Hey out there in the digital universe

Whew- maintaining a blog can be challenging!
 Thanks to everyone from Forums 23 and 24 of the Teacher Institute who contributed to the great discussion around the Dennis Sparks article. Forums 25 and 26 will begin in September.This blog will remain as a source for sharing information. We will continue to evolve our use of digital resources for learning- both adult and student. This blog will remain as a source for sharing information but be on the lookout for new resources- particularly those that will connect all Teacher Leadership Institute teachers- both graduates and current participants.

If you're a Facebooker and you haven't "liked" the Arkansas Leadership Academy already, I encourage you to do so.

Hope everyone had a great summer and is ready for a new and exciting year of learning!

Amanda Linn

Interim Assignment Discussion

Recently you have read A Call to Creativity by Dennis Sparks. This was originally presented as part of the 10th Annual Colloquium, "The Quest for Educational Transformation: Ideals and Realities". It was interactive presentation with sections for discussion and debate. Find the comment that relates to the discussion prompt to which you want to respond and begin or continue the conversation.

Looking forward to the discussions to come!
Julie

Talking the talk AND Walking the walk

Many schools have some type of reading they ask students to complete over the summer. Here is an interesting blog post about a school faculty that applied their core belief  "We will not ask our students to do something as learners, that we are not willing to do ourselves." to summer reading.

Faculty Summer Reading & A Mosaic of Learning

Not to spoil it for you, but the teachers also made "projects" about their books AND they gave themselves "choice" regarding the project.

Summer is still a ways off... how could this be adapted for the benefit of teacher learning now???

Twittering in the Classroom

My Twitter feed has been on fire this week with great information and links to resources that are just waiting to be used in the classroom!

This blog has great resources on a variety of topics but what caught my eye were the ones on Twitter in the classroom-

http://langwitches.org/blog/

Some sample resources:

Twitter HOTS & Establishing a Twitter Routine in the Classroom

PDF to Download: Twitter Policy and Rationale

If you have the Twitter fever, share how you are using it with student and/or adult learners in the comment section.

Digital Citizenship film festival

We want our students to access electronic resources for learning just as we accessed the library and the  card catalogue (if you don't know this card catalogue I speak of, ask a "more experienced" teacher  or do a Google image search), just as we were taught good citizenship for the library, students need help understanding what it means to be a good digital citizen.

This Edutopia Five Minute Film Festival features videos on digital citizenship
http://www.edutopia.org/blog/film-festival-digital-citizenship

In addition to the videos there are numerous links to other resources about navigating the digital world.

Andrew Churches wonderfully rich wiki "Educational Origami" also addresses digital citizenship with information as well as tools for assessing digital citizenship.
http://edorigami.wikispaces.com/

After you click on the link, scroll down the left side- the digital citizenship resources are further down the page. I suspect you may be distracted by all the cool things listed before digital citizenship... if you aren't distracted, I'm a little worried for you... these resources are a real treasure.

As we discussed in session 1, students spend a lot of time with teachers throughout the course of their schooling. For some of our students, the adults they know at school may be the most stable presence in their lives.Part of our mission as educators should be to help them learn to safely and gracefully navigate the digital world.

How is digital citizenship addressed in your school?

Use the comments section of this post to share ideas, ask questions and continue the conversation!

CCSS meets PLN

The link below will take you to a great blog post about using electronic resources to build resource sharing networks for the implementation of the Common Core State Standards.

For those of you following me on Twitter, I "tweeted' this information as well :)


http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2012/09/12/03newell.h32.html?tkn=PMLFC5GNUDFOdOz0n4CeqgjQd4q1Rr6nGZk8&cmp=clp-edweek

Enjoy!

Amanda

Forum 24, Session 1 Resources

Here is a list (as of 9:30, Sept. 12) of the resources shared:

Ted.com
ed.ted.com
tagxedo.com
wordle.com
dropbox.com
livebinders.com
pinterest
diigo.com
delicious
todaysmeet
twitter
tinyurl.com
learnzillion
getaflipchart.blogspot.com
keepvid.com
utubedownloader
Digital Blooms

Scroll down through the flipchart to see more and more and more resources.

Rocking Resources

Share one site, resource, tool, etc. you visited that really ROCKED YOUR WORLD!!!

WELCOME FORUM 23 & 24 PERSONAL LEARNING NETWORK

There's a lot to explore as we build our PLN... this is just a little sample to get you started... once you're off and running (or "clicking"- with your mouse, or "swiping" with your finger) there's no limit to the electronic "rabbit holes" you may go down.

Hot off the Press- 33 Educators talk about their PLNs

http://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/08/01/for-connected-educator-month-tips-from-33-educators-we-admire/


The Getaflipchart post right after this one has a wonderful list of suggestions for summer resource searching that was shared with Forums 21 and 22 in June. DON'T MISS IT!!!


Overcome your fear/hate/confusion of Twitter...

Regardless if you already have a Twitter account or are simply curious what the hype is about this post is for you! The links below can help you understand and/or share the message regarding Twitter’s influence on the professional growth of educators and the learning of students.

Video – Assignment Education – Twitter and Education

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1s7yJmY71d4

Twitter as a PLN

http://ideasfactory.me/using-twitter-the-pln-in-education

Tiny Bursts of Learning

http://chrisbetcher.com/2011/04/1483/

Using Twitter as a Professional Development Tool

http://www.sarahfischler.org/2010/03/twitter/

50 Ideas Using Twitter For Education

http://cooper-taylor.com/2008/08/50-ideas-on-using-twitter-for-education/

Tweeting for Teachers

http://www.pearsoncpl.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Tweeting-for-teachers.pdf

Some BLOG suggestions-

The Edublog awards - http://edublogawards.com/

50 Excellent Blogs About Education - http://www.onlineschools.org/2009/10/13/50-excellent-blogs-about-education-reform/
A List of Top 200 Education Blogs - http://www.guidetoonlineschools.com/tips-and-tools/top-education-blogs

A few of many, many, many places to find  tools for learning...

http://edudemic.com/2012/05/best-web-tools-slides/

http://edudemic.com/2011/11/best-web-tools/

 "google"    Free Technology for Teachers

"google"  Cool Cat Teacher


As you discover more resources, add them to the "comment" section of this post so your fellow Forum 23 PLN pilgrims can visit them as well!

Happy hunting!

To support your personal and professional learning journey during the remaining summer vacation this is a list of resources to explore.

“The 33 Digital Skills Every 21^st Century Teacher Should Have” http://www.educatorstechnology.com/2012/06/33-digital-skills-every-21st-century.html

This is a very rich resource describing skills we ought to have as 21^st century teachers.  Not only does it give a list of skills (perfect for those of us with little time or attention), but it gives a great list of digital tools and/or articles under each skill.  You can get lost in this link, believe me!

This article also contains a link to a free ebook by the same author that also provides great resources.
 “The 21^st Century Skills Teachers and Students Need to Have” http://www.educatorstechnology.com/2011/01/21st-century-skills-teachers-should.html

 Edutopia is just that!

If you don’t follow Edutopia, you’re missing a rich bank of resources and professional learning.  You can follow them on Facebook, Twitter, or just subscribe to their e-newsletters/email blasts.  Here are some awesome resources from their websites:

Tech2Learn: Success Stories of Technology Integration in the Classroom http://www.edutopia.org/tech-to-learn-classroom-technology-resources.  This page contains a new video series that goes inside teachers’ classrooms that are using technology tools in their lessons every day.  Currently, it highlights a fifth-grade teacher showing how she keeps her class motivated to learn with technology an provides lists of resources she uses in her class.

A Parent’s Guide to 21^st Century Learning
http://www.edutopia.org/parent-21st-century-learning-resource-guide.  This is a free downloadable PDF that you can distribute to your parents.  The guide has a selection of resources and projects for elementary, middle and high school.  There is also a link to a Home-to-School Connection Guide that can also be shared with families.

Project-Based Learning

PBL is one of the core strategies recommended by Edutopia.  They have amazing resources including a free professional development guide on teaching with PBL.  http://www.edutopia.org/project-based-learning

Pinterest

Who’s not addicted to Pinterest?  If you are, you’ve likely figured out that there is a bevy of classroom resources pinned out there between the clean/organized home tips and the someecards.  Here’s an infographic that gives you an idea of how teachers are using Pinterest.  http://www.onlineuniversities.com/ways-educators-use-pinterest

You might also pin this http://pinterest.com/erinklein/pinterest-for-teachers/

If you teach kids older than 13, you can also use pinterest with your students http://mashable.com/2012/03/22/teachers-using-pinterest/

Great pinners to follow (from this link http://erinpaynter.wordpress.com/2012/02/26/edu-pinning-pinterest-in-education/)

Vicki Davis, “Cool Cat Teacher” http://pinterest.com/coolcatteacher/

 Eric Sheninger http://pinterest.com/esheninger/

Karen Steffensen http://pinterest.com/kstef2/

Debbie Fucoloro http://pinterest.com/debbiefuco/

Shannon Smith http://pinterest.com/shannoninottawa/

Shelly Terrell http://pinterest.com/shellyterrell/

iPads

If you’re lucky, you’ve already got a classroom set.  If you haven’t, you’re probably hoping to get one. Here are some iPad resources you might be interested in having.

Great article from Learning and Leading with Technology by ISTE on how just a few iPads in a classroom can support and enhance individualized instruction.  “Less than a Class Set.” http://www.learningandleading-digital.com/learning_leading/20111201#pg24

“Only 1 iPad in the Classroom?” http://eskymaclj.blogspot.com.au/2012/02/only-1-ipad-in-classroom.html

“40 STEM iPad Apps for Kids” http://imaginationsoup.net/2012/05/40-stem-ipad-apps-for-kids-science-technology-engineering-math/

“APPitic: A Collection of 1,800+ apps for education” http://www.appitic.com/

“Kathy Schrock’s iPads in the Classroom” http://blog.kathyschrock.net/#!/2011/09/ipads-in-classroom.html

“iPads in Education: Exploring the use of iPads and eBooks in Schools and Colleges” http://ipadeducators.ning.com/

“1,000 Education Apps Organized by Subject and Price” http://edudemic.com/2012/02/1000-apps/

 Apps by IEP Goals/Skills http://techinspecialed.com/

Common Core
And last but not least…

“All Things Common Core: Developing an Understanding of the Common Core Standards” http://allthingscommoncore.com/

 “Kid-Friendly Standards” would also surely be good for parents! http://omsd.omsd.k12.ca.us/departments/lss/standards/Pages/standards.aspx

From the New York City Department of Education is a list of web-based resources organized by discipline with the note that the content on the resources may or may not be aligned to Common Core.  It’s found on a page titled “The Common Core Classroom”!  Nonetheless, there’s good stuff here: http://schools.nyc.gov/Academics/CommonCoreLibrary/CommonCoreClassroom/TeacherResources/default.htm

“Bringing the Common Core to Life” is a webinar with a leading author and architect of the Common Core State Standards http://usny.nysed.gov/rttt/resources/bringing-the-common-core-to-life.html
Mastery Connect website has a free iPad app of the CCSS http://www.masteryconnect.com/
 
A Symbaloo collection of Common Core resources http://www.symbaloo.com/mix/commoncore

A Livebinder organized by states’ work on Common Core http://www.livebinders.com/play/play/52180

Knewton Infographics

A fellow graduate of the Teacher Leadership Institute gave me this website she found on Edutopia. These are informational graphics that explain new ideas in education. Thanks for sharing Erica!

http://www.knewton.com/infographics/

Motivation for Test Taking

As everyone is preparing for state testing in the upcoming weeks, I thought you could use some cute ways to motivate your students. We like to give our students a snack halfway through the test because they seem to do much better at concentrating and focusing. Here are a few things you could use as food items and cute sayings that might help! These are not my ideas at all. I borrowed them from this website: http://www.proteacher.net/discussions/showthread.php?t=32122.

Cheerios - Cheering you to success or I'm CHEERing you on
Super Bubble Gum - I know you will do a SUPER job
Lucky CharmsGood LUCK today on your test
Starburst - You are a STAR or Shine like a STAR today
Licorice Twists - Don't let the test TWIST your mind
Hershey Hugs - A HUG from me to you to do the best that you can do
Oranges - ORANGE you glad the tests are almost over????
Raisins - Keep RAISIN your head high
Pretzel Twists - (same as licorice above)
Day 1-Gum with a note that says: Blow the top off the test!
Day 2-Snickers-Let's not have any Snickers, just do your best!
Day 3-Starburst Candy- For a burst of energy to do a fantastic job
Day 4-Success all the way to the Milky Way
Day 5-Hugs and Kisses for putting forth your best effort!
Be a “smartie” and ACE this test! (smarties)
Blow the TOP off this test! (bubble gum)
A BURST of energy to do AWESOME! (starburst)
“KISS” your worries goodbye. Do great! (Hershey's kiss)
Don’t SNICKER !! Do your best! (mini Snickers)-----------------
TEST TAKING FIRST AID KIT:
1 pack of Smarties Candies - to boost your test taking brain power
1 pencil -- to help you record the knowledge you have learned
1 sticker -- to help you stick with the task at hand
1 eraser -- to use when you check over your work
1 Hershey's Hug -- for all the hard work you put into the test
1 highlighter -- to highlight all your success
1 pencil grip -- to get a grip on the task at hand
FOR BEST RESULTS, COMBINE WITH:
1 night of restful sleep
1 nutritious breakfast
1 positive attitude
POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS:
Improved Test-taking Skills
Good Grades
---------------------

Awesome resource from one of your fellow teacher leaders

Here's a link to a Livebinder created by Michael Scott. Michael is a Social Studies teacher at Har-Ber High School in Springdale and a participant in Forum 22 of TLI.

http://www.livebinders.com/play/play_or_edit?id=308552


Mr. Scott got so excited about Personal Learnng Networks that he created a LIVEBINDER of technology resources for teachers!!!

Whoo Hoo! Go teacher leaders!!!

Teacher Leaders

A BIG THANK YOU to the TLCs and Julie for posting content to our little blog. They are wonderful examples of teacher leadership. On and off the mountain, they are helping us all be continuous learners.

One of my many many New Year's resolutions was to become a better user of electronic resources. Increasing my own understanding would help me be a better resource for the academy. Well, it's March... I'll just leave it at that.

I did want to share a blog you might be interested in-
http://www.boundlessangie.blogspot.com/

The author is Angie Miller, 2011 New Hampshire Teacher of the Year. I acutally found her via TED. She applied and was selected to give a talk at  the 2012 TED conference held last month. I'll let you read about her TED experience. It's a good story.

While I don't know her personally, many of her blog entries resonated with me, in particular one called "Seriously". Check it out. It may resonate with you as well.

Spring Break is coming! Thanks for all you are doing to support teaching and learning for students and adults throughout our state.

Amanda

Top signs of becoming a teacher leader

http://www.edweek.org/tm/articles/2012/02/21/tln_ratzel_teacherleader.html?tkn=QUMFu2vyRe0z60QQwryTAOM0HcxYgpsR7Poh&cmp=clp-edweek

Sent from my iPhone

31 Storytelling Tools

Great resource!!!

http://ilearntechnology.com/#!/entry/31-of-my-favorite-digital-storytelling-sites,3190

Language Arts and the Smartboard

If you use a Smartboard, Cana has shared a great resource.

http://www.smartboardlounge.com/languagearts/default.htm

Thanks Cana

My "Me Manifesto"

Hello all

I came across the #30Goals challenge while scrolling through Twitter. After
reading about it, seeing the results of others already this year and in the past
two years I have decided to participate. This is a great way to tangibly
document my learning and sharing in the new year.

If you would like to join me in this challenge the first one was this week, so you are not behind. Here is
the link to the information.

The 30 Goals Challenge 2012

You can also follow others on Twitter who are doing this simply by using #30Goals to search.

This is my completed Goal #1. I used Animoto, but you can certainly express yourself using any tool you choose.

My "Me Manifesto"

Have a great weekend.
Julie

Interesting article

http://m.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2011/12/what-americans-keep-ignoring-about-finlands-school-success/250564/

Opportunity for 2012

At the beginning of a new year there is a certain feeling of a fresh start. For educators, this opportunity occurs in the middle of the academic year. This often gives us a boost to finish the second half of the year with the same enthusiasm we with which we started the school year.

Below are two links to some recents posts by Dan Rockwell a.k.a. Leadership Freak. Both provide simple and straight forward encouragement for leaders of all kinds.

Enjoy!

http://leadershipfreak.wordpress.com/2011/12/30/creating-a-life-of-opportunity/

http://leadershipfreak.wordpress.com/2012/01/06/10-sure-fire-ways-to-find-your-greatness/