The Power of "I CAN"

Over 30 years ago I was a student teacher in 1st grade.  It was frightening to me as I only pictured myself working with 4th grade students not being with 'little kids." I remember my cooperating teacher had me sit with a sign that said, "I CAN DO IT!"  As I recall, those first grade kids COULD do it and I did too!  Afterward I left that class and went on to become a grade 4 teacher.  I became good at figuring out what my fourth graders were and weren't capable of doing.  I often wonder if I held my students back believing they couldn't do something and not giving them the opportunity to try!

Lately, as a Digital Learning Coach I have had the opportunity to spend time with kindergartners and 1st graders. I forgot what it was like to be with 5 & 6 year olds. So, I am always pleasantly surprised and impressed by what they ARE able to 'do' when it comes learning.  Admittedly, I'm not familiar with the 'littles' and their abilities as I have spent the last 27 years with 4th graders.  So, when people share with me that the little ones can't do this or that I have to respect their expertise.

Gr 1 Student sharing his GDrawing

"I thought this lesson was going to be too hard and wasn't sure the kids were going to produce what you wanted."

"First graders can't do that, it's too hard for them to concentrate."

"We usually wait until the end of the year to try something like this." 

What I am familiar with though is the power to prove people wrong! (I would challenge my 4th graders all the time only to receive some excellent results.) So I decided to do the same with the "littles" and their teachers.

Gr 1 Teacher says "we CAN use GSheets!

After purchasing Christine Pinto's "Google Apps for Littles" I was excited to try some ideas with the younger grades. So, I approached a couple of teachers who have the "I CAN" attitude and asked them if they'd help me.  Getting the green light, I worked with some first grade classes.  I started by telling the students: "People don't think you can use Google Drawing to make pictures and add write sentences." "I'm hearing that 1st graders can't use Google Sheets!" The gauntlet had been thrown and the challenge accepted! The teachers and students assured me they were up for the challenge.

Great success!  A sense of pride was seen in the smiles and reactions of students as they shared their projects with classmates.  Teachers proudly displayed student work in the hallway.  Students came up to me and said "We did our own Number of the Day in Google Sheets!"  Great to see how teachers and students alike were able to 'show off' the CAN DO attitude!

Students and teachers who have the "I CAN" attitude and mindset can accomplish tasks never before thought possible.  We can learn from those 'littles' who consistently take on a challenge to show us "THEY CAN DO IT!"

Resources:
4 Ways to Encourage Growth Mindset in the Classroom - by EdSurge
Power of Yet - Sesame Street Video
Soundtrack for a Growth Mindset - Two Little Birds


What are some ways we can inspire the words, I CAN?

Interactive Lessons Using Technology

Live Session using Pear Deck

     Student 'voice' is a concern for many teachers.  Classes are filled with those students who always participate and have their hand raised.  But these are the same classes filled with students who sit back and let others do the talking for them.  How can we ensure these students are 'active' participants? One way to make sure that "all" students have a voice is to use an "interactive" digital tool such as Pear Deck, Nearpod, Formative & more.  These tools allow students to share their answers at the same time.  

Being actively engaged!

     

As teachers can see student answers in 'realtime' there are many advantages to using such tools. Talk about formative assessment! Immediate feedback from the teacher can clarify misconceptions on the spot. Conversations can also be extended beyond the topic depending on student activity.   There are drawing and dragging options too. 

 The lessons can be filled with a variety of multi-media which is engaging for pupils. Some tools allow audio, video, images and web content to be embedded right into your existing presentations. 

Nearpod lesson on Deserts!

      I've used various tools with students and their question at the end is always the same, "When can we do this again?"  When our students are engaged and enthusiastic they are sure to learn!  Students WANT to share what they know! 

What are some tools you use to make your lessons interactive?



Resources:

The Ultimate List - 65 Digital Tools and Apps to Support Formative Assessment Practices - https://www.nwea.org/blog/2018/the-ultimate-list-65-digital-tools-and-apps-to-support-formative-assessment-practices/

     

Teachers Learn Best from Other Teachers

Sheila R. sharing the power of SPLAT!

It's TRUE! Teachers learn best from other teachers.  Perhaps that is why EdCamps are so popular! They are so popular that  our district has dedicated a whole professional development day modeled after the Edcamp style. (Not familiar with Edcamp - read about it HERE.) 

Paula B. sharing Osmos to Kindergarten Teachers

This is the 3rd year our district has participated in a "modified" Edcamp.  Each year the call goes out to all educators in the system to submit a topic to either "lead", "facilitate" or "explore".  This year more and more teachers shared their craft and experiences with colleagues.  We even had some out of district teachers present. (And a keynote presentation by Alan November!)

It's TRUE! Teachers learn best from other teachers!  Why? Because teachers are passionate!  When teachers are passionate about what pedagogy, it's hard not to get excited right alongside them.  

Ed kicking off EdCampWalpole - Family Feud Style!

Several of the teachers from the two buildings where I work decided to go out of their comfort zone and share their passions with the rest of the district.  These teachers believe in what they are doing with their students.  

These are teachers who share their expertise with their elementary students on a daily basis, but who aren't usually in front of their colleagues. However, their passion helped them come forward, take a chance and present new and relevant information. 

Suzanne G. sharing Flexible Seating in the classroom

It's TRUE! Teachers learn best from other teachers!  Why? Because teachers are sharing real world experiences.  The teachers are sharing what has worked in their very own classrooms (or  how they revised what might not have worked).  

Erica, Laurie & Diane sharing Google Sites

Teachers from my schools shared how they are using tools to communicate with parents through the use of Seesaw or through the use of a website built using Google Sites. These are teachers are fairly new to presenting. Other teachers shared ideas for various Math topics and another on Flexible Seating.  So proud of their hard work and efforts!

It's TRUE! Teachers learn best from other teachers!  Why? Because teachers know they can relate to and reach out to a colleague if they have a question.  

Discussing Standards Based Report Cards

   All who presented shared their contact information and offered to come and help participants if ever assistance was needed. Even after the the allotted time was up conversations continued where further information was given.  

Carolyn K. sharing 3 Act Math Tasks

It was a great day had by all! Again, to the teachers that presented...I'm so proud that they took a chance and shared their expertise!  I encourage others to do so as well.  We all have gifts that we can and need to impart with our colleagues and other educators across the globe! (Thank you also to all those behind the scenes organizers who made the day successful too!) 

So, even if you are not going to an Edcamp or some other professional development day, think about communicating your ideas with your colleague next door, down the hall, across town or share via Twitter or Facebook.  We love learning from YOU! 

In the comments section, feel free to share a topic you'd like to learn more about or even a topic you shared at a conference or workshop! Thank you.

New Year, New Learning

On the crest of the New Year many of us think about about making resolutions. It makes me wonder...

What percent of people achieve the goals they set for themselves at New Year's?  This post suggests it is only 8%.   So it's not too surprising to realize I've often been a part of the 92% who don't seem to succeed when it comes to New Year's Resolutions.  (More interesting statistics HERE.)

The Forbes article suggests that people have trouble following through because the goals people set are often many and vague.  Therefore, setting smaller goals which are tangible lead to seeing one's goals to fruition.

In my new role as the Digital Learning Coach, I need to be thinking about the types of goals I am setting for myself and my colleagues.  Positively impacting student learning needs to be at the forefront of all my objectives.

The article above also suggest that stating goals publicly also increases the likelihood of succeeding.   So, here are my goals:

• Write a blog post at least once a month reflecting on what's working in my role as DLC and what might not be working. 
• Student Impact: ability to reflect on lessons & make changes that will affect student learning
• Ask at least 2 questions when working with teachers (using these 15 questions as a guide from TeachThought - they can still apply even though they are meant for students)
• Student Impact: These questions will focus around student learning.
• Create & teach at least 2 new Digital Citizenship lessons
• Student Impact: 
• Find at least 2 "coaching" blogs to read & follow
• Student Impact:  learning new ways to help teachers connect technology to content will aid students in their learning.

Should you be interested in setting goals with your students, this site offers 4 Steps to Helping Children Set Goals.   You can email BigJournal and receive a worksheet like this for your students. This site also has some HEALTHY goals for children.

What goals will you set for yourself (or have set for yourself already)? Please share one of your goals with me (as making them public increases the likelihood of succeeding!)


Wishing you a Happy, Healthy & Prosperous New Year!

Friendship

Fourth Grade Friends

Fourth grade is one of those pivotal years when it comes to friendships! Some students have been friends for many years, meeting each other in preschool or kindergarten.  Others are making new friends each year in their new classroom.   Whatever the case may be, there's always a lot happening with friendships on the playground, in the lunchroom and during class time.

While the students are at recess,  I'll take a moment to go outside or watch through the window to get a better sense of which students are playing together.  When students come to me about something that has happened outside, knowing a little bit about their friendships helps them maneuver this part of the school day.

As a class we have been focusing on "kindness" this year. Mostly, we have been focusing on the topic through reading books. Some have included Have You Filled A Bucket Today: A Guide to Daily Happiness for Kids by Carol McCloud; Ordinary Mary's Extraordinary Deed by Emily Pearson; Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson & The Boy Who Grew Flowers by Jennifer Wojtowicz.  Our class has even participated in two Twitter chats (#4thbookchat) around the last 2 books.  While these books speak to the theme of 'kindness' they also touch upon 'friendship'.

Qualities of a Good Friend

Recently, the students had a guidance lesson around the topic of Friendship.  The lesson got interrupted and so it wasn't quite finished.  In an effort to wrap up the lesson, I asked the students to share some information about qualities they thought friends possess and to provide evidence of those qualities. Here's a sampling of what these sweet 10 year olds had to say about friendship.  Qualities that were most stated were Loyal, Trustworthy & Caring.

Even more amazing were their responses to the open ended question of "What else can you say about friendship".  Here is what these 4th graders had to say:

• "Friendship is one of the most important things in your life and you should stay in touch and hang out"; 
• "If you didn't have friends you would be lonely and not have fun."
• "Friendship means that your friends don’t make fun of you if you are not great at something or even if you don’t know how to do something. "
• "In a friendship you should always include others because that's the nicest thing you can do."
• "Friends help you no matter what!"
• "Having friends makes you want to be more social and make more friends."
• "If you are not selfish you will have a better time keeping your friends."
• "Make good choices with the friends you have. Maybe once or twice you will have a fight but that is normal."

    

Lifelong Friends

• "Friendship is hard to earn but easy to lose!"

While in elementary school we continue to help students navigate the fine art of making and keeping friends, it's nice to know that these students have some definite ideas about mutual trust and understanding. It just goes to show that these kiddos have a strong foundation to build upon.

What do you do to promote "good friendships"?

RESOURCES:

PBS: Parenting: Raising Girls: Understanding Elementary School Friendships
Parenting Science: How to Help Kids Make Friends
Health Line: 10 Top Friendship Games & Activities
Today's Parent: How to Help your Child Make Friends
Understood: 7 Ways the Teacher Can Help Your Child Make Friends