my version of transparent, collaborative leadership...with a Teamann twist

What the #EduLounge was…and wasn’t…

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cfSaturday was the kickoff for the Classflow #EduLounge tour. Besides the fact that I got to hang out with educational rockstars like Tom Whitby, Steven Anderson, and Nick Provazano, I was able to be a part of something designed to be different. Taking a spin from the success of edcamps, which is a nontraditional way to go about PD, the Educators Lounge wants to make you think about learning different.

 

 

What Saturday was:

  • Casual- No formal attire needed here, it was more about what you hearing than you were wearing. It was supposed to be a come as you are, learn as you want- type of day. You were able to come and go as you pleased, and there were snacks and drinks available. Held at the Lakewood Theater in Dallas, the entire vibe was casual and comfortable.
  • Inspirational- Listening to Arvin Ross was incredible. This young man has overcome more in his 22 years than many of us see in a lifetime. He spoke about unlocking your creative genius, but that isn’t want I took away. He made the statement that his life was changed when his teachers took him out for coffee, and let him know that their biggest priority wasn’t him getting an A in their class. He reminded me that if you can make a connection with a child, if you unleash his passion for learning, you’ll never have to force them to lean anything.
  • Reaffirming- Doing things differently is ok. Sticking your head in the sand and pretending that status quo is going to grow a generation of innovative thinker isn’t ok. There was an underlying message that encouraged taking risks, working through your failures, and taking chances in your classroom. A high schooler who had his phone taken away and was reprimanded shrugged and went on to become the CEO of the iSchool initiative, which  is introducing  a students-teaching-teachers approach to professional development to share a new perspective with teachers and administrators. Their mission:  revolutionize the American education system through technology and promote a culture of lifelong learning.

 

What Saturday wasn’t:

  • About an app, a device, or a tool: I had the realization on the drive home that not one time were any of the speakers promoting an app or a tool as a way to change the world. Rarely in eduland these days do you find that to be true! While, thankfully, the student consumer push is fading, it still was impressive to think back through the day and realize the speakers didn’t focus on a “silver bullet”, but rather a way of thinking.
  • Increasing your stress level There was no pressure. There were no expectations. Being able to mingle in the crowd and have follow up conversations with the speakers allowed everyone to connect and dial down to what mattered to them. Nick walked a teacher through creating a “genius hour” mindset in his middle school classroom, despite lack of funds or technology. Tech specialists from Rockwall connected with the iSchool Initiative team about bringing them out. I don’t know about you, but typically at a conference, I don’t get to have follow up time with the folks that presented that interested me.
  • A financial drain. This event was free. From the light snacks to the heavier horderves, to the motivating speakers…there was no cost. The vent was also live streamed, so those not around in Dallas were able to watch as well. I know several people who had commitments but streamed it and benefited as well. In a day of budget cuts and extremely fiscally conscious districts, conferences that cost an arm and a leg just aren’t attainable for most people.The Educators Lounge is giving you access to the Godfather of Twitter and the closing Keynote of #ISTE13…for free!

 

I am so thankful to have been a part of this day. If you missed it and are interested in the stream, it has been archived and is available. I encourage you to check out the website, The Educators Lounge, and see when a Classflow event is coming your way!

 

classflow

 

A Proud lounger,

Amber

Not how…but WILL you be remembered?

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I had gathered up all of my things one day last week and was walking out the door when my phone rang. To further avoid my dentist appointment, I answered it abruptly, “Teamann”.  A sweet little voice said, “Hi Mrs. Teamann, I’m sure you don’t remember me but….”

It was a former Beaver student that I had taught calling to invite me to an academic banquet that he was being recognized at, and he wanted me to be his guest. That little voice turned out to be a practically grown student whom I did in fact remember. In fact, I tore apart my picture closet that night trying to find the picture I had of he and I had a baseball game of his that I went too. I can even remember what I was wearing, and that we were both squinting at the sun in the picture. (Random, I know.)

The fact that this student, whose full name I so enjoyed calling him by, took the time to hunt me down and invite me just warmed my heart. Now a senior, about to go off to college, practically done with his Garland ISD experience, took the time to make contact with me…it made me happier than any award or prize that I could have gotten this year.

An additional funny…sweet Mason brought me his invitation the day that we were under a tornado threat. He walked in, smiled at me, and I promptly ushered him into the clinic bathroom with the rest of the office staff to duck and cover.

When you are beaten down by testing stress, buried underneath initiatives & changes, or exhausted by paperwork and deadlines…please remember that you don’t do this job for hours or the paychecks. You do this job because you have the opportunity to be the one of the BEST parts of these children’s lives. To be remembered and respected for the impact that you made on their impressionable lives. Never take that lightly. Mason probably doesn’t remember a single assignment or test I gave him that year…but he remembered me.

I will be honored to join Mason and his family next week.

 

honored,

Amber

#r10tech: Don’t let being connected be an option!

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This is the presentation being shared at the Region X Technology Conference.

 

For your convenience…

Be more dog: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMzgl0nFj3s

Girls first ski jump: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ebtGRvP3ILg

Principal Meltdown: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDASxk5kiDw

 

 

Thanks for coming to my session, or looking into the resources! 🙂

 

sharing is nice,

Amber

 

 

 

 

 

Initiate change? Of course you can! #R10tech

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I had the opportunity  today to present at the Region 10 technology conference. As always, I come away amazed at the work of the Region X team. This conference has evolved over the years into a must attend the event for the Region X area. From session flow to strategic sessions, to participant size to the addition this year of FOOD TRUCKS…they are doing it right!

 

The conversations today with educators from around the area was so refilling. I appreciate so much the passion behind what they are all doing. Some are in district level positions, some are campus administrators, and some are classroom teachers. What I’ve found is that those who are willing to miss a day and all that entails are the ones willing to have the conversations that are going to initiate change.

I said in my presentation today that if you think you need a title to be a leader, then you may not yet be ready for that responsibility.  Anyone can make a difference…after all, even the biggest wave started out as just a breeze!

Classroom teachers can make change happen by adopting genius hour, by becoming connected to other learners, to challenging the status quo. Differentiate…get creative, turn the power to choose how they  learn over to your students. Not completely, oh naysayers of mine, but even just a lesson a week can start a wave….its ok not to do what you’ve always done. 

Building leaders can make changes by modeling what it means to be a lifelong learner, by allowing teachers to TRY new things, and to feel comfortable in FAILing if that’s what happens.  Encourage conferences, encourage learning, be the LEAD learner not just by title, but in action.

District support staff can initiate change by offering support, encouraging new ideas, by asking different questions. Offer to be in classrooms, or do more research on an idea…help a teacher make connections with innovators in the area at hand.  There’s no need to recreate the wheel if some other awesome educator has tried it  before.

Edupeeps in district level positions can initiate change by being willing to be transparent in their own learning, to open up and be flexible in what good ol’traditional teaching has to look like. Get to an edcamp, attend a national conference…let yourself break free from the educational silo you may find yourself in.

We all have the power to make change…we just have to be willing to “be more dog”.

 

Educator proud,

Amber

Take it up a notch…just a notch! Easy lesson upgrades…

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How can you easily take an assignment you’ve already got in your lesson plans and kick it up notch? Here are some easy ideas for those who need a spark to kick it up a notch!

 

  1. Pick three – five students to ask to create a lesson on what you’re learning about, instead of completing your assessment. Let them choose the grading scale, manner of delivery. Allow them then to pick three – five students to share it with, while you’re going over what you had planned to assess with the rest of the class.
  2. Vocabulary Expert: Let students choose vocabulary words from the lesson you’re about to teach that they feel they know so well they could teach them. Match partners and allow them ten minutes to teach what they know. (What better way to start a lesson then with students feeling successful?)
  3. Let Ss create their own assessment. One of our amazing teachers let her students do this as a cumulative activity and she was blown away with how well they did. She then let them exchange their assesments to keep the lesson going. Check out their question formats!
  4. Take the five different activities you were going to do for the week and turn them into centers. Upper grades should be scaffolded this way as well! This is a GREAT way to make sure that differentiation occurs in your classroom. If students are broken up into “centers”, it will be more difficult for each student to know what others are doing. You can work remediation lessons into the students who need it, and allow your higher performing students to work on extension skills/concepts.
  5. Turn whatever activity you’re working on into a classroom jigsaw activity. Give groups of students the different questions to answer separately and then come back together as a group to debrief.
  6. Think flexible learning spaces and environments. How can you mix it up, even just for a class period? Let Ss move around, go into the hall, computer lab, library…an opportunity for your “rock stars” to get a change of (s)pace!
  7. Recognize that lower level types of questions only have one answer, but higher level questions can have several “right” answers. Watch this video and evaluate the power of the “correct” answer.

 

 

 

Lesson upgradeN,

Amber