Thursday, May 22, 2014

Week of May 22

Thursday Thoughts May 22


 
 
Well, it looks like we made it!  All year I anxiously await the last day of school only to realize that it is actually a day filled with mixed emotions.  Of course I look forward to the more laid back days of summer.  But it makes me sad to think of the students and staff that will move on and leave the Medlock Family.  I am so proud of you and the work that you have done this year.   Our staff is the best in Fulton County.  We love kids and it shows.  I wish each of you a wonderful and safe summer.  And for those staff members who will begin a new journey, I thank you for the gift of you.  Your contribution to MBES will live on in the students and adults that you have touched.  

Staff Spotlight

This week I would like to shine the spotlight on Laryn Nelson.  It is rare that you meet someone and form an instant connection, but that is exactly what happened with us.  I value Laryn's experience and her no nonsense management style.  As a principal, you must have an AP who will not only support you as an individual, but who also seeks the best for the students and staff.  The role of the assistant principal is one in which there is no glory and requires alot of guts.  The assistant principal does alot of the grunt work and carries the tremendous weight of discipline and standardized testing on her shoulders.  I can tell you that Laryn has broad shoulders and was a tremendous assset to Medlock Bridge.  I am proud to be able to call Laryn my friend and I look forward to our continued friendship as she transitions to Young Middle School.  Laryn, thank you for your dedication to Medlock.  I wish you success beyond measure.
 

 

The Best Beach Reads According to Amazon 

 
                
 
 
                  
 
 
                     
 

Thursday, May 15, 2014

Week of May 15

Thursday Thoughts May 15





The end of a school year is a great time to remember that the success of every student depends on each person in the building.  The African Proverb "It takes a village to raise a child," applies to school just as easily as it applies to home.  In thinking about all of the teachers, specialists and support personnel that are needed to make a school successful, it is so important to acknowledge the different roles that we play.  From the cafeteria staff who arrive at 6:00am or so each day to ensure that breakfast is served, to the office staff that manages the logistics of our day, we are all at Medlock for one reason and one reason only.  That reason is to protect, nurture and teach EVERY child.  No excuses, no regrets.  Just like a sports team, we have to leave it all on the "court" or" field" everyday.   Thank you for contributing to a winning team this year.  We are a championship team and our children are ultimately the winners.

 

Staff Spotlight

This week I would like to shine the spotlight on Lauren Plummer and Debra Hartley.  I had the pleasure of taking a field trip to an innovative school in Hall County on Tuesday and both Ms. Plummer's and Ms. Brooks' classes accompanied me.  Only one of Ms. Brooks' students took the trip; however all of Lauren's students attended and I can tell you that they were respectful, well behaved and quite entertaining on the bus.  Lauren has had a tough year with neither a daily planning period nor duty free lunch period.  Yet she has never complained and has made every effort to increase her knowledge of Autism, work with the first grade level and strengthen her instructional practices on her own time.  She and Debra have created a classroom environment where the expectations are high and the students have risen to those expectations.   I am thankful for the work that Lauren and Debra are doing and appreciate their dedication to Medlock Bridge.
 

 

4C's: Collaboration, Communication, Creativity, Critical Thinking Skills

From www.classtechtips.com  (Dec 11th post)
 
Push your students to explain their thinking and create their own digital portfolio items with these fantastic free apps!
Technology Tidbits: (If you have websites to share please email me and I will share with all)

www.classtechtips.com- Daily blog with recommended apps for classroom use.  You can access entries dating back several months.  Great way to get ideas for reviewing apps for the classroom.

News & Notes

We welcome the return of Nisha on Monday. We bid Erin Roberts a heartfelt farewell and thank her for taking care of our little ones in Nisha's absence.  We are excited that Erin will be right down the street at Northview where she has been offered a full time counseling position for next year.  Erin, we wish you all the best!

Thursday, May 8, 2014

Week of May 8

Thursday Thoughts May 8




With only two blogs left to go, I was thinking that I better make these last three count.  I know that we are all ready to bring this year to a close.  It has been a tough one.  The changes, the workload, the snow.....it really was more than anyone should have to endure in one year.  But in eleven short days (or long days depending on how you look at it) this school year will be one for the memory books.  We will clean out our rooms, check the boxes on the checklist (I promise the list is coming) and head off into the sunset for summer vacation.  For some reason the cliche "What doesn't kill you, makes you stronger" comes to mind.  We have been through ALOT but we are stronger for it. 
 

Staff Spotlight

 This week I would like to shine the spotlight on three ladies who have worked closely with Lauren Burnette this year to provide the highest level of service to the students in the Kindergarten Special Education classroom.  Cynthia Banks, Tracy Fischer and Dana Thornton have worked tirelessly to accommodate the special needs that their little ones have.  I can attest that there have been some "unique" parent requests made of them and they have had to exhibit a certain flexibility that most of us can not imagine.  Through it all, these ladies have honored the requests, changed their routines (multiple times) and endured all that comes with Special Needs Kindergarten.  I know Mrs. Burnette could not do what she does without them.  I am grateful for the support they provide everyday.  Thank you ladies!  We appreciate you.

4C's: Collaboration, Communication, Creativity, Critical Thinking Skills

102 Must-See Video Sites For Educators

Teach Thought Blog 8/17/12
Bringing multimedia into the classroom is a great way to engage students in learning. Supplementing lessons, opening up new interests, and offering inspiration, online videos make for an incredible teaching tool. In 2010, we covered our favorite 100 video sites for educators, and we’ve now updated our list for 2012 with more than 100 resources and more than 25 brand new entries. Read on, and you’ll be able to check out the very best sources for educational videos on the web.

Educational Video Collections

Specifically designed for education, these collections make it easy to find video learning resources.
  1. TeacherTube: This YouTube for teachers is an amazing resource for finding educationally-focused videos to share with your classroom. You can find videos uploaded by other teachers or share your own.
  2. Edutopia: An awesome place to find learning ideas and resources, Edutopia has videos, blogs, and more, all sorted into grade levels.
  3. YouTube EDU: A YouTube channel just for education, you can find primary and secondary education, university-level videos, and even lifelong learning.
  4. Classroom Clips: Classroom Clips offers media for educators and students alike, including video and audio in a browseable format.
  5. neoK12: Find science videos and more for school kids in K-12 on neoK12.
  6. OV Guide: Find education videos on this site, featuring author readings and instructional videos.
  7. CosmoLearning: This free educational website has videos in 36 different academic subjects.
  8. Google Educational Videos: Cool Cat Teacher offers this excellent tutorial for finding the best of Google’s educational videos.
  9. Brightstorm: On Brightstorm, students can find homework help in math and science, even test prep, too.
  10. Explore.org: Explore.org shares live animal cams, films, educational channels, and more for your classroom to explore.
  11. UWTV: Offered by the University of Washington, UWTV has videos in the arts, K-12, social sciences, health, and more.
  12. Videolectures.net: With Videolectures.net, you’ll get access to browseable lectures designed for the exchange of ideas and knowledge, offering videos in architecture, business, technology, and many more categories.
  13. TED-Ed: From a site that’s long been known for big ideas, you’ll find TED-Ed, videos specifically designed to act as highly engaging and fun lessons.
  14. Zane Education: Zane Education offers resources for visual learning, including the very popular on demand subtitled videos.
  15. Backpack TV: In this educational video library, you’ll find a special interest in math, science, and other academic subjects.
  16. MentorMob: Featuring learning playlists, MentorMob is a great place to find lessons you want to teach.
  17. Disney Educational Productions: This resource from Disney is a great place to find videos for students at the K-12 level.

General Video Collections

Network TV, inspiring talks, and more are all available in these collections. Check out special categories and searches to find videos that will work in your classroom.
  1. Hulu: A great place to find the latest TV shows, Hulu is also a source of educational videos. Documentaries, PBS, even Discovery videos are all available on the site.
  2. Internet Archive: Find so much more than videos in the Internet Archive. Images, live music, audio, texts, and yes, historical and educational videos are all available on Archive.org.
  3. TED: Share seemingly endless inspiration with your students through TED, a fountain of talks based on compelling ideas.
  4. MIT Video: Online education giant MIT has an incredible video collection, offering more than 10,000 videos for science, technology, and more.
  5. TVO: TVO is a really fun and useful online TV station, with great ways for kids, parents, and educators to learn about the world.
  6. Big Think: Much like TED, Big Think offers videos (and more) from some of the world’s top thinkers and learners.
  7. @Google Talks: On this YouTube channel, you’ll find talks from creators: authors, musicians, innovators, and speakers, all discussing their latest creations.
  8. Metacafe: Find free video clips from just about anywhere, offering educational videos, documentaries, and more.
  9. Link TV: On Link TV, you’ll find videos and broadcasts meant to connect you and your students to the greater world through documentaries and cultural programs.

Teacher Education

Featuring higher-level learning, these video sites are great resources for finding education that’s fit for teachers.
  1. Academic Earth: Learn about science, justice, economics, and more from some of the world’s great universities. You can even earn a degree from this site!
  2. Teacher Training Videos: Specifically created to teach educators, Teacher Training Videos is a great place to find online tutorials for technology in education.
  3. Classroom 2.0: Check out Classroom 2.0′s videos to learn about Web 2.0, social media, and more.
  4. Atomic Learning: Visit Atomic Learning to find resources for K-12 professional development.
  5. iTunesU: Find university-level learning and more from iTunesU.
  6. Videos for Professional Development: An excellent collection of professional development videos, Wesley Fryer’s post shares some of the best teacher videos available.
  7. Learner.org: Annenberg Learner offers excellent teacher professional development and classroom resources for just about every curriculum available.
  8. MIT Open CourseWare: The leader in Open CourseWare, MIT has free lectures and videos in 2,100 courses.

Lesson Planning

Put together your lesson plans with the help of these useful video sites.
  1. Teachers’ Domain: Join the Teachers’ Domain, and you’ll get access to educational media from public broadcasting and its partners, featuring media from the arts, math, science, and more.
  2. Meet Me at the Corner: A great place for younger kids to visit, Meet Me At the Corner has educational videos, and kid-friendly episodes, including virtual field trips and video book reviews by kids, for kids.
  3. WatchKnowLearn: WatchKnowLearn is an incredible resource for finding educational videos in an organized repository. Sorted by age and category, it’s always easy to find what you’re looking for.
  4. BrainPOP: On this education site for kids, you’ll find animated educational videos, graphics, and more, plus a special section for BrainPOP educators.
  5. The KidsKnowIt Network: Education is fun and free on this children’s learning network full of free educational movies and video podcasts.
  6. Khan Academy: With more than 3,200 videos, Khan Academy is the place to learn almost anything. Whether you’re seeking physics, finance, or history, you’ll find a lesson on it through Khan Academy.
  7. Awesome Stories: Students can learn the stories of the world on this site, with videos explaining what it was like to break ranks within the Women’s Movement, the life of emperor penguins, and even Martin Luther King, Jr’s “We Shall Overcome” speech.
  8. Nobelprize: Cap off lessons about Nobel Prize winners with videos explaining their work and life, direct from the source on Nobelprize.org.
  9. JohnLocker: JohnLocker is full of educational videos and free documentaries, including Yogis of Tibet and Understanding the Universe.

Science, Math, and Technology

You’ll find special attention for STEM subjects on these video sites.
  1. Green Energy TV: On Green Energy TV, you’ll find learning resources and videos for the green movement, including a video version of the children’s book Living Green: A Turtle’s Quest for a Cleaner Planet.
  2. BioInteractive: Find free videos and other resources for teaching “ahead of the textbook” from BioInteractive, part of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.
  3. ARKive: Share images and videos of the world’s most endangered species with your students, thanks to ARKive. These wildlife films and photos are from some of the world’s best filmmakers and photographers, sharing stunning images that everyone can appreciate.
  4. MathTV: Students who need extra help with math can find support on MathTV. This site offers videos explaining everything from basic mathematics all the way to trigonometry and calculus.
  5. The Vega Science Trust: A project of Florida State University, The Vega Science Trust shares lectures, documentaries, interviews, and more for students to enjoy and learn from.
  6. The Science Network: Check out The Science Network, where you’ll find the world’s leading scientists explaining concepts including viruses and the birth of neurons.
  7. PopTech: Bringing together a global community of innovators, PopTech has videos explaining economics, water, and plant-based fuels.
  8. PsychCentral: Students can learn about what makes people tick through PsychCentral’s brain and behavior videos.
  9. How Stuff Works: The video channel from How Stuff Works offers an in-depth look at adventure, animals, food, science, and much more.
  10. Science Stage: Find science videos, tutorials, courses, and more streaming knowledge on Science Stage.
  11. Exploratorium TV: Allow students to explore science and beyond with Exploratorium TV’s videos, webcasts, podcasts, and slideshows.
  12. SciVee: SciVee makes science visible, allowing searchable video content on health, biology, and more.
  13. The Futures Channel: Visit the Futures Channel to find educational videos and activities for hands-on, real world math and science in the classroom.
  14. All Things Science: For just about any science video you can imagine, All Things Science has it, whether it’s about life after death or space elevators.
  15. ATETV: Check out Advanced Technological Education Television (ATETV) to find videos exploring careers in the field of technology.

History, Arts, and Social Sciences

Explore history and more in these interesting video collections.
  1. The Kennedy Center: Find beautiful performances from The Kennedy Center’s Performance Archive.
  2. The Archaeology Channel: Students can explore human cultural heritage through streaming media on The Archaeology Channel.
  3. Web of Stories: On Web of Stories, people share their life stories, including Stan Lee, writer, Mike Bayon, WWII veteran, and Donald Knuth, computer scientist.
  4. Stephen Spielberg Film and Video Archive: In this archive, you’ll find films and videos relating to the Holocaust, including the Nuremberg Trials and Hitler speeches.
  5. Culture Catch: Students can tune into culture with Dusty Wright’s Culture Catch.
  6. Folkstreams: On Folkstream.net, a national preserve of documentary films about American roots cultures, you’ll find the best of American folklore films.
  7. Digital History: A project of the University of Houston, Digital History uses new technology, including video, to enhance teaching and research in history.
  8. History Matters: Another university project, this one is from George Mason University. Sharing primary documents, images, audio, and more, there’s plenty of historic multimedia to go around on this site.
  9. Social Studies Video Dictionary: Make definitions visual with this video dictionary for social studies.
  10. The Living Room Candidate: From the Museum of the Moving Image, The Living Room Candidate features presidential campaign commercials from 1952 to 2008.
  11. Video Active: Find Europe’s TV heritage through Video Active, a collection of TV programs and stills from European audiovisual archives.
  12. Media Education Foundation: The Media Education Foundation offers documentary films and other challenging media for teaching media literacy and media studies.

Video Tools

Make it easy to find, share, and view videos with these tools.
  1. DropShots: On DropShots, you’ll find free, private, and secure storage and sharing for video and photos.
  2. Muvee: Using Muvee, you can create your own photo and video “muvees” to share privately with your class.
  3. Tonido: Tonido makes it possible to run your own personal cloud, accessing video files on your computer from anywhere, even your phone.
  4. Vidique: On Vidique, you’ll find a video syndication system where you can create your own channel of curated content for the classroom.
  5. SchoolTube: On SchoolTube, you’ll find video sharing for both students and teachers, highlighting the best videos from schools everywhere.

Network and Program Videos

Check out these sites to find public broadcasting and other educational programs.
  1. PBS Video: Watch and share PBS videos online with this site.
  2. National Geographic: Find some of the world’s most amazing videos of natural life on National Geographic’s online video home.
  3. NOVA Teachers: NOVA shares highly organized videos for teachers, with 1-3 hour programs divided into chapters, plus short 5-15 minute segments from NOVA scienceNOW.
  4. Discovery Education: Use Discovery Education’s videos to inspire curiosity, bringing the Discovery channel into your classroom.
  5. C-SPAN Video Library: Find Congressional and other political programs and clips in this digital archive from C-SPAN.
  6. NBC Learn: Check out NBC Learn to find excellent resources for learning from NBC, including the science behind just about everything from the summer Olympics to hockey.
  7. History.com: Watch full episodes, clips, and videos from the History channel.
  8. Biography: Get the true story behind peoples’ lives from these videos from the Biography channel.
  9. BBC Learning: BBC offers an excellent learning site, including learning resources for schools, parents, and teachers. One of BBC’s most impressive resources is a live volcano conversation discussing the world’s most active volcano in Hawaii.

Free Movies and Clips

Documentaries and other educational movies and clips are available on these sites.
  1. Free Documentaries: On Free Documentaries, “the truth is free,” with a variety of documentary films available for streaming.
  2. SnagFilms: On SnagFilms, you can watch free movies and documentaries online, with more than 3,000 available right now.
  3. Top Documentary Films: Watch free documentaries online in this great collection of documentary movies.
  4. TV Documentaries: This Australian site has excellent documentaries about child growth, historic events, and even animations about classical Greek mythology.

How-Tos

Satisfy students’ desire for knowledge and hands-on learning by sharing how-to videos from these sites.
  1. 5min: If you’ve got five minutes, you can learn how to do something on this site. Check it out to find instructional videos and DIY projects.
  2. Wonder How To: Learn everything about anything from Wonder How To’s show and tell videos.
  3. Instructables: This community of doers shares instructions (often, video) for doing just about anything, from making secret doors to tiny origami.
  4. Howcast: Find some of the best how-to videos online with Howcast.
  5. MindBites: Check out MindBites to find thousands of video lessons, how-tos, and tutorials.
  6. W3Schools: Through W3Schools’ web tutorials (video and otherwise), you can learn how to create your own websites.
  7. Videojug: Videojug encourages users to “get good at life” by watching more than 60,000 available how-to videos and guides.

Government and Organizations

Offered as a service from government organizations and other groups, these are great places to find top-notch educational videos and often, historical treasures.
  1. US National Archives: Explore US history in this YouTube channel from the US National Archives.
  2. National Science Foundation: From the National Science Foundation, you’ll find a wealth of multimedia, including instructional and educational videos.
  3. NASA eClips: NASA offers a great way for students and educators to learn about space exploration, with clips divided by grade level.
  4. NASA TV: Tune in to NASA TV to watch launches, talks, even space station viewing.
  5. Library of Congress: Through the Library of Congress, you can find videos and other classroom materials for learning about American history.
  6. American Memory Collections: Search America’s collective memory to find videos and other multimedia from the American past, including film and sound recordings from the Edison Companies and 50 years of Coca-Cola TV ads.
  7. Canadian National Film Bureau: Check out the Canadian National Film bureau to find hundreds of documentaries and animated films available online.


Technology Tidbits: (If you have websites to share please email me and I will share with all)

http://www.mindmeister.com/173843166/free-learning-websites-for-elementary-students- Great resource to access multiple student websites (be sure to click the arrow on each site).  You can also use this site to create your own mind map.

News & Notes

Atlanta has a lot of great attractions, but seeing them all can get expensive. While deals and discounts are sure to pop up periodically, there are some paths to free admission that are always available.
http://shar.es/S1Fcj


Thursday, May 1, 2014

Week of May 1

Thursday Thoughts May 1
 
 
The Byrds are famous for the song "Turn, Turn, Turn."  You may know it best by the first couple of  lines:
           To everything- turn, turn, turn
           There is a season-turn,turn,turn
 
Thankfully this is a blog and not an audition because I can't carry the tune, but I think you may know where I'm going with this.  Tuesday's faculty meeting and our small celebration of Judy and Beth reminded me that we are all only in this space for a season.  Some seasons will last for decades, while others will only last a year or two.  Either way, I challenge you to make the most of YOUR season.  Accept the challenges because they will strengthen you.  Enjoy the rewards because they will encourage you to keep going.  And when it is time to enter a new season, be thankful for the time you had, the memories made and the new adventures to come.
 

Staff Spotlight

This week I would like to shine the spotlight on Debbie Doyle.  Debbie has done a phenomenal job with SST this semester and has not missed a beat as it relates to the NUMEROUS other responsibilities that she manages.  Debbie pours her heart and soul into curriculum and is constantly reading, researching and reviewing best practices in all areas.  This year she led the Readers' Workshop Cohort and is a resource for me as it relates to vetting the numerous materials that we are asked to consider.  Debbie serves as a resource for each grade level by redelivering County information and providing professional development throughout the year.  When Nisha went out on leave, I will admit that I did not have a plan A or B for SST.  Debbie jumped right in and immediately put my mind at ease regarding the oversight of the process.  Many times we take for granted those that work closest to us.  Debbie, we appreciate ALL that you do for Medlock Bridge.
 

4C's: Collaboration, Communication, Creativity, Critical Thinking Skills

 

12 Things I Want To Hear My Students Say

flickeringbrad-hear-my-students-say-fiWhat Teachers Want To Hear: 12 Examples
by Terry Heick
“Ohhh, now I get it.”
The iconic phrase that teachers value hearing. A sign that you’ve moved a student from not understanding to understanding. Into the light.
A lot is implied in this phrase, not the least of which is your own feel-good success–a warm indicator that you’re being an effective teacher, and that the next generation isn’t doomed after all. Notice the phrase doesn’t say “I get it.” It says “…now I get it,” as if they didn’t a few moments ago, but do now.
And the “Ohhh” even adds an immediacy to it all, as if the light just clicked on–right there at that moment under your sage and effortlessly influential guidance.
But for me, I want to something different. I want to hear and see students grappling with uncertainty–growing both intellectual and emotional muscle. Smarts and self-efficacy. Knowledge and perseverance.
Answers and questions.
The magic of learning isn’t in its finite and concrete inputs and outputs, but rather its abstractions–the confrontation between a thinker and the stimulus around them. This suggests that we look for something other than correct answers–little light bulbs coming on–to soothe us as educators.
We can even continue to think of them as light bulbs, but of a different shape and nature. Signs that the student is beginning to face themselves as a thinker. Some of these may sound a bit academic and unnatural–substitute whatever vernacular that fit in your content area, grade level, etc.
Share in the comments what you love to hear in your classroom, along with your grade level and content. We can see if there are any patterns. ; ^ )
12 Things Teachers Want To Hear Students Say
1. It’s interesting, but the evidence is shaky.
Be still my heart! Separating an appealing form from irrational structure! Superficiality from substance!
2. The text says…
You, young Einstein, are on your way to great things. You make it a habit of returning to the text rather than searching your mind for subjective opinions and half-truths. You skim the text instead of surveying an empty brain that doesn’t remember or did not understand the text the first time.
3. I used to believe…
Becoming aware of the transitions in your own thinking. Standing on your own shoulders as you climb towards enlightenment! If I wouldn’t get arrested I’d hug you.
4. This reminds me of…
This one isn’t earth-shattering, but it’s among the most authentic responses a student can have to something. Rather than searching for an answer to a question (that you probably came up with), they’re instead trying to assimilate this new thing into what they already know, and are willing to share that process out loud.
5. I understand everything up until *this* point.
This is so, so, so much better than “I don’t get it,” or “I don’t know.” It is seldom that a student will flat out not understand a single thing about a problem, text, experiment, or other educational artifact. But they sure act like it sometimes–which is why a student surveying their own knowledge, and then identifying exactly where they got lost is special.
6. I’ve found a better source of information.
Judgment and evaluation–among the highest levels of thinking! And then the fact that they’re actively looking for sources themselves, and comparing them to existing sources! My teacher heart swells with pride!
7. A better question would be…
Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. A thousand times, yes.
8. I want to know more.
And I can help you!
9. The author loses control of their argument here…
Okay, you may not hear this one often, but if you do give the kid a lollipop. Either you, their parents, or some astronomical happenstance has yielded a special little thinker here.
10. I’m not sure I know enough to add anything new, but…
Self-awareness and humility combined with a willingness to contribute!
11. If we accept that as true, then…
Critical analysis yielding takeaways that are then seamlessly transferred by the student. What else could you ask for?
12. Here, let me try.
A student recognizing rules, needs, or patterns, and then leaping way, way past merely being “engaged” to actually give something a shot. And the diction implies uncertainty (try)–the student is willing to push through uncertainty to make an attempt rather than sitting listless and confused.
All so much better than “Ohhh, now I get it.” The next step? Consistently designing learning experiences so that you hear these kinds of responses.


Technology Tidbits: (If you have websites to share please email me and I will share with all)

Check out the following website:


www.bedtimemath.org -Great site to get a different math word problem each day.  Also a great site to share with parents for the summer.

http://creativitygames.net/- Game or topic ideas that will challenge even the brightest of your students.   This site just might help you answer the question, "What to do with the kid who..."

News & Notes:
Starting Monday, May 5th students will no longer be able to charge meals.  Students must have cash on hand or enough funds in their accounts to pay for all meals. An alternate meal of a cheese sandwich and milk will be provided for lunch, and cheese toast and milk for breakfast will be given to students who do not have money on their accounts.  Teachers we will have this in tomorrow's newsletter, but a message to parents from you would be most appreciated!