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. 

Technology Integration: Once an event..now a routine

We've been in school for almost 6 weeks now. It amazes me to see people posting about the first day of school for tomorrow and we are already half way through our first quarter. Teachers have had more technology changes thrown at them this first term than in the past and most have endured with a smile. A few are still trying to grasp the change from clicking on Outlook (a task they have used for years) to click on the Gmail button. We have also moved to Canvas as our LMS. Students are embracing the change quicker than some of the teachers. These are students that are growing up in a technology age and the thought of not keeping up with a paper is exciting to them. I long for the day when BYOT/BYOD becomes every day instead of just a special day. 

The move from technology integration as an event to a routine, starts from the top down. Once that mindset is embraced by the Central Office staff, then it is shared with administration, who share it with teachers, who share it students, who share it with parents. It's a ripple effect that impacts more than we can see. Not every teacher will understand the mindset shift at first, but that is when those that do need to step in and demonstrate how it works. This is also where having a PLN and being a connected educator is important. If you are one of the connected ones, share with others. I still have teachers that ask, SAMR what? Share with your colleagues the knowledge of the model and how to model it for their students. The ocean will always be there, it's not an event. Technology can be compared to the same. 

Created by Sylvia Duckworth

There is a shift in mindset that has to happen for teachers to see how technology is changing. A worksheet on an iPad is still a worksheet. A digital projector used to show a worksheet is jut a fancy new overhead projector. I have found as tech leaders it takes demonstrating to teachers how the new technology can be integrated into their curriculum for them to embrace the change. They have to see it to buy into it, then the next step is using it so they can own it. Students can see it and figure out how to use it within minutes, therefore their step to owning it is quicker. Technology is a life skill. Students today will not know what it was like to call a place, use a paper map, or pass a note in class. If we model that technology is an event, students will see it that way even though life requires it another. They have access to the equipment, let's teach them how to use it. The next Steve Jobs could be sitting in your class and you just told him(or her) to put up that device and get out a pencil. 

Fueling your Fire

I love the Natalie Grant song "Burn Bright". It came along at a point last year when I needed to be reminded of the message within it. This morning while scrolling through my NewsFeed I ran across this quote from Todd Nesloney. This rocked my world in a good way this morning. I'm three weeks into my 10th year teaching and I'm already tired. I'm already at the point where I feel like I have given out more than I have to give...you know the moments I'm talking about teachers. The moment when you feel like the Energizer bunny has already been wound as tight as it can go and the battery is about to need charging. Then I read this quote and started thinking....

As educators, as people in general we have to protect our flames. I'm not much of a camper, but I do remember a few fire pits over the years. The fire dies out when the coals grow cold or the wood becomes wet. Protect your flame, so that spark continues. There will always be ones who want to speak negatively, find fault, complain, or share criticism. Pleasing everyone is an impossible task. Words that help you grow, even constructively are beneficial, words that tear down are similar to wet wood and cool coals. Protect your flame but not allowing those to linger on your fire and smothering your flame.

We are all going to have times where we feel like the roaring fire and moments where we will like the flickering spark. It's natural, but it's what we do in those moments that determine whether or not the fire continues to burn or begins to smolder. On the days when the fire is roaring, share it with others. On the days when the fire is just a flickering spark, find something to fuel that fire. As teachers, we do what we do because we of the students. Some days the students can fuel that spark without even knowing it. Those light bulb moments that remind you why you went into teaching, that former student that comes back just to say thank you, that parent that reminds you of the difference you made, or even that colleague that says I appreciate you. We can also fuel our fires by connecting with those who are burning bright as well. Find someone to connect with that shares the same passion that you do. It may be someone you teach with at your school, in your system, or simply someone who you connect with via social media. Twitter is a powerful connector of educators who want to continue to fuel their fire. If you haven't joined or are still in the lurking phase, jump in and start adding to the knowledge that is being shared. You may be the one that fuels another educator's fire.