Week of May 18-22,

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🙏Prayers and Spiritual 
Guidance

Being a Living Prayer

Much like a Lectio Divina, a Video Divina allows for a deep exploration of media and a search for God's voice speaking to us in the experience.

From the CARFLEO website, here is a Video Divina on a "Living Prayer" by Alison Krauss and an article on how we can Be a Living Prayer by Fr. Daniel Horan.

Review the following post by CARFLEO for the process of Video Divina.



How Should Catholics Respond to the Coronavirus Pandemic?  

In this video, Fr. Mike Schmitz outlines what our response as Catholics should be during this pandemic.  It is so easy for us to become what Fr. Mike coins as "armchair quarterbacks" or backseat drivers, and criticize what is happening in our world today.  We have the luxury of criticizing because we don't have the responsibility of making important decisions.  What Fr. Mike suggests we should do instead is 1. Be grateful; and 2. Pray for those who are making the decisions.

Rather than be caught up in the Spirit of Interest, we should look to embrace the Spirit of Influence, and ask ourselves "What can I do during this time to help others?"

Some people may wonder whether this time is a time of God's judgment.  Fr. Mike reminds us that in the stories of the Bible when people experienced challenges, they took the time to repent and reflect and to grow closer to God.  

So, during this time, let us not succumb to fear, anxiety, and judgment, but let us turn our hearts to prayer and trust that God will see us through this time to a safer, healthier, and brighter tomorrow.

We have full access to the Father's heart, in Jesus Christ our Lord, through prayer. - Fr. Mike


Join us in Praying the Rosary📿

During the month of May, let us continue to honour and celebrate Mary, the Mother of God.  In honour of Mary, join us in praying the rosary every Friday at 10 a.m., this month.  Our Google Meet nickname is str-rosary.  

If you are unable to join, but would like to express special intentions for our prayers, please email me.

Daily Reflections

These daily reflections are a great way to start your day. Feel free to share them with your students on your class VLE.

Monday, May 18 - “Jerusalem, My Destiny” CARFLEO
Tuesday, May 19 - “Open the Eyes of My Heart” CARFLEO
Wednesday, May 20 - Venite Spiritu YCDSB MWS
Thursday, May 21 - Litany of Saints YCDSB MWS
Friday, May 22 - “If We’re Honest” YCDSB MWS

😇Check out the 3 Minute Retreats on the Loyola Press Website.

Here are the Weekly Prayers for Week 7 of Distance Learning.


💻EdTech Support and 


Resources

Explain Everything

Thank you to Michelle Bulger for sharing the following information and resources about Explain Everything.

Here is information on Explain Everything.  The code you will use to access this app is CAAGMHLSNAYM.

The ycdsb.ca domain has been whitelisted so that all new users signing up with a school email address will be automatically added to your EDU Group. Please note that the license limit still applies and once you reach it, no more people will be able to join your Group Account.

You can now sign into your Explain Everything account.

Explain Everything for Online Education

Here are some materials that should help you use Explain Everything online the best of its capabilities:

Explore these to learn more about Explain Everything:

How to take Attendance in Google Meet

I came across a Chrome extension called Meet Attendance, that allows you to take attendance of who has joined your Google Meet.  Once you have added this extension, you will see a new icon beside the people's tab when you start a Google Meet.  When you click on this icon, it will open up a Google Sheet with a list of the names of the individuals in your Google Meet.  Pretty cool, eh?

Here's a video to explain how this extension works:


Creating a Flipped Classroom using Google Forms

A flipped classroom can vary, however, the premise of the concept is to allow students to view or read material prior to a scheduled lesson. Doing so allows for your scheduled teaching time to be focused more on answering students' questions on the content and allowing students to practice concepts.  Also, having students view a video or image, or read an article prior to a lesson can be a way for you to launch your lesson with students already having a general understanding of the concepts you will explain and teach.

Here is a tutorial video to show you how to add multimedia to Google forms for students to watch:


Here is an example of a flipped classroom assessment created by Matt Miller.

Using Screencastify for Synchronous Learning

Over the past few weeks of distance learning, some of us have become adept in using Google Meet to interact with students and teach our lessons.  However, you are not comfortable using this format of synchronous learning, you may wish to consider creating pre-recorded lessons using Screencastify.

Generally, Screencastify allows you to record videos of only 5 minutes in duration.  However, during this time of remote learning due to the pandemic, you can have access to their unlimited version, to record longer videos, using the code:  COVID_CAST.  This will provide you with free access for a year.

What's great about this digital tool is that it allows you to edit your recorded videos and all recorded videos are saved directly to your Google Drive for future use.

The Ministry tells us, as educators, “to teach students how to access, think critically about, synthesize, use, create and share content.” Therefore, another way to use Screencastify is to have students use the digital tool “to explain and share their thinking with [you].”  Before having your students create their own screencastify videos, I would suggest that you become familiar with the tool yourself first and model the use of the tool for your students.  Screencastify can easily be used as a product component for your course CPT.

Here are some resources for you to begin using this tool:

Must-Have Google Chrome Extensions for Teachers

Just as much as I love Google Add-Ons, I also love Google extensions!

Here is a VIDEO that shares and explains Google Chrome extensions teachers can use to help streamline your work and be more productive and efficient.  You can add Chrome extensions by going to the Chrome Web Store.  Here are the extensions worth having:
  1. Screencastify
  2. Tab Scissors
  3. Tab Glue
  4. Web Paint
  5. Share to Classroom 
  6. Google Keep
  7. Save to Google Drive
  8. Awesome Screenshot or One-Click Screenshot
  9. Google Translate
  10. Google Calendar
  11. Small PDF
  12. Session Buddy
  13. Bitmoji (fun factor!)
  14. Giphy (fun factor!)
HELPFUL TIP:  You can add as many extensions as you would like, and you can also disable and enable them as you need to, in Chrome settings.

Do you have a tech question? Jeanne Buckley and Lisa Loffredi are available every Thursday to assist you.


You can also ask your tech questions in our online chat using Google Hangouts.  Just click HERE to access the STR Tech Support group chat.


📚Library Resources

Library Learning Commons


Check out the new Fun Stress Relievers page of the St. Robert Library Learning Commons.  It is for students and staff alike.  Want to learn how to make a face mask? Do a jigsaw puzzle?

Free Trials of Databases on now!

Available for you and your students, the library currently has multiple free trials of databases and eBook collections ongoing.  Most last until the end of June or longer.  Get access to unlimited simultaneous multi-user resources for your students (articles, eBooks, videos, etc.).  These items can supplement or replace a text.  Be sure to let me know what you found super-useful and we will look into adding a subscription next year so you can keep using it...

Teacher-Support Website

The St. Robert Teacher-Support Website is updated on an ongoing basis.  Check out what is available for your department.  Visit the tech-support page for instant help.  This site is accessible to students so feel free to post links to any page of it for your students to have easy access to something you found useful.  If you have something you want added, ask away!

🧠Staff Wellness


Thank you to Meghan Ferrari for sharing this beautiful image of an uplifting poem.



🧠Newsworthy News

INSPIRATIONAL VIDEO (MUST-WATCH!)


This was the highlight of my week!  Here is our very own STR Liturgical Choir singing their well-know hymn "Oceans" for us and all, to offer us encouragement during this time.

Thank you to Amanda Koon for supporting and leading these students to share their talents  with us and feed our souls with music.

Click on the image below to watch the video or click HERE.



   


Location: Toronto, ON, Canada

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