I have been involved in a grant project through Western Illinois University for the last year. We are finishing the last part of it this summer with a 2-week wrap-up session of trainings. I wanted to give props to the WIU professors who have been presenting the last 2 days. So often I attend trainings where the presenter does just that - presents. These two gentlemen, Dr. Olsen and Dr. Mann, have done a great job at having us be active participants in the training. This is so much more effective for me than just attending a sit-and-get workshop.
I believe I do a decent job in my classroom of keeping the students involved, but this summer I am focusing on finding hands-on activities and ideas of things to do in my classroom to keep improving. This is a great active-learning training for me to be attending. I've read Ron Clark's The End of Molasses Classes and am in the middle of Dave Burgess's Teach Like a Pirate. Pinterest amazes me, not to mention sucks all of the time out of the day, and I am getting more involved in Learnist. I swore I'd contribute to Twitter more often instead of just creeping around and absorbing everyone else's knowledge. I've also been listening to podcasts while I workout, mow, and do household chores. The summer is a time for me to reflect and make goals for next year. So, thank you to everyone who's been helping me with that this summer!
Tuesday, July 9, 2013
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
Can I really change the world?
I can't learn enough this summer! I have been listening to podcasts while doing all of the jobs that I put off during the school year and reading tons of blogs every night. Last week I was listening to Larry Jacobs on Education Talk Radio, or perhaps it was when I was creeping on the Teach Like A Pirate chat on Twitter (#tlap), when someone mentioned that Ron Clark's book The End of Molasses Classes changed his life. I went straight to the local university's library to order it and Teach Like a Pirate by Dave Burgess (@burgessdave) through an interlibrary loan. I picked up The End of Molasses Classes today and I can't put it down.
I read the first 20 solutions that Mr. Clark offers and decided I should call it a night, but I wanted to tweet about how much I love it and how it reminds me that I have so much growing to do as a teacher. I have 11 years under my belt, but there is always room for improvement. I got into teaching to change the world...so, am I?
Then....I got sucked into Twitter (I hadn't been on there all day!). I saw that Dan Meyer had posted about Kate Nowak (@k8nowak) writing something, so I immediately read it as I do most anything he suggests. I totally agreed with everything she said so I automatically became her newest follower. Then, I scrolled down a little farther and he had tweeted about the Gathering of the High Council of the Math Teacher Bloggers. My first thought was "how does one get into that group?" And then I thought "one would probably have to keep their blog up to date, Lisa!" I read his post and it was like he was talking right to me. I need to contribute more to my PLN because that's what I want my community to be. I am on Twitter daily. I read hundreds of educational blogs every week, but reply to very few. I haven't updated my own since April. I have valuable things to contribute, but I don't. I rarely tweet. I lurk around several chats on Twitter, but rarely participate.
Why? I am not sure about this. I know I have things I can contribute and I feel completely comfortable with the people in the chats. Everyone is so kind and encouraging. When I do participate, I walk away feeling great about myself and giving back to the educational community. I simply need to actively participate more. That's it. Participate the way I would want others, or students in my classroom, to participate. Be kind. Be gracious. Be honest. SHARE!!
Thank you to Kate Nowak and Dan Meyer for the inspiration to start doing more online! Thank you to Ron Clark for reminding me to MAKE IT HAPPEN! The combination of your writings fit perfectly together for me tonight; I will change the world!!
I read the first 20 solutions that Mr. Clark offers and decided I should call it a night, but I wanted to tweet about how much I love it and how it reminds me that I have so much growing to do as a teacher. I have 11 years under my belt, but there is always room for improvement. I got into teaching to change the world...so, am I?
Then....I got sucked into Twitter (I hadn't been on there all day!). I saw that Dan Meyer had posted about Kate Nowak (@k8nowak) writing something, so I immediately read it as I do most anything he suggests. I totally agreed with everything she said so I automatically became her newest follower. Then, I scrolled down a little farther and he had tweeted about the Gathering of the High Council of the Math Teacher Bloggers. My first thought was "how does one get into that group?" And then I thought "one would probably have to keep their blog up to date, Lisa!" I read his post and it was like he was talking right to me. I need to contribute more to my PLN because that's what I want my community to be. I am on Twitter daily. I read hundreds of educational blogs every week, but reply to very few. I haven't updated my own since April. I have valuable things to contribute, but I don't. I rarely tweet. I lurk around several chats on Twitter, but rarely participate.
Why? I am not sure about this. I know I have things I can contribute and I feel completely comfortable with the people in the chats. Everyone is so kind and encouraging. When I do participate, I walk away feeling great about myself and giving back to the educational community. I simply need to actively participate more. That's it. Participate the way I would want others, or students in my classroom, to participate. Be kind. Be gracious. Be honest. SHARE!!
Thank you to Kate Nowak and Dan Meyer for the inspiration to start doing more online! Thank you to Ron Clark for reminding me to MAKE IT HAPPEN! The combination of your writings fit perfectly together for me tonight; I will change the world!!
Monday, April 15, 2013
What a team!
Today was a great day to be working at Central! Our active learning professional development after school was great. We focused on professional learning networks and what they can do for our careers as a means of individualilzed professional development. More specifically we focused on Twitter.
It was a small group and I felt like everyone was engaged and contributed to the professional development. I had a co-presenter today, but it didn't feel like we were the ones presenting. Some of the other people were new to Twitter and others already had an account. They were all asking good questions and helping each other. We were all on the same page and working together really well.
Central Junior High is full of supportive educators and administrators who are there for the right reasons. They encourage each other and support each other. They offer positive feedback on things that are happening in classrooms. When someone has an idea, they listen and brainstorm with each other. Overall, it is an amazing place to spend the days. When tragedy strikes, like it did in Boston today, it makes me take a look around and realize how incredibly fortunate I am in my life. I am grateful for the team of teachers and principal I work with in the junior high.
It was a small group and I felt like everyone was engaged and contributed to the professional development. I had a co-presenter today, but it didn't feel like we were the ones presenting. Some of the other people were new to Twitter and others already had an account. They were all asking good questions and helping each other. We were all on the same page and working together really well.
Central Junior High is full of supportive educators and administrators who are there for the right reasons. They encourage each other and support each other. They offer positive feedback on things that are happening in classrooms. When someone has an idea, they listen and brainstorm with each other. Overall, it is an amazing place to spend the days. When tragedy strikes, like it did in Boston today, it makes me take a look around and realize how incredibly fortunate I am in my life. I am grateful for the team of teachers and principal I work with in the junior high.
Monday, April 1, 2013
A great compliment
Our eighth grade students were paired up with juniors or seniors and went to their classes with them for two periods for the "Freshmen Experience." When talking with one of my students after his experience, he told me that he went to the Pre-Calc/Trig class in the high school. I asked how it was and if he thought he'd enjoy that class when he gets to high school; he likes math and is very good at it, so I figured he'd say he loved it and can't wait to get there. He told me that the teacher was talking about all of this crazy stuff he's never heard of before and asked if anyone had any questions. My student raised his hand and said "When are they going to use this in life?" The teacher answered with "they're probably not going to." My student said, "then why are you teaching it to them?"
I know what you're thinking because I was thinking the same thing, but don't judge my student yet. Wait until the end of the story!
The teacher responded with "I'm sure that Mrs. Litchfield teaches you things in your math class that you're never going to use either." Listen to the amazing compliment that my student gave me; he said "No. Everything we do has a real-life application. We don't ever just do problems to be doing them. They're always connected to something." I wanted to hug him when he said this! That was one of my goals this year and I have worked so hard to make it a reality. It was so nice of him to notice and have enough courage to share it with others. I have been telling them all year that it's ok to ask questions about what/why you're learning something. It's ok to ask for more out of your education than just a lecture and 25 problems of homework. These kids learn in a totally different way than I did and it's time we recognize this and step up to give them what they deserve. How wonderful that he noticed!
My student did not mean for his questions to be rude. He's a very kind, caring, curious, and probably the hardest working young man I know. He just wanted to know when this could be used in life. In my classroom, asking when we're going to use this is a perfectly acceptable question. Matter of fact, I encourage it. I talked to the other teacher to make sure he didn't get the wrong impression of this student. He said he liked having someone in his class that was interested and wanted to know what the purpose of the math is. I told him he was going to love having this student! He's incredible and, lucky for me, I get to have him next year too!!
I know what you're thinking because I was thinking the same thing, but don't judge my student yet. Wait until the end of the story!
The teacher responded with "I'm sure that Mrs. Litchfield teaches you things in your math class that you're never going to use either." Listen to the amazing compliment that my student gave me; he said "No. Everything we do has a real-life application. We don't ever just do problems to be doing them. They're always connected to something." I wanted to hug him when he said this! That was one of my goals this year and I have worked so hard to make it a reality. It was so nice of him to notice and have enough courage to share it with others. I have been telling them all year that it's ok to ask questions about what/why you're learning something. It's ok to ask for more out of your education than just a lecture and 25 problems of homework. These kids learn in a totally different way than I did and it's time we recognize this and step up to give them what they deserve. How wonderful that he noticed!
My student did not mean for his questions to be rude. He's a very kind, caring, curious, and probably the hardest working young man I know. He just wanted to know when this could be used in life. In my classroom, asking when we're going to use this is a perfectly acceptable question. Matter of fact, I encourage it. I talked to the other teacher to make sure he didn't get the wrong impression of this student. He said he liked having someone in his class that was interested and wanted to know what the purpose of the math is. I told him he was going to love having this student! He's incredible and, lucky for me, I get to have him next year too!!
Monday, November 5, 2012
Out of the Rut!
Last week I had a meeting with my high school math department. I like each of the people in our department and am sure they are good teachers, but I left the meeting feeling like I am not on the same page as any of them when it comes to teaching. Who am I kidding, I'm not even in the same book!
Then, I second guessed myself all week. Is my teaching style preparing my students for the teachers they'll get in high school? Probably not. Is my teaching style compatible with most of my students way of learning? I think so. They're doing fine anyway. Maybe I'm too "out there." Maybe I should talk more instead of letting the students discover the information they need to use as a class or in small groups. (This doesn't even sound like something I would ever say) Are they learning the skills they are going to need to be successful in their future endeavors? Yes if we're not talking about sitting in a classroom and expecting to be spoon fed. I just felt like I was in a funk and started to doubt myself.
Thursday night and Friday we had Parent-Teacher conferences, except I did student-lead conferences so the students were doing all of the talking. Who knows their education better than they do? Again, I was breaking the mold in my school. However, by the time conferences were over on Friday, I had my mo-jo back. Students and parents both appreciate that my class isn't a "traditional" classroom. They like sitting at tables instead of desks because it's more comfortable and allows for a better "working" environment. I even had one student tell me that she's learned more this year than any other year she can remember. She said, "I'm learning so much more than math when I'm in here. Mom, I'm learning how to work with people and talk to them when I don't agree with them. I've learned how to use an iPad, Edmodo, and Todays Meet and I can't wait to use these really sweet calculators Mrs. Litchfield has!" Of course we had to show her mom everything she was talking about and how we're using them for education.
I have to remind myself that I don't teach "outside the box" to make other teachers in my school happy. I teach how I believe the students learn the best. I do what I think is best for them (not what's easiest for me). They're involved. They're "doing." They're discussing. They're analyzing. They're creating. They're engaged. They're excited to be in my class and I am excited to be their teacher!
Then, I second guessed myself all week. Is my teaching style preparing my students for the teachers they'll get in high school? Probably not. Is my teaching style compatible with most of my students way of learning? I think so. They're doing fine anyway. Maybe I'm too "out there." Maybe I should talk more instead of letting the students discover the information they need to use as a class or in small groups. (This doesn't even sound like something I would ever say) Are they learning the skills they are going to need to be successful in their future endeavors? Yes if we're not talking about sitting in a classroom and expecting to be spoon fed. I just felt like I was in a funk and started to doubt myself.
Thursday night and Friday we had Parent-Teacher conferences, except I did student-lead conferences so the students were doing all of the talking. Who knows their education better than they do? Again, I was breaking the mold in my school. However, by the time conferences were over on Friday, I had my mo-jo back. Students and parents both appreciate that my class isn't a "traditional" classroom. They like sitting at tables instead of desks because it's more comfortable and allows for a better "working" environment. I even had one student tell me that she's learned more this year than any other year she can remember. She said, "I'm learning so much more than math when I'm in here. Mom, I'm learning how to work with people and talk to them when I don't agree with them. I've learned how to use an iPad, Edmodo, and Todays Meet and I can't wait to use these really sweet calculators Mrs. Litchfield has!" Of course we had to show her mom everything she was talking about and how we're using them for education.
I have to remind myself that I don't teach "outside the box" to make other teachers in my school happy. I teach how I believe the students learn the best. I do what I think is best for them (not what's easiest for me). They're involved. They're "doing." They're discussing. They're analyzing. They're creating. They're engaged. They're excited to be in my class and I am excited to be their teacher!
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Best day yet!
What an amazing day!
Our school recenlty acquired a mobile lab of 30 iPad 2's and today I tested them in my classroom. It went so well that it was almost unbelievable! Our technology director did an amazing job getting the iPads ready for the roll-out. He and I are giving a professional development to the rest of the district's teachers, so he stayed in my classroom all morning watching the students interact with the iPads and talking to them about some of the possibilities of what's to come.
The students' excitement over realizing they were going to be able to use iPads in their classes was incredible. At first, they thought the iPads were just for my classsroom and they were going to use them every day. When I told them that it was a mobile lab that any teacher would be able to check out for the hour/day, you could see the wheels turning and they couldn't contain their curiosity. They had a million questions and just can't wait. The news spread to the other students in the building (I have the luxury of working in a rural 5-12 building) and I had students of all ages telling me all day that they wished they were in my math class. I assured them that their teacher would be able to check out the mobile lab and that they would be using the iPads in no time. The entire building seemed to be in a buzz about the iPads (and the first snowfall of the season).
I can't wait to get the iPads into the rest of the classrooms. Our students DESERVE this and they deserve to be excited about their education and the possibilities that their future offers. Our teachers deserve it too! I hope everyone's first day using the iPads in their classrooms goes as well as mine did!
Our school recenlty acquired a mobile lab of 30 iPad 2's and today I tested them in my classroom. It went so well that it was almost unbelievable! Our technology director did an amazing job getting the iPads ready for the roll-out. He and I are giving a professional development to the rest of the district's teachers, so he stayed in my classroom all morning watching the students interact with the iPads and talking to them about some of the possibilities of what's to come.
The students' excitement over realizing they were going to be able to use iPads in their classes was incredible. At first, they thought the iPads were just for my classsroom and they were going to use them every day. When I told them that it was a mobile lab that any teacher would be able to check out for the hour/day, you could see the wheels turning and they couldn't contain their curiosity. They had a million questions and just can't wait. The news spread to the other students in the building (I have the luxury of working in a rural 5-12 building) and I had students of all ages telling me all day that they wished they were in my math class. I assured them that their teacher would be able to check out the mobile lab and that they would be using the iPads in no time. The entire building seemed to be in a buzz about the iPads (and the first snowfall of the season).
I can't wait to get the iPads into the rest of the classrooms. Our students DESERVE this and they deserve to be excited about their education and the possibilities that their future offers. Our teachers deserve it too! I hope everyone's first day using the iPads in their classrooms goes as well as mine did!
Sunday, January 8, 2012
First (successful) Flip
This summer I had big dreams of flipping my classroom. I stood infront of a room full of other educators and told them all I was going to flip my classroom. Well, one semester into it and I've only tried it twice. The first time didn't go as well as I hoped, but this time was awesome! There were a few things I did differently that I think helped make it easier for the students to watch the videos. I posted the video a few days before they had to watch it, let them know it was up there, and had designated times that the videos would be playing in my classroom.
While most students had watched the videos before they got to class, I'm not sure if they would do it every night. I am going to try flipping once a week for a few weeks, and then bump it up to twice a week. I think flipping is a great idea and works well with my philosphy, so I'm willing to give it all I've got to see where this can take our classroom. I think the possibilities are endless!
While most students had watched the videos before they got to class, I'm not sure if they would do it every night. I am going to try flipping once a week for a few weeks, and then bump it up to twice a week. I think flipping is a great idea and works well with my philosphy, so I'm willing to give it all I've got to see where this can take our classroom. I think the possibilities are endless!
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Can I get a THANK YOU?!?
My friends' kids refer to me as the manner police. What can I say, I expect that people use their manners! When children (my friends' children or the students in my room) don't use their manners, I automatically correct them. I just want them to grow up to be respectful young adults. But, what happens when adults don't use their manners? Nothing. I do nothing because I don't want to be rude to them.
My biggest manner related pet-peeve right now is centered around adults and technology. I find it incredibly rude when people ask you via email to do something for them, or for your input, and then don't respond to your emails. I have recently sent 3 emails (in response to something someone asked me to do) and heard nothing back from any of the receivers. For all I know, they didn't even receive the emails; I worry about if they got it or if I should resend it. And, if I resend it and they did get it the first time, are they going to think that's rude?
All I'm asking is for a simple reply and thank you. That's all. 15 seconds. Then, I'll know they received it and I might even think they appreciate that I took the time to do whatever they were asking me to do. So, the next time that you ask someone a question, or for a favor, please be sure to send them a great big THANK YOU back through email!
My biggest manner related pet-peeve right now is centered around adults and technology. I find it incredibly rude when people ask you via email to do something for them, or for your input, and then don't respond to your emails. I have recently sent 3 emails (in response to something someone asked me to do) and heard nothing back from any of the receivers. For all I know, they didn't even receive the emails; I worry about if they got it or if I should resend it. And, if I resend it and they did get it the first time, are they going to think that's rude?
All I'm asking is for a simple reply and thank you. That's all. 15 seconds. Then, I'll know they received it and I might even think they appreciate that I took the time to do whatever they were asking me to do. So, the next time that you ask someone a question, or for a favor, please be sure to send them a great big THANK YOU back through email!
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
The Common Core State Standards & My Classroom
Last week I attended a math pilot training for the Common Core State Standards. I knew a little about these new standards before the training (and I know I still have a lot to learn), but I am so excited about them now. I know that this will be great for our students once we get everything put into place and we all have time to get acclimated to the new standards.
I am looking forward to re-doing my curriculum and finding ways to incorporate technology into the new standards. I had already vowed to do things differently in my classroom this year, but now I feel like I have been validated in my ideas. I was pleasantly surprised to realize how much my ideal teaching style matches the mathematical practice aspect of the common core state standards.
I am not waiting around for the real training to happen before I start implementing these new standards; I am getting the change started in my own classroom as well as my school. I am lucky to work for administrators that believe in me, trust my professional opinion, and support me in my endeavors. We have already met about the training and have decided what our first action steps will be: get others on board with the practice standards immediately, get the curriculum lined up and ready to implement the common core state standards next year, and discover what gaps will need to be filled during the transition years. At the pilot training, I met some great math teachers and school leaders that I have added to my professional learning network. I will definitely use them and my administrators to make this adventure better for my students.
I am looking forward to re-doing my curriculum and finding ways to incorporate technology into the new standards. I had already vowed to do things differently in my classroom this year, but now I feel like I have been validated in my ideas. I was pleasantly surprised to realize how much my ideal teaching style matches the mathematical practice aspect of the common core state standards.
I am not waiting around for the real training to happen before I start implementing these new standards; I am getting the change started in my own classroom as well as my school. I am lucky to work for administrators that believe in me, trust my professional opinion, and support me in my endeavors. We have already met about the training and have decided what our first action steps will be: get others on board with the practice standards immediately, get the curriculum lined up and ready to implement the common core state standards next year, and discover what gaps will need to be filled during the transition years. At the pilot training, I met some great math teachers and school leaders that I have added to my professional learning network. I will definitely use them and my administrators to make this adventure better for my students.
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Learning by Leading a Training
Today I was the leader of an "Introduction to the iPad" professional development in a neighboring community. I believe it was a learning experience for all of us. I learned that I should ask more questions before I arrive. Some things I thought that other people would have taken care of before a training on iPads hadn't happened when I arrived. I am not blaming anyone, except myself; I should've reminded my connection at the school of the details that would make an "Introduction to iPads" training meaningful for the teachers. For example, it would have been more meaningful if everyone had an iPad and their iTunes account set up on it.
I think the teachers still learned a lot about the iPads and got some ideas of ways to use them in the classroom. I think the experience also reminded them what it's like to have to share a piece of technology with a small group of people. One participant told me after the training that she now remembers how students feel when we introduce totally new concepts. She was feeling overwhelmed and like she had so much to learn. I assured her that it's normal to feel that way, and that it's ok to go slow and take baby steps. I will remember to stress this point more in my next training!
Overall, the participants were great and I really enjoyed the experience. I will remember what I learned today as I prepare the final details for the next training that I lead....which is for a group of new teachers on Friday!
I think the teachers still learned a lot about the iPads and got some ideas of ways to use them in the classroom. I think the experience also reminded them what it's like to have to share a piece of technology with a small group of people. One participant told me after the training that she now remembers how students feel when we introduce totally new concepts. She was feeling overwhelmed and like she had so much to learn. I assured her that it's normal to feel that way, and that it's ok to go slow and take baby steps. I will remember to stress this point more in my next training!
Overall, the participants were great and I really enjoyed the experience. I will remember what I learned today as I prepare the final details for the next training that I lead....which is for a group of new teachers on Friday!
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Support from Home
Our awesome technology director and I gave a Web 2.0 training at our school yesterday and it was GREAT! The teachers that were there were from 2nd grade through 12th, but they were all supportive, intuitive, and glad to be there. They asked great questions and wanted to know details about the sites. They were brainstorming openly with the whole group, even though some of them barely know each other; remember that this is a very rural community that has three school buildings all in different towns. When the trainings were over, they stayed in the room and discussed additional ways to use the sites, worked on making those ideas start to come to life, and collaborated with each other. I was glad to see that they must've gotten something out of the training because they didn't all run directly out of the room when it was over!
Next professional development....How to use an iPad in the Classroom!
Right after that....SMART Notebook training for our district's new teachers!
I'd be tickled (as my Grandma Jean would say), if these sessions go half as well as yesterday went! Thanks for all of the support, Camp Point!
Next professional development....How to use an iPad in the Classroom!
Right after that....SMART Notebook training for our district's new teachers!
I'd be tickled (as my Grandma Jean would say), if these sessions go half as well as yesterday went! Thanks for all of the support, Camp Point!
A Schoology Surprise
Originally written last July ~
Our amazing technology director and I provided Web 2.0 training at our school yesterday and it was a great experience! The teachers were supportive, intuitive, and overall glad to be there. I was worried about having a wide enough array of sites to make everyone feel like they took something away from the training, but everything worked out just fine. The morning session had a wider span of people in it than the afternoon group, but I believe everyone walked away with something they will be able to use this school year. When both sessions were finished, people stayed to look around the sites more, ask questions, brainstorm on additional uses, and collaborate with each other. This was an encouraging site to see; I was glad we had sparked enough interest that they didn't all take off running out the door as soon as we were finished!
One of the most educational things that happened all day was by accident. Last spring, a first year, 6th grade, history and language arts teacher who I mentored showed me Edmodo. At the beginning of the summer I thought I would use this site next year in my class...but that was before I discovered Schoology. I wanted to show him Schoology and bounce a few ideas off of him. The discussion between 3 middle grades teachers (him , a new-to-our-district JH science teacher, and me) turned into a discussion larger than I ever imagined. Three high school english teachers were still in the room and they LOVED the idea of using Schoology! They were so excited about it and asked great questions. We brainstormed ways to use this site for a half an hour. People were saying things like, "when you do your Romeo and Juliet unit, you could have the students post blogs as one of the characters." They were asking about posting SMART Notebook presentations on the site, building collaboration between some of the upper and lower grades in the room, and discussing ways to keep parents informed through Schoology.
I stayed at school to do a little work in my classroom, but by the time I got home last night two of them had already set up Schoology accounts, got the courses entered, and were letting me know all about it! The teacher I had originally began the discussion with and I created a "fake student" so we could see what it was like from a student's point-of-view. It was so easy to join his 6th grade class and my 8th grade class. The links loaded quickly and it was easy to get around the site. We decided that the students are going to love Schoology; we can't wait to share it with them and everyone else we know!
Our amazing technology director and I provided Web 2.0 training at our school yesterday and it was a great experience! The teachers were supportive, intuitive, and overall glad to be there. I was worried about having a wide enough array of sites to make everyone feel like they took something away from the training, but everything worked out just fine. The morning session had a wider span of people in it than the afternoon group, but I believe everyone walked away with something they will be able to use this school year. When both sessions were finished, people stayed to look around the sites more, ask questions, brainstorm on additional uses, and collaborate with each other. This was an encouraging site to see; I was glad we had sparked enough interest that they didn't all take off running out the door as soon as we were finished!
One of the most educational things that happened all day was by accident. Last spring, a first year, 6th grade, history and language arts teacher who I mentored showed me Edmodo. At the beginning of the summer I thought I would use this site next year in my class...but that was before I discovered Schoology. I wanted to show him Schoology and bounce a few ideas off of him. The discussion between 3 middle grades teachers (him , a new-to-our-district JH science teacher, and me) turned into a discussion larger than I ever imagined. Three high school english teachers were still in the room and they LOVED the idea of using Schoology! They were so excited about it and asked great questions. We brainstormed ways to use this site for a half an hour. People were saying things like, "when you do your Romeo and Juliet unit, you could have the students post blogs as one of the characters." They were asking about posting SMART Notebook presentations on the site, building collaboration between some of the upper and lower grades in the room, and discussing ways to keep parents informed through Schoology.
I stayed at school to do a little work in my classroom, but by the time I got home last night two of them had already set up Schoology accounts, got the courses entered, and were letting me know all about it! The teacher I had originally began the discussion with and I created a "fake student" so we could see what it was like from a student's point-of-view. It was so easy to join his 6th grade class and my 8th grade class. The links loaded quickly and it was easy to get around the site. We decided that the students are going to love Schoology; we can't wait to share it with them and everyone else we know!
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Living the 7-Habits + Living Technology = Successful Classroom
To me, a habit is something that you do over and over again until the point that you don't even realize that you are doing it anymore....then you do it some more! We develop habits at a very young age and continue those same habits, or new ones we pick up, throughout adulthood. Every teacher in the district where I work has been trained in the 7-Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey. The idea is to develop these habits within ourselves so that we can help students develop them throughout their school days. The Habits will be beneficial to students long after they graduate. This year, every student in our district (PK-12) will receive some form of 7-Habits education. These Habits are:
I'm sure a few teachers look at these two topics (7-Habits + Technology) as "two more things I have to do in my classroom," but most of us are excited and can't get enough of them. We realize that the 7-Habits and technology aren't additional subjects to teach, but they are tools to help us teach our curriculum in more effective ways. We also realize that we have to LIVE both of them to be successful in our endeavor. You can't fake living the 7-Habits and you can't fake living technology. Students will know if you are genuine with both of these things or if you're only mentioning it because your boss told you that you have to teach it, and his boss told him he has to make you teach it. Students will know the same way that adults know.
Leaders will emerge in each of these areas, but I see the best leaders in our school district as being the people who live BOTH of these amazing tools. A good leader doesn't just tell you what to do and how to do it, they LIVE it and they make you want to live it too. We have to live the 7-Habits and we have to live technology. This is what will make the integration of the 7-Habits and technology into our classrooms a success!
- be proactive,
- put first things first,
- begin with the end in mind,
- think win-win,
- seek first to understand, then to be understood,
- synergize,
- sharpen the saw,
- find your voice (not an error - this is the 8th Habit)
I'm sure a few teachers look at these two topics (7-Habits + Technology) as "two more things I have to do in my classroom," but most of us are excited and can't get enough of them. We realize that the 7-Habits and technology aren't additional subjects to teach, but they are tools to help us teach our curriculum in more effective ways. We also realize that we have to LIVE both of them to be successful in our endeavor. You can't fake living the 7-Habits and you can't fake living technology. Students will know if you are genuine with both of these things or if you're only mentioning it because your boss told you that you have to teach it, and his boss told him he has to make you teach it. Students will know the same way that adults know.
Leaders will emerge in each of these areas, but I see the best leaders in our school district as being the people who live BOTH of these amazing tools. A good leader doesn't just tell you what to do and how to do it, they LIVE it and they make you want to live it too. We have to live the 7-Habits and we have to live technology. This is what will make the integration of the 7-Habits and technology into our classrooms a success!
Monday, June 13, 2011
Flipping Out!
Summer break has only been here for two weeks and I've been thinking non-stop about what I want to do in my classroom next year! One of the things that I have heard of other educators doing is "flipping" their classrooms.
Flipping a classroom is when the teacher presents a lesson for the students to watch in video form outside of class time (this would be their "homework" each night) and then spends class time working with the students on the information covered in the video lesson. Some teachers are using videos from Khan Academy, Teacher Tube, and You Tube, while some people are creating their own videos. Watching a video of the lesson would allow the students to watch, rewatch, or fast forward in the privacy of their own home. They could work through the lesson at their own pace and even search for similar videos online if they wanted a different point of view on the topic.
I am going to provide the students in my 8th grade and high school algebra classes with choices of projects to complete based around the topic we are covering in class. This way, they could work on practice problems related to the video lessons during class time (by themselves, with other students, or with me) and when they finish, they can work on their on-going project.
One of the main things that holds me back on this idea is the fact that not everyone has equal access to technology to watch the lessons in the evenings. I have come up with a few solutions, but they're not going to work with every student because of timing issues. The students could come into my room and watch the lessons before school starts (assuming their bus arrives early enough), they could stay after school (assuming they can find a ride home from our very rural school), or they could watch the video during their homeroom - 17 minute study hall- (assuming they don't have any meetings to attend and they get a pass before hand to be able to leave their class room).
Has anyone tried flipping their classroom? Do you have success stories and/or lessons learned that you would like to share? Does anyone have ideas to promote equity in a rural, low-income, farming community? Any and all feedback would be appreciated!
Flipping a classroom is when the teacher presents a lesson for the students to watch in video form outside of class time (this would be their "homework" each night) and then spends class time working with the students on the information covered in the video lesson. Some teachers are using videos from Khan Academy, Teacher Tube, and You Tube, while some people are creating their own videos. Watching a video of the lesson would allow the students to watch, rewatch, or fast forward in the privacy of their own home. They could work through the lesson at their own pace and even search for similar videos online if they wanted a different point of view on the topic.
I am going to provide the students in my 8th grade and high school algebra classes with choices of projects to complete based around the topic we are covering in class. This way, they could work on practice problems related to the video lessons during class time (by themselves, with other students, or with me) and when they finish, they can work on their on-going project.
One of the main things that holds me back on this idea is the fact that not everyone has equal access to technology to watch the lessons in the evenings. I have come up with a few solutions, but they're not going to work with every student because of timing issues. The students could come into my room and watch the lessons before school starts (assuming their bus arrives early enough), they could stay after school (assuming they can find a ride home from our very rural school), or they could watch the video during their homeroom - 17 minute study hall- (assuming they don't have any meetings to attend and they get a pass before hand to be able to leave their class room).
Has anyone tried flipping their classroom? Do you have success stories and/or lessons learned that you would like to share? Does anyone have ideas to promote equity in a rural, low-income, farming community? Any and all feedback would be appreciated!
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