Day 3 Post

September 3- Mention 1 "observation" area that you would like to improve on for your teacher evaluation.

This year overall, I would like to improve on transitions in my classroom.  I have implemented the first 10 minutes of every class to practicing typing for all students.  I need a good way to transition from the typing, then moving on to using google classroom to introduce the next assignment to the students.

I think I could also improve upon my overall lesson organization.  I would like to organize my units in tables with links.  That way I am organized in my lessons will hopefully follow through to my daily teaching and learning how to best use the new google classrooms.

Blogging Challenge Day 2 - I'm really doing it!!

September 2- Write about 1 piece of technology that you would like to try to incorporate this year into your curriculum.

Well, seeing as though I am a technology teacher and I use technology every day with my classes, I have to think a bit about this one!

This year, now that google classrooms are open, I started using it with my students.  I am not sure how I want to continue with it, but so far so good.  I did use Moodle and Edmodo, but now that google classrooms is available, I see no need to go elsewhere for my learning management system.

Technology for myself would be to blog and to possibly try blogging with my students.  This blogging experiment would be interesting, as we have not used it previously, but it is available to our students, as we are a google school.  I think I need to work out some kinks and want to figure out some precautions before we go "live".

I would also like to try google maps engine this term with my 8th grade students and possibly my 7th graders to make and figure out distance from place to place.  I think it would be a fun activity.  Maybe use timetoast to create timelines and also some thinglink images with research based reporting. 

For now, I really plan on working deeply with digital citizenship and creating some informational Public Service Announcements.

Te@ch Thought - Blogger Challenge Day 1

I saw this on my facebook feed today and thought how I have not blogged in a long while.  I think I should try this to force myself to get in the habit of blogging more.  As a middle school teacher and University Adjunct Professor, I really should practice what I preach!  

So here is the link if any of you are inspired to try the challenge as well.  Join Me!  
Te@ch Thought 30 day Blogging Challenge.


September 1- Write your goals for the school year.

This school year I have a few different goals:

1.  Encourage my students to use their own internal motivation to want to learn in my classroom.  I will try to accomplish this task by offering engaging lessons where they can use skills along with curiosity to learn about topics that are interesting and inspiring to them personally.

2.  Organize myself so that I am prepared each day ahead of time with lessons for the students.  My plan is to complete Units of assignments so that they can be broken out by skill and topic.

3.  Not Sweat the Small Stuff as much this year.  I do not want to drain my energy this year with things I can not control.  This means a lot of different things in life in general!  

4.  Be the best teacher I can be and know that I am making a difference in someone's life, even if I do not know it now.  

5.  Practice Kindness and encourage this with my students each day in the classroom.

I am sure there are a lot more I could think of, but for now, here is my first blog post in a long while!  Woo!  Go Me!

John Hunter is Inspiring

Last night I came across a post through my Facebook feed about 4-5th grade students taking charge of their own learning.  The video is so worth the 20 minutes.  This is what I envision teaching to be.  The kids are solving the worlds problems.  They work together to make some pretty important decisions. What do you think?

Other 21st Century Skills - Post is awesome!

As I look over this post, I am reminded of just how important it is to teach to the whole child and follow the whole child.  It is not just teaching to a test or memorizing facts, but it is teaching the child to be a productive member of society.  It is our job, along with parents and the community to help children learn how to learn.  This post is just that, a road map of what it really takes to be an active and productive member of our ever changing, fast paced, "I want it now" society.  LOVE it!

The other 21st Century Skills

I love this post and really could not have said it better myself.  It is so important for us to educate our youth from the earliest age.  It is the same as telling them never to take candy from strangers.  We need to let them know the stove is hot and not to touch it.   The internet is a big place with some scary things on it, but the positives of the internet far outweigh the negatives.  How can we be responsible educators if we do not allow the students to use the internet?  We need to teach them to discern information and see that there are two sides to every story.  How are we responsible if we just teach them that everything out there is scary and dangerous?  We must be proactive and teach them how to navigate through the waves.  What are you thinking?

A Letter To Parents Of Digital Age Children

Growing Up With Technology

Growing Up With Technology Infographic