Each year Google requires trainers to recertify and submit evidence of training.
Options: Google Keep https://goo.gl/oPS9PK and Hour of Code 2018 http://bit.ly/nashobahoc
I passed the Google Certification test and submitted all evidence for 2019 in order to keep by Google Training Certification. In addition, this is the year to update all teaching certifications by June 2019!
All my certifications have been approved! Here's to 2019!
Sunday, December 30, 2018
Monday, December 17, 2018
Saying Goodbye and remembering a colleague
This post is for a colleague of mine that passed away this weekend. Kathy McHale was a French teacher in my high school and I had the privilege of working with her, traveling with her and being a friend. I've been thing Kathy today and remembering her classes and our travelling adventures. I searched my blog today for a post I did about Kathy and her students. Several years ago I came across a video contest by The American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL). Kathy decided to enter her french III students in the contest. The theme "Why I am a 21st Century Learner" they created Students Rap ‘Round the World video https://vimeo.com/18011416
Local newspapers covered the story. Here is the article link from the Stow Independent by our friend Ann Needle. There was a cash award for the contest and with Kathy, there always a reason to travel and celebrate! She took the group of students to french restaurant in Boston to celebrate their success and extended the invitation to me, the principal and other colleagues that helped with the contest. She always took the time to celebrate and find an adventure. Later that spring I had privilege to travel to Greece with her and some of my friends. Kathy was welcoming and made the trip so memorable, I signed up for a few more trips.
I am shocked and saddened by Kathy's passing, but I am so happy we captured one of her teaching stories in this blog and I can take the time to reflect on a teacher that loved teaching, Nashoba, her students and friends. She will be missed.
Local newspapers covered the story. Here is the article link from the Stow Independent by our friend Ann Needle. There was a cash award for the contest and with Kathy, there always a reason to travel and celebrate! She took the group of students to french restaurant in Boston to celebrate their success and extended the invitation to me, the principal and other colleagues that helped with the contest. She always took the time to celebrate and find an adventure. Later that spring I had privilege to travel to Greece with her and some of my friends. Kathy was welcoming and made the trip so memorable, I signed up for a few more trips.
I am shocked and saddened by Kathy's passing, but I am so happy we captured one of her teaching stories in this blog and I can take the time to reflect on a teacher that loved teaching, Nashoba, her students and friends. She will be missed.
Wednesday, December 12, 2018
Google Session - Applied Digital Skills Training in Lexington
A group of 70 educators attended a Google Session in Lexington yesterday.
Here is a link to the agenda http://gg.gg/lexconnect. Introduction by Jen Judkins and Gooogle's
(Sam Canning-Kaplan, Program Manager, Google for Education)
The morning session focused on Applied Digital Skill Training
It's always great to see from the lens of another Google Certified Trainer delivering content and Sue Tranchina, a business/video teacher did a great job. Although the curriculum had some great lessons the student would need to be signed up for the Applied Digital Skills training and it would be tracked in the program. This may work in a blended model or to support a class such as Computer Apps for a help desk self-paced model. I did find myself sharing many of the rubrics that could easily be adapted for other projects with my colleagues.
Although I did not attend the Executive Functioning for Secondary Students, I shared the site with our SPED Department Chair as a model we could potentially customize to meet our school needs. I have been thinking about this type of setup, which we created in a class under our Special Education training for recertification, but the site provides all students and staff with great tools. Lexington did a great job have the special education department create this with the help of a digital coach. Now that we have a model, we will explore the features.
The best part of the day, reconnecting with colleagues from other schools and have some takeaways to share with teachers.
Here is a link to the agenda http://gg.gg/lexconnect. Introduction by Jen Judkins and Gooogle's
(Sam Canning-Kaplan, Program Manager, Google for Education)
The morning session focused on Applied Digital Skill Training
- Applied Digital Skills Training (Sue Tranchina, Google Certified Trainer) - Explore the Curriculum
- A quick Google Demo Slam at lunch
- The afternoon had a few options, the GAFE PBL session was canceled - Leveraging Google Slides for Presentation (a variety of tools and tips)
- "Executive Functioning" is an umbrella term for brain-based skills involving mental control and self-regulation. It includes three main areas: Behavior regulation, emotional regulation, and cognitive regulation. https://sites.google.com/lexingtonma.org/executivefunctioning/home
It's always great to see from the lens of another Google Certified Trainer delivering content and Sue Tranchina, a business/video teacher did a great job. Although the curriculum had some great lessons the student would need to be signed up for the Applied Digital Skills training and it would be tracked in the program. This may work in a blended model or to support a class such as Computer Apps for a help desk self-paced model. I did find myself sharing many of the rubrics that could easily be adapted for other projects with my colleagues.
Although I did not attend the Executive Functioning for Secondary Students, I shared the site with our SPED Department Chair as a model we could potentially customize to meet our school needs. I have been thinking about this type of setup, which we created in a class under our Special Education training for recertification, but the site provides all students and staff with great tools. Lexington did a great job have the special education department create this with the help of a digital coach. Now that we have a model, we will explore the features.
The best part of the day, reconnecting with colleagues from other schools and have some takeaways to share with teachers.
Friday, December 7, 2018
Book study reflection Part II & Breakout edu / Part III
Today’s book study discussed chapters 4-7 and as an activity hosted an Elf Breakout.January 11th - Part III Chapters 8-12
http://bit.ly/innovatorsmindsetnashobapart3
Chapters and questions - see twitter!
Sunday, December 2, 2018
The Innovator's Mindset - Book Study NRSD Session 2 (Ch 4-7)
The Innovator's Mindset - Book Study NRSD
Sessions (10/19, 12/7, 1/11 and 2/8). Our full day of PD this year in on Friday, March 8th and our keynote will be the book's author George Couros on twitter @gcouros
Our last session on 10/19 we covered Part I - Innovation in Education. All work and presentations http://goo.gl/oEPsJC are in Google Classroom along with guided journal questions for each chapter. All participants are encouraged to use twitter with #innovatorsmindset #innovatorsmindsetnashoba
This week we will focus on Part II (ch 4-7) as a book study and we will meet on Friday 12/7th.
Part II: Laying the Groundwork Ch 4: Relationships, Relationships, Relationships
Our last session on 10/19 we covered Part I - Innovation in Education. All work and presentations http://goo.gl/oEPsJC are in Google Classroom along with guided journal questions for each chapter. All participants are encouraged to use twitter with #innovatorsmindset #innovatorsmindsetnashoba
This week we will focus on Part II (ch 4-7) as a book study and we will meet on Friday 12/7th.
Part II: Laying the Groundwork Ch 4: Relationships, Relationships, Relationships
We will offer a slow chat this week
Chapters 4 & 5 (Monday and Tuesday) Cha[ters 5&6 (Wednesday and Thursday)
Journal information and presentations will be posted in our Google Classroom!