5 ways to partner with students in a makerspace
Whose makerspace is it, anyway? A makerspace can take many forms, but fundamentally it should be a locus of student engagement
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Finding ways to encourage student leadership
Student Leadership: The time is now August is usually a time crammed with planning logistics for the start of the
Read moreClimate, Community and Voice from Day 1
Starting up with our students Another exciting year is upon us. It may be difficult to wrest our attention from these glorious
Read moretwitter etiquette
Modeling twitter interactions as an educator and parent With twitter’s explosive growth in popularity with educators, it can get a
Read moreTeaching copyright with video mashups
In a 1:1 Android environment Copyright. Fair Use. Public Domain. The meaning of these concepts as applied to creative work,
Read moreSocial reading tools for summer reading
Audrey’s 2016 summer reading list I’ve been thinking a lot lately about where technology fits into reading. Not just the
Read moreEducation reform, more education reform and David Foster Wallace
Mark’s 2016 summer reading list This past academic year was one of the busiest and most invigorating year I have
Read moreTelling the PLP story
Student reflection with Adobe Voice and Explain Everything Students at Fayston Elementary School worked hard this year with their team
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Negotiated curriculum and project-based learning
Building a democratic classroom at The Edge Part of the power of implementing a negotiated curriculum is that it doesn’t
Read moreAssessing tech-rich instruction
The Six Question Framework for reflection As the end of June nears and students take their final exams, clear out
Read moreHow to introduce robotics and coding
If you buy them, kids will code. This statement was the driving philosophy behind our purchase of a class set of
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How mobile devices can enhance field trips
Deepen place-based learning and boost emotional engagement Having signed the permission slips, helped raise money, converted US dollars to Canadian,
Read moreExploring careers in middle school
How one school tackles work-based learning “Work-based learning experiences are activities that involve actual work experience or that connect classroom
Read moreMakerSpace Wonderland at Crossett Brook MS
The Story of MakerSpace: A Rabbit Interrupts a Drowsy Day The story of MakerSpace at Crossett Brook Middle School begins
Read moreCuriosity Projects: A stepping-stone to Personalized Learning
What is curiosity? Is curiosity important? What does it mean to be a curious learner? What am I curious about?
Read moreEquity begins with engagement
Care about equity in education? Start with engagement Educators care about equity. We all want to bring out excellence in
Read moreQR codes and videos at Parent Conferences
Expanding parent conference time with technology We’ve all been there: how do you fit 40 minutes worth of information into
Read moreDestination – Anywhere!
What was once a standard in news broadcasting and video game production has now found a new home in classrooms.
Read moreHelping your teen or tween with social media
To follow or not to follow… that is the question. Oh Hamlet, you would be so perplexed on this one!
Read moreA community-based interdisciplinary unit
A tech-rich case study from rural Vermont The team from Hazen Union Middle School, in Hardwick, Vermont, conducted an action research project
Read moreLeonardo da Vinci’s Smartphone
History from the Inside Out Every two years our team does an interdisciplinary unit on the European Renaissance. I’m a
Read more8th grade arts and citizenship
A case study in Shelburne Arts and citizenship is for 8th graders at Shelburne Community School. This past session, they
Read moreManaging time in blended classrooms
Shifting the way we manage time to personalize learning in a blended space In my former professional life, I had
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Planning Pi Day activities
More than just math? Let’s be honest, there’s not many days dedicated to the celebration of math or its concepts.
Read moreScreencasting tools for the Chromebook
As more and more school move to Chromebooks we receive lots of requests for chrome compatible programs and applications. In
Read moreFinding joy in the classroom
Is joy in learning an innovation? Recently, I was charmed and inspired upon seeing a first grade student’s take on
Read moreHow parents can model healthy tech habits
Tips for when to turn off the tech In addition to being an educator, I’m also a parent — of
Read moreUsing Google tools to connect with other schools
Reaching beyond the walls I’m always looking for ways for educators and students at different schools to use technology to
Read moreSelf-analysis and teaming
To know your team, start by knowing yourself A few years ago I had the opportunity to participate in the
Read moreProviding support for goal-setting in a PLP
3 strategies shared by local educators At Manchester Elementary Middle School, sixth grade students speak fluently about their Personal Learning
Read moreWhat I Learned From My PLP
Modeling a PLP as an adult learner As a new year dawns, are you thinking about self improvement? A Personal Learning
Read moreAct 77, Flexible Pathways and best middle level practices
Grappling with implementation In my current work with a number of Vermont middle schools, we have been trying to grapple
Read moreChecking in on personalized learning around Vermont
How are educators and students tackling PLPs around the state? Vermont’s Act 77, the Flexible Pathways Act, mandates that every
Read moreHow to get started podcasting with SoundCloud
A step-by-step guide to publishing your first episode Podcasts have been around for awhile now but can be a little
Read morePersonalize learning with Open Educational Resources
What they are and how to use them In a recent blog post, I suggested access to technology can empower teachers
Read moreBalancing screen time and family time
When to put the device down Let’s face it, it’s a challenge to balance technology in our lives; but it’s
Read moreBlended learning in the math classroom
Where is the tech in math classrooms? According to recent studies, math teachers, tend to integrate technology into their teaching less
Read moreWhat makes for good goal-setting in a PLP?
Life’s four guidelines for goal-setting In my experience as a teacher and administrator, I noticed a pattern to goal-setting in
Read moreThe Lost Art of Educational Keynoting
Two weeks ago I attended the annual conference of the Association of Middle Level Educators (AMLE). I have been working
Read moreTo lock or not to lock
School approaches to filtering internet content As social media,Youtube, and gaming become more educationally relevant, how do we leverage their
Read moreLearning as a social activity
Using Vialogues for social learning Vialogues: visual dialogues. Video dialogues. (Visible violet dogs? Risible eyelet hogs? Dirigible side-slit frogs?) Vialogues
Read moreWhat to say instead of “21st Century”
Shifting the conversation from “the future” to my future When “21st century skills” first emerged as an educational term, we
Read moreY is for Young Writers Project
Using the Young Writers Project to teach writing There are so many reasons to appreciate how we teach adolescents to write
Read moreX is for eXtra credit
How does edtech affect extra credit? Is extra credit still a valid notion as we move towards ubiquitous learning, and grapple
Read moreW is for Weekly Geek Podcast
Creative ways to share learning opportunities Teachers at Lamoille Union Middle/High School learn about the latest tools and resources available
Read moreV is for Voice Recordings
Why voice recordings work for young adolescents As students use technology to explore and capture projects that show both their emerging proficiency
Read moreU is for Ubiquity
Ubiquitous learning is not the same as ubiquitous computing We hear a lot of hype about e-learning, blended learning, MOOCS,
Read moreT is for Timelines
Timeline tools for transformative learning Timeline tools can serve two important purposes: concrete help with project planning (for PLPs, 1:1
Read moreR is for REAL Reflection
Getting real about student reflection Ah, reflection. It may bring to mind an introspective moment, perhaps gazing into the still
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Q is for QR codes
QR codes unlock learning anywhere These simple workhorses of technology — ink and blank spaces on a screen or page — can
Read moreP is for Performance Tasks
Using performance tasks as a way to measure student knowledge When working with a group of middle school science teachers recently
Read moreSerious PD fun with Chatterpix
“Candy apps”, or how to have fun and still learn anyway During a five minute reflection, if a student is given
Read moreO is for Online Collaboration
Online collaboration extends student learning networks Online collaboration takes on new significance as students extend their learning network in conjunction
Read moreN is for Nearpod
How these educators used Nearpod for professional development Educators instinctively understand the engagement power of a tool that allows learners to
Read moreEstablishing behavior expectations in a 1:1
Who decides the acceptable ways to use devices in your school? You’ve jumped through the hoops, filled out the paperwork,
Read moreL is for Learning Management System (LMS)
What can you do with an LMS? LMS stands for Learning Management System. An LMS is an application for planning, delivering, managing,
Read moreK is for Kahoot
Extend learning communities beyond the classroom For a review game “killer app” recommendation, Kahoot is by far at the top
Read moreJ is for Just-in-time Learning
Just-in-time learning in its best form is “Just for me” learning. When you learn something because you yearn to understand
Read moreH is for Hangout
What can educators do with Google Hangout? Much like being friends on social media, physical proximity has little to do
Read moreG is for Group Device Management
Physical management of tech aka OMG Where Did All These Cords Come From The act of simply registering, storing, charging,
Read moreF is for Family Communication
4 edtech tools for family communication How can technology help make communicating with your students’ families easier? These 4 edtech tools
Read moreE is for e-books …or are they “C-books”?
Why create and use e-books in the classroom? Resources like e-books are a common “first step” when we think about integrating
Read moreD is for Digital Workflow
Digital workflow: What is it good for? In its simplest form, digital workflow exchanges the paper and pencil transfer of information
Read moreC is for Citizenship (digital of course!)
Approaching student digital citizenship from many levels Our students live in technology-rich worlds, regardless of how much technology they are
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