My obsession with Inforgraphics has led me to stockpile resources and then try my hand at creating my own. It is but a first attempt using Piktochart,
Runner Up: Today’s Meet as a back channel
EdCamp GP
What Does That Mean?
Come enjoy a day with colleagues from the Peace Country area and beyond. Arrive with an idea for a session that you would like to lead or with the anticipation of a day of learning. A session might explore a technology tool, a discussion about best practices, or a collaborative presentation with multiple facilitators.
During the first half hour, you will have time to meet other teachers over coffee. There will be an empty session board where you and all attendees can post session titles.
Over the course of the day, you will have the opportunity to attend up to four sessions. The rule of the unconference is to “vote with your feet”. If a session doesn’t meet your needs, simply get up and move on to another room.
You will learn something new, maybe make a new friend, and receive information that you can immediately apply in your classroom and professional life!
When and Where?
EdCampGP will take place on Saturday February 9th, 2013 at Peace Wapiti Academy from 10 am until 3:30pm.
Register
Register at http://goo.gl/Tz3PY to reserve your space. Registration is limited.
Cost
EdCamp Grande Prairie is free. Lunch will be on your own at a local eatery. We will have a sign up board for ordering out as well..
What Should I Bring?
Bring a friend. A laptop with wireless Internet is useful. It will allow you to view the session board online, take notes, and view websites discussed throughout the day.
Questions?
Please feel free to send an email to edcampgp@gmail.com
Organizers
Gerald Logan @glogan
Jen Clevette @jenclevette
#edcampgp
2012 – Reflection on Balance
For the past couple of years I have been using a single word to guide and focus my year. (Find last year’s post at http://jenclevette.wordpress.com/2011/12/31/one-word/)
So last year, 2012, my word was
This was a tough year for me both personally and professionally. I started a new job, as a vice principal of a 9-12, not only was I a first time administrator, it was my first time at a high school. My saving grace was that I was teaching social studies 9 again, so I had a little bit of breathing room. Personally my son had a rough couple months at school, it was tough on the whole family, but we seems to have turned a corner and he LOVES going this year.
So overall, I give myself a solid SO-SO…
-
The Good - Professional Development for me. This year I have stepped up finding what I need to do my job better. Instead of being the facilitator, I am sitting in sessions acquiring the new skills sets that I need. Baking, I love to bake and have been making time on Sundays to do that, most of the baking then heads to work (much to my husband’s dismay) but it’s a start.
-
The Great – I took more personal days that I ever have. For my son’s birthday, for a girl’s weekend to Phoenix for my daughter’s Kinder graduation. We went on family vacations to Mexico, Banff and fishing. I have even managed to sneak away to watch gymnastics Wednesday afterschool. Taking care of me has also improved. I bought a SPA membership and I used it, at least once a month for a massage. I have also made those much overdue medical and dental appointments, no more putting them off.
- The Bad – as a family we still live for weekends, as much as I love to cook, this seems to be the only time that I get a chance to as I still have trouble getting home at a reasonable time. While I continued with my 365 project, this year was my least amount of posted pictures.
- The Ugly – still having trouble saying no. On top of continuing with two ATA positions, I added a Teacher’s Convention position. Something will have to go!
So while it was not perfect, it could have been worse. I know this is something I will have to always have to work on. I am my father’s daughter, we work hard but we also play hard…when we give ourselves the time to do so!
What do you do to help keep yourself balanced?
365 Project
This is the single most satisfying project I do for me. For the last 3 years, and continuing this year, I post a photo or two or three a day. You can find all of my post here http://jenclevette.posterous.com/ (Right now the archive is not working properly, but I have a help request into Posterous)
Why do I love this project?
- Memories – I love to look back and see what we have done, what was happening two years ago on the same date.
- Family – it’s an easy way to stay connected with family, both near and far. My sister has a 365 project as well. http://shurmanshenanighans.posterous.com/
- Sharing – I love showing others, this is a fabulous way to “break” into blogging. It’s easy and teachers can see the personal benefits, the transfer over to classroom or professional blogging is usually not far behind.
Here is a look back at 2012!
Anyone interested in 365ing? See some more how tos at http://jenclevette.wordpress.com/2012/01/01/365-with-me/
Pin It! (Dec 9th)
Still love pinning! You can find all of my pins at http://pinterest.com/jenclevette
For the Classroom
Source: themiddleschoolmouth.blogspot.com via Jennifer on Pinterest
For the Office
Source: room-mom101.blogspot.com via Jennifer on Pinterest
For Christmas
Source: flickr.com via Jennifer on Pinterest
For me
New laptop that I am bringing to and from work, plus all the bits and pieces that go along with a classroom, means I need a new and larger laptop bag!
Product I (will) Love
I need to stop killing the environment with Squishems, my kids eat them like they are going out of style. So we have ordered these to give them a try,
Source: squooshi.com via Jennifer on Pinterest
Kids will do well, if they can…
I had the fabulous opportunity to attend a one day webinar with Ross Greene, on Collaborative Problem Solving, that will be followed up with a two day face to face session in January. To say that the idea of collaborative problem solving spoke to me, is an understatement! That is not to say that I have been able to use all the tools and ideas seamlessly, it has blown up on me in on a few occasions which usually results in a student looking at me like I have horns, but I am committed to plugging away at it.
Kids do well if they can…And is he is not doing well, adults need to figure out why so they can help
Questions
- Why are challenging kids challenging? What we are seeing, what is getting in the way?
- When are challenging kids challenging? What problems needs to be solved so the behaviours can be reduced.
- What are we going to do differently now that we know why….
- Little what....what are challenging kids doing when they are challenging…least important because there is little difference between the behaviours.
Why are kids challenging…because they are lacking the skills to not be challenging.
Delayed in the development of cognitive skills…kids are only challenging when certain demands are put on them.
- Flexibilty
- Adaptability
- Frustration tolerance
- Problem solving
Challenging behaviours communicates to us that the kid is lacking the skills to do it better.
Why are we seeing more behaviours? We are demanding skills earlier and earlier. Kids have to more flexible and adaptable. Social skills are required earlier and earlier!
Implementing a model
- Identify lagging skills. Engage students in the process in skills lacking. Persuasive.
- Key to remember, if you can’t do anything about it, don’t talk about it!
- Lagging Skills and Unsolved Problem Guide
- Key to remember, if you can’t do anything about it, don’t talk about it!
- Identify unsolved problems…situations…get organize
- Once lagging skills have been identified, move over in the guide and start discussion examples of when this happens, what it looks like to help identify the unsolved problem.
- The unsolved problem must be
- Free from challenging behaviours
- Free of adult theories
- Not explain what is going on BUT identify lagging skills and unsolved problems
- Specific and split. What is the expectation the student is having difficulty meeting?
- Solve problems and teach skills together! Collaboratively!
So with less than a month till the next session, I am working on identifying lagging skills and unsolved problems. I am also reading Lost at School over the break, hoping to glean a little more before our next session.
Summer Reading
Summer reading, had me a blast! Summer reading, happened so fast! I read way more in the summer than I do during the school year and this summer was no exception.
Professional Reading
This was what was beside my bed for most of the summer. The latest addition was Rethinking School Leadership, which I acquired at the Alberta Teacher’s Association Summer Conference. I have also been looking for a book to use for a leadership book study, hence Teaching the Digital Generation, Visible Learning for Teachers and Shifting the Monkey. At the bottom is an assortment of school leadership books and ASCD books that I get with my membership. Everything in my stack is worth reading. Some are easier reads (Shift the Monkey) than others (Visible Learning) but I have taken a little something from each one and incorporated it into my teaching practice.
Personal Reading
All my personal reading is done on my kindle. I honestly cannot remember the last time that I could not find a digital copy of a book that I wanted to read. My best summer reads….
- Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn, an excellent book with twists and turns. Subsequently I read Sharp Objects and Dark Places is on my wish list. I will see if I can get to it before Summer 2013.
- World War Z – at my brother’s insistence and knowing that Brad Pitt was starring in the upcoming movie, I finally picked it up and couldn’t put it down.
- What Alice Forgot a great read about how we end up where we end up and what would you do if you had the chance to do it all over again.
- Just for fun reads: Guilty Wives, The Vow and Summer Island.
Young Adult Fiction
I like to say I read these to know what my students are reading, but to be honest, I really like juvenile fiction. Since the Hunger Games I have been on the hunt for other dystopia’s and when I came across this, it made it super easy!
Source: mediabistro.com via Jennifer on Pinterest
So I ended up reading
- Divergent and Insurgent by Veronica Roth: the third book is due out later this school year.
- Delirium and Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver: again the 3rd book due out later this year.
- The Declaration by Gemma Malley, there is a sequel but I haven’t read it yet.
