5 Most Popular Posts of 2018!

Good morning colleagues! We're getting down to the wire here before Christmas break. We still have a week left of school, but due to Christmas eve being on a Monday, and traveling next weekend to see family, this is my last blog post of 2018! Where has this year gone?!

Per tradition last year, after being inspired by Catlin Tucker, I've decided that my final post of the year will recap my top five most viewed (popular) posts on my blog. It's not too much of a surprise to see my top five as they were all posted before summer break and all had content that was relevant to all and/or was a "hot topic" in the news.

Post #1 (21 Jan 2018) 
In this post, early this year, I blogged about how our district implemented digital portfolios. I provided some links to resources about using digital portfolio with students. I also talked about how digital portfolios can provide your students with a voice and with choice (they pick what's on their site, and they reflect upon their decisions and learning). I briefly discuss my own digital portfolio and why it works for me. Then I end by mentioning how a student could graduate with 13 years worth of work. THAT is powerful! 



Post #2 (21 April 2018) 
In this post, I write out the alphabet, A-Z, and next to each letter, I discuss a potential problem with digital learning. Some examples include distractions, managing time, plagiarism, xenagogue (yep - I even thought of an X word!). Technology can provide so much support in our classes, but it can also be a nightmare and a downfall! I hope that this post helps people, who are thinking about implementing technology into their curriculum, problem solve BEFORE the issues happen! 



Post #3 (13 May 2018) 
This post focused on how my grading policies have changed since I first started teaching. Things that I have changed include no zeroes, late grades, or "fluffy" grades, more formative assessments, and my take on why behavior does not equal achievement. This whole post stemmed from me being frustrated by ineligible students not being able to compete in our big track meet. 




Post #4 (28 April 2018)
In April of this year, teachers across the US went on strike to get better salaries and conditions (for themselves and their students). Our district did not go on strike, but our state did have an educator rally at the state Capitol in Denver. This post focused on my experience going to the rally with my educator friends and WHY I marched at all.





Post #5 (5 May 2018) 
This post is focused on six steps to help you create meaningful work in your classroom. As you start to burn out as a teacher, you have to make changes to your personal and professional life. I can't tell you how to fix your own life (except to take care of yourself), but the six steps helped me remove myself from a burnout situation. I also provide ways for you to support your students in making good work in the classroom which puts the bulk of the work on the students instead of on you! 

To end, I just want to wish you all happy holidays! As always, thanks for reading (especially throughout the past couple of years!) I will return on 12 January 2019!!!

- Rachel

@historicalipad
My Teacherspayteachers website

Google Sites updates

Good morning colleagues! Let me ask you a question... how do you find out about updates to your favorite websites and applications? For me, I learn about it through Twitter. One would think that's the quickest way to find something new, but with the new Twitter algorithm, you don't always see updates in real time. Plus, I follow 200 some people (and now view their likes in the timeline) so Twitter gets to be pretty messy. I know that I should also follow the Google Blog(s), but I don't check my RSS feeds in Feedly as often as I should...

So...

Did you know there were changes to Google Sites?! If your answer is "yes," then good. You're in the know. If your answer is "no," outstanding. You're right there with me :)

I figured out there were changes to Google Sites when I went to update my digital portfolio. I update the "What I'm Reading" page quite often, but never noticed the big, new, honking icons on the editing side.

So, of course, I get curious and actually read through the G Suite blog. Phew... layouts have only been available since August 14th. Wait... it's September 22nd. It's been a MONTH?!

So I did what any "normal" teacher would do... I wanted to see how these layouts work. And let me tell you, these new layouts make your Google Site look AWESOME!

I tried to make my Site look as professional as possible before the layouts, but I thought it was pretty challenging. I liked that I could hide a page from navigation (i.e., it would not appear in the list of sites on the top navigation bar), but the only way to link to all of the subpages was through a list. It didn't look bad, but it didn't seem professional. With the new layouts, I was able to update my Tech Training page with images (using the built-in Google Search for commercial reuse images) and descriptions of what the viewer will find on the page. The pictures are professional, high-quality, and relevant! I also updated my professional presentations page by keeping the same "list" layout by adding an image and description for each page but changing it so the picture and text switch alignment on each row. Finally, I updated my Broadcasting student work page by adding buttons for our Instagram page and Youtube channel instead of having them as links on separate rows.

Even though I'm stoked about my own professional page, I think I'm more excited about how these layouts can be used with students! I know that Skyview is slowly moving towards accepting digital portfolios, so this isn't something that I would introduce yet. I do believe, however, that the 8th graders should be using these layouts to their benefit. We'll see... another goal for the future. 

Thanks for reading! I'll see you next week!





- Rachel

@historicalipad

My Teacherspayteachers website

Why digital portfolios?

Good morning colleagues!

I totally had another blog post planned and written, when I had an interesting conversation with a colleague over e-mail on Friday. It was apparent, through the e-mail, that the teacher was incredibly stressed about helping their students with digital portfolios. Our district decided to implement digital portfolios, this year, using Google Sites. My principal started with a rotation where all teachers ended up in a lab, or with a Chromebook cart, to help their students create the skeleton of their digital portfolio.

I had a meeting with my principal a couple of weeks ago where another colleague and I insisted that yes, the staff could quickly get one item on all of their students' portfolios before STUDENT-LED parent-teacher conferences on February 15th and 16th. That's still four weeks away... that is entirely possible. I will admit that I told my principal to mandate it. I did. I'll own the teachers' frustration, but it's because I believe in digital portfolios.

Now some colleagues may be reading this post, gritting their teeth, thinking, "Rachel. Stay in your lane. Stick to what you know -  technology." I don't believe in digital portfolios just because the students are using Google Sites. I support creating digital portfolios because it gives students a straightforward way to demonstrate voice and choice!

I believe in student choice and voice, and I back growth (versus fixed) mindset. It can be incredibly challenging to give up control of your classroom, give students options, and try to get them to change how they see school. I honestly feel like digital portfolios is a great start to all three! Students get to design their portfolio how they see fit, and they get to add what THEY want to their portfolio. They can choose to showcase a test, a project, or an essay. It's whatever they think best demonstrates their growth for the year.

What's been troublesome for our staff is that the "buy-in" part did not go over well. Teachers didn't see the point of doing digital portfolios. Based on what I heard, people thought it was one more thing, and it would just go away. It seemed as though they couldn't fathom portfolios becoming seamless with their curriculum. Does it take time away from class to have students put work on their portfolio? Of course. Does their work become meaningful when you not only give them time to place work on their portfolio but also thought-provoking questions to reflect upon their work? YES. I could continue to blog on and on about why digital portfolios are essential, but I'm going to let Global Digital Citizen Foundation do the work for me.

What has also been problematic for the staff is the lack of training. I've realized, over the last six months, why I was so good for the job I currently have: I'm not afraid to push a button to see what happens, I'm not worried that I'll mess up the technology, and I'm quite good at using Google. Apparently, this is not normal! Who knew?! So in this meeting with my principal, where I somehow managed to throw my colleagues under the bus, I also offered to provide training needed for the staff. I created a Google Form that asked what my colleagues needed and even asked when they wanted to meet. Seems good in theory right? Only 14 teachers filled it out. So this afternoon I'm going to make my training materials for those fourteen teachers. I have a starting place :)

Digital portfolios are nothing but good for students. I even did a little research on pros and cons, and this is the best I could find. I think digital portfolios are useful for teachers as well. I started a digital portfolio this past summer and have been continuously updating it. As an introvert, I don't share a lot about myself verbally. I've realized that I share a lot more about myself online. It's pretty humorous that I see less risk in sharing who I am with strangers than with the people I see every day at work. It's because I'm not "putting myself out there"... I'm not having to open my heart and be vulnerable. My digital portfolio is a window into who I am, what I like, what I'm reading, and what my students are doing.

The end game, in our district, is that students will start their portfolios in kindergarten which will follow them through twelfth grade. That is a lofty goal but is one that I think is possible. Seriously think about it. How cool when they graduate that they have this thing that demonstrates their growth and learning over thirteen years. And this thing can help them get into vocational training, college, or get a job. It may be nerdy, but I just think that's neat! Purposeful learning.

Thanks for reading. I'll see you next week :)

- Rachel

@historicalipad

My Teacherspayteachers website