I have never been one to make resolutions when one year fades away and a new year begins. I have, however, always been one to reflect so I can make changes and to improve. A new school year always provided that opportunity for me. I would always think about the previous school year and decide new things I wanted to try and clear out things that didn't work so well. Then I would make a list and get started.
As an Instructional Technology Facilitator, I work the same way. I think about various lessons that I have co-taught or modeled as well as professional development that was delivered the previous year. I then make a list of things I need to do to make the lessons and PD better. My main reflection for this year is how to make the follow-up activities teacher friendly. Our county is moving toward using Google Apps and my "resolution" will be to incorporate Google Docs into the follow-up. Hopefully, I will be able to hit two targets: getting teachers comfortable with and using Google Docs and making it easier for me to check on the follow-up activities. I am excitied to see how it goes!
Monday, August 22, 2011
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Do You Still Teach?
I had a dentist appointment yesterday with whom I have known both personally and professionally for many years. His wife, a former teacher, is the receptionist for the business. As I was checking out, she asked, "Do you still teach?"
I get that question a lot. It seems like a simple question with a yes or no answer. But nothing is a simple as it seems. Yes I still teach, but no, I don't teach fourth graders or just children any longer. I am a teacher, an educator, a facilitator of Instructional Technology. Then I get 'The Question', "so what is it that you do?"
On any given day the answer to that question is different. I might be meeting with teachers putting together a unit of study for their students in which technology is integral and not just something fun to do. Another day I might be teaching a whole faculty on how to create an interactive white board lesson. Another day, I might be creating professional development on technology for teachers to complete online anytime, anywhere. Yet another day, I might be in the classroom along side a teacher as we co-teach together again with technology seamlessly included. Yet even another day, I might be meeting with teachers during their PLC time, looking at data and brainstorming ways to help students meet the goals and objectives.
There are days when I miss having my own classroom and my own students, especially at this time of the year. But I believe in what I do and believe that our "teaching" touches many and makes a difference in our students' education.
I get that question a lot. It seems like a simple question with a yes or no answer. But nothing is a simple as it seems. Yes I still teach, but no, I don't teach fourth graders or just children any longer. I am a teacher, an educator, a facilitator of Instructional Technology. Then I get 'The Question', "so what is it that you do?"
On any given day the answer to that question is different. I might be meeting with teachers putting together a unit of study for their students in which technology is integral and not just something fun to do. Another day I might be teaching a whole faculty on how to create an interactive white board lesson. Another day, I might be creating professional development on technology for teachers to complete online anytime, anywhere. Yet another day, I might be in the classroom along side a teacher as we co-teach together again with technology seamlessly included. Yet even another day, I might be meeting with teachers during their PLC time, looking at data and brainstorming ways to help students meet the goals and objectives.
There are days when I miss having my own classroom and my own students, especially at this time of the year. But I believe in what I do and believe that our "teaching" touches many and makes a difference in our students' education.
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Changes
Someone once said, "If nothing ever changed, then there would be no butterflies."
Although changes are a natural part of life, change is hard causing us to want to stay in the safe and known. However, once we venture out, we experience new and wonderful things and we grow just like the butterfly.
Why the talk about change? It is appropriate at this time of the year for many reasons. Students are getting ready to change grade levels, growing another year older and wiser. Teachers are getting ready to change their classrooms from the quiet slumber of summer into a dynamic culture of learning for their new class of students.
GCS Instructional Technology Facilitators are changing as well. It is now official that we will be divided into Elementary ITFs and Secondary ITFs. The reasons for the change are many having to do with things like Revised Blooms Taxonomy, STEM, and Common Core. But one very important reason is to allow us to use our educational backgrounds to change the educational experience of our students as we help to prepare them for uncharted waters.
Change isn't easy. I will be leaving behind my two secondary schools in which I have invested five years and have formed some valuable friendships. It has been weird knowing that I will not be planning for middle school and high school and a little sad as I know I will miss being in those schools. I trust they will continue to move forward in the great strides we have made.
Change is a little scary. I have balanced my schedule with six schools before and now I will serving eight. Being the perfectionist that I am, I am already putting scenarios on paper on how I can cover those eight so at the end of the day I will look back and know I did my best.
Change is also exciting. I will be diving in deeply into elementary curriculum integration and truly use my skill set where I am best trained to make a difference in education.
I am taking my cue from the butterfly, how about you?
Although changes are a natural part of life, change is hard causing us to want to stay in the safe and known. However, once we venture out, we experience new and wonderful things and we grow just like the butterfly.
Why the talk about change? It is appropriate at this time of the year for many reasons. Students are getting ready to change grade levels, growing another year older and wiser. Teachers are getting ready to change their classrooms from the quiet slumber of summer into a dynamic culture of learning for their new class of students.
GCS Instructional Technology Facilitators are changing as well. It is now official that we will be divided into Elementary ITFs and Secondary ITFs. The reasons for the change are many having to do with things like Revised Blooms Taxonomy, STEM, and Common Core. But one very important reason is to allow us to use our educational backgrounds to change the educational experience of our students as we help to prepare them for uncharted waters.
Change isn't easy. I will be leaving behind my two secondary schools in which I have invested five years and have formed some valuable friendships. It has been weird knowing that I will not be planning for middle school and high school and a little sad as I know I will miss being in those schools. I trust they will continue to move forward in the great strides we have made.
Change is a little scary. I have balanced my schedule with six schools before and now I will serving eight. Being the perfectionist that I am, I am already putting scenarios on paper on how I can cover those eight so at the end of the day I will look back and know I did my best.
Change is also exciting. I will be diving in deeply into elementary curriculum integration and truly use my skill set where I am best trained to make a difference in education.
I am taking my cue from the butterfly, how about you?
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Great Science/Math Resources
In my previous district, I was fortunate in that we had some awesome materials to help with hands-on differentiation in math and science from AIMS Education Foundation. My students and I loved the materials. One of our favorite lessons was determining how the mass changed in gum after it had been chewed for ten minutes. The lesson is called By Golly, By Gum and is one of the free activities available to download to your computer for use.
I don't know about you, but I love free and when your combine it with great materials to help with STEM, then it is a win-win situation.
Go to AIMS Education Foundation and sign up to receive free materials throughout the school year.
I don't know about you, but I love free and when your combine it with great materials to help with STEM, then it is a win-win situation.
Go to AIMS Education Foundation and sign up to receive free materials throughout the school year.
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Summer Planning
Much like teachers, we take the opportunity over the summer to create and plan for the upcoming school year. One great thing about our summer is the chance for our group to work together. Imagine how interesting it gets sometimes when strong personalities are in a room together for eight to ten hours a day brainstorming! But overall, it works kinda like a PLC. We all bring to the table different strengths and this is our chance to tap into that. I am always proud of the work our group turns out. The downside to spending all of this time together, is the withdrawal of that energy when we return to our respective schools.
That is where some great technology comes into play that you can use to bring the world into your classroom. We collaborate and communicate via Skype, Google Docs, and Google Chat. Would you like to learn how to do incorporate those tools into your lessons, just let me know!
That is where some great technology comes into play that you can use to bring the world into your classroom. We collaborate and communicate via Skype, Google Docs, and Google Chat. Would you like to learn how to do incorporate those tools into your lessons, just let me know!
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