Category Archives: Reflections

Today’s Blogging Challenge: Share a single snapshot of your day. It can be an image, video or any form of multimedia!

Over 20 years ago, I had the amazing experience to visit the Alex Haley farm in Tennessee AND hear Maya Angelou speak.  AH-MAH-ZING!

During our time with her she would break up her spoken word with a certain line….She’d sing “When it looked like the sun wasn’t gonna shine anymore…God put a rainbow in the clouds.” I LOVE that line!  It frequently pops up when I’m struggling with something…and that popped up for me today.

There’s no secret about my growing frustration with the state of standardized tests in my state.  Our children have taken 3 different tests in the past three years.  Today I read 15 minutes of directions…..FIFTEEN MINUTES!  And by the time I was done – I almost didn’t have a clue of the expectations, myself.  As I walked around the room providing encouragement to my kids (I taught them last year), I grew increasingly frustrated for them.  Why do we punish our children like this?  Why do we punish our teachers like this?  Why is it ok to wait until October to even determine what standardized test they will take….and not even fully develop it until months after that?  Why do we spend months saying, “You’ll need this for the test….you better focus or you won’t pass the test….the test, the test, the TEST! And then we get frustrated when they look at us in wonder when we tell them that there’s work after the test.  And for what?  Because when they grow up they’re going to be perpetual test takers?  Oh wait!  No, they will all become test writers!

After that morning….I was definitely feeling the clouds…and out of nowhere….a rainbow appeared!

I’ve been talking to our Math/Science Coordinator about starting coding clubs for teachers and students.  Dr. De Ridder-Vignone is interested in starting some all girls coding clubs.  Rainbow!

Of course we still have to work out the details…but it makes me hopeful.  And we all could use a little “rainbow” right now.

Until the next time,

This week’s #EDSlowChat question of the week is:  “What is a personal profound/meaningful learning experience from this last school year? I would have to say that I have learned that a little “positiveness” goes a long way!  I guess I wouldn’t say that it’s newly acquired knowledge; but through gamification, Class Dojo, and Social Media, I was able to put a shine on my students’ hard work that made a huge transformation in my classroom.  

This year I decided to gamify my classroom.  Using Class Dojo (@classdojo) and materials created by Chris Aviles (@TechedUpTeacher), I found an awesome combination!  Creating a leaderboard and allowing students to check it regularly created quite the competitiveness in my classroom.  I used combination of grades and dojo points to make up the leaderboard, so it forced students to work hard in both academics and behavior expectations.

Classroom Leaderboard

I also used Class Dojo Messenger to send immediate pics to parents showing their child at work.  What I’ve always known is that if a parent believes that you care for their child and that you are a fair minded person – when it’s time to make a tough call; they’re much more receptive. I got so excited when a parent responded it immediately – mostly with a positive message for their child.  When I showed the kid the note….they would GRIIIIIN…..so hard! *I hope you could hear my southern dialect in that word. 🙂

Facebook and Instagram became a place to highlight great student work.  This year, I created the A Club.  Students who made an A on an assessment got to be in a group photo that I shared on Facebook and Instagram.  Once students saw themselves (or their peers!) on those social media site, it made them work that much harder to ensure they were in the next picture.

I also implemented an 85% AR Club.  Students who passed a minimum of 1 fiction and 1 nonfiction tests per month with an 85% average or better were treated to something every month.  My principal paid for subs, pizza, and ice cream for those students.  I didn’t initiate this incentive until February – and every month the number of awardees DOUBLED!

It’s funny how you can know something to be right….but just somehow not do it.  And although I’m transiting to a new position and will no longer be in the classroom, these are still things that I can do with the teachers that I’ll be working with.  Make it fun….make it competitive….make it positive!  

Until the next time,

Today is Day 2 of the South Carolina Midlands Summit.  I had an amazing time presenting on yesterday – I always do.  But as I left yesterday, I thought….I might not come back.  Not because the conferences isn’t awesome….it TOTALLY IS.  But because I realized this morning that I had the wrong mindset.

Credit: SC Midlands Summit
http://goo.gl/RdWcwE

Before I talk about me, I definitely want to rave about this conference that is hosted yearly by the Richland 2 school district.  With over 135 presenters/sessions….almost anything in the tech world that you want to know about; will be shared here.  From Blendspace to Formative Assessments to using Boards through Discovery Education to using Google Maps to create an educational interactive Amazing Race…this conference is AMAZING!  It is well designed and since Richland 2 is a GAFE district it can answer questions to all things Google!

Here’s what was wrong with MY THINKING: Yesterday I approached the conference as a teacher concerned about myself.  I looked at sessions and dismissed them because I didn’t see how they would be beneficial to me as a teacher.  And then I realized……I’M NOT A TEACHER ANYMORE!  I’m going to be working with ALL teachers (not just ELA teachers or middle school teachers) and even administrators.  I’m going to need to increase my skill set so that I can better serve the teachers and administrators in our district.

So this morning, I got up and got ready to make that drive back to Columbia today.  I woke up with a different mindset – the mindset that I will need to have in order to transform thinking and learning in my district.

This new job….my dream job….is going to be a huge undertaking.  But I’m up for the challenge!

Until the next time,

Flash Blog Topic: What does deep learning look like in your classroom? How has it changed your/Ss role? How have Ss responded?

Deep Learning – It makes me think of Dead Poet’s Society (but without the dying).  People in cardigans passionately discussing what “it” all means.  Before I decided to flip my class we hardly got a chance to actually read and discuss ANYTHING because I was trying to make sure I COVERED everything!  Oh the stress!

Plus the issue of so many of the students getting stuck on the text – there wasn’t a lot of room for deep learning.  It wasn’t until I decided to make accommodations for those things did we get to where we needed to be.  Students now have the option to listen to every piece of text we are discussing in class.  Through my “audio/visual” text, they are able to rewind and reread until they feel comfortable.  Plus, it’s much less stressful sharing your thoughts and ideas in a group of 5 than a class of 25!  Most of our discussions are held during small group.

The part that I enjoy the most – that I think demonstrates deep learning is what students are able to create based on what they learned.  This is the part that I think has really changed the roles in my classroom.  Although I’m “in charge”, students have to opportunity of CHOICE which is often missing; mostly because I think teachers are sure what will happen if the loosen the reigns a little bit.  When students are given a choice, it allows their natural talents to shine through…it gives them confidence.

I mean….LOOK AT THIS VIDEO!

Initially my students whined and complained.  And I have to admit – it is really difficult in changing the mindset; look how long it took me!  In addition to the fact that they are expected to adapt to so many changed….they go from 3 teachers to 6 teachers, add lockers, and two of the meanest teachers on Earth (my math partner and I), middle school is daunting.  And on top of that I really want them to think? *gasp*  But when they see what they’re able to accomplish on their own – it changes them.  It makes them stronger; it makes them better.

One week, I told the kids, “I’m not gonna lie.  This text is HARD!  But we’ll get through it together.”  That night a student sent me this message.

Made my freakin’ day! 🙂

Until the next time,

Yikes!  I can’t believe I last posted in August….

Shout out to #flipclass and Cheryl Morris (@guster4lovers) for the extra push with the #flashblog  idea.  I’ll be talking about accepting late work.

As a 6th grade teacher, this is our student’s first year in middle school and a HUGE adjustment for them.  For this reason, I will continue to accept late work up until the last week of the quarter.  The Social Studies, Math teacher, and I all do some form of blended learning, which has helped us considerably with keeping up with assignments.  Students that don’t do their assignment the night before are pulled in during lunch to complete assignments.

Since we use Edpuzzle and Edmodo, it does wonders for allowing us to keep track of missed assignments.  All I have to do is click on the assignment and it shows the progress.

So before the day starts I already have my list ready of students that I will keep during lunch/recess.

What doesn’t work for me?  Extra credit!  Towards the end of the quarter I have students that will ask me for extra credit.  And they get the DUMMY LOOK.  Wait…so you want me to come up with an alternate assignment for you to do when you didn’t do the original?  That I have to grade? Uh uh…no way…no how….sorry.

Flipping my classroom has definitely assisted me in keeping track of what I’m missing. As long as I handle it immediately – it doesn’t become a burden or overwhelming.  Win/Win.  The kids get the assignment done and I know who needs remediation.  BOOM!

Until the next time,