Ten Tips for Personalized Learning via Technology

 Ten Tips for Personalized Learning via Technology 

I thought this article offered useful advice on implementing personal and engaging technology in the classroom. I teach in a diverse third grade classroom, and half of my student population consists of  English Language Learners.  I am always looking for new ways to support and accommodate their individual needs.  I especially enjoyed tip number one: Delivering instruction through multiple forms of media.  I am always looking media that is interactive and fun for my students. It is amazing how much my language learners benefit from images, audio and videos.  It really helps with some of those hard to grasp abstract concepts. I am also a big fan of tip number two: Gather and Use Immediate Feedback on Students' Understanding. I utilize the videos on Brainpop and then use clicker devices to take online quizzes that produce immediate and personal results.  I will definitely revisit this article when I am looking for inspiration to spice up the implementation of technology in my classroom.

Pandora: Time for a Bowie- Syle Invention

 Pandora-ReadWriteWeb

I am a huge Pandora fan.  I have a broken car radio, so I depend on Pandora as my music source when I am traveling in my car.  I also play Pandora in my classroom.  The kids LOVE it, and they will work hard for the reward of listening to x amount of minutes on Pandora.  They love not knowing what song is coming up next.  I start the volume on as low as it can go with still being able to hear.  If they work quietly and nicely together, I will turn it up a little bit each time I am impressed by their behavior. If they have worked really hard and well and the volume gets loud enough, I will allow 5 minutes for them to dance.  This gets out excess energy and refreshes them to continue working hard.  I am a big fan and love the fact that it is free.  I don't mind the ads here and there and when I have reached my max in song skips, I just change the station and start over! This forces me to listen to many different genres.  I hope that Pandora continues to stay on top and only makes necessary changes that improve it!

Why Pinterest Has NOT Reimagined Scrapbooking

 Why Pinterest Has NOT Reimagined Scrapbooking

This was an interesting read on a how scrapbookers use pinterest in unique and inspirational ways.  The article states that Pinterest has not reimagined scrapbooking, but that it is used to document ideas which ignite inspiration. I have recently joined Pinterest, so I always enjoy different ways to pull and save ideas.  I always spend A LOT of time scrapbooking at the end of the year for my students' memory books. I am a new teacher, so I have not mastered or found an easy way to pull everything together.  After reading this article, I have learned so new ideas from some scrapbooking gurus who use Pinterest and have found clever ways to create a digital scrapbook.

How Do We Help Kids Make Better Choices? Let Them Practice

 http://www.edutopia.org/blog/student-achievement-practice-matt-levinson?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+EdutopiaNewContent+%28Edutopia%29&utm_content=Google+Reader

 I agree that giving kids the room to practice making decisions is a healthy way for them to learn from their mistakes.  However, I think it is important for adults to discuss these situations so that kids  are aware of alternative choices.  The author Michael Thompson notes, there is nothing that adults can do to make a child's undirected "play" better.   I don't think adults need to be present every minute during school and  extracurricular activities, but kids still need guidance and direction to prevent mistakes made in the future. I spend a lot of time in my third grade classroom discussing choices.  I always ask my students to reflect on their choices. Nine out of ten times they know what would have been the better decision, but I still think it is healthy dialogue between teacher and student.

Teachers Say More Students Homeless, Living in Poverty

 http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/article/teachers-say-more-students-homeless-living-poverty

This is a sad and heavy article about the reality that some of our students live in today.  The number of students whose families are in economic crisis is growing, according to a recent survey released by Scholastic and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. According to Primary Sources: America’s Teachers on the Teaching Profession, veteran teachers reported that they have more students who are homeless than they did five years ago. Over a third of teachers in low-income communities—those with a median household income of less than $40,000 per year— report seeing an increase in the number of homeless students in their schools. In communities with a median household income of $40,000 to $69,000, 40 percent of teachers reported the same. Even high-income areas are not immune, with more than a quarter of teachers surveyed reporting higher numbers of homeless students.  It breaks my heart to hear that students are coming to school hungry.  I have had several students that sleep on the floor every night, and I find it hard to have the same expectations for these kids knowing their circumstances. I think providing the essentials for these kids is a start, but the problem goes much deeper.  Hopefully schools and communities can come together to help these children and families in need, so these children have a fair chance.


 

Engaging Students with Technology over the Summer

Engaging Students with Technology over the Summer

I like the idea of connecting with students in "their world." I think using social media tools to engage students definitely motivates them to communicate and continue learning even when they are away from school. It also aids in understanding the various learning styles in the classroom.  There are so many unique learning styles, and there is no better way to understand them than getting to know the kids in all avenues of their life.  I would be worried about using facebook, but all the other tools mentioned in the article seem harmless. Even silly games like Draw Something and Words With Friends keeps the learning connection between teacher and student.

A Step-by-Step Guide to the Best Projects

 Project-Based Learning Model


I really liked how this article broke down the process of creating a project-based learning model.  I can see how these project motivate students and drive academic achievement. It is interesting how PBL enhances and stimulates student inquiry.  The process of inquiry is applied across grades and subjects in this school. This means these students are learning a consistent approach to solving problems and are learning how to apply it to all situations and projects. I was also happy to see that the final assessment is relatively easy, because the teacher observes student progress throughout the process. The rubric also identifies multiple learning outcomes that help students along the way.  Mobley explains, "By the time students turn in their final work, they should know what grade they're going to get."  This holds students accountable for their success in the class.  I will definitely refer back to this step-by-step guide to project based learning!

Collaborative Mentoring for New Teachers

Collaborative Mentoring for New Teachers

I think it is a great idea to use the power of digital resources to support and mentor new teachers.  I have recently learned to utilize all the educational technology apps and social media available on the web. There is a wealth of information and tools for new teachers.  The author believes that  "virtual mentors" can be as supportive as a traditional 1-to-1 mentoring model. Lisa Dabbs is so passionate about this idea of virtual mentorship that she has been selected to present Collaborative Mentoring for New Teachers in June. She has already developed Educator PLN and Edutopia New Teacher Bootcamp.  I was a new teacher recently and my traditional 1-to-1 mentoring model was not helpful.  At the end of the day, my mentor just didn't have enough time to help me.  I felt lost at times throughout the year, but my mentor was never around when I really needed her.  I believe that collaborative "virtual" mentorship is possible, and that it will definitely support new teachers!

How to Teach Internet Safety to Younger Elementary Students

Internet Safety

I thought it was interesting how this article compared face-to-face dangerous situations to virtual situations that are dangerous. The article mentions that the transfer of handling strangers in "real life" to those in virtual environments is not automatic.  Therefore, it has to be taught.  I thought the most important point from the article is the fact that students can walk or run away from a potential threat in real life. But in an online situation, the danger presents itself inside a student's home, and virtual situations become difficult to escape or handle.  The author presented a sample lesson for kindergarten and first graders to introduce the idea that strangers exist on the Internet.  It discussed how young children should interact with them. I teach third grade and I think I could apply parts of this lesson to teach this concept. The virtual world offers many advantages, but it also presents dangerous situations so we must educate and prepare our children so they can participate safely.

a-roundup-of-news-about-the-common-core A roundup of news about the Common Core

 http://oomscholasticblog.com/2012/05/a-roundup-of-news-about-the-common-core.html

This was an interesting read about the Common Core.  The article suggest that there will be a shift in the types of books students will be reading in school.  The focus will be on non- fiction books.  I believe non-fiction text is extremely important when teaching reading; however, I think it is best to have a variety of genres in children's literature.  Hopefully we can apply Science, Social Studies and math selections into our ELA lessons and still have time for other genres.

How to Rewire Your Burned-Out Brain: Tips from a Neurologist

 http://www.edutopia.org/blog/teacher-burnout-neurology-judy-willis-md

I always feel guilty when I feel burned-out, because I know I am no longer performing at my best.   I don't think it is fair to my students and parents. Now that I understand that my brain goes into survival mode, I can take control and switch my responses from retreat to IGNITE! I found it interesting that "rewiring" goals helps your brain build stronger and more connections into a memory pattern where effort brings pleasure. ( Willis)  I think we all feel burned-out at some point during the year.  I will definitely think about this article next time I am experiencing the frustrations of burnout.

How to Make Consequences Work

How to Make Consequences Work

This article offers some good advice regarding discipline and consequences.  I found it interesting that how we implement consequence is more important than what they are.  The article suggest that you should engage students by including their ideas.  I always have my students come up with six classroom rules and several fair consequences the first day of school.  They always have fun creating these rules, and I always refer back to them throughout the year. I also like the P.E.P strategy - talk privately, make eye contact, and stand close- proximity.  I believe those three tips are the best communication strategies in any situation and seem to work with every kid! I also thought it was great that the author mentioned to forget about sequence and rigid systems when it comes to handing out consequences. Every situation is different, so we need to rely on judgement- not systems. I also agree with offering children choices. Children will act more responsibly when they are given power and control to develop skills that promote responsibility. (Curwin) I will definitely refer back to this article when planning my behavior management system next school year.

Using Technology to Teach Health and Wellness

 Health and Wellness

I really enjoyed the health and wellness resources listed in this article.  I would love to spend some time introducing these applications, websites and games to my students before they are released for summer.  The BAM (body and mind) site seems user and kid friendly.  It is run by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and covers everything from nutrition to physical activity to both physical and mental well being. I am also interested in Sugar Stacks because it is also kid friendly and provides images of everyday food items with the grams of sugar contained in each one represented as a stack of sugar cubes.  Using sugar stacks to model sugar consumption is less abstract for my younger students.

Fostering Relationships in the Classroom

Fostering Relationships in the Classroom 

I enjoyed reading this article, because I am always looking for new ways to to establish positive and trusting relationships in the classroom.  I liked how the author mentioned that these activities should be used at later points in the year as students' interests change and as they gain new life experiences. I usually do these activities the first week of school, but never revisit them throughout the year.  This article reminded me that it is not only important to establish trusting relationships, but they need to be fostered and maintained as students grow and change.

Summer Learning Tips

Summer Learning Tips

This article really hit home today, because I had to tell three of my students that they need to go to summer school.  You would have thought that I told them the world was ending.   There were a lot of tears while they begged for another chance.  This broke my heart, but I tried to look past their tears to convince them that summer school will be fun!  I talked about several activities from the article, and my kids' faces lit up.  I think there has to be a lot of creative thought that goes into these summer lesson plans, so these kids have fun while learning.  This will also affect their attitude towards school when it starts back in the fall.  These kids are probably students who have unique learning styles and need differentiated instruction.  I hate that budget cuts may take away from resources, but hopefully we can still find creative ways to make it fun and educational at the same time.

Parents and Teachers: The Possibility of a Dream Team

 http://www.edutopia.org/blog/parent-teacher-collaboration-richard-curwin?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+EdutopiaNewContent+%28Edutopia%29&utm_content=Google+Reader

I thought this was a helpful article that highlighted the complexity of the parent- teacher relationship. Parents can either be your best friends or you worst enemies. I believe it is an important part of our job, as teachers, to establish a healthy and trusting relationship with parents.  In the best interest of the student, teachers must do what ever it takes to gain the trust of parents. My principal requires a version of the three- call method, but sometimes it takes more than a phone call.  I think teachers have to be up for the challenge of breaking down walls and earning trust, so they can be a functioning team.   I try to always ask the parent's opinion before stating my own, and I always make it known that I want what is best for their child.  This is one of the most challenging relationships that requires a lot of work and effort at times, but children deserve the best from adults!

5 Tips to Avoid Teacher Burnout

http://www.edutopia.org/blog/tips-to-avoid-teacher-burnout-andrew-miller

 

This article offers refreshing tips for teachers who put in long hours in the classroom. (Which we all do!)  A teacher's job never ends, because there is always room to grow and improve.  With that in mind, we have to cut ourselves off and call it a day at some point.  During my first year of teaching, I honestly felt like there weren't enough hours in the day. (I think I considered sleeping in my classroom one night)  I also think tip number 4 is extremely important.  At the end of the day, our job is to do what is best for the children. Sharing materials/ideas better serves our students.  I think teachers should not only use available resources, but they should establish a strong personal learning network (PLN)  Educators should always stay connected.  In the long run, it will make our job easier!

What Works for Differentiating Instruction in Elementary Schools

What Works for Differentiating Instruction in Elementary Schools

I really enjoyed this article about differentiating instruction, because it continues to be the most challenging part of my job.  As class sizes continue to increase, differentiating instruction must become every teacher’s mission.  It is imperative that teachers take the time to understand the unique learning styles of individual students.  No two learners are alike. With a classroom of 25 third graders, I am challenged every day with this task. However, it is the reason I love teaching! I could work through the night planning lessons to meet the needs of every student efficiently, but I know I will never master the art of differentiation.   I will never get bored with my job as a teacher because there is always room to grow and improve.  I love the challenge, and I hope that I continue to learn new strategies that help me meet the needs of all of my students.

FREE apps to keep students learning all summer

FREE Apps 

With summer around the corner, I was excited to learn about these FREE apps from scholastics!  These apps not only help children retain important skills but they also encourage and motivate students to become life long learners.  Scholastic's Summer Challenge, Scholastic Storia, and Sushi Monster are all FREE programs that help students sharpen reading and math skills.  They offer prizes and resources that allow parents to track and monitor their child's academic progress.  I will definitely write about these in this week's classroom newsletter!

12 Reasons to Get Your School District Tweeting This Summer

12 Reasons

School systems should consider getting involved in using social media tools such as Twitter. Joe Mazza offers 12 reasons for school systems to get involved and start tweeting. The benefits and possibilities are endless. I especially liked reason number 5- "Anytime, anywhere professional development." Twitter offers more professional development than any conference, workshop or in-service we could ever offer our employees or families.   It is important for educators to communicate with each other to continue growing and learning about ways to educate children. Twitter offers an easy and efficient platform for educators to network and develop a strong PLN.  Utilizing Twitter can also be used as a tool to help educators prepare young students to be a part of a global society.   It allows you to see what the whole world is thinking. Twitter can be thought-provoking, brilliant and insightful at times- so why not find a place for it in our schools?