In this episode we kick off our new monthy theme of PLCs!  Two of our district's directors of instructional leadership, Luke LeCount & Travis Drake, join our discussion on how to set up and run a successful and streamlined PLC with the support of various tech tools.  We also connect our PLC work to some bigger picture district ideas.

Links:

• How to Hide and Unhide a Shared Drive
• Current District Essential Standards

In this episode we close out our monthy theme of debunking tech myths.  Mandie Thompson, instructional coach, and Alex Gordon, occupational therapist, join the discussion on some common responses to resisting the use of assistive technology and accessibility features in the classroom, specifically that those tools can amount to cheating or giving an unfair advantage.

Links:

• Assistive Technology Myths Video
• Accessibility Features Resources

In this episode we continue our monthy theme of debunking tech myths.  This episode includes two interviews with a special education teacher, Cathy Butler, and with primary teachers, Kim Hoffmann and Teresa Taylor, to discuss the common myth of "my kids can't handle that" or "that's too advanced or complicated for my class" that we encounter when using technology with students, especially with younger grades and students with varying abilities and challenges. 

Links:

• Going Online Resource Hub Website
• Going Online Students Resource Hub Website
• BGPS EdTech Website
• Blooket 
• How to Access & Manage District Padlet 
• How to Login & Access District Padlet
• EdTech Kits

In this episode we continue our monthy theme of debunking tech myths.  Mandie Thompson, instructional coach, and Sarah Rhodes, 8th grade teacher, join the discussion on some common responses to resisting the use of tech tools in the classroom.  We discuss some classics like "you won't always have a calculator in your pocket" and "if it ain't broke, don't fix it," as well as other responses like "that's not how I learned it" or "I've always taught it this way."  

Links:

• Future of Education Report
• Teaching for Tomorrow Video Playlist
• P21 Framework 

In this episode we continue our monthy theme of debunking tech myths.  We discuss whether or not teachers need to be experts in the various technology programs before using them with students.  Lucinda Bancroft, instructional coach, and Katie Reed, 5th grade teacher, both from PVM join the discussion.  

Links:

• Going Online Resource Hub Website
• Going Online Students Resource Hub Website
• BGPS EdTech Website

In this episode we kick off our new monthy theme of debunking tech myths.  We discuss the misconceptions around screen time, specifically the differences between passive and productive screen time.  We also discuss how important it is to take a deeper look at studies beyond headlines.  Mandie Thompson, instructional coach, joins the discussion.

Links:

• Mayo Clinic - Screen Time and Children
• CNBC - Screen Time
• Nature - Adolescent well-being and screen time

In this episode we highlight tech tools that help streamline the grading process.  We take a look at features in Google Classroom, Kami, EdPuzzle, Pear Deck, Skyward, Google Forms, and Google Sheets.  Mandie Thompson, instructional coach for LMS, and Sarah Rhodes, teacher at AMS, join the discussion and share some tips and tricks for grading smarter not harder.

Links:

• How to Use Conditional Formatting in Google Sheets
• Google Sheets Video Tutorials
• How to Grade with Kami
• How to Use Reflect & Review in Pear Deck
• How to Use Grades in Google Classroom
• How to Import Quiz Grades in Google Classroom

In this episode we connect with last week's episode on demonstrating mastery to discuss the use of rubrics in the classroom.  This month's theme is on assessment and in this episode we highlight the use of Google Classroom rubrics and how that can help streamline the process and make rubrics easier to navigate for you and your students.  Mandie Thompson, instructional coach at LMS, and Cindy Viall, special education teacher at CMS, join the discussion.

Links:

• How to Use Google Classroom Rubrics
• Example Google Sheets Google Classroom Rubric

In this episode we finish our month-long discussion on Teacher Clarity and the Teacher Clarity Playbook with module 9 that focuses on demonstrating mastery and designing meaningful assessments.  Joining the discussion are Mandie Thompson, instructional coach at Laurin, and Kendra Vaught, instructional coach at Amboy.

Links:

• Teacher Clarity Resource Website
• Teacher Clarity Playbook
• Teacher Clarity Assessment Choice Board

In this episode we continue our discussion on Teacher Clarity and the Teacher Clarity Playbook with module 8 that focuses on lesson planning through designing meaningful learning experiences for students.  We highlight some tech tools to support this step in the process and our district's lesson plan that connects with Explicit Instruction.  Joining the discussion are Mandie Thompson, instructional coach at Laurin, and Angela Minick, instructional coach at Daybreak Middle.

Links:

• Teacher Clarity Resource Website
• Teacher Clarity Playbook
• Teacher Clarity Lesson Plan
• Explicit Instruction Resources
• Importance of Modeling Episode