Getting back to into the classroom…

As an educator I firmly believe in creating a learning environment and atmosphere that will empower both the classroom leader and the students.  Professional development opportunities provide time for our teachers to learn, study, and practice with proven strategies, methodologies, and technology. It is very important that we do not embrace change for change sake, but instead use advances in pedagogy and technology as ways to improve the delivery and application of our instructional work.

Two weeks ago I was approached by one of my teachers with a proposal that I could pass up. This teacher is part of the iPad initiative where our school district is working to introduce class sets of iPads for classroom use. She was beginning a unit on Standard of Living and spatial inequalities in her 6^th grade Geography class and wanted to create an assessment that would challenge her students, assess their knowledge, allow for student voice, and provide an opportunity for the students to integrate technology into the classroom.

As a social media and technology enthusiast, I was excited to learn of the proposal. I was going to be able to get back into the classroom and teach for a day. The students were going to learn how to use Prezi to create a multi-media presentation for the “Life is not fair…or is it?” project.

So I developed my lesson and focused on how I could teach the skills that each student would need to so that they could meet the lesson and unit objectives.

Here are a few things that I learned from my day in the classroom:

Model for your staff and students: Often we speak of “best practices”, technology, Social Media and Apps that can be used in the classroom. If you take on the role as classroom teacher (for an hour or a day), you can take the opportunity to put into practice the methodologies, technology, or social media facets that you promote and encourage the teachers to use and implement. For me I was able to teach the students how to use Prezi. The majority of the students were not familiar with this presentation tool.

Get back into the classroom: Each year administrators become “one more year” removed from the classroom. By seeking out or accepting teacher invitations, we must make time to return to the classroom where we can teach the students. It is important that our teachers see us doing this and it is just as important for the students seeing us as engaged leaders in the classroom.

Iron sharpens iron: We learn best when in fellowship with our colleagues. By working alongside the classroom teachers we both can grow and learn. As I was teaching, the classroom teacher remained in the classroom. We became co-teachers. We both offered ideas and suggestions each class period. She learned about the Prezi and how to integrate it into the assessment process. I learned how to work alongside the different student learning styles, personalities, and needs from the academic and student-centered perspective. I followed up by returning the next day to visit with one of the classes. I offered additional information and insights from yesterday’s lesson. The students shared with me the “things” they learned about using Prezi during the last 24 hours since we were in class together. Collaboration and learning from one another is always a great “best practice”.

So, my challenge to you is to find that opportunity where you can return to the classroom to teach alongside or to teach independently. Either way it is a rich, rewarding opportunity for not only yourself, but for your teacher and your students. I am fortunate that I work alongside such incredible professionals and motivated students.

I was able to take a day and return to the classroom and spend time with 150 of my 6^th grade students and a teacher who had the vision to invite me “back into the classroom”!

Connected Educator Month and the 3 Rs: Renew, Relearn, Rejoice

The month of October brings about many changes, choices, and celebrations …the fall season is in full swing, many schools are wrapping up the 1^st quarter of school, Fall Break is here, and it is Connected Educator month. For me October offers a time to reflect on the first part of the school year. It provides a Fall Break (which I immensely cherish) where I can spend time with my family, tend to a few chores around the house, and spend some time learning from my PLN.

This month on Twitter several chats have focused on connecting as educators. #Moedchat has dedicated all four of its October chats to this theme. #PTchat has worked to connect us with and to the different stakeholder groups in within our school communities (e.g. dads, students, ELL families, and even home visits). Also, Edcamps from across the country are focusing on connecting educators to our contemporary issues in education.

Here are my thoughts on the 3Rs:

Renew: Take time to renew your connection with colleagues. Take time to connect with your PLN cohort. Go deeper with your conversations and commitments to education. Join in with a chat that you’ve been missing out on. This week I renewed my connection with #MSchat. It was great getting back into the learning cycle with these middle level educators. Student motivation was the chat focus. During the #StuVoice chat (with #PTchat) it was great to see a renewed understanding of the importance of empowering student voice. The chat and GHO allowed students (and adult learners) to share, provide insight, and offer feedback.

Relearn: It’s ok to say, “I didn’t know that”. It’s even ok to “revisit” and to “brush up” on something you’ve been familiar with for many years. For me I am relearning information about McREL’s Nine Essential Instructional Strategies. I know the impact they have on student achievement. I am finding that I can now go “deeper” with my learning and understanding. Ultimately this means that my students will also benefit from my re-learning opportunities. I am learning that each strategy can truly impact student and adult learning if you take the time to dig deeper into how you can apply each strategy in the classroom.

Rejoice: Celebrate with your educational colleagues. Share the exciting things that are taking place in your school and school community. We learn from each other and we can all grow by learning about our Best Practices! I am finding that with my Twitter and Voxer PLNs that I am able to rejoice more often. I learn from colleague celebrations. @posickj has taught me to make each day the best day of the week. @GenieneD has a unique way of sharing student stories so that we all learn from all types of scenarios. @JoyWright91 has shown me the many ways to celebrate the work of each person I come in contact with. This list could go on and on. So to my PLN --- Thank You for rejoicing in the great works of your students, colleagues, and friends.

I look forward to hearing your stories from this month where we focused on the “Connected Educator”.