F.O.C.U.S.

The other day, I tuned in on my other Instagram page to a LIVE session. It's a series called, "Mondays with Mignon." Every Monday at 7:30 pm CST, the owner of the Cupcake Collection (a franchise in Tennessee and New Orleans) goes LIVE to reveal what is in her spirit! I have tuned in for three Mondays now, and every single one has been a God send!

You know what pulled  me in first? All the hashtags! No lie. I'm not sure if it's because I am basically a "content creator" for my high school and my own social media pages (I have three), or if it is because I am enamored with the amount of followers she has (it's barely tapping 5,000 right now; but I'm sure it will soon to boost to five numbers or six.)

Have you ever scrolled through someone's feed and were easily pulled in by the language, the vibe, the colors? That's the way I felt. She's just such a positive person. She's a faith talker and walker! The message that first night I watched was AMAZING. It was Bible and bread! Literally, she is a baker, so she was making cornbread and sharing a faith message with the audience. It's funny how I always relate things back to my students and the classroom, and of course to my personal life; but like my profile reads, "maybe it's just in me," and this is "not just a classroom."

Anyway, the word for me that night was a mnemonic - F.O.C.U.S.
A mnemonic (pronounced neh-mon-ick) is one word whose letters create a sentence. You've seen them before. Some people think of mnemonics like acronyms, and technically they are the same, but not really. An acronym is like PEMDAS. I used to think this was some kind of gang thing because I saw it written on desks and walls all over schools. It's the math equation reminder that stands for Parentheses, Exponents, Multiply, Divide, Add, Subtract. PEMDAS is also a mnemonic because of the sentence that goes along with it is, Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally. See, a full-blown sentence. KISS is a popular one: Keep It Simple Stupid. Ok, enough of today's grammar lesson. LOL (Both an acronym AND a mnemonic.)

Do It Anyway

Now that I have the set up of my web site, I feel like I'm not sure where to start!

For the past week and half I have been hearing the same message over and over again in my spirit. If I could share with you my Dream Journal log, it would probably make more sense! But the Word for me is "Anyway."
Start the blog - anyway. Finish the online course - anyway. Update the resumé - anyway. Look for the new job - anyway. Yeah, you read right on those last two. This entire school year has been a doozy but I have been persevering - anyway! There are a few things on my To Do List, and those last two items are definitely priorities! It seems like I have been fearful of just pushing through and getting it done though. I'm not sure if that comes with age, but I find myself not attacking goals like I used to. Maybe I wasn't setting them like I am now. I am not angry, or at least not letting that take over, but I have been more reluctant to branch out.
I look at Instagram feeds and YouTube channels, and celebrate my global PLN on acquiring more subscribers or updating sites and all, and then, I just shrink back after thinking, "I do that too," or, "What am I doing?" So now, tonight, at 10:07 pm CST, I am doing it - anyway! Blog post #1 is in the books! I hope to find an image to post with this one, and I'm also hoping to get some kind of flow going here. Someone in a recent Twitter chat just told me to write when I want and what I want. An influencer on my personal Instagram inboxed me almost an entire year ago with, "Just start." Well, guys, I did it! I started. I have a ton of content already, I think. Shucks, I've been doing this

teaching thing over 10 years.
Anyway, if you've read through this long, you're a real one, and I hope to have your eyes and heart for the next update! And if your word for the month, quarter, semester or year happens to be ANYWAY, get on it! Let's do this thing!😉

#notjustaclassroomblog

LFLTA20

I had a blast in January 2020 presenting at my first ever language conference! Sure, I went to ACTFL two years prior on a whim and totally lucked out working the check-in/ information booth in exchange for my membership fee waived to attend! But to be invited by a mentor language guru, thee Annabelle Williamson, and submit a proposal in order to present at the Louisiana conference in 2020 put me on Cloud 9! 

What is LFLTA? It actually stands for the Louisiana Foreign Language Teachers' Association. I became a member a few years ago just to go to the MAIN conference (ACTFL) held in my city (New Orelans) and have connected with some pretty inspiring educators because of it. In November 2019, I received an email from LFLTA's Vice President, Corinne Nutt, who informed me my proposal was accepted for the "LA's Got Talent"-themed event! 🙌 I was bringing my digital escape room that I usually shared at ed-tech assemblies to a language conference! Mind blowing! 

You can find a few highlights of the event on my Instagram page (iteachspanishatwsjh)! The conference room buzzed with excitement as lead learners partnered up to ESCAPE a challenge that I created! I introduced myself as a Spanish 1 and 2-level teacher and confessed that I was so used to presenting at tech conferences I wasn't quite sure how my idea would come across in the language world. But after the first five minutes, I got the feeling the crowd was sold! 

Introducing the digital breakout room, created in Microsoft OneNote! I shared all things #MicrosoftEDU and even threw in a Nearpod poll and collaboration board for quick feedback and crowd engagement!

To wrap up my 45-minute presentation, I sent this Microsoft Form link (tinyurl.com/lfltaescape) to participants to see if they wanted a separate email or tutorial on how to put together a breakout room, and that was that. And for those who wanted to keep practicing or play go through the escape room again, I sent my link too: tinyurl.com/freeescape19

This freebie full of resources is a great start for anyone looking to jump into creating their own tools. I used Microsoft EDU simply because it the portal I am most familiar with and purchased by my school district. However, many of my teacher friends are at Google sites, and that is A-ok! 
 

voice.google.com	Set up a Google voice number.
Faketicketgenerator.com	Creates a fake novelty concert ticket
Ransomizor.com	Makes ransom note
Fakereceipt.com	Creates fake store receipts
Fakephonetext.com   https://ifaketextmessage.com/	Generates an iPhone message conversation
http://www.abcya.com/decoder_puzzle.h	“Encrypts” a short message
spell out and make a note with a shortened URL link  (ex: gee oh oh dot gee el slash blah blah blah)	Ex:https://goo.gl/31XZIo
Google Drawings to create puzzles	Ex:https://goo.gl/5XIORY
Google Sheets to "expose" hidden messages	Ex:bit.ly/ss-sss
puzzlemaker.com	Creates multiple puzzle forms, including Fallen Phrases, hidden message word searches and more
thunk.com	Generations es “cipher-style” codes
myrebus.com	Turns phrases into picture puzzles pictures
https://www.optimalworkshop.com/optimalsort	Allows participants to sort “cards” into meaningful categories - results in a message at the end
https://blog.deck.toys/breakout-in-every-lesson/	Slide-deck (similar to Nearpod or Pear Deck) with “toys” for students practice
http://snotes.com/	Create hidden message circles that must be read at a specific angle
https://matchthememory.com	Just like the Memory game you remember, but it reveals an image at the end
https://www.google.com/maps/	Latitude/longitude, etc
http://www.jigsawplanet.com/   https://www.jigidi.com/	Makes any image into a jigsaw puzzle - you determine the number and shape of the pieces
http://morsecode.scphillips.com/translator.html	Generates and translates messages to/from Morse Code
http://binarytranslator.com/	Converts text to and from binary code
http://vocaroo.com/	Record and store audio messages
http://www.diffen.com/	Compare and contrast any two things
http://puzzles4you.blogspot.com/	Riddles and critical thinking puzzles
http://www.classtools.net/	A zillion or more different tools!
http://www.classtools.net/education-g2jSFQrqames-php/lights_out	Lights out - upload an image, and hold a virtual match over it to reveal a picture (ex:http://www.classtools.net/widgets/lights_out_8/1msGt.htm)
http://www.braingle.com/	Brain teasers, riddles, trivia, brain exercises, games, and more
http://www.en.fliptext.net/	Write text upside down
http://www.placespotting.com/	Use Google Earth to find places in the world. Create your own quiz.
http://www.geogreeting.com/	Create messages using Google Earth images; screenshot them and save to the flash drive for an Earthly breakout! Ex:http://www.geogreeting.com/view.html?yroIUlBokuyEDUpkxCa
http://wigflip.com/screedbot/#	Write an animated scrolling message (save as a GIF)
http://wigflip.com/signbot/	Create a scrolling sign (save as GIF)
http://bighugelabs.com/	Make tons of cool stuff, from magazine covers to qa
http://www.addletters.com/	Make fake signs, newspaper articles, ransom notes, diplomas and more
https://www.barcodesinc.com/generator/index.php	Generate barcodes and qr codes from text
https://gweb-docs-bots-demo.appspot.com/	Write a message in a fake Google Doc and get collaborative responses from “celebs” of yore   Ex:https://goo.gl/fo0yLQ
http://talesofthings.com/	Add memories to physical objects to share with others.
http://photofunia.com/	Create your own images by inserting your photo into various images and scenes.
http://www.imagechef.com/	Create all kinds of cool stuff with words and photos   Ex:https://goo.gl/lCSxum
festisites.com	Names, poems, and instant creativity
http://returnflights.net/or   http://omatic.musicairport.com/	Create fake airline tickets
https://media.giphy.com/media/l0HlMpjn9TEm416gg/giphy.gif	I don’t know yet, but I just love this so much! Maybe something on the word lock?!
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history	Good site for date locks
https://codemoji.org/#/encrypt	code emoji
http://listverse.com/2012/03/13/10-codes-and-ciphers/	Codes and ciphers
https://boonjin.com/mystery-piano/	Create a piano puzzle with a hidden message
http://www.eyechartmaker.com/index.php	Create a custom eye chart
http://www.fakewhats.com/	Create fake chats or emails
https://www.fodey.com/generators/newspaper/snippzet.asp	Create fake newspaper clips/stories
https://www.riddles.com/	Riddles and brain teasers with answers
Code.org	Codes to tickle your brain!
Hide n See   https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/hide-n-see/id491689892?mt=8	Create Red Lens Reveal Images
Gum	Hide secrets within barcodes.
Snotes   www.snotes.com	A Snote is a fun, unique and creative way to deliver a secret message. Snotes come in all shapes, sizes and colors. You can make your Snote easy to read, or add extra layers of secrecy making it more difficult to decode. Learning to read Snotes takes a bit of practice, but once you know the secret, it’s easy.
Binary Decodehttp://www.roubaixinteractive.com/PlayGround/Binary_Conversion/Binary_To_Text.asp	Decode/create binary messages.
www.thinfi.comorwww.hidelinks.com	Password protect a link
http://www.mobilefish.com/services/wanted_poster/wanted_poster.php	Create a western or modern style wanted poster, or even a lost, missing, stolen, found or have you seen poster.
https://m.photofunia.com/	Create a million different images!
https://www.powtoon.com/online-presentation/gg1JBXpxQW5/mission-zombie-prevention/?mode=movie	Use PowToon to create a Breakout clue or entry
http://www.indigoimage.com/secretmsg/	Secret message creator, including MAGIC INK   GROOVY GRIDS, FANCY FOLDING, COSMIC COLORS, and MASK LETTERS
http://www.braingle.com/brainteasers/codes/scytale.php	Create a scytale (a cylinder of a specific diameter around which a strip of paper is wrapped) or any number of other cypher codes.
http://royalbaloo.com/multiplication-code-breaker/	Multiplication code breaker
http://dollarstorecrafts.com/2012/05/man-crafts-secret-postcard-decoder/	Create a postcard decoder
http://www.altairva-fs.com/training/ava_training_atc.htm	Aviation phonetic alphabet
http://www.simonemadeit.com/secret-codes-for-kids-top-secret-messages/	Numerous codes and ciphers
https://puzzlersworld.com/picture-puzzles/three-squares-not-linked-to-others/	This is an inspiring kind of visual puzzle!
http://www.educatorstechnology.com/2013/03/wonderful-free-templates-to-create.html	Create newspapers using this Word template
http://www.puzzles.com/	A ton of different options!
http://www.mrfloresreads.info/resources/math/secretmessage/	Generate your Own “Hidden Message” Math Practice Sheets
https://www.discoveryeducation.com/free-puzzlemaker/	Generates a word search with a hidden message.
https://www.festisite.com/rebus/	Rebus generator
http://app.wizer.me/	Create beautiful interactive worksheets.  (matching, sorting, multiple choice, diagrams\Z )
http://breakyourownnews.com/	Create an image that mimics breaking news on a broadcast with a customized tagline
https://justpaste.it/	Share text, pictures, video, and audio with others quickly and easily.  JustPasteIt creates a short URL that can be shared with anyone!

The above resource has some pretty cool tech tools to enhance the clue-making feel for your digital escape/ breakout room. I've used the puzzle maker, text message, and ticket generator sites! Fun! Iḿ sure I will post again with another tutorial or a video to share creating an escape room! Until then, keep me posted, and happy creating!  

Relive all the LFLTA escape room feels from here and here (Instagram posts)!