tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47780295212436984512024-03-22T00:59:50.655-04:00Tales of a Teacher's AdventuresColleen Berginhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16032302657858037894noreply@blogger.comBlogger71125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4778029521243698451.post-36931960730655443012016-05-06T11:29:00.003-04:002016-05-06T12:02:36.398-04:00Happy Friday!<div style="text-align: center;">
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It's been a long week this week and I am eternally grateful that it's Friday! From spring fever to finding out Trump is the potential presidential nominee for the GOP, and being worn out, it's been a heck of a week! We are heading into mid-May and the students are started to get riled up for summer vacation - I'm not sure who is more excited, the students or me! </div>
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Last night, I met with my district-wide English Articulation Committee for our last meeting of the year. We discussed all the possibilities we would like to see happen next year including professional development opportunities, creating a district wide PLC for 9th and 10th grade English, and a few other things. One thing that we focused on was the idea of creating "course outcomes" for next year.</div>
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Course outcomes allows us to check for mastery of a skill, something we as teachers so desperately need to do, but often find it hard to do. With course outcomes, we break down each standard for English and create a rubric that allows us to check for mastery with four levels - exceeds mastery, mastered, approaching mastery and not mastered. We can then determine how we want it graded. It looks like a super cool idea to begin to implement and I have already spoken with a colleague who is in the same PLC as I am and we are going to work to create course outcomes for each standard. It is going to take some work, but I am thinking and hoping the time we invest will pay off! </div>
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It is funny that we were speaking about course outcomes because in my grad school class, we are discussing grading practices and how the current grading practice is not effective and does not truly indicate whether students have mastered skills, it just gives an overview of the student's ability within the class. This could include behavior, participation, etc which are all not effective in determining whether the student has actually mastered theme or inferences. My grad school class talks frequently about standard-based grading and giving a purpose behind each grade. It makes so much more sense to grade according to mastery, but how can we do this when the education system is still stuck in an era that is long gone and continues to use the same grading scale that has been used for years? What are your thoughts on it?<br />
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Cheers until next time!<br />
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Ms. Bergin</div>
Colleen Berginhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16032302657858037894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4778029521243698451.post-55774382473950429792016-05-04T13:32:00.001-04:002016-05-04T13:32:21.703-04:00Teacher Appreciation Week<div style="text-align: center;">
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As I navigate through my workweek, I hear from so many teacher-friends who say their school does nothing to show appreciation to the teachers that work there. I am fortunate to work in a school that DOES show their appreciation. From a school-sponsored lunch to thank you cards from the students to small treats such as ice cream sundaes, my school works to make sure we know we are appreciated and I am grateful for that. If your school is one of the ones that does not do anything for Teacher Appreciation week, check out various restaurants that are giving free entrees or discounts on meals in honor of Teacher Appreciation week! I know IHop is offering a free entree to any teacher who comes in this week with a teacher badge! </div>
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It is not always easy to be a teacher. In many ways we are juggling many different jobs at the same time, from teaching, to being a nurse, a therapist, a mother (or father), friend, to administrative work and coaching, volunteering time after school to tutor and so many more. It's a wonder that we even have any kind of personal life! Know that I appreciate each and every one of the amazing teachers I've come to know and admire. Know that I appreciate the teachers I have had that have pushed me through. Know that I even appreciate the teachers who have tried to knock me down for giving me the fire and ammunition that I needed to keep going - you tell me I can't do something, I'm going to prove you wrong!</div>
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In a time of crisis within the education world, it is easy to lose sight of why we are teachers, it's easy to lose hope. We are at the forefront of education. Politicians have no idea how to run a classroom. They wouldn't survive a day in the life of a teacher. We must unite and speak up in support of education and more importantly, in support of our students. Our students depend on us to make education better for them. They deserve the best education we can provide. We must stand united and speak up and drive the change in education in the right direction. That change begins right now, within our classrooms. We know what our students need, so let's give them what they need to succeed.</div>
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The National Teacher of the Year was announced recently and she is a teacher at the high school I attended when I was in high school. I am so amazed by Mrs. Hayes' enthusiasm and drive for teaching, learning, and making sure the students succeed in life. Her students are the reason she teaches. Mrs. Hayes stresses the importance of making personal connections with her students as one of the reasons she does her job so well. As teachers, we understand the importance of building relationships with our students. We always have that handful each year that we build a great relationship with, but what about the others? I teach on average 70 students per semester. I build relationships with several students each semester, but not all. What can we as teachers do to build a relationship with <b><i><u>ALL</u></i></b> of our students, not just a handful? </div>
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Cheers until next time!</div>
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Ms. Bergin</div>
Colleen Berginhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16032302657858037894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4778029521243698451.post-33520063655010230132016-05-03T11:42:00.001-04:002016-05-03T11:42:02.707-04:00Digital Tools Hey y'all!<br />
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As my graduate course focusing on Integration Specialist Toolbox winds down, there are many tech tools I would like to introduce to you to incorporate within your classes that I have explored within my course. As a teacher in a very tech-accepting school, many of the tools I have been exposed to within my course, I already knew about. It was a great feeling to know I am ahead of the game, but at the same time I wish I could be introduced to tools I am unaware of. Nonetheless, this course afforded me the opportunity to explore tools that I have not yet had a chance to explore. <br />
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<b>Podcast</b></div>
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Podcast is a <i>great </i>technology tool that I have not really explored until now. I knew of podcasts, but just never really looked into it as a tech tool to incorporate within the classroom. That might be partially because I was never one to listen to the radio, or listen to audio books, preferring actual videos to watch and books to read. I'm sure some of it stems from the fact I am hearing impaired and can't really listen to a podcast without a transcript. </div>
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A podcast is essentially a digital audio file available on the internet for downloading to computer or media player. Anyone can create a podcast - teachers, students, administrators, community members, and parents can create a podcast for a multitude of reasons. </div>
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A teacher can create a podcast for students who are auditory learners. They can post lectures in podcast form and have students listen to it at home. Students can create podcasts for assignments if they are verbally articulate, but not as articulate through the written word. The one major downside to a podcast is it is not necessarily an inclusive tool. People who are hard of hearing will have a difficult time listening to a podcast, though if they have a transcript, they can read along while listening. </div>
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The only thing you need for a podcast is your computer, microphone, or even just a smartphone and do everything from your smartphone. Creating a podcast is generally very cheap, and in some cases, it is free - if you upload it to Youtube it's free. If you want someone else to create the podcast, he or she may require a fee of some sort. If you want to find podcasts online, occasionally you will have to pay a fee, especially if it is through a site like iTunes. </div>
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Training on a podcast is very minimal. Most of us have experience with video-taping and even just giving lectures as well as possibly using an audio recorder to keep notes. Consider podcasts like a video, except without the images. </div>
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I am going to have students try to create a podcast. I will post when I get a sample podcast. In the meantime, go to youtube.com and google podcasts for your content area to get an idea of what a podcast looks like.</div>
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<b>Diigo</b></div>
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I had heard of Diigo, but had not used it up until now. Diigo is an app that you can add on to your Google Chome and when you come across articles, assignments, videos, lesson plans, etc that you would like to look at later, you can send it straight to your Diigo and it keeps track of everything for you. It's almost like bookmarking a page, except you can actually annotate everything you put in your Diigo. It's excellent for someone like me who loves to look up resources, but might not have time to look at it at that moment, so I can just throw it in my Diigo and then look at it later. As an English teacher, I LOVE annotating so this annotation feature is like Christmas to me! Another feature that I love is the fact I can create groups in Diigo and my colleagues and I can share articles, files, etc with one another. This is great when one of us finds an article on a new "best practice" strategy and want to share it with others. When we share articles through email, it tends to get lost in the massive amount of emails we get per day. With Diigo, it's right there and easy to access at any time. </div>
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Diigo is complete <b>free</b> to use! All you need is an internet connection and an electronic device that connects you to the internet. Go to Diigo.com and sign up. When you sign up, it will ask you whether you want to add a Diigo extension button on your Google Chrome toolbar. I added the extension button and it really makes it easier to just click on the button and send articles to my Diigo account without having to navigate first to Diigo and then putting the file in. </div>
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The only negative feature about Diigo is you can't make anything available offline, like you can with Google Drive (at least that's according to my knowledge. If anyone knows anything different, PLEASE let me know!).</div>
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Training on Diigo is very self-independent. I hope you take the opportunity to explore Diigo and incorporate it in your PLC/PLN.</div>
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Cheers until next time!</div>
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Ms. Bergin</div>
Colleen Berginhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16032302657858037894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4778029521243698451.post-76860303713790718092016-04-24T20:42:00.000-04:002016-05-02T19:59:01.134-04:00Google AppsGoogle has made more improvements and more strides than any other app that I know in the last few years. I can recall when Google was nothing more than a search engine! Google has come so far and I can only imagine the what Google has in store for us.<br /><br />Four years ago, my high school became a 1:1 environment. each student was provided their own Chromebook. Four years ago, Google Drive was just getting started. We were all exploring and learning. Now, using Google Drive has become far more common than using paper in our building. Teachers use Google Classroom as well. I used Google Classroom and enjoyed it before I found that Canvas (another Learning Management System) was better suited to my needs. I believe we are only just beginning with Google Apps and that in a year or two it will be like we have never seen or anticipated.<br /><br />I am one who enjoys learning how to use technology. I like to set time aside in the morning on the weekends to play with new apps and tools that I learn about or are recommended to me. That way, it is considered "fun" and it's not required. Side note - once something becomes required for work, it's no longer fun for me. I do hear how many teachers just don't have the time to learn about new technology, and I honestly don't blame them. I mean, who really has the time between grading papers, prepping lessons, making phone calls, doing administrative work, and who knows what else to learn about something that may or may not be useful in the classroom. I think this is when we need to collaborate with others. When we collaborate and share tech tools, we no longer have to go looking, we already have a synopsis of the tool or app and we just need to look into it further if we so desire. My survey results indicated that all that took the survey would like to collaborate with others outside our district when it comes to learning about tech tools and apps. If we collaborate with others outside our district, and even outside our state using tools such as Google Apps, the education system might get a lot further along with technology integration and 21st century skills. <br /><br />Here is the survey to fill out. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><iframe frameborder="0" height="500" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1xCefgAqrIGzW7Gyh1Ch1vpS9y5rPTR0BCrompHKLn6Q/viewform?embedded=true#start=publishanalytics" width="500">Loading...</iframe><br /><br />The results of the survey as of 8:50pm is:<br /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "inconsolata"; font-size: 18px; text-align: center; white-space: nowrap;">https://goo.gl/8gbkGT</span><br /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "inconsolata"; font-size: 18px; text-align: center; white-space: nowrap;"><i>(sorry, could not get images posted here for some reason. If you click the link, </i></span><br /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "inconsolata"; font-size: 18px; text-align: center; white-space: nowrap;"><i>you should be able to access the results. If not, please let me know in the comments!)</i></span><br /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "inconsolata"; font-size: 18px; text-align: center; white-space: nowrap;"><br /></span>Colleen Berginhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16032302657858037894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4778029521243698451.post-50186637034950509132016-04-10T19:36:00.000-04:002016-05-02T19:59:01.151-04:00Social Networking in Education<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px;"> outline the pros and cons associated with allowing social networking in schools. </span></span></span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">My mother told me of a conversation she had with my younger sisters (who happened to be 19, and 15 at the time). </span></span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">Mom: "Does anyone have a list of everyone's email?"</span></span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">19 year old sister: "I have some emails, but not everyone's"</span></span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">15 year old sister: "Email? Seriously Mom? Who even emails anymore?"</span></span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">Mom and 19 year old sister: Stares at 15 year old sister in disbelief </span></span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">When I was in high school, Email and AOL Instant messenger was considered all the social networking tools we had. A lot has changed in the last ten years since I graduated high school. </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'times new roman', serif;">Social networking is a form of communication. There are so many tools that can be used for social networking today from Facebook to Snapchat to Instagram to Twitter and Vimeo. Our students are so used to utilizing tools such as these for communication and the latest tools are always ever-changing. To put it plainly, social networking is never going away, it's only going to evolve. </span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'times new roman', serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: times new roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">Once administrators, teachers, and parents understand that social networking is here to stay, only then can we start to look at how it can be embedded in the curriculum. As teachers, we are always trying to reach our students and get them engaged. In order to do that, we have to incorporate what they use, and that is social networking. </span></span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: times new roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: times new roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">Social networking has its pros and cons. </span></span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: times new roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: times new roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">Pros</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: times new roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Increase participation:</b> Students are more likely to participate in activities - especially if they are shy.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: times new roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Increase collaboration:</b> Using Google Drive to collaborate will help increase collaboration. All students are involved in the activity instead of only one person doing all the writing</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: times new roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Keeps everyone aware of everything going on</b>. This means due dates, projects, tests, etc and even parents can be kept up to date. Students can also post questions and have the teacher respond and everyone sees the questions/answers.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: times new roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: times new roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">Cons</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: times new roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Distraction</b>: This has to be one of the most common issues with social networking in the classroom. Our students truly don't have the maturity to make sure social network isn't a distraction from the task at hand. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: times new roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Cyber-bullying: </b>Since there is a "wall", some students feel they are invincible and will bully others on social networking and can do it anonymously. Instructors will need to monitor for this consistently.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: times new roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Posting inappropriate content</b>: This can be especially true for high school students. Just the other day, I had all students work together on a Google Document and the document was up on the Smartboard, but that didn't prevent some students from posting off-task images of MEMEs or inappropriate photographs.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: times new roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: times new roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">We need to realize that social networking can be a valuable asset to the classroom, but at the same time understand that we need to<i> teach </i>our students how to use it appropriately and have a way to monitor the use of social network. More often than not, educators, administrators, district officials do not trust students enough to allow them freedom. More often than not, students <b>will</b> test the limits. It is a matter of what we do when those students test the limits. Do we remove social networking privileges from those students? Why should we penalize an entire student body for a handful of students who want to test the limits?</span></span></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>Colleen Berginhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16032302657858037894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4778029521243698451.post-70238818420632901172016-03-16T12:27:00.004-04:002016-03-16T12:27:56.145-04:00Hiatus Hey y'all!<br />
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It's been quite a hiatus for me, I can't even believe it has been over a year since I have last posted on my blog! :( My life has been one whirlwind after another and it is finally starting to calm down... for now at least. <br />
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I am still teaching at the same school I was before my hiatus and teaching specifically English I and II. I teach primarily inclusion classes so it has been an uphill battle getting used to all the different skill levels. Thank goodness for technology!!<br />
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My classes and I have been super busy lately learning about the Holocaust while reading Elie Wiesel's memoir, <i>Night</i>. The students are learning something new all the time and really asking amazing questions and making connection between the Holocaust and various current issues. I'm so excited they are able to make these connections without my help.<br />
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My English I class has been working on navigating through <i>The Odyssey. </i>Once again, I get the same ol' question... what's the point of reading this epic? Why can't we read something we want to read, that we can read. I agree with these questions and pose those questions to you... Why must we stick with the classics - why not read books that students can understand and relate with more?<br />
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I am currently in graduate school for Curriculum and Instruction with Integrating Technology. Yep, it's a mouthful, but I am halfway through and am so pleased with my decision to make this my major for my Masters degree. Since I am in grad school I will sadly be unable to travel the world extensively this summer as I have been doing the last few summers. Hopefully I will be able to share with you some of the things I have learned during my courses!<br />
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Cheers!Colleen Berginhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16032302657858037894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4778029521243698451.post-33315004441546612812016-03-14T15:53:00.000-04:002016-05-02T19:59:01.166-04:00Digital Footprints<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'times new roman', serif;">My own digital footprint truly started when Myspace and Facebook was born. I ventured into the Myspace world in 2004 and quickly ditched Myspace for Facebook the following year. I was your average college student, posting photographs on Myspace/Facebook, commenting on others' pages, etc. I had an email I used regularly. I had accounts on several websites (including Neopets - throwback anyone!?). My digital footprint was establish a little over ten years ago and it has changed since my first footprint. </span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://www.careerrocketeer.com/wp-content/uploads/Digital-Footprint.png" /></div><div style="text-align: center;">(careerrockeeter.com)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">When I first joined the chaos of the digital world, I had footprints all over the digital world. I had footprints on Facebook, Myspace, YouTube, LinkedIn, Google, Twitter, any type of social media, I had some kind of imprint on it. It was rather easy to find information and I had no regards for consequences of the digital world. I never thought about how anything might come back to haunt me (and thankfully, I never did anything online that I could possibly regret). Now, I am much more conscious of what I post and have scaled back tremendously on the various social media that I once used. I see students today playing with Snap chat, Yik-Yak, taking photos with their phones and texting to friends or posting it on social media. I see students emailing one another or posting comments that are negative or could be considered bullying. I see so many students that believe they are invincible and will never get in trouble. I constantly explain that whatever they post is there to stay and will follow them for the rest of their days. Even texts messages can follow them forever. I believe that as teachers, we have a duty and obligation to teach our students "digital citizenship". We are required to teach students how to behave properly in school, how to conduct themselves when on field trips to represent the school, or when there are speakers in the classroom. We have to teach our students how to conduct themselves in the digital world so that the digital world portrays them in the best light possible. We teach our students not to bully, but there are "cyber-bullying" incidents happening. We must teach our students not to cyber-bully. Our students are at the age where they believe they can't be hurt. That because it's done over a computer it can't be traced back to them. They feel more confident in bullying or making poor choices in the digital world because a "screen protects them". They have no idea the screen doesn't actually protect them. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The digital world is a new world for adults, but it's a world that our students have known all their lives. As adults, we lived in one world as children - the "real world". Our students have two worlds - the real world and the digital world. We see the need to protect ourselves and our privacy. Our students almost have no concept of privacy so they don't see the need to be private with things. Today's children as soon as they're born have a digital footprint when parents post photos on their social media pages. We must teach the concept of privacy - what's ok and what's not ok to post. We have to teach what cyber-bullying is and work to prevent it from occurring. We have to teach our students to present themselves in the best way possible in the digital world. We have to teach students that a digital footprint is there to stay, no ocean is going to wash that footprint away. </div>Colleen Berginhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16032302657858037894noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4778029521243698451.post-34246017536102661652016-03-12T10:40:00.000-05:002016-05-02T19:59:01.181-04:00Moving Towards a Digital EducationThe role of a technology integration specialist (TIS) has changed and grown over the last several years as schools move towards a more digital setting. TIS in my understanding and experience are to be used as tools to increase technology tools in classrooms and to ensure the tools are being used for the right purposes. This is the first course I am taking that focuses on what a TIS is so I am excited to learn more in depth what a TIS does. <br /><br />Students and teachers today are from two different worlds. Teachers have generally grown up without using technology 24/7. Students on the other hand, have grown up attached to technology. It's almost like vital organ they need. I think this is something that causes something of a disconnect between teachers and students. Teachers can't understand why students can't seem to live without technology, and students can't seem to understand how teachers can or why teachers expect students to be able to live without technology.<br /><br />The reality is that "technology is students' connection to the world" and technology isn't going anywhere. Students today are connected through texting, social media such as facebook, Reddit, Instagram, Snapchat, YikYak, Youtube clips, etc. They see a world that is larger than the world teachers saw when they were in school. Students feel a need to remain connected. For students, technology tools can be a way to increase student engagement. Oftentimes, schools require students to "power down" once they get to school. They go through the school day without technology and then become alert and active at 3:00 when the bell rings for dismissal and they can "power on". It's interesting to see this occurring with our students. Students need to be taught how to use technology appropriately in school and when it's okay and not okay to use technology. Our students are still learning and they need teachers to guide them through.<br /><br />More often than not, schools and districts purchase technology and place it in the hands of teachers expecting teachers to integrate that technology without any problem. Teachers look at the technology they are handed and either try to integrate it to the best of their ability, or they become lost, overwhelmed, and frustrated that the technology gets put in a corner somewhere to collect dust. Teachers are not opposed to technology integration. Teachers are invested in the students' education. If teachers have ample time to learn how to utilize the technology tool, collaborate with colleagues to integrate the tool, and become comfortable with the tool, then the tool becomes valuable within the classroom. Teachers need to see the value in the technology. My former principal frequently said "I don't have all the answers, but collectively, we have all the answers". Teachers need to collaborate with other teachers in their content areas and outside their content areas. Teachers need to open the door to other teachers so that teachers may see technology tools in action. Teachers also need to understand and embrace the idea that their students will know more than they do when it comes to technology. Teachers need to allow students to teach them how to use technology. Colleen Berginhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16032302657858037894noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4778029521243698451.post-57713349561984673172014-06-09T18:13:00.000-04:002014-06-09T18:13:15.494-04:00The Flipped classroomHey y'all!<br />
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So it's the end of the year, things are winding down. My mind on the other hand is cranking with ideas for next year - oh geez does this ever end?! <br />
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I decided to try to create a PPT video that is a flipped classroom style. It's pretty awesome! My kids loved it when I showed them this. I plan on creating more of these next year and upload it to my class page for students who are absent or assign it for homework and spend more time in class practicing!<br />
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Check it out below, see what you think! Please excuse the errors and some backtracking in the voice over- I was doing this without a script planned!<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dy9LddoSXCEfDtU4bV8WfSIBXd4G-7uQh80Ja2fH7n8tYs9f8b69PVVHFO20Cw1lHFzi4gTpRplEj5--mHcAw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
Cheers!<br />
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Ms. BerginColleen Berginhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16032302657858037894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4778029521243698451.post-47739216996899755022014-05-28T09:47:00.000-04:002014-05-28T09:48:27.307-04:00Spicing up those final days!Hey y'all!<br />
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Oh goodness, we're well under 20 days left of school! Only 7 days left of instructional teaching and then it's finals! Which means I only have 17 days until my trip of the year! (For those of you who don't know, I will be backpacking through Europe for the months of June and July and I am completely excited - I can't focus on anything except the trip at this point!)<br />
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My students are getting restless, as am I - quite frankly, who wants to be doing the same ol' thing when summer is just right around the corner? So I've had to spice things up a bit. I started incorporating music to review theme, mood and figurative language all in one. I had the students make a simple graphic organizer and each column was dedicated to one topic - theme, mood, figurative language, the first column was the name of the song. I used popular songs to get them into it - Life is a Highway, Let it Go, etc. Then students started requesting songs, and surprisingly, the songs they chose were pretty appropriate - The Climb, Do You Want to Build a Snowman, etc. They even backed up their song choice with what is in it for figurative language, etc. <br />
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So if you are looking to spice up your last few days, especially with high schoolers - you just can't go wrong with music!<br />
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Cheers!<br />
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Ms. BerginColleen Berginhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16032302657858037894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4778029521243698451.post-9268868107588335852014-05-19T19:17:00.001-04:002014-05-19T19:17:27.536-04:00Limited Supply of Textbooks Leads to Less ReadingI remember in high school English, we all had our own English textbooks. If we were reading a novel, an epic, or a text that was not in the textbook, we all had our own copy. There was no need to have teachers run copies. The reading was done at home and then the discussions, close reading, analysis, and all that fun stuff took place in school. I learned in a title I school.<br />
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As a teacher, I must make copies of texts if I want my students to read something at home. My students do not have their own textbooks. Sure, I can upload the online file of the text if I could, but then there's students without internet at home. Therefore ,we spend a lot of class time reading in addition to the close reading analysis, which sometimes leads to eliminating fun activities because we simply just do not have time for it. I teach in a Title I school.<br />
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What's the difference? That's something I'm trying to figure out. How to increase reading at home, reduce reading in class and increase instructional activities in class.<br />
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Ms. BerginColleen Berginhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16032302657858037894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4778029521243698451.post-67348357226486479222014-04-23T10:03:00.001-04:002014-04-23T10:03:23.924-04:00Liebster Award!<span style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">WOAH! I've been nominated and accepted the Liebster award from Susan Gifford (check out her blog! </span><span style="color: #262626; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">http://georgiapeachteacher2nd.blogspot.com/) </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">! I'm so honored :)</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">Ms. Gifford has asked me 11 questions in which I will do my best to answer... here goes!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #262626; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;"><b>1. What is your favorite grade/subject to teach and why? </b> My favorite is English - I have only been teaching a few years, with limited experience in grade levels. So far, I have to say I prefer 9th grade! Still young enough with an imagination! </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #262626; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;"><b>2. What is your best teaching moment?</b> My best teaching moment is when my students are teaching one another, relying on each other instead of me. :)</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #262626; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;"><b>3.What is your favorite food? </b>My favorite food would need to be buffalo chicken!</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #262626; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;"><b>4.Why did you become a teacher?</b> I have always wanted to be a teacher, as long as I can remember, with playing school in the basement with my siblings and playing the role of teacher using my mother's portable chalkboard. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #262626; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;"><b>5.What is your favorite vacation spot?</b> That's a super easy one - The Outer Banks, NC!</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #262626; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;"><b>6. What do you love most about blogging? </b>Making connections with fellow bloggers, seeing how each one of us travels and grows in our teaching career. We may teach the same materials, but different obstacles, different ways of thinking and teaching keeps us all from being the same. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #262626; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;"><b>7.How long have you been teaching?</b> Going on three years now!</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #262626; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;"><b>8. What is your favorite food?</b> Whoops This has already been answered in question 3!</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #262626; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;"><b>9. What do you do in your free time?</b> I am obsessed with pinterest :) Also love traveling, checking out new restaurants, etc.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #262626; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;"><b>10.Where do you find inspiration? </b>I find inspiration through blogs, fellow teachers and my students.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #262626; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;"><b>11. What is your favorite day of the week? </b>Saturday! Day of relaxing and just hanging out with a day off the following day as well!</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;"><b>In addition, here are the 11 random facts about myself:</b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">1. I moved to NC in 2011 without a job or apt lined up!</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">2. I am deaf and use hearing aids to hear. </span><br />
<span style="color: #262626; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">3. No I don't do sign language, though I am fluent in it.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #262626; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">4.I flew for the first time in 2000 to California for a wedding. Best vacation ever.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #262626; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">5. I am the oldest of 6 kids in my family and the only deaf one.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #262626; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">6. I went to college in Rhode Island and made some of the best friends anyone could ask for.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #262626; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">7. I am addicted to Mt. Dew and have tried multiple times to quit drinking it with my success rate of lasting 5 months.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #262626; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">8. I get cold easily and relish the hot summer days.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #262626; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">9. I obsess over the beach. I go any chance I can!</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #262626; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">10. I broke my arm at 2 years old.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #262626; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">11. I once was trapped between electric sliding doors at the local library as a pre-teen or teen because my weight was too light for the door to recognize that a person was there to open.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #262626; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">Happy Wednesday!</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #262626; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">Cheers!</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #262626; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">Bergin</span></span><br />
<br />Colleen Berginhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16032302657858037894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4778029521243698451.post-12607218931683329662014-04-13T10:15:00.001-04:002014-05-28T09:48:09.207-04:00Spring Break, EOC, and the Last Leg of the YearWHOO! On spring break and on cloud nine! Don't get me wrong, I love teaching, but I definitely needed this break. With the loss of workdays due to snow days, we haven't had a work day or a day off in over a month! In addition, there was also that week in March in which they extended the school day because we hadn't heard from the government whether they would waive the snow days. Thankfully, they did. Sometimes, the weekend is just not enough to recharge.<br />
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This week is all about relaxing, recharging, and getting some work done for the rest of the school year. Maybe even throw a beach trip somewhere in between!<br />
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EOCs, Final exams and all that good stuff is coming up in two months! Which means I really only have about a month and half left of teaching and prepping my students for the final exam! Oh goodness! This last leg of the year is going to fly!<br />
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Happy Spring Break!<br />
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Cheers!<br />
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Ms. BerginColleen Berginhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16032302657858037894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4778029521243698451.post-83926214955275789732014-04-11T10:19:00.002-04:002014-04-11T10:27:42.265-04:00The start of Feature Friday!Whoohoo!! Spring break is less than 6 hours away! On top of that, it's the start of Feature Friday over at The Perfetto Writing Room! Each week, a different educator is featured and we learn more about the educator, what they teach, their style, and tips. Click on the button below to hop over to The Perfetto Writing Room to see who is being featured this week! <br />
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The idea is to connect secondary level educators across the country and build our network of teacher-friends. Who knows, maybe there will be someone who is featured that you would like to collaborate with! With technology these days, the possibilities with collaboration is just endless!<br />
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<a href="http://perfettowritingroom.blogspot.com/2014/04/feature-friday-2-kim-kroll.html" target="_blank"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqczGGcUyI9Pvee1cyk7iUbX2kiiqHLYdHkqInq36xz4BdSvuFpBueq5N85zIAABA5zzX2XHKVI-n7GJXgF1b7vOyR_TCXLd7KyvitAEfBoVkNXNFDFkgoXN0UIaGkn0h7Omzmy9XcziH5/s1600/FeatureFri.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a><br />
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Cheers!<br />
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Ms. BerginColleen Berginhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16032302657858037894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4778029521243698451.post-47088779616222451602014-04-08T17:37:00.003-04:002014-04-08T17:37:29.928-04:00Networking Opportunity for Secondary level teachers in USA and abroad<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This is for all Secondary Educators reading this:</span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-67e016c5-4255-02fa-5e9b-ef51cc3f1145" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We all see many many blogs, facebook pages, pinterest, lesson plans geared towards elementary schools, leaving us wondering where the secondary level educators are. We are building a network of secondary level teachers. If you would like to be a part of the network and meet other secondary level teachers across the country, or possibly across continents, please fill out the form below. Our goal is to easily increase connections with other secondary level educators who have fabulous tips and success lesson plans to share. We are also here to lean on one another when we may have a bad day. If you have a Google account, please put your gmail address. We may be building a Google Community to allow members to post and share. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
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Colleen Berginhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16032302657858037894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4778029521243698451.post-63273159355403416552014-04-07T15:41:00.003-04:002014-04-07T15:41:55.044-04:00Bob, My Imaginary StudentWahoo! It's the week before Spring Break and we are all in overload! My last block class has an imaginary classmate named "Bob". Bob has a tendency to get students off task and when a student talks and is caught, they say "Bob, shh, you are going to get me in trouble" and resume their work. I play along, not because I think it's funny, but because it works. I made an announcement earlier in the semester that if Bob continues to act up and disrupt the class, he will get others in trouble. It is so much easier to tell students to tell Bob to focus than to deal with possible arguments of "but I wasn't talking" or "I was responding to what she/he asked me." If Bob is extremely disruptive, I ask Bob to leave the room, making a dramatic show of opening the door and ushering out "Bob". If Bob is asked to leave the room, students know things have become too disruptive and remain on task the rest of the block. <br />
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Sometimes, I haven't heard about Bob, so I will inquire as to what happened to Bob. Students are quick to say he was suspended and give an elaborate explanation for his suspension and promptly inform me when Bob will return. <br />
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Bob has been absent, and surprise surprise... Bob is back in the classroom today, the week before spring break. Already, today, three kids (at the exact same time) sitting next to one another "fell out of their chairs", blaming Bob. I can only imagine how the rest of the week is going to go. <br />
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Here's the kicker. I teach 9th graders. <br />
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If your class has an imaginary student, run with it. Students hate getting in trouble over something they "didn't do" and love it when you play along. Holding Bob accountable in actuality holds each other and themselves accountable for their actions.<br />
<img src="http://ih3.redbubble.net/image.4254105.8058/sticker,375x360.png" /><br />
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Cheers!<br />
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Ms. BerginColleen Berginhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16032302657858037894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4778029521243698451.post-83507687472621104102014-04-04T17:14:00.003-04:002014-04-04T17:14:40.202-04:00A PBL Project<br />
For years upon years teachers assign projects at the end of a unit for students to demonstrate knowledge and understanding. The project is about the unit. That's what I do with my kids. It's the tried and true way. <br />
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Then... I decided to change it up a bit. I decided to make the unit about the project instead of the project about the unit. It took some serious preparation on my part. <br />
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The kids were assigned to create a children's book on Greek Myths. The duration of the project took one month, with each student responsible for one Greek Myth to convert into a children's book. Then all would compile it into a larger book. All of a sudden, the students saw a reason for reading <i>The Odyssey</i>, for learning how to determine point of view, how to describe characters through action and dialogue. It completely eliminated the "Why do we need to read this?" or "Why do we need to learn this?". There was a goal, to complete the book and everything that was taught or read was to help complete the project. Along the way, they certainly learned all they needed to. They had a great time making the book. <br />
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They have asked me to do another project like this again. I am going to try to come up with another project for an "end of the year" project. <br />
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I realize it is different from the traditional approach, but sometimes, it's a good thing to break away from tradition. If anything, you will learn whether it will work for your class. <br />
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I have put the short story project on my TPT store. <br />
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<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Childrens-Book-Project-1183346" target="_blank"><img alt="Children's Book Project" src="http://mcdn.teacherspayteachers.com/thumbitem/Childrens-Book-Project-1183346-1396139001/original-1183346-1.jpg" /></a><br />
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Cheers!<br />
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Ms. BerginColleen Berginhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16032302657858037894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4778029521243698451.post-69277746241480717722014-04-02T19:48:00.001-04:002014-04-02T19:48:04.157-04:00Oh the Struggles...Just one and a half weeks to Spring break. It cannot come soon enough! We are all dying for a break to just refresh and recharge for the final days of the year.<br />
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My class finished <i>Romeo and Juliet </i>today and I am so happy. It always seems a struggle to get through the play with the language! We are working on projects in relations to the play. My kids are rewriting the ending of the play - what would ultimately have happened if all had gone according to the first plan the Friar made. <br />
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They are required to make a video either through goanimate or through toonboon and share their videos with one another. I am so excited to see the different endings they come up with! This activity is definitely an activity that is keeping the students engaged during the last few days before break. It seems difficult to get students to do their usual routine now that the weather is getting warmer, the end of the year is in sight, and spring break less than two weeks away. Time to spice things up!<br />
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How do YOU keep your students learning during the days leading up to spring break?<br />
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Cheers!<br />
Ms. BerginColleen Berginhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16032302657858037894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4778029521243698451.post-57231547221611363442014-03-26T15:32:00.001-04:002014-04-05T10:11:33.305-04:00Connecting the students to the worldHey y'all!<br />
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I have been terrible at blogging this year! I've just been too busy this year to keep up :(<br />
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In an effort to incorporate more informational text, I often have "Article of the Week" in which students read an article that I have printed for them and we discuss the current event the article is about. Then I try to connect the article to the text we are reading - not always an easy feat I might add!<br />
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My 9th grade ELA team and I decided to take the AOW one step further and make it GLOBAL Article of the week (G-AOW). This has to be one of the best ideas we've come up with. Each month, we dedicate to a different continent and each student gets to choose a country within that continent. Each week, my students are required to look up one article that falls underneath a specific topic - sports, hot topic, politics, arts/entertainment, science/medicine, etc. Only one article per week, and if they chose a sports article the first week, they can't use another sports article for the rest of the month. Since I teach ninth graders, we focus on annotating and creating a PPT of what we have learned. Students are able to share what they learned by inputting 4 most interesting facts about their country in a Google Form and it is embedded into an interactive map that is then posted on my class webpage where students can check it out and see what current events are happening in countries they were not assigned.<br />
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The product is available in my store now!<br />
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<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Global-Article-of-the-Week-Packet-1180498" target="_blank"><img alt="Global Article of the Week Packet" src="http://mcdn.teacherspayteachers.com/thumbitem/Global-Article-of-the-Week-Packet-1180498-1396131515/original-1180498-1.jpg" /></a><br />
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Until next time...<br />
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Cheers!<br />
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Ms. BerginColleen Berginhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16032302657858037894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4778029521243698451.post-11803443768655692542014-01-26T19:12:00.000-05:002014-01-26T19:12:05.609-05:00New Semester, New Kids!Hey y'all!<br />
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I'm at the start of the new semester with a new crop of children to teach! We are starting off the semester by learning how to annotate. I developed an Annotation Guide, both in English AND Spanish due to the amount of ESL students I have in my class that know little to no English. In addition, I created a rubric that goes along with the guide. <br />
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Some students are off to a fantastic start with annotation, and others need a little more assistance. I believe that learning annotation at the start will help the rest of the semester go smoothly in terms of reading a text that may be difficult (<i>Odyssey, Romeo and Juliet, etc). </i><br />
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Stop by my store between 1/27 and 1/30 and receive 10% discount on several items!<br />
<i>teacherspayteachers.com/store/colleen-bergin</i><br />
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<i>Cheers!</i><br />
<i>Ms. Bergin </i>Colleen Berginhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16032302657858037894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4778029521243698451.post-80738286763956966892014-01-20T21:22:00.000-05:002014-01-20T21:22:10.346-05:00Class WebsiteHey y'all!<br />
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I've been so busy with prepping for second semester and my new crop of students and doing tons of research on PBL, rubrics, etc and building a class website. (I LOVE google sites!!)<br />
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A class website can be so beneficial in helping students keep track of their due dates, get missing assignments if they were absent, obtain the reading if they can't bring the text home. My students have Chromebooks that were issued to them, so it is super easy for me to upload assignments, readings, etc to the website and they just need to refer to the website to remain caught up. <br />
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Check out my website when you have a chance. http://sites.google.com/a/ucps.k12.nc.us/english-i<br />
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If you do not have a class website, consider establishing one (can be extremely basic!) and it will help not only your students, but helps with teacher evaluation if you get rated on technology usage. Just make sure you keep it up to date.<br />
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Ms. BerginColleen Berginhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16032302657858037894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4778029521243698451.post-57752246892377708892013-12-16T12:14:00.000-05:002013-12-16T12:14:22.810-05:00T'was the week before Christmas Break...And all through the school students and teachers alike are anxiously awaiting for the final bell on Friday!<br />
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While I may still be relatively new at teaching, one thing I have learned with the week leading up to Winter Break is you can't really do your usual routine. It more than likely won't work. This is an ideal time to be a little more laid back and have fun with your lessons. Continue to make them rigorous, but make them fun as well. Your students will be forever grateful that you did!<br />
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Here are some suggestions to do with your class:<br />
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<li>Projects (Have the project due on Friday - all they do is present :))</li>
<li>Have group work for each day - do jigsaw, gallery crawl, presentations, </li>
<li>Watch a movie of a text you just finished and have students compare text to the movie (Many school districts do not approve of movies, but if assignments that go along with it are rigorous and involve students comparing media to text and discussing differences, it is CC aligned!)</li>
<li>Choice board - great for introducing a new unit in a fun way or or use a Choice board as a test and give students projects in the choice board that they can complete in the course of one or two days.</li>
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Keep in mind that it's not that students don't want to learn the week before a break, they just have other things occupying their minds that they are not as likely to be invested in their academics. We just need to step up our lesson plans and make it interesting, fun, and engaging.</div>
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Cheers!</div>
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Ms. Bergin</div>
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<br />Colleen Berginhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16032302657858037894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4778029521243698451.post-40054060496041256082013-12-12T22:22:00.002-05:002013-12-12T22:22:46.459-05:00The Nuggets of DecemberHey y'all!<br />
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We are in the midst of the Holiday season! One week left to Christmas break, or the more politically correct title, "Winter Break". I cannot believe how fast time has flown. It seems only the other day I had wrote on the blog, just to find out it was last month. Oh boy, I truly need to step up on the blogging. :) <br />
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My students have been working feverishly on their <i>Romeo and Juliet</i> projects, and I am so excited to see the final product on December 20th. As I have mentioned in my previous post, there are three sets of projects - a movie, a newspaper, and an advertisement. As I work with the students on their projects, I realize that I truly love teaching best when students are working on projects, not doing basic run of the mill "old standard teaching". Gone are the days where sitting in rows and kill and drill methods are effective. Kill and drill methods can be effective, in some aspect, but not for all. Gone are the days where students are capable of sitting in desk and listening to lectures, doing cornell notes, whole class discussions, etc. It's all about group work, collaboration, using laptops, and utilizing 21st century skills. <br />
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I have been doing intensive research into Project Based Learning, more commonly known as PBL. An effective PBL classroom has the students choosing a project to do and the teacher revolves any mandatory mini lessons around the project. For example, if a class decides to write a novel, the teacher can teach theme, characterization, point of view to assist them in creating their novel. I am blown away by High Tech High, located in California. They are truly an exemplar at PBL. I can only hope that as I move towards PBL in my classroom, that I become as good as the teachers at High Tech High! <br />
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I have backed off on editing papers myself and started allowing my students to edit one another's papers. It gives me my time back, and allows the students to learn from one another. I developed a Critique packet that has several different methods of critiques, based on Ron Berger. My students LOVE it. It gives them a chance to talk out where they're going with their papers, get (extremely honest) feedback on how to improve, what they do well on. To students, they take to heart what their friends say, not necessarily what the teachers say. This also teaches the 21st century skill of collaboration. Look for the packet on TPT, coming soon!<br />
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Happy Thursday!<br />
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Ms. BerginColleen Berginhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16032302657858037894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4778029521243698451.post-8885099149507257182013-11-11T14:07:00.002-05:002013-11-11T14:07:59.911-05:00Where has the time gone?!?!Hey y'all!<br />
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I've been meaning to update my blog for so long - it's like I turn around and it's November already and the holidays are creeping up on us! Where has the time gone!?<br />
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I have been super busy with planning awesome lesson plans, going through my first observation of the year and working to incorporate the Chromebooks in the best way possible. <br />
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We are about to dive into the wonderful world of <i>Shakespeare</i> and read the classic play <i>The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet</i>. I am pretty excited about this unit and the unit projects in particular. The unit projects will be assigned to students according to level of ability and thanks to the Chromebooks, students will be able to collaborate with other classes to create an awesome final project.<br />
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My higher level students will collaborate with higher level students in my other classes to develop and shoot a script of a post-apocalypse version of <i>Romeo and Juliet</i>. My medium level students will work with one another to create a Sundays Verona Times Newspaper. My lower level students will work to create an advertisement of <i>Romeo and Juliet. </i>My medium and lower level students will work with students at their levels in my other classes on their project - theirs will be cross-class collaboration as well :) I am super excited about this and super nervous since I've never done cross-class collaboration and want this to be a success! If you have had success with this type of project, Please let me know what works best for you! <br />
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I have also become somewhat obsessed with Google Plus lately - I think I'm going to retire from Facebook pretty soon and just use Google Plus - it's so much better! If you haven't had a chance to explore Google Plus, I urge you to just explore it! <br />
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Happy Veteran's Day to all who served!<br />
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" 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Ms. BerginColleen Berginhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16032302657858037894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4778029521243698451.post-81883496457329347492013-08-28T11:49:00.003-04:002013-08-28T11:49:39.423-04:00Three days into the school year!Wow, it's been three days since school started, and I am still as pumped as the first day!<br />
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I have all 9th grade English and we are well underway in our semester. I'm pretty sure I've been called a hardass behind my back, but quite frankly, I don't think I mind. It just goes to show that I have high expectations. <br />
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The first few days has been all about drilling procedures, taking pre-assessments to ensure my students are in the correct class and reviewing basic stuff (plot/conflict/tone). While teaching mini-lessons and having them do assignments, I go through grouping procedures, passing out/in papers, answering/asking questions. <br />
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I also have what some may consider absurd rules in my classroom, but I am hoping these rules will limit distraction and increase learning.<br />
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1. No one is allowed to open the door except the student sitting closest to the door. I let the two students who are closest to the door choose who on the first day and that person is responsible for the semester.<br />
2. Knocking on the door must be done appropriately (firmly, but not obnoxiously - I had students demonstrate!)<br />
3. Food is not permitted at all in the classroom. Food that is seen in the room will be thrown out.<br />
4. 5 bathroom passes in a grading period (6 weeks in a grading period). If you have any left over, you may turn it in for extra credit. If you go over 5 passes, you will have an administrator walk you to the restroom and you will give back the time in lunch detention with me (I have planning during lunch, so this works perfectly!) I was told that 5 was generous and I should do 3. I will need to try 3 next semester! I even have set times when they are NOT allowed to use the restroom and when they are. It is so explicit!<br />
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One thing I really need to work on is my whiteboard. In all honesty, I think it needs serious improvement. In addition, I need to learn how to write objectives! I just am never happy with the objectives I do write - I feel it's not rigorous enough, does not explain the objective enough... Any suggestions?!<br />
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One thing I was concerned about were lack of pencils, but since establishing a rule in which students must ask their neighbors before me before the final bell is working beautifully! <br />
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We get our Chromebooks in two weeks and I am stoked! If y'all have any GREAT interactive learning programs that works in your high school class that I can incorporate, please let me know! I plan to use Google a lot! I feel that would be beneficial with the writing. I did the laptop 1:1 last year, and while that was awesome, I want to go in complete technology mode and really make it an integral part of the classroom. Teachers with this kind of success, I could use your words of wisdom! <br />
<br />Colleen Berginhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16032302657858037894noreply@blogger.com0