What is a Learning Management System?

As we look toward teaching with more technology, and eventually in a one to one environment, many teachers have been asking about the best way to organize and deliver resources to students.  A Learning Management System will become an important component for classroom management.  An LMS can serve as a central hub for your classroom.  This can be your go to place for all of your students and their families.  Your students can access their digital curriculum, articles, links, assignments, assessments, and many other resources in one place, with one log in and password.  By using an LMS we can streamline many parts of our day, reducing transition time and giving us more class time for what really matters.....time with our students.

How do I request to work with one of those coaches?

After our post about what instructional coaches do in our district (find post here), many teachers were interested in how they go about requesting to work with a coach. The answer is simple: Just ask. You can either ask your principal or ask the coach directly. The coach can then let you know what their availability is. Coaches can provide different levels of support to teachers. It may be that you are just looking for some help with a particular lesson. It could be that you have had a goal in mind for the past few years that you would love to achieve. Either way, coaches can give you the support and encouragement you need. While many of our coaches work in multiple buildings, they are always willing to help. Feel free to contact us and ask any questions or hesitations you may have. Just ask! We would love the opportunity to work with you.

Student Engagement

     Not surprisingly, the success of students and the quality of their work correlates to the importance we, as teachers, place on the task.  When students are allowed to share their work, the book that they are reading, or just their thinking, they take more ownership for their learning and have a larger sense of community in their classroom. 

     Try this:  Have students do a book talk, share a great part in the book, or read a written response to reading, a writing piece, or even a post it note with their thinking.  We know that time is extremely limited in the classroom, so set boundaries by having them choose a favorite sentence in their writing,  a comment about a character in their book, a quick recommendation why they would want someone to read their book, or why they would not read it.  A minute or two is all that is needed. Do this in between stations or centers to break up those independent learning times.
     By giving the students time "on the stage of the classroom", we are telling them that the work they are doing is important and needs to be shared with others.  This should increase engagement and will be well worth the minutes spent doing it.

Google vs. Microsoft...How to Make it Manageable

As we begin to prepare for our Chromebooks, many of us are choosing to work more in Google Drive, learn new Google Apps, and even move our old Microsoft files over to Google.  These are a lot of mind shifts happening all at once.  Fortunately, Aaron Svoboda, from Synergyse has some wonderful ideas for how to start small, create manageable goals, and make these transitions more manageable.  Check out his blog post here.. 

Writing

 "A picture is worth a thousand words."

     Talking and writing about personal photographs or even writing about photos of unknown people, can be very engaging.  What is happening in the photo or even imagining what is happening provides a great springboard for conversation and writing.  It is not difficult to connect to social studies or even science concepts.
Try this:
     Have students bring pictures or provide them with pictures or photos.  The photos may have other people in them but should have rich stories behind them or evoke strong feelings.  Model how to write about a photograph, and then have students try it. Ideas for the writing could be.....

•  Describe the place where the photo was taken
• What happened just before/just after this photo was taken?
• What surprised you about this photograph?
• Who is missing from the picture? What can't we see?
• If that little person in the picture could talk, what would she or he be saying?

It may be true, literally, that a picture is worth a thousand words!

Have you Experienced The New Drive?

During your introduction to the Google Essentials in March, you may have been prompted to experience "The New Drive".  This allows you to get a sneak peek and preview the new Google User Interface.

One of my favorite features of the new drive is the activity feed located on the right side of your Drive.  To open and close the Activity Feed, simply click on the black circle with the white i.  Here you will receive notifications of any changes to your drive.  If someone added information to a document, entered data into a sheet, or your own activity showing where you might have saved a document or if you deleted a file.  This features has been a life saver to me in several instances.

The New Drive will become the default interface for users sometime in early April.  Right now, you still have the option to switch back to the old drive, however this option will no longer be offered sometime in May.

If you would like to experience the New Drive, simply click on the gear in the top right corner.  Then click, "Experience the New Drive".  You will know you are in the New Drive when your red "Create" button changes to a red "New" button.  I hope you enjoy getting a jump on the new experience!

12 Choices to Help You Step Back from Burnout | Edutopia

We are rounding 3rd base and heading in for the home stretch of the school year! Make the most of it and read these tips on helping you enjoy each day.  Pay close attention to Choice #5!

12 Choices to Help You Step Back from Burnout | Edutopia