Dedication and Motivation

Dedication and Motivation....

This was taken to a new level today. Our wonderful principal, Mrs. Turner, did the fitness gram along side a student who wasn't wanting to participate. He has been dreading this test for the last few weeks... but today... with the motivation from Mrs. Turner, he was excited to participate.

Way to go above and beyond for our students, Mrs. Turner!!!

Who's Asking? - Alfie Kohn

http://www.alfiekohn.org/article/questions/

Questioning goes on in classrooms around the world daily. Are teachers allowing their students to come up with authentic questions that they have? If so, are teachers providing opportunities for students to explore/discover the answers to their questions? Are teachers making up all the questions?

This is a very thought provoking article on the topic.

Here are some questions to think about as you read:


Enjoy.

ISTE Standards

Although I need a great deal of improvement implementing ALL ISTE standards, I feel it's important to grow myself before I can effectively grow others.

I pledge, here in front of my entire reading audience, that I will commit to bettering myself on the following ISTE standards:

Excellence in professional practice Educational Administrators promote an environment of professional learning and innovation that empowers educators to enhance student learning through the infusion of contemporary technologies and digital resources.

a. Allocate time, resources, and access to ensure ongoing professional growth in technology fluency and integration

b. Facilitate and participate in learning communities that stimulate, nurture and support administrators, faculty, and staff in the study and use of technology

c. Promote and model effective communication and collaboration among stakeholders using digital age tools

d. Stay abreast of educational research and emerging trends regarding effective use of technology and encourage evaluation of new technologies for their potential to improve student learning

I commit to devoting 1 hour, 2 days a week during the month of August to this standard. By the end of August, I will be ready to tackle other ISTE standards... one at a time, until I have improved all areas.

Wish me luck!

Does anyone else want to join me on my journey?

Is It A Cheetah?

I came across this great article while completing my GT certification hours for CISD. I challenge ALL teachers to read this article and take it to heart.

Wow… that’s pretty much all I have to say. This was a great article and it was a very easy read. Our schools are zoos for our gifted students. Our classrooms that use only zoo feed offer very little challenges. We MUST change the way we educate these students… actually ALL students. If we keep them caged, they will NEVER reach their full potential! 

We need to push for ALL children to be able to become a cheetah in their own way. We MUST differentiate for ALL students so they can reach their full potential!

http://www.stephanietolan.com/is_it_a_cheetah.htm

Blogging Nightmares

So... I've been attempting to access my blog for the last hour and 15 minutes and have JUST NOW figured out how to get in. I have learned a great lesson... Practice makes perfect... and I clearly haven't practiced enough. Lesson learned.

Yesterday, the administration team for CISD held our second to last digital age leadership class for the year. We worked on our digital portfolio for most of the day and I must say... I'm excited about the skills I learned yesterday and am ready for the digital challenges that lay ahead. By the end of the day, I thought to myself, "I got this!" I can be the digital leader our teachers and students need! I am ready to rock this year!

Digital Leadership - Communication

Traditional methods of communication has lost their reach because individuals want constant up-to-date information. In the communication chapter, Sheninger discusses how he leverages Twitter, Facebook, Google Voice, blogs, social bookmarking, Google+ Hangouts on Air, and many other tools to communicate across the school to include parents. He emphasizes the importance to educate parents, employees, and students how to use the various tools. He does this in many different ways from instructional Web sites to videos. As Sheninger addresses public relations, he notes that “official” media can often ignore an institution or focus on the negative stories. Institutions have the ability to shape their public image by putting out their own information through social media. Using social media tools, digital leaders can keep everyone easily informed.

If we do not tell our story, someone else will. (Sheninger, 2014, p. 98)