Summer Learning, Something’s Begun
In February, upon returning from Educon I blogged about the importance of building relationships in education-and in life. This is true in the classroom, in your school, your district, your community, your family-wherever you are in life. Maybe that is why social networking apps such as Facebook, Twitter, Ning, and a host of others have reached a critical [...]
Working with Audacity
Recently, I taught two workshops using the open source audio editing software, Audacity through the Somersworth, NH School District. @brophycat (AKA Cathy Brophy, a good friend and colleague) invited me to share my knowledge of the software with preK-12 teachers and make it practical for their teaching. I was excited to do [...]
The Best of Both Worlds: Part Three
A few days after FCAT, my principal sent around an email advertising the 2010 Lee County Student Film Festival. I asked my class if they would be interested in making a movie. They were astoundingly enthusiastic about it. They decided they wanted to make an animation, a stop motion animation like [...]
The Best of Both Worlds: Part Two
Glasser-Sterling has a much wider scope then I have described it, so when I say I used as much as I could…it amounted to not much, considering the scope of it as a whole. So, I changed my classroom rules. Instead of follow directions, stay on task, and show respect, they [...]
Share!
Share, share, share (and take turns). I find myself saying it to my students and my children all the time. Maybe it’s time I take my own advice!
Share Your Stuff
As we clean out our rooms and spaces for the end of the school year, we come across so many things: lessons, [...]
Lessons from the Eighth Grade
I am finishing up my second year as the district technology integrator for a k-12 district in New Hampshire. I am responsible for inspiring teachers to integrate technology into their curriculum, and to provide guidance and direction in the creation of a 21st century learning environment in each of our 5 schools. [...]
Go Paperless – Write on Your Desk!
A few weeks ago, I pledged online through Twitter to “Go Paperless” for Earth Day. Soon after, I told my students about it and they were so excited! They immediately started to offer ideas and suggestions of how we could Go Paperless for an entire day.
“We can work on the computers,” said one [...]
Reflections on #140conf
Just watched the educators’ panel on #140conf. It was GREAT! Just the 30 min I was able to catch was inspiring to say the least. Lit a fire in this teacher and parent.
I started watching when a group of 8th graders were singing their own lyrics to a Lady GaGa [...]
Needs of Today’s Teachers
In today’s educational system, teachers find themselves in need, especially if they want to integrate, collaborate and educate the WHOLE child!
Here is a list of some needs I hear about daily in schools and online.
Less stress from high stakes testing
Quality professional development in everything from new methodologies to brain research
Freedom to teach creatively
Autonomy over our [...]
How Arts are Connected to 21c. Skills
The arts are not just about expressing your emotions, they are much more than that. An education in the arts can really develop most of those skills referred to in previous blogs, those critical skills that students need to succeed. Maybe innovation and creativity is obvious, but what about some of the others?
