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Design Process

9/22/2014

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by Jill Thompson, Personalized Learning Program Manager 
"It’s no longer enough simply to outperform the competition; to thrive in a world of ceaseless and rapid change, business people have to out-imagine the competition as well. They must begin to think-to become-more like designers." by Roger Martin

Design challenges uses the design thinking process to find a solution to a challenge. Design thinking takes on a problem solving mindset. Design challenges create real world opportunities for students be innovative and creative while using their higher order thinking and 21st century learning skills. Design thinking and challenges provides a student centric learning experience to happen in the classroom. Below is the design process that Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools (all rights reserved) uses:
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Design Challenge Ideas for the Classroom:
•    How might we create ways for younger students to better understand how important digital citizenship is?
•    Create an app that would help you solve a problem you encounter daily.
•    Knex: Design Challenge
•    Design a clothing product that allows for heating and cooling of materials for different sports. (Example of standards based Design Challenge - Science: 5.P.3)

Other Resources on Design Thinking and Challenges:
Museum of Science, Boston Design Challenges

Design Challenge Lessons from The Tech Museum: Museum of Innovation

A Design Challenge to Students: Solve a Real-World Problem!

Design Squad - PBS (Great for 3-8th graders)

Real World Design Challenges (HS Level)

Threadless Design Challenge - Real world application

K12 Lab Wiki for Design Challenges

Design Thinking for Educators

IDEO Design Thinking

Great article by Forbes: Design Thinking: A Unified Framework for Innovation

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Jill Thompson is the Program Manager for Personalized Learning for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. Jill graduated from Salem State College in Salem, Massachusetts with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and Bachelor of Arts in English. She went on to obtained her Masters in Curriculum and Instruction from Winthrop University and and AIG (Academically or Intellectually Gifted) licensure at UNCC. Follow Jill on Twitter @edu_thompson and learn more about her here: http://about.me/jillthompson.
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Co-Assess, Co-Plan, Co-Instruct

9/15/2014

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by Ann Jolly, Exceptional Children Specialist
Let me take you back to August, 2006. I was seated with my school team at a large circular table at Queens University hanging on to every word of Dr. Marilyn Friend, a national expert on Inclusive Practices (IP).  I vividly remember my fellow General Education (GE) teachers chiding me affectionately as she joked about the Exceptional Children (EC) teacher (me!) flying in with her cape to “save the day”. We were one of many school teams going through the IP training as it was phased into the district. I raced back to school, made our IP binders with “Inclusion is the understanding that ALL students will have access to the knowledge, skills and values necessary to live productive lives” pasted across the front. There was a renewed energy; we were going to ensure that every child had access to strong instruction every day. And we did a great job. However, over the years, staff changed, initiatives came and went, and our binders and vision began to collect dust. How about you? Where is your school? Are you providing a continuum of services to meet all students’ needs and providing strong co-teaching instruction? 

Perhaps the 2014-15 school year is a great time to revisit inclusive practices and ensure strong co-teaching practices throughout our district. Access to knowledge, skills and values is the beginning. But how can we go further for our students with disabilities? I think one way is to broaden our thinking of co-teaching to specifically talk about co-assessment, co-planning and co-instruction. Professional partners, each bringing a separate skill set to the table, to ensure that every student (with or without disabilities) receives strong instruction in a way that he/she understands and can demonstrate his/her understanding. In her new book, Co-Teach! Building and Sustaining Effective Classroom Partnerships in Inclusive Schools, Dr. Friend provides us with some ideas that will allow us to begin this discussion within our schools.
Co-Assessment
 This is the practice of GE and EC Teachers working together to provide and analyze formative and summative assessments which inform instruction. How are you working with your co-teaching partner to gather and analyze data on a daily basis? Universal Design for Learning suggests that we design lessons, with potential barriers in mind and ensuring multiple means of expression. Do you students have multiple options to demonstrate their understanding?
Co-Planning
 Co-planning means GE and EC teachers intentionally plan together to facilitate  meaningful lessons. Envision a triangle with the bottom section- electronic planning, the middle section- face to face planning and the top section- on the spot planning. With increased technology, why not consider using Google Calendar or other platforms to virtually plan between face-to-face big picture planning. Calendars can be made with your co-teaching partner and lesson plans, resources and assessments can be uploaded for each teacher to review and edit. Protocols are also available that can help you use your limited planning time efficiently. 
 Co-Instruction
 Although there are 6 co-teaching approaches, station, parallel and alternate teaching will provide the most targeted and small group instruction for students. Regardless of the approach used, each teacher should be actively involved in teaching students and each teacher brings a unique skill set to the classroom. The GE teacher is the curriculum/content expert and has a knowledge of typical students and pacing, while the EC teacher brings a keen knowledge of process of learning and individualization. The EC teacher is also required to provide Specially Designed Instruction (SDI) as outlined in the students’ Individual Education Program (IEP). SDI means adapting, as appropriate to the needs of an eligible child under this part, the content, methodology, or delivery of instruction—(i) To address the unique needs of the child that result from the child’s disability; and (ii) To ensure access of the child to the general curriculum, so that the child can meet the educational standards within the jurisdiction of the public agency that apply to all children. 
Unfortunately, we are not where we need to be in proficiency outcomes for students with disabilities as a district or a state. Beginning in 2014, the US Department of Education will use both compliance and results data, giving each equal weight in making each State’s determination. Office of Special Education Program’s (OSEP) new accountability framework, called Results Driven Accountability (RDA), brings into focus the educational results and functional outcomes for children with disabilities while balancing those results with the compliance requirements of Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Based on this, North Carolina falls in the Needs Assistance category in implementing the requirements of IDEA.

Hopefully you’re thinking...hmmm...”How can I make a difference?” Consider starting this conversation at your school. Numerous co-teaching walk-through examples are available online or by contacting our EC Instructional Help Desk ([email protected]) that can provide you with a baseline to facilitate the discussion and determine next steps. Schools may also request professional development in Co-Teaching through the EC Customized PD Request link on the EC Website. Together, let’s move past access... to success!

Every Child. Every Day. For a Better Tomorrow. 
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Ann Jolly is the Exceptional Children Elementary Program Specialist for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. She holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in Special Education and is currently enrolled in the Department of Educational Leadership at University of North Carolina Wilmington. Ann has twenty years of teaching experience in various settings, including private separate to public resource in grades PreK to five. Follow Ann on Twitter @Annjolly2.

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The ABCs of PLNs-- Get Connected!

9/1/2014

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A new school year is upon us. Excitement is in the air and there's nothing like the smell of freshly sharpened pencils and opening up brand new spiral notebooks.  The year is full of promise and possibilities.

Last year, we launched our own district-wide Professional Learning Network, or PLN, and we look forward to growing it this year. There has never been a better time to become a connected educator! Still looking for a reason? Here are at least 26! Check out the ABCs of PLNs.
A...adaptive to your needs.  You can make your PLN what you want it to be.

B...blogs from educators. You will learn so much from reading educator blogs. Who knows? You may even be inspired to write your own blog.

C...collaboration. Collaborating with others is fun. While we are strong on our own, we are always better together. Having an active PLN makes collaborating with colleagues and other classrooms easier.

D...dialogue. You'll love exchanging in dynamic and lively dialogues with your colleagues.

E...experiences. Share your experiences, success stories, and flops with others. You will learn and grow, no matter what.

F...friendships will develop from your professional connections. Meeting members of your PLN face-to-face can be fun!

G...growth. You will grow so much as an educator and help others to grow as you contribute to the profession in new and exciting ways. What can be better? 

H...helpful. Your PLN will jump to your rescue! 

I...inspiration & ideas are everywhere! Prepare to be inspired and inspire others.

J...Jump right in! We're just about halfway through the alphabet! How many more reasons do you really need? 

K...K-12 educators. There is truly something for everyone! 

L...life-long learning. A PLN embodies life-long learning.

M...manage your connections. The connections you make will be amazing! 

N...network. You can network and connect with others using a variety of social media tools including Twitter, blogs, Facebook, Voxer, LinkedIn, Pinterest, etc...

O...open-minded. Your PLN keeps you open-minded  and ready to try new ideas out in your classroom, department, or school. 

P...personalized experience. The beauty of having a PLN is that you personalize it to fit your needs.

Q...quick and real time. Information is freely exchanged back and forth. If you are looking for resources or ideas, your PLN will quickly respond and come to your aid.

R...reflect. You will constantly reflect on your own experiences

S...sharing abundantly. Connected educators willingly and selflessly share their experiences, ideas, knowledge, and passion with others for the betterment of the profession.

T...Twitter is a treasure trove for teachers! There are so many educational hashtags to follow and thousands of amazing educators who freely share with others. Don't forget to check out our weekly Twitter chat on Wednesday nights at 8 PM EST-- #cmsk12chat.

U...unlimited possibilities. Anything is possible when you are a connected educator.

V...voice. Having a PLN can help you find your voice as an educator.

W...wonder & wisdom.  There is so much to learn. Being connected allows you to access anything at your fingertips.

X... eXpand your circle. Having a PLN will suddenly make our large district seem a whole lot smaller.

Y...your best go-to source for all things teaching and learning. You will rely on your PLN for advice, ideas, and much needed inspiration throughout the year.

Z...zest & zeal for teaching. It's hard NOT to be excited about being an educator when you are surrounded by a group of such passionate educators.
You can also check out the video below for real testimonials from CMS educators.
We are also on Instagram and have our very own YouTube Channel which will contain a lot of great information and resources to enable you to provide better learning experiences for your students.



We look forward to connecting with you this year! 


What are some other reasons for connecting with a PLN? Comment below!
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Engaging Students with Project Based Learning

6/9/2014

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by Nancy Betler, Talent Development Teacher at Eastover Elementary
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As an educator, it is important to continue to learn and grow.  I currently teach students who are gifted and  continually need to be challenged.  At the end of the last school year I reflected on how the year had gone and decided that although things went well I wanted to push my students to another level.  There was a need to help them grow even further.  During my research on how to help students grow I came across the strategy of Project Based Learning.  Project Based learning is active learning that is student-centered.  Students learn about a subject through the experience of problem solving and creating a project.  According to the research, Project Based Learning helps the students develop flexible knowledge, effective problem solving skills, self-directed learning, effective collaboration skills and intrinsic motivation.  This was just what I needed to push my students. The Project Based Learning environment changes the roles of students and teachers and puts learners in the driver’s seat.

My next step was to discuss this idea with the teachers who I work with at my school.  I wanted to get their insight and collaborate with them to help enhance my growth as well as student growth.  The teachers I connected with were enthusiastic about trying this with our students.  We planned how we would implement this active learning strategy during the next school year.
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Over the summer I developed and adapted two Project Based Learning projects based on what I had found on the subject to use with my students.  The initial project I started with was to have the students answer questions about a cupcake bakery in our project Cupcakes Configurations.  After being introduced to the project with cupcakes students were required to work in groups and develop the best way to package cupcakes for transport. The students had to discuss potential problems when transporting cupcakes.  They also had to make a list of possible solutions.  They had to create and defend their model.  They also had to discuss pricing and decide on a fair price.  This was more complex and had more pieces than what we had done in the past.  The teacher I was team teaching with and I were excited to get started with the students.  We could not wait to see how they responded to this learning opportunity.

When the problem based learning questions were introduced during our math lesson the students were thrilled.  There were leading questions and the students had to incorporate multiplication and division.  They were allowed to work in pairs or groups of their choosing.  The students began to work immediately and started to plan their strategies.  This process was different for us as teachers since we had to let them plan rather than take our usual role of teaching the topic.  We could guide but not give direct instructions on how they should answer or what they should produce.  They had to be prepared to present to another class their final finding.  We had to let the students be active learners and it was amazing!  
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The quality of their solutions and the models they created were fantastic.  Students were able to incorporate technology as they presented using PowerPoint or their Gaggle accounts. Some students created video demonstrations, some created songs to get their points across and others developed full scale models.  One student dressed as a giant cupcake to give her presentation.  It was a positive process for all involved and the teacher that I was working with and I decided that this would not be the end of Project Based Learning for the school year.  I wanted to work with the students and help them learn through there various learning styles.  Not every child learns the same way and it is essential as an educator to make sure that the students have opportunities to learn in different frameworks.  One student said that “this was the first time I felt that my project for an assignment was actually my project.” 

Through collaboration with another teacher, we determined that we would also use Project Based Learning for another group of students.  We decided to have the students solve the following problem based on our curriculum.  We used a project that had already been developed and added to it.  Students were told that the state fair would no longer be held at its current location.  They were then told that the governor had chosen their team as the representative and event coordinator of their region.  It was their job to convince the governor and his advisors (an unbiased group of students from your school) why the state fair should be held in their region.  The students once again were allowed to pick their own groups and were guided through the process.  We met with the students to confer and go over the question, their solutions and the rubric.  The student projects were once again outstanding and incorporated different learning styles and the use of technology.  The final step was that the students presented them to other students in our school.  They presented with rave reviews. Project Based Learning definitely has helped my student develop the 21st century skills of critical thinking, communication, collaboration and creativity!   

As a result of the research, collaboration with my professional community and student learning I grew as an educator through the use of Project Based Learning.  I shared this information and the work that my students completed with our Talent Development Department.  I contributed to our district wiki some of the problems and enhancements I have used.  This is something that I am proud of as a professional.
This October I will be presenting with another teacher, Melissa Mooney, about Project Based Learning at the North Carolina Association of Elementary Educators Conference.  We will be sharing an overview of the process, tips, lessons and student projects.  It is exciting to me that I am now considered an expert on this topic.  My pedagogical knowledge has bloomed on this subject.  During this school year I have grown professionally in response to the need of the students.  The students needed to be challenged more and to be able to use this approach to teaching in which students explore real-world problems and challenges has really helped my students grow. Next year I plan to continue to integrate Project Based Learning into my instruction.  I plan to refine what has already been created as well as create new ones.  

To learn more about Project Based Learning and how it can be used to enrich learning experiences and engage learners, check out the archives of a recent #cmsk12chat, which I co-moderated  with Joshua Lemere.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Dr. Nancy Betler is a Talent Development Teacher at Eastover Elementary and primarily works with gifted and high-ability students in grades K-5.  As a National Board Certified Teacher, she fully embraces life-long learning and has recently earned her doctorate degree.  Nancy is also heavily involved with the North Carolina Association of Elementary Educators (NCAEE) and serves as a Board Member. She looks forward to connecting with you on Twitter @nbetler and being a part of your PLN!
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The Fastest Hour on Twitter: #cmsk12chat

6/2/2014

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by Lisa Pagano & Ashley Hurley
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In January 2014, we launched a weekly district-wide Twitter chat to connect educators in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (and beyond!). Since the launch of #cmsk12chat in January, educators across CMS have participated in a conversation with one another from the comfort of their own homes for an hour each week. Colleagues discuss different topics, share strategies, swap ideas and resources, and learn and grow together.  The chat provides FREE professional development, growth opportunities, and a strong sense of community. Topics of #cmsk12chat have ranged from supporting ELL students to the 4Cs to supporting new teachers. Chats are moderated and lead by educators in CMS.
How Does a Twitter Chat Work? 
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Twitter chats are fast-paced and exciting opportunities for connecting with others! Participants gather on Twitter at the same time and participate in a live conversation with one another. A Twitter chat is essentially conversation bound together with a specific hashtag. In our case, we add the hashtag #cmsk12chat to the end of our tweets.

Educational Twitter chats take place everyday! For a complete schedule of chats, click here. Don't be afraid to jump in and join a conversation that interests you! If you need some ideas or guidance regarding how to get started, take a look at Dr. Joe Mazza's free "Learn Twitter" course and resources or Cybrary Man's Twitter resource page. Additionally, we are more than happy to help you get started!
#cmsk12chat Archives
Is your interest piqued? Do you want to see what types of ideas, resources, and strategies are shared during #cmsk12chat? Have you missed a chat in real time? No worries! Check out our Symbaloo Webmix with archives of past chats! Simply click on any tile to view archives from any #cmsk12chat.  

One of the best things about Twitter chats is that the learning continues after the hour of live chatting ends! Future #cmsk12chats will also be archived in this Symbaloo Webmix.
Summer Schedule for #cmsk12chat 
Over the summer, #cmsk12chat will run on a modified schedule. The chat will occur weekly through June, bi-weekly in July, and resume on its weekly schedule in August.  Mark your calendars! The dates for #cmsk12chat during the summer are:  June 18th, June 25th, July 9th, July 23rd, August 6th, August 13th, and August 20th. We will return to our regular weekly schedule during the 2014-2015 school year. Connect with us soon! 
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Click the image above to sign up to moderate or co-moderate #cmsk12chat this summer! Click here to preview a one-page guide we put together to support moderators! 
Great news! #cmsk12chat Featured in eSchool News!
#cmsk12chat was mentioned in an article on eSchool News on May 28 and is considered one of the top state Twitter chats in the country! (Click on the image to read the article.)
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ABOUT THE AUTHORS:
Ashley Hurley and Lisa Pagano are two educators who are passionate about educational technology, improving the quality of teaching and learning in our district, and connecting educators with resources and each other.  Ashley is a Professional Development Specialist and Lisa is currently an Academic Facilitator and the district's Networking Coordinator. They have joined forces this year to build a district-wide Professional Learning Network, or PLN, which consists of this blog, Twitter, and Facebook. They are also the co-creators of #cmsk12chat. They look forward to continued collaboration and growing the PLN in 2014-2015. Additionally, Ashley and Lisa are working together on several other joint projects. They will co-present
"Blending Reading, Writing and Connecting through Blogging" at the CMS Summer Institute and "Innovate and Develop Professionally with 140 Characters: Using Twitter to Connect, Communicate, Collaborate, and Create Learning Opportunities" at the Summer Leadership Conference.  They will also present on the "The Power of PLNs: Get Connected" at the North Carolina Association of Elementary Educators State Conference in October.

You can connect with Lisa  and Ashley through Twitter and their websites. They would love to be part of your PLN!
Lisa:  @edu_ms_pagano        mspagano.weebly.com 
Ashley:  @ashleyhhurley         ashleyhurley.net
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PLN Road Trip: Our Experience at EdCamp Elon

5/19/2014

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by Megan Mehta, Joshua Lemere, Bethany Gullion, Nancy Betler, Ashley Hurley & Lisa Pagano
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Our Professional Learning Network, or PLN, is diverse and we teach in various capacities and in different schools throughout Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. Since January 2014, we had clocked countless hours connecting through our weekly district Twitter chat, #cmsk12chat. Strategies, ideas, resources, and jokes were exchanged in 140 characters or less. We regularly shared information, asked questions, and received support from one another.  We were positively impacting each other’s teaching practices without ever meeting face to face.

Through Twitter, we learned about EdCamp Elon. The idea of an EdCamp as professional development was new to most of us and we were eager to attend.  An EdCamp is a free “unconference” event where participants lead the learning and discussions. It is a way to bring together educators who want to learn and share best practices. That described our group from #cmsk12chat perfectly! Ashley Hurley organized an entire group from our district to attend together. Carpools and meeting spots were planned and t-shirts were ordered!
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The following educators from our PLN attended:
  • Ashley Hurley, a Professional Development Specialist
  • Joshua Lemere, a Fifth Grade Teacher at Barringer Academic Center
  • Lisa Pagano, an Academic Facilitator at Irwin Academic Center
  • Megan Mehta, a Third Grade Teacher at  Ballantyne Elementary
  • Abbie Sudimack, a Third Grade Teacher at Ballantyne Elementary
  • Bethany Gullion, a Literacy Facilitator at Elizabeth Lane Elementary
  • Nicole Cathey, a Professional Development Facilitator at Carmel Middle School
  • Nancy Betler, a Talent Development Teacher at Eastover Elementary
  • Gail Summerskill, a Teacher at Bruns Academy
  • Holly Niedermeyer, an RTI Coach
  • Julie Hellerstein, from the Quaglia Institute of Student Aspirations
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On the morning of April 19th, we embarked on our EdCamp journey. It was a rainy Saturday and many of us left our houses while it was still dark out. We met at Concord Mills and loaded up two cars for the road trip to Elon University. There was lots of excitement in the air, lots of pointing and "Hey, don't I know you from Twitter?" " Are you (enter Twitter handle here)?" Two cars were packed full of talkative, enthusiastic educators who were ready for an incredible learning and bonding experience. We loved getting to meet our PLN in person and enjoyed face to face interactions!  

After arriving at Elon University, everyone gathered in a room to be welcomed by the EdCamp organizers and join in an opening session where the schedule and sessions for the day were collaboratively decided and  the "rules" were shared. One of our favorite rules was "Listen to your Feet"; if a session was not meeting our needs, we were encouraged to use our two feet to find one that would.
PictureClick image to view notes from each session!
The sessions and schedule were participant-driven. Sessions were diverse and included topics like gamification, Twitter chats, the 4Cs, and standards based grading. Most of our group attended different sessions. Collaborative Google Docs were created for each session. This was one of the best parts about the experience. Even if you did not attend a particular session, you did not have to worry about missing out! The notes are still available for people to see. The learning from EdCamp Elon continues! You can also follow the #EdCampElon hashtag on Twitter to follow the conversation. A couple of weeks have passed since the event, but participants are still talking about it.

We had the opportunity to attend two different breakout sessions in the morning followed by a catered lunch. Lunch provided us with a chance to catch up with one another and share everything we had learned. It also allowed us to connect with others and make new friends across the state.
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After lunch, we were able to attend one more breakout session. The last breakout session was followed by a Smackdown, where people were given a chance to share a favorite web tool or app with the group. Raffles and door prizes were also held and many of our PLN members won goodies, such as Starbucks and iTunes gift cards, free apps, and Holly Niedermeyer even won an iPad Air!
EdCamp Elon was a fantastic learning experience!  Meeting our PLN members face to face was even better than we imagined. Not only have we formed powerful professional relationships with one another, but we have also formed true friendships. Additionally, we were able to connect in person with may other members of our PLN from across the state. Many passionate educators from so many different backgrounds and experience levels got together and talked about what they knew best: teaching and learning.  One of our favorite quotes is, “The smartest person in the room is the room”, and that is exactly what an Ed Camp is like.  Imagine the possibilities if we could get more educators on board with this concept! This is an excellent and highly engaging form of professional development. We look forward to attending more in the future!

In fact, EdCampNC is already scheduled to take place on September 27th in Raleigh! An EdCamp for our district is in the works too. Stay tuned for more details! We would love to connect with you at a future EdCamp.
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Live. Learn. Teach. Lessons Learned from My PLN

4/15/2014

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by Ashley Hurley, Professional Development Specialist 
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I’m not sure what reminded me of an essay from Robert Fulghum’s All I Really Need To Know I Learned in Kindergarten. 

The piece is elemental; however, it has more of a reach than I originally thought . Fulghum’s full essay speaks to me, but there are four lessons he shares that resonate a little louder than the rest. 

“...Share everything. Live a balanced life - learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some. When you go out into the world, watch out for traffic, hold hands, and stick together. And then remember the Dick-and-Jane books and the first word you learned - the biggest word of all - LOOK.”

Those lessons remind me how to live, learn, and teach. They remind me of my PLN.
“Share everything.”
I value my PLN beyond measure. I have found countless people who are willing to share their thinking, their hard work, their questions, their feedback...and all in the name of authentic learning.  They offer what they have, sans egos and agendas, to make a difference...to make the lives of colleagues and students--even ones they have never met--better. And it’s truly amazing.

“Live a balanced life - learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some.”
My PLN inspires me in countless ways. The people in my network help me reach incredibly high levels of learning and thinking. They encourage the cultivation of my creativity, and they make it safe for me sing my metaphorical songs. For the first time in my life, I have a place where I can dance my dance and paint my pictures...and no one will laugh if I accidentally color outside of the lines. (In fact, scribbling outside of the lines is more the norm.)

“When you go out into the world, watch out for traffic, hold hands, and stick together.”
It’s so nice to know none of us are alone. Ever. There is a lot of educational traffic (i.e. policies, obstacles, and administrivia). Thankfully, colleagues and friends in my PLN willingly extend a hand to help me navigate through busy streets that are crowded with senseless, loud things that sometimes nearly run over me.

“And then remember the Dick-and-Jane books and the first word you learned - the biggest word of all - LOOK.”
I can’t imagine how limited my world would be without my PLN. Being connected to others has shown me new ways to think, methods to try, resources to access. I look at things that are brand new to me, I look at not-so-new things in a new way, and I look at myself as a learner. Looking allows me to read and listen in a whole new way to the world around me. And I don’t just look for things for me anymore. My PLN has helped me discover a new purpose...to look for things of value I can share so that I (hopefully) can give a little something back and pay it forward.

To my PLN...“You may never have proof of your importance, but you are more important than you think. There are always those who couldn’t do without you."         ~R. Fulghum 
A bit more about the excerpt...

I see the 4 C's throughout. It's a call to action to keep doing the right things with a selfless heart and not allow obstacles to enervate me.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
An educator for 19 years, Ashley Hurley has been a part of the CMS team since 2012. Prior to working in Charlotte, she was a high school English teacher and an administrator in Union County, NC and a high school English teacher in Lancaster County, SC. Ashley now is a Professional Development Specialist (Title 1, High School Literacy) with the Teacher PD Department. In addition to providing teacher support at school sites, she facilitates the following courses: Balanced Literacy for Secondary Classroom, Supportive Interaction 1, 2, & 3, and Vital Smarts courses Crucial Conversations, Influencer, and Crucial Accountability. She serves on the Peer Review Panel for EQuIP, is a co-chair for the NC SWEA PD Job-alike PD Alliance, and co-moderator of #cmsk12chat. Please follow Ashley on Twitter at @ashleyhhurley or bookmark her blog: http://www.ashleyhurley.net/
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Real Teachers Talk Tech

3/31/2014

2 Comments

 
by Lisa Gurthie & Tonya McGhee, Professional Development Facilitators
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Trying to decide how to integrate technology while keeping students engaged with authentic learning activities can sometimes be a daunting task. Where do I begin? Which tools do I use? Will all my students be able to access technology? Where can I seek guidance from teachers who have successfully implemented programs that work?

Usually teachers find support within their own PLC's in their schools, but there is great value in working with other schools as well. Ridge Road Middle School and Piedmont Middle School recently collaborated to tackle some of these questions together.  What started as an informal visit turned into a rich, impromptu conversation about the real ins and outs of a successful tech program using tools such as flipped learning and electronic notebooks. 

There was so much wisdom being shared that we decided to film the conversation to share with other CMS teachers. Whether you are a tech sailboat (early adopter) tugboat (who will get there eventually) or an anchor (not even reading this blog right now)*, we educators are all in the same boat: ferrying our students to the lighthouse of academic achievement!

Tech integration can take many forms. You can personalize it just as you do other aspects of your classroom.  You don't have to be an expert to give it a try. How it looks for you will look like something different for your students and for other teachers at your school.

Tools and 21st century methods mentioned in the video:
  • Electronic Portfolios
  • Google Drive
  • Gaggle
  • BlendSpace
  • Evernote
  • AudioNotebook
  • High-engagement via student-driven assignments
  • Personalized Learning
  • Visual Literacy
  • Wikis as Portals
  • Flipped and Blended Classrooms
  • BYOT
  • Remind 101
  • 1:1
  • Chromebook and Google Drive Add-ons
  • Data-driven re-looping
  • and more

*Boat metaphor courtesy of Travis Allen, iSchool Initiative. Thanks to Candice Simmons for the notes and to Katherine Ruffalo for the copy editing.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS:
A facilitator at CMS' Piedmont Middle School, Lisa Gurthie holds a Bachelor’s degree in American Studies from Tulane University and a Master of Arts in Teaching degree in Social Studies Education from Brown University. Since 1989, she's taught in middle, high, college, private, public, alternative, religious, "free" schools and even the US Army. Her current school is the most joyful hub of curiousity-driven learning she's known in her 25 years as an educator.

Her interests include social media and the technological revolution, especially as it intersects with education as a vehicle for unschooling school. She adores desserts, culture, and travel (37 states and 17 countries so far). She is married to stylish supergenius and regional chief engineer Michael Gurthie and has three awesome children ages 24, 15, and 8. Connect with her on Twitter @lisgurthie.
Tonya McGhee is currently the Professional Development Facilitator at Ridge Road Middle School. She has been an educator for over 7 years with experience in both middle and high school. She received her M.Ed from North Carolina State University in Curriculum and Instruction and is currently pursuing her doctorate's degree in Curriculum, Instruction and Assesssment from Walden University. In her spare time, Tonya enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, and photography. You can connect with Ms. McGhee on LinkedIn or Twitter @tonya_mcghee.
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Molding Mathematical Minds at Mathapalooza

2/3/2014

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by Karen Greco, Talent Development Teacher at Endhaven Elementary
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On Saturday January 25th, 2014 the Talent Development teachers in CMS hosted the third annual Mathapalooza at Myers Park Traditional Elementary School.  Karen Greco, Kaitlin Brick and Mary Ashley Davino coordinated and organized the competition which included 500 third grade CMS students from 40 elementary schools across our district. 

Students competed in an individual competition, team work competition, team building competition, and hands-on fun activities.  Each child received a Mathapalooza t-shirt and was eligible for awards throughout the day.  The students, teachers, and parents alike loved all aspects of the competition. 

The schools were grouped into six colors and rotated through the different sections of the competition.  The red, blue and green teams competed against each other for math dominance while teams lemon, lime, and orange fought for supreme math masters. 

We are very proud of our competition that developed out of a deep love of math.  Mathapalooza  started at Endhaven Elementary School three years ago with 11 schools and 120 students.  Last year at Irwin Academic Center the contest grew to 22 schools 250 students.  This year, to have 500 students was amazing!  We are hopeful we will continue to grow next year and invite all CMS elementary schools to participate.

Our goal is to celebrate math, provide  students with multiple opportunities to showcase their mathematical knowledge, and emphasize team work skills.  If your school was not represented this year and you want to join us next year, please let us know.  We would love to have every CMS school represented and make Mathapalooza the biggest and best CMS math competition for younger math enthusiasts! 

Check out some photos of this year's event below!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Karen Greco is currently the Talent Development Teacher at Endhaven Elementary School and works with gifted and high-ability students in Kindergarten through Fifth Grade.  This is Karen's 17th year teaching in CMS and her 10th year in the Talent Development department. Karen is a National Board Certified Teacher and has obtained her Academically Intellectually Gifted license, as well.  She is also the founder of Mathapalooza, a fun math competition run for third graders in CMS with the help of her fellow peers in the TD department.  
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Stop, Drop, and Grow!

1/8/2014

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by Lisa Pagano, Academic Facilitator at Irwin Academic Center
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CONNECT WITH US IN 2014
Our district-wide Professional Learning Network, or PLN, launched back in October and we are looking forward to bigger and better things as we move into 2014! The power of social media is being harnessed to connect educators across our district and beyond.  You are probably already using social media for personal use, but did you know you can use social media for professional purposes too? Technology and social media are making it easy for us to connect and learn from others. You are no longer limited to only  learning from people within your team, school or department. This results in all of us growing as educators which aids in positively impacting  student achievement.

Currently, our PLN consists of a Facebook Page, Twitter account, and blog. Our Facebook and Twitter pages contain links to excellent educator resources, in addition to information about district events, professional development opportunities, and news from the Teaching & Learning Services Department. You can interact with us by liking our Facebook page, commenting and sharing our posts, following us on Twitter, tweeting at us, and retweeting the information we are sharing.

 Our blog, Teaching & Learning in CMS, highlights the fantastic work being done by educators across our district. So far, we have featured over a dozen guest bloggers, including elementary school teachers, middle school teachers, media specialists, and facilitators. Our guest bloggers have written about a wide variety of topics, including coding,blended learning, obtaining National Board Certification,and inclusive practices. Not only is blogging a great way for you to reflect, but it also provides you with a way to share your teaching practices with others so they can benefit too. You can interact with our blog by reading, commenting, and contributing your own posts to it.  We also encourage you to share the posts with your colleagues.
GET YOUR TWEET ON!
Twitter is an especially powerful tool to help you collaborate with educators and build your PLN.  Teachers and administrators across the globe are sharing relevant and interest content in 140 characters or less. It is not just a way to follow your favorite celebrities and products; it is full of top-notch educators who are eager to connect with others. It is a way for YOU to take charge of your own professional development and growth.

Are you Twitter phobic? Check out the tutorial by Ashley Hurley, Teacher Professional Development Specialist,below and you will be on your way to tweeting, following, and hashtagging in no time! 
CHATTING IT UP
We are expanding our PLN to include a weekly Twitter chat for CMS educators, #cmsk12chat. Twitter chats are fast-paced and lively discussions that occur in real time. Prepare to be inspired AND inspire others! You can participate in the comfort of your own home or anywhere with an Internet connection.

The launch of our first Twitter chat will occur on Wednesday, January 15th from 8:00-9:00 pm. Mark your calendars, join colleagues near and far and come chat with us! Topics for weeks 1-8 will focus on eight specific conditions that positively impact our learners' sense of purpose, engagement in learning and cultivation of self worth. Topics for weeks 9 and beyond will be voted on by you and your colleagues! Please visit http://qisa.org/ and click on "Our Framework" if you would like to learn more about the 8 Conditions that Make a Difference prior to our chats.

If you  miss a chat but still want to stay in the loop, all chats will be archived here. Just because the chat is over doesn't mean the learning ends, too! 

You've mastered the Twitter basics now, but you're probably wondering, "How exactl;y does a Twitter chat work?" The video below will show you how you can participate in a Twitter chat.
Are you interested in learning even more about the power of Twitter and educational chats? We are curating high quality resources to help you become a connected educator on our section of CMS Learns. Please visit our site! 
We are excited about the addition of our weekly Twitter chat, #cmsk12chat, and hope to see you interact with us and each other in 2014! 

We would love to hear your thoughts! How has the creation of this district-wide PLN helped you as an educator or what potential impact can it have on you? How do you plan on contributing in 2014? What ideas do you have to help us reach more educators in the district? 
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Lisa Pagano is currently an Academic Facilitator at Irwin Academic Center and works primarily with teachers and students in grades 3-5. This is Lisa's ninth year in CMS and she has also served as a classroom teacher and a Talent Development teacher.  A lifelong learner, she is a National Board Certified Teacher, holds a Master's degree, and has earned her Academically Intellectually Gifted certification. In addition to her work at Irwin, she works in collaboration with the Teacher Professional Development Department and serves as our district's Networking Coordinator.  She would love to be added to your PLN and welcomes you to connect with her on Twitter @edu_ms_pagano or through her website.
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