Teachers take note – Melissa Seideman is changing the way you think about our profession. This social studies instructor from upstate New York has iron in many fires – from being a co-director of #sschat to using technology in her classroom almost daily to hosting a Gilder Lehrman Reconstruction workshop this summer, she is as busy as she is talented. Our #InspirationalEducator took some time out of her schedule – a working day of the summer – to sit down with The Educator’s Room and answer a few of our questions.
Jake Miller: You seem to have a great online presence. When and how did you incorporate that into your teaching?
Melissa Seideman: I incorporated tech from the 1st year. Used cell phone as texting polls (after getting the leery admin to approve), and as I’ve grown as a teacher I keep adding tech. We’re using it just about every day.
JM: How did you come to initiating your blog “Not Another History Blog?”
MS: I guess I grew tired of moving around; as my husband and I bounced around the Mid-Atlantic, I soon learned I needed an outlet to share with colleagues. Every time I moved, I connected with old acquaintances while adding new ones by using this as part of my own personal professional development.
JM: One of the things you’re most well-known for is initiating the #sschat. Explain how that came to life.
MS: I learned about the #sschat at Ed Camp Social Studies (http://edcamp.org/) – and it has become more than I thought it could. In the beginning, I was asked to co-moderate and co-lead. From there I’ve made so many friendships and connections. I love meeting people from the #sschat. I’ve found it helps me to grow so much as part of this profession.
JM: What is EdCamp?
MS: EdCamp is what they call an “unconference.” Instead of there being a set schedule, times, topics, and locations, teachers run the camp. It’s grassroots professional development at its best – instead of sessions that are prescribed, you show up, get into a room, and begin a discussion.
JM: I also saw that you’re big on LiveBinder. How do students respond to using this program?
MS: I use this whenever I share a collection of resources with students. I place a whole bunch of websites on LiveBinder instead of students jumping around links on their own. It saves them time and supplies reputable sources for them to choose from. A few students have begun creating their own LiveBinders, too.
JM: You also seem to be a huge fan of Evernote. Explain how you use that in – and outside of – the classroom.
MS: It’s changed the way I teach. I make my lesson plans on Evernote. Everything is synced through a cloud on all my devices. With my students, they create digital portfolios and share it with me. So, as final assignment, I get to see what they’ve collected.
JM: If you had to choose one of these two for teachers to begin with, which would you suggest? What is the benefit of using this program?
MS: Both serve very different purposes. LiveBinder I would say is easier to use; a teacher can build their portfolios there very quickly. Evernote is a lot like an online version of Microsoft Word, but a bit more complex.
JM: Describe how you ended up becoming involved in Teachers Pay Teachers.
MS: In the beginning, I was really skeptical of the website. I thought to myself, “Nobody’s going to buy my lessons. Nobody’s going to post anything.” However, now a few years later, I’ve found it to be a neat way to make some money. I first started by making $100 a month; today I’m making $700 a month. Some teachers on here are making upwards of $1 million a year. It’s a great way to supplement income, but it’s also the best place to find high quality lessons that are student-tested and teacher approved.
JM: How much have you made so far?
I made about $3,000 last year. I should make more next year.
JM: What has been your most successful sale?
I have a 1920s lesson where we recreate that awesome decade. Students learn how to dance the Charleston. There’s jazz music. Kids show off project I’ve designed that revolves around the major figures of the 1920s. It truly brings in all types of lessons and learning styles. But I’d say the overall most successful content I post revolves around AP Government.
JM: With all that you do, how do you kick back for some R&R during the summer?
MS: (Laughs) I go to the pool and enjoy going online. I do really enjoy #sschat and my blog. It keeps me grounded with all the changes in scenery I’ve had. Being only helps me maintain an online presence in this profession, and I enjoy that. I do plan on taking a week or 2 off in 2 weeks.
JM: Thanks so much, Melissa. Have a great summer!
MS: Thank you for honoring me with this opportunity. See you around #sschat!
Know of an #InspirationalEducator in our profession? Share them with the author, @MrJakeMiller
