Post #11: "Change is inevitable, growth is optional"

One year ago, as I made my way back to Colorado after another eventful summer teaching summer school at my alma mater in Hawaii, I was looking forward to another exciting year of third grade. For years people have echoed that year one was always a challenge for a first-year teacher, year two consisted of changing everything that didn’t work, and years three and on would simply be tweaking little things here and there.  Little did I know that year four would bring a dynamic shift to our classroom and I could not have imagined how much of an impact it would have on our school year a mere nine months later.

Post #10: Information Overload!

We are constantly talking about how connected our students are, the pros and cons of technology in their lives, and how we can mindfully incorporate their connected lives into our classrooms.  At times, it’s also easy to forget how connected we are, the pros and cons of technology in our own lives, and how we can mindfully connect and disconnect in our daily routines.

Post #9: Mindfully Integrating Technology

I recently stumbled across an old assignment from a technology class taken in my final years of college. As I read through some of my thoughts and ideas, I couldn't help but sink a bit deeper into my couch with a bit of chagrin.

Post #8: BreakoutEDU

About a year and a half ago, I had the opportunity to experience my first escape room, Asylum, and it lived up to the hype with the perfect combination of logic, wit, and creepy! Fast forward just a few months and I found myself with a couple of teammates engaged in a session hosted by Sarah Stuhr and Crystal Miller featuring an engaging, inquiry-based activity...BreakoutEDU!

Post #7: "Alexa..."

It started innocently enough as a Christmas gift from a student two Christmases ago.  After running into her mother in the hallway, I thanked her for the Echo Dot and told her daughter to start thinking of ways we could use it in our classroom.  Her mother immediately intervened and said that wasn’t necessary, reassuring me that wasn’t the intent and that it could be enjoyed to listen to some music at home.

So for the remainder of the year, I did.

Post #6: Kindness Changes Everything

R.J. Palacio’s book, Wonder, has always held a special place in my heart.  It was a gift from my mother during my first year of teaching and like many first-year teachers, I found myself consumed with my first classroom and all of the responsibilities that came with it.

Post #5: Power of the Podcast!

Last year was a year full of learning and I can’t be more grateful for all of the resources and thoughts being shared via Twitter.  The ability to have access 24/7 to innovative and like-minded educators has been so valuable to my personal growth as an educator...but at times, it has also been an overload of information! I’ve learned the value of taking the time to disconnect and also to spend my time browsing topics specific to my particular need for the moment.

Last fall, I discovered another great way to access similar resources and bits of information that has changed the way that I connect with others and process new ideas!

Post #4: Knowledgehook!

Prior to the start of last summer, I was inundated with #GooglePDWeek, and the timing could not have been better for “Hacks for the Math Classroom.”  I was finishing up prep for a six-week math course designed for entering fourth graders, and I was excited to explore some of these new ideas, along with a few projects from the spring.

This past year, our class fell in love with Kahoot! and I was ready to use it as a fun formative assessment throughout the summer!  As soon as Kyle presented on Knowledgehook, I knew immediately that I had to make the switch!

Post #3: PLN 365

This weekend’s EdTechTeam Summit featuring Google for Education in Las Vegas marks the one year anniversary of establishing my own PLN (Personal/Professional Learning Network).  It was here that some colleagues and I unlocked so much of the untapped potential that our Chromebooks had been holding onto for months! Exploring the collaborative features of G Suite along with how to help make our teaching lives more efficient and effective were huge takeaways after a weekend of learning.

The following weeks and months were filled with plan periods converting Word documents to Docs, introducing G Suite to our students via Classroom, and mindfully integrating tech more effectively and intentionally into our classrooms.  Little did I know that the biggest takeaway from the conference would be the magic of a PLN.

Post #2: Relationships First!

Along with taking the time to rest, relax, and recharge this holiday break, my quick trip home came with a couple of firsts--one event was something I’ve been meaning to do for many years and the other was something I wouldn’t have imagined happening.

Post #1: Flexible Seating--A Process, Not 'Stuff!'

“Our next solution makers won’t be cultivated in desks and rows.”

-The Space: A Guide for Educators

Pausing to reflect on the first half of our school year, it is incredible to think about how much of an impact flexible seating has had on improving our classroom culture.  It started as #onenewthing...but it was HUGE!  It was so empowering to watch students take accountability for their own learning habits and direct their own learning throughout the day.

After spending hours and hours over the summer checking through Kayla Delzer’s resources, our redesigned classroom was slowly starting to take shape in front of our eyes!

#NewYearNewMe

With the smoke of last night’s fireworks slowly clearing, the glimmer of a fresh outlook on a new year shines brightly as we reminisce about all that this past year has had to offer.

#OneNewThing to Jump-Start Your School Year!

It certainly is not an uncommon feeling--arriving home on a Sunday evening after an eventful weekend at a conference or professional development session, and with your mind still racing you start to think about all of the amazing ideas you experienced and how excited you are to flip your classroom overnight.