Summer Splash 2013

Howdy everyone...I'm back! I've taken a break as my grandmother passed away at the end of the June. That little lady had a special place in my heart and I just needed time to let reality set in. No better way than with planning 3 professional development sessions for my school district! Let's just say I'm a walking zombie because the work sessions until 3:00am the last 3  days along with working summer camp everyday have finally caught up with me.

Back to Summer Splash 2013. Today our district's instructional coaching team hosted Summer Splash. It was an all day professional development day for our district employees. I loved the title because everyone could get a "splash" of different topics. We had one hour sessions on all kinds of topics: writing, reading, differentiation, technology, etc. The timing was perfect. It wasn't to close to end of the school year when teachers are burnt out but also not to close to the beginning of the school year when teachers aren't able to reflect in enough time.

I facilitated a session on Assessing Digital Work. Many of our schools have iPads and are diving into a lot more technology based products. In working in a 1:1 environment, it takes instruction to a whole new level. My group was wonderful! They were so thoughtful and really connected well with one another. We discussed rubrics, checklists, and storyboards. We've heard about rubrics for years but with the increase of technology it is important to really consider rubrics. A great discussion that came about was allowing students to peer review one another using rubrics and how a teacher can build a safe classroom environment that can be honest and offer critical criticism. It was wonderful to see that many of the people in my session were interested in allowing their students to peer review one another.

I couldn't have been more pleased with Summer Splash. I really things its somethings we should do more often in the school year. It also provides teachers a great opportunity for collaboration with other teachers they may not normally see or work with during the school year. It was great to see a variety of grade levels bouncing ideas off one another when normally teachers are divided by grade levels for professional development.

 

Summer Splash 2013=Success!

Last day of School = Tech Fair Report Out!

I can't believe that today is the last day of school! I've been missing a few weeks as I told you that we were preparing for our first annual technology fair. It was a blast but boy did it keep me busy for most of May. Because this was our first experience with pulling off a technology fair, the instructional technology coach and I thought about the best ways to support the students and teachers. We came up with what we called "Media Time." Media Time was 30-45 minutes times periods where we both (along with the teacher) went into all classrooms and taught the "media" or in this case "app." Some teachers wanted us to work with their students on research skills, searching for appropriate images while following copyright rules, putting the project together, and using a rubric/checklist to create projects. I had a blast. It really helped me look at ways to better support the technology instructionally. I had a blast in all of the classrooms. It was extremely interesting seeing all of the finished projects. We had visitors complete a feedback form using a Google form and we got great feedback. Visitors (district administration, other coaches, families) were able to visit each classroom and check out projects and technology in action in all classrooms. We were extremely pleased by the family turn out. I couldn't be more proud of the students and teachers. They worked extremely hard on such a short notice. I would highly suggest trying a some kind of fair that is out of the norm of the science fair. I have heard of reading fairs in the last couple of years.

I told you that I would show you my oversized bulletin board. We are obsessed with QR codes. It was awesome to see our visitors whipping out their phones and iPads during the technology fair to check out QR codes. They linked to student work, summer reading programs, family resources, blogs, and so much more. I loved that it could link to Google Drive where we can always drop new things. This makes it easy to use the same QR code all year long and just add or change student work. I am actually presenting on QR codes in the classroom at the IETC in November. Come check me out!

I hope that you have had a wonderful school year. I can't believe that it has gone by so fast! I have officially completed my first year as an instructional coach and I absolutely loved all of the stress, fun, professional learning, moments of panic, moments of confusion, and celebrations. Keep checking in over the summer!

Happy Summer Blogging,
     Rida

Instruction + Technology = Awesome!

I'm back! It's been a while and I can't believe that we are in the last month of school. Hello May! The coaching world has been pretty hectic lately preparing for our school's first annual technology fair. I am so proud of all of the teachers and students for all of their hard work. The instructional technology coach and I have devoted 30 to 45 minutes to "media time" in each classroom where we are able to help "teach the tech". Teachers are responsible for content and providing time for students to work on their projects. Our "media time" has been so diverse and fun! We have co-taught lessons on digital citizenship, app features, researching, presentation skills, searching and using Creative Commons images, and summarizing research. Working with all grade levels every day, all day has been so refreshing. One thing that I have really tried to focus on with teachers is instruction and assessing digital work. It is extremely important that students know their expectations and not all about making something cool on the IPAD. I have really stressed that they have to show what they are learning through their projects. I offered professional development on creating rubrics and checklists for teachers. It was the perfect amount of collaboration and work time. Most teachers left with a rubric or checklist ready for their students. We have spent a lot of time working on storyboarding. This has been very beneficial to our students. This is actually a great tool for teachers to use. With big projects like the ones that we are working on, it is so important that the students have a plan in mind. Some teachers required the storyboards to be completed before the students could actually begin working on their iPads. Some teachers had certain students who were struggling with ideas to use storyboards.  So often, technology takes over and there truly has to be a balance between instruction and technology. This tech fair preparation has really opened our eyes to this importance.

Check back in soon to hear all about our QR code bulletin board that links to awesome student work. I will even include a pic!

Happy Blogging,
                        Rida

QR Code Crazy!

Working in a 1:1 ipad building has been so eye opening. Something that has come along and become the current craze is QR codes. As many teachers dive into using QR codes for centers, scavenger hunts, "I'm Done" activities, interactice word walls, and self-checks, we are finding innovative and new ways to use QR codes in the classroom and around the school. As the instructional coach, I find it important to model things that teachers use or are interested in using.  With all the
professional development opportunities that coaches provide in our district, I was
looking into a way to more effectivity take attendance.  So this week, I am going to try out a QR code that links to a Google Doc form where teachers enter their name. So instead of passing around a sign-in sheet, or seeing a long line at the sign in sheet, I will have the QR code shown on a row of computers for teachers to walk in and scan. I think that QR codes are a great way to enhance independence when the teacher can't always be with every student. I thought it would be neat to have QR codes that link to voice recording of instructions, especially for early primary students.  Have you ever used QR codes? Please share!

Happy Blogging,
  Rida

Google Girl!

Oh how I love GOOGLE! Honestly, my best friend and I live by Google. Whether we just need  a quick answer to one of our most random questions or I'm trying to receive feedback from a survey in a quick and organized fashion.  I am a big fan of Google Drive. I have used it with teachers and students. What I love about Google Drive is how I can create a form with questions and use a link to email or drop into Edmodo with students. I have used it to differentiate literature circle questions instead of typing up 4-5 sets of questions and printing them out. I have also used it to create daily math problems. I came across an online journal and found a daily math problem for 4th grade and turned it into a google doc. Of course students will need to show work, but I thought it was a neat way to be paperless.  Here is the link to the daily math problems on elapsed time:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/19obasE6eF4msCHIOa1bM6PajMiCU8h-P8Qzg6sTTz7c/viewform

Google Drive is not difficult at all. It was something I taught myself to do within minutes in the summer when I was thinking of a way to get to know my new staff without sending out 20+ emails asking the same questions.

Let me know of any other cool ways that you've used Google Drive with your students or staff!

Google Drive is great in the paperless initiative!

Educreations in Math!

I'm back and  meeting my goal of blogging at least once a week. Our district has fully implemented the Common Core standards in math. We are in the process of working on ELA. As a part of the district math development team, I have worked very hard to truly understand what the standards are asking of our students. Trust me, I think I will forever be trying to understand all of them.

I've started to focus my weekly newsletters to my staff on Math, specifically the 8 mathematical practices. This week I am focusing on mathematical practice #1: Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them.  "When presented with a problem, I can make a plan, carry out my plan, and evaluate its sucess."

Because my school is a 1:1 device school. I really started thinking about how I could turn my normal "math journal" notebook digital! It just so happens that I was also thinking of a way to use Educreations in the classroom in the area of math. (FYI: Educreatiosn is a free app and web based tool).  I've been dying to get back to my old stomping grounds.....1st grade.

So I am working with a 1st grade teacher in my building to accomplish my "thought". We are presenting at our annual district technology conference in April and wanted to be able to share some student samples using Educreations.

What I did today was pull out a 1st graders and explain how to use Educreations. I then gave him a math problem verbally to solve using Educreations to see how he would do. He did great. Our students often have a hard time explaining why they solved a problem the way they did. So I did have to prompt him at times. I didn't pose a problem that was too difficult but often not asked of 1st graders. My goal was to get him used to Educreations and talking loud enough for the IPAD to catch his voice.

We are thinking of using it in small groups or during math centers. We are struggling with room noise being picked up in the student recordings.

Let me know if you have any suggestions! This is always an issue when numerous kids are trying to record anything in the classroom.

Check out our final product here:
 http://www.educreations.com/lesson/view/math-problem-with-a-1st-grader/5921893/?s=0n9eQx&ref=app

All that and a bag of chips!

Today was one of those  days where I had so much on my to do list. As soon as I finished one thing, something else was added to the list. It probably makes things worse that we are testing so I feel like I'm tip-toing around. I've been able to get a lot of paperwork and tasks done that I've neglected the last couple of weeks. Our kiddos have worked so hard on their ISATS. As a PBIS school, we thought it would be awesome to celebrate the completion of their first week of testing with an "Out of the Blue" celebration. So why not celebrate with food! Have you heard of the  LAYS chips flavor contest going on? The three flavors are: cheesy garlic bread, Srircha, and Chicken and Waffles.  Our students who earned the reward were able to try all the chips. We then had them vote on Edmodo for their favorite chip. As a technology magnet school, we thought that we would follow the contest, compare it to our results, and try to Skype with the winner when he/she is announced in May. Of course with kids, the hot chip is in the lead!

Have a great weekend!