Hello My Fellow Rockets! I hope you have had a wonderful weekend. I spent most of Saturday working on my Stitch Fix. Someday, I will have a better schedule that doesn't have me working all Saturday. (#goals). Sunday, I spent with my family. I have gone all week and only text my sisters one time. We usually talk/text daily. They understand it's a whirlwind right now for me but nothing is a substitute for face to face time with people you love. I hope you took time to be present with those you love.
I continue to read The Innovator's Mindset and seriously it makes me feel inadequate as leading an innovative type school. It's a good thing I have y'all and it's a good think that our sermon today was asking God for wisdom. I thing I needed all of those things as I dug into this chapter of the book.
Before we can be innovative, we must understand what that means beyond the current "buzzword". George Curos defines innovation as a way of thinking that creates something new and better. Innovation can come from either and invention or iteration (a change of something that already exists. Therefore, change for the sake of change is never good enough. Another thing he says is that innovation is less about tools like computers, tablets, social media, and the Internet and more about HOW we use these things.
Question for you to respond to: What is an example of a practice that you consider to be innovative? How is it new or better than what you had before?
I can't wait to read your responses. Don't be afraid to get back on the blog once you've responded and speak to others' responses. We all learn from each other.
I have a challenge for any classroom(s) that feels up to it. Watch the satirical look at Blockbuster and how their lack of innovation put them into bankruptcy.
http://www.theonion.com/video/historic-blockbuster-store-offers-gimplse-of-how-m-14233
Have students create an historic tour of education in the same format. Use this for students to work on that you aren't seeing during intervention time, or as a class project. Be creative!
The last thing I would like to leave you with is an 18 minute video (FUN FACT: This is the same amount of time it took the Texas Army to defeat the Mexican Army at San Jacinto in 1836-#historynerd) It's about leadership -- not just my leadership but all of our leadership areas. There was a quote that says "People don't buy WHAT you do but WHY you do it". He went on to say the those who lead inspire us. He talked about MLK's speeches were about his DREAM not a plan. They believed in the WHY he was selling. It's a good watch. I hope you will take the time to view it.
https://www.ted.com/talks/simon_sinek_how_great_leaders_inspire_action?utm_campaign=tedspread--a&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=tedcomshare
This week's ROCKET REVIEW:
9/25 & 9/27 - T-TESS Goal Meetings as scheduled.
9/26 & 9/28 - PLCs
9/27 - Initial RtI meeting during ITeam time - schedule to follow.
9/28 - Lesson Plans due by Nite Nite time
9/29 - Fuel store -details and schedule coming - Tonya & I are meeting tomorrow.
It was told to our teachers that faculty meetings would only be 2x per month vs. every week. That hasn't been told to principals yet. However, I will hold meetings every week -BUT you will only be required to attend 2 based on content. One will be everyone and the other is content based. So the next question is what about self contained K-2? One will go to Math/Science and the other will attend ELAR/SS. Your choice as to who attends what. I will have a schedule that will determine these topics and times so everyone can plan accordingly.
Thanks for all you do! I appreciate all the extra time you have put into making things happen at KGJ!
SK loves ROCKETS!
The TED Talk was phenomenal! My favorite part was when he said that you have to be the first to believe in order to have others follow! Guys, WE were the FIRST to believe thin this thing called a STEM school! WE were the first to apply and step outside the box because we believed in something different and innovative! If you don't believe in it, no one else will either! I love that WE are innovators!! Okay, now on to the question....
ReplyDeleteLast week my students had to make a storyboard of six people that contributed to representative government. I normally would have just had them draw a picture and write out the facts on construction paper, but I changed it up a bit this year. Samantha front loaded this activity by teaching them all how to use Google slides during STEM lab time. (Thanks SP) I integrated reading and social studies by having the students write a summary over each individual using a their previously taught summary lesson. After all that was taught I gave them only these parameters: Create a slideshow over your six people and include their contributions to representative government. Be creative. OMGosh, these things are amazing! I am completely blown away. These kids are not only creative but oh so techy!! Before I would have gotten construction paper and handwritten words, now I have beautiful presentations that can be used for their digital portfolios!! I am so impressed!
I totally agree! WE are the ones who open the door for our students to become innovators! It fills my heart to see our students empowered. You Go Girl!
DeleteChallenge accepted!! This will go well with the book that the 4th grade is reading in Gina's Reading class- A Paradise Called Texas. So the kiddos can research education from then to now and present their findings in multiple formats, one of which will be google slides. Thank you, Samantha!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE TED talk clips! #exploretheWHY! Such a perfect hashtag for our school. "Why" is often a discussion posed in my classroom, particularly in Science, which so easily lends itself to innovation. We too are marketing to our students everyday. We share the why- why we teach, why the concept we're teaching is important and relevant for them, why they should accept the challenge posed to them. My students are embracing the WHY!
Some innovative teaching that I have enjoyed sharing with my former students involves Google Classroom. Students enjoy designing and developing digital products. Like Karen, I never cease to be amazed at their creativity! (Disclaimer, I've not started Google Classroom yet this year- working out a technical glitch)
The Tower Garden has been one of the most innovative tools I've used in teaching! It is truly amazing and has SO MANY possibilities for projects that can help our school and community.
Bronx Green Machine
https://m.youtube.com/watch?
v=nFbFWcoAVsk
Creator of the Tower Garden
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CU1-DFYrhMw&feature=share
I love this idea!
DeleteI love the idea of the Tower Garden. I know you have talked about one are you planning to bring that into STEM? I would love to see that come to fruition at our school. Let me know if I can do anything to make that happen. I am planning to set up a google classroom as well. Hopefully in the next week!
ReplyDeleteI'm going to write a GSEEF grant for at least one. We can house the Tower anywhere. There are 5 levels; so each grade can have a level. If I can get the VegTrug, Kinder, could plant and harvest plants from it. I have the seed grow lab in my room that I'm planning to use to start the plants for the Tower. That can be housed in my classroom or the STEM lab since all grades will need that to plant and grow the seedlings that will be transplanted into the Tower Garden. Experiments can be conducted to determine which medium helps the seeds to germinate the quickest and produces the most healthy transplants. Mediums that can tested are the Tower Garden nutrient mix with water vs. various soil types and mixtures. This experiment conducted anytime before the plants are grown for the Tower Garden, even now! 😊 We could decide as a campus or by grade level what type of garden(s) we'd like to grow- vegetable, fruits, herbs, plants for a butterfly garden, etc. The possibilities are endless! And kiddos LOVE this!!! So do teachers! 😉
DeleteAll I can say is WOW! I feel overwhelmed and excited with the thought of innovation. If you have not purchased the book "The Innovators Mindset" it is well worth the read. The TED video made me realize that we are at the center of the WHY and that our mission is about US creating innovators by instilling the WHY through our teaching! WE are exploring the WHY so our students can discover what other's have yet to imagine! Our students are so excited for the change and love the adventure of WHY! My own child was so excited to talk about her google doc that she got to email to her teacher! A second grader sent an email today!! (Thanks Mrs. Shepherd) I firmly believe in what we are doing, but as an innovator we must never settle for what is. Innovators never accept what is happening today, but continually look to the changes of tomorrow! #iexploretheWHY
ReplyDeleteBuying the book today!
DeleteA new thing I have been doing this year is Google Classroom- thanks to Paige for telling me about it! I have made assignments on Google slides that students answer and have inputed all of their rotation assignments and directions onto slides. We are also now working on completing our PA's through it. The students love it and are way more engaged in their assignments. It also has helped not use copy paper. I have more ideas that I want to use it for and am figuring out ways to send students individual assignments, have them create their own designs, and differentiate with it.
ReplyDeleteLove this! That was/is my plan that I want to use in my classroom. The beauty of Google Classroom is that these assignments can be done from home if you're out. The Teacher can still communicate with her/his students realtime from anywhere! Google Classroom is AWESOME!!
DeleteA new thing I was introduced to in May that I feel is very inventive would be the Osmo. It was actually list as the Fast Company's Top 10 Most Innovative Companies in Education. It uses Reflective Artificial Intelligence, which turns the physical space in front of an iPad into a controller for the digital screen. It works with numbers, letters, tangrams, and even has coding programs to go with it as well. There are a few other programs that are available for the Osmo and they work wonderfully at thinking outside the box learning. I have seen 4 year olds pick this up and start understanding numbers within just a few minutes of using it. I highly recommend this to anyone. This device reaches the students in more of a game/learning environment that students enjoy!!! If you want to try it or see one in person I have one.
ReplyDeleteI would love to try it!
DeleteWOW! The TED video was so on target with how I teach - through providing students with why we learn and how it fits into the real world. I am also reading a book titled "The Growth Mindset Coach - A teacher's Month-by-Month handbook for Empowering Students to Achieve." September's topic was - Everyone can learn.
ReplyDeleteThis directly relates to our daily task of selling our STEM lessons to our students. October's theme is just as exciting - My Brain is like a muscle that grows! I plan to set my a google classroom, too! I am trying to figure out how to incorporate all the district spiral reviews for math and science in google classroom to save on paper and time. Finally, this link listed below is so powerful. It is what we teach and do at KGJ Stem Academy! I hope you enjoy it! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6OoCaGsz94
Love that video! Adding your book recommendation to my repertoire of books to read while recuperating.
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