I
admit I'm one of those teachers who get ecstatic to begin my summer learning. At
last count, I have 38 articles printed from the school year that I read quickly
but wanted more time to process them over the summer. My to be read pile
is not a stack -- it is an inviting mountain calling my name. I have four books
on reserve at the library, but first I made myself stop. Breathe. Walk outside
around our pond. Weed our six gardens. Ok long enough time to jump into
summer learning. Off to the
library to pick up my first two books:
Hope is a Ferris Wheel by Robin Herrera and Upside Down in the Middle ofNowhere by Julie T. Lamana.
During
the school year, I was lucky enough to join a group of third grade teachers for
a monthly PD as they discussed their first year in Common Core.
Conversations were powerful and a special thanks to Kelly, Franki, and
Lynsey for including me.
We
were able to skype with @KristinZiemke and I had four light bulb moments that I
am already thinking about for my classroom next year.
A)
"It's not the technology - it is the thinking" I could have stopped
right there. This is a constant reminder for me, and I need to be more
purposeful with integration throughout the school day.
B)
"Take a screenshot and email it to me" so many times I have
wanted to share pieces of student work, and our airport weren’t working, or we
were on laptops. So simple but never considered it and now that we are using
Google it is simple to drop a picture into a document.
C)
"Tech team Mondays" is an organizational tool that she uses to help
organize her class. The students
work with same partner for a set time frame and know who to go to for help prior
to asking the teacher. Easy and solves problems for me.
D)
"Interactive anchor charts" once a mini lesson is over take
some video of students practicing, create a QR code and paste it on the chart.
Brilliant!!
Summer
learning is the BEST! Already I am
shifting practices and thinking about how to incorporate Common Core as I
implement it next year for the first time. I’ve only been out for two days, and I haven’t even been to
Google Training, Allwrite14, Choice Literacy Retreat or Nerd Camp. It’s going to be a productive and fun summer.
