Beginning of the Year Tips

Before You Meet the Students

• Set up your classroom - Make it inviting!! Let them know about you and what to expect this year!! Let your personality shine, whether it is through bitmoji's or personal anecdotes. 
• If possible send welcome emails to students directing them to your website and/or classroom
• 
  
• Design interactive get to know you activities 
• 
  

First Week

• Community building - Flipgrid "Meet the Teacher", Buncee - "All About Me", Adobe Spark digital storytelling Share creations on Wakelet for all to view (family and community builders) use Jamboard to create collaborative class norms
• Welcome to ELA Class - BUNCEE
  

• Digital Citizenship 
• https://beinternetawesome.withgoogle.com/en_us/educators includes badges for students upon completing, has a game that the students can play to learn digital citizenship
• https://www.commonsense.org/education/digital-citizenship

Finding My WHY Again!!!!

 This has been a whirlwind spring and summer. I have been on the edtech rollercoaster learning and growing and stretching myself BUT the most important thing I realized this summer was my WHY.

I came into education from a career in social service and law enforcement. As a Family Shelter worker, Child Protective Service worker and Juvenile Probation Officer I saw families at their worst. I saw the devastating effects of life on families. Through all of this I was wondering what was the one most important thing to bring about generational change to families. 

Then I entered a Forensic Psychology Program at John Jay College, CUNY and I learned. For my thesis I did a longitudinal study of probationers in Bronx Family Court. What I found was earth shattering for me they were much more likely to have immediate and distant family members involved in the court system. Most had interaction with Child Protective Services. Most family members had not finished high school. I know we say it but to see the numbers that I saw woke me up. When I worked in these systems I knew we were dealing with the same family members over and over again but to see it through this 20 year longitudinal study was jaw dropping. Also, at the time I had a 13 year old who I knew couldn't read a picture book who was in the 5th grade. I tried to get "services" to him tutoring etc. but there was no family involvement. When he came to me so proud because he was graduating 5th grade tears came to me. What message were we giving this child that we knew couldn't read. He knew he couldn't read. His exact words were, "I'm better now." He was so proud!! 

That was my moment I only lasted another few months before I resigned and joined an alternative certification program to become an educator. I believe education "TRUE EDUCATION" is the path out of criminal justice systems, social service systems, and poverty. I wanted to be a part of THAT!!!

When I entered that is what I dd, but as time when on year after year I found  myself settling for good enough. That is not what is going to bring about generational change. Excellence is what brings about generational change. 

I'm not saying that every student has to be excellent at everything but an attitude of excellence. Going above and beyond. I was doing it in my classroom but when I saw things happening in other classrooms I did not speak up. When I became involved as a Teacher Leader I did not speak up. I did not speak my truth. It wasn't only my class I should be worried about it is all students. Being a part of educating educators on best practices to strive for excellence in all our students. Giving them the tools they need to make learning accessible to ALL!! That is my passion, that is my calling and I am reaching for it. I was not brought into education to impact one class of students. I came into education to impact STUDENTS!!! Using my voice so I give them permission to use their voice. My favorite poem.... It speaks to my spirit

Buncee, Flipgrid, and Waklet Oh MY!!!!

What a whirlwind week it has been.. 

Buncee - Community Building - See the slide deck

I was happy to present and share ideas about building community with students and families from the beginning. Family and student engagement is going to be critical this year like never before. The students and families have been traumatized by COVID and the resulting after effects in our communities. It is crucial that all teachers plan for SEL every day and every lesson. 

It sounds like a cliche but it is so true "Maslow before Bloom" They can't retain information if they do not feel emotionally safe. There were a lot of questions but once I got over my fear I was able to step out and speak my truth about this very important topic. They need to know they matter and the parents need to feel like you care about them.

Opening with collaborative getting to know activities is crucial. Building connections and building relationships. 

The next was Giving Voice to Wakelet with Flipgrid 

Again ways to connect with others be they colleagues or students. Wakelet is an awesome tool BOOKMARK, CURATE/ORGANIZE, and SHARE all within one app. The uses are really only limited by your imagination. When you add FLIPGRID to it now it adds that authentic voice where you can have a discussion with the other collaborators. 

It was a whirlwind week and I was living in my purpose building up educators giving them edtech tools to build up our students and give them voice. My mission is to make education more inclusive making sure that educators are aware of the tools out there to enhance instruction. Modeling, coaching, encouraging them to be their best self. 

My last entry was on being rejected for MIEExpert. This gave me the push to resubmit. Whether or not I get in the program is not going to stop my mission or me training, guiding, leading other educators into the digital age where they have access to tools for OUR students. Even if I don't teach them they are still mine. We can't teach them until we know they're ok so first make sure they are ok and then get it with instruction using these same tools. 

Let's Get It!!! Each one teach one!!!