R.E.S.P.E.C.T.!!!

Find out what it means to me!  I spent most of last Friday morning trying to prepare lessons for this week...and plan for a sub for tomorrow!  Sometimes it is so hard to verbalize the thoughts that are floating around in my brain and to make them comprehensible for a sub!  I was struggling between wanting to move my 6th graders on to the next topic but at the same time, wanting to be the one laying the groundwork for it...not someone else.  So to compromise...they will do a review of our topic, "Respect", but they will be able to utilize their iPads in a scavenger hunt sort-of-way!

There is a wonderful site where you can create your own QR codes, print them out and have the kiddos use their iPads/iPods to scan the QR and viola!, they are directed to the website you desire.  So in the spare time that I had to find, I located a few websites with relevant information regarding respect, created QR codes for them, glued them to note cards and hopefully (if all goes as smoothly as my brain thought it through) the kids will scan them tomorrow and answer some questions for me.  There are 3 codes that they will have to scan in order to answer all the questions and they are given the choice to work in groups or by themselves...so....crossing my fingers and hoping this all works!!!!

*Even with carefully planning in hopes that my sub would be able to enjoy this lesson...technology worked against me.  Thankfully I was still in the building this day and my kiddos were able to rescue retrieve me from my meeting so I could improvise the lesson.  I neglected to remember that the students' iPads are on a more restricted internet network than I am, and even though I was able to pull up all the sites using the QR reader, the kiddos were not able to.  Using some panicked-quick thinking, I pulled up the first QR reader on the teacher computer and let the kiddos watch the short video on the big screen (aka...SmartBoard).  We then discussed some points from it and the kiddos completed questions 1, 2, 5 & 6 from the RESPECT questionnaire.  After that, they broke into groups of their choice, scanned the third QR code and completed question 7 from the questionnaire.  They loved that they were able to use their iPads to create a bumper sticker, write a rap song, snap pictures of respect and even create a mini-video on respect.  I'm not joking when I say that ALL of my kiddos were engaged in this activity!  Even with technology giving me a mini-panic attack...it all worked out and my kiddos had a blast!

What a little hummus can do...

The district has asked that counselors present a lesson on "Respect for All" this year.  Since my number one expectation from my kiddos is respect, it ties pretty well with what I'm already talking about at the beginning of the year.  Since the district created a PowerPoint yet gave us leeway on how we present it to our younger kiddos, I took the liberty to find literature (since I'm a HUGE fan of reading!) that would match the objective.  Thus, I bring you..."The Sandwich Swap"...straight from this amazing resource!

It's a wonderful storyline with pictures that capture the attention of even my 5th graders (they had some extra time at the end and didn't have their Ipads to complete a questionnaire...so I read the book to them)! Here's the nitty-gritty details of the lesson if you'd like to see how I presented/structured it... 

Not only did the story grab my kiddos attention and provide wonderful discussion on respecting the diversity of others, but they enjoyed actually trying hummus.  Yep!  I brought in classic hummus and used pretzel sticks to allow the children to try this delectable food!  I made sure there weren't any food allergies beforehand, and most kids were apprehensive to try...but bravely attempted it and found that they actually loved it.  *Insert shocked face here!*  Yes, the majority of the kids enjoyed it and wanted more.  And those that didn't prefer it, and to report in a respectful way that "they did not prefer it". 

Once the kids tasted the hummus, I had them draw pictures of their favorite food.  And for those classes that I knew could handle it, we crumpled the papers up and had a "food fight".  Wonderful lesson for all my kids and hopefully they walked away with an understanding of respect and diversity.

*Update:  a fellow teacher came to me just this morning and told the story of her drive home last night with her 3rd grader and kindergartner (who both received this lesson yesterday).  Apparently they told her that they don't prefer the hummus but then they tag teamed and went through the whole lesson with their mama!  Apparently hummus sticks (and they worked together to present the lesson...which as she said was an amazing thing)!  :)

Organization is the Key!

Ok, I admit...I'm a bit of an organizational junkie!  If I don't have things organized then I feel completely lost.  So for me, the start of each year must begin with an organizational system for my lesson plans.  This year I've done things a bit different than previous years.  I used to just simply keep each grade in their own little 2-pocket folder (clearly labeled of course), and stashed in a file holder box thingy (I don't know the correct terminology for it...I haven't finished my coffee yet this morning!).  But this year I decided to spice things up a bit and use a binder system.  Now when I taught special ed., I lived off of binders for each of my students but I never really transferred that into my counseling.  However, with so many classes back-to-back this year, I needed something that would contain all of my lesson info so that I could pick it up and go.  And the result is this:

If you look closely you will notice that my schedule is on the back of the binder...for those moments when I forget where I'm supposed to be am so engrossed in solving world peace.  And it's color coordinated according to grades.  Then...inside of the binder I have my weekly-at-a-glance lesson plan (also color coordinated for grades...and just so happens to match the schedule on the back), which is also turned in to my principal each week.  Inside of the binder I still rely upon my 2-pocket folder system and have each labeled by grade (not color coordinated with my lesson plan and schedule...I know, I'm lazy!).  And if you open up the folder I have the detailed lesson plan for that particular grade, listed with the objectives, matching curriculum benchmarks, supplies needed, etc. 

It may seem a bit crazy, but now that the system is up and running...so am I!  It has helped tremendously on my very busy Thursday's.  And well...who can't help but love the fun graphics and color scheme!  Not to mention that it's quick and easy to keep maintained!

Just Me in a Nutshell

I suppose everything must begin with an introduction and this is no exception.  While not new to the blogging world, I am just now dabbling in integrating technology with my counseling techniques.  The quest begin last year when I was graced with my very own classroom equipped with a Smartboard.  The kiddos would come to my room for their weekly counseling lessons and I wasted so much time playing with technology loved using the Smartboard with my lessons.  And now that I'm back to my little office this year, and due to the recent grant we have acquired where we have 1-to-1 Ipads for staff and students, I am excited to extend my lessons even more!  And what better way than to connect with the digital world!

But my guess is, you are more interested in exactly who I am.  I have been in the education field for going on nine years now.  I started off (at the young age of 21) teaching resource math at a middle school.  I taught for two years in that position and then felt that I needed a little more experience in another field.  I chose a challenging occupation as an Administrative Secretary where I gained numerous skills in dealing with technology, and have walked away knowing that to solve any technology problem...you turn the machine off and back on...and WA-LAH...it's fixed.  And I also walked away with an addiction to Microsoft Excel!  After 2 1/2 years there, I re-entered the education field while at the same time attending grad school for counseling.  Enjoying my 2-year theme, I taught in a self-contained classroom until I completed my Masters degree which coincided with the current school counselor retiring, allowing me to move into my current position, which is where I've been for almost 5 years (hey...I broke the 2 year trend!).

So there you have it...a little bit about me and I'm sure you'll learn more if you choose to stay tuned to the lessons I hope to entertain you with....