What Tools Can I Use To Engage Students?

There are two tools that I want to use more with my kids this next year, YouTube and Flipgrid. 

YouTube

YouTube is a wonderful tool to use for many, many reasons.  In my school, K-2 teachers don't utilize videos in this way.  So when they come to me in 3rd grade, my kids are not used to having YouTube as one of their tools to learn.  They have experienced it more at home and in that kind of setting.  So when I give them their first video, I sometimes forget that it's a YouTube video and they all raise their hand and say, "Mrs. Marshall, this video is on YouTube, can I watch it?"  One of the ways I want to engage my kids more is having to make sure they're watching something that will interest them.  Kids will watch videos over and over again.  Which is a great thing!  That means it's holding their attention for that long and they are learning the content. I want to make sure they are watching quality videos that they will get something from.  I want to utilize making a playlist for them so they can have that content there whenever they want/need it.

This is kind of a side note...I did Flocabulary with my kids this year.  They liked the videos and the assignments that went with it.  What surprised me the most, was they were going to Flocabluary, getting on a song, and having that play in the background while they were working on other things.  I thought this is a great way to have them engaged in not only the assignment that they were supposed to be working on but also the rap song in the background. That is what we as adults do, but I thought it was clever of them to figure that out.  So I need to make sure they know that is something I'm am fine with them doing!

Flipgrid

I love Flipgrid, kids love Flipgrid, I just need to make it work for me! Kids are so engaged when I assign them something.  I asked this before, how do I get them to respond without it taking 30-40 minutes?  I give them a one minute thirty-second response time and it takes them 30 minutes???  I get they need to take the best selfie, pick the right stickers, and look as cool as possible.  But sheesh!  My goal this year is to make it meaningful!  For me, I get to see what they know and for them, they get to show me what they know. 

I worked in my classroom today and I'm getting excited for the school year to start!   

3 Ways I Want to Improve What I do, Digitally

3 Ways I Want to Improve What I do, Digitally

I've been thinking a lot about what kinds of things I do with tech in my room.  There is a laundry list of apps, website, and tools I use.  I would like to look at three things and see if I can become a better facilitator for my kids.  

1. The first thing is to have content delivered to them in a meaningful way.  Not just the content that I want them to know but how they are going to get it.  It seems a bit confusing as I write it, but essentially I want them to have a digital version of my lesson plans.  Maybe I give it to them in a daily or ongoing HyperDoc.  But it would have what we are doing for the day, CCSS listed so they know what is being expected from them and myself, the purpose of why we do what we do.  I want my 3rd graders to have to know we do this fun thing because we are supposed to be learning this standard.  Then we can have conversations around that. 

2.  At times I will give them this fabulous tool to use.  They will get to play with it and do a fun activity at first to learn the ins and outs of how to use it.  Then I will give them the "real" assignment and I don't feel like they are using the tool with creative abandon like they did in the practice activity.  I feel like kids should have this freedom to learn how it comes naturally and find what bests works for them, but maybe I should focus on what I expect from the assignment.  The question I want to focus myself in answering is, are you giving them the right tool for the assignment?  Something to really think about in the next 6 weeks of vacation.

3.  Because I have many things for the kids to do online, I want to make sure I am using my time wisely.  When I had my 30+ kids last year online doing an assignment, I thought about kicking my feet up and just watching them work.  But I know I can better use my time and help some of my struggling kids.  I keep thinking back when I took a HyperDoc class from Sarah Landis, Kelly Hilton, and Lisa Highfill they kept saying that the HyperDocs were meant for intervention.  A way that kids can work at their own pace while giving teachers time to pull kids who need help.  I want to make sure I am mindful of what I am doing while my kids are on their tech. 

#FallCUE

Dave Burgess: Teach Like A Pirate

I was very lucky to get invited to FallCUE this year as a panel member to talk about BreakoutEDU.  One of my favorite things to talk about with other educators!  We had a fun time doing a mini game of Spyder Heist and talking about how the games can enhance our lessons.

My friend and colleague +Knela Newton asked me if I was going to go to the special session by author Dave Burgess.  I had heard of his book and Knela was going so I signed up.  I am so happy I did.  Dave Burgess was the best part of CUE!!!  He gave us strategies that will interest the kids.  We are all creative, no matter what we think.  One of my favorite strategies was the hook, put something in a bag, box, your pocket and tell the kids you will tell them all about it then move onto something else.  Keep doing it until you build their excitement.  You need to create moments that your kids will remember.  Creating experiences and moments they will remember for the rest of their lives is part of being a teacher.

I tried this strategy today and they kids loved it.  They were begging me to tell them what was in the bag.  I got to tell them my story of becoming the first place winner in the Chrome Warrior CUE challenge.  It was a tale of perseverance and encouraging friends.

I look forward to reading Teach Like A Pirate and implementing the strategies.  Thank you Knela for suggesting we go to see Dave Burgess.

The Last Day

It's the last day of school and I'm not with kids today.  It's a little weird.  Instead of saying goodbye to kids I'm saying goodbye to fellow coaches.  My life as an instructional coach is one day away from ending.  It's been an amazing year and I have learned so much.  I am so grateful for the experiences I have had this year.

It's time to go back to the classroom next year and make new experiences with my new grade level and new school.  I'm heading to Pine Grove, where it all started for me.  When I moved to Brookings I got a couple of long-term substitute jobs at Pine Grove.  The ladies there were very sweet and took me under their wings.  So I'm heading back there to teach 3rd grade.

I can't wait to use what I've learned my kids.  I went to two CUE events RockStar and Palm Springs.  I have learned Green Screen, BreakoutEDU, robots, augmented reality, HyperDocs, GLAD strategies for technology...just to name a few!  I'm also looking forward to sharing what I've learned with the other teachers at Pine Grove.

I don't regret being an instructional coach, I just think I was made to be in a classroom full of kids.  

BreakoutEDU...My New Passion

I can't believe how long it's been since I've posted anything.  I have been so busy with helping my 2nd and 3rd grade teachers, which is a good thing!  Let me tell you about what I've been doing...it's called BreakoutEDU.  If you have seen me around your campus the kids might point to me and say, "Hey, it's the Breakout lady."  I've become a bit famous for breakouts.  So breakouts are a way to gamify your standards.  It goes a little like this, you pick a standard you are working on and think of ways kids can open locks using their knowledge about that standard.  For example, my 3rd grade teachers decided to do a GLAD unit on magnets.  I found different kinds of magnets, YouTube videos, games, and puzzles and created clues the kids could solve to open the locks.  I've also created a local Del Norte County Social Studies game for the 2nd graders.  They are learning about the people who supply us with our goods and services like our local farms, dairies and fisheries.  I love #BreakoutEDU it has changed my way of teaching.  I have to confess, I really enjoy playing breakout games with other educators.  I have had the pleasure of introducing BreakoutEDU to Smith River and Mary Peacock teachers.  They got to play a game with their staff to see the benefits of gamifying their student's learning.  I have had the opportunity to facilitate breakouts with 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th grade classes.  Here are a few examples of the games...

Always Learning...

It's my motto, always learning, it's what we do as teachers.  One of the reasons why I took my Coaching job, is that I get to learn so much.  From different training's I get to attend, to watching teachers teach, to collaborating with teachers, there is so much to learn.

2016 is going to be here in a matter of days, and the new year is always a good time for new learning.  +Rae Fearing  is a Google Certified Educator/Trainer/Innovator, you name it she is amazing with Google.  I would like to be a fraction as good as she is.  So my goal for 2016 is to start my training as a Level 1 Google Educator.  My first step is to meet with Rae and see what I'm in for. I'm ready and can't wait to learn, but also share what I've learned.

                                                      #raesblogchallenge  #blogchallenge

#MakeSchoolDifferent

I've blogged about this before, Things We Have to Stop Pretending, to make school different.  It's a powerful reminder that we need to think about and reflect upon our teaching practice.  The things we were taught are not the things we teach our kids.  As an Instructional Coach, I'm trying to #MakeSchoolDifferent by guiding teachers and helping them with technology.  For some teachers technology is very foreign and not a comfortable topic.  For others, it's old hat and they use it often.  My job is to help teachers get out of their comfort zone, push the ones that are comfortable and guide the ones that aren't.  Their students will benefit greatly.
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