Kreider's Contemplations on Teaching & Technology

lifelong learner, teacher, and geek

Not a Superhero…

At the beginning of this pandemic, I received a face mask with the familiar quote “I’m a teacher. What’s your super power?” I have never worn it. I don’t have super powers. I struggle every day with self-doubt, with frustration that I wasn’t able to mentally check off “proficient” for all the students I taught that day. So when my principal informed me that I would be Teacher of the Year for Rialto, my first reaction was fear. I’m not yet qualified. I’ve been at this for 32 years, but I’m still trying to figure it out. I don’t think I can check the box for “proficient” on my own report card. I don’t think I ever will. There are teachers who are better at this than me. So many names come to mind – I wish I could list them all right here.

And then I was told to watch for an announcement on social media. I’m a techie teacher who doesn’t use social media! I haven’t posted on this blog in years! How do all these people find the time to be amazing educators, as well as maintain an online presence by reading, responding, writing? I just can’t do it. I’m not that amazing.

So here’s my message to all those who did not receive Teacher of the Year awards. Take it! This one is for you! I’m no better than you. There is no magic here. I’m just trying to figure it out each day and level up. Do better than yesterday. Or just survive today so I can do better tomorrow. Perhaps that is the true super power that everyone has – the potential and the will to do better each day.

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10 Reasons Every Math Teacher Needs a Livescribe Pen

The Livescribe Pen was a big hit at the CMC Conference in my session on flipping the math classroom. As always, I was so inspired by the enthusiasm of the participants, I thought of more ideas to share. So here’s my brainstorm of all the reasons you should record your math notes with a Livescribe Pen:

  1. Students can listen to your recordings before taking notes in class (to “get the gist” as in a close reading process). Will this make them less attentive in class? Or will they accelerate more quickly and ask better questions? Worth some action research, I think.
  2. Absent students can listen to and record notes they missed.
  3. New students can review content you have already covered to fill in holes in their learning.
  4. RSP, EL, and struggling students can listen to notes again for reinforcement.
  5. And of course, the strategy I offered in my session – use a Livescribe Pen recording as a flipped lesson so students learn vocabulary and introductory level information before class. They can copy these into their own notebooks so you can use class time for unanswered questions and higher level problem solving.
  6. Parents can also watch your note recordings to re-learn the math to help their students at home.

Additional classroom applications of a pen include:

  1. Use the sound stickers to attach audio to your word walls – record the word, definition, sentence frames, and examples so students can “listen to the walls.” They plug their earbuds into the pen, tap the tip on the sticker, and hear whatever you recorded. (Replace the ink tip with the provided stylus tip so students are not marking the stickers.) You can make this a fun activity by hiding secret code words in your audio as a scavenger hunt game.
  2. Use sound stickers to record audio with your chart paper examples. Students can listen to how the sample problems were solved again by taking the pen to the chart and tapping on the sticker.
  3. Struggling writers can use a sound sticker to attach an audio explanation to their work instead of writing.
  4. Students use the pen and paper to make a video recording of their mathematical arguments, which are then used in a flipped lesson on critiquing the arguments of others (SMP 3).

Be sure to check out the Livescribe Education site for more ideas!

UPDATE: Be sure to check out this comparison of the different types of pens available. I use the Echo pen which creates audio-enhanced PDF files. Get 15% off with this link!

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The Important Thing About Teaching

The important thing about teaching is that it changes a child’s life forever.

It’s a hard job.

It can make you question your sanity nearly every day.

And it is the most rewarding job in the world.

But, the important thing about teaching is that it changes a child’s life forever.

modeled after the writing of Brown, Margaret Wise,
and Leonard Weisgard. The Important Book.
New York: Harper, 1949. Print.

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