So many tools, so little time

I have had a wonderful time in my LitEd with Tech class at UNH this week. I read an AMAZING BOOK (Amplify by Katie Muhtaris and Kristin Ziemke) that has changed how I will teach come September, I tried many new tools and made a list of more to try, and I've started dabbling and learning more about all that Google Apps for Education has to offer me. Monday I will start working thru the modules to become a Google Certified Educator!

This morning I made a new padlet for my students to explore some sites and videos for a animal unit that comes early in the year. It will force me to make sure I am using the technology and helping my students become digital citizens, which I can build on as the year continues.

I was also able to play around with the new Google Sites and am working to upgrade from just a classroom blog to something a bit fancier. After watching a interactive presentation Betsy did with Peardeck I am thinking I can use that in math. I could post a simple addition or subtraction fact that they just have to type the answer to, but a second slide they could draw their thinking/process in solving it.

I want to make this reflection coherent but I think I have finally reached the point that I cannot take any more information in my brain. School ended for me on June 20th and here I am on July 15th, still not having taken a day off from summer work or taking classes for myself. So for now, I unplug and head off to a weekend free of wifi. Monday morning I will be back at it trying to organize my ideas and begin to create a clear vision of what a week of learning about inquiry and a week of learning to incorporate technology looks like when implemented in my first grade classroom.

Vision

I am working to develop a vision of how my school year will pan out. Each group of first graders is different, my team of first grade teachers has changed a bit and our school will be under the guidance of a new principal. For the second year in a row.

Over the course of this summer, just 3 weeks in, I am overflowing with ideas and need to put them down somewhere before I forget them. 
Caution, braindump in process.*


Twitter--I can connect with educators & authors and build my tribe AND connect my class with the world. Twitter chats have already rocked my world.

Padlet/Popplet--I can use these in so many ways. I may create some of my class webs, charts, thinking etc. here so I can print them out as a pdf for everyone to have a copy or for reference to share digitally. I can create one that has images and previewed links to sites and articles for students to begin research within an inquiry. I know my students will come up with so many more ways to use this that I can't even think of now.

Google Apps for Education--I need to explore and learn more. My students have google logins and I want them to become familiar with a few things they can do.

iMovie/Sonic Pics/30 Hands/Explain Everything--There are a ton of apps out there like this that I need to play with and figure out what works best. For now I picture my students using these for digital storytelling and explaining their thinking in math.

Seesaw or Keynote--Have the students cultivate a portfolio of learning to include photos, videos, notes, drawings, and links. This would be great to share with parents, and eventually they could share their learning with their families.

Lego Movie Maker/Stop Motion Studio--I am thinking of delving in with a bit of stop motion movie making, but that may be a year 2 or 3 dream. Baby steps.

Mystery Skype--I MUST do this! We learn a bit about maps in 1st (and sit on a USA rug so they are familiar with the names of states) and I think this would make it more meaningful for the children and would be an amazing way to amplify their learning. They are so ego centric and do not realize how different the world outside their classroom and town is. I want to show them. 

Recording Studio--I want to set one up in the classroom and have students document their thinking in math, their reading fluency, and give them another outlet to have a voice with the greater world.

Blogging--I am thinking of working with the class to build up their digital citizenship by working on a blog. I am not sure what platform to use (Kidblog?) or how we would go about posting. As a class? Give individuals turns?

Book Creator--sometimes the act of publishing the paper book doesn't come to fruition in my room. Perhaps a digital book would work.

I was reading a great blog post [who knows where in the rabbit hole!] about innovators and how they accomplished what they did, and basically they knew what they believed in, stood strong, and worked HARD. This is what I need to do as I prepare for the school year and beyond.


*I would also LOVE for you to add to the braindump by commenting with any ideas or suggestions for how else we can amplify our students learning and inquiry this year!

Discovery Journey

"We learn more, think differently, and do better when we have regular access to others who help us reflect on our craft and discover new opportunities." 

(Muhtaris & Ziemke p 25)

I'm taking a class this week which is completely and unexpectedly exactly what I need right now. At times I feel so secluded in my school surrounded by 30+ staff members, many with teaching experience that exceeds my years on this planet. I am one on a team of eight teachers, and we are teachers with very different styles who do not always collaborate with ease. There are mandates coming down from above and I do not feel that each of these will be what is best for student learning. I want to empower my students to think, to ask questions and to always be curious. I want to change the way things are run, I want to empower the teachers around me, I want to be part of a tribe of teachers doing the same.

Each year I take an inspiring class and I say, "I will do things differently this year! I will change it all to do what is best for students!" But August comes, my enthusiasm has waned and I return to school following directions of which program to teach, and changing just a little thing or two. Reading Amplify by Katie Muhtaris & Kristin Ziemke I am feeling a new enthusiasm that I can carry into the new year. I fee less secluded. This week I joined Twitter and in just two days I feel that I am beginning to connect with other likeminded teachers. But I am also connecting with those who think differently and I look forward to seeing where conversations can go. I know continuing to connect and talk through the summer and far beyond will keep me from falling into old habits. 

This year I have to do it differently. I want to take my day, my week, my year and look at what I can do to empower the students to be constantly curious. I think it will a Discovery Journey to see what I can do, where I can take the students and who I can meet along the way.