Random Messages!

Hello blog world! It's been a little over 3 months since my last blog post, so I'm not even sure there's anyone still visiting my little blog; I hope so! I'm planning to blog daily over winter break. I find it hard to blog during the school year. How do you all do it? I usually start a post, but never get around to finishing it. Does anyone have any advice on how to get into a quick and easy routine?

Even though I haven't blogged in a few months doesn't mean I haven't kept up with the blogging world. A couple of ways I stay in touch is Instagram and Twitter. I've gotten so many ideas just by following fellow teachers and bloggers. 

One of my favorites on Twitter is Tony Vincent (@tonyvincent). You may have heard of his app Stick Around! I've just recently downloaded it, but have yet to figure it all out...something I have on my winter break to-do list. I first came across Tony on Pinterest. I saw his "Roll and Reflect" QR codes, and fell in LOVE with them. Each time you scan the code a different question comes up (I believe there are 20 different questions.) I'd never seen a qr code that had a different message each time you scanned it, so I was intrigued, and started following Tony on Twitter, hoping I could figure out how he did it. Well this past November my hoping paid off, Tony posted the directions on how to create your own HTML's to create a random message here. I was so excited! Following the directions in his post I was able to make my first random msg. HTML. It was so awesome! I created questions for the book Island of the Blue Dolphins. I then had my small group of students scan the code, hold up the question on their iPad, and we went around the circle and answered each one. It worked out GREAT! Here is the qr code I created:

If you're not following @tonyvincent on Twitter you should. Also check out his roll and reflect qr codes; along with his blog post on how to create your own random messages. 

QR "Bio" Code

(8-1-13) I am re-posting from last year, so I can link with iTeach 1:1 and Learning to the Core's Tune into Technology Linky: QR Codes. I love QR codes! If you ask one of my students from last year, they will probably tell you we used them too much. There is so much that you can do with QR codes, below you will find a post explaining one way I've used QR codes. Follow or visit my  QR Code Pinterest board for other ideas. Be sure to link up your QR Code ideas with iTeach 1:1 and Learning to the Core's. 

Originally posted July, 14, 2012 

One of the get to know you activities I like to complete with students at the beginning of the year is a Biopoem. A Biopoem is an eleven line poem that usually describes a person. Students usually type up their poem add a picture of themselves and then they are hung in the hallway for a few weeks. This year, instead of having students type their Biopoems using a traditional word processing program we will type them using the RedLaser app (note you are limited to 458 characters on the iPad)  and create a QR code of our Biopoem to be used all year long. If you are not familiar with RedLaser it is an app that allows you to create and read QR codes. Once students have created their QR code in RedLaser they should save it to their camera roll. As students create various projects throughout the year they can add their QR "Bio" Code to the projects.  This would allow readers to read the bio of the writer/creator.


Here are some sample ways to create a Biopoem
Biopoem Sample 1

Biopoem Sample 2

Biopoem Sample 3