The Mission is Critical
“Education is what remains after one has forgotten what one has learned in school.”-Albert Einstein
As teachers open their doors to a new school year and a new students, not knowing what challenges and opportunities this year will bring, this quote resounds with me in an unexpected way. At first glance, perhaps, one might read a famous historical mind being witty or even slightly sarcastic. But after allowing it to roam in my mind for a while, this quote offers a much deeper truth and insight about our role as educators in a difficult time.
While we, as educators, are tasked with the distribution of a curriculum to our students in our respective subjects and grade levels we need to remember that there is a much greater responsibility and privilege that has been entrusted to us. We need to remember that curriculum, lessons, assessments, projects....all of it....is but the instrument we use to help shape a person. We are responsible for the development of young minds. We can attempt to fill those minds with facts and formulas and answers but knowledge is only the beginning of an education not the end.
How to use that knowledge. That has become of critical importance to our mission as teachers of young minds. Studies tell us that a brain is not fully developed until twenty-five and that is a somewhat frightening thought when we realize the access students have to an endless stream of information that is too often accessed without guidance of mature thought and ability to process. And despite these amazing advances in technology and our ability to facilitate content to our students, the first best and most important means for them to truly "learn" comes from their personal experiences at the guiding hand of caring educator.
And while this little blog seeks to help you with tech tips, tools and a bit of fun, it is also my hope to support you in the difficult but critical task in ensuring our young people receive the absolute best "education" that our talents allow.
So with this edition, I will offer some tools and information based on social emotional learning, online safety and a little bit of mental health for you.
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SEL in Digital Life
Common Sense Media is an incredible site whose mission isn ONLY about providing student, families and schools with support to better educate and prepare young people for interacting positively in a digital world. They have an entire wealth of tools, resources, knowledge, advice for assisting educators and families in this overwhelming task. Their digital citizenship lessons are layed out very logical for every age group of student from early elementary through high school. They are easy to access and apply to your classes. You can access everything they have to offer at their Common Sense Education website.
But the main resource I want to share with you is a simple and informative information sheet developed by Common Sense called SEL in Digital Life. It is a chart of skills & dispositions progression categorized by SEL competencies and grouped by grade level.
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Social Media TestDrive
For each edition I am going to endeavor to provide a resource for a specific grade level (however, it may be applicable to all grade levels). Social Media TestDrive is geared toward middle school-aged students. It is a free website and platform designed to help teach students about key digital citizenship topics within a protected simulation of social media platforms. It offers the ability to engage in safe and responsible online communication and to think critically about the content a student can see online.
It is a transparent website that offers training for educators and a parents' section where they can try it out to see what is being taught to their children.
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Teachers Love Timers
You know it's true. Whether it's a built in widget on your interactive board, a quick setting in Google or even a coach with a stopwatch, we all love timers. I've found a pretty easy and very visual one that's simple to configure (although it does have some slick customization features). It displays large and changes colors when it's in the final countdown. And, best of all to us teachers, free.
Check it out at https://www.aftel.net. Bookmark it so you always have access.
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Take Time to Breath
Finally, it's really, really hard to remember that we need to take time for ourselves. Living bell-to-bell and rushing to get copies made or emails replied to is the constant in our lives. It's okay to just stop and stare. In fact, it's encouraged. The website Do Nothing for 2 Minutes helps. Turn up the volume, and listen to gentle waves while looking at setting (or rising) sun. The website tells you "just relax and listen to the waves, do not touch your keyboard." It starts a timer for 2 minutes and if you move your mouse or touch your keyboard it gives you a gentle admonishing, "try again." Two minutes may not seem like a lot or it may sometimes seem like too much but when you hit these rough waters (and you will) remember to just.....take....a.... moment.
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