Post It Note Plus App

In my work with schools from 18 districts surrounding the Omaha metro area, many of my training sessions in the past couple of years have been related to helping teachers integrate iOS devices (iPod & iPad) as teaching and learning tools in the classroom. One of the most difficult challenges is the rate of change when it comes to the devices and free apps that are available. My suggestion to the teachers is always..."find 10-15 'go to' apps that you can use multiple ways for multiple subjects and learn to use them well!" I have a list and I'll share that in a future post. I'm always on the look out for apps that take a task or activity that teachers currently complete and make it easier. My latest find is from the makers of Post-it notes. Do you have any idea how many Post-it notes teachers use in a week? month? year? My latest find is called Post-it Plus and it is free app available at the following web site: http://www.post-it.com/wps/portal/3M/en_US/PostItNA/Home/Ideas/Plus-App/ Here is how it works: 1. Use traditional Post-it Notes--One of the activities I did with students was to have them put down a character from a book the class was reading on a Post-it Note and then the other members of their group (or the class) added notes with adjectives to describe the character. Other ideas would be creating a timeline with different events on each note, word walls with synonyms of words on notes that the students add for each word on the word wall. There are tons of ways that I have seen teachers use these sticky little notes to generate ideas, reposition thoughts, put ideas in order, etc. 2. Once the notes are tacked to a space (wall, poster, desk, etc), simply open the Post-it Plus App from the iOS device and use the camera feature to snap a picture of the Post-It notes. Once you snap the picture you will be prompted to accept or retake the picture. 3. The Post-It notes are now captured as a board and can be slid around, moved, etc. and the teacher (and students) have an electronic Post-it note board that can be shared, edited, and stored for future use. Let me know how you are using this app........I'd love to share your ideas with the teachers I work with because together we are smarter!

2015 Resolution...."to blog more frequently"

In my work with teachers, students and technology, I often get caught up in my day-to-day tasks and do not take the time to blog and share ideas with those beyond my workshops and training sessions. My New Year's Resolution is to try and blog at least once a week about something new that I'm working on, discovered, or revisited in the area of technology integration. Hopefully, I will look at this blog in January 2016 and note a year's worth of blogs and ideas that have been shared with those beyond my face-to-face trainings and workshops. Wish me Luck!

New Beginnings

A new school year begins...... without really thinking about it at the onset, I chose a profession that has a beginning and and end. I often think about the school cycle. At the close of a year I feel a sense of accomplishment at having survived another year while at the beginning of a year I anticipate a fresh start with the ideas and experiences that come with each school opening.

With the start of the 2010-2011 school year, the idea of "new beginnings" takes on a whole new meaning as Michael and Jenna begin their teaching careers a few miles apart. It has been an interesting turn of events that both will be teaching language arts in middle schools, Michael in 8th grade and Jenna in 7th grade. Mike and I both began our careers as middle school instructors who enjoyed the age, the challenge and the excitement of working with early adolescents. In a somewhat ironic twist of fate, Matthew is also beginning middle school (seventh grade) and has become a sounding board for the "big kids" on what he likes, dislikes, enjoys and despises. Mike and I have tried to be supportive observers as the school year has unfolded.

Here's hoping the year goes well for everyone and that both of the "big kids" survive and end the year with that same sense of accomplishment that I have experienced over the past 25+ years! (if not a sense of accomplishment, maybe a sense of humor?)

Vacation

As of today, I am "on vacation" for the next 13 days. No work, no worries, but a very long "to do" list. I'm looking forward to some "down time" reading, painting, maybe even a little stained glass.

In the past when I was a teacher in the classroom, I always had a healthy chunk of June and July as "down time" to take a break from teaching and recharge the batteries for the coming school year. One of the advantages of the teaching vocation is that it has a beginning and an ending point each year--a cycle that is familiar and comfortable. I was always ready for the school year to end and ready for it to begin. In my current position there is a very different cycle--beginning of school work, during school work, and summer work.

I'm still trying to "master" the art of scheduling my "time off" from work by distributing my 225 work days around family activities and holidays. I'm hoping that the next 13 days is enough to "recharge" the batteries and get me ready for the next round of workshops, trainings, and seminars for the school districts served.

I'm excited that all three kids want to go on vacation with us this year--surprised that they still want to "experience" the family vacation and hopeful that Mike and I have the patience that it sometimes takes with adult children who have strong opinions.

Vacation......ahhhhh.

Growing Up

***Photo from Krambeck Photography FaceBook Project by Mike Krambeck: http://www.facebook.com/

Growing up "small town" takes on new meaning when you live it every day. Sometimes good....sometimes bad....everyone "seems" to know the business of everyone else within the small radius of the community I call home. When I was growing up (I really still am even if I turn 50 this year) it bothered me that you couldn't go anywhere without someone knowing who you were, who your parents were and where you lived. Now as a parent it is comforting to know that my youngest son can't go anywhere without someone knowing who he is, where he should be, and how to get in contact with me if he should get hurt or injured.

Last night, sitting at a ballgame a few miles away, one Louisville team was finishing a game, another was beginning a game and everyone was supporting the other. One team lost, one team won but the players from both teams were cheering on the other as they played against town teams from the area. Everyone knew when someone got a "hit" that was a personal milestone for that child....everyone knew when someone felt bad and offered a word of encouragement or a pat on the back.....everyone knew everyone else's business.

Growing up "small town" is something you have to experience because it is something you can't see or touch--it is something you "feel." I'm glad my children (and myself) have experienced growing up "small town." I wouldn't have it any other way.

Six Degrees Of......

Connectedness....it is interesting how connected you become to others just by going about your day, doing your job, spending time with your family, and living life.

When I meet someone new and strike up a conversation it is usually centered around where I live, what I do, where I work, etc. and invariably the individual that I am talking with knows someone who lives in Louisville, was a student of mine in Papillion, camped at the Louisville Lakes, was a friend of my mothers, worked with my husband's brother, etc.

In reflecting on this connectedness I think that people find that connection if they are looking for it. If they want to be connected.... I think we can find six (or fewer) degrees of separation from anyone or anything if we look closely enough.

Hopefully we all want to be connected ........ the world is a better place because we are connected.

Picture from Mike Krambeck's 365 Days of Pictures Project on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?pid=3658089&id=217004897731

Hopes

Seeing the world through your children eyes,
watching their anticipation of the days to come,
wishing you could put them in a safe cocoon,
hoping that they make it through disappointments, joys,
......and the next curve ball that is thrown their way.

Knowing that I was once their age with the same hopes and dreams for the future. Each day I say a few silent prayers that they love life as much as I do, live life to its fullest and find the kind of happiness that I have found in the past three decades.

Growing old...watching your children mature is one of life's blessings (and curses).