Sweat to Inspire

Day 14- @TeachThough 30 day reflective teaching blog challenge 

What is feedback for learning, and how well do you give it to students?

Feedback on learning is giving each individual student specific and timely information about where they are in their learning in relation to the student learning objectives. Feedback is a vital part of the educational process. Teachers give students learning objectives, feedback allows students to know where they are on the path to reaching the their objectives.

How well do I give it to students?

I feel I give a variety of feedback to my students. I do okay here. Of course I could improve the timeliness of my feedback. I strive to give students feedback that they can use in their learning In teaching middle school students, I have to take the time to have individual conversations with students about where they are in reaching learning targets. This takes time. Grades don’t grades aren’t constructive to middle school students. Most students see them as an end point (fixed mindset.) I spend as much time as I possibly can to talk to my students about their learning and help mold a growth mindset. I am always looking for better ways to give students timely feedback. I can always get better with feedback!

Day 13 –  @TeachThough 30 day reflective teaching blog challenge 

Name the top edtech tools that you use on a consistent basis in the classroom, and rank them in terms of their perceived (by you) effectiveness.

This is a hard challenge for me, as I have already stated Edtech tools are NOT a predominate feature in my classroom. Our district does not have the resources to have tons of tech tools at our hand. I do use a projector and computer daily, sadly they are not in the hands of my students as frequently. Here are the tools I use the most in the order of effectiveness and value to my instruction and student learning.

1. Class Blog: I use this daily. Post my learning target, assignments, and videos. This is the entry point to my instruction. It is designed to keep the students and parents informed of what is happening in my classroom. If a student is absent, everything they missed is explained on the blog. Key resource for my students.

2. Remind: I use remind to help bridge the home to school gap. I send home a Monday message with the weekly vocabulary list, and learning target for the week. Thursday, I send a study guide and quiz reminder. Study guides for test an other reminders are regularly sent. Great tool to use to help connect home to school.

3. YouTube:As I tell my students, YouTube is the single most powerful learning tool around today. I use videos to introduce concepts, provide examples and hook my students. I can find so many wonderful video for anything I need to engage my students. I wonder what I did without access to YouTube just a few year ago (it was blocked). I try to model that if you don’t understand anything you can find a video to explain it.

These are my top 3. I do use more tools just not regularly. I have my students blog using Kidsblog, but not as often as I would like. I use Quizlet to help my students review vocabulary. I love the PhET interactive simulations. It would be nice if I could use them regularly. Access for my students is a huge issue. We are trying some BYOD this year so it might improve.

Day 12 – @TeachThough 30 day reflective teaching blog challenge 

How do you envision your teaching changing over the next five years?

Five years from now I envision three main changes in my teaching.

First: Move towards a student run classroom: I feel the students need to take ownership of learning. As a teacher I need to clear tell them where they need to go, offer example paths to take to get there and then get out of the way. I have been slowly but surely adding more student voice to my classroom so that they can direct the class the way they want it to run.

Second; A blended approach: As technology becomes more readily available for my students, I want to use it to allow students to work at their own pace. A blended approach allows for a teacher to spend more time addressing student needs and less time managing students who struggle to keep up or who are bored by a slower pace. Research says the blended approach is the best way for our students to learn.

Third: More cross-cutting ideas: The Next Gen Science Standards focus on cross cutting ideas that allow our students to make connections to the curriculum. I want my students to see the relevance of their education. They aren’t learning just to learn facts so they can win “Are you Smarter than a 5th Grade!” I hope the government respects the educational process reduces the number for standards and focuses on making standards connect to life. I hope my science class will become a STEAM class full of connections!

Day 11 @TeachThough 30 day reflective teaching blog challenge 

What is your favorite part of the school day and why?

My favorite part of the school day is first thing in the morning. I love the energy of the morning, the fresh, the new beginning. The start of the day has so much to offer a teacher. Greeting students at the door with a smile. Saying “Hello” and good morning. The smell of fresh coffee in my cup surely helps me gather the energy to have a great day!

I love to meet my middle school students with this song playing in my room as they walk in:

Day 9- @TeachThough 30 day reflective teaching blog challenge 

Write about one of your biggest accomplishments in your teaching that no one knows about (or may not care).

Wow, this takes some time to think about, what have I really accomplished? I haven’t won any awards for teaching. I have received minor grants and a few invites to apply for fellowships. I am a Union President, but that is a position (which I proudly hold) not really accomplishment. I have two things I am MOST proud of:

First: Being asked by AMLE to participate/host twitter chat events. AMLE is an incredible organization, dedicated to helping middle level teacher be the best that can be! I have had the honor of working with them for the past 2 years hosting twitter chats. Last year I attended their annual conference which had incredible passion! I look forward to meeting up with my AMLE family this November where I will be presenting on using social media as an educator!