So it was an epic fail by all accounts. Yep. A Sunday School lesson designed for 5th and 6th graders, lead by yours truly, a high school teacher, did not stand a chance with the one 5th graders, 2 third graders, a 5 year old, and a 4 year old who were sitting in front of me. I thought it would be fine, since I'm used to modifying on the fly, but I didn't realize how differently those younger minds would react to what I wanted them to do.
A lot of focus today is spent on ways to connect educators so that they can broaden their professional learning network and reap all of the benefits that affords. But while we acknowledge the power in sharing what we do with other educators, we don’t always equate that in the same way when it comes to students.
I attended my first Innovation Institute conference in Springdale, Arkansas last summer, and I was fortunate enough to see George Couros deliver the opening keynote and then attend his session. There were a lot of takeaways from this conference, his keynote, and his session, but the one that really struck a chord was the idea of digital portfolios and a one platform system across grade levels and subject areas.
I am always looking for new ways students can enjoy learning and connect with their classmates. Combining Kahoot! with other learning models in my English class made a big difference!
I know what you're thinking. Okay, no I don't, really, and after reading the title, you may be wondering what I could possibly be thinking. Tiny Teacher Syndrome? Is that a thing? Well, maybe not officially, but hear me out and then decide.
How will we inspire and educate young minds in the future? Here's my article published by Kahoot. It is part one of a two part series on how you can use Kahoot in your classroom to go beyond just vocabulary and review. Activate, review, engage, reward: rethinking learning with Kahoot!
So, my entrance into social media as an educator in 2016 has sucked me into the whirlwind of letting go of those pesky New Year's resolutions in favor of that one adoring word that can guide us through the upcoming year. That word can be a light that shines down on all that we do, illuminating areas in our lives and the day to day grind that are applicable. My first tentative #OneWord was born that January, 2016.
Sure. I know what you're thinking. Why in the world would Laura waste an entire blog post to talk about water. Drinking water is good for us. Everybody knows that. I know, but bear with me. I have included this in my SEL series because despite how easy and simple it is, drinking water might be the most important.
We weren't born to follow Deep Breaths: It’s no secret that deep breathing is nature’s best anti-stress medicine. It has stood the test of time as an old wives tale, primarily because there is some very powerful science behind why it is effective. One analogy used by Matthew MacKinnon MD in Psychology Today, describes it … Continue reading 4 WAYS TO SNEAK IN SEL AT EVERY GRADE LEVEL: PART 3 DEEP BREATHS
The holiday season is especially tough for some students and adults, so taking time out to focus on gratitude can really have a positive impact on students and adults in your building or even district. If you’re thinking about doing it, here are some ways you can utilize it with students at every grade level or for yourself.
#RocknTheBoat 