Oh, Flip

Teachers,

Here is your weekly dose of “5-Point Friday. 

Oh, Flip  —

Kim is taking a Principal's tech class, and in braving the class she will be given a little money for our school to be used for technology or professional development for technology. So the idea we came up with is to have a few classes for teams to implement blended learning/flipped classroom. The blended classroom/flipped classroom is using tech to provide more differentiation using video and tech activities mixed with traditional teaching, small groups, and rotations to differentiate learning in the classroom. I have seen it work from kinder to high school in different formats and to varying degrees.

We would provide the time and professional development to build lesson plans and build the tech for the classroom. I know everyone is thinking, this is a great idea. Learning about using the tech in my classroom and having the time to build the curriculum that will be used in the classroom? Sign me up… but wait. When will this happen? Will we be paid for our time? The thought is there are a few options. 

1. Get subs and take a few half days or a full days to work on the curriculum. 
2. Take time after school with a few options for times and days and get a stipend. 
3. Take a half or full day Saturday here and there with a stipend. This would be optional, but we would like teams to decide to do this. 

This is optional, but would be an opportunity to implement differentiation using tech and to build the curriculum to fit your classrooms. We have a google form for you to fill out on this subject. It is short, but will give us an idea what your thoughts are. Be a part of a way to provide a way to differentiate or personalize learning for your students. If you want more information, I can discuss it with you and your team. There are many articles on both subjects, especially in edutopia.org https://goo.gl/forms/fqfKngqoWILIQPLv2

Quote I’m pondering —

“Our doubts are traitors, and make us lose the good we oft might win, by fearing to attempt.” William Shakespeare

Favorite Blog of the Week —

Steve Borney's Blog: I'm on a Learning Mission

I found this blog this week and it has some amazing math ideas for lessons. Look through some of his older posts. Some great ideas here.

Favorite Article This Week —

Should We Test Reading or DIBELS

We have just tested DIBELS for K-3 and will be testing 4-5 next week. This was an interesting article about testing Literacy.

A Big Thank You —

Thank you Lisa, Cami, Jaime, Jana, other helpers, and a host of Fifth Graders for helping with the afternoon snack. Lisa has taken the job of managing the snack and gets it to K-1 as well as handing it out to the students, with the amazing Cami, Jaime, and Jana. There are a few other helpers here and there and I really appreciate them also. With the meetings we have had which takes us away from the school in the afternoons, it is nice to have helpers to give the snacks to students. Thank you all for just takin over the snack and getting it out. Thank you for all you do in the school. It is the little things that make the big differences and keep everything in order so teachers can teach. Thank you for all you do. Thank you.

I appreciate all of you and your hard work. Have a wonderful weekend.

Glen Andersen

Title 1 Coordinator, Dixie Sun Elementary