Donor's Choose Project

I friend of mine recently told me about her projects on Donorschoose.com and I was all like ""Why am I not doing that?"

So...I went on Donorschoose.com and started to think about a project. A big part of me really wants our students to be globally minded. To know where and what is happening not just "Me on the Map" kinda stuff though I think it is important for them to know where they are in relation to everyone else. But. I think we spend to much time making our students self absorbed. There I said it. When are we going to value other people's culture and news just as much as our own? So these thoughts plus traveling to Kenya last year and seeing how many children from other countries can tell me what is happening in our country, however if I were to ask my student about what is happening in China right now they might say, "Where they make all my toys?". Yikes.

My project is starting simple - I want information current events in my classroom to help me teach reading but in a subtle manner start expanding me students' minds in what is happening around the world and wait for it...how they can help and be passionate about something! But here is the challenge: it is not about them. It is about them being used for a bigger purpose. For them to think of others before themselves. To sacrifice. To be better than a self-absorbed brat who wants money and things things things. But maybe experiences - like travel and adventure!

Here is what I mean: A couple years ago a fellow teacher and me did a penny drive for Darfur. We showed our kids what was happening there and raised over $500.00 for Doctors without Borders. This was shocking for our kids to see what other kids in Africa were being treated and expected to do. I believe it started opening the door to how fallen of a world we live in but hope for a change in the future.

If you want to check out or donate or share my project please do!




Think Global and Act Local


Tiffany

Once upon a time there was the girl who wanted to write in her blog everyday and she was so committed. Then that girl had life crash down upon her pretty little head she decided that other things were more important.Those things were not bad but just took the place of her and her computer cozy on the couch with a cup of coffee. Suddenly, one rainy Saturday she was on her computer lollygagging around with a cup of coffee in hand and she remembered that dream and decided to write on her blog. It was a good day and she knows that her dear friend Tamara will be proud of her!

Now - here is what has happened in the last couple of months.

1. I just recieved the jolly good news that my ipad-mini grant which I have had for the past 2 years, the foundation is giving us our ipads for good. FOREVER! FOREVER! I am the happy owner of 17 ipads for the kids until I die. My eyes are brimming with tears! Which brings me to #2.

2. Should I become a flipped classroom???? I think I am going to try...comments?

http://www.coolinfographics.com/blog/2011/9/13/the-flipped-classroom-infographic.html

3. Lego Intentional Play - I recieved a grant from Grants for Great Ideas through my county to purchase sets of Legos for all of my kiddos. I LOVE IT. I am using the Legos with vocabulary, math and critical thinking. Might I also say the kiddos love it too, even my girls. Some of my favorite activities is watching the students build abstract and literal vocabulary words with their Legos. Each time we build, I walk around and video with my ipad. Then make a quick movie and publish it on imovie - bam! The next day we all wach it and enjoy each other's creations. Big Shoutout to Lego! They were awesome helping me get what I needed for this grant.

4. Favorite App - Notability. Hands down. Their is a feature to upload and download content from Edmodo. So I have saved PDF Reading passages in my Edmodo library, then opened them in Notability where the kids can annotate. Then saved it and uploaded the annotated copy back into edmodo. Say What? Paperless baby.

5. Text Book Adoption Committee - I was asked to be apart of a huge undertaking with my county. We are adopting new Reading Text Book this year and it will be Common Core. However, the challenge with all the upper grades is that we still have one more year of FCAT (Next Gen. Standards). So much confusion awaits next year as we try to move to CC and are testing on the NGSS. I just want to hop on the CC wagon and throw the NGSS out the window but I am not sure I will be able too. Plus we have the NGSS  BluePrints that help teachers stay on track with what they need to teach and so forth (scope and sequence) but many teachers feel strangled by these maps. Sigh. I am not sure how this will play out if our School does not release us into CC soon. I hope for lots of clarity soon. :)

6. My wonderful partner in crime Noris Aguayo won Lake County Teacher of the YEAR! But in my eyes she is teacher of the century.  I love her so much and am blessed to know her and see her each day. This was a huge celebration for us at our school.


So that is not even half of what has been rambling off in my head but maybe more will come tomorrow. :)