We're All in This Together

As I stop to reflect upon share#Youredustory, I am quickly reminded of a gift that I truly treasure this year. I am inspired every day by those around me and my one word for 2015 is COLLABORATION.
It is the reason I came to Design39Campus. The "sacred hour" of time we commit to being at school and working together for our students is just that.

I wake up every day knowing that when I arrive at school, I'm facing the daily grind with the support of my school family. I am learning alongside amazing professionals who want to grow as a learner just as much as I do. We listen to each other, lean on each other, share with each other every day.

For the first time ever, we decided to come together for our parent conferences. The four of us have met with parents as a team. The unity speaks so true to the message of our school. Even though a student may be from one of our homerooms, that student is a part of everyones learning day. It has been so neat to meet with these parents and have each LED (Learning Experience Designer) share what they see when they work with that child. We see the power behind this and so do our parents. The comments we've heard have been, "It's so nice to see that all of you care about my child".

Another gift of collaboration, uncovering superpowers. We all come to the table in the morning with a thought about a learning experience that we can share with students. The best part is after listening to everyone share, we work together to take a little bit of what we need from every perspective and create amazing. Seeing the different perspectives opens my eyes to all there can be. I might start with a discussion of a nonfiction writing task and it quickly turns into the building of wind cars and researching the effects of wind. One lesson becomes so much more than what I had originally planned and I didn't have to come up with the plan on my own. The learning experiences flourish when there are many minds hard at work. I no longer have to have a plan for every day. I trust the team that I work with and we rely on each other to make student learning authentic, engaging, purposeful.

As crazy as the year has been opening a new school, and making changes in the way we do school, I am grateful for my team and our commitment to collaborating. I can't imagine going at this alone. I believe we are on the path outlined best by Henry Ford, "Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success."

Thank you for reading.
Smiles,

All Things Twitter

Thank you Twitter!

After an amazing trip to New York to meet the Scholastic bloggers for this school year, I was fortunate enough to spend some time with Mrs. Erin Klein. While configuring the world wide web of blogging Scholastic style,  Erin curiously asked, “Are you on Twitter?” I had an account, but really didn’t find much to do with it. I got to see what a few people were up to here and there- nothing major. To be completely honest with you and her at the time, I didn’t see the point of Twitter. How was it any different from Facebook? What would I gain from being a part of it? I was about to find out.

Erin, who promotes all things collaborative, quickly shared 5 of her Twitter friends’ addresses with me. She set me up with an amazing Beginners PLN (Professional Learning Network) filled with the most phenomenal teachers I had ever seen. What was once an after thought quickly became an addiction. The constant feeds from every realm of teaching were unbelievable.  A newfound strategy, idea, or insight within minutes; I was hooked.

While Twitter can be a bit extreme, it has become a place of inspiration. I read articles, blogs, wikis, and so much more that people tweet about. I feel a connection with the world of teaching that lives outside of my classroom, outside of my district. The world of Twitter has encouraged me to start my blog and motivated me to get out there and SHARE!

Over the past month I’ve been able to bookmark a couple of blogs that highlight some great ideas for the start of the school year. If you have found a blog to share, please take a moment to comment and share with all of us.

Technology and the First Day of School

 http://bit.ly/1d8JPXC

Matt Gomez, @MattBGomez , is a Kindergarten teacher. He has some great ideas on his blog. I plan to use his first day photos and video walk.

I want to do first day photos more like a photo booth. I will set up a station with signs similar to Matt’s and then have kids take a picture with the sign and then a picture with a speech bubble that they can write a message on.

Flipped Classroom 101

http://bit.ly/15GE1x3

Todd Nesloney, @techninjatodd and his Tech Ninja pals are spectacular. Todd’s site offers a number of teaching tools for a variety of purposes. It has been my go to site for all things Flipped Classroom, which I plan to start this year with my team.

All things Aurasma

http://bit.ly/1a6zo7w

Two Guys and Some Ipads are truly changing the way we do things in the Education world. They are a true motivator for engaging lessons and innovative learning. They have been the push for the Aurasma app that is the up and coming creative tool of the future. I visit their site for the pure amazement of their ability to research and share so much for everyone to learn!

And last, but certainly not least is Erin.

Technology and Class at its finest

http://bit.ly/1cDO3Jh

Erin Klein, @KleinErin is a classy rockstar of our education time. Erin’s blog is elegant in style and ahead of its time in content. Erin does a remarkable job of sharing what she is doing in her room (which is breathtaking in itself) and everything new and exciting in the tech-happening community. Not only does Erin introduce tech tools, she adds demos to show how they can be incorporated into your classroom setting.

This is just the tip of the iceberg. I am all over Twitter like cheese on a pizza! My eyes are wide open to this world of learning, exploring, and growing as an educator. Thank you Twitter for welcoming me with open arms; knowledge is power!

Thank you for reading!

Until next time,

Smiles!

Today’s Library: Changing the Way We Operate

Finding a Better Purpose in the Library

Our school library is a hub used for many reasons. At any given time you can walk through and find our fabulous librarian reading aloud to a group of engaged students, parents reading with kids, or students working on assignments at a small pod of computers. What you don’t find very often are children going to the library for a specific purpose. Yes, they love checking out books of all sorts, but is there a particular book they are at the library for? Not necessarily. In fact, in all the years I have taught, there have only been a few times that I asked my students to do such a thing. They could all go to the Fairy tale section and pick out one book, but had they ever been asked to research a book, look up its location, and find it? Not until this last school year.

My students were doing research on pinatas and had to find specific books to help them along with the research process. I was AMAZED to see how oblivious they were to how the library works. I had to ask myself, “Why is this the issue?” There were a number of reasons I came up with:

• At my site, upper grades only go to the library every other week
• The tour of the library and how the library is set-up was given to my students in September
• From the time of the tour and the time of the assignment, there had been no reinforcements of the library set-up
• Often times visits to the library were for student enjoyment of the stories shared and not to find any particular book

After evaluating all these things and so many more (ie. the expectation for Middle School, how is the public library used), I decided to speak with our librarian about what was going on. She too was amazed at how difficult it was for students to find books in a book’s fantasyland. She shared with me that she went to a training where the librarians of the world, probably just San Diego area, talked about how they were transforming their Libraries into Learning Media Centers. Many librarians were making the library more of a place where students could research, find books that they needed and were interested in.

The new look of the library in our minds, as we collaborated, was one where students are not put on a “schedule” to come and hear a story and then check out the closest book they see when it’s just about time to go. Students will have open library time. They will come in with a purpose and use the library as it should be used, as a resource and/or center for learning. If you are working on an author study in class and need more examples, you can come into the library with your research tools in hand, check out your book, sit at a table or comfortable chair, and work independently or in groups. Just as you would at a public library.

Now, after sharing this idea with many primary teachers the idea seemed a bit far-fetched. “How would we send our kids to open time?” “Our kids love the story time!” Yes, there would need to be some serious modeling and expectations put into place for the little guys. This is something to think about when making the transition. Don’t get me wrong, 4th and 5th graders love story time as well. Is it possible to send the librarian to classrooms? Is it possible for the librarian to be seen as an educator just like the rest of us? I would never vow to give up story time. The kids LOVE it! There is, however, a wealth of knowledge and essential information that the librarian can share with all grade levels besides just the story.

While we haven’t gotten the kinks worked out and we have yet to start the year, it is a plan in our minds. The idea of having a place where students can access a variety of resources, work collaboratively on projects, and visit on an as-needed basis is key. 

In order to adapt and better meet the needs of our changing students, we need to change as well.

Click Here for a post from Edudemic offering a number of ways to digitalize and revamp the school library.

How would this library model look in your school? Any suggestions on ways to implement this change?

Your feedback is always welcome!

Thanks for reading!

Smiles,

Kriscia

Give it a Go!

After many conversations and views all over the web, I've decided to give it a go!

I'm not so much the "blogger" type. I love to chat, but am one of the many voices out there that truly have always felt I don't have much to bring to the table. Then I started thinking...what does that really matter? This will be a great place to share and learn from others. If there is one thing I have learned in the past eight years of teaching, it's the power of collaboration. I am fortunate enough to be able to collaborate with an outstanding group of teachers. I believe sharing is such a key element to the way we learn. It is a skill that we want to instill into our students, but sometimes forget to do as educators.

A Little About Me...

I teach 4th/5th graders at Highland Ranch Elementary in San Diego, CA.

I am married to my amazing husband Randy and have two spirited kiddos, Logan, 4, and Kensie, 14 months. I graduated from San Diego State University with my teaching degree and then graduated from Grand Canyon University in 2009 with my Masters in Elementary Administration. I love to learn and truly feel that every child and adult, for that matter, has a passion that can drive their reason for learning.

Why Blog Now?

As I said before, I have truly been inspired by the world of educators around me. My voice is small, but it can still be heard and that is a message I would like to share with everyone.

On another note, I am working in a district that has begun a transformation of sorts and I am THRILLED about it. I am fortunate enough to work in a district that drives change and is looking forward to the future of education. With that, I have been so motivated to change what school looks like at my school site.

Over the summer I have been working with different teachers from my school, discussing ways that we can teach smarter. We are still in the brainstorming stage and making rough drafts of what this will look like with four 4/5 classes, flipped math and science instruction, and PBL. This will be something to get out there and blog about!

Last, but certainly not least. I have been selected as one of Scholastic's Top Teacher Bloggers this year, which is an opportunity BEYOND my wildest dreams! I am ecstatic about this opportunity and will be sharing all about this adventure as well.

Are you a blogger? If so, what is your site? Are you thinking about blogging, but not sure where to start? What are your thoughts?

What's Next?

Who knows? I'm excited about the journey and hope to inspire others like myself. The process was seemingly pain free and oh so easy! I'd like to send a special thanks to Erin Klein, @KleinErin, kleinspiration, her kind words and amazing talents have changed me forever!

In the Mood to Read?

I try my best to read a few books over the summer. Some to inspire me and some to put a smile on my face. Right now I'm in serious Professional Mode. I have read nothing but books that will help me grow as an educator. Here are a few that I would suggest to you:

Click the book to connect

Description

Learn about the benefits of the flipped classroom, a powerful approach to teaching that helps “students to become learners who can learn for themselves and by themselves.” In this model of instruction, students watch recorded lectures for homework and complete their assignments, labs, and tests in class. The Flip Your Classroom book guides you in creating a relationship-rich environment that personalizes learning, increases student-teacher interaction, and leads to greater student understanding of key concepts. Two experienced practitioners of the flipped classroom explain what a flipped classroom is, why it works, and how to flip a classroom in any subject, grades 5–12. Discover how their approach helps students who struggle to learn during class time, students who are so busy with extracurricular activities that they miss out on course content, and students who "go through the motions" of learning but never get the deeper objectives of your class. Drawing from their experiences with flipping their high school science classes, the authors introduce you to the flipped mastery model and explain the logistics of conducting a flipped classroom—from the equipment needed to create videos, to what to do during class, to how to get administrator buy in. Find out how flipping your classroom can lead to real differentiation of instruction and increased opportunities for classroom formative assessment.

Click the book to connect

Description

Donalyn Miller says she has yet to meet a child she couldn't turn into a reader. No matter how far behind Miller's students might be when they reach her 6th grade classroom, they end up reading an average of 40 to 50 books a year. Miller's unconventional approach dispenses with drills and worksheets that make reading a chore. Instead, she helps students navigate the world of literature and gives them time to read books they pick out themselves. Her love of books and teaching is both infectious and inspiring. The book includes a dynamite list of recommended "kid lit" that helps parents and teachers find the books that students really like to read.

While having a discussion with the incredibly talented Top Teachers for Scholastic, Brian Smith, @dad2ella, shared this amazing book. It is filled with habits that every child can live by.

Click the book to connect

Description

For the Seven Oaks friends, there is always something to do. Whether they're singing along with Pokey Porcupine's harmonica or playing soccer with Jumper Rabbit, everyone is having fun and learning all sorts of things. These seven stories show how practicing the 7 Habit makes this possible for the whole Seven Oaks Community.

From learning how to take charge of their own lives to discovering how balance is best, the Seven Oaks friends have tons of adventures and find out how each and every kid can be a happy kid!

Wait just a minute... I did start reading one book that isn't so professional based. One of my awesome students this past year purchased this book for me. We read The Watsons go to Birmingham, 1963 and I shared a little bit about The Little Rock Nine. Amber found this book and wanted to share her excitement with me. I would like to do the same for all of you!

Click book to connect

Description

 As twelve-year-old Marlee starts middle school in 1958 Little Rock, it feels like her whole world is falling apart. Until she meets Liz, the new girl at school. Liz is everything Marlee wishes she could be: she's brave, brash and always knows the right thing to say. But when Liz leaves school without even a good-bye, the rumor is that Liz was caught passing for white. Marlee decides that doesn't matter. She just wants her friend back. And to stay friends, Marlee and Liz are even willing to take on segregation and the dangers their friendship could bring to both their families.

What about you? What are you reading right now? Do you have suggestions on any summer goodies? I would love to hear your feedback!

Until the inspiration hits again, this is farewell.

Thank you for reading.

Smiles!

Kriscia