Sensory Rooms May Help Ease the Anxiety Students Feel from COVID-19

Although I don't generally post "non-tech" information I found this article informative and relevant. We ALL, students and staff, need time away from screens and technology.  We need time to rest, relax and recharge.

Sensory Rooms May Help Ease the Anxiety Students Feel from COVID-19  (https://bit.ly/3jL03xl)

Zoom Accessibility Features & Best Practices for Security

As we move into new online based teaching and learning, some staff and students need additional online support.  Zoom has built in Accessibilities Features and they outline them in tutorials on their web page.

https://zoom.us/accessibility

Zoom has also published a series of Educational How To's.  The one that caught my eye this week is called:

Best Practices for Securing Your Virtual Classroom
https://blog.zoom.us/wordpress/2020/03/27/best-practices-for-securing-your-virtual-classroom/?fbclid=IwAR3KVFa_bPdtmSu242X-PriODyfn0Jx1w5-mTKjMVNK-02lflFU2XSLUyL4

Using Bitmoji in the Classroom

Bitmoji's are all the rage these days.  Almost everyone I know has created a Bitmoji.  These are a fun way to show emotion and can also be a fun way to engage your students.  Bitmoji can be used in a virtual environment and they can be used in printed form for a variety of classroom posters and activities.  Below are a couple links on fun ways to use Bitmoji in the classroom. 

11 Super Creative Ways to Use Bitmojis in Your Classroom  (https://www.weareteachers.com/bitmoji-classroom/)

Make a Bitmoji Scene in Google Slides!  (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGKTvlUbXxY)

Although these links focus on how teachers can use Bitmojis, don't forget about your students.  Let them use Bitmoji in a presentation or class project.  They can use Bitmoji to express themselves in a class discussion or in a morning "How Are You Doing?".  Kids love Bitmoji too!

Story Shares

As many as 90 million teens and adults in America lack crucial literacy skills. Approximately 70% of all middle and high school students require some form of reading remediation. About 26% of 12th graders graduate reading below grade level. As students get older it becomes harder to find content that is both relevant for their age and readable at their level. Readers become unmotivated or disinterested, and often stop reading altogether.

Story Shares (https://www.storyshares.org/books) is a non-profit organization devoted to inspiring reading practices and improving literacy skills for individuals of all ages.   Story Shares has a library full of books that are both compelling and approachable for struggling teen and young adult readers - Relevant Reads.

If you are interested in writing a book to share on Story Shares check out their Guidelines.
https://www.storyshares.org/files/guidelines-story-shares-july-2016.pdf

Additional Information: Resources for Creating Accessible Content

Resources for Creating Accessible Content

AMMR training materials and resources created by Alt+Shift can be found in the Accessible Materials Made Right: Workshop Files folder. Additional resources that have been provided by past AMMR participants are located in the Shared Resources folder. Please consider uploading any of your own resources to this folder so that others can benefit from your shared knowledge and experience.

View the AMMR Shared Resources Folder on Google Drive  (https://bit.ly/3bwPFFA)