Walking into a stereotypical garage or shed, you will most likely find an absurd amount of tools. The older the home owner, the more tools they will have. It might be filled with hammers, saws, nails-all types of them, ladders, and even a saw horse. That could lead you to believe that he/she may be an amateur carpenter who built the beautiful piece of furniture in their house. After some asking, you come to learn that they do in fact have a lot of tools but not sure what to do with them.

Now transfer that thought to your classroom. Take a walk around and look at all the fabulous tools you have acquired. Building blocks, molding clay, maps, technology, files of creativity from veteran educators, manipulatives, etc. Every one of them is valuable if used effectively.

Having them in your room only means you have stored some items. Students of all ages learn best by playing. Being involved with the learning process is where the connections happen. As we read articles and blogs, listen to pod casts, watch videos and even attend conferences we are given an influx of new items we ‘must use’.  Technology is constantly changing and educators are consistently told out with the old and in with the new. The issue here isn’t what is the latest and greatest but HOW are you using that tool.

As you look around your classroom, look at the tools you have and determine how they can be incorporated in your lessons. What can you do that will engage your students collaboratively? What activity will make the dinner conversation tonight?

If your class is full of technology or only has one device or IWB, do you know how to use it effectively? Take the time to ask questions, read articles and watch videos. There is so much power in  your creativity and passion for teaching so let it explode into the tools you have.

“How many of us purposefully and explicitly model the learning process for our children? How many of us stand up in front of kids and say, ‘This is what I’m learning right now.” ~George Curous ‘The Innovator’s Mindset’

www.venspired.com

What is your one word that will be your next challenge? #oneword2018 When you look back on the past 3 months, 6 months or even a year can you say how you’ve grown? Think about it. Before you know it, you’ve been teaching for a handful of years, most likely in the same grade-or even the same room. If you don’t take the time to learn, grow and achieve the goal a new way you become stale. Your excitement dwindles because it’s the same old routine and your students will see it.

If you are in a job that encourages forward thinking and growth, chances are opportunities are within walking distance. Local trainings and webinars created by fellow colleagues with tools in your district and ideas that are relevant to you are readily available. On the other side of this equation, you may need to find that growth on your own. Here are a few tips to accomplish that:

• Follow a ‘#’ from conference: #FETC, #VSTE, #ice18 or #ISTE18 as examples
  • hashtags will work on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram
  • attendees are encouraged to post what they are learning and often presentations can be found online
  • join the conversation no matter where you are
• Online courses
  • NorthTIER offers a multitude of inexpensive and current courses taught by local teachers
  • Search for your favorite product and inquire about course work. Most offer 4-8 week options
• Conferences
  • Search for those that interest you.
  • A one day conference can be inexpensive and may be covered by school funds.
  • Ask colleagues in your department for recommendations
• Blogs
  • 1-2 pages focused on a theme
  • Favorites:
    • freetech4teachers
    • Edutopia
    • Ask a Teacher

The computer lab is gone! No longer can a class come to the Lab to complete technology based lessons. Now technology integration must be completed in the activities in a seamless manner. This sounds wonderful, except that the when students worked in the Lab a computer a technology teacher is readily available.

A technology teacher is available for you, however there is planning involved and that part can be tricky. Emails can be sent. Quick conversations can be conducted in passing, but it isn’t the same as knowing that person is readily available as they were in the lab.

How do you make this happen? Where do you begin? ISTE, International Society for Technology in Education, has created 7 standards to guide students. Many of these you already do your in lessons. These standards include the technology piece-use a device, create a multi media project, etc.

Before I continue, I’m here. My job is to help you. My schedule is much more flexible than yours, so let me know what your goal is and we will find a way to make it happen.

With that being said, there are ways to integrate technology while keeping the content at the forefront of your lessons.

K5 computer Lab   This is a fabulous site full of grade level lesson plans, poem generators (think Mad Libs), and other user friendly ideas for iPads, Excel, Word, coding, and so much more.

Scholastic Story Starters  Choose your story genre, pull the lever for a wacky story idea and write one in the form of a story, post card, newspaper and more

Internet4Classrooms   Mulitple websites linked to grades and skills. Select grade > skill or standards > subject and area you are working on.