Many thanks to the coaches, volunteers, and parents who made this experience possible for our students.   [Read more…] about Highlights from Granite’s FIRST LEGO League 2018 Qualifier

Granite Ed. Tech. Presentations at UCET 2017

Last week the Utah Coalition for Educational Technology held their annual conference at the University of Utah. Sessions were led for and by educators, and many of Granite’s teachers, school technology specialists, and library media educational technology specialists attended and presented at the conference. Below is a roster of the sessions shared by Granite teachers, along with links to resources from the sessions if available.

Session TitlePresenter(s)
BreakoutEDUBrenda Duford (STS, Silver Hills El.), Stephanie Evans (STS, Monroe El.), and Dave Taylor (STS, Moss El. and Pioneer El.)
BreakoutEDUMichelle Reed (LMETS, Jefferson Jr. High) and Mary Anne Wiebe-Strong (LMETS, Churchill Jr. High)
BreakoutEDUTricia Fenton (STS, Vista El. and Western Hills El.) and Sarah Robinson (STS, Oakwood El. and Calvin Smith El.)
Bringing the World into Your Classroom with Virtual FieldtripsAdam Brough (STS, Diamond Ridge El. and Gourley El.), Samantha Mitchell (STS, Academy Park El.), and Will Walden (STS, Bacchus El. and Rosecrest El.)
Code UnpluggedJames Baliff (STS, Bridger El. and Jackling El.) and Aaron Kammerman (STS, Hartvigsen School)
Creating Stories, Illustrations, and Collages with iPads
Michelle Hanson (STS, Hillsdale El.)
Creating VR for the ClassroomBecky Schaap (STS, Copper Hills El. and Twin Peaks El.) and Tom Sparks (STS, Penn El. and Spring Lane El.)
Digital Breakout EduTiffany Pontius (STS, Cottonwood El. and Truman El.) and Keith Reidford (STS, Hillside El. and South Kearns El.)
Engaging Students with Toys, Games, and ComicsQuinn Rollins (District Social Studies Curriculum Specialist)
Get Hyped About HyperDocsStephanie Mondragon (LMETS, Valley Jr. High), Jenny Peirce (LMETS, Kearns High School), and Stephanie Seely (LMETS, Granite Connection High School)
Go Unplugged: Coding Without Computers (For Kids!)Cherie Anderson (Granite District Elementary Educational Technology Specialist), Celia Powell (Granite District Secondary Educational Technology Specialist)
Googlizing The Amazing RaceKris Fox (STS, Elk Run El.), Joell Wilkins (STS, Farnsworth El. and Woodstock El.), and Jaime Woolley (STS, Taylorsville El.)
Incorporating Music and Movement in the Classroom with Go Noodle!
Krystal Plott (STS, Driggs El. and Wright El.)
K-3 Meets G SuiteTeresa Bruin (Granite District Elementary Educational Technology Specialist) and Heidi Meenen (Granite District Elementary Educational Technology Specialist)
La La Land Yourself into Digital StorytellingKristen Johnson (Granite District Elementary Educational Technology Specialist)
LEGO League Robot GamesMichelle Reed (LMETS, Jefferson Jr. High)
Maker Space: Mechanical HandsSarah Eyring (STS, Granite Technical Instute), Samantha Spangler Mitchell (STS, Academy Park El.), and Davina Sauthoff (LMETS, Wasatch Jr. High)
Motivating Upper Elementary Through Popular Culture: Providing the "Why"Keith Reidford (STS, Hillside El. and South Kearns El.)
Orange Slice Rubric CreatorJeremy Smith (Spanish Teacher, Taylorsville High) and Lorraine Wyness (LMETS, Taylorsville High)
Show What You Know - Creative Assessments in the Elementary ClassroomMaggie Tanner (STS, Redwood El.) and Kareena Steed Vance (STS, Mill Creek El. and Sandburg El.)
Sphero OlliempicsAlisha Kerby (STS, Roosevelt El.), Ashley Moore (STS, Lincoln El.), Karen Tinsley (STS, Stansbury El.)
Technology and Educational EquityChris Larsen (Director, Educational Technology)
The $10,000 mistake: Essential Steps Every Teacher Should KnowDale Roberts (Director, Information Systems)
They want formative..Now What?
Misty Butterfield (STS, Beehive El. and Oquirrh Hills El.) and Melissa White (STS, Oakridge El. and Valley Crest El.)
Zubi Flyer - The World's First Interactive, Programmable Flying Toy!
Thomas Phipps (STS, Upland Terrace El. and West Kearns El.)

Thank you to all who shared their ideas and expertise at the conference this year. We would also like to congratulate Chris Larsen, Director of Educational Technology, for being elected to a position on the UCET Board during the conference.

Photo from a BreakoutEDU session at UCET 2017 facilitated by Tricia Fenton and Sarah Robinson.
Photo from a BreakoutEDU session at UCET 2017 facilitated by Tricia Fenton and Sarah Robinson.

Highlights from Granite’s FIRST LEGO League 2017 Qualifying Tournament

Granite School District welcomed 28 FIRST LEGO League teams to the 3rd GSD sponsored qualifying tournament on Saturday January 28th at Granger High School. Students participated in robot games, showed off their ability to work collaboratively on a problem, explained to engineers how they designed and built their robot, and presented a solution in the form of a product or service to enhance the relationship between animals and humans.

Winning trophies were: [Read more…] about Highlights from Granite’s FIRST LEGO League 2017 Qualifying Tournament

Upcoming Event: Granite’s FIRST LEGO League Qualifying Tournament

On January 28, 2017, student teams from schools throughout Granite School District will compete in our annual FIRST LEGO League Qualifying Tournament at Granger High School. Twenty-five elementary and junior high schools are fielding thirty teams for this tournament.

From the FIRST website,

FIRST LEGO League . . . immerses kids in real-world science and technology challenges. Teams of kids ages 9 to 14 are challenged to design their own solution to current scientific problems, then build LEGO robots that perform autonomous “missions.” In the process, they develop valuable life skills and discover exciting career possibilities in science and technology. They even discover that they, too, can make positive contributions to society.

Karen Tinsley, school technology specialist at Stansbury Elementary and coach of a FIRST LEGO League team, recorded the Robot Game in action at a recent scrimmage at her school, shared above. [Read more…] about Upcoming Event: Granite’s FIRST LEGO League Qualifying Tournament

Highlights from Granite’s FIRST LEGO League Robot Event

The Granite School District FIRST LEGO League qualifying tournament was held on January 16, 2016 at Granger High School. Granite School District’s Educational Technology Department sponsors 30 teams in the First Lego League. We had a tremendous amount of fun, and learned a lot this year!

  • Over 280 student participants attended
  • supported by over 35 coaches and assistant coaches…
  • and 50 volunteers!

The students were excited to see approximately 500 parents attend to watch their LEGO Robots compete. In addition to competing in the robot games, the teams also explained their robot designs, presented an innovative product to address the issue of Trash, and solved a problem as a team during judging sessions.

[Read more…] about Highlights from Granite’s FIRST LEGO League Robot Event

Teacher Spotlight: Ms. Newby, Ms. Tinsley, and Ms. Esplin, Stansbury Elementary

Watch Tracy Newby’s 4th Grade class at Stansbury Elementary engage in a Kahoot quiz, competing remotely against another 4th grade classroom led by Erin Esplin. Karen Tinsley, the school technology specialist, collaborated with the teachers to create this activity, and the teachers coordinated with each other during the event using Skype. These teachers take assessment of student learning to an exciting new level of collaboration and friendly competition.

Spotlight Creator: Cherie Anderson, Granite District Educational Technology Specialist

Creating A Positive Digital Footprint: Digital Citizenship Helps for Parents

The following brochure or similar information will be distributed at parent teacher conferences throughout Granite School District by school technology specialists and library media educational technology specialists.

Do you worry about your kids and social media? We hope these tips help. [Read more…] about Creating A Positive Digital Footprint: Digital Citizenship Helps for Parents