Category: Week in Review

Week in Review and a Bonus Flipgrid Self-Reflection!

This past week Kicked. My. Butt.  Nevertheless, it was quite a productive little week.

Monday

Because I don’t know how to stop giving myself more work, my massive effort to visit every teacher in his/her classroom to find out how I can help them integrate technology thoughtfully kicked off and I visited 20 teachers. #tired.  I began to have feelings again for my iPad.

Tuesday

I am lucky enough to be considered part of the CAMP (Computer and Media Pathway – a CTE/CPA Distinguished Academy) Team and Tuesday we spent the day team building with students as a disguised method for teaching these kids about college.  It’s called the Ropes to College and is an model example of why academies and pathways are good for kids.

I also submitted my workshops (2) and interest sessions (2) for the CLTA Conference “The Quest for Proficiency” in Ontario in March.    You’ll be there right?  Right?

Wednesday

Full-fledged, 100% fell back in love with my iPad.  I was giddy.  I was so crazy in love that I bought my iPad a stand so it can take it’s rightful place on my desk.

I also took 19 seconds of a different video and turned it into another fifteen minute activity, using Google Forms.  Why had I never done this before??  Instant data!  Click on the image to see the slide show.  (Is it still a slide show if there’s only one slide?)  And click here to see the accompanying form.   (You’ll be asked to make a copy.)  My next step is to add these little video gems into EdPuzzle.

 

And then we talked about the data which was a great way to practice numbers.  Because there’s never not a good time to throw in a little number practice.

I also played around with Flipgrid, pretty much having the same experience as Colleen at Language Sensei. Except, today when I was listening to the responses,  I had what I hope is going to be a brilliant idea: I think it will be more effective if they listen to their responses for the things that I heard over and over again.  Instead of me giving feedback, they could hear it themselves and hopefully correct it.  Jo Boaler said that your synapses fire when you realize you’ve made a mistake and when you correct it, so I’m hoping this will cause some synapses to fire twice which will in turn have some effect the next time they talk.

Today I made a Google sheet, which I’ll pass out in Classroom so they each have a copy and here’s the brilliant part, I used a formula so if a student answers “Non” to any of the things they should be listening for a message pops up telling them to re-record!  At least I got the formula to work on the first try making me feel like my formula skills are improving.  Click on the image to see the form.  You’ll have to make a copy to see the down arrow (and my fancy formula skills.)


Thursday

Confirmation that the House voted to restore funding for 21st Century Community Learning Centers.  This is a good thing.

At my Technology Leaders meeting the meeting leader said he wants to do a book study of The Innovator’s Mindset by George Couros and he was so excited about the idea that I’m going to participate just because he was so enthusiastic about it.

Friday

Continued classroom visits with my love, iPad and catch up day for everything I haven’t been able to get to including starting the catalogue of the performance based assessments the World Language teachers will be giving in a couple of weeks.

Despite being beat up by the week, I can’t complain because I have the best job(s) in the world!

Week in Review

This week, more than some others had me working on all of my different projects.

Monday– I found out I had been accepted as a Google Certified Trainer.  I am beyond thrilled to be part of this group and so enthusiastic to see what opportunities this will bring.  That said, I’m nearly overwhelmed by everything there is to learn.  It felt a little bit like the starting gun going off in a race and I haven’t figured out what my stride is or had a moment to catch my breath.

Tuesday– Nothing worth reporting- except still trying to figure out if I will be using a textbook for the Spring semester at the college.  Given that this starts in two weeks, a decision is imminent.  At this point I feel like I just need to flip a coin.

Wednesday– Training for my work helping new teachers and helping two of our younger teacher facilitate a staff workshop on student centered learning.  They did great!

Thursday– PBIS Team work day.  This is an amazing group of leaders at our school who care very much about creating a safe and flourishing environment for our students.  And as a bonus, they are all freaking funny, so we get to laugh a lot.

Friday-Kara and Megan from Creative Language Class came to our district and gave a workshop on Performance Based Assessments.  No matter what other projects I am involved with, I think I am always a French teacher first and at heart.   This was by far the most exciting training day I’d had in a while.  What stuck was me most was Kara’s comment “You don’t sit on a park bench and talk about past tense.”  So true!  I’m going to use this as a litmus test on for activities.  I don’t think I have a ton of activities with my students where I ask them to sit on a park bench and talk about past tense, but it is always worth re-evaluating.