Self Organized Learning Environment

Pretty impressive title for this week's blog....

Here is an article about self-organized learning environments.  These types of environment promote project-based learning.  As I have been doing evaluations this year, many of you are enacting some form of project-based learning (PBL) in some way or form.

PBL is a great tool to use in your room.  Some schools do everything in their classrooms using the PBL approach.  Doing this means having some pretty intense training to make sure all standards are being mastered.

Please let me know if you are interested in learning more about PBL.  I know of some places that would allow you to visit.

Take a look at the article and consider the below questions.

Questions To Consider:
1.  From the article "I wanted to empower students to take more responsibility over their own learning, yet so much about the approach went against my teaching instincts. What would it look like if I were to hand over the majority of my XX-minute class period to my students?"

This is a great self reflection question.  How do you feel about it?

2.  The article talks about formulating a "Big Question."  This is very similar to posting objectives.  What is it that students are going to master.  Maybe some of you would like to think about posting objectives this way, posting a "Big Question."

3.  Students grade their own "self managing behaviors."  How would that look in your room?  Could that be helpful to you?

DOK And Google- Alice Keeler

As I was checking in on Alice Keeler's recent posts, I found this one.  This post pulls in thoughts and ideas from multiple areas that we have talked about this year in PD.  She talks about using DOK, GAFE and assessment writing.  I will caution you that the article focuses more on ELA, but the main ideas and use apply to all content areas.

I think now is a good time for us to look at something like this.  We are getting to the end of the year when you will be writing and analyzing summative assessments.

Questions to Consider

1.  While writing assessments, are you still analyzing questions and DOK levels?  That is a great tool in your tool box.  Doing this equates directly to test prep, little by little.

2.  Alice Keeler presents one keyboard shortcut in the article.  Have you ever googled all the keyboard shortcuts for a Chromebook?  How interesting would it be if you could point out shortcuts to your students that they were unaware of?

3.  A section of the article deals with commenting and having a conversation with "yourself."  I know that some of our staff uses this feature in Docs.  Could more use it?  How could you give it a try?

Advice On Being A Love Magnet

Within the last week, I read a newsletter from Jon Gordon that I knew that I was going to write in our blog about.

This newsletter from Jon Gordon was about being a "Love Magnet."  In reading the article, it is mostly based on the business world.  But in reading it, it felt like we could apply some of the principles to the world we live in.

I would encourage you to take a look at the article here.

Questions To Consider:

1.  The first suggestion is to "tap the power of now."  That is really difficult for us because we are all caught up in (fill in the blank).  How can you tap the power of now?  How can you make sure that the power of now is tapped?

2.  Recognizing people for their accomplishments is such an easy thing to do.  I am thankful for the good news postcards that you write for our students.  Please continue to do that.  Do you have any further suggestions how we can recognize our student's accomplishments?

3.  What ways to you demonstrate being a Love Magnet?  Is this something that you can take advantage of?