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.