Recently I was a part of a Twitter teacher chat (#7thchat) moderated by Makerspace and STEM fanatic Janelle Van Dop. For those who don’t know what those terms stand for click here. Now I currently run some STEM and Makerspaces in my room, but the dialogue between these educational pioneers opened my eyes to even more of the profits. The takeaways from the chat have helped form my top 3 reasons why you need to run a classroom enriched with it.
 
1. Real-life
 
When is the last time you went to a job interview and they asked you, “What was your classroom test score on …?” If you can’t think of a time it’s because that question never came up. What they ask instead is, “Do you have any real-life experience?”  Yet our go to model in education continues to be based around tests and numbers. Heck, you can't get into university unless your numbers are good.
 
Maker and STEM change this. It develops hands-on skills that will transfer to later hobbies, education and jobs that are of interest to the child. Learning becomes more meaningful on all accounts.
 
 
2. Failing in order to succeed 
 
You run a spelling test and a kid gets more than half wrong. The child then shuts down, slouches his/her shoulders and whispers quietly “I’m not smart.” Kids say that enough and they start to believe it. What ensues is hatred to spelling due to the fear of being inferior.  Now feel free to substitute spelling with any other subject in school.
 
Maker and STEM change this. While students are building they constantly run into problems. But instead of thinking of it as a failure they, without thought, overcome it and create solutions. Moreover, they will learn to predict future problems, or “what if’s?” that need answering.  Don Wettrick states in his book that these scenarios not only keep kids on target but also excite them to want to keep improving. The result is a growth mindset that spreads through all school activities, and real-life circumstances.
 
 
3. Engagement
 
To all anti-change educators, I am very sorry to tell you this, worksheets don’t excite many. Your students don’t line-up outside the door chatting about how excited and moved they were reading a textbook and taking notes.

Maker and STEM change this. Children have a natural inclination to learn by doing. Don’t believe me? Just think about your favourite time in school. Was it centres during kindergarten? Thought so, mine too. Secretly, I must admit, I also love playing in the toy room with my three boys. Creating and building structures, plans, etc. stimulate excitement and I constantly think, what can I build next? Kids are the same. Bring out the hands-on “toys” and watch engagement skyrocket. Next you will witness your students salivate at the opportunity to learn. How cool is that concept.
 

@rondorland

Today I was told some wonderful news. This news is something i’ve wanted for my entire life. The news was delivered to me at the crack of dawn. When I received the news I nodded, shook some hands, put cream in my coffee and then drove to work to prepare for a wonderful day with my amazing kids. I kept the news in the vault, and never allowed myself to think about the achievement.  
And funny enough it took a post from Dave Burgess for me to take a step back. You can read his post here. Although it was something i’ve wanted my entire life it took 13 hours and a post from a PLN member and educational pirate for me to enjoy. A smile followed. The smile has still not left!

You see, I believe us educators devote every second awake to our practice and our children. We do it selflessly and never ask for anything in return. In a matter of fact I believe most of us even would say it feels awkward to be recognized. We have a “go, go, go” mindset. We look for celebrations in others and choose to overlook our accomplishments.

And I just realized that is unfair to... well me. Sooo….

This blog is my celebration post, and it feels great writing it. Now, what can you take time to celebrate? Do it!

Thank you! And I would love to hear about your celebrations! 

@rondorland

So you are updating your practice and running a classroom that more mimics the world we live in today. Kids are engaged in every day activities and you are proud of your evolving pedagogy. And then it happens, a parent storms into your classroom ready to knock you off your perch that you so proudly are sitting on as you finally updated your curriculum. We all have them. Parents, who for one reason or another, are against their child using technology in the classroom. So what can you possibly say to them to change their pre-conceived, possibly archaic, notion of what education should look like?
 
I run a twenty-first century classroom. The kids in my class use a lot of different platforms, and yes a lot are online. Over the years I have had my fair share of parents questioning my integrity and use of the digital world. But after collaborating with them on what is best for their child we both almost always leave satisfied. Here is how I do it.
 
I sit down with them and have grade objectives in front of me. Together we go through short and long-term goals for their child using the Understanding By Design (UBD) backwards design framework.  I then ask these three questions…

1. At the end of the year what do you want your child to know? (Refer to objectives but also discuss social emotional)
2. How together can we create structures that would support your child reaching those goals?
3. Then what tools do you think is best to accomplish this?

 
What this method accomplishes is that by the time we finish answering question three they start seeing the benefits of technology in the classroom. Technology is a tool that enhances the learning process. And after the parents see the benefits of their child using online tools, you should be able to climb atop that perch once again.
 
Hope this helps! 

​@rondorland

I am very excited for next week as on Tuesday I have a new student teacher joining my room. This is not my first student teacher and it will not be my last. This is a very exciting yet frightening time for these new and upcoming teachers. So the least we can do as mentors is give guidance to them to improve their pedagogy. Here are my five tips for student teachers to get the most out of the students they teach as well as their own emerging practice.
 
1.Look For Strengths
Too often teachers overlook what’s important and instead focus on behaviour that is less than perfect.  Remember each child is full of potential and make it a goal during your first week to find them all. From here you can use these strengths in building your curriculum.
2.Build Trust
I know you are nervous “swimming with the sharks” for the first time but guess what, they are nervous too having a new adult in the room. In your first week make sure you focus on relationships and build trust so the child can risk-take. This can be as simple as making sure you give them a high five in the morning with a compliment. And don’t forget to smile and have fun!
3.Reassess Your Lesson Plans
Innovation and stagnation can’t coincide. So if you are making certain lesson plans because you feel you need too to impress your school associate, teachers and administrators, then stop. Don’t put your focus on the dotting the “i’s” and crossing the “t’s”. The focus needs to be solely on the children and getting the most out of them. Make your lesson plans inquiry based and real world. Click the document below to see a quick and easy lesson plan I created for my student teacher last year.
4.Go With The Flow
So you’ve made your lesson plans and are focused on getting all of them in, three lessons before recess, two after recess and another two after lunch. Let me ask you, when is the last time you put a time line on your learning? Don’t make silo lessons but rather make lessons cross curricular and relevant without time lines. Use a “feel” based approach in your teaching. If a lesson is hitting home then don’t stop it, instead learn to go with the flow.
5.Get On Twitter
I know all the focus is on learning something new, which I know is scary. But it is also essential to develop your practice from seasoned veterans. Make a Twitter account and get involved in Twitter teacher chats. You can see a schedule of all the great chats here, created by Jerry Blumengarten.
 
Good luck to all student teachers out there! You are joining a wonderful profession! 

@rondorland

For you first timers to the Global Read Aloud Project (GRA) get ready to be blown away. If done correctly you are about to improve your curriculum a million times over. Pernille Ripp has always done her due diligence in choosing thought provoking, emotionally consuming books that keep you on the edge of your seat, glued to the plot and wanting more, more, more! This year is no different. No matter what book you choose (they are all wonderful) if you place your GRA curriculum around the competencies communicating, thinking and the student, then your room is a haven for literature loving!
 
The one thing that takes this amazing project to a whole other level is the ability for students to communicate.  Do not treat this read aloud like a regular 1980’s novel study. If you are using worksheets, pre-made tests then you are completely dropping the ball. Instead as a teacher, do your homework and make connections. Through platforms like Edmodo, Twitter, Weebly, Kidblogs etc… it has never been easier. Don’t wait for others to do the legwork for you in terms of connecting. You are capable, so start adding teachers and classrooms now.
 
Once the platforms are in place let your students connect with other kids and teachers around the world, and share information and ideas about the book. Engagement, understanding and enjoyment will never be higher.  In other words students will love reading and arriving to class in the morning.  Trust me!
 
Here are frameworks I have set into place so my kids can get the most out of the amazing Global Read Aloud Project:

• Connect daily reading to the child’s multiple intelligence. My grade 6 students are all in different stations throughout the room learning how they learn best…their way.
• Set up Edmodo groups to connect students globally who are reading the same novel. Have thought prompting questions for them daily, but also allow them autonomy to have discussions with their new global friends and PLN.  (Yes each kid, like us, needs a personalized learning network.)
• Blog, Blog, Blog. My students all have Weebly accounts where they share their learning. But what takes blogging to another level are the comments. Teacher you need to start a blog roll and have your kids comment on other blogs and vice versa.
• Skype often.
• Have a before or after school tea club. Kind of like a “Dead Poets Society”, where you open up in-depth novel dialogue. It is amazing how many kids will join in to talk literature. How cool is that!
• Use digital platforms to engage and enhance. Don’t tell kids the apps but rather let them choose. For example, some of my kids want to talk about plot through an Adobe Voice and Adobe Slade presentation.
• Have a classroom Twitter handle and hashtag. (Make sure you share the hashtag for others to see). If students have their own accounts let them tweet openly. They love it.
• Make time to be a part of the author’s novel concluding Google Hangout.

 
It is the eve of arguably the most important project you will run in your room this year. Please embrace the opportunities the great Perille Ripp has afforded us. I hope this post has given you some ideas. I will be reading “Fish In A Tree” as there is zero percent chance I would pass on a Lynda Mullaly Hunt novel. If you have not connected please don’t wait any longer. Write me a comment below or send me a message on Twitter @rondorland and I will add you to my novel contacts. The map above are the connections I made last year, and if you click here you can read a post I wrote last year on just how engaged my class was. Happy reading everyone!

​
A week ago I was asked to present at Ignite 35 in Langley. Below is my presentation reworked into paragraphs, and due to this it may be all over the place. But one thing it is for sure is me and my beliefs. Enjoy! 
 
Just a short few years ago, feeling unenthusiastic with my profession I found myself wanting out. I did everything teacher school asked of me except I was passionless. I was searching for something to run with. Now I am a grade 7 teacher. In other words, I have been bestowed the responsibility of steering the ship of hormone filled, media consumed, iphone possessed preteens. Yikes right! Wrong. Here is where I challenge myself. How can I get them so engaged in themselves, class culture and the learning process that they cant stop chatting about it to parents, friends, global peers and, if lucky, myself? I want them to love class so much that they almost need it like air.
 
I want to begin with a story. Alyssa, a grade 7 student in Coquitlam, and my niece. After failed forced commitment in both soccer and martial arts her heart led her to Track and Field, a choice that was fully hers. A year and a half later she is the provincial champion in 9 events and is the best in North America in 4. The choice of track was hers. Her passion, desire, need to learn and improve all stemmed from curiosity and is now evident daily in her confidence and voice. Her story captures what the learning process should look like, and mirrors what I attempt to accomplish. ‘Passionate, explorative, happy learner given every opportunity to follow his/her own chosen path.’  But when I tell kids that they have autonomy in their learning they love it, but then soon realize taking control of their own learning isn’t as easy as it sounds. The reason for this is a broken system.
 
From the moment a kid steps foot on a school ground they are bombarded with rules and expectations that promote and even encourage kids to blend in. Stripping the heart and soul from the student. Here is where we as educators can help.
We have the power to remove the trowel from their hands that willingly but not by choice they used to build up their protective wall. We can make them see that standing out is not a bad thing but rather an amazing one.
 
How do I accomplish this? I devote endless time and efforts getting into their heart. I know the importance of the informal moments so at recess and lunch I prefer to grab a tetherball rather than a sandwich. I coach so I can be present when they have stories that you need to see to believe and I even have tea with them after school discussing their hobbies, fingernail colours and even Caitlyn Jenner. Supportive autonomy needs to constantly be reinforced and that is why, just like the ’66 Coup de Ville that resides in my dad’s garage, I developed PRRR principles that underline my classroom. Passion, Respect, Relationships and Relevance.
 
Passion is a funny thing, as some find it easy to discover while others struggle to find it. It took me 5 years of teaching to find my passion and it may take kids that long too. All we can do is give opportunities daily while supporting their journey.
And when you give those opportunities magic can happen. Like Sage, the humanitarian, who wanted to better the life of kids in India, so during her Genius Hour project last year created a website, learned how to use her dads power tools to make wooden bracelets, created an Etsy account, advertise,  and after 1 month she wrote a cheque to an orphanage for $730.
 
Respect… respect comes in different forms but none is more important than developing an environment where kids respect and even celebrate other kids and their differences.  Ask Paul, a boy who stopped, in his words, trying to be “macho” and instead showed the class, that not like Zoolander, he can turn left on the catwalk.
 
Relationships… go with the mentality that you are never doing enough. Do something every day to improve relationships with every single kid. Meet them with a high five and a compliment. Never use a red pen and take time to hear those painful stories about nothing as funny enough that nothing is something to them. Be there for them when they fall and be present to hear them brag.
 
Relevance… I tell them to live your life, learn what you want to learn, and I will do all I can to make the classroom relevant for you. But I do tell them they need to do something for me. Don’t do anything to just fit in. I live by the idea that you don’t wait for change to happen if you can be that change. I also pass that message on to my kids. I don’t sugar coat what lies before them. I tell them life is hard and obstacles are everywhere. But passion, and I mean true passion, knocks down all barriers.
 
So building relationships and attempting to improve a child’s life is what I ran with.  It took me 5 years and around 150 students coming and going to realize that where the heart is the mind will soon follow. And simply, lovers of learning are lovers of life. This year I have 28 kids in my room and the classroom is theirs. Forget the question, would you buy a ticket to your own classroom, and instead ask would you buy a ticket to theirs? Put their education back in their hands where it belongs and ask them to run with it.

​Below is my Ignite35 PowerPoint presentation. 

If you are a teacher then I wouldn't doubt you are having trouble sleeping this week. Maybe it is the excitement and uncertainty of a new school year beginning next week, or maybe if you are like me, the overactive night-time brain is full of possible first week activities. No fear, here are five innovative, tech-driven, apps you can use in week one that will give your students a voice. Hope they help, and I hope you all have a great first week!

1.     Adobe Voice- Let your kids tell their summer stories in an animated, easy to use video. Your students will love how easy it is to navigate. This app takes first week journal writing to a whole new level. To learn more about Adobe Voice click here. 

2.     Edmodo- Nothing is better for building a great class culture than Edmodo. Edmodo is a fantastic way for students to connect and collaborate in a safe environment. In the first week set up your classroom groups and allow students to navigate a platform that they will love as it kind of looks like Facebook. Click here to learn more about Edmodo.

3.     Weebly- Or any platform that allows blogging. I prefer Weebly as I feel it is vital that kids have their own webpage, and none is easier to use and navigate than Weebly. Give your students autonomy in what they post as long as it goes in one of two sections; My Learning and What I’m Most Proud Of. In the first week allow your students to build their site and create their first blogs. Click here to learn more about Weebly. 

4.     Touchcast- Places your students right in the newsroom. This interactive app lets your students mix their videos with web content. Your students can add maps, polls, quizzes and information from webpages to add to their own video. Have your students create a Touchcast on what they hope their school year will entail. For fun, then watch on the last day of school.  Click here to learn more about Touchcast. 

5.     Lightbot- If you want to code in week one then this simple app is for you. Simple programming is needed to move a little robot around a tiled world. Lightbot is great for all ages cultivating a real understanding of the procedures of coding. Click here to learn more about Lightbot.

Enjoy week one everyone! 
@rondorland

Yesterday I had the privilege and honour to join education gurus Tom Whitby and Nancy Blair on Edchat Radio discussing shared decision-making. Thank you to another education powerhouse Mark Weston for forwarding my name. Now I am not an administrator, I do not run a school, however as a teacher (stakeholder), I do have an opinion on the concept of shared decision-making at a school level.  Yesterday, upon finding out I was to be a guest host on the radio, I took time asking other school-constituents (teachers, travelling teacher, LST and education assistants etc…) their opinions on the matter and gained valuable insight, which all seemed to lead to one answer- Yes to shared decision-making!

From a young age we are taught to share. As toddlers we hear parents preaching, “sharing means caring,” which ultimately becomes engrained in our brains. And that concept lasts a lifetime. Take a look at families. The mom and dad have equal say. Why? The respect and self-worth to know you are an equal in family decision-making (the most important of all decisions in life) trumps all. And isn’t that the straw that stirs our drink, the desire and want to belong, feel important and valued.

Currently, I teach at the tiniest of schools, Clayton Elementary. The principal Dana Brown has adopted this mentality. All stakeholders (admin, teachers, travelling teachers, LST, EA’s, parents, etc…) all have a genuine voice in school culture, and direction. Each individual has their perspectives, values and strengths and therefore is equally heard. Here decisions are turned to the committee (all who are a part of the school) and a decision is based on a consensus. What then occurs? Quite simply all feel important, all feel respected and all are happy. Classroom and school culture are peaceful and connected and all staff and kids are better off.

 So where have we broken away from what we were taught as toddlers? Turning many decisions over to the workers is not relinquishing control but is an innovative way to increase moral and productivity. It would be silly to think that all school decisions must and should be turned to the patrons. But where possible, to better a workforce, take control by appearing to give it up. 

~ @rondorland

It is no secret that one of the things that drives me as a teacher is culture. To me having a peaceful, respectful, safe, open-minded, fun classroom is essential in having a room where learning is craved.  I also am a firm believer that a teacher’s job is not done at the dismissal bell. Below are five things I believe are essential in building great relationships and improving a classroom atmosphere once the school day is over.

1.     Join in on your kids social media chats. No, I don’t mean following them on Facebook or Instagram. I mean have a class Edmodo. Make a room for off-topic posts (I call mine Pollution), and comment on photos they add and jokes they make.  Show interest in their home lives and an improved relationship will soon follow.

2.     Hashtags and selfies. Kids love this! Challenge them to take selfies of themself playing outside with classmates and then post it on the class Twitter hashtag. This has two obvious benefits. One, they are playing outside and not sitting inside playing on a screen. And two, they are building relationships with peers in the class. Give bonus points for creativity and additional points per every extra kid in the picture. An additional challenge is to see who can be the first to have a picture with each classmate. Make sure to show these pictures every morning in class.

3.     Partake in extra-curricular activities. Kids feel pride when they make a layup or learn a new dance move. Be there for them to brag and share. Treat your students like your kids and try to be there for them when they are participating in their passions after school. Hey, if you can coach, do it!

4.     Tea-time with the teacher. This idea I stole from a great teacher in my district Sarah Dalzell.  Kids love this too! Why rush your kids home at the end of the day? Make some tea, have a cozy corner and sit and talk about anything and everything for 15 minutes. Kids love this so much, you will have volunteers to make the tea and clean up afterword. Run this one-day a week but listen to your kids talk about it everyday! Psst- the day of the tea-time will be a calm day. Watch the number of participants grow!

5.     Scarf and play. This kind of breaks the rules as it is during school-time. Every now and then scarf down your lunch and join in the basketball game, start jumping during double-dutch or grab a pencil and paper and sit with that kid sitting up against the school and drawing. Be a part of their lunchtime. Trust me, kids will love that you have taken time to join them.

We are all busy, and as the great Dean Shareski states, “Busy is not a medal of honour, it’s the norm.” I have three young boys, am running a second job and am in graduate school and I still make time. The beauty of the above points is that these five things take little time and effort.  Take time for your students, treat them with respect, value their passions and voice and watch each child grow in confidence and your classroom environment flourish. 

“I never ate this morning, can you please feed me?” “I have been wearing this same outfit for two weeks straight and it smells. Now my classmates are making fun of me.” “When I go home today I won’t be able to complete the schoolwork because my family life is so dysfunctional that I at age nine need to take care of my siblings.” “I am scared to go home.” “I am being cyberbullied.” “I am being abused.” “People think I’m ugly and I believe them.” “I feel so stupid.” “I am depressed.”

“Teacher, I need your help.”

Our job would be a lot easier if kids said what was on their mind, but they don’t. Students don’t just come out and ask for help but that does not mean everything in their world is fine.

The most important thing a teacher can learn is not taught in teacher school. It is getting into the heart of a child. Last time I checked there is no 101 course on dealing with unbrushed teeth and kids who are overloaded with adult-like responsibility.  It makes me wish we wrote papers on dealing with real issues rather than papers on how we may incorporate Piaget in a Physics 12 course. The best thing I have ever done in my teaching career is to ensure I take whatever time and actions needed to make sure that a child feels safe, happy and respected when in my presence.

Honestly it does not take much. But what it does take is effort and time. We as teachers all have a life at home. I have a beautiful wife, three incredible, energetic boys and a dog that gets so excited to see me that she barks and sounds like a mule in pain while awaiting my entry through the front door. But I also have a family of kids at work who need me too. Regardless of when or how they need me, I want to be a shoulder for them. I want to build them up and then watch them flourish.  I want to be someone they can confide in and trust. It is not that I enjoy this but it is that I want what is best for them. The “what is best for them” is what I relish.

Over this past week I have had a wonderful blog and two amazing letters written to me from both students and parents. One of them even gave me a new title as being a mental health advocate. But honestly, I’m just being a teacher and doing what every teacher should do. And that is to CARE for what is BEST for the most important thing on the planet - KIDS.

Please click here to read a wonderful blog a student of mine wrote about me. Thank you Jaylynn, but I am just doing my job.