Sunday, December 15, 2013
Monday, December 9, 2013
Thursday, December 5, 2013
Hint Cards
Interesting strategy for putting the responsibility back on the students...
How would you use it? Share your ideas in the comments section below.
How would you use it? Share your ideas in the comments section below.
Friday, November 15, 2013
We are lost without it...
"Curiosity is the spark. Exploration is the fire that burns from it."
--Adam Steltzner, Lead Landing Engineer of NASA's Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity Rover Project
--Adam Steltzner, Lead Landing Engineer of NASA's Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity Rover Project
Friday, September 27, 2013
Is this a marathon or a sprint?
I looked up today and realized that September is almost over. I'm not sure anyone I know has stopped in several weeks, but the pace is maintaining. I keep telling myself, September is just this way; things are going to settle and days will develop routines. There will be a steadier rhythm once we figure out a comfortable enough pace to be awesome until early June.
In the spirit of hoping for a steadier pace, I present you with some new, too-cool-to-miss finds:
- Heinemann Digital Campus Reference Library—For $39.95, get a year’s access to some of Heinemann’s AWESOME resources. I am loving it!
- Vocab Gal resources Some different ideas to break up the monotony of vocabulary.
- Interactive Learning Sites for Education—JACKPOT!!!
- Interactive Science Websites
- 50 Ideas for Your Classroom Webpage
- Read Works: Reading Passages (K-8)
- The Think-Aloud Strategy: An Oldie but Goodie
- The Smart Way to Use iPads in the Classroom
- Give Students a Deeper Look at Birds' Perilous Journey
- Disappearing Frogs: A TED Ed Science Lesson
- Short Science Videos from the New York Times
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
Weekly Update: September 11, 2013
Reflection…
As an adult, I find myself taking less time to let myself
feel amazed at things that are just awesome for awesome’s sake. I try ,
especially when I feel bogged down by the daily routine, to give myself a
little time to be amazed. Here are some things that have amazed me this week:
Important Information…
Team Pictures: I will
take team pictures tomorrow (Thursday) during your planning time. Please
wear your new MWE shirts. You may also wear JEANS!
August Staff
Development Attendance: Please look over the document at the link below.
Find your name and assure that the attendance record for the August staff development
days is accurate. I think my memory is pretty accurate, even though I can’t
seem to keep up with green folders. Just double check, please. Also, if you do not see your name at all, it
just means you were not registered. Don’t worry! I can still add you. Please
let me know by FRIDAY what changes need to be made. Thank you. Link to
document: https://app.box.com/s/rdgzor70as4q9w32zlgk
Curriculum Night:
If you would like any assistance preparing a digital component to your
curriculum night, please let me know the specifics of how I can help. We are
working to make sure our campus and grade level sites are accurate before
Curriculum Night; don’t forget to send me any links you would like included on
your grade level team sites.
Updated Grading
Expectations: Here are direct links to the updated SBISD Elementary Grading
Expectations
and Exhibits.
Bluebonnet Preview
Times: 3rd-5th teachers, make sure you have signed up
for a time with Mrs. Lewis. Click HERE
to get to the sign-up form.
Upcoming Meetings & Staff Development
Opportunities…
Faculty Meeting:
September 18, 3:30-4:30; please register at the link below. http://eduphoria.springbranchisd.com/wshop/default.aspx?cid=5544
ICLE Visit: You should
have received a calendar invite from me for the time of your visit with the
ICLE representative. Our new representative is Denise White. We will meet in grade level
teams to plan lesson using the 2 rubrics of the CIR tool. Teachers, please bring outcomes for a science or Social Studies lesson
and bring one math and one ELA standard. We will work together to plan a
lesson (phase I).
Claims,
Evidence, & Reasoning Science Training: September 28, 8:30-3:30 at WTC http://eduphoria.springbranchisd.com/wshop/default.aspx?cid=4886
Resources…
Troubleshooting
Computer Problems—Top 25 list compiled by Jacqui Murray
Social Studies: Learning
from Our Mistakes
Don’t
forget you can find more at:
Edmodo Teacher Learners Group: 194zaj (group code)
Thursday, August 29, 2013
Don't worry about the rules...
Part of my regular before-work routine includes a few minutes of NPR time each morning during my commute. This morning, I was reminded of an anniversary that I might have otherwise missed in the hustle of my life, and I am thankful for the reminder. Eight years ago today, during my very first month of teaching, hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans.
A couple of weeks after her arrival, Houston started receiving some of her victims. I received several new students...they called them refugees. Some were silent. Others were violent. Most of them had lost everything and almost everyone they had ever known or loved.
My class was working on personal narratives at the time, and I shared the assignment with one of my new students. He came from the heart of New Orleans, the ninth ward. He had the most wonderful and welcoming smile I had ever seen. My personal life was a complete mess at the time; I often struggled to get out of bed. But this kid had lost everything...and he was smiling.
I told him about the assignment.
"I cain write, missus. I don' know the rules."
"Don't worry about the rules. Just worry about your story. That's all I care about."
He nodded, took the notebook paper from my hand, grabbed a pencil out of his back pocket, and started writing.
I don't remember if it was that day or a couple of days later when he danced up to my desk with a smile and slapped the page proudly in front of me.
"I did it."
There wasn't a single punctuation mark. Most of the spelling was not correct. But it was one of the most moving things I will ever read. He wrote like he spoke, with a flowing rhythm that was musical. His handwriting even resembled musical notes on the lined paper. It was poetic.
Almost eight years ago today I met one of the most beautiful writers and people I will ever meet. I hope he is doing well.
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
Weekly Update: Surviving Back to School
Reflection…
My head is buzzing from this week, and it is only Wednesday!
My only reflection so far is that I am glad to see students in classes. Wow. I
really missed those strange little people! Hopefully I can be more thoughtful
and reflective next week. J
Until then…I send you love and a picture of my own little weirdo!
Important Information…
Beginning of Year
Testing: Please watch your emails later this week or early next week for
important information regarding beginning of the year testing.
New!
Technology Tutorial
Shorts: I will be adding more to this site, and I take requests!
T-shirts: Be sure
to get your orders to Karyn or Becky ASAP.
August Staff
Development Resources: Copies of all of my stuff in case you want to go
back to review. J
Upcoming Meetings & Staff Development Opportunities…
FREE Learning on
Demand!!!
Free courses on a variety of professional development
topics. Talk to me about options for receiving credit and adding a course to
you professional development portfolio.
West Houston Area
Council of Teachers of English (WHACTE) Annual Breakfast
Saturday, September 21, 2013
Sugarland Marriot
Mark Overmeyer at North
Harris County Council Teachers of English (NHCCTE) Breakfast
Saturday, October 5, 2013
Hilton Houston North
Webinar: Inquiry in
the Garden
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
Great Resources…
Great website for
finding high-interest, information-rich news articles.
Graphite: Check
out ratings of apps, games, websites, etc. written by educators.
Mentor Text of the
Year Program
Teaching Channel Show
off your Classroom Contest
Something to make you laugh…
The Obituary of the Student
Desk
Tuesday, August 20, 2013
An important part of teaching...
...is having the ability to deliver an impressive evil eye on demand.
Video clip courtesy of AFV. You can visit their YouTube channel, or watch them on Sundays.
Sunday, August 18, 2013
Friday, August 16, 2013
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
Weekly Update: Being Makers
Reflections…
When you first meet my husband, he doesn’t really seem like an
especially creative guy. He is very to the point and he sees things in an
incredibly linear fashion. He also has a brain for statistics, which is
mind-boggling to me. The thing is, though, he is incredibly creative.
Over the last week, Scott has been making new coffee tabletops out of old barn wood. When he finally finished and moved them into our living room, he was beaming with pride. “I can’t believe I made these,” he told me. “Other than Thomas [our son], this is the coolest thing I’ve ever made.”
This got me thinking about a video I came across a couple of weeks ago
called “We are Makers.” I have embedded it below, and I hope you will
take about 15 minutes to watch it. In the video, they talk a lot about the
value of being part of a network of makers and how making things is cross
disciplinary, experiential, and social. The personal expression of creating is
intrinsically motivated and provides the makers with a sense of gratification
that extrinsic influences don’t provide. What’s even better is how simple it
is…all makers need is an environment that provides them with the resources and
the safety to create, fail, recreate, and socialize about the process.
My husband may not be able to make a fortune in
the furniture-building business, but he did make some pretty gorgeous tables.
Now I just need to see what I can convince him to make next…
From wearemakers.org
Upcoming professional
development opportunities and district meetings…
PLEASE
BRING YOUR LAPTOPS AND A POWERSTRIP FOR YOUR TEAM ON FRIDAY AND MONDAY.
August Staff Development
Make sure you have registered for August Staff Development—I will print
attendance rosters tomorrow (Thursday)
SBISD Parent U – A Learning Conference for Parents
Thursday, October 24, 2013
Spring Woods High School
Choice Fair & Registration: 4:00 – 5:30 p.m.
Learning Sessions: 5:30 – 8:35 p.m. (Three 55-minute
sessions – present at one or more!)
Be a Parent U Presenter -- Provide parents with tips, strategies and information to help them help their kids succeed!
Presentations (English or Spanish) should align with one or more of
these four learning tracks:
- T-2-4 – Preparing for Higher Education – You can never start too soon!
- Academic Success -- Elementary & Middle Grades – Helping Your Child Succeed!
- The Whole Child – Supporting the Components of Coordinated School Health
- School Choice – Understanding Choices, Programs and Opportunities in SBISD
APPLY TO BE A PRESENTER TODAY!
Click here
for Presenter Application Form
Some Helpful/Interesting
Information
Questions about the DRA?
This presentation should address many of those questions. If you need
any information about how to administer DRA, I can help you find the online
training modules.
Questioning article—very
interesting ideas presented (with pictures)
Something to make you laugh…
Don’t
forget, you can find more at…
Twitter: @SimmonsCorner
Twitter: @SimmonsCorner
Teacher Learners on Edmodo
Group code: 194zaj
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