KMS Coaches' Corner

 

The fourth Tuesday of every month is scheduled to be a Coaches Clinic.  This is also the Tuesday we typically have Departmental meetings.  We hope to combine the two in a way that works well for all of us. It will probably look different each month.  For example, we coaches might do some staff development with everyone in the media center before you separate into departments.  Or we might have some department-specific stuff to share with you, in which case we will just come to your department meeting.

The first Coaches Clinic is scheduled for Tuesday, October 28, and we'll be working out the details in the next few days.  We have plenty of important things to share/discuss, however, we also want to hear from you - What else do you want to know?  What topics/issues do you want us to highlight?  What are your staff development needs (as an individual or a department)?

 

Got somethin' to say/ask that doesn't fit into any of our post categories?? Comment here!

 

I am so excited about how much the COWs have been used and continue to be used.  I would like to give the step-by-step instructions on how to check out a COW!
Go to the KMSCoaches Weebly (If you are reading this...you are Very Warm!)
Select "COW Checkout"
Fill in the blanks (Be very detailed!)
Submit
The submitted request will come to the Coaches
On a first come basis the COW will be assigned to meet your requested needs and placed on the calendar (Apps on G:, Files, Protected, Administration, Teacher Information, folder named "COWS and Qwizdom") 
Check there for your reservations!!

Now having said all of that...I would like to know how I can make your life easier!  Do you have any suggestions for improving this process? 



 

Here are some Internet sites that allow you (and of course your students!) to create time lines.  What a great possibility for students to creatively exhibit their mastery of a sequence.  This can be an event or era in history, a biography, a plan, or something that I haven't thought of yet!  Most also allow embedded images or even videos.  Feel free to add other sites you know of.

Timetoast

Mnemograph  remember, plan, learn

Xtimeline


 

CIT discussed the fact that some teachers felt anxious about how to share technology during PTSO night. (The minutes are saved on the network.)  This is an opportunity for our students to communicate with their parents, particulary about the new technologies we have and how they are used in the classroom.  Each classroom will look and sound different. The point is: students are communicating with their parents about their learning.

Post your ideas here.  What will your classroom look like during PTSO?

 

Post here any suggestions for, obstacles with, or questions about Qwizdom sets. 

 

Let's hear it:  What is the absolute best thing that's happened in your classroom these first two weeks???  And, what is the absolute worst thing that's happened?

Let's celebrate your successes and discuss your obstacles.  By sharing your best experience so far, you might give others an idea.  By sharing your worst experience, maybe you can help prevent something similar in another classroom or offer some troubleshooting advice!

 

This blog entry is dedicated to sharing ideas on how to incorporate this year's election in your classrooms.  Post your comments here with ideas for the different subject areas.  For example, LA can focus on persuasive techniques in campaign ads, SS can discuss candidates' platforms and how different programs could affect the state/country/world.  Science can identify the candidates' take on the environment. P.E. can analyze each candidate's approach to solving national health issues.  You get the idea. Post your ideas/resources for your subject area and any others here!

 

Okay, so I'm going to be selfish and dedicate a whole blog entry to Literacy Coaching.  By now, you are probably diving right into the first unit of your content.  As I said at the staff meeting, my main role is to help you find the most effective ways for your students to become literate in your subject area.  This goes beyond reading and writing to include listening, speaking, viewing, and even thinking!

I am here to help you plan, deliver, and evaluate your instruction.  I am here to help you reflect on your teaching, identify best practices, learn from and share with others, and ultimately improve student literacy. I will be in classrooms most of the time visiting, co-teaching, and modeling lessons.  As we get past this first week, I ask you to invite me in your classrooms (or say "Yes" when I invite myself!) and think about how I can support you. You bring your expertise, and I can help fit in some new strategies and resources.

So, can some of you that worked with me last year leave a comment here to help clarify what I do and how I can help?  Or if you're confused, ask a question.  Oh, and check out the updated "Literacy" page to see the section on Instructional Strategies.

 

You have almost certainly picked up some new logins, websites, organizational tools, and forms of communication over the past few months.  You have wikis to update, wikis to read, Google readers to read, RSS feeds, weebly to update, Diigo, facebook, blogs to read and blogs to post...  You have to remember which email you used to sign up for each of those, and how to get back to the site that sounded so cool in July. Feeling scattered?

You need to develop a system to deal with all of this, and create a routine that will keep it manageable.  I call that effort, that management of many tech pieces, your digital hygiene.  Like personal hygiene, it is something you will develop in a way that works for you.  Every task does not have to be done with identical frequency.  Some require daily attention.  Some can be allowed to slip to an "occasional" status.  Some tasks deserve a weekly look.  Some are more fun than others!  (C'mon, who really enjoys flossing?)

There are organizational strategies and tools to help us maintain our digital hygiene.

My favorite so far is Diigo.  Yes, it's part of the load of new things that we've learned, but it is a place to corral all the websites that keep coming our way.  I have gotten in the habit of adding sites by clicking on the "Bookmark" button on the Diigo toolbar.  Now I have to get better about routinely organizing and tagging the sites.

Do you have a trick or a tool to help manage your digital hygiene?  Or a frustration?  Please share it with us!