We all know about maps, right? You know, Google Maps. We all use Maps to figure out how to get somewhere, what’s the best route, or how long it will take. I remember that first time, at a Cue Conference, when a collegue showed me that if you type “nearby pizza” into Google on a phone, youContinue reading “Why Maps?”
Category Archives: Classroom
My Edu-Hero
This last week I was invited to attend some presentations in one of our elementary schools. The invitation was an opportunity to go and see how technology is being used in schools. On Tuesday morning I made my way over to the Primary Years Academy, pushed my way through a crowd of proud parents outside Ms.Continue reading “My Edu-Hero”
Passion
Now that I have been in my new job for a half of a year, it is time to start getting back to the blog. One of the things that bothered me about being a classroom teacher was the isolation. A teacher never gets to go out and see what other teachers are doing. SureContinue reading “Passion”
Do
This year I am taking on the #youredustory blogging challenge. The short version is one blog posting a week about a suggested topic. Or you can use your own topic, just share once a week. Oh, and comment on other peoples’ posts. Sounds like something I can handle, so here goes! The topic this weekContinue reading “Do”
Learning is not quiet.
“It should be quiet in here. You should be studying for the quiz!” “Sit down and do your work, I want it quiet in here!” I have heard these directions, and others like them many, many times through the years, and I just do not get it. When I am trying to learn something, especiallyContinue reading “Learning is not quiet. “
Why Can’t They Start Now?
It was one of the last days of the school year and Alex, one of our seniors, said it: “I just can’t wait to graduate high school, go to college and finally work on what I want to be in life.” He was so excited. As he talked to his friends it became apparent that heContinue reading “Why Can’t They Start Now?”
Showing Student Work in Public
I have long been a believer in students making their work public. When I started teaching my school was working with some of Ted Sizer’s ideas, and “public exhibition of mastery” was an important one of those ideas. I came to believe that when students control their learning and are expected to show the resultsContinue reading “Showing Student Work in Public”
3rd Quarter is a Wrap
The third quarter is in the books. I tried a lot of new things this quarter and I have say, by and large, I am glad of it. The biggest changes started as a result of a conversation I had earlier in the year about why I didn’t have standards of the day posted. MyContinue reading “3rd Quarter is a Wrap”
What Are We Doing Today?
You would think that after eighteen years in the classroom I would really be zeroed in on what my curriculum is going to be one year to the next. You might think I have this big file cabinet full of project outlines, or binders full of project ideas. When I started teaching all those yearsContinue reading “What Are We Doing Today?”
Vocabulary
The topic of teaching vocabulary has been coming up a lot in my circles lately. The conversation goes like this: Teacher: “These kids need to get motivated. If they don’t want to try I can’t do it for them.” Me: “Well, what are you asking them to do that they aren’t doing?” Teacher: “Like vocabulary.Continue reading “Vocabulary”
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