The Transparent Tech Teacher |
I thought this would be a great entry to post now because I experienced an item on my bucket list this summer! I don't know about you, but my bucket list has a lot of items that will definitely take longer to accomplish than others either because they are geographically (and therefore financially) out of reach in the short term or because they will take a greater dedication of time as well as skill than I am currently capable of or willing to give. Then there are those items that are doable now. It's just a matter of taking initiative to educate myself and then organize the experience. I crossed one such item off my list this summer. On my list of 100 Life Goals wedged between "Experience Havasupai" and "Spend a night in the Crusoe Villas at Lankanfushi, Maldives" is the item, "Bike the Hiawatha Trail." Well, I did just that last month. I got a group of family and friends together and we traveled up north to bike the Route of the Hiawatha, which has been deemed "The Crown Jewel" of rail to trail adventures. Biking the 15 mile gently down hill sloping trail was a highlight of my summer. Whether we were using our headlamp to navigate the 1.7 mile tunnel or catching vistas on the sky high trestles, we LOVED our adventure. See the video below to decide if this experience belongs on YOUR bucket list.
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This week's blog entry is a guest post. I'm fortunate to teach at a school that works hard to create a safe environment for students while challenging them academically. The work of students, teachers, administrators and parents, result in our students scoring high on standardized tests consistently. I knew I had to tap into some of the knowledge and experience that are ensuring we are doing things right at Compass. One of our building administrators agreed to blog about some of the things that help us succeed at Compass. Please read below for Scott Strickler's tips for supporting student success.
Schools with superlative academic achievement are not implementing strategies requiring superhuman capabilities. Rather, they have strong leaders blessed with a team of educators committed to carrying out sensible fundamentals with fidelity. This random list of factors which support student success are feasible in any traditional public, charter, or private school. The key is getting everyone from the superintendent to the aides on board with supporting the framework.
Our school district consists of two schools at two separate campuses, K-6 and 8-12. Because we are our own district, we get to set the calendar. Each year, the administration sends out two or three different versions of a calendar and the staff gets to vote. The winning calendar is presented to the board for review and after some revisions and compromise, the calendar for the following year is set.
We are on a modified calendar where we have a shorter summer and longer breaks during the year. This year, our last day of school was June 3rd and our first day will be August 14th. For breaks during the year we get three weeks at Christmas, two weeks at Thanksgiving, a two-week Spring Break and a one-week Fall Break. Although I'm in a love affair with summer, I've traditionally been a fan of our calendar even though it cuts my summer short. I just LOVE the long breaks during the year and they seem to come when the students and I need them most. What are your thoughts? Would you rather have a longer summer vacation or longer breaks during the school year? I don't know how many of you live near the path of the solar eclipse and are planning to view it on the 21st, but there are a lot of us who are excited about it here in Idaho. This video was great because an average guy describes it in language anyone can understand, and yet he uses some really great words and phrases that relate specifically to the solar eclipse phenomenon that make me feel smart! His excitement definitely rubbed off on me. I now know there are many locations across our state where we can be in the center of the totality plain (you see what I did there"?!) and that getting to one of these locations can greatly enhance my experience. Happy eclipse viewing.
Hope this back to school diddy leaves you smiling. Name the movie for extra credit!
My audio clip this week is humorous, not to be confused with taking this assignment as a joke. I'm having a hard time with the idea that school is starting NEXT WEEK! I thought a little humor could be beneficial to us all. Laughter IS the best medicine!
This is a follow up to my previous post, Back to School. Another way to combat the back to school blues is to focus on the coming year and how to make it successful. I've compiled a list of five back to school tips for teachers.
1. Establish Classroom Rules and Be Consistent
This sends a message to students that they can learn self control. Students will never be better behaved than they are on that first day. Take advantage of the time to communicate your expectations for a disciplined, respectful and collaborative classroom. You can always ease off on the discipline as the year progresses, once students see that you mean what you say. It's a lot easier to go from being strict to having more fun with the students, but it's difficult the other way around. 2. Be Prepared It seems simple, but oh so effective. Arrive early and have the room in order. All supplies needed for the day should be prepared beforehand. Hang a welcome sign on the door, post the schedule on the board, organize desks in a way that will be conducive to learning and have student name tags on desks. This sends a powerful message to students that the teacher knows what she is doing. 3. Establish Routines and Schedules This sends a message to kids that school is safe and predictable. I teach in a school where teachers and students are always on the go. In my computer lab, we move even faster since we only have 30 minutes together. Having a routine for what students do when they enter my classroom not only saves time but eliminates classroom management issues. 4. Preview the Curriculum Give students an overview of what they'll be learning in the coming year. This can both build excitement and give students a foundation upon which to orient themselves. It can also ease some of the first day tension students feel. 5. Freezer Meals This one is just for the teacher! One of the things that can become cumbersome during the school year is the need to take a lunch every day. If you'd like the meal to be satisfying and healthy, you've got even more of a job on your hands. What if you have a freezer full of homemade casseroles to take for lunches? This would definitely ease the burden, leaving more time for other life or teaching tasks. Resources The Best Back to School Tips From Real Teachers Top Ten Back to School Tips Argggggh, do I REALLY have to go back next week?! How is it already time? If there's one thing that depresses me in life it's going back to school after a break, especially a really long one. I usually get the blues after each break. Christmas, Thanksgiving, or a two-week spring break...these are all very difficult to let go of. But summer break is nearly impossible! I cling to her like a lady in a shopping mall on Black Friday who's just managed to scoop up the last PS4. The beautiful temps, the time I've been able to spend in my garden, days at the pool, family reunions, sleeping in, staying up late; it's all very beautiful to me, and to most of us. So how can we muster up the courage to step back into the classroom? With a smile, no less. I've discovered that focusing on others usually minimizes my worries. So, what about students and parents? How are they feeling about all of this back to school business?! As is demonstrated in the info graphic below, they have concerns of their own. You also probably noticed that some teachers are excited for school to start (of course, these are usually the new teachers!) I have found over the years that going back to school isn't as bad as I make it out to be in my mind. Sure it's difficult to get back in the teaching mindset and daily work routine, but I find that just getting there is a majority of the battle. Once I'm back, I realize I'm surrounded by great educators and students. If a girl has to work to make a living, this ain't half bad! Happy 2017-2018 school year everyone!
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AuthorBecky teaches tech to 3rd-6th grade students at Compass Public Charter School. ArchivesBlogrollCategories
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