Author Archives: teacherstone

About teacherstone

I am an assistant principal of a K-4 elementary school. I have taught grades 2nd-5th and served as an instructioanl technology coach for the district for six years. I am a NBCT, STAR teacher, and DEN teacher. I am also a technology adjunct professor at UAB Birmingham. I am currenlty working on my PhD in Educational Leadership and Instructional Technology Curriculum.

Try Engineering

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Try Engineering is a site that hosts lesson plans and games designed to get students interested in engineering. The lesson plans are arranged according age and engineering topic. The lesson plans can be downloaded as PDFs.  Be sure to look at all of the lesson plans because several are specifically for upper grades.  This is just one of many sites I came across when searching for engineering sites for elementary students.

The games section of Try Engineering features 36 online games. Some of the games were developed specifically for Try Engineering while others are hosted on other educational sites like those of NASA and PBS.

The games section of Try Engineering also includes links to a dozen iPad apps that students can use to learn about engineering and programming.


My Top Picks for Flipping a Classroom, Presentations, and Multi-Media Quizzes

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Zaption –  Turn online videos into interactive learning experiences that engage students and deepen understanding.

Canva – Great templates for blogs, Facebook, ppts, and fonts.  Easily create stunning presentations.  

Powerpoint (add-on)

EduCannon – Great video and quizzes to engage students in a 1:1 environment.

Google Forms – Create a Google account and use forms for quizzes, surveys, and reading journals.

Edpuzzle – Great video and quizzes to engage students in a 1:1 environment (videos, quizzes, voices etc.)

Moovly – Create animated videos and other multi-media content.

Annotate.net – Create engaging quizzes that will allow students to show their screen from their seats.

 

Trajectory

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Change direction

TRAJECTORY  is , “a chosen or taken course”, and I think about the people in my life that have often inspired me to change my trajectory for the positive.  There are times, that my trajectory has changed for a positive in spite of people, and sometimes it has changed for a negative.  I am sure that I have impacted people in a negative way in the past, and I am trying to focus on helping others reach something that they didn’t think that they could possibly attain before.  Like most teachers/leaders, I want to make a difference.  Every action, interaction, and reaction you have with someone is an opportunity to change their path; I want them to move up because of me, not in spite of our interaction.  There will always be many choices in front of us.  Which path is for me at this point, I am not sure.

Saving Mr. Banks

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I recently went to see the movie Saving Mr. Banks.  I did a some reading prior to watching the movie and the movie is full of  life lessons.  Below is just a few that I reflected on over the weekend.

  1. The Influence Of A Father – The greatest influence in a person’s life is their father.  Whether present or not, good or bad, no one puts a greater imprint on person’s life.  A Father is the great protector and provider.
  2. The Mind Of A Creative – As Travers went through the creative process, her mind continually processed things at a deep and emotional level.  So many times, those people who process things in a creative manner or “outside of the box” thinking have no where to put their thoughts.  They trust no one with those personal pieces nor do they think anyone will really understand them or really her their REAL VOICE.
  3. The Power Of Collaboration – Though she was often an overwhelming challenge for the Disney staff, Travers’s contributions to the film helped make it the classic it is.u
  4. “The rain brings life.”  ”So does the sun.” – This exchange between Travers and Ralph shows the different views of the world leaders have.  Very interest to reflect on.
  5. Leaders Are Humble – Travers tells the Disney staff upon meeting them, “No one likes a show-off.”  We live in such a ME (All About ME) society that no one likes a person that shares information about their success etc.
  6. Great Leaders Break Down Walls, Build Bridges And Are Approachable – Walt Disney only allowed people to call him by his first name.
  7. Great Leaders Are Great Stewards And Place High Value On What They Have Been Entrusted With – While trying to get Travers to sign over the rights of Mary Poppins, Disney ensure her, “The last thing I would do is tarnish a story I love.”  Trust is a huge part of life.  Success, relationships, and leadership revolves around trusting others.
  8. People Need Simplicity Rather Than Complexity – While driving to the Disney Studios, Travers notices no one walking on the streets during a beautiful Southern California day.  Ralph responds, “A leisurely stroll is a gift.””
  9. Great Leaders Place The Mission Of Their Organization Above Their Personal Preferences – When Ms. Travers demanded no red colors in the movies, Disney relented because the making of the film and telling of the story was more important.  A Drumline leader hears the beat of the drumline NOT his beat.
  10. Great Leaders Make Things That Are Lasting – When watching one of the rehearsal scenes, Disney remarked, “Forget ironic.  It’s iconic.”  Great leaders make things which become soundtracks to our lives.  Creation and Innovation are important in today’s society.  It is OK to be different, to create something new.
  11. Great Leaders Think Long-Term – Many leaders look for the quick buck when the long-term impact of their idea is beyond their wildest dreams.  When Disney was tempted to sell the rights to Mickey Mouse earlier in his life, he decided against it because “the mouse is family”.  Can you imagine how the world would have been different if he did.
  12. The Power Of StoryTelling – Disney reminds us, “That’s what story tellers do.  We restore order to imagination.  We bring hope.”
  13. Honor Your Father – The story of Mary Poppins is of a daughter wanting to bring honor to her deeply-flawed father.  Many of us could learn lessons from her on doing the same.
  14. We all have a SAVING MR. BANKS and it is ok. 

Twitter

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What’s A Hashtag?

The # symbol, called a hashtag, is used to mark keyword or topic in a Tweet. Any Twitter user can categorize or follow topics with hashtags.Those hashtags (usually) mean something and are a great way to get a tweet to appear in search results or discussion monitoring.

For example, the popular #edchat hashtag is used by thousands of users every Tuesday. It makes it easy (sort of) for people to monitor what’s happening in the conversation rather than having to try and guess what topics you should search for. By having a conversation on Twitter using hashtags, you also make it easy for any other Twitter user to join in.

How To Hide Your Hashtag Chat From Followers

When having a Twitter #hashtag chat, if you want to avoid overwhelming your followers, start any tweet you want to “hide” with @HideChat or (one character shorter) @HideTag. (Do NOT follow @HideChat or @HideTag. They exist only to help you hide your Twitter chats.) NOTE: This also works when live-tweeting events or shows.

You don’t need to do this with all your chat tweets (though you could). But it’s a good idea to do it with most of them so as not to overwhelm folks. You could also use this for conversations with someone that you didn’t want others to notice in your timeline, although direct messages would work best for that.

Sources

That’s why it’s probably helpful for you to check out the following list of popular educational hashtags. They have been curated by Cybraryman as well as by the Creative Education blog, tweetsmarter.com our personal usage list and hashtags.org.

The Most Popular Hashtags

  • #edchat – Education, worldwide (lots of US teachers). A really useful hashtag if you are interested in tweeting with a wide range of educators worldwide.
  • #schools – Massively wide ranging but used far less than #edchat or #ukedchat
  • #teaching – This hashtag seems to largely be used for jobseeking, FYI
  • #lrnchat – Learning chat
  • #TT – Teacher Tuesday where educators suggest others to follow
  • #kinderchat – hashtag for discussing kindergarten aged children
  • #EdChatIE – The educational hashtag for Ireland for all three levels
  • #ukedchat – UK Education
  • #ClavEd – The educational hashtag for French Speakers – Wednesdays at 12h(EST) 13h(ATL) 18h(Paris)
  • #GlobalEd – Education with a global dimension

Technology

  • #edtech – a very wide range of tweets relating to the use of technology in education.
  • #elearning – eLearning topics
  • #mlearning – the use of mobile technologies in education, also #mobilelearning though this is less used
  • #edapp – educational apps
  • #gbl – games based learning
  • #slide2learn – iDevices and learning
  • #vitalcpd – effective use of technology in the classroom

Subject Specific

Specific Areas / Roles

  • #pgce – this is a widely used hashtag and is a great way to share ideas and support
  • #gtchat – for tweets related to gifted and talented education
  • #esl – English as a second language, this seemed to have more relevant tweets than #EFL
  • #Bullying – especially good for finding bullying resources or help and support if bullying is an issue though it is not confined to school bullying
  • #cpchat – connected principals discussion
  • #ntchat – new teachers, (#nqtchat seems to have lapsed)
  • #spedchat – special educational needs. Live chat every Tuesday night at 8:30 EST for special education related topics
  • #homeschool – everything related to home schooling, seems to be far more widely used than #hsc
  • #playoutdoors – outdoor play and learning ideas
  • #TLChat – is the hashtag for Teacher Librarians’ discussions/resources
  • #ESDGC – Education for sustainability and global citizenship

The Full List of (Nearly) All Educational Hashtags

  1. #addcym
  2. #ageduchat
  3. #aimlang
  4. #AltEdchat
  5. #apbio
  6. #artsed
  7. #asechat
  8. #atplc
  9. #bettercollege
  10. #blogchat
  11. #collegechat
  12. #connectedpd
  13. #cpchat (Connected Principals)
  14. #CUAD (College Unions & Activities Discussion)
  15. #digcit
  16. #diversedu
  17. #DUedchat
  18. #ecosys (Change in Public Ed)
  19. #edchat
  20. #edchatIE
  21. #edtech
  22. #educachat
  23. #edadmin
  24. #edapp
  25. #edtech
  26. #educachat
  27. #elemchat
  28. #ellchat
  29. #engchat
  30. #ELTchat
  31. #finnedchat
  32. #FYCchat (College Writing Profs)
  33. #gtchat
  34. #gtie (Gifted & Talented in Ireland)
  35. #guidechat
  36. #hiphoped
  37. #hsc (Homeschool)
  38. #innochat (Innovation)
  39. #iPadChat
  40. #isedchat (Ind. Schools)
  41. #journchat (Journalists)
  42. #kedu (Kindergarten)
  43. #k12media
  44. #langchat
  45. #lrnchat (Learning)
  46. #mathchat
  47. #midleved (Middle School)
  48. #musedchat
  49. #ntqchat
  50. #ntchat (New Teacher)
  51. #onecom (One Comment)
  52. #PATeach (Pennsylvania Teachers)
  53. #ptchat (Parent-Teacher)
  54. #SAChat (Student Affairs)
  55. #schoolprchat
  56. #scichat
  57. #smchat (Social Media)
  58. #smedu
  59. #smmanners
  60. #spedchat (Special Ed)
  61. #sschat
  62. #stdntchat
  63. #tichat
  64. #tlchat
  65. #titletalk (Librarians – Books)
  66. #tweatre
  67. #ukedchat
  68. #urbaned
  69. #web20chat
  70. #yalitchat
  71. #1stchat
  72. #2ndchat
  73. #3rdchat
  74. #4thchat
  75. #5thchat
  76. #6thchat
  77. #ACT
  78. #adhd
  79. #admin
  80. #AltEd
  81. #apush
  82. #archives
  83. #arted
  84. #artsed
  85. #arteacher
  86. #ascd
  87. #aspergers
  88. #assessment
  89. #assistivetech
  90. #atrisk
  91. #Autism
  92. #beltfree
  93. #betterlearning
  94. #bilingual
  95. #biology
  96. #bizedu
  97. #BlackEd
  98. #blackhistory
  99. #blackhistorymonth
  100. #bhm
  101. #books
  102. #bullying
  103. #careered
  104. #cells4ed
  105. #childcare
  106. #children
  107. #classroom_displays
  108. #classroom_rules
  109. #classroom20
  110. #classrooms
  111. #coachchat
  112. #collaboration
  113. #comments4kids
  114. #communication
  115. #counselors
  116. #cpchat
  117. #curriculum
  118. #cte
  119. #cybersafety
  120. #dadstalking
  121. #dernsw
  122. #dicasdeingles
  123. #directinstruction
  124. #disted
  125. #dyslexia
  126. #eadsunday
  127. #earlyed
  128. #ece
  129. #ecetech
  130. #ecosys
  131. #ecse
  132. #ed20
  133. #edACT
  134. #edaction
  135. #edadmin
  136. #edapp
  137. #edappadfree
  138. #edbnchat
  139. #edbuzz
  140. #edchat
  141. #edgap
  142. #edleaders
  143. #elearning
  144. #edreform
  145. #EdRes
  146. #edschools
  147. #edsci
  148. #edtech
  149. #edtecharab
  150. #edu
  151. #educon
  152. #edubk
  153. #edublog
  154. #educared
  155. #educacion
  156. #education
  157. #educators
  158. #educhat
  159. #educon
  160. #edugreen
  161. #eduit
  162. #edupd
  163. #edutech
  164. #EduThingsILike
  165. #efl
  166. #ela
  167. #elearning
  168. #elemchat
  169. #elementary
  170. #ell
  171. #ellchat
  172. #elt
  173. #engedu
  174. #english
  175. #english-teacher
  176. #enrichingkids
  177. #e-safety
  178. #esl
  179. #esol
  180. #e20
  181. #fb4ed
  182. #FETC
  183. #flatclassroom
  184. #flipclass
  185. #followalibrarian
  186. #followfriday
  187. #forteachers
  188. #gbl
  189. #gct
  190. #geographyteacher
  191. #gifted #grandparentlessons
  192. #graphic_organizers
  193. #great-teaching
  194. #grtechedu
  195. #gt
  196. #gtaa
  197. #gtadmin
  198. #gtchat
  199. #gted
  200. #gtie
  201. #GTvoice
  202. #health
  203. #healthed
  204. #highered
  205. #highschool
  206. #hiphoped
  207. #history
  208. #historyteacher
  209. #homeschool
  210. #homeschoolers
  211. #homeschooling
  212. #hs
  213. #hsc
  214. #i-can-teach-you
  215. #infolit
  216. #ingles
  217. #inglesparavaler
  218. #inspiringed
  219. #iowa1to1
  220. #ipm
  221. #i-teach
  222. #iwb
  223. #jalt
  224. #journalism
  225. #k12
  226. #k12Live
  227. #K12Media
  228. #k12online
  229. #kedu
  230. #kids
  231. #kindergarten
  232. #languagearts
  233. #languages
  234. #LD
  235. #learn
  236. #learning
  237. #learningdispositions
  238. #lessonplans
  239. #librarians
  240. #library
  241. #linkedin
  242. #litchat
  243. #literacy
  244. #littlekids
  245. #liveclass
  246. #lrnchat
  247. #mashable
  248. #math
  249. #mathchat
  250. #middleschool
  251. #midleved
  252. #mlearning
  253. #mobilelearning
  254. #motivationalmonday
  255. #moodle
  256. #mpln
  257. #multi-media
  258. #musedchat
  259. #musiced
  260. #musicmonday
  261. #musictech
  262. #mustech
  263. #naeyc
  264. #NCLB
  265. #ncss
  266. #ncte
  267. #newEdblogs
  268. #newmedia
  269. #ning
  270. #nomoremyths
  271. #nptech
  272. #nswdec
  273. #nswk6
  274. #ntcamp
  275. #ntchat
  276. #nwp
  277. #OLTips
  278. #onlinelearning
  279. #opened
  280. #openhs
  281. #oxteach
  282. #parentgirls
  283. #parenting
  284. #parents
  285. #passiondriven
  286. #PATeach
  287. #PCTParents
  288. #pde
  289. #PE
  290. #pgce
  291. #physed
  292. #pin
  293. #playoutdoors
  294. #PLE
  295. #plnfit
  296. #prek
  297. #preknow
  298. #preschool
  299. #preservice
  300. #primarysources
  301. #profdev
  302. #ptchat
  303. #QRcodes
  304. #qrinedu
  305. #rbrc
  306. #readers
  307. #reading
  308. #readwriteweb
  309. #reteacher
  310. #rethinkschool
  311. #RttT
  312. #ruraled
  313. #SAchat
  314. #sagrow
  315. #SAT
  316. #scichat
  317. #science
  318. #school
  319. #schoolcounseling
  320. #schooldistricts
  321. #schools (Massively wide ranging but used far less than #edchat or #ukedchat)
  322. #schools2life
  323. #secondary
  324. #secondlife
  325. #sgachat
  326. #SIGMS
  327. #slideshare
  328. #slidetolearn
  329. #slms
  330. #slpeeps
  331. #smart
  332. #smartboards
  333. #smchat
  334. #social-media
  335. #socialstudies
  336. #socmedfored
  337. #spanishchat
  338. #speakloudly
  339. #specialneeds
  340. #sped
  341. #speech
  342. #SLPsnQs
  343. #STEM
  344. #strugglingreaders
  345. students
  346. #studentteacher
  347. #studyfun
  348. #TCEA
  349. #tck
  350. #teach
  351. #teacher-librarian
  352. #teach-me
  353. #teacher-librarian
  354. #teachpreschool
  355. #teachers
  356. #teachertraining
  357. #teachertuesday
  358. #teaching
  359. #tech
  360. #technology
  361. #tefl
  362. #temt
  363. #tesol
  364. #thinkingguides
  365. #titletalk
  366. #tlchat
  367. #tools
  368. #TSETC
  369. #TT
  370. #tt4t
  371. #tweatre
  372. #twitterstorians
  373. #tweachers
  374. #twitacad
  375. #twituts
  376. #twittertips
  377. #twote
  378. #2E
  379. #2ekids
  380. #visualthinking
  381. #vitalcpd
  382. #web20
  383. #web20wednesday
  384. #wirelessedtech
  385. #WLteach
  386. #writechat
  387. #writegoal
  388. #writers
  389. #writing
  390. #writingmod

Using Twitter in the Classroom

So now you have 300+ hashtags at your disposal…now what? Put them to good use and start using Twitter in the Classroom!

There’s a Google Doc out there right now that’s quickly becoming a tremendous resource. 100 (and counting) people have joined @tombarrett and have been collaborating on it in order to build what is quite possibly one of the best presentations on using Twitter in the classroom I’ve ever seen.

The best part? The presentation lives on Google Docs and is constantly being updated by an array of people. You can edit it too! Just click here to add the presentation to your Google Docs and start adding your $0.02 (or more if you can spare it).

– See more at: http://edudemic.com/2011/10/twitter-hashtag-dictionary/#sthash.aZpytSkE.dpuf