What #GarthinSiouxFalls has reminded me about teaching...

I've not blogged in a long time. I've thought about it, and have a list of ideas. 

So why @garthbrooks as a reason to start a new post? It's because it has reminded me all the important lessons of #TLAP, #PLAP, #InnovatorsMindset, #ShiftThis and many more of the awesome teaching books I've read the past two years. 

First - a connection to personal experience. #GarthinSiouxFalls was last in the area when I was in High School. Mom and I froze outside the #HyVee in Spencer, IA, waiting and waiting to hear first, that the tickets were on sale. Second... that there would be a show that still had tickets. The anticipation was set. Mom, my sister, and I all went to the concert - nose bleed section, but still amazing - my first real concert! (I still have- and use - the binoculars mom got me. Poor dad, had to stay home and take care of the livestock.)

Second - anticipation. I often lead students with a cliff-hanger statement for the weekend about what we are doing the next week. It's amazing how often students will walk in Monday excited about what it might be. The anticipation of getting tickets is very much the same. I set everything up early, and totally did a count down to try and get tickets. 


Third - things happen. As in life... Now, I am a major #Garth fan. I've got all the CDs (yes, those classic things), I've also got the digital forms - I do keep up with the times. I even have the #ChrisGaines CD (which I do like). That said, life changes - it's been twenty years. I'm a teacher, I've grown up. My parents are retired, my sister is married and a nurse. I've got my own family. I adjust with the times - I can't remember the last time I've physically used a CD. I can say when I've used my streaming apps / saved digital music and podcasts. I didn't score tickets, life will move on, roll with it and learn from it. 

Finally - rewards are sweeter when not expecting it. I just learned #GarthinSiouxFalls is going to announce more shows on Monday - so, I'm hoping that will work. If so AWESOME, if not that's ok, too. I'll mope, but then I'll pick myself up and move on. Additionally, the time waiting for tickets to start being sold was an awesome stroll down memory lane - one that I enjoyed taking! 

So the main takeaway: I want to build the anticipation for students to want to be in my room. We will adjust as needed, and I've got to remember to celebrate the awesome things that happen every day in our room. 

PS - I'm still hoping for tickets, so I might be missing school for a day to drive to the concert! 

#SDEA Representative Assembly

So, this weekend I traveled to the SDEA Representative Assembly.
I wasn't dreading it, but I wasn't super excited.

I've learned to embrace the opportunities  - I'm glad I came.
First, I've gotten to bond with co-workers and see some tweeps.

Second, it's been interesting to see the backside of the organization. I've been involved in my local, but now I get the "BIGGER" picture of what SDEA and even NEA stand for. I've seen how passionate educators around the state are, and challenges different regions / schools of the state are facing.

Third, I got to hear some exquisite speeches. Many of these speeches focused on change - and what I took away was that the change is going to happen. We can either lead it for the good of our kids, or we can sit back and react after it is already done. The best part, be a coyote - they adapt, they respond, they go above.

This conference has helped me remove myself from just my classroom to go to the bigger picture: what should be done for our kids nationally!

I want to thank Pam Wells for dragging me along - but now I wonder where to start.

Relaunch

Today, I relaunched my economics Hyperdoc​ project. It seemed to go WAY better and I got to have some very interesting conversations with students about what they might want to do. I was shocked, some know exactly what they want -- I wish I had that figured out in Seventh grade!

The Sixth grade students are finishing a unit on Rome. I took the time to show them Khan and gave them class time to watch a video. That was cool, but what really got me was that they want to use Khan to learn all sorts of new things - coding, work on math, ect. I had to warn them not to use up data on their phone plans!!!

The Eigth Grade had time to finish up their Hyperdoc project for Nationalism and Sectionalism. I'm​ going to have so many ways to travel A-Z. However, I do have some students analyzing political cartoons and others looking at stereotypes from across the USA. I'm excited about this, because one student is even conducting interviews to include in the project!

Today was a day that reminds me why I love this profession!

#BackatIT

I've got to start blogging again, so here it goes.

I spent a good chunk of my weekend creating a #hyperdoc on economics from scratch. I was excited. I thought my students would love it! (Who wouldn't want to find out about their future economic choices?)

ANNNDDDD - it flopped. Students didn't seem into it today. It might just be me, but they really struggled. Most have no idea what they might want to do, and those that do feel that they don't need to dig into it more.

So, tomorrow we relaunch. I need to make them see the relevance of it. I've not come up with how, but I have reached out to my PLN to make it happen!

Ready, Set, Gold. #xlap #6thchat #gamification

I've been debating what to have students do the first day and week. I'm all about getting to know the students and developing the learning community.

To this end, I've got a Google form for students to fill out about themselves. I've also made one for parents the night of orientation / open house.

I'm now thinking that we should play games - this is thanks to my chats on #6thchat, #gamification and #xlap as of late.

So, how to do this?

I'm currently building a Kahoot! have students guess the right answers about me. This is fine, but it doesn't let them show me who they are. So, after the first day (I really want to get the surveys done so I can review them that night) why not focus on team building and class procedures via the Olympic games?

Students could choose a current event and explain how that sport represents them.
Or, they may make up a new sport.

I'm also thinking this may lead into some "Minute to Win It" style games. However, I'm unsure if I should have students create the games, or if I should have a different game for each section - and warn them not to tell the others. That way, I get the word of mouth going via students, but even those that do find out what the last class had, by the time they get to the room, it's completely different. Then, I can use all these game throughout the year as review / reward games.

PS - I'd pick Rugby Sevens. I love the thinking / planning of plays, the chance for individual and teammate supports, and the thrill of the game!

#Stress of #Roomdecor -- It's all about the #Kids, because #KidsDeserveIt

I'm switching schools - normally by now, my room would be ready for students. 

I've put LOTS of thought into what I want my room to be. Frankly, it's going to have to be a work in progress. My new room is huge. I want "zones" - a standing area, a sitting area, desk area, and a general supply area. However, since I'm also in the process of moving, I really haven't had time to collect new items for seating, nor build the new standing desks that I want to have. 

While my Pinterest has a full bulletin board of bulletin board ideas, I'm not sure what is going to be done by the time school actually starts (Aug. 23). I know that I want a wall area for World History, US History, and Geography - but I'm leaning towards having students help build those areas as we complete projects. 

I've got my favorite quotes in posters and other items that make the room "mine," so I know that portion will be done. I know what I want for an overall space - it's mostly going to revolve around those connections I make with my new students and allow them in the design of the room. In fact, I'm thinking my geography students can design a new class map of what zones students think there should be. 

I'll post pictures as we come up with the new design! 

Why Summer Matters... for teachers and students #tlap #sschat #sdechat

This Summer is a time of change for me. I'm moving schools, which also means moving towns. That has been a stressor. 

Other than that,  Summer matters for the time to reflect and do things that I've not had time to do all school year. I'm still reading YA books to be able to recommend them to middle schoolers. It allows me time to research new projects, find new resources, revise lessons, and read all the wonder resources written by other educators. 

I've taken the time to just sit to think about anything that comes along. I've taken the time to ponder everything I've read and figure out if I agree with it if I can use it as it if I can modify what I've done to make it fit into my teaching style. I've also found that this time is valuable to just take - professional development is great, but my Twitter PLN is very helpful throughout the year. However, during the Summer I have more time to look at what I implemented in the school year, adjust for the new year, and make new connections for new projects for the coming year!