Flipgrid for the WIN!

We recently hosted our first BIG in-person event, which, ironically happened exactly two years from the last day of school before pandemic life began.

Every year (pre-covid, of course!) the school hosts a huge event called Art and Music Night (or some variation on that title.) Every year each grade performs different songs, there's usually a song or two that the whole school comes together to sing, and the building itself is full of art. Oh, the art!

In years past, we even had interactive art stations that families could explore while they meandered through the building soaking in the artwork from every single class (yep, even the art of math was included!) It was a lovely evening that ended with a concert to remember.

This year, because the planning of the evening happened pre-today's-pandemic-guidelines, we had to err on the side of caution. Students performed only as a grade level. Families came through a guided tour, stopping in location one for an introduction to the evening and a performance by the choir before heading into the art gallery area, and finally ending in the gym for the performance. The schedule was repeated for each of the participating grades throughout the evening. A structure like this ensured that we were able to uphold any Covid protocols while still providing an amazing display of art and music.

Upon arrival, students went to the stage for rehearsal. Which meant they couldn't be tour guides for their families in the art gallery. 

Alas, Flipgrid AR!

Yes, it was a bit of a daunting task, recording 166 student videos onto five separate grids. Tracking kids down who were on quarantine, ensuring every child's art piece was the one they had chosen, all those little details were quite a clutter-causer.

It. Was. SO. Worth. It!

Parents came into the art gallery portion and had (hopefully, per directions sent ahead of time!) downloaded the Flipgrid app already. They found their child's piece and voila! Their child popped off the screen and gave a personal introduction to the art piece!

Now, nothing will replace the actually child being there live and in person, but Flipgrid AR made for a pretty amazing substitute!

Fall CUE

This past weekend was the CUE conference, my first one!

First, I was blown away by the number of educators who, in the current climate, still showed up for a weekend education conference.  Us teachers, we just. don't. stop.  (And I know, that's part of the problem, but that is a whole different post!). At the presenter pre-meeting we were warned that there was a chance people might not show up to our session, in which case, we should pretend we are creating a recording for others to watch later.

Second, I loved how organized the conference was!  From the backend presenter resources and support to the conference website - it was so easy to pop in to sessions throughout the weekend.  There were tons of options, too, which made the organization even more important.

Third, I was really nervous about presenting online.  I mean, I've done PDs and Workshops for my local school and community, but this?  This is a mid-western girl from Michigan presenting via Zoom to the great state of California!  It was a little intimidating!  Both of my sessions were new ones (which was so not smart on my part - new conference and new sessions?!) and so I wasn't sure how they'd go.  Thankfully, everything went smoothly and I got solid feedback from the attendees.

Session one was on using Scratch to create video games.  Session two was all about integrating technology into curriculum.  I featured four tools - Seesaw, Flipgrid, Screencastify, and Book Creator - that all cross subjects, disciplines, and ages.  It was fun to present them, and I'm already tweaking them for the next opportunity.

Finally, the sessions I went to were fantastic.  I know that COVID has sucked the life out of a lot of people, events, systems, and structures.  I also know that for the events that shifted to an online platform, that's some pretty good stuff there, and the fact that I can go back and watch the recordings for the sessions I missed is even better.

If CUE is virtual again, I will be adding it to my list for sure.  If it shifts back to solely in person, I'd happily accept anyone's offer to fund my trip to the Golden state!

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Flashback Friday Featuring Flipgrid!

(Insert wavy time-travel lines)

A few weeks ago was the Jewish holiday of Purim.  Purim is a very fun holiday for all, especially adults who are actually encouraged to imbibe.  (Crazy, I know!)  There are some deep rooted traditions to Purim, one of them being partaking in a chanting of the Megillah.

For Purim, the fifth grade usually travels to one of the Jewish senior residences nearby to chant Megillah.  Covid made that festive tradition impossible this year.  But we didn't let that stop us from a fantastic Megillah reading!  How, you ask?

Flipgrid, of course!

All the fifth graders still got to participate in chanting Megillah.  Dressed in costumes, in the safety of their own homes, they read their parts with gusto onto Flipgrid.  From there, each class was compiled into a MixTape and shared with the senior home.  

Enjoy our 2021 Megillah reading, courtesy of Flipgrid!
(P.S.  It's only about 20 minutes long, not 5.6 hours!)

Flipgrid Fakeout

I love Flipgrid.  There is SO much you can do with it!

In prepping our 8th graders for Campaign this year, we really wanted them to be able to record their speeches in a "formal-ish" setting.  Ideally, they'd record with a green screen.  But our recording studio is being used as a classroom this year so that was out.  And most of the kids recorded at home.

Enter Flipgrid. 
And the faux green screen feature. 
Also known as Flipgrid Frames.

Here's a quick how-to video for you!

The custom frames were made using Google Drawings.  I cut out a "hole" in the middle of the image (the video shows just one example) and then saved it as a .png file.  That allows for the transparency.  Watch out... this can be a "oops I just lost two hours playing in the last five minutes" experience!

You've been Framed!

Every year, our third graders engage in a biography unit.  And every year, they present their learning in some sort of wax museum format.  And every year, we try to add one new twist to the unit.

Three years ago it was recording the presentations with the Green Screen (Love DoInk!) Two years ago it was having the kids use Osmo Masterpiece (one of my favorites!) to create portraits.  Last year, Covid crashed the plans, but Flipgrid fixed things!

This year, with some kids on campus and some kids remote, we turned to Flipgrid again.  Flipgrid, with a twist.

Since discovering the fabulousness of Flipgrid Frames, I look for any excuse to use one!  This year's wax museum was the perfect excuse!  Especially because it can be done with no special tools - just good old paper and coloring supplies.  No Green Screen needed!

Even better, math can be integrated in the process too.  How?  Because you need to start with a regular piece of drawing paper.  Fold that paper in quarters.  Measure two inches from the side (or one and a half) and cut out the center.  Unfold and you have a frame to decorate!

To create the virtual frame, Google Drawings was used.  (I am sure there are easier ways - share if you know of any!)  Then the kids added the frame as an image in Flipgrid, stretched it to fill the screen, and you have some very fancy videos!

Flippin' for Fridays

Fridays are special in the Jewish community because they are the start of Shabbat. Last year, my school started a new tradition, Shabbat Mishpacha, where every Friday morning, the whole school mixes up into multi-grade Shabbat families for activities, community, and shabbat blessings.  COVID may have thrown a wrench into the mixing up into families this year, but it didn't stop the celebrations from happening.

Our rabbi has gotten creative with the activities this year, sometimes incorporating technology into the mix. This week, was Parashat Shemot (I'm still learning all about these Parsha - truly a foreign language to me!) and the directions to students were:

"Even though Moshe was a great leader, he needed help. He needed a push from God to do something that was hard for him.  After you watch the video, share about a time you did something that was hard. What did you do? Who helped you?"

So many of the responses were incredibly thoughtful! So refreshing to see young people sharing thoughts and experiences, reflecting on times of challenge, and appreciating the helpers in their life. All of this was made possible by the ease of Flipgrid - even the kindergarteners were able to share!

"It's easy to ask for help, but sometimes it's difficult in your mindset... it's easy to just ask for help, but it's hard on the inside." - 7th grade student

Campaign for a Cause

Social Action is all the rage right now, and for a reason.  It's been a necessary and powerful movement for years. (If you can call it a movement? Maybe it's a lifestyle?)  As part of their 8th grade English class, our students take action for some very special local organizations.

While the goals of the unit were the same, the execution was a little different this year, thanks to the pandemic. 12 groups supporting 12 different organizations. From the 12 groups at the rally, the primaries narrow it down to six.  The convention today brought it down to three finalists.

My favorite part this year?  Totally selfish.  Because the Rally, Convention, and Election were via Zoom and I got to attend all of them.  (The Primaries were held in live individual classes.)

My second favorite part this year?  For the first time, the Election is open to 5th - 8th graders.  I particularly like this because being a Jewish Day School, all of the kids have to do a mitzvah project for their Bar or Bat Mitzvah.  By opening this to the younger grades, they will see some very worthy local organizations that they may very well choose to support when it's their turn to plan their mitzvah projects.

Not pictured: the 6 classrooms that Zoomed in, and the
dozen plus students learning from home who joined remotely!

Another favorite part this year?  I learned about faux green screens thanks to Flipgrid Frames!

The best part of this year?  That the kids learned about and highlighted very deserving local organizations!  This has been a very energizing week of campaigning!  I am excited to see who wins at tomorrow's election!