Deb Norton Tech

Happy Holidays! Here is our annual holiday Sing-a-Long as captured through Google Glass.  Enjoy! And here is an encore JibJab video from the wonderful staff that I work with each day.   I look forward to blogging in 2013 and all that the new year will bring.  May each of you have a wonderful break.  I'll see in 2014.

This year my Christmas wish list isn't very big.  I had told my students back in November that all I wanted for Christmas was Google Glass.  Well, that wish came true just a few weeks ago and I'm as happy as can be.  Glass is truly an amazing technology. But. . . .  Let's take a look at a few other great gadgets that could have made my list this year: #1 Pencil - Read this blog post or watch the video below. #2 X-Mini II Portable Speaker - My speakers are ancient and have very poor quality. #3 Scratch #2, I'd rather have this one ! #4 HP Chromebook 14 - My son has one for High School and I'm really liking what I see!   #5 Fitbit Aria Fitness Band  - this neat wrist band can track my fitness exercise, sleep and weight loss goal.  And it can pair with my iPhone and the Fitbit app. Here is a short video suggesting some helpful apps for Christmas Shopping: Even though these gadgets are on my wish list, I'm thankful for a

Here are a few random finds from my Feedly this week. Punctuation Campground is an interactive for students to practice adding punctuation.  Students can get hints and check their answers.  I like that the sentences get progressively more difficult. Exit ticket is a site for providing real time feedback to students and teachers throughout or after a lesson.  Here is an introductory video: Scholastic has a nice collection of graphic organizers. Finland has been know to have a very different and successful model of education.  Here are three videos showing a peek into Finland schools.  I find it refreshing to see that teachers are required to have a masters degree and are given the freedom to teach the way they feel is going to benefit the students.  I am a bit envious of the fact that the atmosphere is so relaxed and casual in the schools.   I can't wait to see what this week's Feedly brings.  I always enjoy my time spent reading posts from others. Have