#OneWord2020

Over the course of the last year, I focused on the word Balance.  2019 brought a new sense of balance for me as I continued to juggle being a mom, a wife, a friend, an educator, author, and speaker.  Within all of those roles, I also tried to create a particular sense of balance when it came to my personal health and wellness.  While that will always require an ongoing effort, I know that I made great strides in the last year--losing 90lbs, regaining my energy, and carving out time each day to exercise.  I regained a sense of balance that I never thought I could!

Since my word for last year was so fitting and much needed in my life, choosing a word for this year was quite challenging.  Just like you, I looked for inspiration in lots of places, through my social media #PLN and through things that I've read.

About a month ago, a friend of mine suggested that I read Melinda Gates' book.  We were chatting back and forth on Voxer and agreed that we would both grab a copy and read it.  Although I didn't know much about Gates' personal story, I recalled seeing it in an airport bookstore while traveling to a speaking engagement the week before.  I hopped onto Amazon and had the book in my hand the next day.

The book, The Moment of Lift: How Empowering Women Changes the World has inspired my one word for 2020 . . . LIFT.

If you haven't had the opportunity to read this book, I would highly encourage you to grab a copy.  The stories that are shared span the globe and detail the inadequacies that exist within systems throughout the world.  Gates shares her personal journey towards empowerment and the importance of the relationships that she has built over time through the work of the foundation.  And while there are numerous takeaways from this book (gender equity issues in the workplace, developing empathy, and enacting change), I personally kept returning to the title and the simple idea of LIFT.

Particularly in the fast-paced world that we live in and with the abundance of things that we all try to balance in our lives, it is important to stop and think about the potential opportunities that we might miss to create those moments of lift.  As Robert Ingersoll reminds us, "We rise by lifting others."

Reflecting on the way that this word connects with my personal and professional life, I was flooded with questions:

Who do I lift? Do I take opportunities to lift up my children and family?  In what ways can I do a better job of creating moments of lift for the teachers and students in my school district?  How can I use my platform to lift up important ideas and share them with others? In what ways can I let my guard down and allow others to lift me?

How might I grow through a yearlong focus on this one word?

Believing that this single word can create positive momentum for others, how might I support those who need lifting?  Are there small steps that I can take to build up and empower others? What conditions need to be present in order for someone to find their moment of lift? 

Within the different roles that I take on--as a family member, friend, colleague, leader, I need to be intentional about seeking out ways to create lift, accept lift, and promote lift in others.

I don't claim to have the answers to any of these questions yet, but I know that over the course of the next year, I will pursue each of them in an effort to explore the importance of lift.

I think about all of the tremendous ways that Melinda Gates and the Gates Foundation have lifted up the voices of women and others who are on the fringe.  While I know that the magnitude of their work is unmatchable, I hope that I will find small ways each day to create lift--for others, for students and teachers that I serve, and for myself. 

I wish everyone a Happy 2020.  As you discover moments of lift this year, please share the ways that you are lifting others or ways that you have been lifted by those around you.

3 Holiday Gift Ideas to Unlock Creativity in Everyone

Are you struggling with last-minute gift ideas?  Do you want to find that perfect something that will excite the young person in your world and keep them engaged all year long?  Impossible, right?

When you tap into creativity you can unlock a world of imagination in others.  This might mean the children in your home, the ones in your classroom, or even yourself.  Young and old alike can benefit from that creative spark that motivates them to create new things or explore new ideas.  Sometimes it just takes some simple materials or an imaginative tool to get the mind going.  Here are a few gift ideas to unlock creativity in everyone:

1.  Ok, this may date me a bit, but I remember being about 7 or 8 years old and making my own "scratch art" paper with my neighbor.  Did you do this too?  We would heavily scribble rainbow colors to cover an entire sheet of paper only to then cover it all in even heavier black crayon.  (My Crayolas definitely took a beating!)  Once our sheet was covered we would scratch the black away in intricate designs revealing bold colors underneath.  I remember creating dozens of these and hanging them on the fridge.  Boy, we were innovators back then because now you can buy your own ready-to-go sheets.
https://www.amazon.com/Melissa-Doug-Scratch-Art-Paper/dp/B0060K8R90

 I shared this with my own children (ages 5 and 7) and I think we might stick with the homemade version.  #MakersGonnaMake

2. Maybe you're not the artistic type but still enjoy creating.  Tired of Legos or K'Nex and looking for a new and different type of building material?  Try Plus Plus. These mini plastic "plus signs" interlock as you design 2-D and 3-D creations.  They now come with a base plate that allows the creative genius in your family to engineer multi-level structures and bring new ideas to life.  Plus Plus are cool tools for any classroom and great for home use, too.

3.  Paper.  Yep, just paper.  There are so many cool paper crafts that can be enjoyed by the whole family.  Check out this video that shares 10 ideas for kids that can engage their creative minds through measuring, cutting, folding, weaving, and curling.  Simple activities like these don't require lots of fancy materials, but can provide hours of fun!

When in doubt and you need some creative stocking stuffers--head to your local dollar store.  (It is a makers best friend!) You can find tons of materials to make your own little creativity kit.  Markers and construction paper.  Stencils and colored pencils.  Crayons and coloring books.  Stickers and notebooks.  Glitter, glue, and borax (to make some slime).  String and beads for necklace making.  Balloons, tissue paper, and glue for papier mache.  The possibilities are endless!

All of these gift ideas are pretty simple, but especially useful when you are on the go this holiday season.  Toss them in the car for the road trip to grandma's house or the plane ride to visit Aunt Barb and Uncle Ned.  Staying at home for the holidays?  Gather around the dining table for some messy creativity and try some artistic design with the family.

Want more ideas for unlocking creativity in the classroom?  Check out my book Unlock Creativity: Opening a World of Imagination With Your Students 

Reflections on ISTE19

I was told this was a huge conference (and that I'd better bring comfortable walking shoes).  I heard that the Expo Hall was crazy.  Colleagues explained that the sessions with BIG speakers would have people waiting in line just to get in.  I found all of this to be true but the biggest and best takeaway from the conference wasn't found in the inspiring Ignite Talks or the TED Master Class presentations.  It wasn't in the new innovations showcased on the Expo floor.  It wasn't the valuable nuggets of information shared in the workshops and interactive sessions from stellar presenters that I attended.

It was the people.

The hellos, hugs, and conversations with incredible educators from across the county, many of whom I'd only communicated with through social media.  It was the immediate connections with people who I met just that morning but felt like I'd known for a lifetime.

I know that may seem odd to some (like my husband, who isn't an educator), but the bonds that I have with my PLN sometimes surpass the face-to-face interactions with people I see on a daily basis.  It is truly amazing the way that Twitter and Voxer have transformed my personal and professional development.  These tools allow me to connect with people and develop meaningful relationships with individuals that I've never even met--until ISTE!

I connected with the awesome people of ISTE in sessions, at the PLN Lounge and at the wonderful social events that surround the conference venue.  We shared knowledge, stories, and laughs (and maybe some dance moves, too 😉).

You see, these are the people I go to all year long when I need some inspiration, leadership advice or input on decisions.  These are also the people I seek out to lift me up when I'm down or to vent to when I just need a listening ear.  They fuel my professional excitement and fill my heart with personal friendships.

These educators have areas of expertise that I don't--social emotional learning, AR/VR, or character education.  They have experiences with people and places that I don't, but we use the collective learning of everyone in the PLN to make our knowledge stronger.  These individuals fill me up in areas that I need to grow and push my thinking.  Their experiences are deep, meaningful, and relatable, but more importantly, their openness to share and welcome others in is remarkable.

When people ask, "How was the conference?" I reflect on the knowledge that I gained in Philly.  I share some of the great tech tools that made an impression on me.  But most of all, I light up thinking about the people that contributed to making my first ISTE experience an unforgettable one.

Why School Leaders Need to Know About 3DBear

I don’t know about you, but I’m the kind of educator who has a real fear of missing out.  I don’t want to be left in the dark on any new ideas, new technologies, or trends.  I hate when someone knows about a resource that I haven’t heard of, so I strive to always learn and grow.  As a district leader, I know that I can never stop learning if I want to keep leading.

My need for continuous learning pushes me to seek out about new things, read about them, and try them out, doing whatever I can to learn more and keep current. If you have FOMO too, then you know that internal drive to keep learning.  That is particularly true when it comes to technology.

As school and district leaders, we need to stay on top of the changing educational landscape while ensuring that our schools, our teachers, and our students are equipped to thrive within this technologically advancing environment.  Regularly reading edtech blogs and attending conferences can be great ways to keep current, but sometimes you need some hands-on exposure to a new tool to really find its value.

Technology is changing by the minute as artificial intelligence, and virtual reality is altering the way we approach teaching and learning.  Augmented reality is one pathway for teachers to immerse students in learning experiences that combine creativity and technology skills. You may have heard about 3DBear, a new augmented reality tool that is opening doors for students and unlocking their creativity.

Grab a free trial so that you can learn more about using this tech tool in your school.  

https://3dbear.io/freetrial

Creation, Not Consumption

As leaders, we want students in our schools spending time in creation, not merely consumption. For this to truly happen, we need to equip our teachers with the knowledge to design these learning opportunities for our teachers.

Students can certainly read about medieval times or learn about dinosaurs in textbooks or through video.  What if instead, students could immerse themselves in this learning making and creating the very topics they are learning about?  When students create using augmented reality, they activate their imaginations and skillfully craft products that they can share immediately with others, offering opportunities for global collaboration.

3DBear provides endless possibilities for classroom creation. In any subject area and at any grade level, this app will allow students to create scenes that invoke creativity, demonstrate knowledge and build technology skills. Once students (and teachers) start to engage with the app, they will soon discover that they can bring their creations to life by connecting to a 3-D printer. No longer focused on consuming information, students have the ability to create and produce their own designs.

Activate Creative Thinking

I want students to be problem solvers and complex thinkers. We need classrooms where students are challenged to engage in thinking, planning, and iterating as they develop collaboration and critical thinking skills.  When students are working in 3DBear they will activate creative thinking as they plan and design their images, carefully mapping out their images and making their learning visible for others. 

Exploring with this tool, I quickly found my creative juices flowing. Looking outside at the flurries falling from the sky, I used the 3DBear app to create a virtual flower garden indoors.  As I worked, I found myself rearranging the plants and flowers thinking about the aesthetics of my image.  While I was informally creating with the app, I wondered how students might use this to redesign their classroom, build an ancient structure, or create a welcoming landscape.

                      

My augmented reality flower garden

Content Integration

When teachers are designing lessons, 3DBear offers ways to enhance learning within the content areas.  English Language Arts teachers looking for another layer of engagement can have students design scenes from the stories they are reading.  Math teachers looking to develop spatial awareness and build an understanding of geometry concepts with find options within the app.  Science teachers will love the bank of images that can be used when students are studying plants and animals or the solar system.  Merging knowledge from math and science with tech is a great step towards STEM and STEAM lesson integration as well.  Check out this solar system image I created after just a few minutes tinkering with the app on my phone.  Imagine what students might create when given the time and space to explore augmented reality in the classroom.

          

       Solar System Exploration in 3DBear

Engagement At All Levels

3DBear can be used in simple ways in the primary classroom but can increase in complexity throughout the grade levels. First-grade classrooms can jump into augmented reality to build words and even practice spelling. The tool can be used to practice vocabulary and create images to enhance word meaning. Intermediate level students can expand use to build intricate scenes connected to creative storytelling and narrative writing.  Middle-level science classes create animal habitats. High school students design homes and 3-D print the components.  3DBear can support academic learning, social-emotional learning, but it can also just be for fun. 

This weekend my sons (ages 4 and 6) messed around with the app and created this image for March Madness.  Even my preschooler was engaged and used his iPad to create other scenes on his own.

Ease of Use

We know that adding something new to the plates of our teachers can present its challenges, but 3DBear makes it easy with a teacher dashboard.  This tool provides lesson plans and resources so teachers can get started right away.  The dashboard provides examples for all subject areas making 3DBear an easy-to-learn and quick to use the platform.  Get this into the hands of your teachers, so that can share in the fun with your students.

Since this tool is easy to use and can work across grades and subject areas, I can see this becoming a favorite app for teachers and students.  Check out https://3dbear.io/ for more information.

As a district leader and educator, this is the kind of tool that I want my teachers exploring. It provides an opportunity for exploration and student creation in so many ways.  Teachers will find 3DBear easy to use, as will students. Take advantage of their free 30-day trials for teachers and sign up for an account here https://3dbear.io/freetrial.

Stop Teaching Skills That Disappear

I recently had the opportunity to watch the educational documentary, Most Likely to Succeed by Ted Dintersmith. It's a pretty powerful video.  While there were dozens of ideas that struck me during the viewing, there was one particular idea that I keep circling back to.

I understand that we all have a curriculum to teach and standards to align our instruction to, but I think we need to ask ourselves some tough questions about what exactly we are teaching.

Are we teaching students things that stay with them or are we teaching them things that disappear?

If you really think hard about this, it might be a game-changing question for you.

My son is in first grade and every Friday he has a spelling test, a vocabulary quiz, and a reading test. Don't get me started on the fact that a 6 year old has already deemed Fridays as "test days".  He knows about the 5-day death march that we trudge through week after week.

Luckily, he doesn't have to study a lot for these tests, as he has strong literacy skills. But, imagine if he didn't.  Some students have to study for 4 or 5 tests every Friday.  Let's think about what it is that he is learning. He gets a set of spelling words on Monday and then is tested at the end of the week.  Once Friday comes and goes, that knowledge also goes. While he will apply spelling patterns in the future, he'll never have to regurgitate that list again.  Why have we created these routines in education?

Consider a similar situation in an upper level math class.  Our students memorize formulas for the big test and then throw that information away once it has served its purpose.  I fear that we are forcing our students to consume information that they will never use again. What if we taught students things that stuck with them, like how to work in a group or how to think flexibly about a problem. What if our lessons focused on how to communicate with others and confidently present an idea. Then we would be equipping students with skills for life, the skills that don't disappear on Friday or any day a year or two from now. 

We wonder why kids say--when am I ever going to use this?  It's because we are teaching them things that will disappear--likely sooner than later.  How can we change that trajectory?

Connect with kids--Every conversation we have with our students allows us to model the importance of relationships. The interactions we have and the stories we tell shows students that people matter.  Their words matter. That is a life lesson that won't fade away throughout their schooling.

Design tasks that matter--Rethink your instruction and create tasks that push student thinking and force them to tap into skills that don't disappear like grit, empathy, and perseverance.  Memorized skills and rote repetition won't stick with your students much beyond Friday's test. Opt for learning experiences that will expand creativity and equip them to solve problems.  These are tools that will help them in any class, job, or life experience.

Provide a purpose-Learning a topic "because we have to" or taking a test on Friday out of habit are not good enough reasons for me.  Tell your students why they are learning what they are learning. Define the purpose and make sure it's a good one!  Provide students with the reasons behind the content they are learning. 

When we provide a purpose, connect with kids, and design tasks that matter, we are building knowledge within our learners that won't fade away over time.  We can give them a foundation for learning that will stick with them and show them the value in this thing we call school.

This week, reflect on what you are teaching and assessing.  Are you focused on skills for Friday or skills for the future? Teach your students the things that won't disappear.  

Share a comment below about your reflection. 

How Do We Celebrate Creativity?

In schools, we hold academic honor ceremonies, athletic competitions, and science fairs.  We have spelling bees and "Math-A-Thons". We lift up the successes of our students in big ways when it comes to these types of accomplishments.  We recognize championship wins and perfect SAT scores.  We hand out certificates for honor roll and perfect attendance, but how do we celebrate creativity?

I recently attended an event at my son's school called Arts Alive.  Your school may have one of these kinds of events, too.  Student artwork was hung throughout the halls.  Each grade level practiced a few songs and did a performance on stage.  There were crafts in the cafeteria for families to do and a even a face painter.  It was a lively evening focused on celebrating the arts, but it got me wondering about what we do to support creative learning throughout the year.

If we value creative thinking and the imaginative work of our students, then we should celebrate this in both big and small ways. Here are a few simple ways to honor the creativity in your students and show them that their creative mindset matters.

Showcase Student Creativity (all year long)

When I was an elementary principal, we had an amazing art teacher.  Not only did she build student skills in the art room, but she inspired students to be creative.  She did a great job of displaying student work throughout the school, but visitors to the school didn't always have the pleasure of walking the halls and viewing these masterpieces.  We invested some money in some plain black frames and hung them in the main office.  Select pieces of student work could be displayed regularly in the office for everyone to see.  While this is a simple step to take, imagine the pride in a student's face when they see their creative work displayed in this way.

Offer Creative Assessment Options

If we agree that creative thinking will solve the complex problems of the future, then we need to start equipping students now with the skills to do that.  Reflect on your assessment practices.  Paper and pencil tests can't always measure everything we want to see in our students. Do you offer options that tap into the creativity of students?  Are video animations a choice when summarizing a story? Can students use Buncee to illustrate their understanding of a science concept?  Does building a physical model to explain a math formula "count" as an assessment? Exploring creative assessment options provides an alternate pathway to demonstrate understanding and allows student strengths to shine.

Promote Creative Accomplishments

We post on Facebook and tweet out when our sports teams win and when our scholars excel.  Let's honor our designers, painters, poets, and musicians just as often. Promote the work of our creative students all year long, not just for the one-time art show every spring.  Let's be intentional about giving students the time and space to exhibit their creativity.  We can promote it through the programs we offer in our schools and the communication that we push out to our school community. Tell the story of creativity in your school and share it.

Celebrate Creativity

Sir Ken Robinson said, "Creativity is as important now in education as literacy and we should treat it with the same status." There is no doubt that lots of educators are lifting up creativity and giving it the status it deserves. Let's #uNlockCreativity and open a world of imagination within our students!

How do you celebrate creativity in your classroom? In what ways does your school promote student creative successes? Share your ideas for unlocking creativity in schools.

3 Books That Support Remaking Literacy

If you are one of many teachers who are wondering how maker education fits into your curriculum, I'd ask you to think about literacy as a potential pathway.  There are so many engaging books that can lead students to meaningful opportunities to make. Hands-on learning has the ability to engage disengaged students and boost student understanding when it comes to reading, writing, speaking, and listening.

We have an opportunity to "remake" our literacy practices and take the effective strategies that we already know and use and ramp them up with an added layer of maker education.  Within our classrooms, we can share stories with our students that lead to creativity and design.  Finding the right stories or taking time to find the connections within children's literature can be a challenge, so I wanted to share three great books that can support remaking literacy in the classroom.


The Branch is a great story that you probably haven't heard of.  It shares the connection between a young girl and her neighbor who work together on a project.  This book can lead to a number of maker experiences.  The girl and her neighbor explore tools in the workshop and move through a number of steps. The story provides opportunities for students to use their imaginations to create something out of a problem.

Remake Opportunity: Simulate the idea of the branch and provide every student with a large chunk of cardboard.  It's essentially a blank slate. What ideas do they have? What steps will they take to create something new out of this material?


Twenty-One Elephants and Still Standing provides a some historical context about the Brooklyn Bridge.  With concerns that the bridge wouldn't be strong enough to hold them, the members of the community look to circus legend P.T. Barnum for help.  In response, he sends his herd of 21 elephants across the bridge to ensure that it is structurally sound.

Remake Opportunity: This book is a smart choice if your students enjoy bridge building and you are looking for a literature connection. Use your favorite maker materials and have students design and build bridges for strength. Spaghetti and marshmallows, craft sticks, or cardboard--any materials that you have available would work.

The last book to share is Green City which taps into environmental awareness and the importance of sustainability.  The author shares the story of one town that was devastated by a tornado and worked together to create a green city that would sustain their community in the future. 

Remake Opportunity: This book can lead to opportunities to explore solar and wind power. Imagine your students designing solar panels and wind turbines or other creations. Create a "green" challenge for your class to create a new power source or get involved in the Future City project. 

Books can be one way to engage your students in connected, hands-on learning. The content that they learn about within literature can be applied through maker learning in your classroom or in a school makerspace. These books are just a starting point.  There are hundreds of  stories that present opportunities for "remaking".

Interested in more ideas like this?  My book Remaking Literacy will be coming out later in 2019 with Solution Tree. Check their site or my website http://www.steam-makers.com/ for the release date. 

A Cabin in the Woods: One Writer's Secrets

I never understood in the movies how authors would lock themselves away in a cabin in the woods and pound out a novel in a matter of days.  Don't get me wrong, I understand the need for solitude.  I long for an escape to a serene location to stir up some inspiration, but my process isn't that linear.  Partly because I can't find those big chunks of time and partly because I don't think my brain works that way.

I often struggle (when I do have some quiet time) to just sit and plug away at my writing.  My process takes twists and turns.  Rarely do I find myself focused in for a long period of time on one topic, chapter, or idea.  I wish I had that in me, the ability to just lock myself in a room and crank out page after page, but I don't.

Over the last year, I've been reflecting more about myself as a writer.  I love the idea of a writer's retreat.  Who doesn't need time at a chalet in the mountains or a lakeside getaway, right?  But since I don't often have that luxury, I have to find my own strategies to persevere as a writer.

Here's what I have figured out so far on my journey as an author.  Perhaps some of these strategies will work for you too.  Maybe you will take one strategy and put your own spin on it.

Pre-Writing

Collect your ideas--Let me start by saying that my "pre-writing" happens all the time.  I literally carry around a notebook with me wherever I go.  I jot down quotes that I hear or ideas that I have.  Sometimes it's just scribbles.  Once in a while I will use the ideas right away and other times the thoughts will stay stashed away in my notebook for months before I return to them again.

Create your atmosphere--a quiet room or a noisy coffee shop, maybe some distant background noise. It seems that every writer has their preferred way.  For me, it's no TV, no soundtrack playing to get me motivated. I find that I just need to be alone with my thoughts.  Not too comfortable of a place to sit, I need to keep focused and not wander away in the coziness of the spot.  I often find myself at the dining room table or sitting on the couch with the sun from the outside shining in on me. Every writer will create a different atmosphere.  Find yours and make it work.

During Writing

Get it on the page--Some writers are intentional about working from chapter to chapter, from logical beginning to end.  Not me.  I jump around to wherever my thoughts take me.  I may write a few paragraphs in one section and then move to something completely different.  I know that I need to get it on the page, in whatever way I can, reassuring myself that I can always go back and change it later.

Take a sidebar-- I know that we just got started writing so taking a sidebar may seem a bit like procrastination but sometimes that's how my writing goes. I had a great writing professor once tell me that writing doesn't have to always be writing.  Work on a reference list.  Stop to reread your notes.  Write a list of alternate titles.  Sometimes formal writing takes a backseat to other strategies that lead to future writing, so taking a break and having a short sidebar is OK.

What does this look like? For me, it might mean:

Hopping on Twitter to search a hashtag for ideas
Google image search related to what I'm writing about
Reading quotes from others on the same topic
Paging through my notebook for handwritten ideas that strike a chord
Leafing through a magazine
Draw, sketch, or doodle
Closing my eyes for a minute or two to pull ideas together
Talking to someone else about the topic

Post Writing

Walk away-- Sometimes I just have to step away from my laptop.  Sometimes you just need to take a mental and physical break from writing and clear your head. Don't sit there and beat yourself up waiting for the perfect idea or transition sentence to come to you. Walk away and take some time to refresh.  It will help you to returned to your work refocused and ready for your next piece.

Share with a critical friend--Just when you think you are done with a blog, an article, or chapter the last thing you might want to do is revise and edit your work, but sharing it with a critical friend may be what you need to take your writing to the next level.  Find a trusted colleague or valued critic who will give you some honest feedback.  Getting someone else's perspective may help you in your process.  Join a writing group like Teach Write  or create your own.

Finally, take some time to celebrate.  Writing is hard work.  Sometimes it can be exhausting.  It can also be invigorating and joyful.  As writers, we can't forget to step back and appreciate our own accomplishments. You have taken a risk and shared your ideas.  You are a writer.

Why Every Educator Needs to Attend an Educational Conference

I just spent the last few days at the Future of Educational Technology Conference, so I am still coming down from my "learning high".  If you don't know what I'm talking about, then you probably haven't been to a great conference in a while.  It was an incredible opportunity to learn new things, see new products, and connect with some of the most influential innovators in education.

You see, when I go to conferences I try to get to as many sessions as possible and absorb as much learning as I can.  I find joy in listening to engaging speakers and gaining new knowledge from their experience. I'm also the kind of person who gets mad when someone knows something that I don't know. In turn, my thirst for knowledge grows.

I NEED to learn more.

Share your knowledge with me, please!

I don't know about you, but I like to surround myself with lifelong learners who can make me better. I find myself drawn to educators who have the passion for teaching and the drive to continue their own learning. This is why it's disappointing when I talk to educators who never get out of their buildings to learn and grow from others. There may be lots of reasons why educators don't get out to conference more often:

"My district doesn't have any money to send me to a conference."

"It's too much work to prepare for a sub while I'm gone-----if I even get a sub."

"I don't know which conferences are the best ones to go to."

Let's get rid of these excuses!  I know, conferences cost money, but there are options out there.  Some conferences (like @FETC) offers free registration for educators who are willing to present.  Many others provide group discounts when more than one educator attends.  Some conferences will offer a discount if you volunteer a certain number of hours at the event. Need another way to get yourself there? Maybe you are connected to an educational company?  Are you an Ambassador for Microsoft, Buncee, or Osmo?  Ask them if they'll provide you with a sponsorship or a stipend.  Every little bit helps.

So, grab a buddy and plan your road trip to the next big conference.  Start saving up now if you have to.  Find an inexpensive Air B&B and join in the learning!

Not sure which conferences are right for you? Check out Cybraryman's  always-amazing collection of resources.  He shares upcoming EdCamps, Conferences and other regional PD.  You are sure to find the right event for you!  The Education Calendar site is also a helpful tool, as you can search by state/location for great event near you.

We all need time to recharge our minds and refocus on our educational role. Time away at a conference fuels my need to learn and grow.  It allows me to connect with enthusiastic educators who love what they do.  I also get the opportunity to hear from thought leaders in education. When I map out my schedule, I look for the educators who I follow on social media and am rarely disappointed when I get to meet them face-to-face.  If you don't follow Heather Lister or Jaime Donally, check out their work. I've followed them for a while and was ecstatic to finally meet them in person!

Educational conferences are just one pathway to personalized professional learning, but it is a path that every educator needs to explore. While every conference experience is unique, it is a time to reflect on your practices, refresh your mindset, and rejuvenate your practices.

Teachers--take time away from your classrooms and attend an educational conference this year.  It will be worth it. You will return to your students filled with new ideas and a renewed sense of purpose.

School leaders--remember the importance of helping your teachers to learn and grow. Carve out time and money to make sure that opportunities exist in your district.

Educators as Storytellers

I recently had the opportunity to have lunch with some of our high school students and talk about their educational journey in our school district.  With a focus on instruction, assessment, resources, and technology, we talked about the things that they felt were important to them and their school.

I went into the conversation wondering what the students (juniors and seniors) would say about the last 12 years in our school district.  Would they complain about school lunches or dress code?  Would they talk about their favorite teachers or coaches? Would they question whether we should start school later or add more study halls?

The students definitely shared bits and pieces like these, but there was one critical take-away from the conversation---their connections with teachers.

They lit up when they shared about the relationships that they had with some of their teachers.  They laughed about funny quirks of some teachers and personal anecdotes from others.  One thing rang true--the relationships that were cultivated throughout their high school experience were meaningful and longstanding.

One student shared something particularly important--the idea of educators as storytellers.  The group all agreed, the best teachers were those who told stories, not just personal stories, bridging connections in the classrooms but those who wove stories into their content.  Without realizing it, their teachers hooked them in to the learning with the power of a story.

This made me reflect on my own education and those teachers who crafted stories within their classrooms.  You probably remember some as well--the ones who had you hanging on their every word while (slyly) infusing history or literature content.  You felt like they were just talking to you, but they were really just finding pathways to incorporate core content in meaningful ways.

The high school students shared that they found comfort in those teachers who crafted stories to support their subject areas.  They expressed feeling more engaged, more interested in the topic, and more connected to their teachers.  It didn't matter if it was art, music, math or foreign language, the conversation kept coming back around to the stories that teachers tell.  Isn't that what we want for every student?  Connections to their teachers.  Connections to the content. Personal connections that lead to deeper understanding.

So the challenge is:

Teachers--Reflect this week on your role as a storyteller.  Do you weave examples and stories throughout your content?  How does that make a difference to your students?  Ask them!

School Leaders--As you visit classrooms this week, look for the storytellers.  How are these teachers intentionally using storytelling as an instructional tool?  What do you notice about student responses?

Also think about your role as a decision maker and an instructional leader, where can you use storytelling to compel others to take action or improve their practice?

Please leave a comment on the power of storytelling in your school.  I'd love to hear how these opportunities are impacting teaching and learning.

3 Maker Tools to Try This Year

Maker learning is happening in schools and libraries.  It is an exciting time in education as we have so many tools and materials as our disposal.  Our classrooms and makerspaces are filled with so many options, how do we know what to choose?

When you spend time with students, it is always interesting to see what materials they gravitate towards.  Sometimes its the unexpected item that gets a lot of attention.  Other times, the things that you think are going to be a huge hit are actually a big flop.  Before I introduce materials to my teachers or students, I usually try it out at home with my own little makers.

It's exciting when I bring home a new product to try.  My sons and I love to tinker so we figure out how things work and play around with them.  That's really the heart of making, if you ask me.  It's that informal messing with materials that provide a creative spark or a new idea that pushes kids to think differently about whatever it is they are working with.

Right now my older son is loving Plus Plus.  These interlocking mini blocks can be used to build just about anything.  2-D and 3-D structures, people, or vehicles.  In a short time, my son used the images from the packaging to replicate a robot, flowers, and an airplane.  Pieces fit snugly together and are perfect for small hands. They offer flexible play on the part of the learner but can also be used to follow a set of directions to accomplish a specific end product.  We love the colors and the creative opportunity that Plus Plus offers to create and design whatever you want.

If you haven't heard about Buddha Board yet, you will want to give this a try.  Think relaxation meets maker education.  We all need the opportunity to step away from technology and do something to "de-stress".

Buddha Board is essentially a painting canvas that only requires water and a little imagination.  The brushstrokes are quite calming as students use the water to create sentences, images, or anything they come up with.  The challenge is that it doesn't stay for long. Within a minute or two, the water dries and the image is gone.  It's a great tool for brainstorming or sketching but is especially powerful when it comes to the mental impact.  Now I know that might sound a little far-fetched, but painting on the Buddha Board can really calm you down. It provides this zen-like opportunity for individualized creation that works for every student.

I recently stumbled upon Solarbotics, based on my youngest son's obsession with creating marble runs.  We have a plastic set which he builds and tears down a dozen times coming up with new and improved iterations.  When I found the Gravitrack from Solarbotics this took the idea of the marble run to a whole new level.  Adding battery and solar powered panels, allows the mechanisms to move the marbles at different points in the track.  Other models from the company include carousels and other machines that makers will love building, hacking, and remaking.

There are tons of great maker tools out there.  This post represents just a few fun options for the little makers in your life. They support both structured and unstructured play for students.  While you can't beat free materials like cardboard and some duct tape, these are all fairly inexpensive ranging from $15-$40.  Don't have the funds? You can always create a Donor's Choose post to add these maker tools to your space this year.  

Do you have a favorite maker tool that we should try in 2019?  Please post a comment below.  

Keep on Making!

#OneWord2019

I have thought a lot about my one word for 2019, as I am sure that many of you have.  It's tough to pick just one word, isn't it?  I mean, there are lots of words that can provide inspiration and guidance, but choosing just one word to focus on all year, that requires some special consideration.  I wanted to choose a word that was original, but that's hard too, as there are so many great posts this week with people sharing their chosen word.

I wanted a word that could prompt inspiration in both my personal and professional life.  I wanted a word that would push me to be better.  I wanted a word that would bring to the surface what was most important.

Last year, I chose curiosity.  It was a bit selfish, I must admit.  I wanted to chase my own curiosities and try new things.  I didn't want anything to stand in my way.  I was determined to pursue whatever it was that piqued my interest.

Travel to new places
Learn new things
Write til my heart was content
Meet new people
Let loose and have some fun once in a while
Wherever the curiosity took me

My year was filled with excitement and opportunity.  While I don't want to lose the inspiration that I gained in 2018, I feel the need to reground myself and find some balance, so that is the word I have chosen.

After juggling a lot in 2018, (including writing three books and expanding my presentations to an international audience) I need to regain my balance among the different aspects of my life.  As a mom, a wife, a daughter, a friend, an educator, and an author, my work/life balance has been a bit out of whack.  I need to attend to all of the pieces of my life and ensure that my energy is spent devoting quality time to what is important.

It is easy to get overwhelmed with responsibilities and requirements working in a school district. Balancing my school life with my family life can be a challenge at times.  Add to that, my work life (what I do "on the side") the work of writing, speaking, and consulting with educators. All of those things combine for a pretty full plate at times.

Over the course of the last month, I was also reminded that friends and laughter are critical to my personal well-being.  I don't always take time to let down my guard and fully enjoy the time with those special people. so in addition to my work/life balance, I need remember add my friends to that balance, as well. Sometimes "play time" with friends and colleagues is just as important to our mental health as getting enough rest and eating right.  Which takes me to the next piece of this balancing act.

I spent the latter part of 2018 finding balance in my personal health.  No longer a slave to carbohydrates, I will continue to balance my food choices in a way that fuels my body and my mind and equips me to be my very best self.  (With 37 lbs. down and many more to go) I am committed to maintaining my health balance in 2019, because part of the balance means I need to leave some room to focus just on myself.

Throughout the year, no doubt I will be challenged with things that will attempt to knock me off balance.  When faced with a choice, I will ask myself, does this create an unbalance in my world?  Will this path provide balanced perspective?  Balance means making choices and prioritizing.  As I explore the delicate balance of life, I wish you a Happy New Year and best wishes for an amazing 2019!