You Are In Charge of Your Own Learning!

Yes, that's right, you, me, we are in charge of our learning! 

I recently had a conversation with my 11 year old that went something like this: "Mom, aren't teachers supposed to inspire you to want to learn more?" "Yes." "Well, that's not usually what happens as you get older." "Well, no matter what happens at school or who you have, you are still in charge of your own learning.  You are responsible for what you learn, how much learn, and what you do with that learning.  You don't have to wait on a teacher to give you a push into something you like." "Oh, well, I like sign language." "Ok, so you start looking up YouTube videos, websites, articles, etc about that and you practice." About 30 min later, she could sign me lots of words.  And she's been doing this everyday since.

I also recently had a conversation with a co-worker where I remarked that I have learned more this summer than any other summer and yesterday was my first official PD class.  My oldest is taking some dual credit classes at our local college, so I've been in the library kid's section 4 days a week, at least 1-2 hours per day, with my laptop, Twitter, and some "want-to" desire.  Even if you don't have a designated time/space/etc, you can still learn something new every day!  If your school, district, department isn't offering what you need, you reach out to others, Twitter (my personal favorite), and other online places to learn, get fresh ideas, etc.  

Yesterday and today, I had the privilege of attending CFISD DLC 2015 in my district.  You can see the tweets here, since I learned how to use Storify as well.  I was introduced to Canva by Tracy Clark, which is how I made the pic above and learned how to make it applicable to my elementary students in clickable pdf's.  I learned about Maker Spaces from Randy Rodgers that got me thinking really hard about how I could infuse this idea into my campus this year.  I learned how to market my class/school from Joel Weckerly.  I got to hear our keynote Ron Clark and hear his passion for kids and teachers.  "Beware of the bundt cake and the posse of poison." -Ron Clark  And he discussed the idea of runners, joggers, walkers, and riders, which connected solidly to a book study my district has done for 3 years now: Building Teacher's Capacity for Success.  He also connected some thoughts I've had for a few years, that we need to push our kids harder and challenge them, even our fast and gifted learners.  Our country puts lots of $$$ into at-risk students, but $0 into GT education, so it's up to us to create those opportunities for our gifted kids to not quit trying so we don't raise a "soft nation" of learners.  I learned about Periscope for the first time also.

My point to all this is that YOU ARE IN CHARGE OF YOUR OWN LEARNING!  Whether you attend some formal learning like college, like I just finished in May (Yeah, Master's degree), or you attend some formal PD class/conference/convention, or you "lurk" around Twitter learning from others informally, or you listen to podcasts, YouTube videos, or any other means of online learning informally, you are ultimately in charge of where you will go, what you will learn, how far your students reach.  Will you reach farther?  Will you move out of your comfort zone this year?

Link for Pic

What Now? Smile and Wave!

Over the past few days, I'm had the unfortunate pleasure of interacting with adults that I just don't agree with, either fundamentally or philosophically.  And while the internet in general is not a place to air dirty laundry or hang folks out to dry, I just wonder what to do, so what now?  

During Kinder summer school, I had a few kiddos who loved to tattle tell, about the silliest stuff.  I took the time to hopefully give them a couple of tools that will help.  1. Stick your tongue out and walk away. Yeah, ok, when you're 6 years old, you can get away with it, but at 38 years old, not so much.  2. Tell them to leave you alone and walk away.  3. Tell them that's not nice and walk away.  In all cases, it was walk away.  But what if as an adult, you can't walk away from the situation or person, what now?

I don't proclaim to have all the right answers, as evidenced above, but this I do know.  A smile and a head nod goes a long way to keeping the peace.  My absolute favorite movie quote of all time, comes from the Penguins of Madagascar at end of the movie when their ship is finally found and it starts to sail away, and one of the penguins leans over and says, "You think we should tell them it's out of gas." and the other one says, "No, just smile and wave boys, smile and wave."

I'm not saying it's right, but as I often tell my own children, "Would you rather be right or happy?"  So as school starts and you encounter folks that you don't agree with, for whatever reason, I hope that you will find some way to keep the peace and help everyone remember to keep the main thing the main thing.  Kids! 

Take Time To Listen

It's nearly that time when our kiddos will return to us.  Buses will start rolling soon, week long professional development will happen, etc.  It's usually a bittersweet start, wishing we had more summer time, but happy to be back to our routines or maybe a new challenge, as in my case.

This week, I wouldn't say I've learned to listen, but others have been teaching me, stressing the importance of it.  I can usually tell when I've been on the computer or my phone too long, because my husband will lean over and say, "Did you hear them?" Or my youngest daughter will come and put her forehead on mine and repeat herself for probably the 5th time, although it's my first time to hear her.  That's how I know it's time to unplug and listen.  And then today at summer school, one of my students was telling me about what she does after school while we were cutting out pictures to sort.  She said that her Dad works at Wal-Mart and she goes there after school to be with him.  That stopped me in my tracks, so of course I had to find out more.  She said it just in the regular discourse of our talking, like it was no big deal.  Another student chimed in and said that his Mom works at a restaurant and he goes there with her after school.

I believe that in our busyness of life or work, in an effort to be more efficient or more productive, we miss opportunities to really listen to people.  We miss opportunities to hear what they say, and try to understand the place they are coming from, what makes them tick, why they feel that way.  We don't take time to just stop, look them in the eyes as they speak, with no agenda or need, and not just listening as we pass to somewhere else.  Simply that.  Just listen.

You ask anyone who knows me and they will tell you that I'm a "doer",  I have a really hard time just being still, not being wrapped up in new learning or a project of some kind.  So, for me, as I head into a new position this year, a new challenge, I task myself with taking time to listen.  Listen to our students, first and foremost.  They're the reason we have are there with them day in and day out.  (If you're not there for students, it might be time to find a different career path.)  Secondly, take time to listen to staff.  Part of my role this year involves technology, so if I don't take time to hear staff, how will I ever know what they need, what's important to them.

Since my campus is a Leader in Me school, I would be remiss to leave out how this task I've put out there for myself relates.  Habit 5-Seek First to Understand, Then be Understood

And a great article I read today about starting the year caught my eye today.  3 Organizing Tips for a Great School Year 

They're my monkeys, time to fix this circus...

Except they are my monkeys...and it's time to fix this circus!

Well, not every day can be roses and sunshine and unicorns and rainbows.  Today, was day 8 of 12 for me to teach my 1st grade bound summer school students.  Day 8 for me, but day 20 for them.  In my district, SS is 6 weeks long (Mon-Thurs), 24 days.

I should have seen the bottom falling out coming, like seeing the hand writing on a wall, or a full moon on picture day at school...it's just going to be a bad behavior day from your students so you have to plan for it.  My kiddos were on day 20, with temperatures with a heat index around 105 degrees.  It's so hot, I keep expecting my tires to melt into the concrete each day as I head home.  The kiddos are tired, I'm tired, and it's hot...a great recipe for grumpiness.  So, they are my monkeys and I had to fix this circus today.

By lunch time today, I was in grumpy teacher mode.  I'm sure you've been there yourself...whiny, complaining, nagging, allowing every little thing to bother you.  I didn't want to eat lunch with myself, much less in the lounge with other folks.  My remedy?  As my daughter once said, "If I go to my happy place, it's not so bad."  And as a former Superintendent in my district once said, "Fake it till you make it."  No matter what buttons they were pushing, it was my adult responsibility to buck up, get it together mentally, and move on.  So, after lunch, when we still had problems in the hallway sitting in a line, walking without running or touching others, tattle telling, or shouting things out just to shout, we practiced walking, we worked together to earn a dance opportunity with some Minions so we could all go to our happy place.  I kept my cool, reminding myself that's it's water on a ducks back.  So, when it's 104 degrees and all your buttons are getting pushed and your blood pressure is rising, I implore you to reach for something (legal of course) that makes you happy.  For me, it's laughing with kids, and an Orange Julius.  Find your happy place, be the difference maker for kids, because it's usually the tough cookies that need us the most.

To Twitter Or Not, That is the Question

First off, let me just preface this with saying that I am in NO WAY a Twitter aficionado, having just really taken to it in Jan 2015, but Oh My Word...has it broadened my horizons in the educational world.  I'm not sure how most people make separations for social media use, but for me, Facebook is personal...sharing pictures with long distance family, funny stories of my 4 year old, etc, while Twitter is my professional side...following educational greats, learning from others, reading articles, etc.

This past week, I participated in 2 Twitter chats for the very first time ever.  Last Tuesday, July 7th, I participated in #pisdedchat, thinking it was for Pasadena ISD, just across town from me.  Maybe I would learn some new things, meet some folks in my regional area?  No, well, this chat ended up being for Plano ISD, 5 hours away in North TX, but nevertheless, I learned, I answered Q's, I retweeted what I liked, even engaged in some dialogue with a lady who uses GoPro cameras in her 5th grade classroom and began following her blog...so can't wait to see how it all turns out for her this school year as she makes some adjustments!

Tonight, I participated in #edtechchat, and so glad it wasn't my first Twitter chat to participate in...so many people, conversation so fast to keep up with, even with the help of Hootsuite and TweetDeck.

So, to Twitter or not to Twitter, that is the question...well, it's not really a question if you consider yourself a "Connected Educator" in any sense of the words.  Twitter has helped me learn something new every time I visit.  I find something useful, someone with a fresh perspective to follow, and on and on.  You'll never hear me brag about number of followers, retweets, etc, because my only favorite numbers have to do with my family.  But here's some numbers for you: 16, 17, 1, endless.  I've been in my district going on 16 years, 17 years in public ed total, only on Twitter really 1 year, but have learned endless things in this short time on Twitter that has given me a second wind to my professional side.  Twitter is place to PD everyday!  As an educator, there's really no excuse not to learn something new and learn often.  Here's some great articles I read just this week alone from Twitter.  Consider this quote and read/learn something new everyday!

1. 10 Things Experienced Teachers Want New Teachers to Know
2. Official Twitter Chat List
3. Go Pro Fun!
4. ISTE 2015 Presentation: Creating Interactive, Student-Authored, Digital Publications
5. The Game Layer on Top of the World
6. Gamification Does Not Mean Playing Games
7. You Are Not "Just" a Teacher
8. How Educators Can Begin a Social Media Journey
9. Speak Into the Lives of Others
10. Education Secretary Duncan's Children to go to Chicago Private School He Attended
11. Edublog's Step 3 Twitter Chats
12. Growth Mindsets via Sports Slogans
13. Dear Administrators, Can We Tear Down the Great Divide?
14. Transparency Builds Trust
15. What are Students' Biggest Motivation Killers? We Asked Them Point-Blank
16. Why are you Still Not on Twitter? #KidsDeserveIt
17. The Most Important Thing I Learned at ISTE, was in a Taxi
18. 3 Reasons Why Your Twitter Ego Could Destroy Your Message
19. How Dream Coordinators at Schools Help Students Reach Goals
20. 12 Unexpected Ways to Use LEGO in the Classroom
21. 6 Social Media Templates to Save You Hours of Work
22. Postcard Exchange Sign Up with Aus/NZ
23. Smarter Thinking: 10 Ways You'll Know You're Doing It Right
24. 10 Venomous Thoughts That Are Quietly Killing Your Happiness
25. 31 Things You Can Make With A Cardboard Box That Will Blow Your Kids' Minds
26. 5 Ways to Help Your Students Become Better Questioners
27. A Student Shares What It's Really Like Being In Our Classroom

Go Fish & Frog Eggs

Ok, this week, I began teaching Kindergarten summer school with some kiddos heading to 1st grade.  They are a group of One Way Dual Language kiddos from a variety of campuses in my district, and so sometimes, coming from 5th grade where I taught Science last year (among other roles), I find myself thinking they can do all the things my 5th graders could, but I've learned (well, re-experienced) some valuable lessons through Go Fish and Frog Eggs this week.

Go Fish: It still amazes me that kids don't know what this game is, so I take the time to teach them, using animal cards that go with our Science units.  So, not only are they learning and saying the names of the animals (a LEP skill), they are learning to take turns, use others names, instead of "Hey, you!" or "Teacher!".  They are learning strategy skills, to hide your cards from others eyes.  They are learning to listen, because someone might say an animal that you need to match.  They are learning to win and lose gracefully.  And the one lesson that just hit me hard today, and I don't know where their thought line came from, was that just because you win at the game, does not mean you cheated.  I had a few small groups say that to the winner, so we had a learning moment, that just because you win, doesn't always mean you cheated.  It just might mean that you were listening better than the others or that you just got lucky and next time you might not win, so to be kind and gracious and congratulate them.  I've also been reminded that when presented with a game vs a paper/pencil task, they are much more attentive and alert to what's going on.  They want to find out how to win!

Frog Eggs:  So, we've been working on our Rainforest unit this week.  Monday, we talked about the layers of the rainforest and all the variety of animals that lived there.  Tuesday, frogs!!!  Today, Wednesday, sloths, and tomorrow, Thursday, alligators and crocodiles.  Well, during our frog day, I presented the kiddos with some jelly marbles, we talked about the frog life cycle, we did a craft, where we made a book mark that had pictures of the cycle, and we talked about how the jelly marbles were like the frog eggs and how we had to be careful with them, because if they break, we would kill the baby frogs.  Today, I sent each student home with a tray of jelly marbles of their own.  I reminded them that they had to be VERY careful with their frog eggs (jelly marbles) and how they could break if they squish them too hard, and to treat them like a baby brother or sister.  I wish I could have taken their picture to show you how careful they were.  Going to buses to go home this afternoon was a hoot, watching them hug their trays to their chest and put their sloth paper over the top so they wouldn't drop them, and then how they all pitched in and helped one little boy who was in tears because he dropped his right before we left class.

Now, I know every day won't be so lesson filled, or rather experience filled, but today, was just one of those days that is right in your face, reminding you of why we do what we do, and how important we are to kids!  I matter!  You matter!  There are kiddos that need us!  Don't give up!

Beware...

No, it's nowhere near Halloween, but I say BEWARE for a very specific reason.  It seems to be the word swirling around in my head this past week.  While I learn much about technology and follow some pretty amazing folks on Twitter and see all they have to say not just about technology, but also education in general, I keep telling myself this word.  I say it because it's a message to myself to beware of the dangers of comparison, to put it plainly.  I could go on and on about standardized tests and all the comparisons there (since this seems to be a hot topic in TX lately), but it's more personal than that.  The more I learn, the more I realize I need to learn...boy could that preach.  It would be so easy to tell myself some negative talk..."You'll never measure up to these great folks.", "You'll never make the same, long lasting type of impact they do.", "You'll never have all the training and certifications they have.", and worst of all, "You'll never be good enough."  Well, bad thoughts I put you on notice, Beware to you...All those things may have a grain of validity in some universe, but I'll measure up to my own standards of greatness, I make an impact where I'm planted, with the folks I interact with daily and professionally, So What if I don't have all the training and certifications they have, and I am good enough, in fact I'm pretty great at what I do and who I am.  Now, before you start thinking I have my head in the clouds, full of myself, I just think that some positive self talk can actually take the harshest of circumstances, toughest of challenges, and on and on, and turn them around, beginning in our own mind.

How to Use Positive Self Talk for Stress Relief

I tweeted out a quote from Aaron Hogan (@aaron_hogan) from his blog, dated June 26th, where he blogged about Feeling Like a Fake, but one line of his page caught me, "There's no place for shame in learning."  Aaron's since done some further blog posts on feeling in a similar situation, where nothing is necessarily spectacular, just common, ordinary.  He had this video embedded, on June 28th, which I just found today.

So, I say to myself, BEWARE of the danger of comparison...I may never be a as great as some other folks, but to some folks, I know I matter, I know I add value, and I know I'm making a difference in my corner of my town.

Now, just in case you need some positive things to counteract all that negative thinking, I call it "stinking thinking",..Shannon Long (@SweetBlessShan), on her blog called, Technology Rocks, Seriously, has some free printable signs that you can put around your class or even your school to help others feel validated no matter what point in their journey they are on.