Update 2021

 I just realized I never wrote anything on here in 2020, ya'll that year was interesting for sure. I'm going to catch up on a few things and have plans to post a few things on here more regularly. I did a couple of webinars for Simple K-12 this past month and realized that there is a message to share out with others. So look for a couple of blogs in March on Compassion Fatigue and Self Care during this crazy time to be an educator. I shared from my heart and a real place during these webinars just practical tips and what I've learned over this last year.  Until those are ready....check out the podcast episode that I did with Sarah Johnson on her In Awe Series. I have finally embraced that voice and purpose call on my life and am walking it this year. More to come this year I promise!! 

Click on the graphic for the podcast link....

#oneword2020

Just a few days behind on this actual blog post🤣

So this is my word for the year along with a commitment to quit letting the voices of others drown out the voice I have. It's my word to stay focused on what I've been called to do and knowing that my race to run is just that ....my race. Distractions from others will only deter from the race set before me to run. For 2020 I set out and actually wrote out goals for the year...I also am going to write out blog post titles as they come, so I can easily sit down and work on them better. Too many times we let what others believe about us affects what we believe about ourselves and this needs to change in 2020. So here's to even more posts than any other year and sharing more of what's been going on in my educator world.

To the teacher who has had to change what they do this year....

Change is not a word most like to hear because it usually means getting out of what we view as comfortable. Some times we get to choose that change and sometimes that change is chosen for us. I've been through enough events in my life where the change has been chosen for me that I'm not a fan of it. I like to change on my terms, well God's terms...but I like it when He kind of lets me know what He's doing.  This is an honest and transparent post with the intent to encourage and maybe show an educator that needs to know they are not alone. In 14 years of education, I've changed rooms more times than I can count and changed what I do almost as much. Last year I had finally found a happy medium and was loving where I was at.  However, as we all know in education, change happens and the bigger picture that we cannot see dictates a lot. Change in what I do every day happened for this school year and it rocked my world. I was finally at a place where I had found purpose, was in that sweet spot of not just a job, and even on the hard days, I knew I was making a difference. Hear my heart......if you have moved (or are moving) grade levels, job titles, etc for this school year...don't let your feelings about the change take root. Embrace the unknown, knowing that God can take what looks like a mess right now and write a message in His time. I know it's not easy.....and I know sometimes we are put in situations that we didn't choose. It's in those moments that we have a choice to make.......do we put ourselves on autopilot and just do what has to be done, or do we choose to still try to do what we do every day with a spirit of excellence even when it exhausts us? Our feelings lean towards the first choice, but when we have discovered our purpose(i.e. to make a difference), we can lean towards the latter choice. 

I'm not trying to say I've got it figured out just yet, but I'm making progress. Find what drives your passion and make that happen where you are at. Maybe you love technology like I do, find ways to bring it into your instruction and let that creativity flow. It's those lessons about coding over the last couple of weeks that have been a match to a fire that's gone out. In time, the fire will be ablaze again, but the little spark that I've seen this week helps me to keep pressing on (even when I want to quit). So if you have found yourself changing content, grade levels, or positions like I have this school year.....find time to fuel your creativity because the Kids Deserve It. By all means, take care of you too....burn out is real this time of the year and a change in workload/content can expedite the process. Have time with God, Sleep when you can, watch the show that makes you laugh, and find ways to connect with people outside of your do. You are the difference-maker in your classroom and there is a message waiting to be heard through this year! 

Getting ready for AETC.....

When I first submitted this proposal for AETC my plan was to simply talk about tips and tricks and keep it surface level. This week though, as I've been thinking about the nuts and bolts of the presentation, I've been reflecting.  I've gone back and forth from everything needs to be tweeted or posted somehow because if you didn't take a picture it didn't happen to the I may or may not post it but it still happened because I know it did. I think we can all relate to one end of that spectrum or somewhere in the middle. It takes time to find that healthy balance between sharing just enough to oversharing.  This is a different kind of blog because I'm just going to be real for a few minutes and share my educator's heart. When I first started in the world of Twitter, I still had my account as private. I had no idea what I was doing and was still very much a newbie. Thankfully I found my way to an EdCamp in Mountain Brook and learned that day from Jennifer and Holly how to open up a whole new world via Twitter. I'm still learning how to share more about what I do on this network, but if we are honest, we are all works in progress at some point along the social media spectrum. 

This session will have those tips and tricks that I had in mind when I wrote the proposal, but I'm going to share it from my personal perspective. Things, I've learned along the way and things I'm still learning. I love presenting and sharing with other teachers, but I've also found out I'm much more comfortable around people I may not know personally than I am around those I do know. (That's a blog in itself). When I first started presenting I was a nervous, speed talker, let me throw a bunch of tools at you and hope something makes sense kind of presenter. Over the years my confidence level has grown with practice and time, and I've matured as a presenter. My heart as a presenter now is that teachers have something they can take back to their classrooms to use and feel like they can use it! I know time is precious for educators and meaningful professional development is priceless. That's why I share what I create and archive presentations on my live binder site (bit.ly/TechTreasures). If we can take off the lens of competition in this education world and realize that we are all in it for the same gain..to make a difference in the lives of the children that walk through our doors each year, oh how better off we would all be. I've also learned that sometimes we view leadership from an outside looking in perspective when leadership doesn't always mean you are seen and heard, but servant leadership does what it can to help others lead and be the best they can be.  Sharing our stories as educators should be a celebration for ourselves, it's not about how many likes we get, but about getting the message out of what we are doing to make a difference for children in hopes that it encourages and inspires someone else. 

So if you are at AETC next week, come join me Friday morning and let's talk more about this topic. If you aren't there, look for the presentation to be loaded later and shared on Twitter. A precious mentor of mine has always reminded me that I have a voice and a story that needs to be shared...and I'm passing on that same encouragement to others now. Don't let the need to please someone, the competitive cycle, or the feeling of not enough keeping you from sharing what you are doing. I promise you that you have a voice that others need to hear....so speak up and share it! I'm not saying the doubts will go away, but I can tell you from personal experience that confidence rises when you start to see you for who God had in mind when He made you and quit apologizing for who you don't seem to think you are (all because you are comparing yourself to someone else..). 

A few things I've been up to since I haven't been posting ;-)

Time got away from me for the first part of 2019 and this blog didn't get the place it deserved on the to-do list. Here's to catching up several posts that should have been written over the last little bit. I'm working on my online portfolio this summer...so if you have attended one of my sessions over the years, listened to a webinar, or followed me online and would like to see me address something or post something etc. Let me know.....I have a list I'm working on, but I always feel like I'm missing something. Over the last nine years of presenting statewide, I've grown from here's a list of tools go research them on your own to figure out how to use them, to here are some tools now let's look at how to make them work in your classroom. My heart when I'm presenting a session, whether it's face to face or online, is that each participant has something they can take back to the classroom. If they have something they feel like they can use or at least try, then our time (mine and theirs) has been well spent.

I wish educators were more articulate and not afraid to share their voice and their story more, but that's a blog for another day. We have a story to share, a piece to contribute, and opinions that are valued. It's often times the ones who are quieter that may have more to share than anyone realizes. The focus has got to shift from competition to collaboration in the education world....when that happens and unity is present we will see even more amazing ripple effects. Collaboration is a skill that our students need to see modeled, they come in knowing how to compete. Our students also need to see self-confidence, not pride, modeled. They need to know it's okay to believe in what you do, to know you can do something well, but to also know that you can learn from others to grow even more. 

Now on to a few things I've had the honor of participating in so far this year. I mean it this time, there is more to come from this Techie Teacher as she reflects on the past year, looks ahead to the next year, and shares with teachers across the state this summer.

Ed Surge Article

PBIS Podcast Episode

Class Dismissed Podcast Episode


If you are still loving on your students in school, stay strong and focused. If you are already in summer, rest up and recharge. 

#oneword2019

I'm thankful for new years because it means a new start, a chance to reach goals again that weren't attained previously.  Looking back over 2018, I didn't do so well with my One Word (Being). If my word had been busy it might have been different. I went in with gusto for the year and my steam quickly went into just trying to keep up. I think we all have a tendency to do that if we don't have balance. One of the books I read last year for professional and personal me was Balance Like a Pirate.

If you haven't read this book, I highly recommend you add it to your list for this year. It was an easy read and very practical. Balance keeps burn out at bay and keeps us moving forward in this journey instead of barely keeping our heads above water. So on to 2019, not looking back at what didn't get finished in 2018....but looking ahead and making plans to give 2019 all I can. When I begin thinking about my one word for the year, I try to find one that works for me personally and professionally. This year throughout the last month of the year, the word intentional kept coming up in conversations, tweets, books etc. My word for the year is intentional. I want to look back at the end of 2019 and not feel like I was spinning my wheels or going around the same mountains, but to be able to look back and see growth. Things may not get checked off of the to-do list, but progress will be made towards goals. Goals professionally (not sure what those look like exactly right now be it NBCT or EDS), goals personally (decluttering and losing weight are a must)....but to move forward on any it will take doing things intentionally and with purpose. One thing I know is I've got to get back to intentionally sharing where I've been, what I'm doing etc. This means coming up with some new ideas for webinars and workshops, getting back to regularly posting on this blog, and renewing my presence on Twitter for chats and connecting with my PLN.  Our comfort zones as we see them are just boundaries that are meant to be moved. We grow when we pick up those zones and start walking forward with them knowing that we have something to offer and a voice that needs to be heard.

There are more blog posts to come, I've already started planning ahead with titles and content 😉

Refocused for 2019

Several new posts coming soon....

I lost focus on this part of me during 2018. I didn't schedule a time to write so, therefore, time never happened. Over the break, I've been reading Girl Wash Your Face. If you haven't read it, I highly recommend it. There are some parts in there that some disagree with, but for me, it was that motivational kick that I needed to get back on my goals this coming year. So with that being said, I have lots of posts coming up and more of sharing my journey as an educator. As a wise mentor once told me, if you don't tell your story, who will. I think so many times we let the discussion going on within ourselves (no one will read it, no one cares what I have to say, I'm not_____) and we play the comparison game in which no one wins. We all have something valuable to share....so use your voice this coming year and let's all learn from each other. I'm ending this with some of my favorite quotes from Girl Wash Your Face. My One Word for 2019 post is coming tomorrow 

Reflective PD learner

My mindset towards PD over the last couple of years has changed. I remember going to so many workshops one summer that I didn't know what I had learned at that point. I remember thinking I had notes in this bag from one week, notes on Evernote from another, and a list of apps and websites on my Ipad from yet another week. It was a summer experiencing learning, but looking back now I'm not sure how much of it was learning. I love learning and will often times find workshops on my own to continue to grow. I have a stack of books that people recommend, but now that I've shifted my thinking on just what professional development is for me...I read the books with a highlighter, pencil, and looking to find something I can tweet. If I'm reading just to read and not reflecting on what I've read or thinking about how I can share it with others, am I really learning anything? As educators, we know there is a difference the way the students react to learning for the sake of learning and learning that they own because they had a choice in it. 

A couple of summers ago, a mentor from my PLN encouraged me to blog after conferences to share my reflections and takeaways. This was a game changer for PD because it made me not just go back over what "tools" I could take away, but how I could apply those tools. It also made me start to reformat my role as a presenter and what content I shared. Did I want teachers to leave with a list of tools or tools plus content? Some sessions are a little of both ;-). 

The past two Saturdays I attended a couple of PD sessions. One was an AEA training and another an EdCamp. Takeaways were different from both. As an educator and a lover of learning, there is always something to be gleaned in each session if you are looking for it. As a presenter, it may even be a what not to do or how to improve, but there is something to learn. During the AEA day of learning, what stood out to me the most was a question asked in one of the sessions about leadership style. The presenter displayed a picture of Andy and Barney and asked what style is seen in your classroom? Think about that for a minute, educators. if someone is looking from the outside in, do you respond like Barney or like Andy? Barney reacts and Andy has a calmer way of dealing with things. Andy sees the bigger picture and Barney can only see what's right in front of him. Barney sees the behavior in the moment, while Andy works to understand why the behavior has surfaced. I could continue on and on with the list. The Andy style should be our goal and what we strive to demonstrate to not only that outsider looking in, but the students who are on the inside. Barney may happen at moments, but it shouldn't be the norm. Another of the sessions reminded educators to focus on everything the student brings to the learning table (It's not just about what takes place during the school day). 

EdCamp is always a day I look forward to because I get to see some of my PLN that I only see at tech events. This year the week had been long and my Friday night plans didn't allow for a lot of sleep before the day, so I wasn't sure what to expect. In the middle of the day, it was hard for me to pull away from the takeaways, but after a nap when I got home...they started to come. First, take away....that session you didn't expect to learn from are usually the ones that have a nugget or two. Two, being around enthusiastic teachers stirs something back up on the inside of you. Three, smackdown session never disappoints with a new tool. Last but not least, teacher voice is so important. I love how EdCamp encourages teachers to share something they are passionate about in a setting that makes it comfortable. 

Find something that you are passionate about this year and share it! Find an area where you need to grow and take a class or read a book (then share what you learn with others!)! I'll end with something Angela Maiers always says, The world needs your contribution. So educators make 2018 your year to share you! 

#oneword2018

I haven't done very well with making this blog a priority, but that will change this year. I know I've said that before...but it's part of my #oneword for this year. You do what you make a priority and growing as an educator is going to be a priority this year. I know I've said it before, but having a PLN has been a game changer for me. It's opened my world to connections outside of my own little world in my system. It's spoken life when I wasn't sure I had any, and most of all it has been where I've been reminded over the last couple of years especially that I have a voice and something to share. So many times we let labels define what our voices are instead of letting our being define us. We are more than a label, more than a role...we all have a piece to add to the puzzle and a voice to add to the mix. As Angela Maiers as always says, the world needs your contribution. We all get discouraged at times and think we do not have anything to offer. Feelings are not truth and 2018 is the year for being to be louder than feeling. Let's not focus simply on making the moments count, but on making the moments matter.

I chose being for my #oneword this year. I wanted a word that would work for my personal life and my professional life. In my quiet times with God throughout the last month or so of 2017, the truth of feeling vs. being was a topic of discussion. The word never said we wouldn't feel certain ways, but it said to be. That's where the word being started to take root. My verse is Acts 17:28 where it says In Him we live and move and have our being.  I struggle sometimes with doubting my abilities and not thinking I have anything to offer. Sometimes we can get so caught up in the "I'm just a_____" that we lose sight of who we are. What we do isn't who we are and that's the theme for 2018. You have something to contribute, something to add to your school, your group of educators...share it. The hardest person to convince to believe in you is you. Don't put limits on you based on what has been said or not said...stay focused on your passions, what excites you...and find an avenue to share that. Twitter and blogs are a great resource for finding a connection. I've presented at state conferences, at ISTE a few years ago, and regularly present webinars for Simple K-12. Last year I also recorded a podcast episode for 10MT for Teachers (Vicki Davis). Yet I still had moments where my do overrode my who and I found myself going, am I making a difference, an impact. My do was focused on busy instead of focused on being. For me, the presentations are wonderful and I'm so thankful for the opportunities that continue...it's about connections though. It's in those connections where you find a purpose and a drive that keeps you going. It's those connections where you have that mentor that continues to remind you that you have a voice when you start to doubt you. It's in those connections that you are empowered to pour into other teachers what's been poured into you. At the end of the day....if we gave all we had if we did all we could, and if we loved all we met....then we are leaving an impact that not only counts but matters.

Educators be you this year and make a difference that will last beyond 2018.

#bebold

We just finished our first full week with the students. Teachers have been back since the last week of July officially. This year has started off at full speed and to say I'm at the pace needed yet would be, well we all know it takes a month or so to get into a routine where you feel productive and have balance again. The picture above was from our Institute speaker (Mansfield Key, III). He issued several challenges that day, but this is the one that stuck with me, Someone's Destiny is tied to our assignment. What we do each and every day makes a difference in the lives of more than we realize. It's not always about what we can see in the moment that makes the difference. Sometimes we are the ones that plant the seed, sometimes we may be the one that waters it, but in the end, growth is what matters. Some of our students may simply be searching for that person that be that voice every day saying, you can do this. So many times we let our focus at the beginning of the year be numbers driven and paperwork focused. While those both have a role, the destiny decision is in taking that moment to listen when a student says hey can I talk to you. The destiny decision is made in taking that moment to be that smile for a student. The destiny decision is also in being patient with yourself and taking care of the most valuable resource that those students need...you, the teacher. So many times we pour so much into what we do, that we forget to pour into who we are (which in turn fuels what we do even more). This year give your students all of you, that 110% because the difference being made is tied to someone's destiny, but also take the time to give to yourself too. 

Another challenge offered this year was to be bold. Boldness for one may not mean the same as boldness for another. Maybe bold for you is taking that class to better your educational leadership skills, maybe it is learning how to use that tech tool that has always seemed to scare you, or maybe it is using your voice and telling your story. Growth happens out of our comfort zones. Growth happens when we realize maybe it's that extra push that is what we need to climb the next mountain. Boldness happens when we step outside of our comfort zones and shine. Be bold in what you do, bold for the students that you will see each day, bold for you as a professional who has so much to share, and bold for your community, your reach, that needs the spark you have on the inside of you. 

You have a story to share, so share with care! The world needs your contribution as Angelia Maiers always says, so add something to where you are planted at. 

Be amazing this year readers! 

Create more than consume (AETC take-aways and more)

My heart's in ISTE right now, but my feet are not. I am anxiously awaiting for the time when ISTE comes back closer to home so I can drive there. It's not easy funding PD on your own (I gotta find a grant next year).  On to talking about AETC (Alabama Educational Technology Conference) from a couple of weeks ago.

Presentation link

Tech conferences in the summer are a time to connect with friends in my professional learning network from outside my system and meet new people to add to my network. We all have something to contribute and learning to share that is half the battle. (As Jennifer Hogan always reminds me, I have a voice). In the midst of a fast-paced conference, sometimes it's hard to truly see what the takeaways are, I have learned after ISTE to reflect a week or so later to truly glean from the learning that took place. My session at AETC was on using tech tools to differentiate instruction. (The link is included below the picture to the handout if you are interested). My heart when I present is that every educator present as something to take back to their classroom. I've learned a lot over the last seven years presenting and still continue to learn. There is something though about sharing your voice, your passion, your gifts....and empowering others to do the same. If you have any questions about any of the tools in the presentation feel free to reach out to me via email, Twitter, or comment here.

My biggest take-away was a reaffirmation, a challenge to create more instead of just consuming. So often we are consumers of technology, we are takers, but not givers. I want to always be someone that adds back and gives back, to add my piece to the digital puzzle as we all work together to do what is best for our students. I have slacked on creating and lived in the consumer zone for the last year or so, but through this conference and some wisdom shared from my PLN, I'm ready to get back to creating more. (I have a list ;-)) So keep a watch on my LiveBinder for updates as I add more resources etc and feel free to share it with others at your school! We are truly are better together!

The extra degree

When you lose sight of the impact you can make and are making, you lose sight of the passion that made you start doing what you do in the first place. Other people may put labels on you and define you by your title, but don't let that define who you are and what you can do. As Angelia Maiers always says, you matter and the world needs your contribution. The world needs the mixture that makes you, YOU....so quit with the comparing, the competing, and just be YOU.

I know it's been a while, but between buying a house, moving, catching the crud, and well just plain busy...I have lost sight of some of the things that fuel my passion. I had let the labels again dictate the voice that I have and almost convinced myself that I had lost it. I had almost let the hustle and bustle of the motions drive out the passion of what makes me move. A conversation with my administrator one day a couple of weeks ago was the turning point professionally that I needed. He shared with me about 212 degrees (a training he had attended earlier in the month(there is also a book)). At 212 degrees water turns into steam and steam can propel an engine. At 211 degrees water is just hot, but it's that extra degree that makes it boil...and boiling water can make a change. We all have the same hours in the day. What we choose to do with them is our choice? What are you giving your extra degree to? Is it fueling your passion or maintaining the motions?

As educators, we must constantly be pushing ourselves to become better than we were yesterday at the same time while realizing that our yesterday made an impact in someone's life. We can't lose sight of the push or we will become comfortable in just staying at the 211 point (or below) and our passion, our students, our profession is longing for that extra degree.

Your flame, your voice....

I'm back...it's been way too long since I posted on here and that's my own fault. I had forgotten a piece of wisdom that was shared with me a couple of years ago...the part of telling my story. As educators we exist in a comparison world. We are always comparing data, comparing funny student stories, light bulb moments, and even those venting moments. We compare more than we share sometimes and that's where we lose sight of our connection with others. We lose sight of the connections that exist to help us help our students. You see for when your flame is fanned, you are able to fan other flames. When we see the difference we are making, we are energized to keep doing what we do regardless of the cost. When we know we are making an impact, we keep pushing forward to make an even bigger ripple that makes an even greater impact. Sometimes we walk around waiting for others to see the difference we are making, when we have to see it first. When we forget we have a voice, we quit trying to speak up. When we we lose sight of our flame, we quit trying to uncover it. Our passion is a part of who we are......don't hand it over without a fight. You are where you are for a reason, grow in this season and determine to make a difference. Your students need your flame and your voice...they need you!  (For any other teachers who may have already hit burnt out this year and the exhaustion phase. You are important and the difference you are making is impacting more than you can even see! Keep doing what you do and giving all you can, it's planting seeds that will one day grow into trees that will continue making a difference). 

I am thankful for a PLN who have sown wisdom in over the years and it's been a seed that has taken root. Connection is a powerful tool and sometimes as educators we just need to know that someone is listening and that our opinions are valued. The first step is listening to yourself and valuing your own opinions...for that is where you realize you have a voice that needs to be heard. If you don't tell your story and the amazing things you are doing, who will? 

I'll be posting weekly from now on and am thankful to have uncovered my flame and found my passion voice again to tell my story....

Why I do what I do....

I'm catching up on some #CompelledTribe posts. Okay I have missed posting on here for the last three months and am trying to at least post for May.

Two years ago I saw the You Matter message on Twitter and immediately thought of how amazing this would be for teachers and students. That following summer I was fortunate to meet Angelia Maiers at ISTE14. Hearing her in person tell about her vision, her passion, and her You Matter message was inspirational. This has been a message I have made a point to have in my classroom over the last two years. It's a message that I have had students read when they were frustrated or down on themselves. It's a message that I have watched impact students they learn that they not only matter, but that they can make a difference (and that they are more than a number).

I went into teaching because of the teachers I had in school. I was blessed with teachers who I knew loved being there, who were there to not only instruct in academics but in everything else that was needed. I wanted to be that kind of a teacher when I grew up to be a teacher. I wanted to not only make a difference but for the students I had to leave knowing that they mattered and could make a difference. Every year at the beginning of the school year and during Teacher Appreciation week I'm reminded of the teachers I had in school.

This year I've been inspired by several students. Students that never gave up even when the number on the test wasn't what they wanted. Students that continue to come to school with a smile on their face despite what is going on at their house. Students that help others, that lead others, and care more about others than themselves. Students that saw a need and created a plan to meet that need. I could write multiple blog posts about each of these. The ripple has been thrown out this year and the impact is continuing.

Social media has allowed me to stay connected to several of my teachers from elementary and high school. They get to continue to see what a difference their time is making as a former student pays it forward each and every day. This is why we do what we do....so that the world will be a better place for those that come after us. Teaching is more than a job for me, it's a calling...I learned from early on what that meant as I saw that calling walked out day in and day out.

#CelebrateMonday

I haven't done a lot with the Celebrate Monday on Twitter this year and I've neglected this blog for a couple of months....That being said I'm in the reflective mode as the year winds down...and looking back on some reasons I had this year to #CelebrateMonday. (Also trying to get back to posting on here and catching up)

It's the last full week of school. It's the next to last Monday for us and summer is clearly in view. I've loved almost every minute of this year. There have been those that have exhausted me, worn me down at times, deadlines that stressed me, but there have been way more moments that made me smile. Moments where a student who never thought they would make their AR goal comes in with huge smiles to say they did. Moments where that student who doubted themselves at the beginning of the year is displaying confidence that you can see, she can see, and the data even shows growth! Moments where that parent says thank you for making a difference in my child this year. Moments where a colleague tells you they learned to do a new tech tool. There have been lots of moments to look back on this year with a smile. I'm not the same teacher I was when I started and it's hard to believe I'm finishing year 10 and will be watching my first student graduate next week.

Depending on when you finish out the school year, tomorrow may be one of the last couple of Mondays with your students. What can you do to change their day? How can you make a difference in their Monday that will impact their Tuesday in a positive way? Monday is the rock thrown in the pond...what kind of ripple will it create when it reaches the end? The choice is yours...Let's #CelebrateMonday and celebrate our students. After all...they are why we do what we do each and every day. 

We all play a part....

When the email came out about what the topic was for the post, I had to take a minute to think. It wasn't hard to find someone at my school that I wanted to write about, but narrowing down to just one was difficult. It truly takes a village to raise a child and that applies at school as well. From the lunchroom workers to the custodians, to the classroom teachers and administration...investing in the lives of all our students is why we do what we do on a daily basis. I'm a special education teacher, I have the honor and privilege of working with several teachers throughout the day. I love sometimes just sitting in their classrooms and watching them come alive teaching a lesson whether it's about writing or division.

This year at our school we have been able to have an Instructional Partner for the first time. Some of you are reading that and thinking, but I thought every school had one of those. Well this is only our second year in existence. So it takes time to lay a foundation in which to build upon. Last year our Instructional Partner was a classroom teacher. She taught 4th grade Math and Science and her classroom was one that I loved getting to spend some time in. The students were engaged in whole group and in small groups throughout the day. Engaged students +Fun =Learning all day. Most of all these students left her classroom every day knowing they were loved. They knew that Mrs. Crippen cared about them as a person as well as pushing them to do their best academically. This year even though Mrs. Crippen has transitioned from being a classroom teacher to being a teacher's teacher. She analyzes data, looks for ways to help all of our students improve, shares resources with teachers and students, and works to help establish a new school's climate. In addition her helping spirit comes through because if she can, she will do it for you. I've watched her hold students accountable for behavior in the hallway and at the same time watched former students and others stop to check in with her throughout the day. She continues to make time for students that she may have previously had that just need an extra person to remind them they can do it during the day. She has also taken on a role of listener this year as teachers find her classroom a place where they can go and not vent or complain, but talk out the struggles that may be going on in the classroom.

I know the transition may not have been easy, it's hard sometimes to learn a new position, but Mrs. Crippen has done it with class. I still learn from her wisdom every day as I watch her with students and when I find myself in her room going, how can I help this student. Thank you Mrs. Crippen for impacting students and teachers on a daily basis at Moores Mill Intermediate.

EdCamp Take-aways

It was hard getting up this morning early, but EdCamp is always a fun day of learning. If you have never attended an EdCamp, I encourage you to do so. It's an unconference that runs on the power of 2 Feet. In other words if you find yourselves in a session that isn't meet the needs of you the educator, go find another one. Some of the best learning is just sitting down and talking with other educators at what is going on at their schools, how are they are integrating technology etc. A day spent with some of my PLN will always remind me that I have a voice (even if I didn't present today ;-)) 

Here are some of my take-aways from today:

1. 

Jelly Bean Scoop

This is a website geared towards K-4 with reading passages and activities, but it also has several interventions on the site such as read aloud etc. I'm excited to try this out with a couple of students and share it with my teachers. 

2. 

EdPuzzle

This was the first resource I learned about today at EdCamp. I seriously could have gone home after learning about this one and been content. This is a site that has a library of videos that have assignments integrated throughout. It's a great find for teachers wanting to do more with a flipped classroom. 

3. 

Participate

I love Twitter chats and learning from other educators so this resource made me excited. I'm going to try it out this coming week with ALedchat. 

4. One other thought that I took away today was from a session on Digital Portfolios. I had never looked at using the concept of these portfolios to teach digital citizenship and branding. Can students tell you who they are in 3-5 words? Do they know about their digital footprint and the impact it is making (or not making)? Have they ever googled themselves ? 

Thank you to the EdCamp Madison AL staff who always put on a wonderful event that brings educators together. (and there is always cake at EdCamp)

Love this book!

I ordered this book last summer, started it but didn't get deep into it until Christmas break. That was my mistake...this book is an easy read full of applications for teachers of all tech levels. I still remember my first EdCamp a couple of summers ago when I walked into a session on Twitter and my world opened up. I had been on Twitter for a year at that point, but within 45 minutes I started to see the power that 140 characters held. Power to connect with educators outside of my little word and power to share what I was learning with others.

There was a section in the chapter for Key Connector three that brought tears to my eyes. I know you are thinking why is a book on technology making you cry. When you read how you have been feeling in black and white, you know you are not alone(and not making it up!). There is a push on the inside that reminds you to stay focused when you see that others are walking this connected journey with you and together you are helping each other grow.

Thank you Todd Whitaker, Jimmy Casas, and Jeffery Zoul...this Connected Educator found inspiration, affirmation, and a push to keep sharing what I know with others in my PLN.

Moving Forward

Ten days into the new year and five days at work....

This time last year I would probably have said I give up on any type of resolution (because usually at this point I had already had to restart more than once). This year however with using the three words, it's been different... It takes time to make changes and I'm being patient with myself and staying focused. 

I want to be focused this year so I can keep moving forward. At the end of the year I want to look back and know that I was faithful to give each and every day my all. These are my three words for the year..focus, forward, and faithful. 

There is a song that I heard at my friends' church early in 2015. The lyrics stuck with me as I started focusing on what I wanted to change in the new year. So many times as teachers we look at what didn't get finished, what may not have gone according to the plan, and what we could do differently. While reflecting on the day is a good practice, letting the moments of the day become something that weighs us down is not. It's good to reflect, but that reflect should propel us to make a difference and an impact in today. Find that one student that needs someone to tell them they make a difference and make it a goal this year to help them to see that they have a difference to play. You'll find yourself moving forward as you reach out to others. 

On days when I don't feel like I'm moving forward or maybe taking a pause at this go around the mountain, this song has become a mainstay. I have it on my iPod and also saved in my YouTube playlist. 

My 3 Words for 2016

This wasn't as easy as I thought it would be. I had the first word earlier this week, but when the challenge was issued for three I hesitated. The second one came easier, the last one took longer. Here are my three words for 2016 and why I chose each of them. I went with words that encompass not only the professional side, but the personal side as well.


Forward: The saying goes that the rear-view mirror is smaller than the windshield for a reason. We should be looking ahead more than we are looking back. While as educators it's important to look back to know what to build upon, we shouldn't stay so focused on previous years that we forget to enjoy and experience the moment we are in right now, the present. This year I want to stay focused on what's ahead. This is a new year for creating new memories and leaving an impact on others. Leave the box of "we've always done it this way" in 2015. Don't dwell on what you didn't finish in 2015, but look ahead to what you can do in 2016. 

Focused: This word goes with the first one in a way. I'm the world's worst at having multiple projects going at one time. I wish I could tell you I have finished them all over the break, but I haven't...in fact I even started a few new ones. While multi-tasking is good at times(especially as educators), a browser can only have so many tabs/windows open at a time before it starts to freeze. I think that's true for us as well, we can be doing so many things at once that at some point we can get overwhelm and may freeze. I want to be focused in 2016. I want to be in the moment (and disconnect at times from that device that never seems to leave my hands). I want to finish these unfinished projects and start some new ones that have been on my list for way too long. Staying focused on the goal(s) this year and not letting the distractions get in the way. 

Faithful: This one was harder to choose. I thought about the word fervent (which also means passionate) because I want to pour into the things that I am passionate about this year(Writing etc.). I also thought about free because I want to be just be the me that I was made to be this year. For so long I have listened to what others said and discounted what I had to offer because of my title or position. Thankful for a PLN this past year that told me I had a voice and I had something to share with others. Finally I settled on Faithful. As a Christian, I want to be found faithful in all of the things He's given me to do. Faithful to give each and every day all that I can give. Faithful to be that ear when the parents may need someone to listen to. Faithful to remind my students each and every day that they matter and they can make a difference. Faithful to share what I am learning or pondering with others and to grow with a network of educators that help make me a better me.