Core Knowledge Curriculum Map

Core Knowledge curriculum and Google calendar grade level curriculum maps are in full swing at PRA. Only a few teachers have entered their lesson plan topics on the calendar, but already there is a buzz among the specials teachers about how great it is going to be to connect to the curriculum of each grade level all in one place....Our Core Knowledge Curriculum Calendar.  This is going to strengthen our program for our kids.

I encourage you, teachers of any subject and any grade level to attend the technology conference this summer at the Copper Mountain Resort.  Great education in a beautiful setting. I learned so much last year.
 Innovative Education Colorado (InnEdCo) formerly Technology in Education  Colorado, Inc. (TIE) is a Colorado-based organization founded in 1986 by a group of teachers with a vision of hosting a conference focusing on the increasing role technology plays in education.

Find them at http://innedco.org/

Time Flies!

I cannot believe it has been a year since I posted here!  It is because I have been posting, communicating and learning elsewhere.  But, I am back!  I was reminded of the power of repeating what you have learned in order for it to transfer to your long term memory.  I am going to try to make that a habit here, although I do have a paper (gasp!) learning journal.  Recently the staff at my school was given a survey that I designed so we could have a barometer of how our technology integration is progressing.  I had the opportunity to look back at previous surveys that I was not involved in creating. Amazing how far we have come in three years.  For me in my classroom I started with a desktop PC.
That is all.  Soon after I started I got a red cat system (very necessary in a sound filled music room) and a document camera.   Now, I have a Macbook laptop, an iPad, Apple Airplay and access to technology carts for the students.  And, the journey continues.  Exciting times ahead!

Technology in the Classroom

I found a new professional learning community through edWeb that is focused on teachers using technology in their classroom. I am excited to glean from their ideas! 
Technology in Schools - What, Why, and How?
http://www.edweb.net/.59b9c39a/
The series covers technology solutions for curriculum/instruction, student information/assessment, compliance, accountability, intervention, scheduling, and how to integrate the latest technology into teaching and learning.

What to teach vs How to teach

How does a teacher realize their potential as an effective and creative educator?
The task of lesson planning often focuses on WHAT to teach, but to be effective and creative focuses on HOW to teach.
I am a K-8 music specialist at a Core Knowledge school.  Core Knowledge is a program focused on curriculum alignment and scaffolding. The sequence has been given careful attention and research to identify and create  age appropriate content that builds from one grade level to the next.  Classroom teachers and specials teachers have a content connection that strengthens the scope of learning the given topic.
I for one want to spend more time on the HOW so that the WHAT is engaging and internalized.
 K-8 is a wide span and a lot of lesson planning.  My goal, in time, is to be effective at every grade level throughout the entire school year.  The Journey continues!

Life long personal development

Although I am a teacher, I am also a student.  Always learning, I strive to ask the next best question, and to not be satisfied with the status quo.
Today a read a book that furthered my life long learning and made me a better person.
The Traveler's Gift by Andy Andrews is a delightful story full of great advice for a fulfilling, successful life based on the way you think.  So often we defeat ourselves when our minds are full of wrong thinking, and bad attitudes.  This book gives the reader seven decisions for success all within everyone's grasp and control.  I highly recommend this book to everyone.

Re-teach what you have learned by Blogging

A very effective way to internalize your learning is to teach it to someone else.
Blogging is a great way to share what you have learned and get feedback from others to corroborate and enhance the topic.
A blog is also a great way to:
Connect with like-minded people and share insights on topics relevant to your community.
Position yourself as a thought leader, or expert on a topic
Help others by sharing your experience and education.
Make a difference in a community that is important to you.

Blog sites that are given great reviews include:
Wordpress and Blogger (by Google) have been around the longest and are the most popular because they are functional, flexible, with a strong community base, and good security.
Other options are:
 Tumblr  -  popular for photo blogging and the ease with which the community can like and re-blog. Good for photos and visual aspects.
Posterous – popular for micro-blogging, and easy for beginners.With Posterous you cannot re-blog.

This blog is hosted through Google's Blogger.  I found these features user friendly:
There are many templates to choose from, and you can customize them.  It is easy to navigate and easy to edit.  Blogger is media friendly.  The community can easily add comments to the discussion.