Many of us have heard of the Danielson Framework - the tool in which teachers practices are evaluated. Teachers are assessed in four basic areas - planning for instruction, classroom management, instructional strategies and professionalism with colleagues, etc. There are various components to each area, but a major part of all of them is communication with students, as well as facilitating the environment for learning with student collaboration. How are we creating an engaging learning atmosphere for each one of our learners? How do we attest to their individual learner variability within our learning environment and allow them to truly express their thoughts and demonstrate their knowledge of deeper, higher order thinking skills.
I've recently become even more entranced with discussion boards or blogging - that medium we use to get kids discussing how they feel, what their thoughts are, their reflections on various things. I've used both KidBlog and the discussion board within the Blackboard Platform. Now, by exploring the uses of Google Classroom, my energy for utilizing these means for integrating writing, thinking process, reflection and student-goal setting has been key. For me, as a new teacher in my school and district this year, engaging with these middle school students has helped me get to know them in a closed format - where they can write and say what they truly feel and not fear what others will say in response to their answer. This is a key to success in my classroom and also the Danielson Framework - creating a culture for learning where students are not afraid to take risks.
So many of the kids' responses are amazing to read - well-written, very thoughtful, and also, feedback for me - what a better what to create the culture and excitement for learning than for students to know they have a forum to share their thoughts and reflections. I've already assigned multiple prompts within our Google Classroom interface, some of which works with our website, listening activities and more - it amazes me how much kids know and how much they will share with you if you just ask.
Give your students an opportunity to share their thoughts and feelings in a way that works for them, whether it's blogging, sticky notes, journals or more. They ask us questions all the time where we facilitate their learning to help them find their answer. Return the favor through your questioning and start asking away!
Showing posts with label Student Perspective. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Student Perspective. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 15, 2015
Monday, February 23, 2015
Tracy's Tuesday Tech Tip: New to the Tube
The day after the Oscars everyone talks about who wins and who didn't win. Being an outdoors enthusiast, I was cheering for the lovely Reese Witherspoon to take away the Outstanding Actress title for her performance in Wild; however, am just as impressed with Julianne Moore winning from Still Alice. So, I can understand the Outstanding Actress category, but as far as animated film, I thought How to Train Your Dragon 2 HAD IT. Seriously, a great movie and storyline, albeit a little sad in the middle, but triumphant and uplifting. Additionally, because of my profession, I have to mention the eloquent soundtrack that took each character's theme from the first movie to expand upon it and make it turn into an amazing soundscape to accompany the second films scenes. Just love it and am sad it didn't take away an Oscar.
It is about the kids, what they like, and was definitely a topic of our "weekend shares" community building today. They loved Big Hero, they loved How to Train Your Dragon. Any film or show action packed is sure to get an audience from kindergarteners to the big kids (like me).
So, in talking about what's new, the big news to hit the techwaves is YouTube Kids. This new app is out TODAY and is built with kids in mind. A safer way to YouTube, definitely an app to explore with an easy-to-use interface. Check it out today!
Looking for other safe video resources without those add-ons and annoying adds? Use SafeShare at http://safeshare.tv/
It is about the kids, what they like, and was definitely a topic of our "weekend shares" community building today. They loved Big Hero, they loved How to Train Your Dragon. Any film or show action packed is sure to get an audience from kindergarteners to the big kids (like me).
Looking for other safe video resources without those add-ons and annoying adds? Use SafeShare at http://safeshare.tv/
Tuesday, January 27, 2015
Tracy's Tuesday Tech Tip: ONE Singular Sensation
"We are the music makers, and we are the dreamers of dreams." ~Arthur Shaughnessy
My first memory of hearing the "One singular sensation" song comes from, like many people, Sesame Street. Counting, that was the way to go, learning what each number was and a little rhyme to go after it. My second memory of "One" is hearing it in a dance recital as a kid and standing in awe as the kids older than me danced in a kick-line and just wowed the audience.
As we come away from the inaugural ONE Conference this past Friday, can't help but think of this song, and define for myself what "One singular sensation" truly was throughout the conference. I loved Molly Schroeder's speech about living in beta and making connections with my learners. I enjoyed passing by the Rock Star Stage and was motivated by those speakers to try something new.
Even more, I was inspired by my students that came with me - the kids that gave up a day off to come help me out with a presentation. Through their eyes, their words, the magic of using technology and learning with it came alive. This truly helped ground me and see that it matters, it makes a difference. Those moments of on-the-spot learning where they had the courage to talk with an educator in Waukesha that they didn't know, or their initiative to fight through nerves to say why Notability "works for them best" or that Explain Everything is the "way to go." That's what it's all about - when our learners can articulate how the technology is helping to learn and understand better, and make instruction and assessment and more, more meaningful.
Yesterday, we had some professional development about strategies to impact behaviors and keep the flow of our classroom going, and the term "grit" was brought up - what is it, how would we define it? Not only do I believe each of my students' has grit, the power to overcome obstacles that are in our path, but especially each one of us as educators. It's that passion to work one-on-one with a student who needs that additional support; it's a perseverance to keep going when something tough happens in our personal lives and put a smile on for our students; it's the presence of mind to take a risk with technology even after all devices have seemed to shut down and not work on the same day when you had the coolest lesson planned!
All of the presentations were excellent - from learning about QR Codes, to Thoughtful Logs, to Aurasma, to our Core Apps - so many good resources to find and look at and try in the classroom. Each of these strategies and tools and more can be our ONE Commitment, our ONE singular sensation, to take a risk and try something new!
Yet remember ultimately, for us, as teachers, grit is coming into work and knowing, we are going to give some kid a safe place to be, to make some kid's day, some kid smile. That's grit. That's passion. That is who we are. We are educators and teachers.
My first memory of hearing the "One singular sensation" song comes from, like many people, Sesame Street. Counting, that was the way to go, learning what each number was and a little rhyme to go after it. My second memory of "One" is hearing it in a dance recital as a kid and standing in awe as the kids older than me danced in a kick-line and just wowed the audience.
As we come away from the inaugural ONE Conference this past Friday, can't help but think of this song, and define for myself what "One singular sensation" truly was throughout the conference. I loved Molly Schroeder's speech about living in beta and making connections with my learners. I enjoyed passing by the Rock Star Stage and was motivated by those speakers to try something new.
Even more, I was inspired by my students that came with me - the kids that gave up a day off to come help me out with a presentation. Through their eyes, their words, the magic of using technology and learning with it came alive. This truly helped ground me and see that it matters, it makes a difference. Those moments of on-the-spot learning where they had the courage to talk with an educator in Waukesha that they didn't know, or their initiative to fight through nerves to say why Notability "works for them best" or that Explain Everything is the "way to go." That's what it's all about - when our learners can articulate how the technology is helping to learn and understand better, and make instruction and assessment and more, more meaningful.
Yesterday, we had some professional development about strategies to impact behaviors and keep the flow of our classroom going, and the term "grit" was brought up - what is it, how would we define it? Not only do I believe each of my students' has grit, the power to overcome obstacles that are in our path, but especially each one of us as educators. It's that passion to work one-on-one with a student who needs that additional support; it's a perseverance to keep going when something tough happens in our personal lives and put a smile on for our students; it's the presence of mind to take a risk with technology even after all devices have seemed to shut down and not work on the same day when you had the coolest lesson planned!
All of the presentations were excellent - from learning about QR Codes, to Thoughtful Logs, to Aurasma, to our Core Apps - so many good resources to find and look at and try in the classroom. Each of these strategies and tools and more can be our ONE Commitment, our ONE singular sensation, to take a risk and try something new!
Yet remember ultimately, for us, as teachers, grit is coming into work and knowing, we are going to give some kid a safe place to be, to make some kid's day, some kid smile. That's grit. That's passion. That is who we are. We are educators and teachers.
Check Out our Waukesha BB9 Instructional Strategies Course for handouts on sessions!
Tuesday, January 20, 2015
Tracy's Tuesday Tech Tip: Start the Discussion!
I developed a new lesson where we are doing a film study - starting with a story map, my students are describing the characters, setting and plot of an old school Mickey - The Opry House. They identify what is happening in the beginning, middle and end, as well as what Mickey is doing in the scenes.
Here's the catch: they watch it in SILENCE.
Taking this a step further, they are beginning the process of composing music to accompany what is happening, but planning out what instruments and sounds would "make sense" with what's going on in the scene. As they began the discussion, the atmosphere became lively as they started debating what they should use and why based on the scene.
Building in sentence starters and prompts for oracy, and in general just the collaborative aspect of sharing can help build students' levels of deeper thinking and language skills. Therefore, as I shared in an earlier post, an online platform can be a useful tool for students to share their thoughts and feelings in a safe environment about those happenings in your classroom instruction in connection to any subject.
Those discussion boards or blogs are becoming ever popular to allow students to GET WRITING and describing their own thoughts as an evidence piece to deepen their thinking and making it visible. Additionally, seeing others' thoughts and perceptions can also help and clarify their own understanding on any subject! Kidblog is a great tool to get you started!
As a teacher, I always think of myself of as a "big kid" - still learning and having fun (despite a few gray hairs these days), but know a valuable strategy is those discussions portals online or in person to the wheels turning of creating something new with and for my students!
How do you make thinking visible in your classroom - is it digital? We'd love to hear some of your practices and share out what's working for you!
Here's the catch: they watch it in SILENCE.
Taking this a step further, they are beginning the process of composing music to accompany what is happening, but planning out what instruments and sounds would "make sense" with what's going on in the scene. As they began the discussion, the atmosphere became lively as they started debating what they should use and why based on the scene.
Building in sentence starters and prompts for oracy, and in general just the collaborative aspect of sharing can help build students' levels of deeper thinking and language skills. Therefore, as I shared in an earlier post, an online platform can be a useful tool for students to share their thoughts and feelings in a safe environment about those happenings in your classroom instruction in connection to any subject.
Those discussion boards or blogs are becoming ever popular to allow students to GET WRITING and describing their own thoughts as an evidence piece to deepen their thinking and making it visible. Additionally, seeing others' thoughts and perceptions can also help and clarify their own understanding on any subject! Kidblog is a great tool to get you started!
As a teacher, I always think of myself of as a "big kid" - still learning and having fun (despite a few gray hairs these days), but know a valuable strategy is those discussions portals online or in person to the wheels turning of creating something new with and for my students!
How do you make thinking visible in your classroom - is it digital? We'd love to hear some of your practices and share out what's working for you!
Tuesday, November 4, 2014
Tracy's Tuesday Tech Tip: Being a Play-Caller
When you live in Wisconsin, Packer Nation is everywhere. You hear LALALALAMBEAU about every-other-commercial break on various TV Stations, people bring out the cheeseheads on Sundays, and the bumper stickers are posted proudly on Ford Pickups and other vehicles in Packer Country.
Regardless of your fan support of the green and gold or another team, one cannot deny the importance of the quarterback, the play-caller of the game. He's the one who makes the decisions, sees the intangibles, and is responsible for key communication to all members on the field.
In many ways, teachers are play-callers - they are the ones who have their eyes scanning all corners of the room (for more than checking in on behavior). But they also scan assessments to regroup students, the expressions of learners' of confusion or understanding during a mini-lesson, and also the first to cheer on a new touchdown of a student "getting it" after a lot of hard work.
Quarterbacks collaborate with their teammates - they get other perspectives of coaches, wide receivers, running backs and more to truly enhance their craft of route reading and learning the intangibles. Those intangibles to us are the teachable moments - where something went on a path we didn't expect, but allow us to build connections with our team of learners.
Ever-important in this process is building our community of learners - our learning team - together. Creating a PLN as was discussed in SDW Tech Integration Now can bring new learnings and perspectives to the classroom just as an offensive coordinator does with the quarterback. Viewing teaching and learning in a different light allows us to reflectively tweak and modify for the benefit of our learners.
Regardless of your fan support of the green and gold or another team, one cannot deny the importance of the quarterback, the play-caller of the game. He's the one who makes the decisions, sees the intangibles, and is responsible for key communication to all members on the field.
In many ways, teachers are play-callers - they are the ones who have their eyes scanning all corners of the room (for more than checking in on behavior). But they also scan assessments to regroup students, the expressions of learners' of confusion or understanding during a mini-lesson, and also the first to cheer on a new touchdown of a student "getting it" after a lot of hard work.
Quarterbacks collaborate with their teammates - they get other perspectives of coaches, wide receivers, running backs and more to truly enhance their craft of route reading and learning the intangibles. Those intangibles to us are the teachable moments - where something went on a path we didn't expect, but allow us to build connections with our team of learners.
Ever-important in this process is building our community of learners - our learning team - together. Creating a PLN as was discussed in SDW Tech Integration Now can bring new learnings and perspectives to the classroom just as an offensive coordinator does with the quarterback. Viewing teaching and learning in a different light allows us to reflectively tweak and modify for the benefit of our learners.
One way that has worked in bridging key learning concepts and strategies with technology is with a student tech team. Each of our tech team members completed both an application and training modules to get the job as an iTechU Team Member. This practice allows for these students to become the play-callers and lead small groups through infusing technology practices.
Students have their own way of teaching. Often, when they've demonstrated true mastery of the skills, there is so much rich fulfillment in watching them take the lead. As much as I love web-browsing, chatting online or exploring new ideas, they are just as much of a valid part of my PLN as anyone, as they have taught me many new ideas and strategies for teaching when they've had the opportunity as play-caller.
Try out a student tech team today! Who knows, they just might throw a touchdown...
Monday, September 29, 2014
Tracy's Tuesday Tech Tip: Couldn't Say It Better Myself!
Students teaching other students - just love seeing that in my classroom.
Today, while teaching recorder, a student who is somewhat shy and laid back, took the lead and demonstrated and taught his peers how to play the difficult line of "Yellow Submarine." This normally quiet and shy kid, jumped up and said "listen, listen, listen, I got it" - what an amazing moment for this young man to show his leadership and be PROUD of what he has come to understand and know. Not only did he play the passage, but he taught other students as well, enough that a couple of them were still singing it by class time, 15 minutes later. Gotta love those moments!
As our Student Tech Team is beginning the year, I asked them to create a short easy to follow video for their younger peers within our school to teach them our core apps. One student took on Book Creator as follows:
Taking the time to go back and review basic skills, formats that you want for your students is a key to success - and part of teaching them the life skills of organization and planning. My hope is to show this to my kindergarten and first grade as a brief introduction to each core app, and to build out our first projects together.
About Book Creator
A great intuitive CORE App for your students - use it for sharing summaries of reading, new understandings in math w/ actions/TPR videos, vocabulary and spelling word journals as well as writing journals, art portfolios and more!
Allows: Drawing, Text, Pictures/Video Support from within the App and Camera Roll, Sound Files, and true personalized design.
Export as ePub, PDF & Video.
Power of Sharing
The power of sharing, the power of giving students' ownership of the tech specs to SHOW their work and understanding can help to foster self-efficacy, pride, and leadership, as well as build community with mentor classes - allow this power of student voice to take reign in your classroom - whether just between students in class, mentor classes throughout your building, or maybe a Skype activity with another class. The excitement will amaze you and truly enhance your learning community!
Within the next few weeks I will be highlighting our CORE apps with some student perspectives, as well as discussing integral ways to utilize in both literacy and math. Share your ideas with us!
Today, while teaching recorder, a student who is somewhat shy and laid back, took the lead and demonstrated and taught his peers how to play the difficult line of "Yellow Submarine." This normally quiet and shy kid, jumped up and said "listen, listen, listen, I got it" - what an amazing moment for this young man to show his leadership and be PROUD of what he has come to understand and know. Not only did he play the passage, but he taught other students as well, enough that a couple of them were still singing it by class time, 15 minutes later. Gotta love those moments!
As our Student Tech Team is beginning the year, I asked them to create a short easy to follow video for their younger peers within our school to teach them our core apps. One student took on Book Creator as follows:
Taking the time to go back and review basic skills, formats that you want for your students is a key to success - and part of teaching them the life skills of organization and planning. My hope is to show this to my kindergarten and first grade as a brief introduction to each core app, and to build out our first projects together.
About Book Creator
A great intuitive CORE App for your students - use it for sharing summaries of reading, new understandings in math w/ actions/TPR videos, vocabulary and spelling word journals as well as writing journals, art portfolios and more!
Allows: Drawing, Text, Pictures/Video Support from within the App and Camera Roll, Sound Files, and true personalized design.
Export as ePub, PDF & Video.
Power of Sharing
The power of sharing, the power of giving students' ownership of the tech specs to SHOW their work and understanding can help to foster self-efficacy, pride, and leadership, as well as build community with mentor classes - allow this power of student voice to take reign in your classroom - whether just between students in class, mentor classes throughout your building, or maybe a Skype activity with another class. The excitement will amaze you and truly enhance your learning community!
Within the next few weeks I will be highlighting our CORE apps with some student perspectives, as well as discussing integral ways to utilize in both literacy and math. Share your ideas with us!
Monday, September 8, 2014
Tracy's Tuesday Tech Tip: A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words
"It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see." Henry David Thoreau
Selfies. They're all over the media - Facebook, Twitter, even award shows, the news, and more. They've become a part of our pop culture of the 2010s and will probably continue as our digital age evolves. But what makes the selfie so popular? What makes it so prevalent to "be" in a selfie?
Well, what makes someone not? Provided, many selfies are "just for fun," with comical smiles or actions accompanying them. All remembering good times - moments that are irreplaceable with memories that last a lifetime. A step further, and other pictures, maybe not selfies, but just pictures, become a deeper meaning. These pictures, in fact, end up meaning everything. Think about those little kids who get to meet their idol and get that all important picture. How about those family pictures - moms, dads, grandmas and grandpas that we cherish so deeply, along with cousins, aunts and uncles as well. Or even more, what about those pictures of friendship - caught candidly...those people that mean so much and essentially become a part of our families with smiles, tears, and laughter.
Let's take a risk, maybe something new or an expansion of an idea you've already done, and give our students the objective to take pictures of the world around them. Can they see the angles of your classroom furniture and connect them to math? Perhaps our youngest learners can describe the colors of the playground and the shapes of different equipment? Maybe some students can take a picture for each direction they take in the car ride or walk to school. The possibilities are endless, and are a simple way for students to tell their story - to document what they see, hear, feel, and experience in the world around them. Then, we can build on the learning to take those pictures to the next level - a project on iMovie or Explain Everything or Book Creator, describing their learning as a speaker or tour guide, and sharing the story of their life with deeper connections. Empower your students to take the lead, to make their pictures be worth a thousand words through their eyes, what they see and what those photos mean to them.
Me, I've never been a selfie fan. Sure, I love to photobomb all kinds of selfies being taken, but I tend to run away if someone wants me to take a selfie with them. Yet, I think of the best reason for a selfie is pride. Satisfaction to be proud, strong in your convictions in being who you are as a person. We are those people. We are teachers, changing the world of our youth, empowering them with care and compassion to become everything they will be in the future. So today, take a selfie for you - be proud of who and what you are as an educator, together with and for your students. Then, allow them to take pictures of their story, and a selfie along the way, to share and be proud of who they are as well.
"As we look ahead to the next century, our leaders will be those who empower others." ~Bill Gates.
Selfies. They're all over the media - Facebook, Twitter, even award shows, the news, and more. They've become a part of our pop culture of the 2010s and will probably continue as our digital age evolves. But what makes the selfie so popular? What makes it so prevalent to "be" in a selfie?
Well, what makes someone not? Provided, many selfies are "just for fun," with comical smiles or actions accompanying them. All remembering good times - moments that are irreplaceable with memories that last a lifetime. A step further, and other pictures, maybe not selfies, but just pictures, become a deeper meaning. These pictures, in fact, end up meaning everything. Think about those little kids who get to meet their idol and get that all important picture. How about those family pictures - moms, dads, grandmas and grandpas that we cherish so deeply, along with cousins, aunts and uncles as well. Or even more, what about those pictures of friendship - caught candidly...those people that mean so much and essentially become a part of our families with smiles, tears, and laughter.
Let's take a risk, maybe something new or an expansion of an idea you've already done, and give our students the objective to take pictures of the world around them. Can they see the angles of your classroom furniture and connect them to math? Perhaps our youngest learners can describe the colors of the playground and the shapes of different equipment? Maybe some students can take a picture for each direction they take in the car ride or walk to school. The possibilities are endless, and are a simple way for students to tell their story - to document what they see, hear, feel, and experience in the world around them. Then, we can build on the learning to take those pictures to the next level - a project on iMovie or Explain Everything or Book Creator, describing their learning as a speaker or tour guide, and sharing the story of their life with deeper connections. Empower your students to take the lead, to make their pictures be worth a thousand words through their eyes, what they see and what those photos mean to them.
Me, I've never been a selfie fan. Sure, I love to photobomb all kinds of selfies being taken, but I tend to run away if someone wants me to take a selfie with them. Yet, I think of the best reason for a selfie is pride. Satisfaction to be proud, strong in your convictions in being who you are as a person. We are those people. We are teachers, changing the world of our youth, empowering them with care and compassion to become everything they will be in the future. So today, take a selfie for you - be proud of who and what you are as an educator, together with and for your students. Then, allow them to take pictures of their story, and a selfie along the way, to share and be proud of who they are as well.
"As we look ahead to the next century, our leaders will be those who empower others." ~Bill Gates.
Tuesday, May 27, 2014
Tracy's Tuesday Tech Tip: In My Life
I've always been a Beatles fan. Didn't grow up listening to them exclusively, but whenever we were riding in the car, my dad would be singing along to "oldies" on his tapes - that still work to this day. It wasn't uncommon to hear The Four Seasons pretty often, or other times The Beach Boys or The Mamas and the Papas. He never went wrong playing my favorites Rock Around the Clock or Bridge Over Troubled Water. Needless to say, with a plethora of music throughout our house (including my teeny-bopper pop of choice, Backstreet Boys or Jewel), it's no surprise I grew up to be a music teacher in the end, and how the lyrics of a song allow me to examine who I am and how I am living in and for the moment.
I wanted to take a moment, before the end of the year comes, and you start pressing "delete" on really long emails, for a moment of reflection, making this my last blog of the school year. Look at how far we've come, now a year later from the first wave of Waukesha One, which was the start of our journey. We buckled our seat-belts, and rode the roller coaster of a ride throughout our year - sometimes, filled with a bit of terror in dangling off the edge of a drop, yet more frequently, times filled with excitement as we head into the loop-de-loop, a bit upside-down, but taking on whatever twist and turns are around the next curve.
Are we better for it? Was Waukesha One worth it? In talking with one of our instructional strategies coordinators today and processing through everything that has occurred, I could not be feeling more pumped for what we have done. Creating opportunities for deepened and heightened thinking and skills among our students, more access to technology in general to open new doors otherwise not available, and simply, engagement in and for learning. What a year of riding the wave!
Even more, I asked my student tech team last week at our final meeting of the year, what their favorite part of the year was in being a part of Waukesha One. Among all five exiting fifth graders, their answer was simple: helping others. Whether it was integrating into classroom literacy instruction to make a book trailer, to talking and collaborating with our attendees at Images of Excellence in January, they lived for our team and to have the chance to help others. Additionally, the confidence in which I've seen them grow has really been amazing to watch. They've grown to be some of the best leaders to teach technology skills to demonstrate learning to others. I can't wait to see what they will become, and what they will do - I'm just grateful I was a small part of the start of who they are growing up to be.
So ultimately, what do I take away from Waukesha One's first year? Perhaps the same lessons from the song In My Life by the Beatles, "There are places I remember, all my life, though some have changed. Some forever, not for better. Some have gone, and some remain. Though I know I'll never lose affection, for people and things that went before. I know I'll often stop and think about them. In my life, I love you more."
There will always be things we remember about Waukesha One. Perhaps the first cracked screen is one thing that would be "not for better," nor the 30+ game apps found with no room for our core apps. It happens, and that's life. But...then there are those first projects, those first iMovies using new literacy concepts with metaphors or similes, or the first eBook from Book Creator describing a science project and field trip. These are the memories that "will always remain."
Finally, it comes down to the planning with our colleagues who might have become friends, or the care each of us as educators has in that shared mission together and shared purpose - our love for our students. When I stop to think about this, it's those around me - both teachers and learners that have driven me. Those are the places and people, I will remember all my life.
That's what I think about in my life of Waukesha One, Year One. Can't wait to see what's next.
Best wishes and blessings to you all this summer!
I wanted to take a moment, before the end of the year comes, and you start pressing "delete" on really long emails, for a moment of reflection, making this my last blog of the school year. Look at how far we've come, now a year later from the first wave of Waukesha One, which was the start of our journey. We buckled our seat-belts, and rode the roller coaster of a ride throughout our year - sometimes, filled with a bit of terror in dangling off the edge of a drop, yet more frequently, times filled with excitement as we head into the loop-de-loop, a bit upside-down, but taking on whatever twist and turns are around the next curve.
Are we better for it? Was Waukesha One worth it? In talking with one of our instructional strategies coordinators today and processing through everything that has occurred, I could not be feeling more pumped for what we have done. Creating opportunities for deepened and heightened thinking and skills among our students, more access to technology in general to open new doors otherwise not available, and simply, engagement in and for learning. What a year of riding the wave!
Even more, I asked my student tech team last week at our final meeting of the year, what their favorite part of the year was in being a part of Waukesha One. Among all five exiting fifth graders, their answer was simple: helping others. Whether it was integrating into classroom literacy instruction to make a book trailer, to talking and collaborating with our attendees at Images of Excellence in January, they lived for our team and to have the chance to help others. Additionally, the confidence in which I've seen them grow has really been amazing to watch. They've grown to be some of the best leaders to teach technology skills to demonstrate learning to others. I can't wait to see what they will become, and what they will do - I'm just grateful I was a small part of the start of who they are growing up to be.
So ultimately, what do I take away from Waukesha One's first year? Perhaps the same lessons from the song In My Life by the Beatles, "There are places I remember, all my life, though some have changed. Some forever, not for better. Some have gone, and some remain. Though I know I'll never lose affection, for people and things that went before. I know I'll often stop and think about them. In my life, I love you more."
There will always be things we remember about Waukesha One. Perhaps the first cracked screen is one thing that would be "not for better," nor the 30+ game apps found with no room for our core apps. It happens, and that's life. But...then there are those first projects, those first iMovies using new literacy concepts with metaphors or similes, or the first eBook from Book Creator describing a science project and field trip. These are the memories that "will always remain."
Finally, it comes down to the planning with our colleagues who might have become friends, or the care each of us as educators has in that shared mission together and shared purpose - our love for our students. When I stop to think about this, it's those around me - both teachers and learners that have driven me. Those are the places and people, I will remember all my life.
That's what I think about in my life of Waukesha One, Year One. Can't wait to see what's next.
Best wishes and blessings to you all this summer!
Tuesday, March 11, 2014
One For All & All for One: Collaborating Together
We all musketeers of teaching. Goals of coming together as a school team to ensure high instructional practices for all students in a positive climate that is uplifting for both them and other teachers as we journey together through education. Our focus is for their continual learning, growth, and heightened academic - at any age, in any circle.
As I was thinking about this week's tech tip, I couldn't help but think of Universal Design for Learning and a conversation I had with a friend about truly working to make instruction accessible for all students. As we utilize technology to enhance our instruction, meeting our learners' needs is the direct result of planning with new and innovative ways at their levels.
Think of the possibilities with many of our core apps: describing and analyzing learning with an Explain Everything presentation (at any grade level!), various modules in Blackboard for our flexible groups (more on this in the Thoughtful Thursday Spotlight,) or, how about creating text/voice directions for learners who need some additional reinforcement through QR Codes? The possibilities are endless!!!
Need help brainstorming or some inspiration? Check out our Highlights for the Week!!!
Highlighting our App Symbaloo: iTunes U As we are looking for resources and collaborative planning, something that is very helpful is iTunes U with tons of educational content throughout for varying subjects and abilities. Some really neat resources for teachers for their students to gain ideas as well as for teachers to learn more - do a quick Google Search and find elementary and secondary schools that have built out courses and resources for you. If that's not your thing, build one yourself for your students! Checkout How to Get Started with iTunes U from Edudemic.
Innovative Practices: Talking Tech: In a recent meeting with our iTechU Student Tech Team, our students discussed the impact of technology into their lives today. Their comments just demonstrate how innovation with core instructional design can influence our students now and in the future. I'll be sharing out these comments weekly and other student perspectives as well.
"Well technology has changed my life because now every single student in the school, is holding a piece of technology (iPad) in their hands. Think of how cool that is. Now you could finish assignments much faster. Technology has also changed my life by the way that you could go on stuff now not only on the computer, but also on the iPad. The iPad is a great learning tool, by the way that it makes learning more fun. The iPad made the learning more fun not just because its right in your hands, but because you could go on apps that let you make your own projects and more." ~Sam
We are changing lives...we are impacting our students. Start something small - just a collaborative project, or even a blog. Tryout a core app today or talk with a colleague to get a conversation started. We are in this together as educators: One for All and All for One!!!
What are your ideas? Reflect, Share & Comment!!! We welcome your questions, reflections, ideas and shared collaboration as we work to make a difference in the lives of our youth of the next generation!!!
As I was thinking about this week's tech tip, I couldn't help but think of Universal Design for Learning and a conversation I had with a friend about truly working to make instruction accessible for all students. As we utilize technology to enhance our instruction, meeting our learners' needs is the direct result of planning with new and innovative ways at their levels.
Think of the possibilities with many of our core apps: describing and analyzing learning with an Explain Everything presentation (at any grade level!), various modules in Blackboard for our flexible groups (more on this in the Thoughtful Thursday Spotlight,) or, how about creating text/voice directions for learners who need some additional reinforcement through QR Codes? The possibilities are endless!!!
Need help brainstorming or some inspiration? Check out our Highlights for the Week!!!
Highlighting our App Symbaloo: iTunes U As we are looking for resources and collaborative planning, something that is very helpful is iTunes U with tons of educational content throughout for varying subjects and abilities. Some really neat resources for teachers for their students to gain ideas as well as for teachers to learn more - do a quick Google Search and find elementary and secondary schools that have built out courses and resources for you. If that's not your thing, build one yourself for your students! Checkout How to Get Started with iTunes U from Edudemic.
Innovative Practices: Talking Tech: In a recent meeting with our iTechU Student Tech Team, our students discussed the impact of technology into their lives today. Their comments just demonstrate how innovation with core instructional design can influence our students now and in the future. I'll be sharing out these comments weekly and other student perspectives as well.
"Well technology has changed my life because now every single student in the school, is holding a piece of technology (iPad) in their hands. Think of how cool that is. Now you could finish assignments much faster. Technology has also changed my life by the way that you could go on stuff now not only on the computer, but also on the iPad. The iPad is a great learning tool, by the way that it makes learning more fun. The iPad made the learning more fun not just because its right in your hands, but because you could go on apps that let you make your own projects and more." ~Sam
We are changing lives...we are impacting our students. Start something small - just a collaborative project, or even a blog. Tryout a core app today or talk with a colleague to get a conversation started. We are in this together as educators: One for All and All for One!!!
What are your ideas? Reflect, Share & Comment!!! We welcome your questions, reflections, ideas and shared collaboration as we work to make a difference in the lives of our youth of the next generation!!!
Thursday, February 13, 2014
Thoughtful Thursdays - A Focused Look at SDW Core Apps for iPad: SMART Notebook
In the next month, we will be highlighting a core app on our SDW District Devices as well as giving possible project ideas or outcomes.
Our first app is SMART Notebook for iPad - from the same designers of the ever-popular interactive whiteboard software in our classrooms can be in the hands of students! Not only is this a great use of an interactive whiteboard app, but the familiarity of the same basic product in large group and independent work is appealing. With abilities to utilize interactive media of "lesson activity builder" created on the full SMART Notebook (on a computer), as well as voice recording and saving feature (with/without recording as well), this is a great app to enhance your instructional practice!
Especially helpful in my primary classes, students working on SMART Notebook for iPad feel comfortable with the recognizable interface. I was able to email a document where students worked at their own place, color coding various symbols and labeling the necessary components to our activity. They gladly took part in sharing on my Apple TV, which made the lesson come even more alive as they can participate and follow along themselves on their own device as peers explained their reasoning up front on my classroom SMART Board. By integrating the usage of this app, opportunities for #BuildingonBlooms are very prevalent, as eager and engaged students connected to their processing and learning!
App Appeals:
Project Ideas:
Our first app is SMART Notebook for iPad - from the same designers of the ever-popular interactive whiteboard software in our classrooms can be in the hands of students! Not only is this a great use of an interactive whiteboard app, but the familiarity of the same basic product in large group and independent work is appealing. With abilities to utilize interactive media of "lesson activity builder" created on the full SMART Notebook (on a computer), as well as voice recording and saving feature (with/without recording as well), this is a great app to enhance your instructional practice!
Especially helpful in my primary classes, students working on SMART Notebook for iPad feel comfortable with the recognizable interface. I was able to email a document where students worked at their own place, color coding various symbols and labeling the necessary components to our activity. They gladly took part in sharing on my Apple TV, which made the lesson come even more alive as they can participate and follow along themselves on their own device as peers explained their reasoning up front on my classroom SMART Board. By integrating the usage of this app, opportunities for #BuildingonBlooms are very prevalent, as eager and engaged students connected to their processing and learning!
App Appeals:
- Familiar Interface
- Lesson Activity Interactivity Available
- Voice Recording Feature
- Saving Options (with/without recorded voice)
- Learned Pace
Project Ideas:
- Personalized Math Practice Problems
- Personalized Literacy Scenarios integrating Spelling, Grammar, Understanding
- "Choose Your Own Adventure" in Any Subject - link to different pages.
- Writing Prompts/Reflection Development
What are your ideas? Reflect, Share & Comment!!! We welcome your questions, reflections, new ideas, and shared collaboration as we work to make a difference in the lives of our youth of the next generation!!
Tuesday, January 28, 2014
Tracy's Tuesday Tech Tip: Through the Eyes of Our Youth
Recently, there was a major technology event at our school...
For a professional development day, teachers were in charge of presenting the innovative instructional practices they use with colleagues in attendance throughout the district. All presentations were spectacular - teachers were teaming with their grade level partners, the information presented was so valid, and attendees were so inspired and motivated to try out new ideas and instructional practices utilizing technology.
It was a great morning of PD where both presenters and attendees felt empowered.
As I was driving home three students who are on our student tech team that came to help us out, we got to talking about the differences between last year (without as many technology supports) and this year (in a school where we have 1:1 iPads). I was amazed by their answers, simple, yet completely impactful for me as a teacher and tech coach:
Student 1: "I just think it's easier. We don't have to wait anymore to get onto a computer. The iPad is ours, it's our work. I know where it will be. I'm actually organized!"
Student 2: "Learning is more fun for me because things are more entertaining. It's challenging because I want to do better and get farther and I don't feel rushed anymore."
Student 3: "I like that we can take our iPads and go sit somewhere and lay on the floor or something. I'm totally comfortable learning and it's fun to share with my friends what I'm doing. It's a lot easier too."
I emailed the fourth student of our tech team the same question, and her response was, "I think we can do more with them. Create books about anything, create songs even, or a movie. And if we research and stuff it should help us."
I smiled as I read her response, just as I smiled as I was talking with the other tech team members. Kids get it. They see what the influence of technology is, and they're engaged because of it. They enjoy creating something new, and look forward to exploring the world and sharing the views they have through their eyes. They're learning, as we all are, about life, living, and it's impact on them.
I encourage school teams to develop their own student tech team - there is nothing better than kids teaching kids something new and sharing their thoughts. Please contact us if you are interested in the application, resources, and process to starting one yourself!
They understand each other, the premise of mentoring others to learn something new. They comprehend the purpose for why we innovate, and it's even more powerful coming through their eyes, our citizens of the future, and the generation of tomorrow.
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