Just two months ago, I blogged about developing a list of changes for the next school year. It's hard to believe that "next year" is almost here!
I report back to school for in service in just 11 days! I have added a few things to my list over the summer including having students be guest bloggers on my classroom blog and that students who sign up for retakes must come in for a help session or show evidence of extra practice before they retake an assessment. I'm also diving in to standards-based grading full on! My school decided to implement a benchmark report card for reading/LA and math. I'm THE 6th grade math teacher, so that's me! I will be working to develop a benchmark report card very soon!
What are some things you're going to change in your classroom this fall?! I would LOVE to hear your ideas!
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
What can you get at #iste10 for FREE?
I'm not talking about the little giveaways from the vendors, friends!
I did not pay to attend any of the formal ISTE conference. Why? 1) It's somewhat expensive. 2) I have a 5 month old.
I did, however, come to Denver for some of the conference aspects that were free!
I attended EduBloggerCon. This was my first EduBloggerCon, and I was in love with the organization of the day. People just signed up for what they want to talk about on big sheets of paper. Then, people signed the papers to show their interest in the sessions. The sessions were organized into time slots and locations and off we went to discuss!
I had some AWESOME conversations with people and also did a great deal of just listening. I was involved in conversations about personal branding (which got me thinking about what happens when you google me, but that's a whole different blog post), best practices in student blogging (check out some notes from the session here), and probably the discussion that got the most people fired up was the conversation facilitated by Jon Becker about the term PLN.
I attended two tweet ups and got to meet many people I "know" from Twitter. A tweet up sounds like a silly thing, but it was awesome to be able to sit and converse with people who have the same nerdy/educational interests as me in an informal environment and in more than 140 characters! I mean, who knew I'd end up having a conversation Google Docs at Hard Rock Cafe at 9pm on a Sunday night?
Tonight I am headed to #edchat. This weekly conversation usually happens on Twitter each Tuesday night and the topic is selected by the participants. I don't even know what the topic is, but it is always great conversation! This week, people at #iste10 are getting together to have a live #edchat!
My FREE experience at #iste10 was FULL of conversations! I know I missed out on so much by attending the actual conference, but I already told Russ that we are saving up and both attending #iste11!
I did not pay to attend any of the formal ISTE conference. Why? 1) It's somewhat expensive. 2) I have a 5 month old.
I did, however, come to Denver for some of the conference aspects that were free!
I attended EduBloggerCon. This was my first EduBloggerCon, and I was in love with the organization of the day. People just signed up for what they want to talk about on big sheets of paper. Then, people signed the papers to show their interest in the sessions. The sessions were organized into time slots and locations and off we went to discuss!
I had some AWESOME conversations with people and also did a great deal of just listening. I was involved in conversations about personal branding (which got me thinking about what happens when you google me, but that's a whole different blog post), best practices in student blogging (check out some notes from the session here), and probably the discussion that got the most people fired up was the conversation facilitated by Jon Becker about the term PLN.
I attended two tweet ups and got to meet many people I "know" from Twitter. A tweet up sounds like a silly thing, but it was awesome to be able to sit and converse with people who have the same nerdy/educational interests as me in an informal environment and in more than 140 characters! I mean, who knew I'd end up having a conversation Google Docs at Hard Rock Cafe at 9pm on a Sunday night?
Tonight I am headed to #edchat. This weekly conversation usually happens on Twitter each Tuesday night and the topic is selected by the participants. I don't even know what the topic is, but it is always great conversation! This week, people at #iste10 are getting together to have a live #edchat!
My FREE experience at #iste10 was FULL of conversations! I know I missed out on so much by attending the actual conference, but I already told Russ that we are saving up and both attending #iste11!
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
How I use the RT
I really enjoy being on Twitter. I participate in many conversations, both education related and not. I love the amount of resources shared as well. I'm not on Twitter 24/7, and I don't think many of us can be. Sometimes I feel like I miss out on resources and conversations because I can't get back in the feed far enough...shoot..sometime I can barely keep up with what is going on in the present!
I've noticed a lot of people retweet things right after they are shared. This is a great method if you have a larger following than the person who RTed the post in the first place. I, however, probably have a smaller following than many of the people that I follow. So, I've taken a different spin on the RT. Lately you may have noticed that I'm RTing things that are old....days old...hours old...maybe in some cases weeks old. I'm trying to do this to benefit people like me who can't be on Twitter all the time. I've been taking posts that are of interest, favoriting them, and then looking back through my favorites each day and posting a few, either from earlier in the day for those that weren't on at that time or days earlier because some people can't be on Twitter every day.
So, if you notice I post something you tweeted out a while ago, I'm not really that far behind. It's not a glitch in the system. I'm just trying to help out others like me who can't participate all the time.
I've noticed a lot of people retweet things right after they are shared. This is a great method if you have a larger following than the person who RTed the post in the first place. I, however, probably have a smaller following than many of the people that I follow. So, I've taken a different spin on the RT. Lately you may have noticed that I'm RTing things that are old....days old...hours old...maybe in some cases weeks old. I'm trying to do this to benefit people like me who can't be on Twitter all the time. I've been taking posts that are of interest, favoriting them, and then looking back through my favorites each day and posting a few, either from earlier in the day for those that weren't on at that time or days earlier because some people can't be on Twitter every day.
So, if you notice I post something you tweeted out a while ago, I'm not really that far behind. It's not a glitch in the system. I'm just trying to help out others like me who can't participate all the time.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
The Motivation Struggle
Today I did something I don't like doing... I forced kids to stay in for recess. I said, "If you didn't understand the math homework from last night, and I can look at your work and tell that, you won't get to help with the lower elementary field day this afternoon." Slowly, after rewording that a few times and the students figuring out I was serious, they trickled over from the "go out to recess line" to the "stay in line."
I felt like I was holding them captive, against their will, (except for those few who decided to come in before I made the "threat") as we looked over the assignment again, I did some reteaching, and then students worked or reworked the problems. See, I give the answers to the math homework so they can get feedback automatically as to if they are doing it correctly instead of waiting until it's checked by me. They can see right away if they "get it" or not.
One might say that you shouldn't give students work outside of the classroom until you are sure they can do it on their own, and I agree with that. But I get this response from many of them in class....I actually have this Baby Blues comic posted on my bulletin board. We work problems on individual white boards in class, and they seem to get it. Does it just fall out of their heads when they leave? Retention is not the big question I'm struggling with here.
The big question I'm struggling with and have been for a while is: WHY DON'T STUDENTS CARE? Why won't they come in to get help? When is it my job to force them to come in so they get help? When is it their turn to step up and take responsibility for their own learning?
I know I'm dwelling on the negative here...I should celebrate the kids who came in on their own. Today I did not do that, and that is something I regret and will learn from...but with 8 days of school left, I'm kind of at my wits' end.
I felt like I was holding them captive, against their will, (except for those few who decided to come in before I made the "threat") as we looked over the assignment again, I did some reteaching, and then students worked or reworked the problems. See, I give the answers to the math homework so they can get feedback automatically as to if they are doing it correctly instead of waiting until it's checked by me. They can see right away if they "get it" or not.
One might say that you shouldn't give students work outside of the classroom until you are sure they can do it on their own, and I agree with that. But I get this response from many of them in class....I actually have this Baby Blues comic posted on my bulletin board. We work problems on individual white boards in class, and they seem to get it. Does it just fall out of their heads when they leave? Retention is not the big question I'm struggling with here.
The big question I'm struggling with and have been for a while is: WHY DON'T STUDENTS CARE? Why won't they come in to get help? When is it my job to force them to come in so they get help? When is it their turn to step up and take responsibility for their own learning?
I know I'm dwelling on the negative here...I should celebrate the kids who came in on their own. Today I did not do that, and that is something I regret and will learn from...but with 8 days of school left, I'm kind of at my wits' end.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
It only took until 7th grade...
As I walked into school the other morning, I ran into a student who I had last year. This student was quite the challenge and we had our ups and downs, but he's a great kid and we really came to understand each other. I asked how math was going, since I know 7th grade math can be a challenge, and he said it was going ok...that he goes in for help a lot. Then he said something that really fired me up...he's been reading...a lot! Last year I BATTLED with this gentleman to read. I mean BATTLED...nothing interested him, books were dumb, reading was boring...
In 7th grade, the students study the Holocaust and WWII in Social Studies. This topic really interested this student and now he cannot stop reading about it.
It's just a shame that it took until his 7th grade year for this student to find a topic that interests him so much that he can't stop reading about it.
How can we reach these students earlier?
In 7th grade, the students study the Holocaust and WWII in Social Studies. This topic really interested this student and now he cannot stop reading about it.
It's just a shame that it took until his 7th grade year for this student to find a topic that interests him so much that he can't stop reading about it.
How can we reach these students earlier?
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Next Year...
As the year comes to a close, I think many teachers are in a state of exhaustion and reflection at the same time. I know I am. There are many thoughts in my head about what I will do differently next year. I've started a Google Doc that is a list of what I want to make sure I change, do for the first time, or don't do at all next year. I'm doing this so that I don't forget over the summer what I'm feeling in these last days.
A few things on my list are:
What will you change, add, or drop next year? I encourage you to make a list. I feel like mine is growing every day!
A few things on my list are:
- Use a Google form to collect kids' and parents' information.
- Discuss what I expect from students when they return from being absent.
- Make a video of a good literature circle and show students how it should work.
- Discuss that I don't give extra credit.
What will you change, add, or drop next year? I encourage you to make a list. I feel like mine is growing every day!
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Is equal ever equal?
Here's an idea. I don't even know if I agree with it, but it's been on my mind the past few days...
I interviewed at a smaller district a few years back and at the end of the interview, I was told that they wanted a commitment from me. They didn't want me to use their district as a "stepping stone" to get into a larger, better paying district in the area. Small schools are constantly dealing with a revolving door of new teachers who start there and then move on to greener pastures with better pay.
State-wide? Nation-wide? I know cost of living differs in areas, so maybe nation-wide is a stretch. What are your thoughts? I'm not sure what mine are...
I interviewed at a smaller district a few years back and at the end of the interview, I was told that they wanted a commitment from me. They didn't want me to use their district as a "stepping stone" to get into a larger, better paying district in the area. Small schools are constantly dealing with a revolving door of new teachers who start there and then move on to greener pastures with better pay.
What if all schools had the same pay scale?
State-wide? Nation-wide? I know cost of living differs in areas, so maybe nation-wide is a stretch. What are your thoughts? I'm not sure what mine are...
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