Posted inCurrent Events in Education, Educational Apps, Instructional Strategies, Professional Development

The Instructional Techie at the Southern #GAFESummit in Atlanta: Day 1 Part 2

[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”] Part 2- On January 31, I attended the first day of the Google Apps for Education (GAFE) Summit in Atlanta (see Part 1 of this series for my first impressions). To […]

Posted inCurrent Events in Education, Educational Apps, Instructional Strategies, Professional Development

The Instructional Techie at the Southern #GAFE Summit in Atlanta: Day 1 Part 1

[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”] On January 31, I attended the first day of the Google Apps for Education (GAFE) Summit in Atlanta. To say, I was excited could be seen as a slight understatement. I […]

Posted inHigh School, Instructional Strategies, Literacy, Middle School, Professional Development

The Chronicles of a Professional Development Day

What emotions do the words “Professional Development Day” conjure up in your mind? Fear, love, joy, hatred, anger, dread? The day is meant to be one of enlightenment and wonder, but often times we walk away feeling like it could’ve been used more productively elsewhere.  What does a great PD day look like? Does it exist? […]

Posted inElementary School, Professional Development, Series, The Student Teacher Diaries

Student Teacher Diaries: In The Beginning

This semester, along with leading 24 fourth graders through the second half of the school year, I will be mentoring a student teacher.  It was 20 years ago I went through this journey on the other side.  Things have changed drastically in education during that time.  First of all, the vocabulary.  Tomorrow I will begin […]

Posted inCurrent Events in Education, High School, Professional Development, Teacher Branding

Teacher Branding Advice for School Districts: Make Your Teachers Happy

Once upon a time in a land far, far away, I worked in a district where the majority of teachers were unhappy-unhappy to the point of downright disgust. Almost every employee  I saw walk into a school building there was a smirk followed by a frown and immediately followed up with a collective eye roll. Teachers […]

Posted inCurrent Events in Education, From the Front Lines, Instruction & Curriculum, Professional Development

Sparking Class Discussions with One Simple Question

Guest Writer: Arpine Ovsepyan, M.A. “What did you learn in class today?” This is a simple question that helps open the door for thought-provoking classroom discussions, serves as a formative assessment, and provides closure to a lesson. For a little over two years, I have made the commitment to never end a class without asking […]