Category: Instructional Strategy

So Cool: Tech Tools Drive Cultural Exploration

Something Cool I Saw Today

[Using Tech Tools to Explore Folklore Through a Lens of Cultural Connections]

My favorite part:  This group of second graders is totally engaged and owning their learning…So Cool!

These students are working with the wonderful Mrs. Stayer to explore folklore. They began by looking at communities around the world with some virtual travel via GOOGLE EARTH. As they traveled they made connections by learning that each of the places they visited has some folklore associate with it.  They read and discussed the folklore.  In these pictures they’re using CUTUREGRAM to explore further. According to Mrs. Stayer CULTUREGRAM is INCREDIBLE!  It’s a database that you can get to through the Michigan e-library (http://mel.org/) in which you will find all kinds of incredible information and artifacts about the world that you and your students live in.  You can view flags, hear national anthems, find out about natural resources and commerce, check out pop culture, and much more.  Mrs. Stayer thinks that any teacher who goes to the database will immediately think of 10 great ideas for incorporating it into his/her instructional plan.  If you’d like to discuss it further you can always contact Mrs. Stayer at es11bps@birmingham.k12.mi.us – she loves to collaborate!

Again, the thing that I really appreciated about the learning that I saw taking place today is that the students were totally engaged.  As you can see in the pictures above, some students were at the computers engaged in ongoing explorations and others were working on various components of the project around the media center.  Mrs. Stayer is an incredibly intentional planner.  Her front-loading with information, tools, activities, and expectations really goes a long way to get her students authentically excited and engaged.  This example is a testament to the fact that 21st century teaching and learning is not simply the integration of new technologies but the purposeful planning of lessons, activities, projects, and outcomes that include relevant and connected content, strategies, and tools.  Way to go Mrs. Stayer – So Cool!

 

 

 

365 Lessons: Stretching = Growth

365 Lessons

(Critical Thinking About What The World Is Teaching Me Every Day)

#35 Stretch 2, 3, 4 

[Lesson Break Down]

I’ve become used to what I’m used to.  I like my routines.  Coming in just before my routines on the list of things I like is learning and growing.  Ironically, stepping out of my routines, taking reasonable risks, and trying new things has always proven to be a sure path toward learning and growth.

_______________________________________________________

I love to stretch.  I do it every morning and every evening (unless of course I skip it in favor of sleeping in or sitting on the couch eating a bowl of chocolate ice cream).  The point is that I’m in a pretty consistent routine of stretching on a daily basis.  I do it because it makes me feel good and it helps me stay in relatively decent shape.  I try to work out at least three day a week.  When I do, stretching helps my body adjust to the exercise and adapt to the resulting physical impacts.  It helps me grow in positive ways.

Two things happened recently that reminded me to stretch in other ways.  First, my three-year-old ate a piece of chicken.  Granted, he cringed and spit it back out almost immediately…but he ate it.  We were siting at dinner the other night, enjoying what in my estimation was an extremely tasty meal, when we noticed that he wasn’t eating.  He loves chicken but he’s particular about how it’s prepared.  This was something new.  My wife has a, “you don’t have to eat it but you do have to try it,” policy.  The kid starred it down for a moment, took a deep breath, and popped a piece in his mouth.  One or two chews later it was back on the plate.  We all clapped (including our one-year-old), there was some laughing and hugging, and I made a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for the little risk taker.  He didn’t appreciate the new recipe but he found that out by giving it a try.

The other reminder came in the form of a conversation with my mentor during which he literally said, “My greatest growth comes when I stretch myself.”  I agreed, and I agree.  I truly value stepping out of my comfort zone, taking opportunities to learn from exploration, and reflecting on my experiences.  As much as I respect and appreciate that kind of stretching, I do get lazy at times. It was important for me to hear him articulate it.  Sometimes I need these kinds of reminders to keep myself on track, especially when I forget that staying on track means steering off of it periodically.

So Cool: Mixing in the Audio for Effect

Something Cool I saw Today

[Examples of 21st Century Teaching & Learning I See Every Day]

Today I worked with a group of students who had just finished reading The Danger Box by author Blue Balliett.  After reading the book they had an opportunity to meet the author who spoke at the local library.  They had a great evening hearing about how she thinks about writing, what inspires her, and how she works.  They decided to take some pictures and videos so that they could share their experience with other students.  In the editing process they used audio from a reflective discussion to enhance the video component.  They used altered timing and creative transitions to enhance the production – So Cool!

Super Cool Video Editing

Positive…Relevant…Critical: Peer Feedback – Super Cool!

[Something Cool I Saw Today]

Mrs. Connelly’s third graders are always engaged in the writing process.  The learning is phenomenal!  Yesterday I saw some drafts that had a unique twist on peer feedback attached to them.  The positive feedback structure that they’re using is awesome.  The editing notes that her students are putting forth for one another are relevant to the work they’re doing, they speak to the skills they’re learning and practicing, they give the writer ownership over his/her process, and they’re authentic and positive…SUPER COOL!

Super Cool Work On Display!

A Few Drafts

Some Comments Up Close

Great Work Mrs. Connelly’s Class…Super Cool!

365 Lessons: #32 Minor Frustrations vs. Critical Challenges

365 Lessons

(Critical Thinking About What The World Is Teaching Me Every Day)

#32 Selective Frustration

 

[Lesson Break Down] 

Some things are not worth staying frustrated about.  Every day is filled with a series of experiences.  Some experiences are mild, some are exciting, some are frustrating, and so on.  I’m learning to be selective about which frustrating experiences I hold on to and which ones I leave right where I find them.

_______________________________________________________

It’s not easy to avoid GETTING frustrated by frustrating things.  However, I’m finding out that it’s possible to avoid STAYING frustrated.  So, when a car cuts me off, or when I spill coffee on my white shirt, or when I slip on a patch of ice, or when someone who I may never see again is rude to me, I have a variety of choices – and two in particular.  I can fuel the frustration by over analyzing it, talking about it in negative ways, and/or letting in stick around in some other form or fashion.  Conversely, I can walk right past it.  It sound much easier than it is at first, but it becomes much easier each time I do it. The key is being able to distinguish between minor frustrations and critical challenges; likewise – difficult at first and increasingly less difficult with patience and practice.

It’s nothing new.  “Just let it go,” has been excellent advice for dealing with minor frustrations since the beginning of time.  And it’s nothing new to me.  I’ve understood the concept for a while.  Of course understanding and mastery are two different things.  Also, I do find frustration to be a productive emotion when I can use it to perpetuate critical thinking about something that is worth the time.  As a husband, a father, and an educator there are lots of challenges that must be addressed for my benefit and the benefit of my wife, my children, my students (their families), and my colleagues.  Today I’m thinking about tools that help me to convert frustration into positive thinking and action.  Here’s how I’m looking at it:

 

Minor Frustration   1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10  Critical Challenge

 

–       1-4 I smile and walk away.

–       5-7 gets a few extra moments of thought and maybe a light-hearted mention.

–       Above an 8 requires some serious critical thinking and hopefully a resolution.

365 Lessons: #13 On My Watch

365 Lessons

(Critical Thinking About What The World Is Teaching Me Every Day)

#13 On My Watch 

[Lesson Break Down]

 Learning takes time.  More frequently than not the effects of learning aren’t fully accessible by the learner immediately.  Even when lessons are understood and appreciated they need to be processed, practiced, and perpetuated. 

_______________________________________________________

I had an interesting conversation with a colleague yesterday afternoon.  He reminded me of a conversation that we’ve had repeatedly over the course of time, the topic of which has been:  The learning that we impart on our students isn’t always visible during the time they spend with us, or in other words, “they don’t always blossom on our watch.”  Ironically, I know this.  Still, it’s not my default.  I find myself looking for students to learn and be able to demonstrate that learning right away, which is kind of silly because I know that the best learning comes from repeated connections, authentic opportunities for application, and relevant ties.  I want my 3 year old and my 1 year old to understand that they should clean up the game they’re playing before they dump the contents of another game onto the living room floor.  I’ve told them frequently.  However, they’re 3 and 1.  And again, I know that people, young and old, aren’t “on the spot” learners…they’re processors.

As teachers, we provide a relatively invisible product.  Sure our students can present final drafts of persuasive writing pieces, capstone projects that illustrate learning and development over time, and geometry unit tests, but we’re often not around to celebrate (or share the credit for) the real outcomes of our work.  Arguably, the primary goal of educators and our education systems is to guide students through the process of becoming well rounded, happy, healthy, and productive members of our global community.  Much of the time we spend with them contributes to that end in ways we may never know about.  If society is a garden, teachers typically do things like clear and till plots of land, design spaces and build retaining walls, weed, plant seeds, water, etc.  We often see the results of our passion and labor from a distance.  Lesson #13 reminds me of how important critical reflection is.  Our students are not always showing us all that they know and are able to do.  The key is that they are able to access and apply it as needed – whether or not we’re around.

Cross Curricular Canoe Trip – So Cool!

Something Cool I Saw Today

Mrs. Ables 3rd grade class is using literature to enhance their Social Studies learning.

They’re reading the book Paddle to the Sea in which the character “Paddle” is doing just that.  They did some research on the the great lakes and made the amazingly cool map that you see below.  They marked the map off with lots of great information about Michigan and it’s waterways.  Now, as they read about Paddle’s journey, they’re literally following him in their own canoe – passing and thinking critically about Michigan’s landmarks as they go.

Making connections, working together, being creative, having fun, learning…Super Cool!

THE AMAZINGLY COOL MAP

PARTS OF THE AMAZINGLY COOL MAP (note the class in the canoe)

Are you doing something similar?

How could you adapt this activity to fit your content?

What would you do to follow up?

Leave a comment or contact me if you have any ideas or input:)

365 Lessons: #11 Everyday Failures Are Opportunities For Success

365 Lessons

(Critical Thinking About What The World Is Teaching Me Every Day)

#11 Everyday Failures Are Opportunities For Success

 

[Lesson Break Down] 

Failure is often seen as the antithesis of success.  In fact, it’s not.  Failure, processed effectively, is the ultimate catalyst for success – which is a continuum, not an end.  Accepting failure as one step along the path of success delivers daily opportunities.

 _______________________________________________________

What a day!  Yesterday was filled with opportunities.  I must have been knocked down half a dozen times before noon.  How wonderful – right?  It sure didn’t feel that way as it was happening.  I know that Edison and his team couldn’t get their glass globes to light up hundreds of times before they could.  I know that many of them wanted to give up.  And I know that Edison celebrated every failed attempt as another way not to make a light bulb.  The more of those he compiled the closer he came to exhausting them in favor of one way to make a light bulb.  I know that Dr. Seuss submitted many manuscripts before having one accepted and that Jackson Pollock couldn’t sell a painting for years before he could sell any painting he produced.

Two days ago a attended a great presentation about raising boys in America.  I’ve got two sons so the content was particularly meaningful.  One of the areas of focus was that boys in our society are traditionally engrained with the notion that failure is not masculine.  As a result they have difficulty managing it, which is a shame because it’s such an incredible tool (as illustrated by anyone who has every been successful).  Our paths are paved with repeated setbacks.   I worked hard yesterday hold off the prideful frustration of momentary letdowns and keep the critical learning in mind.  Some days it’s more difficult than others.  I’m getting better at it.  It feels good.  I plan to continue succeeding with failure as one of my most effective tools.

Cool School Tool: Wikis For DIgital Backpacks

The following video comes from the incredible instructional design of Barbie Sansone who is building Digital Backpacks on her class wiki so that she, her students, and her student’s parent’s can think critically about their development over time. Please let me know if you have questions about wikis or digital backpacks and join me on twitter @bergseyeview to share more collaborative learning.  Have a great week!

365 Lessons: #10 Being Good At Imagination Is Good!

365 Lessons

(Critical Thinking About What The World Is Teaching Me Every Day)

#10 Imagination Can Be Reality If You’re Good At It

 

[Lesson Break Down]

Imagination is the driver of creativity and innovation.  It’s the force that allows us to believe in things only we can see, hear, feel, and/or conceive of.  It’s the power that convinces us that we can bring those things into the light of other people’s vision.  Imagination is among the things that make life wonderful.  Children are great at it.  Given that we were each children, we can remember how to be great at it as too.

__________________________________________

I was at an extended family dinner last night with my wife and two sons.  One of the boys took a break from the table to run around in the basement for while.  My niece and I went down to supervise.  My niece is 12 years old.  As my son ran in circles (and ovals, and squiggly lines, etc.) my niece watched with a smile on her face.  She turned me a said, “Uncle Seth, we see a little boy running around in circles but he probable sees a jungle filled with trees, and plants, and insects, and animals that he’s chasing and playing with.”

It was a great moment on many levels.  First, I had cause to marvel at how insightful and mature my niece has become.  Also, I got my lesson for the day.  When did I lose the capacity to automatically default to imagination?  Is there a threshold that people pass through as we grow from children to adults that causes our imaginations to move back and out of the way?  Does the world around us come increasingly into focus or do the magical parts quiet and dull.  It was cool to hear a 12-year-old comment on the imagination of a 3-year-old.  I thought, she’s not that far out from where she could see the world like he does.

Most of what my little guys see, think, and feel is brand spanking new.  They’re in the throws of a series of firsts.  My niece and I hopped down off the couch and joined in the jungle hunt that was taking place just a few feet in front of us.  Somewhat to my surprise, and completely to my excitement – I could do it!  I could see the trees, the plants, the insects, and the animals.  I could feel the excitement and enjoy the adventure.  Granted, not everything I experience is totally new.  However, I am capable of using my creativity and my imagination to make it fun, exciting, and even magical.  Today I’m learning that practicing that skill is incredibly worthwhile.  Being able to connect with the amazing world of discovery as I once did without effort seems like a good way to enhance myself as a husband, a father, a son, a brother, a learner, and a teacher.  I’ll keep an eye out for opportunities and try to stay aware of the results.