#IMMOOCB1 Trust in Relationships

       As an educator I have always believed in the idea of teams but it’s hard to be a team when you go into your room and close your door to do your work.  I have always enjoyed an “open door” policy.  I’ve got nothing to hide and I love having people come to observe my practice.  My first grade team takes care of each other.  We trust and honor each other’s thoughts, share, and help when the going gets rough. George Couros says “it is far easier to trust someone when you have a relationship with that person.”  Just like my team. 

       I only wish my principal had a relationship with his teaching staff……trust and belief in our work with children seems to have been thrown out the window.  My wish is to have a leader that believes in his staff and trusts that our goals for children are the same.  Why is it necessary for a principal to control everything?  It creates decent amongst our staff.  I want a perfect world.  “As leaders in education, our job is not to control those whom we serve but to unleash their talent.” George Couros  Why do I feel like I’m hiding my talent?

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#IMMOOC It's All About the Kids!

 Wow!  The deeper I delve into The Innovator’s Mindset by George Couros, the amazing growth in my own learning.  I loved the video discussion with George, Katie Martin, and Sarah Thomas of edumatch.com   Edumatch.com is finding like-minded people to carry on THE conversation with.  I will be checking that out.

 "If it’s not better for kids, and if you don’t know your kids and what they need, than the innovation is frivolous.”  Katie Martin  Innovation is doing something new and better…..but remember that’s tied to “what’s better for kids.” Not just what’s better.  It’s really all about the kids.  We do need to meet the needs of the kids.  This is critical to innovation.  Just because I'm doing new and flashy things with technology doesn't mean I'm an innovator.  Say it with me....."It's all about the kids."

I have a hard time when I hear the leader of my school say that all kids in first grade will receive the same education in any one of the 3 classrooms.  Really?  It’s not fair to the kids to be “Stepford Teachers”.   I don’t expect anyone to have the same passions that I have for teaching.  So it’s really going to look very different in my classroom than in the other 2 classrooms.  I think that’s okay.  Other teachers often just smile at me and say “Wow! I can’t do what you do!”  But in fact they can.

Teachers are not scared of change…..they are scared of spending all their time to do something that has no impact.  George Couros I am amazed how the leaders in my school are not pushing me to have an impact on the kids in my class.  We do spend time doing work that is not helping with my growth as a teacher.  It’s my own desire to address the needs of kids through my own innovation.  I want my kiddos to be deep thinkers and problem solvers.  They aren’t going to get that through worksheets or just playing on computer games.  Don’t get me wrong…..gaming is very important to the technology movement in our schools but it really needs a purpose.  Just letting them play is really not what’s best for kids.

Making connections with other innovators opens up a whole new world.  This book has the gears clicking away in my head.  I’m excited to push myself further to in the pursuit of innovative growth…….wait is that new hash tag???……#innovativegrowth   the reflection piece to document my change overtime.   YES!

New plan:

1.     Document my growth overtime……I have forgotten to do that over my 30 years of teaching.

2.     Make more connections through hashtags and not just people….love this George

3.     Continue to seek support and space to nurture growth to get the BEST results with kids…..thanks Sarah Thomas

4.     And to Share Share Share…..Sarah is right!  Sharing is a way to excite others to want to be innovative with their own growth.

I’m looking forward to our Wednesday Twitter Chat on #IMMOOC!  It’s the fastest hour in my whole week……I have to spend an extra hour just catching up to all of the dialog.  I love it!

Have a great week!

The Innovator's Mindset #IMMOOC

     Wow!  So much cool information all at one time.  I am reading the book The Innovator's Mindset by George Couros and taking his online course at #IMMOOC.  I am blown away by how many people have the same belief system that I have.  Sometimes I feel like I'm a tiny island in the middle of this gigantic sea called Education.  Every time I read something posted by people taking this same course I just want to "like" everything I read.  It has been great to find like minded people.

      I love the Quote by Bill Fettiter, "Technology is a tool, NOT a learning outcome."  Why are we so focused on how many apps we used?   Why do teachers and others believe that if I make a video or create a document in Google or stick a child in front of a green screen that we have somehow fulfilled the technology standards?  I have been guilty of this sentiment myself, using technology (computers, iPads, apps, videos, etc...) is what it's all about.  We need to take it a step further and start conversations about how technology can make a difference to the questions our students ask and it can certainly drive the change in our classrooms.  I have some bright thinkers in my first grade classroom that need many opportunities to push them to want something more from their education.  I also have some give me a task and I'll be the first to get it done kind of kids.  These kids never seem to do more than what is asked of them.  I have got to take away the task and push students to think in different ways about their learning. What do they want to learn  It's those daydreamers that may have a better way to approach problems so I need to be a better listener to these deep thinkers.

       I love the excitement that Genius Projects instill in my students.  I've got to get them thinking about learning something more, ways to innovate, and using to technology as an avenue to get there.
    I want the voice of the students to be in the forefront of our classroom.  Sometimes as teachers we need to be in control of everything.  Why can't I just let my students take over and dictate the path we follow.  It may not always be pretty, but it will be real.
     My next steps:
        First, Class meeting to discuss a new path for our class.
        Second,  Make a list of student ideas.
        Third,  Choice from Student Voice.........How do we want to proceed?
        Fourth, Make an action plan together.
I will not have all the answers......I will push my students to work out problems as they arise.

I'm scared ! YIKES!

Change is an opportunity to do something amazing! ........George Couros

This has got to be my mantra for the next couple of months.  Thanks George for the inspiration to further myself as a teacher/coach/innovator.

EdCamp Global

        

        I am sooooooo pumped!  I just attended my 2nd EdCamp Global and it was awesome.  It's all about the connections and using technology.  I've learned so much in the last 22 hours.  This is a 24 hour Edcamp with connections all over the world.
         I loved the Twitter Chats about maker spaces and NGSS all things science.  I've stepped out of my comfort zone as I dabbled in Google Hangouts, Periscope, Voxer, and AppearIn.  Wow!  Connect! Connect! Connect!
        My favorite part was the end of the hour challenges where EdCamp Global allowed me to express myself in pictures, GIFs, videos, and favorite quotes.  There were dance parties, Where in the world Are You? videos and Name that Game Show Tunes challenge.  Yes, I was a winner in two of the challenges.  It's so exciting to win.  I can't wait to use my new Buncee Account this fall and I've already got my $10 Amazon Gift Card spent.  If you know me it'll be another book.
         I want to give a shout out to all the organizers of this great event.  Wahoooooo!  Thank you so much for a great experience.  You have all been amazing.  I loved the hourly Periscope Chats.  You feel like a family to me.

I can't wait until next summer.......... Check out #ECG2016 on Twitter.  Amazing stuff!

M.S.M.s and Building Materials

Last look at my old carpet and linoleum.  Good Bye......  New flooring happens at the end of July.

M.S.M. = Mad Scientist Moment

Kids try to put 11 nails on the head of one nail.  Love their attempts and failures......kids love the science googles.

 Pattern Blocks are one of my favorite building materials just like the kids.  They beg me often to create with the colorful blocks.

 I love the imagination that pattern blocks foster.  Check out the bee hive at the bottom.

 Geoblocks are another one of my favorite building materials.  I love the designs.  

I love summer time.  I love
 writing again and sharing
all things first grade.

Summer Time Recharge

Wahooooooo!  It's summer!  I'm so loving this time to recharge.  I'm binging on Orange is the New Black.  Wow it's great to escape into another world.  What's your favorite recharge activity?

Hallway poster with raised lettering and kids hanging off the words.  It was fun to make.

We loved using Chalk Markers to draw on the windows.
 I love how the bright the dots for International Dot Day came out.

I can't wait to share more ideas from this past year!

Kids Art

 I just love the colorful creations of my kiddos.  These designs were done on 4" X 5" white copy paper with Sharpie Markers.  I told them to try to fill in all the white space.  I love how the marker bleeds through the paper and looks great on a sunny window.  This was a winter time activity.  You can see the snow in the background of each design.

 The following pictures were created in MS Paint.  I love their color choices.  I taught them how to copy and paste.  So if you look closely enough you can see some kiddos used that technique in their images.  Don't you just love how all of their characters are happy?  That's how my kiddos see the world.

Making the World a better place one picture at a time.

As my mom always said, "There's an art to creating art!"  Kids find their voice in their own creations.  It's a makers world!  What will you create today?