Customized Google Keep Headers – A Free Resource

This is not my original idea, but based on a Twitter Post from @mrs_janusz, and other techie people, I created my own template to share with anybody who would like to customize their own Google Keep Headers, similar to what you see below.

Here is a link to the Google Keep Headers Template in Google Slides that has all the slides you can customize to make your own headers.

Make a copy of the Google Slides presentation to customize with your own text, colors, and icons.

To download a slide as an image: File → Download → JPEG Image

In Google Keep, upload the image to the note, choose the matching color, and be sure to pin it.

Let me know below if you have any questions, and be sure to tweet and share with me @lisagceja your own customized Google Keep Headers!

Teachers Supporting Teachers – A Google Innovator Project

During my 25 years of teaching in the math classroom, I’ve found that experienced teachers face unique challenges and are sometimes left feeling under-appreciated and unsupported. During the spring of 2018, I was accepted into the Google Innovator Academy and attended in July of 2018. There I learned I could create a project that would have a positive impact in education. This teacher support group grew out of that summer work and is now a part of my Google Innovator Project.  I am passionate about teaching students, but I also understand how important it is for teachers to feel acknowledged and valued for the work they do. My Innovator Project website provides resources if you wish to replicate this teacher support group on your own campus or district.

Lisa Ceja LAX18 Google Innovator

For my Innovator Project, I personally invited teachers to become part of a special group of experienced teachers who want to work collaboratively to explore solutions to unique challenges we face inside and outside of the classroom, in a supportive & understanding environment. 

WHAT do participants gain?

  • Participation is voluntary, not paid, and not district sponsored, but participants will gain a personal and professional support network
  • Support other experienced teachers, acknowledge and value each other 
  • Support each other academically and personally
  • Thoughtful, non-judgmental, non-evaluative, empathic, liberating support in a safe space
  • Collaborative problem solving for problems inside and outside the classroom
  • Celebrate successes
  • Better attuned, more effective and efficient teaching
  • Teaching requires a high degree of energy on our part, that energy must be balanced, this will be an opportunity to “refill our cup”

WHAT takes place during the once a month meetings?

  • There’s an agenda that will guide each meeting, but the group will be a part of the future planning and direction of our meetings
  • Team building
  • Guided topics to discuss
  • Support
  • And most importantly, snacks!

Check out my Innovator Project Website for all the details and resources. If you have any questions please use this contact form, I’m happy to help!

– Lisa

Lisa Ceja at Google Venice, CA

My Desmos Tweets

It is interesting for me to look at my history of tweets that mention Desmos and to realize how this free tool has enhanced my classroom math lessons. I’m starting with my most proud tweet which is a screenshot of the landing page for teacher.desmos.com (if you’re not already signed in).

It’s really fun to get a message from a friend now and then that mentions they saw my face on the Desmos website.  They tell their students, “I know her!”

Over the last few years, I’ve used desmos.com to introduce math topics, dive deeper into math topics, and just have some fun with math.  Here is a collection of some of my Desmos related tweets that start in 2015.

2015

2016

2017

2018

Seeing some of my favorite Desmos tweets all in one place makes me realize the impact this tool has on my teaching.  My students know this is a tool they can access anytime from any of their devices. What makes me most happy is that this tool is FREE. This makes for a very happy math teacher and her students!

Would you like to become a Google Certified Educator?

Google Certified Educator Badges

I am very proud to be the Google for Education Certified Trainer for a series of Google Boot Camps this summer taking place in the heart of Los Angeles (see below for info). Last summer I had the honor of working with over 64 educators to prepare them to take the Google Certified Educator Level 1 & Level 2 exams. It was extremely exciting to spend two hands-on days with each group and see their confidence grow in preparation for the exams.

These two day Boot Camps are uniquely scheduled so that those that wish to take the exams are given the 3 hour opportunity at the end of the second day. Many educators left the two day workshops as proud & new Google Certified Educators!

If you are interested in becoming a Google Certified Educator, I’ve compiled a few ways to accomplish this and also the advantage to doing each. Know that it is a good idea to already be familiar with how G Suite tools are used in a classroom and education setting and that you use G Suite tools on a daily basis. If you would like Google 101 type of training then I suggest a Google sponsored free online material in the Google for Education Training Center, YouTube videos, or a local workshop. (Message me if you need help finding one!)

Google Certified Educator Exam(s) Preparation

 Description

Advantages
Local Google Boot Camp
  • Most take place over one to two days
  • Moderately priced
  • Facilitated by experienced Google Trainers
  • You have a Trainer/Facilitatior than can answer your questions and guide you through your preparation
  • Only takes one or two days of prep if you don’t have the time to do an online course on your own
Google for Education Training Center
  • Written by Google, so it supports what you need to know for the exams.
  • Learn new things regardless of how experienced you already are.
  • Go at your own pace
Study on your own
  • The checklists are super handy and let you know what you need to know.
  • The videos are great for those who prefer a visual tutorial.

Reach out to me if I can help you with any questions you may have during your preparation.  And if you are in the Southern California area, I’d love to meet you at one of the Boot Camps I will be facilitating this summer. Best of luck to you!

@LisaGCeja

April 17, 2018

 

5 Tips for Parents – Cyber Safety: How do we teach our students to be safe, informed, and good digital citizens?

 

Cyber Safety Resources

Link to this page:  bit.ly/cybersafetyresources

You can hire me to come speak to your parents, students, or teachers.

Contact me here:  Contact Form

Handouts:

Websites:

Books:

 

How I Spent My Winter Break – Becoming a Google Certified Trainer

I did get a chance to enjoy my winter break, but I also spent a nice portion of it completing my Google for Education Certified Trainer application. I finished it and I feel proud and accomplished.

There are various parts to the application process:

  • Online Trainer Course
  • Trainer Skills Assessment
  • Google Certified Educator Level 1
  • Google Certified Educator Level 2
  • Create 3 minute video
  • Complete application questions

Start HERE  if you’ve already completed both of Google Certified Educator Levels.

This is the video I created. During the first minute I share why I’d like to become a Google Trainer, and in the next two minutes I show you something I call the “Ultimate Google Doc – Classroom Calendar & Agenda”

Let me know if you have any questions about the application process or anything presented in my video

* Edit 1/23/17 *
I was notified today by email that I am now officially a Google for Education Certified Trainer! I am very proud to become a part of such a wonderful community of professionals.

Google for Education Certified Trainer Badge

 

“Teacher, I Googled You” – An Opportunity for a Lesson in Digital Citizenship

Teacher, I Googled YouYesterday a student said to me “Teacher, I Googled You” and my reply to him was “Good. I’m proud of every single result that comes up. What did you learn about me?”

I always use these moments as an opportunity to talk about digital citizenship. Would they be proud of their own digital footprint? What would their parents or potential employers see? How do we create and maintain a positive digital footprint?

I know that if my students Google me they will discover I used to own a wine shop & wine bar. It’s not a secret, but it’s just not something I freely share with them since it involves a 21 & over subject matter. And honestly, I am proud of how hard I worked while my husband and I owned our business and they can clearly see that just by googling my name. (And yes, I am still as passionate about the world of wine as I am about math & EdTech!)

I can also see somewhat odd traces of my digital footprint like having an IMDB profile because a friend mentioned me in a special thanks in their independent films. I didn’t even realize that existed until I Googled my own name recently. Thank goodness they were films I am also proud to be associated with.

Most importantly, I know I can create & contribute to my own digital footprint just by having a positive & active social media presence. Every blog post and every tweet adds to the image of whom I am online and in person.

So, has a student ever Googled you? How do you talk about digital citizenship with your students?

A Very Cool Pi Day Activity that Does NOT Involve Measuring Circles

Buffon’s Needle Experiment – 

Last year I was looking for an activity to celebrate Pi Day with my students, but I did not want to fall back on the old standby of measuring the circumference and diameter of different circles. After a little research online I found a great video by Numberphile.  Wow, I never imagined we could approximate pi by dropping and counting toothpicks!

Based on other resources I found online, I created a worksheet to lead students through the activity.

Buffon’s Needle Experiment Google Doc version

Buffon’s Needle Experiment pdf version

Here are the results from my Statistics class and also the results from when I did this with adults at a UCLA Professional Development.

Class Data - StatsClass Data - UCLA

Yep, I was pretty happy with the results!  You can also simulate the activity online and get even better results with more trials.

And they had lots of fun working on it as seen in pics below from when it was done at UCLA with math teachers.

We did a little bit of pondering to why this method approximates pi and what throwing toothpicks has to do with the number pi.  The video gives a little clue but other resources online go into much deeper detail if you’re interested.

Enjoy the activity and let me know if you try it out with your students!

My Favorite Chrome Extension (March 2016): Momentum

It started with trying to hide the default new tab page in the Chrome browser.  All I wanted to do was hide my most visited pages (the typical school stuff, but not very interesting) and maybe have something a little more aesthetically pleasing. I tried a few different “new tab” Chrome Extensions, but nothing that really wowed me until I found Momentum. Every day I am greeted with a personal hello and a new inspirational quote. MMomentum - Bad Dayy favorite feature though is the absolutely breathtaking photo that changes every day. It even tells you the location of where the photo was taken.

I became completely sold on Momentum after a particularly difficult day of teaching. I had not experienced a day that trying in many years. During the height of my stressful day I opened a new tab to find the following quote: “Don’t let a bad day make you feel like you have a bad life.” Of course I took a screenshot, took a deep breath, and realized it was just one day that meant very little in my lifetime career of (awesome) teaching.

The Momentum Chrome Extension can display the weather, an ongoing To Do List that syncs across devices, and a daily focus or goal. I like that the features displayed can be customized to your liking.

You can add this FREE Chrome Extension here: Momentum

Do you have a favorite Chrome Extension enjoy using? Feel free to add in comments!