A Toast to My Team

It was that moment in time last year during our faculty meeting.  The 7th grade team had just been told we would be starting a blended learning pilot in the following school year with 1:1 iPads for students.  Then the emails came.  Everyone on the team knows exactly which one.  The one that outlined the loads of professional development that was in our immediate future.  We spent most of May/June in professional development inservices learning, experimenting, and discussing this new instructional shift we would be implementing in three short months.  As August quickly approached, we were faced with the actual implementation of our grade level blended learning model.  We had successes.  We had failures.  We had moments of pure exhaustion and desperation.  Then we had moments of utter joy and pride.  And this was all in a matter of four weeks.

As we begin third quarter, we are finally all settled into our adjusted visions for blended learning classrooms.  We sat in our weekly GLM today, and we began thinking back to the beginning of this journey.  Relaxed laughter filled the room.  Laughter about our non stop planning early on in the year.  Laughter about our mistakes with technology.  Laughter about thinking we could change the world after one week of blended learning.  It was a moment where we all could look at each other and realize how far we really have come in our own personal instructional changes as well as our growth as a team.  Then we really started to reflect on the amazingly positive changes we have started to see.  Students are independently learning.  They are teaching each other.  They are creating.  Yes, we still have bumps.  But we are finally realizing, it's okay because the journey is bigger.  And after one semester, we should be proud of what we have accomplished.

I personally wish I spent some more time in the other team member's classrooms to experience the amazing things they have started to implement.  This is my goal for second semester.  However, I feel it is only right to acknowledge some of our accomplishments as a team in the blended learning pilot.  My apologies if I do not touch on every thing, as I am often one of those teachers with my nose in my plans, too oblivious to the other plans happening around me.  So here's a toast to you...

Let's start with math.  The way our math teachers seamlessly incorporate digital learning such as Khan Academy mixed with small group instruction on a daily basis is something to be applauded.  As an English teacher, I am always envious of the routines, unit plans, and record keeping done by our math teachers.  The utilization of tiered choice boards, QR codes, differentiated Google Forms with embedded videos, and peer tutoring is the epitome of what a blended classroom should look like.  Computer programming was also used in the math classrooms which has instilled a passion in many students.  Standards based grading in a traditional gradebook is also attempted successfully in one of our math classrooms.  Shocking, it took a MATH teacher to figure out how to calculate the standards-based grades into a percent based gradebook.  Cheers to you.

Computer Programming in Math Class

Now on to social studies.  Our social studies teachers are fearless and willing to try anything.  Social studies has flipped their classrooms recording their lessons into videos to allow for time in the classroom to create and engage in the content.  I have seen amazing music videos about the Boston Tea Party and movie trailers depicting battles. Now they are on to gamifying their classroom.  Students have to "beat the boss" in order to move on to the next level.  A self-directed unit that gives students choice in their learning.  Even though my classroom isn't gamified, I have heard students use the term "beat the boss" in my self-directed units.  Must be engaging if the terms stick!  

Filming Movie Trailers for Social Studies

Time for science.  Our science teachers have been amazing at trying out new apps.  Currently, one of our science teachers has students choosing from different presentation apps such as Prezi or FlowBoard to create "Survivor"-esque biome presentations.  Students are designing "Survivor" challenges for a given biome.  How cool is that?  Another science teacher has completed many self-directed units, but is currently having students record films about their use of technology in the classroom.  This teacher has truly lived the vision of a flexible learning space allowing his students to create in all parts of the building.  When I see the smile and excitement on students' faces when they run into my room to show me their creation out of cardboard for their video, I know this teacher has hit a gold mine with his project design.  I am waiting anxiously to see their outcomes.  

Building "Wheel of Tech" for Science Project

Lastly, we have English.  My niche.  I could not be prouder of my PLC for the work we have accomplished this year.  We have implemented differentiated choice boards with the use of digital content, tiered Google Forms, QR codes galore, and the use of many creation apps.  We have also implemented "blended learning centers" where we can easily track students with the use of reflection rubrics to identify who needs to be pulled for small group instruction.  We are in the works of bringing in the app Vine to our narrative writing unit.  We also have attempted Genius Hour on every Monday (a version of Google 20 time) since the start of the school year.  

Blended Learning Centers

Even as we hit obstacles in the second half of the year, be proud of the progress you all have made.  It makes me feel grateful to be at a work place with supportive, creative, and innovative educators.  And I feel a "Cheers" in order for each and every one of you.  And when you are feeling as things aren't going as planned, just remember this: