First GAFE

I just completed my first Google Apps for Education Summit this week and as with many of these events I leave with lots of items rolling around in my head...

First idea, the power of voice, choice and telling our stories. I have spent the last year working on telling my story and telling the story of the school that I have the honor of leading and I am more energize in helping students and teachers voice their stories.

Celebrating the great things at school!

Who is telling your school's story?

Who is telling your story?

• Power of Twitter -- tshillings
• Website - Underwoodes

Second item was continued focus on being a supporter of learner driven learning environment. This will require reflection on our school spaces. We are looking at our hallways, common areas, classrooms for seating, collaborative areas, independent learning, etc.

For all of this reflections and learning opportunities there needs to be a balance.

Reading Lists

Summer Time, is a time to reflect, recharge, and rejuvenate my mission to support students continuous learning. This month I have chosen to read three books to support my brainstorming ideas. I highly recommend these books:

1. Kids Deserve It!

by Todd Nesloney (@techNijaTodd) and Adam Welcome  (@awelcome). This book highlights the importance of what is best for Kids. It puts the focus back on what is best for kids! It also provides examples and idea starters in creating an school learning environment with the students at the center.

• Relationships matter 
• Visit students homes 
• "we have to view every child as a seed waiting to bloom"
• #kidsdererveit 
• "get off the island and start collaborating".

 2.  Innovators Mindset

by George Courous - This book exemplifies the importance of relationships, reflection on the ways we think, and building trust with the learning communities. "The world only cares about--and pays off on -- what you can do with what you know (and it doesn't care how you learned it)".

• competitive collaboration 
• 8 things to look for in Today's Classroom -- pg 111
• I Learn (via Krissy Venosdale) 
• Creativity is where we start to think differently, and innovation is where creativity comes to life #innovatorsMindset

3. Launch

by John Spencer and AJ Juilani - This book provides a modeled design to create collaborative, innovative, and critical thinking learning model.

• Look, Listen, and Learn - Ask Lots of Questions - Understand the Problem or Process - Navigate Ideas - Create - Highlight What's Working and Failing 
• We all creative and provides strategies to support this in classrooms of all ages 
• Often the Labels kids receive become the lies that they believe 
• Ask TONS of questions
• "If school is meant to prepare people for real life, then why doesn't school look like real life?" - Bo Adams 

These books continue to reinforce the importance of creating a learning environment that is built on relationships, innovation/asking critical thinking questions, and putting the students first (and a part) of the learning process.