Amber — Page 79

Mathmatically amused!

March 7, 2013 by Amber Leave a Comment

I have a great post on math stations boiling but before I can organize all those thoughts, I must introduce you to this site…or even more importantly, this game…

5th grade is talking about prime numbers right now, which would tie right into this, but I think with the mental math and model drawing that we are ALL doing, this game would be perfect for getting those facts in our head! Plus…the challenge! 🙂

The tagline on the website is sensible strategies + engaging games = eager students…and I have to agree! This game sucked in the 5th grade class I watching in not only to find and get a zero, but to also do it faster than their other classmates. A win win!

LimboN,

Amber

Center-citement!

March 7, 2013 by Amber Leave a Comment

Had the opportunity last week to visit classrooms at a neighboring campus. It was SO much fun! I loved getting to see their different styles of hall way management, cafeteria crowd control, and even some fun math lessons!

I wanted to share some of the center greatness that I saw. Why was I impressed? Well, it a 5th grade classroom for one. Usually, you think centers and you think younger grades…this was a excellent example of how it can (and should!) be used with intermediate grades. It was also a MATH classroom. Not the first subject you think of when you think centers, eh? I’m a big fan of centers mainly because of how easy it is to raise the level of Bloom’s in your classroom. If you look at your lesson plans, it’s probably obvious to see the “content”, the “what” of what you are teaching..but what about your students’ thinking skills, the how?

What does critical thinking look like in your classroom? Are learners active and in a continuous dialogue with you? Are you feeding them information or are they discovering it on their own? Are questions answered with explanations?

There are so many different benefits to a classroom where high level, student centered and student facilitated learning is key…but the greatest one has to be the higher acceptance and social level in your room. Students are welcome and want to go chasing after some crazy idea because they know it is accepted and encouraged.

Anywho. Off topic. Centers are an easy way to help make that happen.

Each student had to complete (with a partner/team/individually) each activity. The teacher walked around and was able to dedicate some serious on eon one time to students who weren’t understand the concept. With these activities, it was easy to see who didn’t understand.

Give it a try! We have an awesome IST who would love to help you make this happen in your classroom!

AmMath

A social media sabbatical…or why social media isn’t for sissies…

March 7, 2013 by Amber Leave a Comment

Today is November 30th, 2012. I, Amber Teamann, of sound body and sound mind, do hereby declare a social media sabbatical.

Sounds so solemn, eh? Totally mean it. I am vowing to take the ENTIRE month of December off from social media. No FB, no twitter, no instagram. No Tumblr stalking or meme talking. I am taking a break.

Why? Amongst many a post of “unfriending them all” and “following them all”.

Amongst be yourself! no wait, be professional! no wait!

Amongst “facebook is the devil” and “don’t be the old, unrelatable person who ISN’T on social media”. I’ve made a decision.

Sigh.

I am taking a month. A month to read, evaluate, and get some perspective on the kind of leader I want to be. The one who has relationships with their employees because of SM transparency? Or the one who dies on their transparent sword? Can you be transparent without SM in 2012? Are you stronger/weaker because of it?

Is everything I’ve waxed poetically necessarily true? Can I be a relational leader in this day and age and NOT be on social media? If so, how? Will that add a layer of complexity and “extra” to my plate?

Flip it. If you’re NOT involved in social media does that make you less of a leader? What can you do to develop those relationships without it? (It obviously wasn’t a problem some 10 years ago…so it HAS to be true.) But can it work for ME?

It’a lot to think about, right? That’s why I am taking a WHOLE month. Will my whole PLN be there when I get back? Will the “surface” relationships I have through all these avenues fade? What does that say about them? How much do I dedicate to those who may or may not be…worth it. (So harsh!)

It’s going to take more of an effort to keep up with my IRL friends. I might actually have to make REAL phone calls.

GULP.

It’s a good month to take a break seeing as how we’ll all be super busy. And I do still plan on blogging. (It’s a work necessity, :))

I’ll see you in a month. (I hope.)

epiphany seekN,

Amber

Sabbatical Sense…or why I’m back!

March 7, 2013 by Amber Leave a Comment

Back in November, I decided to take a social media sabbatical. I really wanted to reevaluate why I was as involved as I was online and what my true purpose entailed. Professionally, I’d been burned this past semester and needed some distance. Personally, I felt overwhelmed and unsure of my “presence”. ( I really have THAT many friends??) (albeit, this prolly had more to do with the being burned part.;))

GC wrote a post about the irony of trying to keep your personal life and professional life separate and how impossible he thought that was.

After my sabbatical, I concur.

I asked the question of whether it was essential for a leader to be involved in SM: whether it be FB or Twitter or whatnot, and at the end of my month, I do know that for me, it is. I was no less busy, no less occupied, but I did feel as if I was missing something.

I read several books…but had no one to discuss them with.

I thought several PD thoughts…but had no one to dissect them with.

I had several questions…but no one to ask them.

The brevity of learning through my PLN is unmatched through blogs, texts, or even phone calls. Not knowing and being involved with my teachers (some who are true FRIENDS), was difficult. I genuinely felt as if I wasn’t able to connect in the ways that were important to me. Some days are SO busy, I don’t get to every classroom, but being able to interact through a form of SM keeps me connected.

While talking to a colleague at work, whose opinion I definitely value, she again pointed out that 10 years ago, it wasn’t necessary to be “online” to be successful, and those people did just fine. Compare that thought to a fabulous sorority sister who I shared that with and she said, “Yea…but this isn’t the same world!”

And that’s the bottom line. I can’t lead from a place of fear. I can’t be different than who I am. I will be involved because it DOES make me a better person, and hopefully, a better leader.

So there.

sabbatical stopN,

Amber

PS: VERY curious as to other admin’s thoughts on “friending/tweeting” your teachers…and what your experience has been!