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Day 15 of my 30-Day Blogging Challenge for teachers from teachthought.com

Here is the link to the site with the 30-day challenge. 

http://www.teachthought.com/teaching/reflective-teaching-30-day-blogging-challenge-teachers/

Day 15: Name three strengths you have as an educator.

These are always the questions that you hate to answer. First of all, I don't think that most educators like to talk about themselves (which this 30 day challenge forces you to do); and second, it is hard to give a unique answer without sounding like you are trying too hard. 

So..in the words of the Joker......HERE WE GO!!







I would have to say that one of my biggest strengths is my ability to get kids to WANT TO WORK for me. I think there is a big difference between getting kids to work for you and getting kids to WANT TO WORK for you. Maybe it is the football coach in me, but I think that getting kids TO BELIEVE they can accomplish something is just as important as the result. Plus, instilling a little "want to" into students can help the overall classroom environment, give them ownership over their work and motivate them to take on tasks they the might have otherwise passed on due to difficulty.

I understand as much as anyone that motivation can only take you so far in the classroom.  With that, my preparedness and my work ethic would have to be my next two strengths. Maybe I am cheating the question by combining those two, but I really think that my ability to prepare for each and every lesson, show the students what we are doing and why we are doing it, helps give a purpose to each day.

I try to avoid, as much as anyone can, the question from kids, "why are we doing this?" Ensuring I have a purpose and a focus for each lesson AND communicate that to kids really makes a difference when building an overall positive classroom environment. 

Day 14 of my 30-Day Blogging Challenge for teachers from teachthought.com

Here is the link to the site with the 30-day challenge. 

http://www.teachthought.com/teaching/reflective-teaching-30-day-blogging-challenge-teachers/

 

Day 14: What is feedback for learning, and how well do you give it to students?

Although this is not a tough question, I did a quick Google Search on "giving effective student feedback" just to see what would show up, and the most prevalent characteristic dealt with, "knowing what you know and knowing what you don't know." Reflecting on my last 10 years of teaching English, I think back to my first couple of years where the feedback I gave to my students was bland, generic and really did't help them as writers. At the time, I knew what good writing looked like, but just didn't know how to communicate that to my students in a language they would understand. 

My comments were usually something like: 

"Reword this" 

"Extend this idea" 

"What?"

or even worse, when I graded a piece of writing that was outstanding I would say:

"Great work" 

"Interesting" 

and would NOT focus on their style or voice. In fact, looking back I don't think I honestly knew HOW to give feedback based on the purpose of each assignment. 

Let's take this blog for example: 

One of the reasons I never created a blog before was because I was afraid of putting my thoughts into words, then putting it out there for the whole world to see. So I did some research and spoke to some other bloggers, and the best piece of advice I got was, 

think about your blog as a professional diary. You are not trying to win the Pulitzer Prize with every post, but rather put your thoughts and ideas out there for others to pull from. Yes, the writing is important, but more importantly, you are putting yourself out there and maybe inspiring someone else to take a chance on something new or possibly be inspired by something you say, regardless of your style or comma placement.

That statement really changed the way I looked at blogging. Yes, the writing and the style is important, but this is just another way to connect and start conversation,  engage with other teachers and get feedback. (So please feel free to comment...good or bad). 

I believe that this is the same way I give feedback to students (and teachers given my new job), based on the purpose of the piece.. Every piece of writing doesn't have to win the Pulitzer Prize and may have a missed comma or two; every lesson that I observe from a teacher doesn't have to be the one that wins them the Golden Apple, but more importantly is the intended message communicated and how can I help enhance their ideas not completely change them. 

Day 13 of my 30-Day Blogging Challenge for teachers from teachthought.com

Here is the link to the site with the 30-day challenge. 

http://www.teachthought.com/teaching/reflective-teaching-30-day-blogging-challenge-teachers/

Dat 13: Name the top edtech tools that you use on a consistent basis in the classroom, and rank them in terms of their perceived (by you) effectiveness.

I have been lucky enough to play and teach with some pretty great edtech tools over the past few years. The best advice I can give to anyone who is just starting with technology in the classroom is DO NOT SOLELY RELY ON APPS. 

Now, let me back up a bit. I am not saying to never use apps in the classroom; but do not structure your entire curriculum around 1-2 specific apps with the hopes that they will be around forever. 

Although we are an Apple school I have found myself storing, organizing and communicating with Google Apps for Education. Some have argued that I "shouldn't solely rely on Google"  and "that is the same thing as relying on 1-2 apps." However, Google is really one of those businesses that is too big to fail, so I am throwing my stock there. 

I am going to rank the best edtech tools, but I am going to leave Google Apps off of this list for right now. As far as I am concerned, that is like asking who the best basketball player ever to live is.....We would all obviously pick Michael Jordan and everyone else if just fighting for 2nd. :-o

 My list: 

1. Moodle/Schoology 

• These are two different LMS's, but both with great functionality and places where you can house and build an interactive classroom. 

2. Notability/Adobe Reader

• Both PDF annotators. Adober Reader is free and has almost all of the functionality of Notability. However, Notability is only a few $ and worth the purchase. 

3. iBooks/iBooks author

• Find books on line or CREATE YOUR OWN using your own content. iBooks author is incredibly easy to use and allows students to participate in the creation process. Great tool for a creative writing and/or college writing course for digital portfolios. 

4. Evernote

• Allows students to take notes, record lectures and share very easily. 

Sorry for the short post! Been a crazy day. I'll do better next time. :-)

Day 12 of my 30-Day Blogging Challenge for teachers from teachthought.com

Here is the link to the site with the 30-day challenge. 

http://www.teachthought.com/teaching/reflective-teaching-30-day-blogging-challenge-teachers/

Day 12: How do you envision your teaching changing in the next 5 years? 

I always love questions like this, because I always feel like "The best laid schemes of Mice and Men oft go awry". 

To be honest, I have no idea where my job is going to take me in the next 5 years. It's not that I don't have a plan or goals, but I feel like the last few years have been a technological whirlwind  and I can't even imagine where educational technology is going to take us in the future. 

If you were to ask me 5 years ago, I would have given you several possibilities, but no real answer. And....I certainly would have never predicted that I would end up here. 

In fact, I even thought about: 

1. moving to Texas to teach because....well it's Texas.  
2. trying to coach at the college level full time and leaving education all together. 
3. getting into sales 
4.  trying to get into the communications realm (TV/Radio). 

So where does that leave me now? Well, I never thought I would ever leave the classroom, but here I am. I am the guy in his office writing on his blog during the school day, collaborating on Twitter, going to workshops etc. 

I just hope that in 5 years I can see the impact I am having on kids due to the research and curriculum development that I am doing now. The hard part about leaving the classroom is not seeing the immediate impact on kids, and understanding that my vision has become more broadened and administrative rather than immediate and departmental. Who knows...maybe 5 years from now I will be back in the classroom. :-)

Day 11 of my 30-Day Blogging Challenge for teachers from teachthought.com

Here is the link to the site with the 30-day challenge. 

http://www.teachthought.com/teaching/reflective-teaching-30-day-blogging-challenge-teachers/

Day 11: What is your favorite part of the school day and why? 

This has changed for me over the past year. In fact, this has changed drastically for me over the past 10 years. My favorite part of the school day used to be when it was over. In my first few years, I just wanted to make it through the day alive and still employed. 

However, my last few years of teaching I actually couldn't wait for class to begin. I learned to love the chaos that ensues from the time the bell rings, to getting everyone organized and working. 

Now in my technology facilitator position I can't say that I have a favorite part because every day is so different. Getting the chance to get into classrooms and work 1:1 with other teachers has offered me an outlet that allows me to feel rewarded at the end of the day. So, I can't say that there is one part of the day that I definitely look forward to, but I will admit that there really isn't a better feeling than working with a teacher on implementing technology into their classroom and watching them run with it in a direction that I never dreamed of. Hopefully I will continue to impact the teachers here at Buffalo Grove and continue to work on enhancing our 21st century learners. 

Day 10 of my 30-Day Blogging Challenge for teachers from teachthought.com

Here is the link to the site with the 30-day challenge. 

http://www.teachthought.com/teaching/reflective-teaching-30-day-blogging-challenge-teachers/

I know that technically the 30 day challenge is over, but seeing that I started late I think I can get a pass on this one; plus I really want to see this through. 

Day 10: 

Share 5 random facts about yourself

Share 4 things from your bucket list. 

Share 3 things that you hope for this year, as a "person" or an educator. 

Share 2 things that have made you laugh or cry as an educator

Share 1 thing you wish people knew about you. 

Share 5 random facts about yourself

1. I really have no vowels in my last name. That is not a typo. It is Czech and means wold. A kid once told me that when he searched, "Vlk" on Google Images, all he got was pictures of wolves. I did't have the heart to tell him that is creepy that he was searching me on Google Images. 
2. I really want to be s superhero. I have even looked this up on Google. (Still haven't found an answer...by the way) Although I do like t0 act, "manly" when I am coaching, I am still a kid at heart. 
3. I KNEW NOTHING ABOUT TECHNOLOGY 10 years ago. In fact, I was afraid of it. I actually had a goal set for myself to get really organized during my first few years of teaching so I could handout the same worksheets for the next 30 years. THANK GOD I realized that would be a horrible existence. 
4. I originally wanted to be a middle school teacher, but after doing it for a year I knew that was not the path I wanted to follow. I actually almost quit teaching all together after 1 year. 
5. I can wear any shoe sizes 10.5-11.5. 

Share 4 things from your bucket list. 

This one seems tough. Heck....I am only 33 years old. 

1. I want to go skydiving
2. I want to go Rocky Mountain Climbing
3. I want to go 2.7 seconds on a bull named fumanchu
4. I want to love deeper
5. I want to give forgiveness I have been denying. 

(Thank to Tim McGraw for the inspiration) 

Share 3 things that you hope for this year, as a "person" or an educator. 

1. Become a father
2. Kick butt at my new job. 
3. Win some football games. 

Share 2 things that have made you laugh or cry as an educator

1. Sweets before sweets (Inside joke with @The English Chef@jeffgrybash)
2. No one instance I can think of, but lots of laughs in the classroom over the past 2 years. I actually started a collection of ridiculous assignments that I have received over the years and hope to publish a book one day. 

Share 1 thing you wish people knew about you. 

1. I wish people knew how funny I am. I think I am hilarious. My wife and friends all disagree, but I firmly believe that I am one of the finniest people I know. :-)