My Thoughts on Education

What if students don't get to the  right  place in a discussion? What if there is silence and it is awkward? What if certain students dominate the conversation? What if students veer off track and aren't focused? No matter what you do in a discussion, there is an element of surprise.  There is a release of control on the part of the teacher. You aren't telling them what to say and in that way, the opportunities are really limitless.  This is exciting and also really scary.   My hope is that with a few adjustments to our practice, discussions can feel like that add to the classroom and enhance the experience, learning, and growth for students and teachers. Here is my set up for discussions. 1. Student-Generated Questions  Students create the questions and must only include Level 2 (Process) and 3 (Apply) Higher Level Thinking Questions.  Prior to the start of the discussion, Level 1 clarifying (Gather) questions may be asked.  I give...

 If you are not an avid Screencaster, I highly recommend it.  Screencasting allows you to make a video of what is on your computer screen and record your audio.  My favorite FREE Screencasting service is  Screencastify . It is a Chrome Extension.  If you want to be able to download your videos and have an unlimited amount to create, it might be worth the paid subscription. I have one and love, but most teachers would be fine with the free extension. Here is a step by step screencasting that will guide you through setting it up. Here is how I use screencasting most. 1.  ABSENT TEACHER LESSON PLAN I make a screencasting for my students and it is my lesson plan for the day. 2.  TEACHER TIPS - TOSA ANSWERS Sometimes a teacher will write me and ask a question and I will want to run over to their room to help them but it is impossible.  For those moments, I record a teacher tip and then send them the link.  Screencastify allows you to save to your ...

  Meaningful Finals When given two hours of time for a final, how do you want to spend it?  What are you hoping students will achieve?  What do you want to be the last impression/memories students have of your class?  After 17 years of teaching, my answer is that I do not want to spend those last two hours in a silent room never hearing my students speak and reflect. Instead, I give any kind of test, writing, or other assessment 1-2 weeks before finals.  This gives me time to grade it and give feedback and then during finals, I have my students give presentations with invited guests/panelists/interviewers.   Here's how I spent my 2 hours of finals: I have 27 9th graders in each of my English 9 classes.  They were in 6 groups. I organized my tables where two groups were in my classroom and one was in the open hallway just outside.  When students arrived they had 30 minutes to do a final practice and then guests arrived. I had gr...

Presentation Overview: Ever wish that when you ask your students to find work in google drive that they would know where it is?  Do you want to help your students (and even yourself) have a system for this workflow: how to organize, name, color code, and find things easily?  This presentation will be a walkthrough of this system you can use with your students. During Convocation, I gave the presentation to our staff.  I talked about how important it is to really help students organize themselves digitally.  I have found that the same students who have a messy backpack and crumpled papers, also have a messy google drive.  I have found it really powerful to share this with students. I see that the beginning of the process seems taxing, but once all their folders are set up, they have a system and they are less overwhelmed.  It is a practice that will help them beyond my class, it will help them for life. Steps to help your students get organized in Google Dri...

 I've been thinking more and more about what it means to really have a digital classroom.  As the teachers on the LGHS/Saratoga campuses are utilizing Canvas and more and more, many of us are collecting work digitally, I have begun to see a divide in expectations and it comes down to one thing. Ask yourself this question, If your class is given homework on Wednesday in Canvas, what is the due date?   Is it A. Wednesday evening B. Thursday evening C. The start of Friday's class period If you were collecting it on paper, what would be the due date? This year, I am teaching all 9th graders in my English classes, but I have 10-12 in my Yearbook class and no matter the grade level, I have come to realize one thing,  STUDENTS NEED SUPPORT DIGITALLY .  While they are advanced with their phones, they are less savvy when it comes to Learning Management Systems.  In many ways, this isn't their fault.   Every teacher has a different way they want someth...

 I have wanted a parent committee for our pathway for the last 6 years.  We have had a few attempts throughout the process and for the first time, it is actually working. I realize now what didn't work before and thought I would share with you the power of using parents and their connections at the high school level. Along with being a part-time TOSA, I am also the Department Chair for a choice driven, cross-curricular, project-based pathway at our high school. Six years ago, when we started this pathway, we had parents who were very supportive and would offer to help.  The problem was that all of us in the pathway were still developing our projects and we couldn't look far enough ahead to actually utilize a committee.  They were interested in helping us fundraise or supporting the classroom, but the problem was, we didn't know what to ask for. So, like any good life-long learner, I decided to visit numerous schools to get ideas and gather my own "data" to ...

 I think it is pretty funny that I am a TOSA and one of my first blogs is not about anything Tech related.  For me, some of the processes of technology are dependent on the people using it. If I haven't set up my systems to help students talk to one another and work well in teams, integrating technology is worthless.  As I begin to think about it, I have to admit that there are a few "techy" steps, but they are minimal and I hope to provide you a process to help you get to know your students and how to help them work best together. So, let's get to it.  Here are my steps. 1.  Day 1: I let them pick their first group!  This way, I know who their friends are.  Shhhh, don't tell. 2.  Students take a  Personality Assessment  (Ketterman Survey) Day 1 or 2 of my Class.  They then share their personality color with me: Gold (Leaders/Structure), Blue (Feelers/Heart), Green (Big Thinkers/Questioners), or Orange (Personality/Movement Driven)....