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My Philosophy of Education

7/2/2021

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•Students need a safe learning space where they know what is expected of them instead of a long list of things they can't do.
•Students need learning opportunities that are developmentally appropriate and teach more than what one can find on a test such has how to be a kind, motivated human.
•Students need structure and repetition to learn.
•​Students not only need information and knowledge, but also the skills needed to be lifelong learners.
•Students need Maslow before Bloom’s.
•Students do not need the latest buzz words, but instead a teacher that is a purposeful, reflective,  life long learner.
•Students need adults that put effort into helping them build positive self-esteem and identity.
•Parents have a right to know what is being taught in schools.
•Parents have a right to ask for resources and assistance with learning at home without fear of being judged.
​•My objective as a teacher is to provide my students with the intellectual skills to analyze the world around them and invoke a joy and comfort for coming to school.
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17 tips for Helping Your Child with eLearning

11/19/2020

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 eLearning is back or here to stay for so many families.  It is hard, it can be frustrating, and sometimes it can be the least of your worries.  Teachers and parents are all asking one thing: how do we make this work?   Sadly I do not have a magic wand, but I do have 12 years experience in virtual education and I am now at school where we are in the heart of eLearning. 

​Virtual education is very different than eLearning in many ways (online school programs, resources sent to homes for families, everyone has the tools they need, platforms designed for parents to the teacher, and so much more), but the tips for success cross over between both.  



Here is my list of tips for helping your child navigate eLearning.
  1. Find a schedule.  Routines are just as important with eLearning as they are at school.   You don't need to be rigid about following your schedule, but more you can stick to one the smoother your days will flow.
  2. Create a learning space.  Find a designated routine for getting started with learning at home.  It can be hard for students (especially younger students) to understand that they have to behave differently at home during school time.
  3. Get dressed.  Your students do not have to be fancy and this might be an unpopular opinion, but I don't care if they're rocking their jammies or the same outfit as yesterday, but make sure they're covered.  Boy moms, I'm looking at you.  Shirts required.
  4. Don't transform your home.  You don't have to turn your home into a classroom for your student to learn.  Work with what you've got.  I personally bought a science fair board to put out for my son.  I printed some posters, printed his logins for dad, and that's how we turned on school time at home.  Once it was up the rules changed!
  5. Talk about it.  You know your kid best, if he or she needs clear rules for learning time, make some together. If you just need to have a quick talk about expectations, do that!
  6. Communicate with your teacher. We are here and we want to help.  I always tell my families to contact me before they reach their frustration point--I might have the answer at my finger tips or know just who to contact. I would rather families contact me often than wait until everyone is upset.  
  7. Communicate with your teacher more.  Missing a class? Send a quick message. It doesn't have to be miles of excuses, just something simple: We can't make it. How can we make it up?
  8. Ask for help. Are you seeing a trend? If you need help teaching a topic let us know! We have piles of curriculum and a tool box full of activities for teaching various topics.  This is our area of expertise.  
  9. Make your child write.  One thing that I have noticed teaching online is that many students tell their grown ups the answers to everything (it is so much easier and quicker) but they get out of the habit of writing.  Encourage your student of all ages to journal daily with pictures, letters, and words.
  10. We can hear you tell the answers.  We can.  It's awkward.  We want you to stop but we don't want to tell an adult what to do.  
  11. Live classes are not a quiz. This piggybacks off of 10.  It is not an issue if your child doesn't know the answer--this happens all the time face-to-face.  What is an issue is if we think the students know something because they're getting help with answers and then we move forward! If the students knew everything we covered they wouldn't need our class! If students look like they know something very well we might not offer much needed help and that would be a disservice to everyone.
  12. Speaking of quizzes...let them show what they know.  It's hard to watch your child struggle, I get it. Practice saying "take a deep breath, make your best guess and keep going."
  13. Testing stinks. We agree, but sometimes its just required.   That's really it here.  We know it feels like a lot, but this is mandated above our heads. 
  14. Your attitude = your child's attitude.  This is hard. This is not what you choose.  Sometimes it is not ideal.  Deal with your adult stuff as much as you can without projecting it on your kiddo--the little sponges pick up on so much.
  15. Tiny humans have tiny attention spans.  Many schools are requiring them to sit at their devices way longer than they can.   As a teacher sometimes I start a new activity just by moving to the rug, to a special corner for calendar, or even under our desks.  These little transitions reset their attention span.  Try these at home. During reading you sit at the table, during math you lay on the floor, then we have a dance party...you get the idea.  Also, if the teacher shares brain break dances or activities encourage your little to get up and do it!
  16. Read for fun daily.  Just read.  If you can only do one thing please do this.
  17. Give yourself grace.   Maya Angelou says this better than I ever could, "Do the best you can until you know better, then do better."  We've got this!
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Life Up Close with AmScope IQCrew Microscope

11/18/2020

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We cannot create observers by saying 'observe', but by giving them the power and the means for this observation and these means are procured through education of the senses.
– Dr. Maria Montessori
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Lately, my favorite tiny humans and I have been exploring life up close with the IQCREW by AmScope 120X – 1200X Kid’s 85+ piece Premium Microscope, Color Camera and Interactive Kid’s Friendly Software. Thankfully, the kit comes in a carrying case so I can bring it between school and home. My favorite part of this microscope is that while it is geared towards kids, it is not a toy. Instead, it is a real microscope that is kid-friendly! My sons and students get real-life experience with high-quality science equipment. It makes my inner Montessori-loving, early childhood educator side so happy!

At home, my son enjoys putting on his lab coat and viewing samples through the eyepiece. He may be only four, but he has already mastered switching out AmScope’s pre-created slides and looking at the slides we have created together. In fact, when we start eLearning at home next week, I plan to let him explore the brine shrimp hatchery for his science time. He has been talking about our upcoming experiment nonstop.

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At school, my students have gotten to make firsthand observations of the microscopic world through the full color digital camera that replaces the eyepiece tube and connects to my computer. I can project it to my class and everyone can participate safely. With the editing tools, we can put notes on an image, crop it, add stamps and save selections or whole images to revisit later. As we transition to eLearning, I plan to app share the software to continue fostering my firsties’ love for science. When students are excited about learning, you don’t want to lose momentum—and it can be a great tool to make them want to come to live classes. That’s right, I am going to reward them by more learning. Win-win!

Overall, it has been a magical learning tool disguised as a toy! The full product description with a list of all items included in the kit can be found on AmScope’s website. The AmScope Kids Premium Microscope is available for purchase directly on the website.
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TutoriaL: Sample Virtual Kindergarten/Primary Lesson

7/26/2020

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Unsure what a virtual lesson might look like for primary aged students?  Below I will walk you through a lesson and share different ways students engage in virtual learning via platforms such as BlackBoard Collaborate (paid) or Zoom (free).

You can watch the video below or on my IGTV.
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Beginning of Year Virtual Teaching Checklist

6/30/2020

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Starting the year out online and not sure where to get started? Give this checklist a try to get your year moving smoothly. Please be sure to leave a review!

Download here
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How Do You Start Kindergarten Online?

6/5/2020

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Trust me, it is more doable than you think.  Here are my general tips for starting the school year out teaching virtually.

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Virtual Engagement

5/15/2020

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One question that I have been asked the most is how do I get my students engaged online?  It looks like how do I set up the school year? How do I get them to talk on the mic? How to I make sure they're learning?  But the it all boils down to engagement.  This is a quick intro to virtual engagement--not a deep dive.  I'm hoping to share more topics as the summer goes on so keep the questions coming so I know what topics I can share to be the most helpful.

PS. Youtube keeps pulling my videos due to length.  If the video doesn't play below you can also find it here.
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Virtual Kindergarten Graduation

4/27/2020

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I've seen a lot of kindergarten teachers worried about holding their end of the year graduation session.  I have made this quick how-to on my IGTV to share my experience hosting the ceremony virtually.  

It is not the most polished video I've recorded because my tiny humans were watching a movie in the background, but it gets the job done!

YouTube has been deleting my videos. If the video does not load below, please click here.
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Prepping for Elearning?

3/12/2020

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Prepping for eLearning?  I have been teaching elementary in the online setting for 12 years!   Here are some simple tips:
•encourage families to keep a routine and schedule at home.  Tiny humans thrive with schedules and it sets them up for learning (and more sanity for everyone)!
•create flipped videos to help students learn at home. Think of your math warm up,  phonics practices, and etc.  Try to keep them short (I like the formula of the students’ age plus two for your minutes goal). Also, you can check out my IGTV for a short tutorial on how to record any PowerPoint and save it to YouTube!
•create a (free) FlipGrid Account.  You can ask the students a question and they can record their answers.  They can also see each other’s answers.
•use Zoom (also free) to meet for a live class.  Teach a mini lesson or read a story to your class!
•take advantage of the amazing educational software programs offering free membership such as ABCmouse, BrainPop and BrainPop Jr, Epic Books, and more. Find a link to the full list here (this is not my link, just sharing it!) 

eLearning Resources

Update:  Now that I have learned that Indiana has expanded eLearning, I have created a quick tutorial about how I would manage eLearning for Tiny Humans

YouTube keeps pulling the video because of it's length. I have it posted on IGTV if this video does not load.


Find a sample Google Slides Syllabus here. Feel free to make your own copy if it's helpful.
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Spring Classroom Management - Incubate the Egg

3/3/2020

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This time of year two things are happening, little humans can’t sit still in their seats and we are learning about life cycles because they pair naturally with spring!   

​Last spring I saw this great idea in many of my teacher groups, so I can’t reference the source, but I can share how it worked for me.  At the beginning of the month I put paper eggs in each student’s chair.  They were instructed to sit on them and keep them warm.  Then as we were going through our day I would periodically get out my highlighter (no announcements, no threats, nothing) and quietly color one egg for each student caught keeping their egg warm.  At the end of the month (or a few weeks—you know your bunch) every student that had a full sheet came to school to find their egg cracked and a Peep Marshmallow hatched in its place.  It was so fun to watch them get excited when they reached their goal and remind their tablemates to keep trying so everyone to could get there!

Please tag me on Instagram if you use this—I can’t wait to see!

Incubation Log Freebie
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