SMART Lab has several great game templates (shout out, match, sort, etc.). One that is perfect as a team review game is Monster Lab. I created 10 multiple choice questions for three-digit addition and subtraction. Each student logged onto hellosmart.com and entered his/her name. I had the program randomly sort them into 5 teams. (Teachers have the option of rearranging the members if they want better balance before the challenge starts.) Every student also had a dry-erase board and marker to work out the sums and differences. The kids were so focused during this 15 minutes that you could hear a pin drop! Though there were several quiet bursts of joy when students and saw their team monster begin to burst from the shell with every correct answer. I know they enjoyed this activity a lot because many asked to do it again. So it looks like Monster Lab review games are a winner!
SMART
Die for Smooth Transitions
One of the greatest challenges for teachers is smooth transitions between activities. We often loose control of the class to chatter and chaos when we ask them to move from one location to another. In the SMART Notebook gallery, you will find a variety of dice. Choose one that can be edited. I prefer to label the six sides with table 1, table 2, table 3, etc. A student helper taps the die, and the next group to line up is decided. The students remain quiet as they anticipate the next roll. Movement is done in small chunks and so much time and energy is saved! Give it a roll in your classroom. You’ll just “die” for these smooth transitions!
Checklists
Think about all of the things you repeatedly say throughout the week. Think about all of the kids who are visual learners. Now think about how much time and breath you’ll save by making simple to do lists or checklist for your students using SMART Notebook! I prefer to use 3-5 simple statements coupled with a clipart image for each. The students will become so use to seeing and following the routine directions that you’ll smile and pat yourself on the back.
Basic Operation and Care
Components
The computer sends an image to the projector through a RGB or VGA cable. The projector transmits the image onto the interactive whiteboard. The board relays any input messages (use of pen tools or hand) to the computer through a USB cable.
When you press the board with a pen tool or your finger, the top layer of the screen makes contact with the back layer of the screen. Press with intent to ensure that your actions are recognized by the back layer.
Safety
- Never look directly at the projector’s light beam.
- Never touch the projector. It can become very hot during operation.
- Never use a chair to increase a student’s reach on the SMARTTM board.
- Never use other writing utensils (markers, pencils, ink pens, etc.) on the board. Keep these materials and others (scissors, liquids, etc.) away from the area.
- Be mindful of cords and the legs on portable models.
Cleaning and Orienting
Glass PlusR Multi-Surface Cleaner and a soft paper towel or cloth are recommended for cleaning the board. This should be done as needed. Try to make it a habit to clean and orient your board once a week.
Etiquette
Only one user can touch the board at a time. Since only one point of contact can be recognized by the board, so you may need to adjust how you hold the pen tools when writing. Do not rest your hand on the board. If you are right-handed, it is best to stand on the right side of the board. This way your body will open up to your audience.
The Pen Tray
The four SMARTTM Board pens are simply hollow plastic tubes. Optical sensors on the pen tray notify the computer when a pen is removed. If you pick up two or more tools without returning the others, the board will recognize the last tool selected.
One pen try button will launch the keyboard. The second button allows you to access right-click. Pressing them both at the same time will open the orientation screen to align the board with the projector.
Indicator Lights
The status light (ready light) is located on the bottom right side of your SMARTTM Board.
|
Color of Light |
Status |
| Not Lit |
|
| Solid Green |
|
| Flashing Green |
|
| Solid Red |
|
| Flashing Amber |
|
| Solid Amber |
|
Got Wordle?
Wordle, www.wordle.net, is a website for creating word clouds. Simply type in a series of words using commas. The more often the word is included, the larger it will appear in the final word cloud. Then customize the themes, fonts, and colors. Use the SMART camera tool to take a picture and add it to your SMART file. There are a variety of classroom applications. Ask your students to write down five words to describe a character from a story, a scientific concept following the unit of story, or an upcoming holiday. This can be an individual or small group task. Or create a Wordle on a topic of study and use it to preview the chapter. Students can view it and make connections to prior knowledge. Or type each of your student’s names to create a class word cloud that can be an image on your classroom website or your classroom computer’s desktop background. TIP: Type your words in a Word document and paste them into the field on the site. Because if you decide to “go back” and add, delete, or change words, you will be sent back to the home page. Your work is not saved on the site. Also, for two words that you’d like to stay together such as United States, put a ~ between the words (United~States).
Group Generator
I love the random group generators available in the SMART Notebook gallery. After searching “random,” look under the “multimedia” category. I use the one pictured above and include student numbers rather than names. Since this grouping tool is part of many different SMART files (reading, math, science, writing), I want to keep it general enough to be used year after year. After entering number/names, chose the number of groups you’d like to make. Then “generate” to see the random groupings. If a student is absent and you want to remove his/her number/name, do this on the first page before generating. Then be sure you don’t leave an empty fields. The function will only group the students prior to the open slot. The quick fix it to move the last number/name of your class into the empty spot.
Pete’s Presentations
Phillip Martin has outdone himself with his collection of sites offering educators FREE PowerPoint presentations, education websites, and clipart. The main site, Pete’s PowerPoint Station, has links to numerous resources. I’d recommend viewing all of the themes and topics at Pete’s Presentations because you can look at all of the possibilities. Sub-sites include Gretta’s Game Station and Hannah’s Homework Help Station. Don’t miss the clipart link. Mr. Martin’s unique, colorful cartoon style appeals to all children.
As long as you use it for your classroom (newsletters, website, interactive whiteboard lessons, self-made worksheets, etc.), these amazing resources are yours at no cost. He does ask that you tell someone else about the site. I’d say that is the least we can do to thank Mr. Martin for his outstanding artistry and organization. This is a teacher’s jackpot!
Pete’s Presentations
http://www.pppst.com/themes.html
Gretta’s Games
http://games.pppst.com/index.html
Hannah’s Help
http://resources.pppst.com/index.html
Circle Tap to Erase
Do you need a shortcut for erasing a large area of writing on your SMART Board™? Try “Circle Tap” to erase words or drawings created with a pen tool.
- Make a complete circle on the board using the eraser around an area with writing. You can use the actual eraser tool in your hand or by clicking on the eraser in your top toolbar. Make sure the circle ends wear you began. And don’t dawdle. If you take too long to draw the circle with your eraser, this will not work.
- Tap firmly in the center of the invisible circle you drew. Your writing within that area will disappear.
- This will only work on words or drawings that were created with a pen tool. Typed text, shape tool objects, graphics, etc. will remain on the page.
- This skill sometimes takes new users a few attempts to master. Remember . . . draw complete circle with the eraser tool and firmly tap in the center.
Orienting the Board
This process of orienting the screen will tell your computer where the projected image is located on the SMART Board™. I recommend orienting your board at the beginning of each school week. Some boards are mounted in an area of the school building that has more movement on the floor or roof above, which will cause the projector to become out of alignment from time to time. You can orient your board even in the middle of a lesson if you notice your point of touch is off. It will only take 10 seconds.
- On the pen tray attached to your SMART Board™, click the keyboard and mouse buttons at the same time. A gray screen will appear which will allow you to orient your SMART Board™.
- Using the pen tool tip, firmly touch the yellow center of each red + sign and release. I prefer to touch near the + sign, firmly drag my pen tool tip into the yellow center, and remove the pen when I have it perfectly centered. The SMART Board™ actually recognizes the point of release, not the first point of contact on the screen. Some teachers prefer to use a finger instead of a pen tool for orienting. Continue marking these points as they appear on the screen. A normal-sized board will have 9 points. Widescreen boards will have 12 points.
- If you make a mistake during this process, press a key on your pen tray to go back and re-do the previous + sign.
- When you finish with the last point, this orientation screen will disappear. You will be returned to the last program you had up on your computer screen.
Graffiti Wall
I sometimes use a traditional paper graffiti wall to accompany a novel study, read aloud, or thematic unit. It gives students an opportunity to express their thoughts in words and pictures and promotes a written discussion. The SMART™ Board takes this activity to another level. For a chapter book, you can have multiple SMART Notebook™ pages, one for each chapter. The larger electronic version of a graffiti wall also allows you to more easily discuss posted comments and questions with the entire class. It can be left up for students to use while the teacher reads aloud, during silent reading, or as a literacy station activity.
Kristen Foley 