Britannica School

One of my goals as a Learning Design Coach is to provide teacher and students with resources that will provide efficient student centered learning. As I visit classrooms across the district I see different research projects in action. I was recently reminded of Britannica School, an online Encyclopedia provided by Iowa AEA Online. This is a great tool which provides a wealth of information for any research project. It offers videos, images and text at various reading levels. In addition, students can choose to have the text read aloud. This website works on both computers and iPads. I encourage you to check it out the next time you are planning a project which involves research or searching for information online.

Britannica School

NWEA MAP Test Reports

Over the past couple of weeks students in our district have been busy completing the NWEA's MAP tests. As students finish up I have several questions running through my mind.

1. What are we doing with those assessment results?
2. Do teachers know about the different reports available from NWEA? 
3. What is the best way to educate teachers concerning the different reports? 
4. Who in our district is helping teachers access and understand these reports?
5. What reports have teachers found particularly helpful?  

Unfortunately, I don't know the answers to many of these questions. One report I have heard teachers talking about is the Goal Setting Report. I have found that when this report is used students seem to be more engaged and motivated as they take the tests. Others are using the Lexile levels obtained from the test results to guide students in picking books at their reading level. I am confident there are many more ways teachers are using the reports and I would love to hear feedback on how these reports are being used to guide instruction in the classroom. 

If you are someone in the Mid-Prairie or Keota District who does not know how to access these reports or you would like to talk about possible ways to use the data to guide your instruction, please know that I am available to help. 

Week 3 in Review

As I visit different classrooms across the Mid-Priarie and Keota school district I am extremely impressed with the hard work and dedication of our teachers. We have some amazing teachers dedicated to creating learning environments that benefits all students in the classroom.

Projects from the past week

• Introduced iPad centers to KE kindergarteners. 
• Finished recording video for Acceptable Use Policy.
• Introduced WE 5th graders to Kidblog. 
• Smartboard set up, trouble shooting, and introduction of Notebook instructional tools.  

Upcoming projects

• Introduce Kidblog in WE 3rd grade class. 
• Google Hangout with 1st grade team discussing Everday Math Online tools.
• Begin meeting with teachers to fill out LDC Planning Protocal

Reflection - The First Days of School

At Mid-Priarie we are nine days into the school year. Teachers are busy establishing routines, learning about their students, and diving into instruction. So what are the Learning Design Coaches doing? Well, for myself the theme of the first two weeks seems to be preparation and planning.

Projects From First Two Weeks

• Introduced Kidblog to KE 4th grade, WT 4th grade, and WE 3rd grade. 
• Met with all 4th and 5th grade teachers from district to provide professional learning on use of Everyday Math Online Tools. 
• Creation of Technology Acceptable Use Policy video. 
• Creation of "How To" documents/videos, detailing step by step directions on use of apps and web 2.0 tools. 
• Met with a teacher to act as a sounding board for reading instruction ideas. 
• Smartboard troubleshooting, and setup.
• Adding bookmarks to internet browsers for easy student access. 

Upcoming Projects

• Continue to introduce Kidblog to classes. 
• Introduce KE kindergarteners to ipads and apps that can be used during centers. 
• Meet with each elementary teacher to create plan for specific ways I can help the learning in their classroom. 
• Continue introducing Symbaloo to all staff. 
• Provide more professional learning for use of Everyday Math Online Tools

Frank's Fantastic Find

Today's Fantastic Find is on vocaroo.com. Vocaroo is a website which allows students to record simple audio projects and share via the internet.

Edulution

Last night I was roaming around the web - and started following a twitter chat on educational coaching. The topic for the night was "edulutions" - resolutions you make for your educational position.

http://storify.com/kathyperret/educoach-chat-wednesday-january-2-2013#publicize This is the archive of the chat.

It got me thinking.

I also read that 45% of all Americans make New Year's Resolutions and 45% of those resolutions last beyond the sixth month.

That got me thinking too. I know a lot of thinking for the night before school starts.

My edulution is to stop and to listen.  I have a tendancy to rush ahead and assume things.
I want to change that and listen first.

When I was a student teacher I worked with an amazing teacher who shared a story that has never left me. One morning when she was teaching 5th grade she was standing in the hall outside the classroom door talking to a staff member before school. A little boy came up to her and interrupted the conversation to share something that had happened that morning. She glanced at the boy, nodded her head and said something like - "That's nice," but her mind was on the conversation with her collegue.  His mouth dropped open, his shoulders drooped and he walked away. And then it soaked in what he had told her - his dog had been hit by a car that morning.
That was the moment that she vowed to listen first.
And it transformed her  - way beyond teaching...it impacted her entire life.

I try to listen - but this year it is my real focus!

And what would your edulution be???

I'd love to have comments from you about your edulutions.