Books in Sixth

So I'm sure you have heard the tablets are coming back.   We all knew this was in the works and an agreement has been made. So what's gonna be different this time around. The Device Itself:  Check out the link below. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0VhDJ4QdSo&feature=c4-overview&list=UUENu7hY4RTjh_fIayi3zJnw Connectivity: Our mobiles have been rewired and a WAP has been installed in each mobile.  Plus, the problems downtown with our "Internet Traffic" have been resolved. Teacher Involvement:  This and the next four are part of a redesign to include stakeholders that will help "shepherd the process" of tablet role out.  PACE Task Teams have been formed and include staff and teacher representatives from a number of schools.  These teams have begun meeting to define and prioritize the issues and take action steps to resolve them.  I serve on the PACE Teacher Project Team and at our first meeting we brainstormed and recorded all the issu...

Robin Britt has been BUSY!!!!  Check out this great video he put together on the way I approach personalized learning through flexing the environment. This model has evolved in my EC Inclusion class through the years and was inspired by Guided Reading Group experience I had teaching at the elementary level.  When I moved into the middle school, I was unsure how to structure my Language Arts Classes. I quickly learned that whole group was not the answer and I needed to do something else to meet the individual needs of my students. Hence, the Instructional Support Group. Check it out! (Click play or click the link below.)   http://youtu.be/XJDxM2KFv-g Disclaimer:  When I first watched this, I was like "Who is that person on the screen?"... so serious....and professional.....But then I thought....You know what?...... I am passionate about this model........ and it not only produces academic gains, but it also helps me really get to know my students....that...

It's a New Year and with that comes a time to renew, refocus, and regroup.  Although I am over a month late..... So the tablets are on their way back; as it looks now, next school year.  We have received numerous requests from the county to fill out questionnaires and reflections about the PACE initiative, giving teacher's a voice and opinion.  Our in house Technology guy has also sent out his own call for feedback and opened discussions about how it will look and run in our school; what worked and what didn't.  And tomorrow I attend the first county PACE meeting as the teacher representative from my school. (I should get all the updates on the initiative there.)  Post soon to follow. Meanwhile, the wifi fairies have been diligently been rewiring and placing WAPS in every mobile.  Yay! I just completed a really cool video; actually Robin Britt (AKA:  TECH. GUY) just completed a really cool video about "Personalizing by flexing the environment". ...

Today it has been one month since I have posted a blog entry;  the tablets are but a memory, the news stories have died down, and I have run my cycle of emotions with this whole situation.  I will have to admit.  I have been living in the land of disappointment and uncertainty; watching the news articles come out day after day with their pointy finger subtleties and their patronizing whispers of blame.  It's enough to crush your inspiration and creativity to death. I have been back and forth on what to do with my blog now; abandon it, change the title and focus, or continue to write it with the same focus of personalized learning minus the tablets.  There is the sure fact that the tablets are coming back so in the meantime it is imperative that I continue to explore personalized learning for my students, with or without 1:1 technology.  Last year we toyed with the BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) concept with our students.  My team designed a contract ...

Last week was one crazy week! We took our annual overnight camping trip to the Betsy Jeff Penn 4-H center where students focused on leadership and teamwork skills.  This was a time to disconnect; no cell phones, tablets, laptops, or computers.  Just nature and its beauty, some mosquitoes and spiders,a beaver pond and fall leaves, campfire songs and great weather.  And let us not forget the horrible skunk smell in my cabin, which I kind of got used to by the second day; No, not really! It was a wonderful experience for our students and a great way to stay connected to the natural world. And we were back to school on Friday when the email came. We received the email Friday morning around 8:30.  The email stated that due to quality issues, the tablets, covers, and chargers were to be collected from the students throughout the county until further notice. I knew there had been problems with the tablet glass breaking easily; even 2 of our own teachers expe...

What middle school student doesn't like to talk??...Even the ones you think are quiet. The absolute best way for them to learn how to use their tablet, involves just some honest to goodness "play".  There must be time to explore and this helps students become independent learners in the process.  So which feature did they zero in on first..... the class discussion feature that allows the students to talk to one another, as well as with the classroom teacher. If you are a middle school teacher and you are in tune with your students, you would already have a feeling about how this would go down.  First of all, they love to talk. Second of all, they have no idea what to say to one another.  We just kind of sat back to see what they would do with this feature. And I have to say; not surprised, somewhat impressed, and highly amused. Conversations went a little like this..... hey..... hello......wuz up......hey..........hi.........hiya.....what's for homework......ba...

Instruction and Practice: On day 2, I pushed out some vocabulary practice on the tablet.  This was so exciting, because I was able to scan the pages of their vocabulary book, which they cannot take home, and create a playlist where they can keep these vocabulary pages as practice and reference.  So here is me, doing the typical teacher thing, where I start the activity by having them open the document and everyone at the same time begins completing the exercises.  Problem #1:  Some students were moving very quickly through this process and some were moving very slowly through this process.  Problem #2:  I wasted some valuable instructional time waiting for all to finish so we could check their answers.  Problem #3:  We did not have time to go over it before class ended, and now everyone is in a different spot. Reflection: So here was my paradigm shift: I have come to the realization that releasing control will be the obstacle for me and well a...