Swimming in a Sea of Blog Posts

There are so many great edtech blogs and bloggers, that you can quickly feel overwhelmed.  You could bookmark every blog, but what fun is that? 

I was a Google Reader user, but alas Google discontinued the service and I had to find another way to organize and curate all of the blogs and bloggers I follow.  That is where Feedly came in!

Feedly allows you to organize all of your blogs into one location. You can group blogs into collections.  For example, I currently have two collections - admin blogs and education resources.

You can change how the blogs appear on the screen. I like having them in chronological order.  You can also click on a specific blog and view a list of those blog posts.

To add a blog, you simply click on the "Add Content" button and type in the blog URL.  From there, you can select which collection or group you want this blog to be apart of.

Blog posts can also be shared out via Twitter and Facebook (just two examples) within Feedly. I frequent the share to Twitter so I can share what I'm reading with the PLN.

This is just scratching the surface of Feedly!  This is a great resource curate and share out blog posts. Check it out!

What's Your Story?

On Tuesday, this reflective Tweet came across my feed.  It made me think, what are we doing as educators to promote our story, our students, our district? Are we doing a good enough job promoting all of the great things happening in education?

You can call it "telling your story" or "branding yourself" but they both mean the same thing - sharing with others what is happening in your world.

Social media allows educators to quickly and continuously share the great stories and events happening in their district.  Social media is also the avenue used to express negative and frustrating stories. While we want to be transparent, we don't want to sit back and let others tell OUR story.

So how do you share the awesomeness of your district?

In my district, we starting using the hashtag #BeGreat and #BeGreatPGSD on Twitter and Facebook. We also encourage our educators and administrators to share stories via social media, including the arts, academics, athletics, and moments of greatness. Every school has a Facebook page, as well as out district and several departments. We use these pages to share information, like holidays and upcoming events. We also have moments of greatness, including recognition of students, educators, schools, and groups.

Social media isn't the only way you can promote your classroom, school, or district. You can tell your story through newsletters, yard signs, billboards, and even shirts. At the beginning of this year, we have great community support - showcasing our "Be Great" theme on billboards.

 

Every year, the entire district receives a t-shirt for our beginning of the year convocation. These shirts can be seen all over the community through the year and helps promote our district. BE GREAT! was this year's shirt. You can still find previous shirts in the community, including 100%, Destination Graduation, and #1.

 

READ! READ! READ! This year, our superintendent stood outside local businesses promoting reading at home. He, as well as several administrators, gave out packets to parents with resources for reading at home. This simple act of promoting reading in the community shows our passion for students learning and the commit we have in the community.

Wayne Rodolfich, Pascagoula-Gautier SD Superintendent

Stewart Smirtwaite, Trent Lott Academy Principal

Every action is telling your story. Every action is showcasing the awesomeness in your district. Every action is providing stakeholders with a glimpse at what happens in our schools everyday.

If you are not sure where to start, below are two great resources to check out!

BOOK - The Power of Branding: Telling Your School's Story

PODCAST - Telling Your School's Story: Why, How, Tools

How are you sharing your story? How are you branding your district? Share your ideas with us!

professional learning is everywhere - just have to know where to look

I continually go back to Brad Currie's blog post, 100 Minutes a Week. The post talks about how you can spend just 20 minutes a day on professional learning.  Take a moment and read the post! I frequently have to remind myself it just takes 20 minutes.

Read a book, follow a hashtag, watch a webinar, read a blog post, and listen to a podcast.  Five simply ways you can gain personalized professional learning!

Lets look at each one and some go-to resources for each.  Of course, take some time and read (or reread Brad Currie's blog post above).

(1) Read a Book
New books are published everyday and just like textbooks, some are outdated the moment it hits the shelves.  I have come across a great series of books published by Corwin Press.  These are the Connected Educator series.  The books are quick reads, but full of useful information. I started with The Relevant Educator and find myself going back to it often as a reference.  Check out the Connected Educator's Series by Corwin Press.

(2) Follow a Hashtag
I have been on Twitter since 2009 and I haven't looked back!  I am able to connect with edtech gurus 24/7 and gain endless amounts of personalized learning.  A hashtag on Twitter is like a divider in a notebook.  Everything related to science goes behind the science divider in my notebook.  Think of hashtags like dividers.  There are hashtags for EVERYTHING and there are new ones created everyday.  One great place to check out is hashtag list on Cybrary Man's website. Don't let the list scare you, find your interest and go from there!

(3) Watch a Webinar
Webinars are great. I can watch from anywhere and if it is pre-recorded, I can pause and rewind. You can find webinars on sites like SimpleK12 and edWeb. Educational companies will also host webinars related to the product. These are helpful if you are thinking of making a purchase.

(4) Read a Blog Post
Blogs are great. Blogs are a way educators can share their failures, successes, and "verbalize" ideas. You can find classroom arrangement ideas, themed units, and thought provoking topics on blogs.  Some blogs, like Fifth in the Middle, provides lists of blogs by state.  You can also find some great blog suggestions here. (shameless plug for my Pinterest board) If you find yourself starting to follow a variety of blogs, take a look at Feedly. Feedly puts all of your followed blog posts in one location.

(5) Listen to a Podcast
Podcasts are my go-to resource when I have to drive alone. It is a great way to learn new ideas and forget about the fact you are driving somewhere for three hours!  Now, don't forget that you ARE DRIVING and if you need to write something down, pull over! I have the Podcast app on my phone and I am currently listening to Edchat Podcast, Edtechchat Podcast, Satchat Podcast, and Every Classroom Matters. A great list of Podcasts can be found on the BamRadioNetwork website.

That is a lot to digest!  I had a participant ask me during this year's MECA (MS Educational Computing Association) Conference how do you not feel overwhelmed.  If you go 100% on each suggestion, you will start to feel overwhelmed and want to through your hands up.  Find one or two that really click for you.  This is what is so great about personalized learning.  You pick the learning avenue!  If Twitter is your thing, then drive into Twitter.  If you are a visual learner, podcasts might not be for you.  You get to decide!

Did I miss a great resource?  Please share!

eva

Chrome Extensions for Teachers and Students

 I have several Chrome Extensions that I have downloaded and use, but these are three of my favorite Chrome Extensions!  Do you have a favorite?  Share them with us!

SnagIt

I am a big fan of SnagIt. You can clip images and take videos from within your browser.  Everything you do saves automatically to Google Drive.  Want more information on SnagIt, check out the resources below.

~ SnagIt for Chrome

~ screencasting with SnagIt

MoveIt

MoveIt is a great resource for teachers to get kids up and moving!  MoveIt provides quick movement breaks on the intervals you select. The movements include pushups, arm rotations, and wall sits.

 

Clearly

Clearly is part of EverNote.  Clearly allows the user to remove the "extra stuff" on a website for an easier read. You can also print out the easier read. This is a great resource for teachers who want to use current web articles, but want the students to focus on the article and not the side ads.

What is your favorite Chrome Extension?

 

just be a good role model

Last weekend, I took my 10 year old daughter to a birthday party.  Twenty minutes into the party, one of the girls pulled out her cell phone and they all got together for several group photos.  My immediate thought was "I hope these girls are good digital citizens". I then looked around at the adults and felt ashamed and annoyed!  We ALL were playing on our cell phones.  We weren't watching our children skate or talking with each other. We were too involved in our phones and not in the moment.

We can talk about lessons, posters, videos, and activities that help students better understand what it means to be a good digital citizen ..but.. are we modeling what we say?

Our actions speak volumes to the world around us.  At that party, the actions of the moms (including myself) was the phone was more important than interacting with each other and watching our own children.

We have to be good role models when it comes to being a good digital citizen. We have to show our children and students there is a time and place for cell phones (and technology) and that time and place is not 24/7.  We have to show our children and students that limits need to be set and enforced not only for them but for us as well. 

We have to show our children and students WHAT we post and share is just as important as how often we pick up the device.

We have to be role models and let our actions speak louder than our lessons, posters, videos, and activities.

Android Resources for PreK-Kindergarten Classrooms

Recently, my district added Nexus Tablets into the Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten classrooms. Below are a few Android apps that would fit nicely in a Pre-K/K classroom. Added bonus, these apps are available on iPad too!

  
Alphabet Organizer by the International Reading Association is a free app for Android (and iPad). This app allows for multiple users, so students can save their work and not worry about the work disappearing.  Students can create two projects: words only or one word & picture per letter. The projects allow the students to create electronic word walls.

Breathe, Think, Do with Sesame by the Sesame Workshop is a free app for Android (and iPad). This app provides activities for the students to interact with while learning how to calmly problem solve. This is a good resource for teachers to suggest for parent to download and use at home. Teachers could also use this app to help students understand how to calm down and solve day to day problems.

   

  
Scratch, Jr is a great, free app for students to get engage with coding.  Scratch Jr is available for Android (and iPad).  You can also access Scratch on the web.  Scratch is for students 8 and up while Scratch Jr is for younger students.

 

  
Peppa's Paintbox by Entertainment One. This is a free app for Android and iPad. This is a nice app to let your students' artist side out. Students can paint with a variety of colors, add stickers, and effects to their art work.

There are several apps out there made by Eggroll Games. Those are available for Android and iPad.  They do have free and paid versions, but are worth the download. 

Do you have any great Android apps you use in the classroom? Share them with us!

two months... really?!

Has it really been two months since my last blog post??  Really?!  So much has happened this summer.

ISTE
This was my third ISTE I had the awesome opportunity to attend.  I had the chance to facilitate two snapshot sessions.  I enjoy working with teachers and helping them blur that line between curriculum and technology. Connecting with my PLN as well as growing my PLN energizes me for the school year.  I'm still going through notes from the conference.  The collaborative notes rock!

Job Change
I have been with the Pascagoula-Gautier SD since Jan 2002.  I am a proud PGSD employee! I started out in a classroom with some awesome 2nd grade students.  In 2009, I had the opportunity to become our district's first Technology Integration Specialist.  Working with teachers was the best.  I was constantly learning new resources and tools for K-12 teachers. In July, the district selected me as the next Director of Technology for PGSD.

So... why haven't I blogged this summer??  I hate to say it, but no time.  Time should not be my excuse.  Brad Currie says it's simple, 20 minutes a day for PD. Click here to read his blog.

This is my way to remind myself to get back to daily PD and blogging.  Break time over!