Flipping Professional Development/Professional Learning

One of my favorite things to do is to learn. I am always looking for new ideas and different ways to do things. If there is something that can make me better as an instructional leader, then I am willing to try it out. When it comes to Education I am very passionate about helping students and teachers learn in the best possible way.

I truly enjoy Flipping Professional Development because I think it provides a great avenue for learning.

When developing PD, there are many factors you must think about. 
Do the participants have what they need to make it successful?
Will they have time to do things on their own?
Are they savvy enough?

These are all great questions that a developer of PD must keep in mind. Be Prepared for any and everything.

When I am planning I was always think with the end in mind. What do I want my participants to walk away with? I want them to leave with the mindset that they are not overwhelmed and that they can implement the ideas themselves. When developing PD, remember less is more. Do not try to cram in lots of information at one time. It may be great information, but if there is too much you have lost the battle. Having participants leave with a a few ideas that they feel successful implementing is better then sending someone home with a bunch of notes they took quickly (feeling overwhelmed) that now those notes may never see the light of day.

I cannot express enough the importance of planning. As a teacher you must lesson plan and lesson plan effectively in order to have a rich learning environment. As a trainer, you must do the same thing. It not something you can throw together in a matter of minutes. It does take time to make sure you are meeting the needs of all your learners, make sure you have all your resources, and plan for the worst case scenarios (make sure to have a back up plan).

The three components that I use when planning are

• Explore
• Flip
• Apply

I love the idea when presenting on Technology Tools. Here are the tools-->Go Explore-->Which tools could be effective in your classroom?-->How do you plan to use them?
We step away from the lecturing of the tool and  the little time you would get to explore.
Now we begin with the Explore component, which makes for a wonderful Professional Development, which I like to call Professional Learning. The whole idea is to Learn!!

When I got started, I found this great article that inspired me. It is very important to Plan and Plan good. I love the outline on this site and it helps me as I plan as well.
http://gettingsmart.com/2013/01/7-steps-to-flipped-professional-development/

I am not a "Sit and Get" kind of learner and I know that most students and adults are not as well. If you conduct any type of PD, I suggest reading, Sit and Get Won't Grow Dendrites by Marcia Tate. It is a phenomenal book. I use this book as a guide for planning and implementing PD and flipping my PD.

Here some great Technology Tools to use in your flipped PD.
http://www.symbaloo.com/mix/flippedpd-explore

If you have questions at all, feel free to email me at KristenTHernandez@gmail.com.

Bonus:
I really enjoy this video from TED.
Teachers are flipping classrooms, rethinking lesson plans, and re-imagining the role of teacher and student, learner and educator.




I also love this article on Flipping a College class: http://www.emergingedtech.com/2013/05/flipped-classroom-insights-and-tips-from-an-college-biology-teacher/

Great Freebie:
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/How-to-Create-a-Flipped-Classroom-Video-Create-extra-time-for-labs-and-more-889776

Brain Based Learning Strategies with an Activity

Hello and happy Tuesday. I have been conducting professional development sessions recently on Worksheets Don't Grow Dendrites and they have been going really well. I was introduced to the author Marcia Tate my first year of teaching. We began a book study and she came to my campus on a Saturday and we had the best Professional Learning I have ever been to. In the last 10 years I have had the opportunity to go to four of her training's. She is phenomenal and the best presenter I have ever had.

Even after 10 years I continue to use her Brain Based Learning strategies and activities with my students and teachers. I have had wonderful success with raising student achievement and motivation with the 20 strategies she presents in her book. Mrs. Tate has grown since I met her ten years ago and now she has quite a few books out now. They are all equally wonderful!

When I present the Professional Learning, I break it up into parts because trying to deliver 20 strategies in one or two hours is not a good idea and no one leaves with any valuable information...just a headache = )
In each session I like to go over no more than three 3 strategies because with focusing on just 3, teachers are able to get an understanding of the strategies, what they look like, how to implement them, and how to modify if needed.

When doing an activity, you will quickly learn that one activity could have multiple strategies in one...WINNER!

Today I am going to focus on the brain based learning strategy "Movement".

When the body is engaged during learning, the information can be put in one of the strongest memory systems - procedural or muscle memory. That is why people tend not to forget how to drive a car, ride a bike, or play the piano, even if they have not done so in a while. Rather than having students sit while their teachers do all the work, having them up and actively engaged in the content not only goes a long way toward ensuring that they pass any tests but that they will remember the information long after the test is over. Tate, M. L. (2003).

The Activity
Each person gets a paper which includes statements taught in the classroom setting. Each statement will be blank. Each participant will need to find someone who can answer the statement and initial. Each person must find 12 different people to answer and initial. 

Below you will find the activity and template that provides more in depth directions.

What I like to do when I present this strategy and activity is to do a, "What could be modified?" part in the PL to see what we could do to make it better.

It is suggested that if a student comes across someone who does not know the answer, they should just not move on to someone else. They should make that person their "Learning Buddy" and search for someone who knows the answer. The purpose of the activity is for everyone to gain knowledge and work together.

Another suggestion is that a person cannot sign more that one of the same square. We want each student to branch out = )

Here is the activity that I do with the teachers: People Search
Here is the template that you can use with your students: People Search Template
(Input your own content in the squares)

I hope you enjoy the strategy and the activity.

Please let me know if you have any questions at all.

Stay tuned for more strategies and activities = )

Teach from the Heart

FWISD Teachers: Classroom Curriculum Connection

The CCC is for Elementary Teachers, but if you teach Middle or High School and you feel one of the sessions will benefit you, we would love to have you. Please pass this information on to your teacher friends!

Click on the images below to see specific sessions!

Please make sure to sign up on Avatar

http://fortworth.avatarlms.com

Free Thanksgiving Hollywood Squares Game

Hi everyone! I hope you enjoy this Thanksgiving Hollywood Squares that was created for you. You can input your own content questions into the games for tons of educational fun!
If you have any questions at all, please feel free to let me know.

You do need ActivInspire to open this flipchart.

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Free-Thanksgiving-Squares-ActivInspire-Game-Template-Hollywood-Squares-929945

Songza...Energize Your Classroom and Get Students Engaged

Hi everyone! Happy Thursday = )

I was reading a blog recently and came across a site that I love! Thank you Lauren at http://iteacherlauren.blogspot.com for this great resource. I really enjoy listening to music and I use music all the time with my students and teachers for transitions and for different activities. I believe in the power of music to completely change ones learning mode and emotions.

This site is not only FREE, but fun in the way it lays out the music you choose.

Check out http://songza.com

Let's say it's Monday morning and your students are lagging. You want to get them engaged and ready to learn. Choose the topic that will fit...Click and play!

There are lots of topics to choose from and even music without lyrics for when your students are writing or focusing on an activity.

For iPad and Android users, there is an app for Songza!!

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/songza/id453111583?mt=8

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ad60.songza&hl=en

Disclaimer: With any music, note that songs with lyrics could possibly contain inappropriate words. Always Preview! 

Have fun and happy listening!

FREE Halloween Printables

My mission is to find you some really great FREE Halloween printables. I hope you enjoy what I have been able to find. If you have anymore to share, please comment below.

http://www.pinterest.com/lauraleigh/halloween-goodies/

http://whipperberry.com/2013/10/halloween-printables-treat-bags.html

http://catchmyparty.com/printables

http://momsbyheart.net/100-free-halloween-printables/

http://www.pinterest.com/meinlilapark/free-halloween-printables/

http://www.pinterest.com/search/pins/?q=free%20halloween

http://todayscreativeblog.net/halloween-printables/

Have Fun!