PLC Day Reflection

Here I am reflecting on a Friday night at 5:00pm... I know its crazy, but I cannot stop thinking about our PLC day today and my PLC for next year. I have learned so much over the past year both proffessionally and personally! I have a lot of new technological ideas to implement into my curriculum, as well as many new found reasons to use technology and project based learning that I had not thought of in the past.

Where to go with all of this for next year?

That is the big question we all have on our minds- Im sure...!
At this point in my thought process I am thinking of several different roads to take, some of which include: creating parallel tasks, reader's response, writer's workshop, differentiated centers, project based learning, and ways to improve our students assessment scores...... Im trying to figure out a way that I can combine all of this into one awesome overall idea!

Thoughts?

I would really love to use project-based learning in my classroom next year with a reader's/writer's workshop approach toward instruction (using differentiated centers and parallel tasks) and hoping that with this approach to teaching my students test scores will improve...??

Thats where I stand today

- its truley been a great learning experience and I am in shock that this year is coming to an end. I had a great PLC team this year and while I am sad that we will probably go our seperate ways next year to meet our own individual needs.... I am confident that we will remain the "G" team and continue to share ideas with eachother and continue to challenge eachothers thinking.

Thank you to a great team this year! I've learned a lot and you have all helped to make my first year teaching a great success!

Also a big thank you to our administration for allowing us the opportunity to grow as educators- we are lucky to have a group of people leading our school district that care soooo much about their teachers and students!~

Recorded PLC Session

Live Stream of Session

Live video by Ustream

Presentation Day

So, here it is! We've collaborated on how to approach the presentation, met extra times after school to finalize our thoughts, finished up our own Glogs, have the group Glog printed for the Learning Fair, and have a plan for sharing what we've learned with others during the Session.  We can't wait.  We're going to even try a live stream of our 30 min presentation using USTREAM.  Check out our Glog below and what we're each going to focus on, but be sure to check out the live stream in our next post! 

Initiating Change

For our final PLC meeting we were able to have one last virtual meeting with Rob Griffith, social studies teacher at Hinsdale Central School, and be inspired by his approach in the classroom.  He focuses on student needs and building relationships, not technology.  While utilizing Project Based Learning, his students have been immersed in a cooperative and connected classroom.  Many of the projects are highlighted on the classroom blog, transPARENTSsee.  He shared with us the project his students were currently working on together and how certain tasks were assigned to ensure participation from all involved: manager, facilitator, reporter, and challenger.  Mr. Griffith inspires students to think, create, and present in today's digital world.

Rob is initiating change not only in his classroom, but in various areas.  His morning message at HCS has been a challenge to those in the district.  Educational sites and tools are being viewed for their educational potential and are now open for all to learn with.  His professional blog MyEduNotions shares his educational musings.  Rob has been presenting at educational technology conferences to share his students successes.  Inspiring others around him to do the same, we appreciated his encouraging words that will assist in our team's efforts in Teaching4Tomorrow.    

Make it An Adventure!

  

During our PLC meeting on Friday, we were able to meet with Jason Schrage.  He had a trail mix of all sorts of ideas, tools, and successful strategies to share with us that he's implemented into his 8th grade social studies classroom at Horseheads Middle School.   His tech point-of-view involves... Hands-on experiences -> reflect and share - mix in tech components + so much more! In other words, get outside and do something.  Then come back to the classroom to reflect and share.  The sharing aspect would be where the technology comes into the equation. 

Since he knew we were focusing on Skype connections this year, he recommended using Read Across America as he and his wife had done to celebrate the day!  How can you connect your readers on March 2nd?  Next year, be sure to check out Read Across the Planet.  His class also participated in Reading for the Record on Twitter last year to see how many could participate in reading the same book.

Face to face conversations are essential, but to take it further through hands-on projects.  Often says to his students - Here's your goal, here's a flip cam, do it.  Excited and nervous students get to approach a fun project with a major creative component.  Mr. Schrage wants to make his student's learning "sticky"! 

Lego Project - part of Industrial Industry Unit - assembly line/race - hands-on element to take concept further

WWII - Teach-In Day /Wiki - community involvement - teams of students interview w/ snowball mic and cameras

VoiceThread - Study Task - PLN added tips and tricks to the students, rest was to guide in test prep

Skype/Remote Response/IWB - old multiple-choice state test ?s/competition format w/ another class

Perfect Quiz - Toolbox Pro - take a quiz unlimited # of times - perfect practice

Compass Course - flag markers w/ numbers and content-based questions/clues

Gaggle - Filtered email

StudyBoost - using IM and text messaging to study

So, get up and get moving, keep your objective in sight, guide your students through content with alternative gear, grab your backpack of tech tools, get creative, and embark on the hike!

A Close-Knit Classroom

Last month, our PLC team was able to learn from Andrew Kauffman, a third grade teacher and technology in education explorer from Indiana.  He shared with us some of the projects and initiatives that have proved to be successful.  Mr. Kauffman's classroom is a caring environment mixed with innovative strategies where kids love to learn. 

First, he explained how his students have used Marzano's approah with VoiceThread to have a conversation about what a word really means.  They use the tech tool to create a definition.  Andrew also explained how it could be done in reverse with student-created pictures and play guess the word and have a reason to back up your guess. 

Brain Pop has become the basis for classroom discussions, as the videos can be paused and turned into conversation starters.  The supplemental activites are wonderful and as he put it, "cement the learning" more. 

Andrew's one reading group is designing a comic strip and writing the script to correspond with a book they've read.  They've been able to contact the author and will be sending it to him.  What a neat way to get kids excited about reading! 

This year he's been able to create a caring classroom environment through knitting.  His class started a kidblog and have been learning from a local store owner.  According to Mr. Kauffman, "They have done amazing things in terms of relationships and students helping students, it's built a classroom community that is quite a bit stronger."

Another resource he recommended was utilizing PBS's free teacher resources.  The video clips and lessons have alligned with the standards that his district follows.

Thank you Mr. Kauffman for inspiring us to go beyond the tech and create connections withing the classroom through numerous ways!
 

How do you create a close-knit classroom where students are excited to learn?