literacyeverywhere

Saving the World Through Literacy!

Jun 8

Proud to be Nerdy!

by Literacy Everywhere

Two Worlds Collide!

Today, my books and bling life and literacy teacher life get to collide again. I love when this happens!

I love reading. Even more that that, I love people who love reading!

So, when I had the chance to write a post for the awesome Nerdy Book Club, I was all in! These are my people! I feel so at home with the Nerdy Book Club. Though I try to visit a variety of blogs, this is the one I never miss!

Check it out here: http://nerdybookclub.wordpress.com/2012/06/08/my-kids-hate-reading/

I hope you join all the Nerdy Book Club awesomeness! It really is great to be Nerdy!

Literacy Rocks! Main

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May 15

21st Century Education, Web 2.0, and Flipping My Classroom-Feedback Wanted!

by Literacy Everywhere

Big news! I’m applying for a grant to Flip my classroom next year! I’m very excited!

I’ve been reading so much about Flipped Classrooms and cannot wait to try it out! I believe it will help increase student engagement and motivation, allow me to differentiate more effectively, and allow me to go full force with the Common Core!

Here’s the shortlist of what I’ve been reading (mainly from http://www.flippedclassroom.com/)

The Flipped Class Manifesto by Brian E. Bennett, Dan Spencer, Jon Bergmann, Troy Cockrum,
Ramsey Musallam, Aaron Sams, Karl Fisch, Jerry Overmyer,

How the Flipped Classroom is Radically Transforming Learning by Jon Bergmann, Aaron Sams

The Flipped Class: Shedding light on the confusion, critique and hype by Aaron Sams

Are you Ready to Flip? by Dan Spencer, Deb Wolf, and Aaron Sams

“The Flipped Class:  Myths vs. Reality” by Jon Bergmann, Jerry Overmyer and Brett Wilie

“The Flipped Class: What Does a Good One Look Like?” by Brian Bennett, Jason Kern, April Gudenrath and Philip McIntosh

Private School Math Teacher Flips Learning by Stacey Roshan

The Flipped Class:  Show Me the Data! by Stacey Roshan

Teachers “Doing the Flip” to Help Students Become Learners

This infographic from http://www.knewton.com/flipped-classroom/ is AWESOME!!

Flipped Classroom

Created by Knewton and Column Five Media

Now I’m trying to figure out just what technology to include in the grant. I know that I want the following:

  • Document Camera
  • Digital Video Camera
  • Photoshop Elements and Premier Software
  • Glogster and Storybird subscriptions for my students
  • Headsets with microphones
  • SnapScan Mobile Scanner
  • Webcam (that will move with me/the students)

I’d love to hear your feedback on both technology & your experiences!

Common Core Flipped Classroom Main Technology

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Feb 28

Great read from @EducationWeek: A Flawed Approach to Reading in the Common-Core Standards

by Literacy Everywhere

As I strive to be positive about the Common Core, I realize that I must also be realistic.

I will always do what is best for students, so articles about the Common Core fall into the “Must Read” category for me!

Making the shift from only reading for enjoyment to academic reading has to happen, but I would never want to dampen a child’s love of reading for pleasure! Joanne Yatvin shares the same concerns in her EdWeek post. The idea that anything outside of the Common Core should be completely eliminated just doesn’t sit right with me. There are also specific guidelines/approaches for teaching that don’t appear to include all of the research and best practices.  That worries me, too.

Another huge concern of mine-spending (already drastically limited) funds on shiny new “Common Core Approved” packaged literature-is also addressed by Yatvin. I have never found an entire program that met the needs of all of my students or one that matched my teaching style. That is, after all, the main reason why I can justify being a master hoarder. There isn’t one awesome think, book, lesson, technology, or gimmick that is going to fit everyone! And I thought we were moving away from that!

Read the article here: http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2012/02/29/22yatvin.h31.html?tkn=VZOFXZVsu%2Fopuos8f9DGuC7vsAOc2NxXSJ00&cmp=clp-edweek

I’d love to hear what you think!

Common Core

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Jan 31

Flipped Classroom Follow-Up!

by Literacy Everywhere

I really like the Flipped Classroom idea!

I wrote about Greg Green’s Flipped School successes here:  http://schoolsofthought.blogs.cnn.com/2012/01/18/my-view-flipped-classrooms-give-every-student-a-chance-to-succeed/

He’s back today with a follow-up to answer the most common questions about the Flipped Classroom/School concept.

Check it out here: http://schoolsofthought.blogs.cnn.com/2012/01/30/answers-to-your-flipped-school-questions/

You can see my original post by clicking here.

What are your thoughts on the Flipped Classroom?

I’d love to hear from you!

High School Main Middle School Technology

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Nov 28

When to Fight for What: Common Core, Ted Talks, & Literacy

by Literacy Everywhere

Warning-This post rambles a bit, but I think it is worth hanging in there!

I’m just going to say it–popular or not–Good teachers go with the flow. Great teachers embrace it.
We all need to fight for what is best for our students. That’s a given.
But sometimes we need to leave the hand-to-hand combat to those who are have the energy & time.

Hear me out on this one:

My number one job is to be the best teacher I can be in my classroom. I have to. It is sometimes all I can do to focus on the unique needs of my students in six classes. Sometimes I just need to put all of my thought and energy into that. When that happens, I do make sure to support those who are out there fighting the fight for all of us. Often the are fighting full time, work in a different kind of school, or have more energy that me! It is ok. I’m not hard on myself about it. I’m embracing it and doing what I do best–being there for my kids!

On that note…

The Common Core is coming. It is already in place for many of us. I’m not fighting it. I’m going with it. There are great things about it & there are things that need some work. But, it is happening either way. Personally, I’m encouraged by the great amount of resources out there to support the Common Core.

The bottom line is this: Good teachers do what is best for their kids. Great teachers always find a way to be what our kids need!

Here are a few great Common Core resources:

This article from edutopia by  Heather Wolpert-Gawron is awesome! Common Core + Ted Talks = My idea of a great lesson!

http://www.edutopia.org/blog/common-core-lesson-plans-speeches-heather-wolpert-gawron

The Kentucky DOE has been busy publishing tons of Common Core info. This list of Literacy Strategies (complete with many Word & pdf printouts, is great. Check out this link then explore the rest of the sight! So much of the work has already been done-why not use it!

http://www.education.ky.gov/KDE/Instructional+Resources/Literacy/Literacy+Strategies+Glossary.htm

So, are you a fighter or a supporter? Either way, we’ve got to make our kids the #1 priority!

If you are fighting, thank you!     If you are supporting those that fight, thank you!     If you are just an observer, jump in!

 

Common Core Literacy Coaches Main Writing

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