Week of January 29

Thursday Thoughts January 29

 

 

 

I enjoyed meeting with so many teachers today for the mid year reviews.  During the course of the conversations, I kept thinking of how far we have moved out of our comfort zone.  Everyone is working so hard to provide the best instruction possible for ALL learners.  The differentiation in the classrooms is unbelievable and we have come so far with our technology use.  Just think, this time next year, we will have tablets in every classroom (fingers crossed).  I am excited about the great work taking place here.  We continue to be on the MOVE in every way and I am so proud of you.

Staff Spotlight

This week I would like to shine the spotlight on Craig Gendreau.  The 1st grade performance tonight was fantastic.  When the students sang the final song, "Take Me Home Country Road", I had to hold back a tear....seriously I did.  Craig has this remarkable ability to select songs that little people can sing that will just make you feel good.  Not only has he perfected the elementary school performance, but he has stepped up and taken a leadership role with technology at our school.  He applied and has been accepted to serve on the Vanguard Team.  This team, consisting of Craig, Leigh and Tanis, will help lead the charge in personalized learning at our school.  Craig, thank you for bringing down the house at every performance and for your willingness to serve the school in an additional capacity. 

 

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

 

Start Something: 13 Teacher Strategies For Digital Collaboration

by TeachThought Staff 1/08/2015

Teacher collaboration is among the cornerstones of school improvement. When teachers connect–for the right reasons–good things happen.
The ability to connect is increased exponentially through technology. Digital collaboration by teachers has an infinite numbers out possible outcomes, from formal teacher improvement, to informal connecting for people that get you. A global teacher’s lounge, if you will.
Social media-based professional development is another possible outcome when teachers connect. In contrast to sit-and-get, impersonal training, self-selected and self-directed PD has the potential for just in time, just enough, just for me qualities. The following infographic Mia MacMeekin takes these kinds of ideas and itemizes them, coming up with thirteen strategies for digital collaboration by teachers. She has a few ideas on the graphic, and we’ve added our own below.
Let us know in the comments what strategies you find useful for digital collaboration.
Start Something: 13 Teacher Strategies For Digital Collaboration
1. Co-author a book, blog post, essay, or conference session.
2. Join an edcamp, twitter chat, or blog community (ahem).
3. Follow mentors, colleagues, and inspiring thought leaders on social media.
4. Email someone and ask for help, or thank them for what they do.
5. Comment on an idea that forces you to consider a new perspective.
6. Start something useful and/or fun, local or global, digital or physical.
7. Step out of your comfort zone.
8. Discuss both critical and practical issues around your classroom.
9. Co-create something you’ve long hoped someone else would–an app, a community, a curriculum. Even a PowerPoint or Prezi that clarifies some often misunderstood academic topic.
10. Ask for help, details, resources, or ideas.
11. Join Me–or us. Meet people, connect groups, create potential in education.
12. Enter into new terms with your local school leadership to push for innovation, resources, and better training.
13. Organize your curriculum, your professional learning network, your RSS feed, or even a local event of your own, even if it’s only 4 or 5 colleagues for a book club at Starbucks.

Start Something: 13 Teacher Strategies For Digital Collaboration

Technology Tidbits

http://pbskids.org/designsquad/- Cool site that might serve as a resource for Genius Hour.

News & Notes

For those of you whose children are hardshipped to Fulton County Schools, please note the deadline.

Deadline is Feb. 17 for hardship transfer applications

Parents will use an online form, available through the Student Assignment Office’s website, to enter and submit their information. Hard copy applications are not required this year, with the exception of medical transfers which require pertinent medical provider’s signatures and documentation.