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Summer Learning

By Unknown
Wow!  I can't believe how fast this summer has flown by.  I'd like to share my best learning from the summer workshops I attended this summer:

  • Digital Citizenship - A great book about Digital Citizenship is:  Digital Citizenship in Schools by Mike Ribble.  He even has a website:  http://www.digitalcitizenship.net/.  He discusses the 9 elements of digital citizenship (Digital Access, Digital Commerce, Digital Communication, Digital Literacy, Digital Etiquette, Digital Law, Digital Rights and Responsibilities, Digital Health and Wellness, and Digital Security).
  • Web 2.0 for the Common Core - Amazing presenter - Julie Smith!  I had heard of most of the web 2.0 tools discussed, but it was great networking with other teachers as to how they use them in their classroom.  My favorite tools are listed below:
  • CHAMPS - Behavior Management - Another amazing workshop sponsored by Safe and Civil Schools.  I love this approach to managing behavior in the classroom.  This is based on the book CHAMPS by Randy Sprick (http://www.amazon.com/CHAMPS-Proactive-Positive-Classroom-Management/dp/B002LS1AJ4).
    • Using the acronym CHAMPS, you can create your own expectaions for each situation in your classroom like cooperative groups, silent reading, carpet time, etc.
      • C=Conversation (your expectation for the talking during the activity)
      • H=Help (how do the students get help with this activity)
      • A=Activity (what is the activity?)
      • M=Movement (acceptable movement from students like pencil sharpening, getting out of seat, going to the bathroom, etc.)
      • P=Participation (how will you know that students are participating)
      • S=Success (if the above expectations are followed the students will feel successful)

Of course I didn't spend my whole summer at workshops.  I also went on a vacation.  My family and I went to Orlando and had a fabulous time visiting Hogwarts, Jedi Training Camp, and Toy Story, among others.  I hope everyone also had a great summer break and are all ready for the 2013-14 school year.


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