Kid Bloggin Wednesday!

This is our clickers!

• We use them.
• We click them!
• We use them on games!
• When we are not using them, we put them on our name tag.
• They have colors on them.
• We use them for math.
• They have X and a check. They also have A, B, C, D on them.
• They are fun!

This is our journals.

• We write in the journals.
• We copy the question.
• We draw in them.
•  The teacher checks them!
• The journals are good.
• They are black and blue.
• We write 3 sentences in our journals!

These are author study books!

• One of the books is The Cat In The Hat
• We love them.
• Our favorite book is The Cat In The Hat
• The author is Dr. Suess.
• We read them after snack.
• The teacher reads them on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Our Junie B Jones books.

• They have chapters.
• We read it at the end of the day!
• We read one chapter every day.
• We change a book when the other one is done.
• Miss Messick reads to us!
• They are funny!
• The last one we read was Boo! And I Mean It!
• It is good!

The are our clocks!

• There are two kinds of clocks.
• We use them for math!
• They are small and big.
• They are cute.
• Clocks are different colors.
• They are fun!
• They have a minute hand and an hour hand.

KTOY - Manhattan!

I’m going to apologize now for flooding you with my KTOY visits….actually, no, I’m not. I have gotten to see some wonderful schools, great educators, and hear from some powerfully motivating administrators. 

Today’s post is about the Manhattan KTOY visit. This was a visit that Casey and I planned (along with the help from some amazing folks over at the RobinsonEducation Center) We began planning back in December and *dun dun dun DUN* it was finally time for us to show off USD 383 Manhattan-Ogden. We began the day gathering everyone up at the Flint Hills Discovery Center. Casey and I got to drive these wonderful vehicles that were loads of fun! Casey’s was actually a little bigger than mine….Ha!

We then drove over the the Robinson Education Center started the day off with a yummy light breakfast including Varsity Donuts. I highly recommended the Maple Bacon which was absolutely a hit. 

As everyone ate we heard about the school district’s amazing schools, resources, and programs.  It’s always nice to learn what is going on in the district. Many times as educators we don’t get out of our own classroom, let alone our school.

We then traveled (walked across the street) to the high school. As we walked around we got to learn some history of the high school and take note of the changes that happened with the renovation. While there we got to see their student art department. These students are celebrated and there is art work all over the school. It was such a great experience to see a program that really celebrates and encourages those student artists.

We also got to stop by and see the 3D printer and school program that is currently running. These students are not only getting to use this amazing piece of equipment. They are learning the ins and outs of design. They have to be able to successfully run the program, which is not a walk in the park. I was confused just looking over their shoulders at it. Their mesaurements and design have to be precise and correct or else the program won’t allow them to print. This is a great teaching moment as students can then go back and re-examine their work to find the fault and correct it. How cool they are able to actually design, produce, and see the process from thought through creation.

After that we headed over to check out the K-State Basketball facilities. Shhhh! Don’t tell, but we also got to tour Bramelage Coliseum!!! It was soo cool to see from the perspective of the players, well a few feet lower but you get the point! We definitely take care of our atheletes.

Yes, we stormed the court! No teachers were harmed in the filming of this video!

After lunch we got to go to Anthony Middle School and check out Casey's amazing room. It was so relaxed, cozy and organized. She has definitely set her students up for success!

We then headed over to my school. While I would have loved to showcase the amazing things happening here our visit was a little thrown off due to our annual Teacher Challenge. I was able to walk the team around and they snapped pictures around the school.

We ended at the Flint Hills Discovery Center. They had a Kansas Exhibit. How cool it was to walk around and interact with the materials. This is such an amazing resource to have in town. Please be sure to stop by and check it out if you get the chance. They also have AMAZING education specialists that can connect their content to your classroom if you can't quite make it in. Check them out!

We had such a blast and I would absolutely consider that day a success!

Surviving a Technology Conference (or any conference)

I'm sure I'm not the only one who attends multiple conferences throughout the year.  Some of them are required and, if you're lucky, many of them are by choice. No matter what the conference is about there are certain items and tidbits to remember.

Today I got to attend the first day of the two day MACE Conference. This is a conference focused on technology, resources, great practices and the sharing of information for better implementation and creation. Not only have I gained a ton of ideas to use and share in my own school (which I'll include some of at the end) I also realized some of these unspoken conference rules for survival. 

Bring Fully Charged Devices

Wether you are at a conference for education, marketing, technology or  dog food on Mars, you are going to need fully charged devices. This means your laptop, iPad, chrome book, and even your phone, NEED to be charged when you arrive. Don't count on there being charging stations or easy access to an outlet. Tip: plug everything in before you go to bed. It'll charge while you sleep :)

( Yes, this is my lock screen. If I ever leave this around my school it always makes its way back to me and my kids enjoy it)

Be Prepared 

Im all about taking notes. Sometimes this is on my phone. Some times it's in the form of things to remembered scribbled in the margins of handouts. However you are planning to keep notes and remember what you encountered be sure you have it handy. I always come with pens.  If I'm taking my iPad, I always utilize Notability! I would highly recommend downloading this app from the store. 

Snacks

Many times there are snacks provided. They may, however, not be offered when your belly decides it is hungry and begins letting everyone know.  No one wants a loud growling tummy. Bring snacks or bring money to buy some. Everyone likes a happy belly. A happy tummy = a happy mind and more importantly, happy neighbors.

Headphones(be aware of your sound)

I guarantee there is going to be some sort of sound played on your device. Maybe you're good and it's a video or app the presenter wanted you to play with. Maybe you are "working" on other things (ie scrolling though Facebook when a video starts automatically playing). Either way be aware of your sound settings. Know how to quickly turn the volume down. A better way to avoid the horribly awkward struggle of trying to silence your device as the presenter talks and everyone begins looking around.....HEADPHONES! Throw a pair in your bag and you are set. Tip: make sure they are plugged all the way in :)

Entertainment

I'm not doubting your presenter or content. I am believing that you all operate, at least in some way, similarly to me. I can be following along with the presenter AND be creating a school to-do list, a home to-do list as well as scheduling events on my calendar. I have to be doing something. If you are like me, bring something with you. This may include drawing materials, crossword apps, or even taking a short mental break online. Everyone needs it. Have no shame in your game.....as long as it's not bothering other people. 

Alright, I promised I'd mention some of the cool things I've learned and am excited to use :

Plickers- using one device to interact with all students through the use of printed cards to answer questions 

ColAr app- coloring sheets that then incorporate augmented reality while using the app. 

Air Scanner app- turn your device into a mobile document camera 

Have fun at your future conferences and always be prepared. 

KTOY: Wamego

The time has finally come for the district visits to begin!

...

First let me back track to how this all came about. After being selected as the USD 383 Elementary Teacher of the year I was invited to the Region 1 banquet. There I found out I was a semi-finalist for that region. I then went to the state leadership conference. It was here that I was put on a team with some amazing educators from districts "near" mine. Being on this team allows me to visit their districts as well as show off mine. The following is that story ( I may have channeled Law & Order there ) :)

...

Back in February as I was getting ready for the LATF15 I was also preparing on going to my first district visit. My two team members, Michael and Cathy, were being gracious hosts and taking us around their district. The visit started off by touring their amazing schools. It's always eye-opening to visit another school building, let alone another district. I was able to see how their school district organized its grades. I also took particular note to their school wide programs and how they worked from building to building often working similarly to each other. I think this is such a great way to bring a school together as one, not to mention, show how an entire district is on the same page.

I am also big on signs and keeping kids informed. I may have snapped way more pictures of signs than I'll ever be able to use. Here are just a few :)

We were able to stop by the high school. While there we checked out a program that allowed "typical" students to buddy or mentor with students with special needs. It always makes my heart smile to hear students talking about why they want to do programs like that and how they keep coming back. Some of these programs even spark interest in students to pursue careers where they are working with persons who have special needs. While there we heard about another mentoring program that matches students up with veterans and helps get veterans out to D.C. to see the memorial. While listening to them we got to feast on an amazing lunch. (I'm not much of a rare-meat kind of person but let me tell you I devoured this meal). It was all made by the students there....Maybe I should look into cooking lessons. These kids definitely shamed me.

We finished our visit by touring the Paramour Coffee shop where we got a behind the scenes look at creating a signature roast. We then toured the Columbian Theater. I have always heard of it but to be inside and see the history up close left me in awe. We finished by visiting the Oz Museum. If you ever get a chance to go I would highly recommend it. I know that I will be going back.

Overall I think Michael and Cathy did an amazing job showcasing their district. We got to see some well organized buildings with school-wide programs that were effective and engaging. We got to view some of the highlights of the city of Wamego. More importantly, we got to bond as a group. They definitely set the tone.

Casey and I had some high expectations to match......our visit was next!