Leveling Up Week One (Starting Off 2019)

Providing PD can be challenging for a myriad of reasons. Staff members have unique teaching styles, and different disciplines offer a variety of learning experiences that might not always lend itself to a given learning approach or the use of a specific instructional strategy. Just like the students in our classrooms, differentiation is critical in the construction of a PD session, and making these experiences meaningful is essential to the success of the session and all future sessions. No pressure, right? 

As last semester and the calendar year dwindled, I found myself wanting to challenge teachers (and myself) to focus on beginnings. As we embark upon a new semester and a new year, I wanted to reflect on how I could "level up" my teaching practices in the classroom and enhance my students' experiences. Planning for this semester, I have continually kept the question "Would I want to be a student sitting in my classroom?" in the back of my mind. In striving to answer yes, emphatically, I reflected on how a few of my favorite tech tools might take the first day or the first week of the semester to a more engaging, effective, and exciting place. After all, relationship building and tone setting truly impact the amount of learning and student growth that can occur in any given classroom. 

As a general note, I tend to move quickly. It is both a strength and a character flaw that I embrace. With three children (ages four to one) and a long list of professional duties, I have no choice but to steadily and briskly jog through my day. Being true to my inner nature, I warned teachers that I would move quickly, in hopes that they would pick one tool or tip to try the first week of school, and if they wanted to delve deeper with a particular tool or app, we could schedule a coaching session to further explore the instructional possibilities - a shameless plug, but I have to generate business somehow!

In spite of my "power PD" session that was only 30 minutes long before the start of finals, I wanted to maximize the potential of future moments, especially when fosters relationships with new students in an introductory week of school. My goal for 2019 is to continue to strive to be present in each moment and create more value for the people in my life and any given moment. I want my classroom to be a place that inspires and ignites a love of learning. 

As I created my latest Google Presentation, I generated a list of how a teacher could use everyday tech tools and apps to engage students further, gather initial information, and refine already created learning materials. Here's what I discovered for the first week of 2019:

Padlet

Yes, this tool is a classic by now, but the newest layouts and features really can be a game changer. When trying to learn students' names, instead of merely having students fill out a survey or write a little about themselves on a note card, challenge them to take selfies, create videos, and insert links to content that embraces who they are. If nothing else, a picture with a name can go a long way in helping to learn students name and build relationships with students promptly. Padlet also allows teachers to create back-channel chats, which are great to have asynchronous conversations or even hold live chats while watching inspirational videos to start the semester. (A new favorite - "Be Humble — And Other Lessons from the Philosophy of Water"). The possibilities with this tool are endless! 

Kami

Last semester, I held a PD session on InsertLearning, a tool that was well received by staff. The only frustration with this tool is that it cannot be used with PDFs. As a result, the interactive questioning and annotating cannot occur with some texts. Kami is a great alternative and allows students to annotate PDFs and other types of documents. With Kami, students could annotate a syllabus or read an introductory article that would help set the tone for the course and what will be learned. Engaging students with what they will learn will help prepare them for the lessons to come! 

EdPuzzle

This tool has also been widely used and around for a while, but sometimes I find when a tool hasn't been discussed for a while it becomes underutilized or forgotten. The start of a new course often opens opportunities to talk about goals, dreams, and challenge students to reflect. EdPuzzle allows a teacher to build a series of questions to accompany a video (both multiple choice and free response) while tracking viewing duration. This tool is great for differentiation and blended learning, too. (Here's one of my favorite TED Talks about the lessons failure teaches us - "Success, Failure and the Drive to Keep Creating"). 

Canva

This tool is incredible in creating images, graphics, and social media posts that look incredibly professional even if the creator does not have a background in graphics or art. I have been using this daily to create images for my parents' business but am now starting to use it for posts in Google Classroom. At the end of last semester, a few students complimented my latest posts begrudgingly. While the images made them click on the links they received in their overflowing email boxes, they realized quickly that it meant more work. Talk about engaging!

The Final Smackdown

In my presentation, I then shared a few tools that I use daily that has enhanced my effectiveness and student engagement that I plan on continuing to use frequently.

1. The snipping tool is a tool that is used quite frequently but has some limitations. Instead of using what is provided on my school-issued computer, I have started using Awesome Screenshot. With the ability to annotate images, I have been able to help students and teachers alike with ease by taking screenshots. I could not function without this tool. 
2. The Bitmoji extension is a tool that enhances mundane learning objective slides and resources more fun. I use it each day to spice up my learning targets and provide a preview of what is to come by connecting the cartoon version of me to my content. Because I'm extra, I even found matching dresses for my daughters and made them take pictures that I then shared with students. It's a subtle way to get a laugh, but my cheesiness can strengthen a relationship, which then allows classroom learning more meaningful. 
3. With a thousand tabs open by the end of the day (or the end of this blog post), I needed to find a way to keep myself more organized. OneTab is the solution to bookmarking too many websites and tools, and it has helped me curate my day. This is the last tool I shared with teachers, which would allow them to save what we reviewed during the session, reference it later, and hopefully schedule a coaching session with me in 2019. 

Here's to an amazing 2019! I cannot wait to empower students to use their voices and find the magic in the learning that will occur.

Being the Match

I am happy to report that Jordan is exiting his grumpy phase. For the past two months, Mr. Jordan has mean-mugged or given the stink eye to anyone who approaches him that isn't one of his grandmothers (or his grandmother's twin sister). Developmentally, separation anxiety hit him harder than it ever hit the girls. Thankfully, the "Stink Man" has started to smile again just in time for another CF appointment. The phrase "so salty" will once again refer to his sweat and not the dramatic expression on his face.

Recently, I was asked how Jordan's diagnosis has impacted my perspective on life. Reflecting upon a year ago, when I felt greatly lost and apprehensive of what might be in store for my son and family, I can say that increased knowledge about his disease has aided me in empowering my family. Permitting myself to grieve the loss of the life I initially imagined for Jordan has also allowed me to gain insight into how precious and fleeting life is, which has made this past year joyful in ways that I could not have ever expected. Of course, I am not grateful for Jordan's disease, nor will I ever entirely be at peace with the genetic cards dealt to him, but I am working to make meaning of this situation and enrich the lives of my children and those around me every day as a result.

As an educator, my instinct is to seek answers to questions through extensive research and reading. Scouring the CF Foundation's website for information on trials and promising new drugs being released continues to provide me with hope and comfort. Listening to podcasts about health during the holiday season and how to keep germs away has heightened my awareness of how to bolster immunity and protect Jordan from colds and other common illnesses that might damage his lungs and overall health. Connecting to the CF community through social media posts and reading the stories of young adults who thrive in spite of the many challenges that CF has placed before them brings me tremendous comfort as a mother. Jordan will grow, love, and contribute to this world in amazing ways.

I know that in spite of the truly horrible illnesses and struggles that Jordan may face, he will have a much larger family of people behind him who can empathize with him, encourage him, and love him... from five feet away (check the CF Movie's trailer). CF people are encouraged to avoid contact with other CF patients because of the highly contagious nature of the bacteria that grow in their lungs. Even though they should not physically touch each other,  the ways in which I have witnessed people with CF touch the hearts of other people with and without CF is inspiring and incredibly encouraging. We are blessed with this community of people who are so willing to love, listening, and support - all further reminders of how important these attributes are to convey and share with anyone who crosses our paths.

In my quest to understand his disease further, I came across a bone marrow donor website. While bone marrow has nothing to do with CF or treating Jordan's disease, I continued to read. Initially under the impression that this process required a substantial recovery period and invasive surgery, I was surprised at how relatively simple the procedure is, albeit the procedure is alleged to be painful. After thoroughly reading about the process and the Be the Match organization, I have officially submitted my DNA to be part of the bank of donors to give my bone marrow should I match with a person in need of this life-saving procedure. While I cannot save my son from his genetic fate, perhaps I can help to save someone's son or loved one who suffers from numerous blood diseases and various types of cancer. We are all called to serve our fellow humans. For me, serving in this capacity brings me a sense of renewed hope that medical advances can improve the quality of life for many people. While the diseases may be different, someday I may walk in similar shoes of a parent whose child might be struggling and need a life-saving treatment. Momentary pain of donating bone marrow in this instance can bring a lifetime of happiness for another family, and for me, that brings comfort.

Each day I continue to believe more deeply that everything does not happen for a reason. There is no reason for suffering; tragedies lack logic. However, we choose to learn and grow from what is placed before us. Without obstacles to overcome, we might never fully feel the true depth of love or understand the solace that can be found in sacrifice and serve. I continue to actively choose to create meaning in the life that has been given to me and will continue to challenge my children to do the same. Through our actions, we can choose to be part of a positive change in the world around us, and while each day will not be without pain, our attitudes and strength that we will draw from each other will make it the best day possible. We will live happily, and we will seek ways to serve those who walk alongside us. And for that, the days granted to us will be full.