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

5 ways to stay connected to the Olympics, in class!

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imagesThe winter games are upon us! These are such golden opportunities to teach your students using an event that is exciting, competitive, and GLOBAL. While it probably isn’t in your curriculum, I encourage you to have a conversation (at the least!) with your students about this current event.

 

Here are FIVE fun resources that I’ve come across to help keep you and your students engaged!

  1. An Olympic “Opening Games” bingo game! What a way to “play” along at home!
  2. Follow the official website of the Olympic movement to stay up to date on the latest news! Read news articles, watch videos, or view photos of latest events. Short articles offer information about Sochi such as information on the city and the sports venues, which is fascinating!  You can also choose links at the bottom of the page to explore similar information for other Olympic host cities both past and future.
  3. From working with teachers around the world, the Australian Olympic Committee has developed the Sochi 2014 Olympic Resource that features primary cross-curriculum lesson plans and student handouts themed around the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia. Now, while these may be the dreaded “W” word, I think you could easily turn them into an interactive bulletin board or a game. Cut’em up!
  4. Printable Olymic medals! Have the spelling games, or math fact games…or any kinda games where you can win your own Olympic medal!

Olympic games story paper! I LOVE the create your own olympic story idea! Great for upper grades too. This one is my fave! A foldable story booklet…just imagine the creativity you could unleash here!olympic_rings_booklet_460_0And finally…what event would be complete without its very own infographic!

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Gold medal earner,  😉

Amber

Make an intentional DIGITAL difference!

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Digital Learning Day is about giving every child the opportunity to learn in a robust digital environment everyday, with the goal of success in college and a career. On Wednesday, February 5, tens of thousands of teachers and millions of students across the country will participate in the third annual Digital Learning Day—a national celebration of innovative teaching and common-sense, effective applications of digital learning in America’s schools that support teachers, improve learning, and help students achieve at their highest potential. We here at Watson MST have a higher cause to celebrate this day, this is the style of learning we are leading our MST charge with. To make this day stand out, I am offering different ways that you can add some digital spice to your classroom. I’ve attached a digital challenge bucket list…if you can complete 5 of these activities through the month of February, I’ll either do a week of your duty or teach your class for three hours. Your choice! Now, 5 out of the list…that will require some extra effort on your part, but I think you can do it! Set a personal goal..can’t handle 5? Do one, do two…just make a digital difference, intentionally, this month! Day 1, I gave ya yesterday via email:

Virtual Valentines

The K-12 Virtual Valentines Project designed to teach students geographical awareness and cultural understanding while connecting classrooms all around the world for Valentine’s Day.  Our goal is to circumnavigate the globe with virtual Valentines.  Whether your students are in kindergarten or are seniors in high school, this project will help them learn something new. This project is being organized by the EdTech Chat ‘n Chew Podcast Team. Our mission is to help you empower your students through 21st Century learning. Throughout the year we’ll be sharing opportunities for your students to learn by connecting with others around the world.  Feel free to use the twitter hashtag:  #k12valentines Day 2: Have a conversation about DIGITAL CITIZENSHIP and what it means to be active learners in a world full of other people’s creativity. Start conversations about what it means to be a digital citizen from this poster, print it out, and hang it outside of your classroom. Don't just copy, do the right thing!

 

Here is the bucket list….game on! Digital bucketlist   Amber

A word for 2014…or how not to be like “Baby”…

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pause: pôz/

noun
1.a temporary stop in action or speech.
“she dropped me outside during a brief pause in the rain”
synonyms: stop, cessation, break, halt, interruption, check, lull, respite, breathing space, discontinuation, hiatus, gap, interlude; More

Have you ever noticed that conversations can seem like more of a contest to see who can get the most words in, the most laughs, or their point across the quickest? Half the time, we are so focused on forming our next brilliant comment that we seem to to have tuned out the person actually having the conversation with us.

If we think about what how we feel or what happens when WE are trying to get across an important message, or convey an idea…and someone keeps interrupting us, or adding snarky, insensitive comments…or trying to constantly one up us, it becomes almost embarassing to know that sometimes we’re that person. If you care about people you should care about who they are and what they have to say. 

Lately I have found myself in several situations where I feel like Baby from “Dirty Dancing”. 

I just say the most inane things! I don’t know if I like to hear myself talk or what…but I walk away thinking the most horrible things about what just transpired and wishing for a rewind button. Please let me completely take that comment back and inset this highly intelligent, thought provoking statement instead.

So, in order to avoid these “watermeloning” moments, my word for 2014 is pause. 

Pause…before you speak. Sometimes? You may not even have too. It’s ok to nod and smile. I don’t always to be witty or funny…..or awkward.

Pause…before bandwagoning in on a conversation. What are your motives in agreeing? in responding? in reacting?

Pause…before thinking something negative. Positive self talk, missy!

Pause…before committing…or not committing. Give yourself time to think about it, to talk it over with people whose opinions you value.

Pause…enjoy your moments. Be grateful for where you are in life. Be thankful for your health, your family, your friends. Circumstances can change in a heartbeat.

Pause…slow down. Just…slow…down.

 

I’m going to actively work on pausing in my life. Did you make a resolution for 2014? or set a goal? I would love to support you, and covet your support for my internal pause button as well.

 

Watermelon throwing,

Amber

A power point Christmas? No thank you…an alternative!

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I am in charge of our campus Christmnas card each year. I consider it my badge of honor (albeit, a badge  made up in my head) that I’ve not done the same style of card in 4 years. (It’s the little things.)

When I started thinking about something for this year, I remembered a tool that I had heard of from my favorite lil’ol podcast, Techlandia.

Jon, Curt, & Allison had talked about VideoScribe HD a few weeks ago and it was the perfect solution! The app was less than $5, even when I paid a little bit more to get the branding removed when it was rendered.

 

The result? A unique greeting that looks like it took me forever…but didn’t.

Clever, eh? Also appreciate @ipadsammy being at my beck and literal, call! 🙂 This is an easy tool that turns any presentation into something fancy…and we all know power point is very 1997. (**quote from Grey’s Anatomy**)

If you don’t listen to Techlandia, I highly suggest you do so, it genuinely provides me so many resources that benefit me, my campus, and ultimately, our students.

Jingle bellN,

Amber

 

It’s the little things…how to bounce back from a bad day!

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We all have bad days. We all have days where things didn’t go right…or as planned. Days that derail even th most positive of attitudes.

 

The real question is what you do when you have them. As a teacher, your mood affects the class. As an administrator, your mood affects the building. (When the principal sneezes, the whole school catches a cold.) So what do you do?

You could:

** Take a page from Venspired and just let it go.

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**Appreciate the little things on your campus, like the funny jokes your SPED teacher posts each day outside his room.

(seriously, I chuckle.every.single.day.)

 

**Have someone you can Vox with that will give great “chin up, butter cup!” advice! (High five, @mrmacnology!)

** Borrow cheetos from your school counselor.

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** Walk from classroom to classroom and be amazed at the incredible learning that is happening around you each day. That’s why we’re here. That’s why we do what we do. We didn’t get into this profession for money, for a fame, or for a campus rating. We got into this because we wanted to make a difference, and make education better. For all these kids and our own.

And you can’t do that if you’re being a Mr. or Mrs. Grumpy Pants. So put that smile one, channel your inner Mrs. Ripp, and get into those classrooms.

 

Who knows who is looking to you to be their sunshine?

 

Smilingly,

Amber