The Door to Personalization
Make it great, make it personal!
cheerPLEF's Pep Talk
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.
ALL HANDS ON TECH!
All teachers and staff members are expected to have their tablets in their hands at all times in all areas of the building. "Seeing is believing!"
The Hairston Shared Space
Gradual Release with Tech Integration
ME: It is all about you! BE the SAGE on the STAGE! TEACH!
WE: Model and Connect! Make sure they know and understand the content.
FEW: Differentiation! Small groups! TABLETS!
YOU: Reflection, Critical Analysis, and Transfer of Knowledge.
Classroom Enviornment
Learning Environment
Examples of differentiating learning environment at the elementary level include:
- Making sure there are places in the room to work quietly and without distraction, as well as places that invite student collaboration;
- Providing materials that reflect a variety of cultures and home settings;
- Setting out clear guidelines for independent work that matches individual needs;
- Developing routines that allow students to get help when teachers are busy with other students and cannot help them immediately; and
- Helping students understand that some learners need to move around to learn, while others do better sitting quietly (Tomlinson, 1995, 1999; Winebrenner, 1992, 1996).
References:
Excerpted from: Tomlinson, C. A. (August, 2000). Differentiation of Instruction in the Elementary Grades. ERIC Digest. ERIC Clearinghouse on Elementary and Early Childhood Education
TRY IT TOMORROW!
The Backup Plan
As we strive to make it personal, the hill will not always be smooth. There will be some curves, and some rocks but WE can get through this! There are going to be times that the students come to school with uncharged tablets, no tablet at all, or they just don't want to use it!
NO BIGGIE!
Please remember that we have to have plans already in place for students that may not want to use their tablets for an assignment to support personalize learning and allowing students voice and choice. Everything will probably not be completed on tablets nor is it the expectation. Students must see the value in the tablets. If teachers are using the tablets for “busy work” and not truly using them to personalize, then students miss the benefit and do not see the need. The novelty wears off. We must strive to make this experience one like no other.
What is a Coachable Moment?
Coachable Moments are just what they are, a time to ask questions or get a little extra help in a needed area. I will be offering different sessions just about every Tuesday and Thursday during planning periods. THIS IS NOT MANDATORY but if you want it, then I've got it! There will be various topics and themes that will be covered. The goal is to highlight things I put in these monthly newsletters and try it for yourself.
Ask your teammates if they know what a Coachable Moment is and if they are going!
YOUR HAIRSTON PACE TEAM
Olivia Brice
Venee' Robinson
Shonda Foster
Amanda Sands-Warren
Leonard Parker
Ryan Moody
Feel free to contact me!
I am truly passionate about this thing called Persoanlize Learning, if you truly want to get there, I can help! Let me know what and when and I'm there!
Call me, Glenn!
Email: bellglw@gcsnc.com
Website: ple.gcsnc.com
Facebook: facebook.com/theplefs
Twitter: @cheerplef