Help Me Build My BLC10 Presentations

I've been attending and presenting at conferences for quite a few years now and last year was my first experience at Alan November's Building Learning Communities conference. I should have known they were already planning for the next conference when only 3 days after I arrived back home, I received the loveliest email from Alan November asking me to return to BLC10. I can't even express how honored I was/am to be asked back.

In a few weeks, I will present at FETC and then in June, ISTE. I'm very much looking forward to those conferences, but BLC is different. It's much smaller and intimate. Most of the presenters (not me) are "famous" in the world of education. It's great to be able to sit and have a drink with that same person whose blog you read or presentation you've seen at larger conferences. Everyone is approachable, available and WANTS to talk to YOU. The focus is clearly on authentic learning and the opportunities to engage others are presented at every turn. It's helpful to find out that the same frustrations we experience here in Palm Beach County, FL are often the same elsewhere and in many cases, worse! The best is when you discover some successful ways others are dealing with your same frustrations. When I left BLC09, I had new friends and lots to think about as I returned to my classroom in the fall.

Now, I'm starting to think about some topics for my BLC10 presentations. Last year, I spoke on personal learning networks, VoiceThread and integrating a variety of free online tools into the curriculum. I've got some ideas but I'd like to hear from you.

When you attend conferences, what are some sessions you always hope to find but never seem to be available (or are not satisfying)? What are your suggestions? What would be most meaningful to YOU?

While you're coming up with ideas for me (thanks!), watch this 4 min. BLC video created by Brian Mull. It really captures the heart of what BLC is.

(Note: In the comments below, Brian Mull shares that he did not create the video. It was created by Alas Media. Thanks for setting the record straight, Brian!)

BLC09 Wrap-up Video from Brian Mull on Vimeo.

Track Santa: An Email to My Students' Parents

This is an email I sent to my students' parents today.
Feel free to copy it and share with your students.

Dear Parents,

Track Santa Online!

Even for those of you who don't celebrate Christmas, this is an amazing experience for your child. http://www.noradsanta.org

Every year on Dec. 24, NORAD (North American Aerospace Defense Command) opens up their special site so people can track Santa in real time. It's not just a "Oh, there he is on the map" sort of thing. Once you see where Santa is on the map, you can see the sparkle trails of where he's been already, and click on the video icons to see videos and explore more. There are Wikipedia articles and beautiful photos at almost every location. According to Google, almost 8 million people used the site last year.

As of this writing, Santa is in Aparri, Philippines but in 3 minutes he will be in Zamboanga, Philippines.

Too bad this wasn't available when my boys were young.

For more information, here is how the whole thing started. (Sometimes, mistakes lead to amazing ideas!)


Just so you know, they take the site down every year right after Christmas Day, so bookmarking it for later won't do a thing. (I tried it.)

I hope you'll share this with your children. No work for you... just give them the link and let them explore. Believe me, they will figure it out. http://www.noradsanta.org

Mrs. Kolbert

10 Online Educational Sites for Kids

This is a guest post from education writer Karen Schweitzer. Karen is the About.com Guide to Business School. She also writes about online college classes for OnlineClasses.org.

10 Online Educational Sites for Kids

Educational websites are a great way to engage students in learning. The average site is set up so that kids are able to have fun while they improve their skills and boost their IQ. Here are ten free online educational sites that you can introduce to the children in your life.



National Geographic Kids - This Parents' Choice recommended site from National Geographic hosts educational videos, games, photos, stories, and other activities for kids. The site also has regular contests and other interactive prompts to keep youngsters excited.



Big Universe - Big Universe is an award-winning literacy site for grades K-8. Offerings include a free library of books to read online and tools that can be used to create and share books with other Big Universe users.



The Stacks - The Stacks is a Scholastic website for children who enjoy reading. Site visitors can create a profile, get book recommendations, write and read book reviews, and chat about books on a secure message board.



Smithsonian National Zoological Park - Children who can't make it to the National Zoo can still see many of the zoo's different residents through animal web cams. Some of the animals kids can view on demand include otters, cheetahs, leopards, ferrets, flamingos, lions, tigers, gorillas, pandas, and fish.



KidsAstronomy.com - Part of the Kids Know It Network, this astronomy site is an excellent resource for kids who have an interest in outer space. The site provides games, activities, fun facts, and an astronomy dictionary. Kids can also take a free astronomy course online and receive a certificate of completion when they are finished.



NGA Kids - The National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C. provides an NGA site just for kids. The website is a great place for kids to learn more about art and try their hand at various online art projects, such as digital photography, image editing, painting, and collage.



Math Playground - Math Playground is a math website for elementary and middle school children who want to improve their math skills and have fun at the same time. While on the site, kids can watch videos, play math games, and complete word problems and logic puzzles.



Whyville - Whyville is a free virtual city and social networking site for kids. Members of Whyville can communicate with each other in a safe and secure environment while they learn about science, math, art, civics, economics, and other topics.



FunBrain - Created for kids in grades K-8, this educational website makes learning fun through web books, comics, movies, arcade games, blogs, and other online activities. Some of the subjects site visitors can learn about include math, language arts, history, science, geography, art, and music.



Kids Know It - The mission of this teacher-created network is to provide children with a fun and educational online resource. The network offers several education sites on topics like astronomy, biology, math, geography, geology, and spelling. Other resources include free educational music, movies, videos, and podcasts.


Guest post from education writer Karen Schweitzer. Karen is the About.com Guide to Business School. She also writes about online college classes for OnlineClasses.org.

Easier Said Than Done: Lessons Learned From a Born Again Teacher

Now that I'm back in the classroom teaching, I can honestly say there's plenty of things that have surprised, saddened and delighted me. Here are a few lessons I've learned in only 4 months:

It's Not The Administrators; It's The Parents.
Integrating Web 2.0 technology with 10 year olds is easy. They can learn very quickly and totally enjoy it. Feedback I've received over the last few years has been that school administrators are fearful and block teachers' attempts to integrate technology. My administrators have been supportive; for the most part. I don't believe my principal is aware of the extent of the "digital reach" I offer to my students because although I've shared links to projects, our blog, etc. I've not received any response. My assistant principal, on the other hand, has taken the time to let me know that she has checked out some of our work and thinks I'm providing some great learning opportunities.

The stumbling point for me has been the parents who have little connection with today's technology and hold on to mostly unsubstantiated fears. Parents are required to sign a district-approved form that allows online publishing of their children's work, picture, etc. Parents do not have to approve, but they must sign "approve" or "don't approve."100% of my students' parents signed "approve," however a few still express disatisfaction with my interest in having students do some classroom-to-classroom online communication.

• With regards to commenting on a VoiceThread; "I don't want my child 'chatting' with strangers."
• Commenting on our class blog; "How do you know who these other people [other commenters] really are?"
• "What's the big deal about posting my kid's work online?"
  
  I don't blame the parents for protecting their children; I expect it. However, I'm honestly surprised at the concerns given the age-range of the parents. They are easily 10 years or more younger than I and I guess I thought they'd be more a part of the digital age then they are. At this point, I've only been somewhat successful convincing those few to weigh the benefits with the risks.
  
  On the other hand, I have to say that most of the parents have been thrilled and have told me so. It's wonderful to hear from parents that their kids are enthusiastically doing their homework, simply because it's online or using a fresh new tool. Most parents would rather not see another worksheet come home.
  
  They All Have Computers But They Have Even More Excuses.
  I'm lucky enough to teach in an affluent area where 100% of my students have access to computers. Asking students to do some at-home assignments that require the use of computers has been a consistent challenge. I always give my students the opportunity to use the class computers, go to the Media Center or submit their assignment in an alternate form. However, like many kids, some leave their assignments for the last day and only then realize they are experiencing issues:
  
  • "The place where I type in the web address disappeared, so I couldn't go to the site."
  • "My father won't let me use his computer."
  • (If Java, Shockwave, Quicktime or Windows Media Player requests an update) "My parents won't download anything onto their computers because of viruses."
  • "My parents won't let me use the computer unless they are sitting there with me and my parents are out of town."
    
  • "My computer won't work."
  • "My dad told me to do this assignment (wrong assignment)."
    
  
  There's No More Shame in Admitting We're Preparing Our Students For The Test
  When I was last in the classroom, we weren't supposed to emphasize our state standardized test, the FCAT. Rarely did teachers use the word. Today, not a day goes by when you don't hear teachers AND school and/or district administrators talking about how we are getting our students ready for the test and what they need to do to be prepared for the test. There's no shame anymore in being quoted in the paper talking about test preparation or sending out emails or paper missives letting teachers know what our true purpose is. What happened to at least pretending we are trying to help our students "successfully master and apply the skills?"
  
  It's Not The Little Stuff That Counts
  Perhaps it's just my school, but just as a teacher rubber-stamps "Good Job!" on students' papers, I see Kudos coming from district and school admins in the form of a rubber stamp. Perhaps all that test preparation and data analysis takes up so much time, there's not enough time to take a moment to look for individual gifts. It spills over to teacher relationships with each other and how they perceive they are being treated. There's a lot of complaining going on. I'm very surprised at how much time and energy is spent on small stuff.
  
  Giftedness is Everything
  There is a real divide between the teachers (Gifted v. Regular) and you can hear it in the conversations. The implication communicated is often that only the gifted children experience certain issues and the "regular" teachers wouldn't understand. It saddens me incredibly when I listen to these conversations take place among equally talented educators who are all struggling to differentiate instruction in their classrooms.
  
  Although these students may have special needs, my feelings are that any good teacher would provide for that enrichment as well as remediation as necessary. I am convinced that I am the same teacher I would be with any group of kids.
  
  "B" is the new "D"
  Perhaps a "gifted" student/parent thing, but it seems that as soon as a student receives a "B" on an assignment, the question of whether or not the child needs a tutor comes up. Of course, "Johnny puts a lot of pressure on himself and was extremely upset over this grade," is the standard reason for wanting a conference due to that particular assignment, however I'm not sure whatever happened to helping Johnny learn that a "B" is quite good, nothing to be ashamed of, and "get used to it, Buddy, there's gonna be more of these in your future!"
  
  Being Flexible Requires a Willingness to Admit You're Wrong
  Over the last few years, I've learned to be extremely accommodating. In my previous job, we would go to great lengths to resolve issues, in the most friendly manner, even if it wasn't "our jobs." If a parent has a concern, I don't mind explaining myself and asking if they have any suggestions. If there is a conflict of any kind, I believe my willingness to listen and adapt is serving me and my students very well. I believe the best way to communicate with someone who is defensive, is to ask them what you can do to help. I can see the difference in how parents react to teachers who dig in their heels. I used to be one of those teachers.
  
  You Don't Need to Spend Hours At The Copy Machine
  When I last taught, I remember spending hours copying pages of worksheets for my kids to work on as "seatwork." I remember having stacks of these worksheets prepared and on shelves so that as I did my planning, I just had to choose the next page in the pile and it was already there. I knew in advance that I'd be moving from one page to the next in that particular resource book. I also remember having stacks of papers to grade every week. Even if I didn't grade the papers, I felt the need to check every one and leave my mark.
  
  Although I'm sure I do my fair share of copying, I don't have piles of papers pre-prepared. I only copy based on what I'm planning and I don't feel the need to grade every paper. I also find that most of my lessons don't involve seatwork on fancy worksheets with pretty pictures. Students can take notes or do a lab report or draw diagrams in spiral notebooks. I can give a "drive-by" glance as they are working and conversing to assess if they understand. I've discovered that by involving my students in my lessons, using engaging technology and providing for plenty of hands-on activities and opportunities for them to work together, there's no need to test them constantly or kill them with endless repetitive tasks.
  
  Yeah, We Still Need Textbooks
  I've been preaching about how we shouldn't need hard copies of books anymore. All of our textbooks are online, so "technically" the students don't need to take home any books. Unfortunately, the reality is that young (and many not-so-young) children don't always do well reading from a computer screen. Many still need that book to hold at different angles that fit right for their eyes. Kids still need to be able to study in the car and elsewhere there is no Internet connection.
  
  We are told that the textbooks are not to be used as our curriculum (I agree). HOWEVER, when 10 year olds have a test coming up, their parents want to help them study. Giving them a chapter or prepared notes is only humane! These parents who want to be appropriately involved are trying to help their kids. No textbook? Try telling a parent that the test next Friday is on "levers" with no chapter from which to study. The alternative is for me to create a study guide for the students (which is a cheat-sheet for the lousy chapter in the first place). Sorry, but we're not there yet.
  
  
  The Light Still Shines Bright
  I've forgotten how easy it is to make a 10 year old laugh. And I've rediscovered the feeling inside when I witness kids learning something that may not be interesting or was difficult for them. I love how forgiving they are when I'm not perfect. And how willing they are to share their stories with me. Every day at least one of my student shares an extension of something we've done in class:
• At least 4 of my students created their own blogs.
• Every day one or more of my students comes in with their own version of Guess The Wordle for us to figure out.
• I receive emails from my kids with stories they are writing using some online tools and writing prompt generators I've shared with them.
• After I recently Elfed Myself on our class blog, many of my students couldn't resist and created their own.
• Students are finding their own online resources that support what we are learning in class.
  
  So What?
  I'm really proud that my kids are learning to be resourceful. They are learning how to interact appropriately online and they are discovering many ways to produce content that does not involve a piece of paper or a diorama.
  
  I'm happy that I can now assign some technology-related homework assignments and receive a few less emails from parents who were initially shell-shocked. Even the parents are learning to be resourceful (or at least letting their kids take more ownership of their assignments).
  
  I've been preaching to a choir over the last few years and immersing myself in an echo chamber of educators who think like I do. I'm convinced now that we need more diversity in our PLNs. We need more challenging voices to make us think and all of us should spend real time in the classroom now and then.
  
  It's Easier Said Than Done
  

When The Shift Hits The Fan!

You might get hit and that's what happened to me.

Karl Fisch and his Kiva team, Shift Happens, is joining forces once again to help out entrepreneurs in impoverished countries. Karl organized this last year and was kind enough to choose me to be the recipient of one of his gift certificates which of course, will pay forward as I make my loan and then purchase 2 gift certificates to give to members of my PLN. (My loan from last year was repaid 100%.)

Kiva allows individuals to contribute a small amount of money (as low as $25.00) that is then loaned to entrepreneurs in impoverished communities. When that loan is repaid (currently almost 97% are repaid), then the individual that originally made the loan can choose to loan the money out to another entrepreneur, donate it to kiva to help with their operating expenses, or actually get the money back.

Poor people in impoverished communities often don’t have access to financial institutions and capital, and microfinancing addresses this problem. It is especially helpful to women, who often are the key to raising families – and communities – out of poverty.

From the Kiva website:
You can go to Kiva's website and lend to someone across the globe who needs a loan for their business - like raising goats, selling vegetables at market or making bricks. Each loan has a picture of the entrepreneur, a description of their business and how they plan to use the loan so you know exactly how your money is being spent - and you get updates letting you know how the entrepreneur is going.

The best part is, when the entrepreneur pays back their loan you get your money back - and Kiva's loans are managed by microfinance institutions on the ground who have a lot of experience doing this, so you can trust that your money is being handled responsibly.

My two loans are:
1. To an entrepreneur named Dekagar Group in Liberia. They still need another $200.00 to complete their loan request of $625.00.
2. To Mrs. Yong Sam in Cambodia who has been selling groceries for 2 years. She buys grocery items from Korki market for resale in front of her house. Her husband has been a farmer for 30 years. She is asking for a loan of $1,000 to purchase a motorcycle for commuting. She needs only $250.00 more to complete her load request.

I invite you to join Team Shift Happens and contribute however much possible to Kiva.

Join The Team

On Karl's suggestion, I've donated the value of his gift certificate along with the money from my loan last year which has been fully repaid. I also purchased two $25 gift certificates that I will email to two members of my PLN asking them to do the same as I did:

1. Log in to Kiva.
   
2. Join Team Shift Happens (click on Community and search keyword, "shift").
   
3. Choose the entrepreneur to whom they will loan the value of the gift certificate.
4. Then consider doing the same thing I did - purchase two $25 gift certificates and email them to two members of their PLN with the same request to "pay it forward."

What can you do?

• Make a $25 loan yourself, or
• Do what I did; make a $25 loan, then purchase two $25 gift certificates and email them to folks you know and ask them to do the same, and/or
  
• If you’re a blogger, also consider blogging about this and making the same request to your readers.
  

Even if you can't contribute financially, if you can blog about this, send this info in an email or just tell your friends and get the word out, you are still contributing a great deal.

What Motivates You?

WebWorker Daily posted recently on 5 Fast Motivators. The 5 listed are (and my "in a nutshell" summation):

1. Star jumps

Get up, start moving and get the blood flowing.

2. Music

Use music to change your mood. Try something energetic.

3. Change your location

Move to site where you can still work, but provides a change in scenery; another room or local library.

4. Disconnect

What's that? Ok, seriously... I'll start by zeroing out my unread mail in my inbox, check the news, Twitter and FaceBook and then close them all. Ignorance is bliss.

5. Time yourself

Break your project into small bites and time yourself.


For me? I think they are all good ideas and I've used them all except for #5 because once I get started, I'm ok with continuing until I feel I've reached a good breaking point.

Doing something physical and changing locations is very helpful. I'll change locations temporarily, like by walking outside for a few minutes and then return to my desk. If you can find an area where nobody is standing, doing a few Sumo Squats (no weights; just lift your arms out in front on your way down, for balance) is great to get the blood flowing.

As for music, I'll listen to a song or two of something upbeat (Eddie Money's "Two Tickets to Paradise," for example, then I have to turn it off. Noise distracts me. For me, there is no such thing as "white noise." I hear everything (try chewing gum around me).

So, what else do I do to get motivated? I visualize. I will sit in a quiet dark room and close my eyes (hope I don't fall asleep) and imagine the project finished and what the resulting product looks and feels like. If I'm preparing a presentation, I'll visualize myself giving it. This helps a lot, because as I'm imagining it, I'm tweaking it "on the fly" in my mind.

Then (most of the time) I'm ready to make those tweaks in real life. I'd love some more tips. What do you do to get motivated?