Techy Terms Tuesday Two

Welcome to the second edition of Techy Terms Tuesday!

Do you remember in the fall, taking the Level of Teaching Innovation (LoTi)?  I know it was the week of conferences, and we had some log in issues, however, the LoTi is meant to help give you some areas to improve on in your teaching.  One of the biggest complaints I received about the LoTi was the complex "techy" vocabulary used in the survey.   Since we will be taking the survey again in the spring, I thought it might be a great idea to transform some of the complex language into teacher friendly terms - as I think we are all super innovative educators - and I know that will be reflected in the upcoming survey!   Here is two more techy terms for you to digest... however, in my mind, they are more curricular based.  It's nice when technology can enhance the curriculum.  :)

Complex Thinking Skill Strategies

Complex thinking skill strategies refer to the more broad, all-encompassing thinking strategies used in processing that depend on a series of steps to reach a conclusion.  Complex thinking strategies include:

• problem solving
• creative problem solving
• decision-making
• reasoning, 
• investigation, 
• experimental inquiry, 
• reflective thinking.

So simply put, these complex thinking strategies are things that we as teachers use all of them time!   I know that we are always trying to push this complex thinking strategies, and try to improve the ways we use them in our classrooms.   If you want help trying to transform a lesson using these complex thinking strategies, please let me know!

Content Standards

Content standards are collections of discipline-specific student outcomes for instruction and learning that define what students should know and be able to do. Instructional content standards provide a way to focus on a common educational vision among educational professionals, parents, students, and the community at large. They also provide a guide for enhancing preparation and continuing education of teachers while providing a foundation for curriculum development, instruction, and assessment of student performance. 

• National Science Education (NSE) Standards
• National Council for Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) Principles and Standards for School Mathematics
• National Educational Technology Standards (NETS)
• National Council for Geographic Education (NCGE) Standards
• National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) Expectations of Excellence
• National Language Arts Standards
• National Council for Economics Education (NCEE) Standards
• National Standards for Arts Education
• National Standards for History
• National Association for Sport & Physical Education (NASPE) Standards
• National Health Education Standards
• American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) Performance Guidelines
• Center for Civic Education (CCE) National Standards for Civics and Government

So, simply put, Content Standards are what we use to guide our instruction every day!

These aren't so tough, right?   Next week I'll break down a few more questions, about how we are using digital & environmental resources. 

Summer Plans?

Are you interested in some intriguing professional development this summer?  Do you need some credits to move up the pay scale?  District 207 has some great course offerings at fair prices for this summer.  See the flyer below.   If you are interested, click here to register.

Ask the first lady a question!

Exciting news: First Lady Michelle Obama is traveling to China, and she wants to hear questions from students throughout the United States! She'll pick a few to answer in a special video message. Here's how you can participate: on Monday (TODAY), have your students work together as a class to come up with ONE question for The First Lady about her trip to China.   Send them to Coach Caroline and I'll take care of the rest!  We have until after school on Tuesday, March 11th for your class to get me your questions, and I'll submit them by the midnight deadline.  

I can't wait to see what your students come up with!  If you want to see more information, check out Scholastic Teacher's Facebook Page. 

Tech Talk Week

Have you been keeping up with all of the tech talk week emails?   This was a unique way to educate parents on a daily basis about how we are using technology in District 64.   You may notice that Roosevelt has some awesome representation.  Here are the videos just in case you wanted to catch up. :)

See how our students are using technology as they communicate, collaborate, apply critical thinking skills, and share their creativity through 21st Century Learning.

Explore how “Differentiation” using technology is helping us better meet the needs of every child. Hear how teachers use tech tools to gather real-time feedback from students about their learning, and adjust instruction to better meet their needs. Listen to students explain how technology tools let them work at their own pace and skill level.

Technology is more than just fun; it supports students working together to do work that matters. Hear a teacher describe how technology can motivate, bring meaning to learning and spark curiosity to help students grow. 

Hapara is here for 4th and 5th grade teachers

If you are a 4th or 5th grade teacher - you now have Hapara - which is only going to enhance your Chrome and Chromebook experience.   Check out the video below. 

To access your teacher dashboard, click here.   I'll will be working with 4th and 5th grade teachers (specials included, if you are interested) on what Hapara can do for you and useful tips.  Stay tuned for training information!

Let It Go...

Today I stumbled across a video that combined one of my daughter's favorites, Frozen, and one of my favorites, Jimmy Fallon.  I figured it was worth a share for a little "Let It Go" of all of the ISAT, Conferences, and crazy March stress!  I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Techy Terms Tuesday

Do you remember in the fall, taking the Level of Teaching Innovation (LoTi)?  I know it was the week of conferences, and we had some log in issues, however, the LoTi is meant to help give you some areas to improve on in your teaching.  One of the biggest complaints I received about the LoTi was the complex "techy" vocabulary used in the survey.   Since we will be taking the survey again in the spring, I thought it might be a great idea to transform some of the complex language into teacher friendly terms - as I think we are all super innovative educators - and I know that will be reflected in the upcoming survey!

Standards-based Learning Experiences 

A standard is a statement of what students should know and be able to demonstrate.  Therefore, a standards-based learning experience is any lesson/activity/learning experience that happens in your classroom that is based on the standards your students are assessed.

Simply put, standards-based learning experiences are pretty much every lesson or activity that happens in your classroom on a daily basis!

Digital Tools 

Digital tools commonly include laptop computers, mobile devices, software applications, web-based applications, digital cameras, printers, probes, MIDI devices, interactive whiteboards, scanners, analog video cameras, digital video cameras, multipurpose calculators, and video-conferencing equipment available for instructional use in your classroom.

Simply put, digital tools are all of the technologies that you use with your students including the hardware, software and Internet.

Environmental Resources 

Environmental resources commonly include any form of non-print materials including manipulatives, displays, dioramas, original photos, original artifacts, measurement devices, household or store products available for instructional use in your classroom..

Simply put, environmental resources are the hands on teaching tools we use every day. 

So if we were to look at the survey questions...

• How often are your students involved in standards-based learning experiences during the instructional day?
• How often are you (the teacher) using digital tools and/or environmental resources during the instructional day?

My guess is that every teacher at Roosevelt would respond "multiple times per day" given all of the amazing teaching going on here!

Stay tuned for next week when I break down complex thinking strategies & content standards.