It was the first day of Christmas vacation, and I was delighted to get a tweet from Lisa Meade. If you don't know Lisa, you should, she is one of a group of positive administrators that I know on twitter. Lisa always has an encouraging word or thoughtful way of making me remember that I matter. She has just thrown down a blogging challenge! I can't say no, and just after Lisa's challenge a second challenge comes from Vicki Day! Vicki is another great NY administrator. She is one of the leaders of our #NYedChat. Lisa and Vicki both push me to be a better teacher everyday, even on vacation! So thank you ladies, here goes:
HERE ARE THE RULES OF THE CHALLENGE:
Random Facts about me:
My Answers to Lisa's questions:
1) What is your best "pick me up/cheer up" song?
I don't have just one, I usually end up humming the last song that I have heard as I walk down the halls. If you are lucky I'm just humming and not singing. :)
2) What is your favorite movie?
I love any movie I can watch with my family, especially romantic comedies, action/adventure, and classics.
3) If you could change anything about the educational system in your area, what would it be?
I would try to figure out how to decrease the incredible stress that is felt by our administrators and teachers. They do such an excellent job of handling the stress so that the students don't feel it, but it certainly takes it's toll. I would also like to find more time for all of us to creatively dream again.
4) What would you do, in your school, if you were given the funds to do so?
I LOVE this question! I would have more time to work with individual teachers so that they can become comfortable infusing technology throughout their day. I would have available a variety of tech tools so that students could choose the ones that would best meet their learning needs. I would offer a computer science class. I would set up a maker space. I would give all of our fabulous associates a raise, they have the most difficult jobs and we couldn't do ours without them.
5) How do you handle the stress and negativity that our jobs sometimes bring?
I do my best to surround myself with positive people, and I remind myself regularly to control what I can: my attitude/reaction/response in every situation. I also try to point out the positive things that I see around me and keep looking forward.
6) What person have you most recently met -- face to face -- after following him/her on twitter?
I have Skyped with Shelley Bauer after meeting her on Twitter. We both teach special education classes. Our classes have also skyped and connected on edmodo through the Global Read Aloud. Shelley and I met in #SatChat when she realized that I was teaching in her hometown! It's a small world.
7) Name one New Year's Resolution for 2014.
I don't usually write New Year's Resolutions, but my goal is to read and write more regularly and to try to find balance in life (someone please tell me that's possible).
8) What book are you reading right now?
I am still working on my summer reading list! I am up to Who Owns the Learning by Alan November, and am I just bought Mike Fisher's new book, Digital Learning Strategies: How do I assign and assess 21st century work?
9) Tell about one of your proudest moments -- in just two sentences.
I am extremely proud of our 21 year old daughter Rachael, who is just completing her DPT at Daemen College. We moved to NY when she was 5 and I swore we'd leave before she hit all of the crazy testing, but she survived and has made the most of every opportunity offered to her.
10) Tell about one of your saddest moments -- in just two sentences. (sorry Lisa - I needed 3)
A precious student of mine passed away and it was extremely difficult for our whole class. I carried the A+ Teacher coffee mug he gave me all year. Ultimately,this led to me growing up and learning to drink coffee as a thoughtful gym teacher daily filled my mug.
11) List three of your best qualities.
I am not afraid to try new things, I will help in anyway I can, and I care.
My Answers to Vicki's questions:
1. What is your favorite song? List song and artist.
I love all kinds of music and don't have just one favorite song.
2. What educhat do you recommend to follow. List no more than 3.
I would recommend #SatChat, #EdTechChat, and #21StudChat. These chats have pushed my thinking, given me creative solutions and new strategies that I can use right away.
3. Share your thoughts on education reform in the USA.
Oh Vicki, I don't know where to start with this one so I think I will pass.
4. What does it mean to be a Lead Learner?
Being a lead learner means that I am modeling learning for those around me everyday. I am not afraid to try new things, fail, and try again.
5. What makes you get up in the morning and go to work other than a paycheck?
I LOVE learning, and I love helping others learn!
6. How do you stretch yourself to be the best of the best?
I seek out opportunities to learn new strategies that will help my students grow, I do my best to stay current with best practices, and take time to learn with other educational leaders.
7. How can schools help with poverty in our communities?
I think that we should use our resources to look for lasting solutions and not just band aid fixes. I would like to see a team or building do a passion project to address the needs of their community.
8. What should each teacher or administrator know before they start their new job?
I believe that they must know how to lead effectively. Leadership at every level is critical for growth. I must also add that compassion, wisdom, understanding and perspective are also key.
9. How do we infuse technology into our school?
We look for ways to use tech to improve learning, matching tech to the desired outcome as well as the students' individual learning styles. This takes time, especially for those who aren't that comfortable with tech. It's important that they see the advantage and feel safe taking the risk.
10. How do we infuse Social Media into our schools?
We use SM in our classroom - I just keep modeling. I'm looking for ideas. :)
11. What is your eduwin of the week?
Of the week: It would have to be hosting the HOUR OF CODE! 45 special ed students wrote over 6,000 lines of code, excellent problem solving and critical thinking skills. Thank you to the teachers who were willing to take a risk with me!
Of the year: It would have to be participating in the Global Read Aloud with so many great teachers -Skyping, blogging, tweeting, and connecting through a book - amazing!
The Bloggers I would like to challenge...
Shelley Bauer Shelley's Blog
Sharon You Sharon's Blog
Kerry Roeder Kerry's Blog
Valerie Cypert Valerie's Blog
Marisa Wren Marisa's Blog
11+ Questions for my Blogging Friends...(Pick your favorites.)
1. What book do you think should be on every teacher's "Must Read" list, and why?
2. What is one of your favorite collaborative projects?
3. What was the latest educational risk that you have taken and what did you learn?
4. Do you have a favorite strategy for student engagement that you have seen, and/or tried?
5. What advice would you give to new teachers/administrators?
6. With the increasing demands on our time, how do you find the balance between school and the rest of life?
7. If you could take a class/school on a trip anywhere in the world where would you take them and why?
8. What is the most important life lesson you want students to learn?
9. What do you do to pick yourself up when feeling overwhelmed?
10. How do you stay positive when the environment around you becomes negative?
11. What would you do at your school if you had unlimited resources?
12. What do you remember most from your time in school?
13. How do you challenge yourself to grow professionally?
14. What are you looking forward to this year?
I am looking forward to learning more about you. Thank you for considering this challenge!
Have a blessed New Year!
- Acknowledge the nominating blogger. Share 11 random facts about yourself.
- Answer the 11 questions the nominating blogger has created for you.
- List 11 bloggers. They should be bloggers you believe deserve a little recognition and a little blogging love! (I couldn't think of 11, and since the precedent has been set for changing these rules I'm not going to worry about it. Thank you Tim Dawkins and Peter DeWitt. )
- Post 11 questions for the bloggers you nominate to answer and let all the bloggers know they’ve been nominated. (You cannot nominate the blogger who nominated you.) (I posted more questions, feel free to pick the ones you'd like to answer.)
Random Facts about me:
- I love music - all kinds! I played the flute and piano when I was younger.
- I am married to an incredible husband who is also a pastor. Yes, That means I work weekends too!
- I have one amazing daughter, Rachael.
- I have taught from kindergarten through high school age students.
- I am a geek. I love finding ways of making learning more meaningful through the use of technology.
- I love dark chocolate!
- I never liked chicken wings until we moved to NY! Buffalo wings are the greatest.
- My first plane ride was to China for a missions trip when I was in college.
- I enjoy cooking and baking when I have the time.
- I like to read books that challenge my thinking and help me grow.
- I have a great family with strong midwestern roots. I grew up in Kalamazoo, MI, and went to school at the Univ. of WI-Madison - Love those Badgers!
My Answers to Lisa's questions:
1) What is your best "pick me up/cheer up" song?
I don't have just one, I usually end up humming the last song that I have heard as I walk down the halls. If you are lucky I'm just humming and not singing. :)
2) What is your favorite movie?
I love any movie I can watch with my family, especially romantic comedies, action/adventure, and classics.
3) If you could change anything about the educational system in your area, what would it be?
I would try to figure out how to decrease the incredible stress that is felt by our administrators and teachers. They do such an excellent job of handling the stress so that the students don't feel it, but it certainly takes it's toll. I would also like to find more time for all of us to creatively dream again.
4) What would you do, in your school, if you were given the funds to do so?
I LOVE this question! I would have more time to work with individual teachers so that they can become comfortable infusing technology throughout their day. I would have available a variety of tech tools so that students could choose the ones that would best meet their learning needs. I would offer a computer science class. I would set up a maker space. I would give all of our fabulous associates a raise, they have the most difficult jobs and we couldn't do ours without them.
5) How do you handle the stress and negativity that our jobs sometimes bring?
I do my best to surround myself with positive people, and I remind myself regularly to control what I can: my attitude/reaction/response in every situation. I also try to point out the positive things that I see around me and keep looking forward.
6) What person have you most recently met -- face to face -- after following him/her on twitter?
I have Skyped with Shelley Bauer after meeting her on Twitter. We both teach special education classes. Our classes have also skyped and connected on edmodo through the Global Read Aloud. Shelley and I met in #SatChat when she realized that I was teaching in her hometown! It's a small world.
7) Name one New Year's Resolution for 2014.
I don't usually write New Year's Resolutions, but my goal is to read and write more regularly and to try to find balance in life (someone please tell me that's possible).
8) What book are you reading right now?
I am still working on my summer reading list! I am up to Who Owns the Learning by Alan November, and am I just bought Mike Fisher's new book, Digital Learning Strategies: How do I assign and assess 21st century work?
9) Tell about one of your proudest moments -- in just two sentences.
I am extremely proud of our 21 year old daughter Rachael, who is just completing her DPT at Daemen College. We moved to NY when she was 5 and I swore we'd leave before she hit all of the crazy testing, but she survived and has made the most of every opportunity offered to her.
10) Tell about one of your saddest moments -- in just two sentences. (sorry Lisa - I needed 3)
A precious student of mine passed away and it was extremely difficult for our whole class. I carried the A+ Teacher coffee mug he gave me all year. Ultimately,this led to me growing up and learning to drink coffee as a thoughtful gym teacher daily filled my mug.
11) List three of your best qualities.
I am not afraid to try new things, I will help in anyway I can, and I care.
My Answers to Vicki's questions:
1. What is your favorite song? List song and artist.
I love all kinds of music and don't have just one favorite song.
2. What educhat do you recommend to follow. List no more than 3.
I would recommend #SatChat, #EdTechChat, and #21StudChat. These chats have pushed my thinking, given me creative solutions and new strategies that I can use right away.
3. Share your thoughts on education reform in the USA.
Oh Vicki, I don't know where to start with this one so I think I will pass.
4. What does it mean to be a Lead Learner?
Being a lead learner means that I am modeling learning for those around me everyday. I am not afraid to try new things, fail, and try again.
5. What makes you get up in the morning and go to work other than a paycheck?
I LOVE learning, and I love helping others learn!
6. How do you stretch yourself to be the best of the best?
I seek out opportunities to learn new strategies that will help my students grow, I do my best to stay current with best practices, and take time to learn with other educational leaders.
7. How can schools help with poverty in our communities?
I think that we should use our resources to look for lasting solutions and not just band aid fixes. I would like to see a team or building do a passion project to address the needs of their community.
8. What should each teacher or administrator know before they start their new job?
I believe that they must know how to lead effectively. Leadership at every level is critical for growth. I must also add that compassion, wisdom, understanding and perspective are also key.
9. How do we infuse technology into our school?
We look for ways to use tech to improve learning, matching tech to the desired outcome as well as the students' individual learning styles. This takes time, especially for those who aren't that comfortable with tech. It's important that they see the advantage and feel safe taking the risk.
10. How do we infuse Social Media into our schools?
We use SM in our classroom - I just keep modeling. I'm looking for ideas. :)
11. What is your eduwin of the week?
Of the week: It would have to be hosting the HOUR OF CODE! 45 special ed students wrote over 6,000 lines of code, excellent problem solving and critical thinking skills. Thank you to the teachers who were willing to take a risk with me!
Of the year: It would have to be participating in the Global Read Aloud with so many great teachers -Skyping, blogging, tweeting, and connecting through a book - amazing!
The Bloggers I would like to challenge...
Shelley Bauer Shelley's Blog
Sharon You Sharon's Blog
Kerry Roeder Kerry's Blog
Valerie Cypert Valerie's Blog
Marisa Wren Marisa's Blog
11+ Questions for my Blogging Friends...(Pick your favorites.)
1. What book do you think should be on every teacher's "Must Read" list, and why?
2. What is one of your favorite collaborative projects?
3. What was the latest educational risk that you have taken and what did you learn?
4. Do you have a favorite strategy for student engagement that you have seen, and/or tried?
5. What advice would you give to new teachers/administrators?
6. With the increasing demands on our time, how do you find the balance between school and the rest of life?
7. If you could take a class/school on a trip anywhere in the world where would you take them and why?
8. What is the most important life lesson you want students to learn?
9. What do you do to pick yourself up when feeling overwhelmed?
10. How do you stay positive when the environment around you becomes negative?
11. What would you do at your school if you had unlimited resources?
12. What do you remember most from your time in school?
13. How do you challenge yourself to grow professionally?
14. What are you looking forward to this year?
I am looking forward to learning more about you. Thank you for considering this challenge!
Have a blessed New Year!