Chromebooks!

Since I began my new job as Instructional Coach, I have had lots of PD and have discovered the technology part of my job description. I have to say that I've enjoyed all the learning that I've acquired in that area. I've attended the EdTech Google Summit in Atlanta and learned a great deal that is in the process of being shared now with teachers (a little at the time). I've come so far from where I was as a teacher in the classroom with technology. "Use it before you lose it" is definitely true. Our system purchased Google Chromebooks for all teachers. Next year, we will have those available in the classrooms as well. It will NOT be a 1:1, however. Since returning from the summit, I have gone to each teacher's classroom and made sure that everyone is signed into Google Chrome. I've shown many how to move files from Explorer to Chrome and how to use Google Docs/Drive. Step by step we are moving into the Google World. There is so much that can be done with a Chromebook and we are excited about learning and planning for students with this new technology. I will be attending the ISTE conference this summer and hope to have lots of great things to bring home to our teachers that will excite them and ignite their planning.

Excited about the New Year!

Had a new member added to our family this Christmas. She is a Golden Retriever named Pfieffer. Gonna have some fun getting her as trained as Clooney, my Cocker. Reminds me of the challenges of teaching children. They want to please us and they want to be successful, however, it takes exceptional planning, modeling, practice, assessment, and feedback. The rewards are incredible, though. Happy New Year! Wishing you many successes with your "pups" in the classroom!

Planning with 3rd Grade Teacher

So excited to be working with Katie Hagle this week! We have planned together to try to get some stations up and going so that students will be engaged with their learning and also interact with non-fiction text using some technology! We have planned to use Wonderopolis and have chosen a wonder having to do with plants which is the science topic Katie's class is studying. We also planned a cool vocabulary station, a Time for Kids station and a writing station. Going to be planning tomorrow afternoon with a couple of 5th grade teachers to discuss the same process. It will look different, but I can tell that teachers are wanting more from the time they put in and they want more for their students. Good times!

QR Codes with the Trojan Techies

Today was such fun! Our first meeting of Trojan Techies met today after school for a 30 minute PD on how to use and create QR Codes to use in the classroom. We had 13 teachers attend along with the librarian and myself and our principal. We have such great support from our administration! Our principal, Denise Woods, added an incentive for teachers who attend the PD from the Trojan Techies. If a teacher attends, he/she will get their name entered into a drawing for a Chrome Book to use in their classroom. That's awesome, but then we added a little spice! If a teacher invites me, the Instructional Coach, into the classroom to observe how students use the QR Codes, I will add their name TWO MORE times into the drawing, increasing their chances of winning! Talk about exciting! The drawing will be held at the last PD of the year for Trojan Techies.

Trojan Techies

Our Librarian, Tori Bendall, and I are so excited to have the first meeting of "Trojan Techies"! We are planning to share QR Codes with our faculty in a 30 minute PD after school. We have info on how to create QR Codes for use in all subjects and how to download a QR Reader for our tablets so that students can have access. We have a great technology contact in a neighboring system who is so kind and shares fantastic ideas for teachers/students. I love it when we can see past the walls in education to help each other! Our goal is to have these quick tutorials after school once every 2 to 3 weeks.

I added to my learning today!

Had a fantastic day with Jim Knight. His knowledge about instructional coaching is unsurpassed. Sandy and I really enjoyed not only getting to hear him but also getting to meet people from all around the U.S. We met coaches from Texas & Missouri today, but there were people there from outside the U.S...Australia & Brazil. It's neat to hear how their position is used in their school system. Gives us great ideas. Excited for tomorrow as we talk more about the coaching cycle and then on Wednesday, we will talk about communication!

I'm definitely in Kansas...

Pretty sure that I am a bit giddy tonight as I look forward to the Coaching Institute tomorrow with Jim Knight! Excited to learn about how to do my job well. Sandy and I have been doing what teachers do when they get together. TALK and TALK and TALK. I've shared some technology (Nearpod) that I learned about from Janet Burnett. Teachers are the only people with a license to steal ideas and it be fantastic! We discovered that Lawrence, Kansas is so much like our downtown Florence. Such a cool vibe here and we have enjoyed walking the shops this afternoon. Must get to bed...rest necessary to be alert for our treat tomorrow! Very thankful that my school system made a way for us to come!