Monday, March 21, 2016

Kik for Research Help

The library isn't open 24 hours a day, but you can get after hours help using our handy-dandy Kik code. Scan the code here or come by the media center and scan the one on Ms. Miles' door. She'll take questions between 8AM and 8PM every day!


Thursday, March 17, 2016

Ford Driving Skills Hands-On Workshop

DSFL hands on clinics have been confirmed for April 26-27 at Stone Mountain.  There will be four sessions total, morning session from 7:30 – noon and afternoon from 1:00 – 5:30, and same times on the second day. The first half hour is built in for check-in so our team can review their waivers, permits/licenses, and take their photos, etc. Requirements to attend are a valid learners permit or license and a signed waiver form.
 
Students are encouraged to sign on to the following webpage and complete the online Academy so that they can take part in this in great drivers training opportunity.  https://www.drivingskillsforlife.com/academy   

Tuesday, March 15, 2016

New Resources at AFPLS

Do you have a public library card? Here are some great resources that you get with your free card. You can sign up for one tomorrow during lunch.

·      What’s coming? (April-May, 2016)
o   Zinio Digital Magazines  (download full issues of popular magazines to mobile devices)
 
·       Tools for Teachers
o   GALE Courses: PLU’s earned for many courses (list of relevant courses available and mailed to Meeting Coordinator)
o   Universal Classes: Special Education courses and free self-paced personal enrichment courses
 
·      Student Help
o   Bookflix  (Online Literacy database for Pre-K thru 3rd Grade, lesson plans)
o   Mango Languages (71 conversational languages to practice)
o   Free Prep practice online
§  Learning Express (ACT, SAT, AP, GRE, GMAT, Job search, etc., Resume help)
§  Testing & Education Reference Center (ACT, SAT, AP, etc., Resume help)
o   Homework Help
§  Tutor.com
§  Facts on File (search by grades and Georgia Standards, lesson plans included for many databases)
·      Fun Databases
o   Overdrive: Downloadable eBooks and eAudiobooks for children and adults
o   Hoopla: Streaming Movies, eAudiobooks, eBooks

This Side of Home - Book Club Selection


The Book Club will be reading This Side of Home by Renee Watson and discussing it on Thursday, March 31st after school. Anyone can get the book for free by downloading the Open eBooks app. Get your code from your ELA teacher or Mrs. Miles in the Media Center.


Monday, March 7, 2016

Strategies for the Paperless Classroom

    Paperless Wednesdays have returned, but there is hope. You can go paperless. Here are some strategies to help.

·         Teacher Websites- This is your best bet. Upload homework, projects, your syllabus and calendar to your website for students to view at their leisure. A good many students forget their school supplies or bookbags so worksheets and handouts get lost far too often. Create an online home for these using Classjump.com or Weebly.com. Tutorials for these are held periodically, but you can schedule a one on one with me if you like.
·         Edmodo- Get an account and you’ll be able to receive essays and projects anytime and annotate them, all without ever printing a single page. Here’s a handy tutorial on how to annotate. https://youtu.be/ZDmtpJmrp9c . If you’re feeling adventurous, ask Jan Dickerson about Google Classroom.
·         Google Docs- A simple way to collect assignments online is to create a shared folder using Google Docs. Share the link with your class and students can drop in assignments at will. TIP: Have students give all assignments the same name in the file (ie. StudentFirstInitial.StudentLastName.AssignmentName.ClassPeriod) You can also create a simple folder to pick up all assignments.
·         Evernote- Students can download this app to their phones and take notes, snap pictures of the powerpoint slides and record your lecture all with the same app. (Don’t be afraid of their phones, make them use them to their intellectual benefit)
·         Quizlet- Forget paper pop quizzes and move into the digital age with Quizlet. Students can easily take a quiz and send you the results without picking up a pen.

More Options:
o   Use Edmodo or Quizlet for weekly quizzes
o   Present PowerPoints via Slideshare.net
o   Have students Blog via Weebly.com instead of turning in Discussion Questions or short free response
o   Use a document camera instead of making copies. You can check these out from the library.
o   Scan book chapters or excerpts to your Flash Drive and then upload them to Google Drive or Edmodo
o   Record class discussions and small group discussion with the iPad or using a student’s cell phone
o   Have students create digital portfolios, record short bits of lecture and take snapshots of powerpoint slides with Evernote




Using QR Codes

How They Work
A student, teacher or anyone downloads a QR reader to their smartphone (Just go to your preferred app store and search QR reader. They are free). When you see a QR code you open your reader and hover the phone over the code as if you were taking a picture. Your reader will soon “find” the code and direct you to where it leads.

Creating Your Own Codes:
  • Make sure you have a public web address (url) to your document, site, etc. If you’re using student work you can have them upload the document to Google Docs (If you or the student has a gmail account, you already have a Docs account). If you make the document public, it will give you a web address.
  • Go to http://qrcode.kaywa.com/dashboard/ and enter your link into the space provided and it will create a unique qr code for you. It will look like this:
http://keremerkan.net/files/images/qrblog_large.png

  • You can then right click and copy the code. Paste it to a document and print it so you can post anywhere you like. This is great for digital work that students provide.

Suggestions:
  • Have students create an abstract to their digital project and then post them on your bulletin board along with the QR code
  • Post QR codes into your study guides that link to helpful lab demonstrations, Khan academy explanations, or further reading
  • Post QR codes to the audiobook version of the assigned reading for students with additional needs

Free Tax Prep for Low-Income Filers @ Kirkwood Library

    Address: 11 Kirkwood Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30317
    Hours: 
    Open today · 10AM–8PM

The checklist below includes items you need to bring when you visit an AARP Foundation Tax-Aide site for us to help you prepare your tax return(s)
  • Last year’s tax return(s)
  • Social Security cards or other official documentation for yourself and all your dependents
  • Photo I.D. required for all taxpayers.
  • Checkbook if you want to direct deposit any refund(s).
Income
  • W-2 from each employer
  • Unemployment compensation statements
  • SSA-1099 form showing the total Social Security benefits paid to you for the year, or Form RRB-1099, Tier 1 Railroad Retirement benefits
  • 1099 forms reporting interest (1099-INT), dividends (1099-DIV), proceeds from sales (1099-B), as well as documentation showing the original purchase price of your sold assets
  • 1099-R form if you received a pension, annuity, or IRA distribution
  • 1099-Misc forms
  • Information about other forms of Income
  • State or local income tax refund
 
Payments
 
All forms and canceled checks indicating federal and state income tax paid (including quarterly estimated tax payments)
Deductions
Most taxpayers have a choice of taking either a standard deduction or itemizing their deductions. If you have a substantial amount of deductions, you may want to itemize. You will need to bring the following information:
  • 1098 form showing any home mortgage interest
  • 1098-T and 1098-E forms (Tuition and Student Loan Interest payments)
  • A list of medical/dental expenses (including doctor and hospital bills and medical insurance premiums), prescription medicines, costs of assisted living services, and bills for home improvements such as ramps and railings for people with disabilities
  • Summary of contributions to charity
  • Receipts or canceled checks for all quarterly or other paid tax
  • Property Tax bills and proof of payment
Health Insurance
  • Form 1095A if you purchased through Marketplace (Exchange)
  • Any exemption correspondence from the Marketplace (if applicable)
Credits
  • Dependent care provider information (name, employer ID, or Social Security number)
  • 1098 forms related to continuing education and related receipts and cancelled checks