Good Instruction Always Wins

With my new job this year as a DLC (Digital Learning Coach), I am re-learning the truth that "Good Instruction Always Wins".  No matter what tech might be brought to the table, the most important question to ask is not whether it is "cool" or "good" but does it improve instruction, does it produce good instruction, does it add to instruction?  

I have observed so many classes this year and I keep coming back to the fact that we as teachers should constantly be analyzing our instruction.  Here are a few questions I have been asking

• Do you make it clear to the students what they will be learning and how they will be showing that learning?
• Are your activities truly showing that learning?
• Are you questions challenging enough, focused enough?
• Does your lesson make students practice "grit"?
• If technology is used, what is the purpose?  Is it causing kids to collaborate when they couldn't have before, communicate in a more efficient way, create something original to share, or show their critical thinking?

Teaching is a challenge and supporting teachers is a challenge because having "good instruction" every day takes a lot of effort and thought, which requires time.  

New Adventures

Wow!  It has been way too long!  Today I participated in our Summer Institute and learned so much.  I am so extremely excited for what this school year will bring.  I am embarking on a new adventure as a full-time Digital Learning Coach, but I guess an even greater adventure will be child #3 who is due in two days.

As much as I am genuinely excited about Baby Cruz coming soon, being at the training today reminded me of my deep passion for teaching.

I LOVE curriculum!  I LOVE strategies!  I LOVE developing new ways to help students think critically, be challenged, and grow.  Can't wait to see what this year brings.

My takeaway for today:

• Advocacy Quizzes (@DarinHallstrom) -- A way for students to advocate for what they believe is the correct answer on a quiz.  It opens up the door for debate, discussion, questioning, and critical thinking.  I can't wait to implement this in my classroom!  

Doctopus and Goobric

Okay so it has been a while and that has discouraged me from posting.  I have had a lot going on in my personal life (I'm pregnant with Baby #3) and have been so tired, but I know this is important.  So here I am!

A lot has happened in the last three months in my classroom, but I am just going to share with you the two items that I feel have most shapped the basics of my teaching.  I LOVE Doctopus and Goobric.  Now, I am telling you right now Doctopus and Goobric are not for the faint of heart.  There is a huge learning curve, but once implemented and understood, they build accountability, collaboration, and amazing teacher-student feedback!

So, what is Doctopus

A Google Forms add-on that

• Pushes documents out to students (make a copy for each student that now becomes their own).
• Will put students in groups and distribute one document to each group and automatically share it with you and each person in the group
• Creates a Class-View folder where you can place documents, slides, pdfs, etc and all students can access to view it (not edit it)
• Gives a spreadsheet with all student names and links to each of their documents for quick access

That in and of itself is amazing but when you add Goobric in, it gets even better!

Goobric is a Chrome Extension that

• Attaches a rubric to a Google Doc that you have distributed to students
• Gives teachers an easy and quick way to assess students
• Sends instant feedback to the student, including rubric score and comments
• Places the completed rubric on the doc itself and sends an email with the rubric to inform students
• Allows teachers to record their feedback and send that back to students
• Easily puts rubric scores into a spreadsheet that allows for quick grading

Now, I understand when discussing SAMR, that these two resources don't move you too far up the SAMR scale, but what I have realized is that they have built into my classroom a sense of accountability, understanding, communication, and collaboration.  From this foundation, I have found that I can easily build in the creativity and truly modify my curriculum.