Monday, November 23, 2015

December Updates

Our Transform Session for December is based on the results from the survey last month and focuses on presentation tools for students and teachers. Teachers will be given an opportunity to explore Keynote, Prezi, FlowVella, Haiku Deck, Google Slides, Nearpod, ClassFlow, Pear Deck, Canva and/or Buncee with the goal of choosing one to create a quick sample. Please see below for upcoming PD dates and other great resources!




Don't forget about our 2nd Annual Tech the Halls Contest this month. You'll earn an adorable tech badge just for participating, and last year's winners took home some great prizes! Let those creative juices start flowing and get inspired by watching the video linked above.

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Tuesday, November 17, 2015

Transforming Teaching & Learning... #thisiswhatitsallabout


Teachers who strive to make a difference in the lives of students and those who are trying to transform teaching and learning in classrooms today often wait years to see the results of those efforts. There are days when you wonder, "Am I really making an impact on my students? Are the changes I make in my classroom truly transformative and worthwhile? Does what I am doing really matter?" Making a difference and changing the "way we have always done things" is hard work!


Back when I was teaching Math to my sixth graders, I decided to begin differentiating instruction for my students. To be effective, this required careful planning and solid classroom management. It required me to use data to provide my students with appropriately leveled tasks for each strand, and my class time was spent working with students in small groups to address misconceptions and having meaningful conversations about Math. Truly differentiating instruction for my students was the most challenging work of my teaching career; however, it was also the most worthwhile and rewarding experience. I found that I loved teaching students... even more than I loved teaching Math.

As an instructional technologist, I spend most of my time teaching teachers in small groups and working alongside my teachers to plan for meaningful learning experiences. Differentiating instruction for my teachers is important to me, and I have found that I love teaching teachers... much more than I love teaching tech. But there are days when I wonder, "Am I making an impact on students? Does what am I doing in professional development and conversations with teachers really make a difference in the classroom?" Change can be even harder when you are working with grown-ups!

One of my favorite things to do in between PD sessions and planning with my teachers is to get out into classrooms. I walk the hallways in search of students using iPads, and I talk to them about what they are doing. I go into classrooms to observe and interact with students to find out how they are using our 1:1 technology to learn. I ask them about what they are creating and what they are learning. I ask them about what they like... or don't like. Getting out into the classrooms helps me stay connected to students, and it's also an effective way to gather important information and feedback!


Last Thursday, I had a chance to walk around and observe students when I was at Powdersville Elementary, and it was AWESOME to see the way that our 1:1 technology is beginning to significantly change teaching and learning! Teachers are able to implement Guided Reading and Guided Math more effectively because of the meaningful work students are creating and the interactive resources available on the iPads. Teachers are gathering feedback to inform instructional practice using formative assessment tools in ways that are not possible with pencil and paper. Students are doing research to find information and creating recorded lessons to show what they know and to teach other students. It is so exciting to see that change is really happening, and I'm looking forward to seeing the amazing things that are happening at all of my schools in the weeks ahead!



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Monday, November 9, 2015

Stopping to Check the Gauges

Differentiating instruction for my students was the most difficult and worthwhile task that I chose to take on as a sixth grade Math teacher. Providing students with differentiated lessons in small groups and assignments based on their readiness required strong classroom management and careful planning, but it was rewarding to see students grow and flourish in this type of learning environment. Teaching my students in small groups and working as a facilitator of learning allowed me to get to know and love my students on a more personal level.

It is my goal to find ways to differentiate instruction and allow for choice during my professional development sessions with teachers this year. During my October Transform Session, I provided teachers with an opportunity to choose their own topic for learning and exploration. Though the feedback from teachers was excellent, many of them had a difficult time deciding what they needed/wanted to learn. As I planned for this month, my goal was to find a solution that allowed for choice without overwhelming anyone or triggering an "I don't know what I don't know" response.



We started the session by revisiting an AnswerGarden of teacher responses from September that lists words we want students to use to describe our class at the end of the year. As the first quarter closes and a new nine week period begins, this was a great opportunity to reflect on how the year is going so far! With the words FUN, ENGAGING, and EXCITING in mind, we used Charades Kids to play a quick "Name that App" Challenge.

With exams approaching in December, it was the perfect time to share a collection of apps/tools that teachers can use for assessment and review. Using Google Classroom, I shared a copy of the Slides presentation, throughout which I included informational links for each of apps or websites shared. After a quick overview of the seven tools, teachers were asked to choose and explore just one by creating a quick assessment or study tool for students. As they were exploring and creating, I was circulating to answer questions and assist those who are less comfortable with technology.

In selecting the apps/tools to share, I tried to find a balance of "old" and "new" in order to meet the needs of those who want to dig deeper into tools they already know and those who are always looking for something new. One teacher commented, "I did not feel rushed through this session. It was a great review of some of the apps that have been introduced previously. There were also some new apps that I am going use in the next few weeks!" Many other teachers left similar comments and included positive feedback on time to explore and create. Quizalize was the most popular new tool this month.




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