google forms

I have moved into the digital age. I've now got a smartphone, and with that I'm far more able to check twitter. Typically I will stumble across something that might be interesting or promising and star it for later viewing (like when I am at my laptop!). This morning I stumbled across a re-tweet from Web20classroom, someone who passes along a plethora of stuff on a daily basis. The post was in regards to a google doc someone had created about using Google Forms in the classroom.

I hadn't even thought about using Google Forms. In fact, I'll confess that I'd never used Google Forms before. But I messed around with it this morning, and am considering using it with a small test group of students in the coming weeks. To the left you'll see an image of a small test form I created. I wanted to see the mechanics of the process... and here is my understanding.

• Start by creating a form through Google Docs.
• You toy around with the questions you want your kids to fill out or respond to.
• You can make the questions required or optional.
• Then you link it to a website (perhaps a class website or wiki- I'll likely do both, duplicity is a good thing). You can email it to your users also, but I am not sure that I'll do that as of yet.
• Then you get to the best part... once the kids go online to type in their responses, they submit it... populating a Google Docs spreadsheet for you! How great! Instead of the paper trail, you've now got it all in one place. I can then email feedback if you wanted to go that route.

How do I envision using it? I'll likely use it for my weekly Fact/Question/Response sheets during our novel study. I might also use it for my end of year reading/literacy surveys. I'll start by using a test group of 5-10 kids, some from each of my rotation groups. Then I'll likely use it as an option- if you want the paper version you can use it, otherwise go the online version (that way I don't have the issue of student access which is inevitable, even though it is far from the majority for me). I'm excited. A new idea to test out.

Wait for it...

There is a post from over at NYC Schools Parents that is worth the read. The long and short of it is that many facts were used, and re-used in Waiting for Superman. Those facts weren't entirely vetted to ensure quality- or perhaps they were, but used anyway. The end result is a gross misrepresentation of public school teachers in reference to other professions (namely lawyers and doctors).

Don't get me wrong, there are many districts in need of help, support, and reform. Data is one way to show that. But, numbers can be used in a myriad of ways to prove the point you want to make. Even embedded in the post above is an extrapolation that says public school teaching is on par with the attrition rates of the other professions (which I'm not sure has been fully vetted). The point in all of this is that when we use data to draw conclusions, we best be sure our data is accurate. Even more important is the need for discussion about the data, and the reasons for it. Instead we've had a really vitriolic reaction on both sides with no end in sight (one angry about the system and saying blow it up while the other is equally angry for being villianized sans-debate).

Looking Back at Assessment

I spent 2 hours in my classroom today. I was filing some student work, hanging some things on my bulletin board, and downloading my social studies assessments. I've grouped a few of the chapters together, and have clear understandings I want my kids to have. The next logical question is, how are you going to assess your kids?

Last year I think I blindly looked at the assessments. I knew they existed, and used them in full or totally changed them to fit my teaching. Even more interesting is that I only casually looked at the assessment prior to my instruction. While it worked, it really wasn't my best practice. Saying that a question "is really dumb" after the fact doesn't really help you direct your instruction. Instead you craft an assessment to meet your instruction, which is ridiculously backwards not to mention short-sighted.

What am I doing now? Looking at the questions that the textbook has for assessment for the three chapters I am molding together. From there I am deciding what fits with our reading goals, as well as the big social studies understandings the kids need to walk away with. The questions that are simple recall of knowledge get dropped, and others are potentially crafted. More importantly I have the kids using the book during the assessment- using it as the text that kids will draw conclusions, evaluate information, etc (reading skills we are practicing). Huge change from a year ago- thankfully!

Imagine Nation

Merry Christmas!

If you go back to last year, I set out to do a little bit of work curriculum mapping. In truth, I did some work but probably not as much as I'd have hoped. I did a little bit on Thursday, and I was really productive. But I've also been doing a ton of reading (on book 4 of the break!)

In the spirit of giving I figured I'd pass along a fantastic book to read. If you read one book in the next month, read Jack Blank and the Imagine Nation. I was never much of a comic book fan, but the book (which centers around comics) is wonderful. Short synopsis: orphan boy gets kicked out of boarding school, and taken to a mysterious island (the Imagine Nation). Turns out he is infected with a robot (Rustov) virus that the nation fears, but they agree to test him (and two others) to join the prestigious School of Thought. He goes through testing, leading to an epic finale centered around good, evil, and the notion of destiny.

I really enjoyed the themes that were woven into the story. The ideas of good/evil are clearly evident, yet not overpowering. You also clearly see the idea of using your imagination, and believing in yourself. Obviously kids aren't always as aware of these themes (part of a teacher's job, and the idea of exposure), I feel like these themes clearly come through in the end. Total must read. Next up is Ring of Fire (#1).

Bend Don't Break

Winter Break started at 3:01pm on Friday. I, like many teachers this time of year, am in need of the break. I need a chance to rest, get some sleep, and do things outside of school. That being said, I'm likely heading into school tomorrow. I'll make the 20-25 minute commute post-rush hour and take care of some odds and ends. I need to file some student work in their returned work folders. I also need to take down a bulletin board, and put up a new one (something I absolutely detest doing during school time- file that under more important things!). Lastly, I hope to tackle my winter/spring curriculum map, taking another look at the standards and content we'll be working our way through.

I figure that doing some of the stuff tomorrow, and a little bit next week will allow the break to be stress free.

Trackers by Patrick Carman

I have a few things to do over this Winter Break. The most pressing on the list is getting more sleep. Weeks of 5-7 hours of sleep (I'm up early on Sat/Sun for runs) grinds away at you, so sleep is number one.

I'm also planning some curriculum mapping. I want to look at the next few months and check over what units/content pieces I am going to be using, and which standards I'll hit. But the last big thing is reading. I've sworn off adult books, and only read blogs, professional development books, or kids books.

Last night I purchased a ton of books (list on previous post). I plowed through Trackers by Patrick Carman, reading off and on for 5 hours. If you read it in one sitting (and aren't easily distractable) it should take about 2-3 hours. Really light, but very engaging.

Trackers is about a 14 year old named Adam Henderson who gets into computers at an early age. His dad owns a repair shop, and Adam is allowed to run free on the hardware/software, getting to a point where he becomes a hacker or digital entrepreneur. Ultimately he makes gadgets and software that are very advanced, and is most intrigued by surveillance. He meets one of the other trackers, Finn, by chance in downtown Seattle. After that he meets the other 2 (Emily and Lewis). Long story short, they do a field test of some hardware/software and find out they are being watched. The person who watched them wanted Adam to find out, leading them through this puzzle or maze of clues that put you on the edge of your seat. How do they know Adam? How have they been watching? What do they want?

What is probably most fascinating about this book is its use of technology. It is definitely centered around computers and gadgets, sucking you in (at least if you like computers etc... which I do). But it also has spots at the end of sections where you can go to the appendix to read a transcript of a video... or you can go to the Trackers Interface online to watch the video that the appendix transcribed. The videos were well done too, which adds to the allure of the book. I watched 2 of the videos, and skipped the rest as I wanted to keep reading.

This book was the first in a series, which I am sure will become well read in my classroom. It seemed to be really similar to the 39 Clues (or at least what I've heard about the 39 Clues!). Next up: The Jaguar Stones

New Books!

I was fortunate enough to receive some Barnes and Noble gift cards from the kiddos. They certainly are smart, as they know the books will make their way back into the classroom. I've essentially sworn off adult literature (although I am intrigued by Jonathan Franzen's newest Freedom). I would rather be up on the books that my kids are reading, and be able to recommend books to them. Tough to do when you aren't acquiring and reading new books.

Today I picked up a bunch of books, all new. A rare treat for me. I prefer Third Place Books for their used book selection, particularly as they are mixed in with the new books. It is a good way to get a mixture of books. I also rarely get hardcover, largely stemming from my college days working at Borders- a pain in the rear to tote around hardcover books! Heavier for sure!

So what did I get?

• Trackers by Patrick Carmen (started it right away, really good. I'll post on it in the next day or two).
• The Jaguar Stones by Voelkel (found via the ReadingZone). It is supposed to be similar to Rick Riordan's stuff, except this involves Mayans instead of Greeks, Romans, or Egyptians.
• IQ by Roland Smith
• Half Upon a Time
• Ring of Fire
• School of Fear

I tried to find a seek of some new series as well. Books like the Percy Jackson series, the Ranger's Apprentice, Mysterious Benedict Society, A Series of Unfortunate Events, and the Guardians of Ga'hoole have been huge. Kids enjoy getting into a character, and following that storyline. I'm hoping for good things with the books I just picked up. Should be great.