PLE at Your Fingertips
Personalize Learning at Hairston and Lincoln
"On the Run"
I want to share some of my favorite and recently acquired inspirations, and I'd love to hear yours. Here are some suggestions to refill your reservoirs of hope:
- Every kid needs a champion. Even the child that makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end. If you find most aspects of PLE difficult, the one educators have always done is to connect with students and believe in them. Rita Pierson gives you the reminder you need every now and then.
- Taylor Mali is a teacher-poet that has inspired me for years. Check out two poems that will remind you why you entered this profession: What Teachers Make and I Teach for the Fire.
- Wing Clips is a site filled with nothing but inspirational clips to use in your classroom or to serve as something to watch when you need a jolt and cannot get to Starbucks.
- And of course, there's Kid President. He's making the world more awesome one video at a time.
Coming Soon...PLE Educator Spotlight
Hairston Educator Spotlight - Olivia Brice
This honor goes to Olivia Brice (ELA). Ms. Brice's enthusiasm for PLE and the tablets began at the beginning of the PACE initiative in April 2013 when she introduced herself and informed me that she is here to help HMS be successful. This year, Ms. Brice has a firm grip on what it means to personalize and has experimented with various teaching styles. Brice is also the PACE team lead for Hairston. The best thing about Olivia is her "can-do" attitude. She is the type of person that turns problems into teaching moments. Trust when I say that her job may be to teach the students, but she is a true teacher leader when it comes to showing us what a personalized learning environment can look like. She has the VISION!
Lincoln Educator Spotlight - Blithen Blomquist
Mr. Blomquist (AP), is an educator who truly integrates technology to cater to the learning styles of his students. Mr. Blomquist can be seen daily caring and using his tablet to begin demonstrating technology integration to his staff and students. There isn't a moment when we haven't passed Mr. Cantey and wants to know more about how he can Amplify the lives of his students. Blithen has mastered the idea of allowing students to guide the learning process and that includes students teaching the teacher. He shows us that it's okay not to know everything about the tablet/PLE but it's important to try.
Did I mention that Mr. Blomquist has over 17 years of educational experience and 6 years in administration.
Tablet Rockstars
Fakebook
Yes, you read that right, FAKEbook. This tool allows students to apply their knowledge of a topic in a way that is fun and incorporates the tablet.
Here are a few other ideas to get you started:
- Science: Students can describe the life cycle of a cell
- Math and other subjects: project for the students to do with famous mathematicians, musicians, artists, etc.
- ELA: book reports or character analysis
Share your ideas in the comments section below or on our Edmodo page. If you create an Fakebook dripping in awesome sauce, enter the direct link code and share your brilliance with others.
Knowledge Nuggets
Here are a few tips and tricks to help you quickly troubleshoot tablet issues:
- Sign-in errors are common. Students and teachers typically have these errors when something on the tablet isn't working correctly. The only thing users need to do is input their tablet password. Student pw: birthdate (mmddyyyy)/Teacher pw: first 3 of last name+last 4 of SSN.
- Visit and bookmark THIS document for a quick list of common issues and how to solve them. Please contact me or our CTCs should you have additional questions.
- Remember to work the steps on the TROUBLESHOOTING POSTER before contacting your media spec, CTC or PLEF.
Flexing the Environment with Edmodo
Have you created your Edmodo account? If so, have you joined our PLE group? This year we're flipping PLE sessions by doing the easy stuff solo and the fun/informative stuff as a group. Please join your school-based group by October 25 as the codes below will expire on that date. Contact your PLEF or media specialist should you need guidance.
- edUcated Jaguars: htiyvv
- MIP Hornets: prtk94
Click the Edmodo button below to login!
Contact Me! Wenalyn S. Bell Glenn
What the heck is a PLEF? PLEF stands for Personalized Learning Environment Facilitator. I bring 13 years of education experience having taught six, seventh, and eight grade English Language Arts and 2 years as a Literacy Coach. I feel honored to be apart of an initiative that will move instruction from a “one size fits all” to a path of success for each student. It’s just the PACE that’s different.
"How will they choose something they've never been exposed to?" ~ Pastor Brian J.Pierce, Sr.
Email: bellglw@gcsnc.com
Website: ple.gcsnc.com
Location: 501 W Washington St, Greensboro, NC, United States
Facebook: facebook.com/theplefs
Twitter: @cheerplef