Connect with educators in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools.
Teaching & Learning in CMS
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Contribute

Meet Me Halfway

11/19/2013

1 Comment

 
by Rachel Harris, Third Grade Teacher at Irwin Academic Center 
Picture
Remember your first year teaching?  You know what I’m talking about…that "I’m going to save the world, no one’s stopping me, I’m super teacher" feeling?  I do, but most days it seems like a distant, distant memory because let’s face it, that seems way less possible now than it ever did on that first day of my first year. I was so brave, so ready to take it on and oh so naïve.

 Along with that first year mentality came the idea that most kids would fit in a box and most kids would be able to meet my expectations and most kids would be successful according to my success standards.  But the truth is, most kids aren’t most kids. I spent a great deal of my first year trying to cram my students into the perfect little box I had envisioned all through college and student teaching.  They spent that first year destroying my perfect box and teaching me the most important lesson I could ever learn as an educator: No child fits in a box and one size doesn’t fit all or for that matter…most.  I had to step outside my box and meet each kid where most kids aren’t which is right where each individual kid is.

 It took me quite some time to realize that the only way to reach a child is to meet the child where they are.  I’m not just talking about academics…in fact; I’m pretty much ignoring that right now.  To reach a child, you’ve got to meet the child, the real child and get to know them deep enough for them to actually let you in to see their strengths and weaknesses, their fears and joys and their struggles and triumphs. 

I believe this is the step that all too many of us (myself included) often miss during those first few weeks of school.  Between classroom set up, meetings, open house, meetings, back to school night, meetings, lesson planning and more meetings we often forget that we all started this journey all those years ago for one reason and that was the kids.  If we aren’t meeting the kids where they are, getting to know the kids in their weakest most vulnerable moments; on their hardest, most frustrating days then we aren’t doing our job and we’re never going to reach them academically.   

 As the holidays approach and the calendar year draws to a close, between Reading 3D, MAP testing, holiday celebrations and mid quarter progress reports, I’m taking on the challenge to really meet my kids…right where they are each and every day.  I hope you will too. 


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Rachel Harris is in her 7th year of teaching for CMS.  She currently teaches a 3rd grade Learning Immersion class at Irwin Academic Center.  Rachel graduated from James Madison University in 2007 with a Bachelor's of Science in Early Childhood Education.  In making the move to NC she took the Praxis and became certified in K-6. She is currently pursuing her Master's in Curriculum and Instruction at Winthrop University and will graduate this summer.
1 Comment

Instructional Uses For QR Codes And Creating them Using GAFE

11/13/2013

2 Comments

 
by Jill Thompson, Instructional Technology Specialist
“Traditional thinking is all about 'what is'. Future thinking will also need to be about what 'can be'"by Edward de Bono

Quick Response codes also known as QR codes are similar to barcodes. When you scan QR codes using apps such as i-nigma or scan with your smartphone, iPad and computer (if you have a web camera) it links information to you. The information can be text, videos or websites etc. I see QR codes becoming more popular in the classroom because they can be read on many devices and it is a real world application. Here are some ways you can use QR codes in the classroom.
1. Put QR codes on classroom library books using labels/stickers so it stays nicely on the book. You can start by you creating some of the QR codes for books and then eventually letting the students make their own telling about why other students should read this book. You can also have students create ‘book trailers’ and turn them into QR codes using iMovie! You can also place QR codes inside books where you want the student to stop and do a comprehension check or a reading response without sending home a worksheet.

2. You can create scavenger hunts and/or webquests for your students that get them moving around the room. Scanning a QR code makes is easier for the younger students so they don’t have to type the long urls. You can also place QR codes around the school informing parents and/or students about different places around the school.

3. Add QR codes to homework sheets that are helpful hints. For example, if the student forgets how to solve a math problem or gets stuck, they can scan the QR code for help. You can put them at the bottom of the page or right next to the problem. The QR codes can be linked to a ‘how to video’ such as a Khan Academy  video or a ShowMe video you created yourself. You could also link the code to text such as the math notes that were given that day.


4. You can have the students become self-directed learners by creating QR stations. The students scan the QR code to reveal the task and the students must work together to get the task complete. This builds on the 21st century skills of communication, collaboration and critical thinking. In a science classroom, the QR stations could have codes stating how to do an experiment or it could explain a task that the students had to complete. For example, using the materials in front of you, you must design an experiment in thirty minutes that demonstrates all three of Newton’s Laws and must use at least one simple machine. QR stations can work in Physical Activity (GYM), Art, Music or any classroom!

5. A fellow teacher and virtual friend, @MrLemere, had his kids use QR codes to create work-cited pages for their research. What a great idea! He was able to check for copyright/paraphrasing issues on the spot and show the kids who copied word for word, and why it was wrong!

6. QR Voice Reader allows students to record themselves and turn the audio into a synthesized voice. This is a great way to have students practice oral reading or read their poems.

7. Make QR codes games. My students hated doing word problems so I made a QR circuit with word problems. The students were moving around the room, using their devices and practicing solving word problems. How I did it was by creating several word problems using QR codes and put the answers around the room. Once they solved the word problem, the answer directed them to the next word problem, creating a fun circuit.

8. Print your QR codes in color or do it the cheap way and print the QR codes on colored paper. Why color? This is a great way to differentiate instruction or use for jigsaw activities. You can have the low students scan the red codes, the middle can be blue and high can be purple; this way the students are all doing the same activity, but reading on their level.

To start putting some of these great ideas into practice in your classroom, you can use QR creators such as Kaywa, QRStuff if you just want to create one QR code but I like using Google docs when creating multiple QR codes quickly. I adapted the below directions from Tammy Worcester’s tech tip.

1. Log into Google and go to Google Drive.

2. Click on the create button to the left hand side and click on spreadsheet.

3. Label column ‘A’ Information. This is where you will put the information you want the QR code to have, for example your text, video, url etc.

4. Label column ‘B’ QR Code. (Eventually your QR code will appear here)

5. Resize the columns and rows so they are approximately 2 inches by 2 inches. You want them big enough to be able to scan easily.

6. Copy and paste this formula in cell B2, then click enter. (If it doesn’t work the first time, sometimes you need to manually type it in)

=image(ʺhttps://chart.googleapis.com/chart?chs=150x150&cht=qr&chl=ʺ &A2)

7. A QR code will appear!
*If doesn’t work on the first try, it could be because you had a space after the A2) so delete the space and try again. The row will change to green and that is how you know it will work. Ex. A2.

8. Click the tiny blue square in the bottom-right corner of the cell and drag down to fill the formula in that column. QR codes should appear for all the information you filled in each row. If you didn’t fill in each row and you see QR codes then you can go back and put in information and those QR codes will change to add the new information.

9. Print them out, cut them up and place where you want them in your classroom.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Jill Thompson is an Instructional Technology Specialist in the district. She was previously a Math and Science facilitator for a year and taught in the classroom for 8 years prior to that. A graduate of Salem State College in Salem, Massachusetts, she has obtained a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and Bachelor of Arts in English. She has also obtained her AIG (Academically or Intellectually Gifted) licensure at UNCC and earned her Masters degree in Curriculum and Instruction at Winthrop University! Additionally, she is an adjunct professor at UNCC and teaches Instructional Design and the Use of Technology with Elementary School Learners. 
2 Comments

Mobile Professional Learning On The Go!

11/5/2013

1 Comment

 
by Christina Efird, Teacher Professional Development Director, Teacher Professional Development
Picture
Teaching and learning go hand in hand. As educators, we believe in continuous learning to stay current on trends, research, and best practices for  inspired learning to achieve desired student outcomes.  The good news is that CMS offers so many learning opportunities from which teachers can choose based on their needs and learning profile as evidenced by the recently published Second Quarter PD Catalogue.

Format-wise, more professionals are going for blended or online learning because the format compliments their busy work and life style. Joining this Professional Learning Network (PLN) is a good example of professional learning through collegial conversations in the virtual world. Another way to keep abreast of best practices from experts in the field might be checking out a good eBook for on-the-go reading without carrying a heavy load.

What are CMS teachers reading these days? For the month of October, the top three views of the CMS eLibrary are:
  1. Coaching Conversations: Transforming Your School One Conversation at a Time
  2. 95 Strategies for Remodeling Instruction: Ideas for Incorporating CCSS
  3. Blended Learning in Grades 4-12: Leveraging the Power of Technology to Create Student-Centered Classrooms

If you would like to read one of these and others, CMS provides you with access to a collection of 40 high quality professional eBooks in teaching and learning. These are great resources to add to your toolbox! This eBook subscription provides the following:

  • Support for CMS Strategic Plan in 21st Century Skills, Common Core, Assessments, ESL/ELL, Cultural Proficiency/Equity, Differentiated Instruction, Brain-based Learning, Response to Instruction, Coaching and Mentoring, Leadership, Classroom Management, etc
  • On-demand access to 40 professional books from experts in the fields
  • Collaboration support within Professional Learning Communities in schools
  • Just-in-time PD reading on your web-enabled devices
  • Compatible with tablets and mobile devices
Don’t know where to start? No worry!  Just follow the directions below.

·         Log in to the CMS Intranet.
·         Follow this path:  Professional Development—>CMS eLibrary (tab)—>Access CMS eLibrary
·         Follow the directions.

There are also video tutorials to guide you through the steps.  Happy Reading! 


Creating a Personal Account
Downloading Books to Your iPad
Using the eBook Reader
Corwin eLibrary Basics
 ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Christina Efird started her teaching career in 1988 and has taught in CMS since 1995.  She believes teaching is continuous learning and improvement and is keenly interested in digital and personalized learning. In addition to being a DEN Star and Moodle administrator, she is certified in online instruction through the Carolina Online Teacher program (COLT).  She currently works in CMS Teacher Professional Development as the Director.

1 Comment

    Authors

    Our blog is comprised of guest blog posts  written and shared by  K-12 educators in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. 

    Archives

    December 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013

    Categories

    All
    Assessment
    Blog
    Byot
    Coding
    Collaboration
    Common Core
    Communication
    Differentiation
    Edcamp
    Language Arts
    Math
    Motivation
    Nature
    Nbct
    PBL
    PLN
    Reading
    Rigor
    Speaking & Listening
    Stem
    Technology
    Twitter

    RSS Feed


Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.