Today, I attended a conference about digital learning. While I enjoy attending conferences and learning from others, I think the best part of the whole process is the opportunity to chat with friends and colleagues. I always walk out of conferences feeling recharged, but that is large in part to the conversations I have with other teachers. Today was no different. One of my friends and colleagues was also in attendance, and we finally got the chance to catch up after a busy year and summer. As I rattled off all of my thoughts and concerns regarding going back to work and different parts of my job, he listened and offered new insights that I have never considered. The 30 minute conversation gave me an entirely new outlook on the year and my role as a teacher, technology coordinator, and most importantly, mom.
Today was a great reminder of the power of conversation. We are all guilty of always looking at difficult situations in the same way, and it was so nice to talk through some situations with a friend and hear a different outlook and perspective that challenged me, yet helped me move forward with clarity and excitement.
Wednesday, July 29, 2015
Tuesday, July 28, 2015
Returning to Reality
Well...it happened. I have officially turned into the new mom I never thought I would be. I am smitten with my baby boy but also constantly worried about what to do in every situation. I never imagined I would be this way, but sure enough, and just like my mom said would happen, I have transformed into a typical new mom. Luckily...I don't mind one bit.
My newest problem becomes the balancing act that all working moms must try to maneuver: being a great mom and a great teacher. As a teacher, my "kids" have always been my students and a top priority in my life. Nothing like 150 high school "kids" to keep me on my toes. Now, in addition to the students that take over my classroom, I will come home everyday to my little guy that needs love and attention. As I return to work this August, I am anxious about how I will tackle all of my roles: teacher, instructional technology coach/coordinator, and most importantly, MOM.
As all teachers know, our work never stays at work. It is impossible. In addition, our emotions about all parts of our job never stay at work. Teaching young people has to be one of the most rewarding professions; however, it can also be overwhelming and consuming. This is not a complaint...it is the truth. In my opinion, the fact that we bring our work and emotions home with us at the end of the day means that we are good teachers. We care....and that is what our students need in order to gain success.
So now...how does this passion and dedication to my job continue when I have new obligations at home? This is my new reality and a challenge I am excited to accept.
As return to work in two weeks to start my seventh year as a teacher, my goal is to find a balance between being a great mom to my 6 month year old son and a motivating teacher and colleague at school. Stay tuned as I continue to share my experience and what I learn along the way!
My newest problem becomes the balancing act that all working moms must try to maneuver: being a great mom and a great teacher. As a teacher, my "kids" have always been my students and a top priority in my life. Nothing like 150 high school "kids" to keep me on my toes. Now, in addition to the students that take over my classroom, I will come home everyday to my little guy that needs love and attention. As I return to work this August, I am anxious about how I will tackle all of my roles: teacher, instructional technology coach/coordinator, and most importantly, MOM. As all teachers know, our work never stays at work. It is impossible. In addition, our emotions about all parts of our job never stay at work. Teaching young people has to be one of the most rewarding professions; however, it can also be overwhelming and consuming. This is not a complaint...it is the truth. In my opinion, the fact that we bring our work and emotions home with us at the end of the day means that we are good teachers. We care....and that is what our students need in order to gain success.
So now...how does this passion and dedication to my job continue when I have new obligations at home? This is my new reality and a challenge I am excited to accept.
As return to work in two weeks to start my seventh year as a teacher, my goal is to find a balance between being a great mom to my 6 month year old son and a motivating teacher and colleague at school. Stay tuned as I continue to share my experience and what I learn along the way!
So Happy Together....Google Drive and Microsoft Office Edition
While we know and love that many teachers are going Google, there are still plenty of teachers who prefer Microsoft Office and worry that due to their differences, the two cannot work together. While people can upload Microsoft files to the Google Drive, it often becomes tedious because if any changes are made to the Microsoft files, the user has to re-upload them to the Google Drive in order to store the most current file.
Extra work = more time = frustrating
Well...the good news is that there is a new Google Drive plug-in for Microsoft Office. What's up!
This plug-in allows Office users to open their Microsoft files that are stored in the Google Drive and then save any changes they make right back onto their Drives. Also, if a person is working on a document, spreadsheet, or presentation on his/her computer, the plug-in gives the option to save the file directly to the Google Drive from the Office apps.
Microsoft Office and Google Drive users, rejoice!
Click here to download the plug-in
Official Google Release (My Resource)
Extra work = more time = frustrating
Well...the good news is that there is a new Google Drive plug-in for Microsoft Office. What's up!
This plug-in allows Office users to open their Microsoft files that are stored in the Google Drive and then save any changes they make right back onto their Drives. Also, if a person is working on a document, spreadsheet, or presentation on his/her computer, the plug-in gives the option to save the file directly to the Google Drive from the Office apps.
Microsoft Office and Google Drive users, rejoice!
Click here to download the plug-in
Official Google Release (My Resource)
Privacy in your Google Doc - DocSecrets
Privacy is one of the biggest concerns when it comes to teachers and students collaborating in the Google Drive. As Google Apps for Education continues to improve their security, numerous apps, extensions, and add-ons can help do the trick. DocSecrets is a new add-on that allows users the option to keep certain parts of a Google doc private to other collaborators, even if these collaborators have editing privileges.
DocSecrets places color over certain parts of the doc that are password protected by the owner. After the owner installs and clicks on DocSecrets from the add-on bar, he/she is asked to create a password and then gets to choose what needs to be private from other users. When other users open up the document, the privileges granted by the owner will stay the same, but the text that was marked as private by the owner will not be viewable. The owner can then decide to make this text viewable as needed.
Click here to learn more about this new add-on.
Google Guru's overview and video
Get DocSecrets
DocSecrets places color over certain parts of the doc that are password protected by the owner. After the owner installs and clicks on DocSecrets from the add-on bar, he/she is asked to create a password and then gets to choose what needs to be private from other users. When other users open up the document, the privileges granted by the owner will stay the same, but the text that was marked as private by the owner will not be viewable. The owner can then decide to make this text viewable as needed.
Click here to learn more about this new add-on.
Google Guru's overview and video
Get DocSecrets
Thursday, May 14, 2015
Kaizena - Authentic Feedback for Students
Teachers spend countless hours grading student work in order to provide feedback for improvement. One of the most frustrating parts of this process is watching the students stuff their graded work into their overflowing backpacks, or better yet, throw their work out as they leave the classroom. While feedback is crucial to their academic journey, it is important for teachers to provide authentic feedback that students understand and can actually use in order to improve their skills.
Kaizena is a free resource that allows teachers the ability to track and rate skills in student work, while providing feedback in different ways. Users can sign in with their Google Accounts and even take advantage of the Kaizena App for Google Docs or Kaizena Mini Google Add-on that makes it easy to utilize the tool directly in the Google Drive. Kaizena provides the following options for feedback:
Kaizena is a free resource that allows teachers the ability to track and rate skills in student work, while providing feedback in different ways. Users can sign in with their Google Accounts and even take advantage of the Kaizena App for Google Docs or Kaizena Mini Google Add-on that makes it easy to utilize the tool directly in the Google Drive. Kaizena provides the following options for feedback:
- Track/rate skills and rubric criteria - Kaiziena creates a summary for the teacher/student
- Provide voice comments directly in student work
- Two-way, real time conversation in order to promote collaboration and communication
Kaizena gives teachers the opportunity to provide fast, authentic feedback to students. In turn, it gives students the opportunity to hear directly from their teachers and communicate as needed in order to improve their skills.
Thursday, April 9, 2015
Pump It Up
Get students moving in your classroom! Sitting all day is exhausting, and this is a reason why students lose focus during the school day.
Move It is an impressive Chrome Extension that encourages physical activity, and it can easily be used in the classroom. Click here for more information about Move It and to download the extension.
Movenote
Movenote is a wonderful Google App that allows teachers and students the ability to create presentations for others to view. With its recent updates, Movenote provides the option to create audio presentations and video presentations. Users can upload docs and presentations from their Google Drive or computer and then record their presentation with or without a video of the user on the screen. In addition, a recent update allows the presenter to draw on the slide in order to enhance the presentation and draw attention to what is most important.
Teachers can utilize Movenote by creating presentations that students can view at home while working on class work. In addition, if a teacher has a planned absence, he or she can record their lesson and have the substitute play the lesson for the class.
Students can utilize Movenote by creating presentations for class assignments. It promotes speaking skills and allows students to be creative with their presentations. Also, Movenote provides an outlet for sharing presentations, thus promoting communication and collaboration in the classroom. As with teachers, if a student has a scheduled absence during an assignment that requires them to present, Movenote is an option in order for students to still complete the assignment.
In order to utilize Movenote, go to www.movenote.com and sign in with your Google account on the top right hand corner. If you want to utilize Movenote right from the Google Drive, click on New -> More -> Connect More Apps -> Search for Movenote.
Visit the Movenote Channel on YouTube to find more tutorials for this beneficial classroom resource.
Teachers can utilize Movenote by creating presentations that students can view at home while working on class work. In addition, if a teacher has a planned absence, he or she can record their lesson and have the substitute play the lesson for the class.
Students can utilize Movenote by creating presentations for class assignments. It promotes speaking skills and allows students to be creative with their presentations. Also, Movenote provides an outlet for sharing presentations, thus promoting communication and collaboration in the classroom. As with teachers, if a student has a scheduled absence during an assignment that requires them to present, Movenote is an option in order for students to still complete the assignment.
In order to utilize Movenote, go to www.movenote.com and sign in with your Google account on the top right hand corner. If you want to utilize Movenote right from the Google Drive, click on New -> More -> Connect More Apps -> Search for Movenote.Visit the Movenote Channel on YouTube to find more tutorials for this beneficial classroom resource.
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