First year Teacher.
7th Grade Science.
Crazy cat lady.
Christ follower.
I also like basketball and Lil Wayne.
hit counter
Catching Elephant is a theme by Andy Taylor
Technology Website
So I’m making a (Weebly) website with a bunch of ideas for our 1:1 technology. I’m intending it to be a place for the less enthusiastic people to get started. Here’s what I’ve got so far as my pages. (Also we’re getting Macbook Pros)
Books
- Using Technology with Classroom Instruction that Works
- Oversold and Underused
- Stratosphere: Integrating Technology, Pedagogy, and Change Knowledge
Websites
- Weebly (my favorite!)
- Wikispaces
- Edmodo
- Prezi
I’m considering a third page on common Mac issues and how to solve them.
Any additions to the pages I have? Or new pages I could add?
Forensics Unit
Just ordered fingerprinting powder and brushes! I’ve got several awesome blood splatter, teeth mark, tire mark, K9, and identifying powders labs lined up too. We are going to have fun with science until the end of the year if it’s the last thing I do!
*screams due to pent up aggression over standardized testing*
Everyone on the technology steering committee was asked to print out a motivational quote to guide us. Also I’ll be picking a book to read over the summer about technology in the classroom if anyone has any suggestions!
What makes some people never ever say one bad word about our job (teaching) and the education system and other people not have anything good to say about it at all?
A Warning to Young People: Don't Become a Teacher
“After all, what other profession would allow me to make $37,000 a year after 14 years of experience and have people tell me how greedy I am?”
1:1 Technology Grant Update
Ok guys, this is real life. The winners have been announced, and we are one of them. Yesterday one of our administrators attended the meeting where she learned a little more about how this is going to look, and today the information was passed along to us.
We’re getting a full time tech person. (We only have part time now.)
We’re getting a full time technology in education person. Their job will be all about helping use the technology effectively in the classroom. They’ll be like our mentors and masters (We have teachers that only teach 2 classes and spend the rest of their time doing support and leading PLCs.)
There will be 50-100 stipends for people in the county who would like to take on additional responsibility in various ways related to the technology.
Of the 10 chosen schools, only 4 are receiving a device for every kid and every teacher. (The others get class sets or are doing 1 grade.) WE ARE ONE OF THOSE FOUR!
We’re going to get a laptop/tablet hybrid. Currently choosing between:
- Dell XPS 12
- Dell XT3
- MacBook Air
- Aus Taichi
- Lenovo Thinkpad Two
Two weeks of training this summer.
Not sure what kind of software we’re going to be using on the computers to make them educationally friendly (ability to freeze screens, block websites, locate the device, etc).
Oh and did I mention that I was personally asked to be on the Steering Committee next year to help plan how we’re going to roll this out effectively. (The district wants every teacher using these babies effectively by the end of the year.) YEAH, ME. A FIRST YEAR TEACHER!
I’ll keep you all updated. I am incredibly excited to tackle this beast.
If a bright student or a struggling student leaves our school, and our first thought is how their departure will affect our test scores, then we know that testing is too important and our priorities are 180 degrees out of synch with what we should be thinking.
Tim Holt (via holtthink)
Or how another teacher told me to focus ALL my efforts on the “regular” kids in these last few weeks before our test because the special ed scores don’t affect me.
Technology Grant Results!
WE GOT IT!!! Next year every kid and every teacher will have a take home personal device (tablet)!!!!!!!
I’m so excited to start blazing this path!
Tripod Survey
Tomorrow my kids will be taking a Tripod Survey (http://camb-ed-us.com/QualityReviews/Tripodsurveyassessments.aspx), does anyone know anything about it?
I’m giving 100% and I have no more percents to give.
In the trifecta of people who have an impact on student growth (the teacher, the parents, and the student himself), why am I the one who they keep coming up with new ways to pressure and intimidate? Why am I the only one going home feeling inadequate 180 days a year?
Some lawmakers in Tennessee think they have the answer to helping poor students who are struggling in school: Reduce welfare payments to their families. How would it work? If a poor kid fails a grade, that family’s welfare benefits could be cut by up to 30%. The theory is that the threat of less money would prompt the parents to pay attention to their child’s learning and education.
Families’ welfare could get cut if kids flunk- MSN Money
…aaaaaand discuss.
(via girlwithalessonplan)
They’re making huge assumptions about the reasons why (some) poor students struggle in school. What if the reason parents aren’t “involved” is because they are too busy working 3 jobs a piece (like many of the families I work with) so that they can put food on the table? Or what if the child IS trying really hard, but has a learning disability and isn’t receiving the proper resources and support at school because *cough cough* there isn’t enough funding to go around? What if parents aren’t “involved” because they aren’t literate or educated themselves? Most importantly: regardless of hypotheticals, on what planet does taking money away from struggling families result in ending cycles of illiteracy, lack of education, and poverty?
(via music-teacher-in-training)
Would you guys be for this if it were a monetary incentive for good grades instead of a punishment for bad grades?
So my school was chosen as finalists for the “Personal Device for Every Student” grant! We’re in the top 15, and we have to give a presentation on Thursday. 9 will be chosen!
WANT WANT WANT
I have an unannounced observation coming up, and we’re going to be reviewing for the second half of this week. We’ll cover the last 2 standards and then begin reviewing pretty hardcore for the TCAP. What are fun ways you review/reteach?
The post work transformation
I love having a record of where each class got each day so I know where to pick up. I also record who is absent in each class for makeup work.
But today I got the genius idea to plan tomorrow with sticky notes (since every class is in a different place right now.. Ugh) and I can peel them off to record where we did actually get! So excited!
For lent I have given up disorganization. YESSS!!! I found this planner in the teacher workroom this week. I have just been using regular paper (I know..).
