Teaching Learning Leading K-12

Episode 100: Kasey Bell and Google Classroom

Kasey is an award-winning digital learning consultant, speaker, blogger and author of e-books: The Teacher's Guide to Google Classroom and The Student's Quick Guide to Google Classroom as well as Google Cheat Sheets. 

Kasey is a Google certified innovator and a Google certified Trainer.

She has numerous recognitions such as a Digital Innovation in Learning Award given by EdSurge and Digital Promise, in the Sharing is Caring category. She also was recognized as a Top Ten EdTech and E-Learning Influencer for her work sharing educational resources.

She has a series of recent blog articles where she offers advice on becoming a Google Certified Trainer. Check out This is What it Takes to Become a Google Certified Trainer  and Google Certified Trainer Rookie Mistakes and How to Avoid them.

Make sure that you sign up to follow her website. 

She creates posts that are insightful, easy to read, and full of ready to use information.

If you are interested in learning more about Google Classroom and Google tools, you have come to the right place. Kasey's e-books are great places to go for support.

Just for signing up you get Kasey's ebook, Google Cheat Sheets.

Kasey and I talk a little about what drove her toward technology. You'll hear her recall being a SpaceCamp kid and the impact of her family on her love of technology.

Kasey notes, "Google makes my life easier and I am all for anything that makes a teacher's life easier."

I love her post about how to create an e-book with Google Slides, her post called How to Make Your Google Presentations Shine and 8 Fantastic Ways to Find Anything in Google Drive.

If you are thinking about "Going Google" but are a little worried about making that leap of faith, Kasey can help.

I encourage you to subscribe and use her products to help you get more comfortable in the Google World.

Ok, now you need to make the switch and learn more about Google Tools. 

Why not? You have the support.

Email Kasey: Kasey@ShakeUpLearning.com

Catch up with Kasey on Social Media:

http://www.shakeuplearning.com/

https://www.facebook.com/shakeuplearning

https://twitter.com/shakeuplearning

https://www.pinterest.com/ShakeUpLearning/

https://plus.google.com/+ShakeUpLearning

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCay74LkaxF6q-_qxXoYXSQ

Enjoy!

Length: 32:29

Episode 99: Graduation Time - 7 Do's

It's graduation time at high schools in the United States!

What an incredible moment in the life of our kids and the educators who worked with them over their many years in school.

A few years ago I was asked to talk with elementary school kids about what I do as a principal. It was their career fair day.

Now I am comfortable talking with kids of all ages, but I had been a high school teacher and high school administrator. So I asked the only thing I could, "What should I talk about?" The response was, they want to know three things about you: 

1. How much do you make as a principal? 

2. What do you not like about your job? 

3. What do you like about your job?

I'm not sure that I had ever taken the time to really reflect on my job until I prepared for that talk.

The answers were easy...but let's focus on my response to question number 3...

I like Graduation!

  

This usually causes adults and kids alike to laugh or chuckle...

They think that what I mean is that I want to get rid of the kids...you know...Go away now...

But that could not be further from the truth...

I love graduation time!

It is when all of the memories come flooding through for all of the kids...

This is their step into adulthood...

Changes are coming and they know it...

They want to hold on as long as they can while letting go and celebrating the moment...

I would never want to miss this!

You shouldn't want to miss it either...

So here are my Seven Do's at Graduation Time

1. Do buy a yearbook and ask the kids to sign yours.

2. Do go to the senior breakfast/lunch/dinner/bar-b-que and play and interact.

3. Do go to other celebrations and interact -speak if asked - ask to speak -  have fun!

4. Do go to graduation! Stay to the end!

5. Do talk at graduation and make it about the kids

6. Do stay to the very end of graduation - close it down - be there with every family!

7. Do go to graduation parties where there is adult supervision, interact with the graduates, their families, and their friends.

So what are your plans for graduation?

You're going, right?

Enjoy!

Length: 24:54

Episode 98: Social Media - 3 Reasons to Make it a Priority for this Next School Year

Where have you been? Come on … are you really afraid of social media? Hmmm?

I understand why you might have some fears, but that’s because the news conglomerates have convinced you that only bad comes from that evil social media. Their tales of woe are just a minuscule aspect that can happen whereas so much more good comes from getting familiar with social media trappings.

The numbers show (listen to the podcast) that there is no doubt that billions of people are using social media which means that there is a great chance that all of your families, students, community members, and businesses are out there in the digital world.  

Seth Godin, in his book Tribes, explains that the world is in need of leaders and that when individuals, groups, and organizations assume these roles, the word is spread between interconnected tribes. So, why can’t schools step-up and become the leaders? 

That is exactly why you need to be there, but more specifically here are my...

3 Reasons Why you Need to Make Social Media a Priority for Next School Year

1.     Connect

2.     Tell

3.     Learn

Listen to the podcast and you will hear me explain my thoughts about these three words.

So get some paper and a pencil and take some notes as to why it is time for you and your system to embrace social media.

 

Thanks for listening!

Have an awesome day!

Check- out these resources:

The Social Media Examiner (Awesome blog, website and audio podcast)

So You have a Twitter Account-Now What? By Jennifer Gonzalez

50 Educators You Should Follow on Pinterest by Kasey Bell

What’s Working Now Facebook Post Ideas by Kim Garst

Length: 22:55

Episode 97: Teachers - 10 Promises to Make Yourself for Next School Year

Teachers: 

10 Promises to Make Yourself for Next School Year

From year to year, it is a great practice to reflect on what we can do better. 

As a classroom teacher, there are some practices that will help you accelerate the kids with greater success. Some of these concepts are instructional and some are relational, but what they all have in common is that if you use them you will help more kids overcome the fog or issues associated with not understanding. 

You will be able to connect and help the kids move beyond the walls that stand in their way. I encourage you to look at these 10 promises and whether you make all of them part of your future plans or just one, commit. 

Follow through with adding one of these promises to your plans for what to do better next year. 

I guarantee you that you will be glad that you did.

Here are my 10 promises to make Yourself for Next Year:

a.       Get to know more kids by name sooner

b.      Make more positive contacts home

c.       Create a blog

d.      Learn to use interactive boards with the kids

e.      Emphasize vocabulary

f.        Plan backwards-Start with the end in mind-Use a Unit Plan

g.       Get better at giving instructional feedback

h.      Use formative assessment more frequently

i.         Use charts with formative assessments, especially whiteboards

j.        Create more engaging activities

Check out my Pinterest boards for additional support: www.pinterest.com/smiletto

Word Walls

Unit Plans

Stickies

Using Charts

laura Robb - Vocabulary is Comprehension

Formative Assessment, part 1

Formative Assessment, part 2

Formative Assessment, part 3 

Enjoy!

Length: 24:42

Episode 96: Classroom Management - De-escalation

If you work in a school at some point you are going to have to deal with confrontation. Issues arise that need you to try to remove the heat, lower the temperature, de-escalate the situation.

Today, in this segment on classroom management, I am focused on de-escalation.

You know…the concept that if we stay calm and use a specific skill set that we can keep in control of a situation.

Here are my ...

10 Keys to De-escalation:

1.     Someone has to be the adult

2.     Lower the temperature.

3.     Watch your tone.

4.     Be aware of your hands

5.     Choose your words carefully

6.     Don’t make them look at you.

7.     Is it necessary to talk right now?

8.     Remove the audience.

9.     Don’t talk down…actually move so you don’t hover over

10.Do not threaten.

Throughout the show, I explain what I mean with each key.

I challenge you to place this list of 10 techniques, strategies, and concepts someplace in your classroom where you can see them. Put the list someplace where the students wouldn’t pay attention but you would. After putting the 10 keys someplace that you see them make sure that you practice them.

What do you think?

When you feel that blood boiling, that temperature rising, and the brain is suggesting irrational solutions refer to the list.

Remember above all, my number one key is that someone has to be the adult and it should be you.

Here are some other podcast episodes that might be helpful for you:

Episode 22: Technology and Classroom Management

Episode 85: Classroom Management- Its Ok to Start Over

Episode 86: Classroom Management- Consequences

Episode 87: Classroom Management- Rules

 

Enjoy!

Length: 26:14