I Think We May Have It All Wrong

This week I had the pleasure of listening to Tony Wagner keynote at a state conference.  He shared lots of great ideas with the crowd but one particular point really stayed with me.  As part of his book Creating Innovators, he has researched schools across the globe looking for common threads throughout educational systems and found three things make a difference in schools:

Play, Passion, and Purpose

When it comes to innovation, do we pay enough attention to these three things?  Think about your own school or district.  I bet you can say with confidence that you know your purpose.  It is likely communicated and shared through a vision that rings throughout your buildings. That purpose is what we are all about, what we wake up everyday to do.  We want to provide the best educational opportunities for our students.  Our purpose is the kids and that is the heart of our daily work.

My guess is, that most schools probably do a decent job when it comes to passion.  We create learning strands that meet the needs of our students, providing them with innovative educational programs and opportunities to explore their passions in the classrooms through the curriculum that we implement and the way that our teachers skillfully craft engaging lessons.  We may focus on developing passions through our career and technical schools, our after school enrichment programs, or by implementing Genius Hour projects within our classrooms, but I think we probably fall a little short on the last P.

Is play evident in your school?  I don't mean just in the kindergarten classrooms, but in every classroom.  Not physical play in recess or gym class, but the kind of play that sparks curiosity and invokes passion in our learners.  Are there opportunities for students to explore, tinker, and wonder in every classroom, every day?  If not, how will we go about changing that?

My school district thought we were on the right track.  We have a motto that we call P3.  It stands for purpose, passion, and pride.  We use #P3 in a lot of our communication and social media content.  P3 has been a way for all 5 buildings in our district to share our message with our community.  It ties us together around a common mission.

But I think we may actually have it all wrong!

Instead of focusing first on our purpose as a district and using that as a starting point--what if we started with play?  From play come these amazing opportunities for learning that are personalized and truly student-centered. Without play, our students (and teachers, too) lose that sense of curiosity and the ability to let their imaginations run wild.  That is the true joy in learning and we let it fall by the wayside. Through play our students can bring new ideas to life and engage in creative problem-solving.

We need to disrupt the status quo and focus on the strategies that will create innovators in every classroom.  We need to embrace the importance of play, passion, and purpose in ways that meet the needs of our learners, but also pushes beyond what might possible.  Through a focus on play, passion, and purpose, we are developing the young people who will truly change the world!

Why I Haven't Been Blogging

It has been a long while since I have done any blogging.  It's not that I have been on a technology break or that I gave up on writing.  It's actually quite the opposite.  I have been writing more than ever!  I am currently under contract to write 3 different books.  What?!?  I know that sounds really crazy.  Believe me, I thought it was crazy too, as I contemplated my commitment to each project.  Needless to say, it has been a very busy several months.

About a year and a half ago I started working on a book idea that connected the idea of STEAM and Making (obvious passions of mine if you've read my book STEAM Makers: Fostering Creativity and Innovation in the Elementary Classroom) with literacy.  I was collecting lots of ideas in my notebook.  Yes, I carry around a traditional pen and notebook everywhere I go to jot down new ideas or wonderings.  The book started to come together and I pitched it to a couple publishers with no luck.  I sat on it a little bit longer and continued to re-work some ideas.  I kept on building it until I finally signed with a publisher in the spring.

In the meantime, I was a part of an authors group on Voxer and connected with JaimeDonnelly.  She was sharing the exciting process of publishing her first book with ISTE. Always-encouraging in her interactions, Jaime tells me that she just happened to mention my work with makerspaces to her editor, who expressed an interest in talking to me. We had a virtual meeting and before I knew it, we were talking about writing a book that would connect to the new ISTE Standards for School Leaders.

OK, so if writing two books wasn't wild enough, I received a DM from Mark Barnes from Hack Learning and when Mark reaches out to you, you definitely listen! He suggested that I contact a colleague of his regarding a new book series that they were started.  It was then that I met Chuck Poole---what positive energy! We Skyped and talked about his uNseries.  I immediately knew that I wanted to work with him. We talked about my interest in creativity in the classroom and how educators can unlock this power in the classroom through different strategies.  It was shortly after our initial meeting that I was signing another contract.

I need to be honest right now. I got a C in College Writing.  My track record in writing was not very strong.  I didn't even really like writing a few years ago!  Through my doctoral studies I had the opportunity to work with a great writing teacher (Thank you Dr. Jalongo).  She taught me so much and I even had a few articles published during that timeMakers in Schools.
.  I wrote and defended my dissertation in 2012 and have been hooked on writing ever since, publishing in journals and blogging for several educational organizations. This year I also wrote a chapter for the EduMatch book,

While the thought of writing three books was unimaginable, I had another colleague in the same boat.  Rachelle Poth, fellow Pittsburgher and PLN friend, was also writing multiple books with  different publishers.  Thanks to Voxer, we chatted, shared struggles and offered encouragement along the way.  It's great having a support system throughout the writing process. Rachelle and I will be in FETC in just a few months presenting and connecting with educators at the Meet the Author Booth.  (Thank you Jennifer Womble!)

While I vow to get back to blogging, my writing schedule has been a bit full lately.  This writing journey has certainly been an undertaking and it's not over yet!  I'm still writing one book and working through editing on the other two.

And insanely, I'm already thinking about partnering with an amazing educator to write another one soon . . .

What’s in your makerspace? From A to Z

Makerspace ABC

I've traveled a lot in the last year, talking to educators all over the US and Canada.  The one thing that people always ask me for is a makerspace supply list.  There are plenty of lists out there, so I thought I'd put a twist on it.  Here are makerspaces must-haves from A-Z.

A     aluminum foil, acrylic paint, art supplies

B     beads, brass fasteners, buttons, balloons, beans, battery packs

C     cardboard, card stock, cotton balls, crayons, clothes pins

D     duct Tape, dowel rods, drafting tables, Dot and Dash robots

E     Elmer’s Glue, Energizer batteries, egg cartons

F     felt, foam core, feathers, fabric, food coloring, First Aid Kit

G     greeting cards, glue sticks, goggles, green screen

H     hangers, hammers, hot glue guns,

I      index cards, iPads, Instructables

J      jars, jewelry-making supplies

K     K’Nex, Kleenex boxes, keyboards, keys

L     Legos, LED lights, lab coats, label maker, leaves

M     markers, magnets, modeling clay, Makedo tools, Makey-Makey

N     nails, needles, notebooks, newspaper

O     oil pastels, Ozobots,

P     pipe cleaners, playing cards, pencils, popsicle sticks, Play-Doh, pliers

Q     Q-tips, quilting squares, quarts (containers)

R     rulers, rubber bands, ribbon, recyclable materials

S     sandpaper, screws, scissors, Snap Circuits, Strawbees

T     toothpicks, twine, tape, three-hole punch

U     unifix cubes, uncooked pasta

V     Virtual reality headsets, Vex Robots, vinegar

W     wrench, wallpaper, wax paper, wool, wood, weaving supplies, Washi tape

X     X-acto knives

Y     yarn, yogurt cups

Z     ZipLoc bags, zip ties

OK, so maybe they're not all must-haves, but some of those letters were tough!  What items would you add to the list? 

5 Yard Sale Finds For Every Maker

While it's not officially summer yet, most of us are finishing up with the school year and planning to take a well-deserved break.  Some people will spend the time relaxing by the pool, others will binge on trashy novels at the beach, and others may plan a "staycation" right at home.  

Wherever the summer may take you, there is surely a spot in the back of your mind where you are already thinking and planning for next school year.  For some, that comes in the form of planning a new unit of study, reading a professional book to prepare for an initiative at school, or working towards your Level II Google certification.  

There are other educators who get ready for the fall spending their summers strolling flea markets and garage sales buying things for their classrooms.  They pride themselves on an awesome find at a rock-bottom price.  A teacher texted me last summer with a photo of a huge box of treasures--"only $2.00!" she wrote.  She returned to school in the fall and shared that box with her students who found all sorts of uses for the variety of items she scored.

With innovative learning spaces finding their way into many schools, summer is a great time to find new things to stock your shelves and bins and make any space into a makerspace.

Books

A set of encyclopedias printed in the 1970s.  Piles of picture books with broken bindings and a few torn pages.  A stack of discarded magazines from Better Homes and Gardens or Reader's Digest.  

Books and other reading materials are at every garage sale.  Many teachers take advantage of 25 cent book bins and stock their classroom libraries.  Those with a Maker Mindset look at books and see an opportunity for a design project.  Disclaimer: I am a former reading specialist and book fanatic and hate the idea of ripping up books, but have you seen what some people can create out of old books?  http://www.bigdiyideas.com/35-unique-and-creative-vintage-book-crafts/

Origami, bookmarks, wreaths, sculptures, and even purses are being crafted from old books. Folding, rolling, tearing, carving, gluing, and rethinking the paper from recycled books is a great makerspace project. 

Flexible seating

Classrooms are transforming with new seating options, giving students more choice. Check out Kayla Delzer’s classroom pictures at http://www.topdogteaching.com/ for some flexible seating ideas.  Mismatched chairs, industrial stools, or vinyl bean bag chairs might be at your neighbor’s yard sale, and all make for inexpensive seating options in the classroom.  

Be on the lookout for yoga balls, porch furniture, and seat cushions which can all find a second life in the classroom.  With a new coat of paint, benches or wooden furniture can serve a new purpose in a reading nook or collaboration area.

Broken toys

One of the most popular spots in our school makerspace was the "deconstruction zone".  Students took apart broken toys and electronics--some just to satisfy their curiosity but for others it became a challenge to repair or re-purpose the items.  One 5th grade student took apart a transistor radio into a million pieces, then put it back together again, in complete working order!

Picking up used board games, card games, or puzzles (even with possible missing pieces) also represent low-tech opportunities for young makers to hack a game and create one of their own. 

Building blocks

Wooden or plastic blocks in large and small sizes will be put to good use in a makerspace.  Be on the lookout for bags of loose Legos © or other brick-type toys that can be used for designing structures.  Lego© accessories, base plates, and storage cases are also great finds at a garage sale.  Many makerspaces are equipped with Lego walls or tables for students to make their building multi-dimensional.  Connect your 3-D model to a mini-motor and make it mobile or link to a robotics kit like Hummingbird http://www.hummingbirdkit.com/ and see what your students come up with!

Hand tools

Family garage sales are often overflowing with kids’ stuff, but don't overlook what dad might be getting rid of.  Hand tools like hammers, wrenches, and saws or small power tools may have a cheap price tag at a neighborhood sale.  Odds and ends from dad's workbench might also be for sale.  Small items like brackets, hooks, gears, or wires can also be put to good use in your makerspace.  Students will love the opportunity to tinker with tools and embrace the idea to take their vision and make it a reality.

Summer is the perfect time to recharge your battery and restock your classroom.  Well-loved makerspaces are always in need of replenishment.  Local yard sales and flea markets may have the items your students want at price your budget can afford.  So, get out there this summer and grab some treasures for the makers in your school!

Who Knew it? Huge Personalized Learning Opportunities with Hoonuit

Through the power of my personal learning network (PLN), I recently had the opportunity to connect with Jaime Donnelly, AR/VR all-star and all around amazing educator.  She shared with me the work she's been doing with Hoonuit.

I don't know about you . . . but I had never heard of it.  Little did I know that this powerful platform of professional learning was out there waiting for me!  With a motto to "empower educators to make better decisions, transform teaching and improve student outcomes", Hoonuit is a great way to engage in powerful personalized learning.


Already serving over 500,000 educators across the country, Hoonuit's online professional development content is exactly what I was looking for!  Self-paced, online learning modules that are created by content experts.  Engaging videos and relevant topics that can meet the needs of K-12 educators and school leaders.

Anxious to explore this new opportunity, I applied to be an "ambassador".  This status gave me access to all of the online content.  There were so many interesting courses, I didn't even know where to begin!

Since I have been actively looking to grow my PLN, I tried a course on just that.  Through the learning modules (about an hour or so), I considered ways that I could expand my network using social media.  The course prompted me to:

• Reflect
• Connect
• Contribute

I reflected on the ways that I could expand my learning through a network of educators.  I thought about the ways suggested by the author to reflect on instructional practices as a means to connect with your PLN.  I also reflected on how I might entice the teachers in my district to consider doing the same.

It was through this course that I stepped up to the challenge and started thinking about how I might use tools like Facebook and Instagram to develop and grow as a professional educator.  I created new accounts and have been pursuing new professional groups that support my own learning and professional growth as an administrator.  These connections have helped me to push my thinking and learn from the perspectives of others.

Lastly, I thought about the ways I could contribute.

• Tweeting out educational content.  
• Supporting, retweeting, and "liking" the work of other forward-thinking educators.  
• Creating a blog like this one to share my knowledge with others.  

My Hoonuit experience so far has been fulfilling and fun.  I'm enthusiastic about the opportunities that the learning modules can offer to teachers and administrators and I can't wait to continue on my learning journey!

For more information about how Hoonuit can support learning in your district, check out their website.

Welcome-Come on in!

What if we welcomed people into our classrooms the way we welcome them into our homes?  Would that make a difference in the the culture of our classrooms and our schools?  What if we approached learning in the same way that we approach a conversation with someone who has stopped by our house to visit?

Front Porch

Think about the front porch at your house.  Does it have plants or flowers? a wreath on the door? decorations? or perhaps some seating?  Are visitors greeted by a welcome mat?  Does it convey, "come on in!"?

As educators do we greet our students on the front porch with a smile, ushering them in for a great day of learning?  In what ways can we make our hallways, doors, and entry ways more welcoming? Does the front porch of our classroom send the right message?  Does it say, "Great things are happening in here--come on in!"

Living Room

In my living room, we have a large sectional couch.  It's comfy and can fit our whole family, our dog, and any number of guests who drop by.  (Sometimes it is also home to Legos, action figures, and random piles of Pokemon cards.)  It says to you, "come in and get cozy".  It's a place where we sit and read books, watch the neighbors pass by outside, or just relax.  It's where we live.

Do classrooms allocate space to living?  Most classrooms I've visited are filled with desks and chairs and filing cabinets, not much space for living.  What message does that send?  There's no living happening in here!  No space or time to get comfy.

How might we re-arrange our classrooms to reflect our homes? 

Kitchen

They say the kitchen is the heart of a home.  It's the place where families gather during the holidays, sharing stories, and a meal together.  It's the place where culinary creativity meets collaboration, communication, and critical thinking. 

In my house, we often find ourselves around the kitchen island, talking, snacking, doing homework.  It is our central hub for almost everything.  Pull up a stool or stand and chat as dad cooks.  There's room for everyone. 

Where does this exist within our classrooms?  A place to gather, talk, plan, create.  Do students have a spot to stand with peers, have conversations, and make something?

Sometimes the kitchen gets messy.  Too much clutter or a recipe gone wrong.  Education is messy, too.  Do we have a space in our classroom where messy learning is encouraged?  Lots of schools are creating makerspaces for messy learning, a place to foster creativity and innovation in meaningful ways.  How is that mindset reflected within your classroom space?

Welcome Home 

Our homes are personal spaces.  It's where build our most important relationships and raise our children.  We are doing those things in school, too.  We are building relationships with our students and learning with them in a space that often feels nothing like home.  Let's consider the ways that we can welcome students into our classrooms the way that we welcome guests into our homes.  How can we renovate our learning spaces so that they say--Welcome.  Come on in! 

Why I Never Follow the Directions

I know you've been there.

Sitting in the middle of the floor surrounded by furniture pieces, screws, tools, etc.

For many people this is the ultimate frustration.  Trying to follow the often poorly written directions to assemble some bookcase or complicated children's toy.  If you've opened up a box and found something that looks like this, the you know exactly what I mean.

I think that companies are figuring out how much their directions can cause stress for people.  See below.  Is this really telling me that I will need a beverage to complete this assembly of this item?

So, I just don't follow the directions.  I may take a look at the pictures.  I consider the steps and 99% of the time, I do just fine (much to my husband's dismay).  I've put new tile in our bathroom floor, put together new bar stools, and countless numbers of my sons' toys--all without directions. 

When I stop to think about it---I don't really follow the directions for a lot of things.  When I'm travelling I often create my own path.  When I'm cooking, I add my own touch to it.  Why do I need to follow along with what someone else has said?  

It's that rebel in me that embraces innovation in education.  I LOVE the unknown nature Maker Education and the improvisation that often goes into design thinking challenges.  I LOVE chasing the curiosities of students into new uncharted waters.  I LOVE trying new strategies or new tools that might create a new spark for learners.

Consider this: a student opens a robotics kit and follows each step in the sequence resulting in a cool, functioning robot.  That's great.  I am sure that the learner gained new knowledge through the process and enjoyed their new learning.

But what if students figured it out for themselves.  What if they inventoried all the parts, pondered their complexities, and took a shot at it on their own--without the directions. (Gasp!) Imagine the meaningful learning that might come from a project without directions.  This is where the sparks of innovation fly!

In schools, we have a conflict.  We are direction-oriented.  Don't get me wrong, I want my children to do well in school, but does that mean they will always have to follow the directions? I hope not.  I want them to have the chance to tinker and explore without boundaries.  I want them to to try and fail and try again.  Schools founded on compliance do not foster creativity.  

I believe that we are slowly moving away from this model of compliance and towards a more innovative vision for our schools.  But until things truly change in education, I'm going to skip the directions, keep taking risks, and carving out my own creative path.  

3 Word Design Challenges

Ignite maker learning in just 3 words.

If you are like most teachers, you are always looking for ways to new engage your students.  Active engagement leads to student learning.  So, how can spark engagement in just 3 words?

The inclusion of engineering design challenges is becoming a part of many classrooms.  Those who embrace the Maker Mindset carefully craft hands-on tasks that will get learners thinking, collaborating, and creating. Developing effective prompts for design challenges can take time and imagination.  I've boiled it down to some 3-word challenges that you can take, adapt, and use in your classroom tomorrow!

Some are specific to engineering certain structures or adding components to an existing design.  Other are more general and could be used for open-ended tasks of any kind.

• Hack a Toy
• Build a Bridge
• Drop an Egg
• Create a Game
• Re-purpose a Box
• Can it Float? 

While these examples are pretty straight-forward, some prompts may require a little more explanation.

Team design challenges have become pretty popular for getting learner thinking critically and solving problems.  These challenges can be done with students or adults with everyday materials.

• Two Concurrent Towers
• Give each team a bag of random materials.  Something that can serve as a surface (Styrofoam cup, cardboard scrap), a structure (plastic fork, Popsicle stick) and a connector (pipe cleaners, straws)  Given the materials provided, build two concurrent towers.  You can create additional challenges within the challenge by informing teams that the towers can't use the same exact materials for each tower.  Or at one point in the challenge, you could stop the groups and allow one member from each team to go and steal one item from another table, causing teams to rethink their plan.

• Ship a Chip
• As an alternative to the egg drop challenge, teams will need to carefully pack and ship one potato chip to another location with the goal of keeping the chip perfectly intact.  Choose clean recyclable materials including bubble wrap, duct tape, tissue paper, plastic wrap, etc.  If you need a partner school to ship you chip to--please contact me.  We'd be happy to exchange in this challenge with you!

• Make it Move
• Again, using some general materials, challenge teams to create a vehicle that can roll across the floor.  Possible materials include index cards, straws, paper clips, Lifesaver candy (or other wheel-like option).  For those who need more explicit directions, check out PBS Kids .

If you are looking for a techy-themed challenge, try these 3-word challenges that require a few more materials.  

• Create Wiggle Art
• Using a 3 volt motor, some AAA batteries and a battery pack with wires, teams can create a vibrating bot that, when markers are attached, can create some wiggle art.  You'll also need a plastic cup or other plastic recyclables and some tape.  Here's one version from Lemon Lime Adventures.

• Shed Some Light
• Using the bot you created in the prior challenge, add a feature using LED lights.  How can you get your bot to shed some light adding a coin cell battery and pack? 

If you are more of a bookworm, there are design challenges for you and your students too.  

• A New Setting
• Reading a good book with your students?  Have them consider how the story would be different if it was in a different setting?  The wild, wild, west.  Undersea.  In a galaxy far, far away.  In the jungle.  Can your students write about it?  SURE, but let's have them create it instead.  Maker challenges can support creativity and collaboration while developing literacy skills, too!

• Design a Solution 
• Every great story has a character with a problem that needs solved.  Students can design a solution to help your favorite children's literature character.  Clifford can't get to Emily Elizabeth fast enough, create a vehicle for him.  Charlotte's Web is too sticky, design a new home for her.  Ramona can't take another minute with Beezus, build her a secret clubhouse.  The possibilities for story connections are endless!  Check out my website STEAM Makers for more great ideas.  

I'm sure there are tons of other 3-word challenges out there.  Please share yours! 

No More Sitting in Auditoriums: 3 Ideas for Remaking Professional Learning

Raise your hand if you are tired of sitting in auditoriums listening to someone lecture for your school district in-service.  OK, now that everyone's hand is up, ask yourself--why, in 2018, is this still happening?  With all that we know about engaging learners (students and teachers) why aren't we infusing more meaningful work into our professional learning?

Not to worry--there are lots of leaders out there who are hacking the traditional professional development model in favor of hands-on learning opportunities that are collaborative and fun!  As I think about planning for some upcoming PD days in the new year I remember what it was like to sit in those auditorium seats as a teacher. I think about how easy it was to disengage, catch up on some reading, or play on my phone. We've all been there.  Instead of draining our educators, let's take advantage of our time together and re-energize our teams during this cold and dreary time of year.

These three ideas might be the shift you need to plan professional learning that fuels your team.

Make it Hands-On
Over the course of the last year, our district has provided opportunities for teachers to learn skills in Maker Education that can be used to enhance instruction in their classrooms.  Through our work with the Beaver County Innovation & Learning Consortium we have shared professional learning with two other area school districts.  Our teams spent time learning about creating LED Wearables, using Virtual Reality in the classroom, and programming with robots through Bird Brain Technology . Hands-on learning engages teachers and creates practical applications to new learning.

Bring Teams Together
Try a team design challenge.  With all that schools districts are doing to promote critical thinking, collaboration, communication, and creativity with our students, we can't forget about developing this within our teachers.  Going out of your comfort zones may be easier with friends and colleagues to support you.  So build those spaghetti towers and tin foil boats! Work as a team to solve problems and learn together.

Connect it to Curriculum
Last spring, we opened our first elementary makerspace.  YAY!  In order to build capacity within our teachers, we offered workshops over the summer where teachers could come into the space and learn a new skill.  While the skills in isolation were valuable, we also took time to connect this new learning to children's literature.  Elementary teachers learned how to solder and weave.  They became cardboard connoisseurs.  Some collaborated on maker activities that connected to the Global Read Aloud.  Others considered how their makerspace learning would enhance a story in their reading series or their favorite children's book.  They explored ways that this hands-on learning fit into the existing curriculum.

So, whether you shake things up with a rock, paper, scissors tournament or a scavenger hunt, let's get our teams active and engaged during in-service.  And while we are at it---can we call in-service something else? (I've never been a fan of that term.)

Consider how you might build camaraderie and bring teams together for some fun in the new year.  Be sure that the professional learning aligns with the curriculum so that teachers can see exactly where the new learning fits in and equip them with some new skills to revitalize their lessons.

No more sitting and listening to lectures.  Let's flip the traditional model of in-service (blah) training and remake our professional learning!

Need help with planning some upcoming professional learning?  Is your team looking to engage teachers in hands-on workshops that build creativity and collaboration?  Check out my workshops at www.steam-makers.com   I'm booking now for summer workshops and keynotes.

#oneword2018

OK, so it killed the cat--but curiosity is where great ideas start!

New ideas fuel me.  I get excited to share ideas and talk with other educators about what fuels them.

Sometimes its contagious the way ideas can flow when you surround yourself with curious, innovative people.  So, I've decided that my #oneword for 2018 is CURIOSITY.

In my role as a school district leader, I hope to cultivate curiosity within the schools that I work in--with our teachers, our leaders, and most definitely with our students. 

I wonder:  How might I support passions and new learning?  How might I share new opportunities for growth with teachers?  How might I provide resources for innovative projects for students?

I will say YES to ideas that empower teachers and learners.  I will work to push my own thinking and the thinking of others. 

I hope to cultivate curiosity in myself.  I want to take the time to pursue the things I'm curious about (and not feel guilty about it).  I want to read more, travel more.  I want to spend time talking with people who I can learn from and grow with.  If there is something I was to learn more about--I'm gonna do it!

I hope to cultivate curiosity within my own children.  Active boys, almost 4 and 6 years old, my kids are interested in everything.  They love reading books, building with cardboard, trying out "science experiments", and have already learned some basics of coding.  (You think their mom is into STEAM maybe?? 😊)  My hope is that they never lose that spark!  I hope that new ideas are ignited from their wonderings and that they stay ever-curious.

As I move into this new year.  I will pursue the spark of new ideas.  I will chase my curiosities and encourage you to do the same.

Happy New Year!