Summer is a great time for educators to take a step back from their processes and think about what's working and what isn't. For me, I usually set lofty goals about what I'll accomplish over the summer. This year it was to read all of the books currently on my desk. I just counted - … Continue reading Let’s Make Time for #ReflectionEDU
education
From Striving to Thriving – My Action Plan
I just finished reading a tremendous book From Striving to Thriving: How to Grow Confident, Capable Readers by Stephanie Harvey and Annie Ward. I cannot say enough great things about this book; I think it would be good for all teachers, whether you teach reading or not.I think I put a sticky note on almost … Continue reading From Striving to Thriving – My Action Plan
Just a Teacher
A few days ago, I was given the incredible opportunity to attend ASCD's Leader to Leader (#ASCDL2L) conference as part of the Emerging Leader Class of 2017. The Emerging Leaders are an incredible, inspiring group of people. Each person I met was as accomplished and successful as the next. I just kept thinking - how … Continue reading Just a Teacher
‘Twas the Night Before Expo
Tomorrow is my students' Genius Hour Expo. The day we've been talking about since we returned to school in January has arrived.After our first round of Genius Hour last semester, I realized something needed to change. My students spent a lot of time and energy on something that only I saw. The "share out" element … Continue reading ‘Twas the Night Before Expo
One School, One World, One Teacher’s Reflection #1S1W
Earlier this week I had a conversation about #1S1W with my 8th grade language arts students.I was inspired by Pernille Ripp's post HERE after she reflected on the day with her students. I also adapted the discussion questions (and used the classrooms around the world and Detriot, MI article links) from Ms. Korver HERE.First we looked through … Continue reading One School, One World, One Teacher’s Reflection #1S1W
Literature Circles – Updated for Middle School
For our January novel study, I wanted to test out a new type of literature circle activity. For 8th graders, the "jobs" version of literature circles never worked quite as well as I would have liked it to. Plus, it's a lot of work to set up, and the kids never seemed to know what … Continue reading Literature Circles – Updated for Middle School
EdCamp Leadership in Sketchnote
Two weeks ago, I wrote a post about women in in Ed Leadership, combining some thoughts I had about women in ed tech leadership with thoughts about educational leadership in general..I promised myself (and the Internet I suppose) that I was going to show up. I was going to do what I could to get … Continue reading EdCamp Leadership in Sketchnote
I’m going to show up.
This is a little rambling, but it's my first post in a while. Forgive me!So, this year I was #notatiste. I was fortunate to be sent to ISTE in 2011 in what was probably a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Thankfully, there's a great and very active community of people who engage in ISTE style learning from their … Continue reading I’m going to show up.
My Epic Nonfiction Project
One of my goals this summer was to completely align my lessons and activities with the Common Core Standards. It's been quite an undertaking, and I don't think I'll get everything done I wanted to.As part of that, I made the orgnizational tool I posted about earlier.I've been busy adding in lessons and activities and slowly … Continue reading My Epic Nonfiction Project
8th Grade ELA Common Core Planning
So, one of my major undertakings this summer has been to prepare myself to teach the Common Core standards. I don't want to completely re-invent the wheel, but I also want to make sure that I'm teaching everything I'm supposed to.As a result, I've created this planning document!One of my goals for the upcoming year … Continue reading 8th Grade ELA Common Core Planning