Tech Tools for Teachers and Students

Check out these useful sites - information, resources, and tools for teachers and students both:

SchoolTube is an educator-moderated video sharing site, much like YouTube - except every video is previewed by an actual teacher before it goes live.  Not only can teachers access informative videos to enhance classroom instruction, but students can create and post videos as part of curricular projects.

TeacherTube is almost identical in content and function to SchoolTube, though videos on this site are not moderated before being posted.

Have you joined in the Twitter-mania yet? Twitter for Teachers and Twitter 4 Teachers are two sites that will link you up with other Twittering educators to receive lesson plan, classroom management advice, and other teaching tips.

Internet research is a great tool for stretching the minds of high-ability students.  Is there something more, or better, than Wikipedia?  How about Wikipedia for Schools, which offers thousands of articles that have been checked for accuracy and classroom-appropriateness.

Of course, Google is ubiquitous, but you can't beat the selection of tools available: blog and website hosting, custom search engines, tip posters, and the powerful Google Docs.  Check out Google for Educators and discover a ton of resources!

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Writing Contest for Elementary Students

This comes directly from The Chalkboard, the blog produced by the Salt Lake Tribune's education writers:

Frank Cole, author of The Adventures of Hashbrown Winter is visiting schools in Utah this month and next to talk to students and present them with a contest.

He's asking students to create a character that would go to Pordunce Elementary, the school featured in his books. The grand prize winner will get to see his/her character featured in the series' third book due out next year. The winner will also get a Barnes and Noble Gift Card and an advance copy of Cole's second book.

Students in grades 1 to 6 can enter and entries are due by Nov. 15. Go towww.hashbrownwinters.com to print out an entry form.

Technology integration in action

Technology is a key tool in reaching gifted kids! Many gifted researchers have written extensively on this topic, including current NAGC President Dr. Del Siegle. Read an interview on this subject with Dr. Siegle here, and do your own Google search for many articles he's written on the topic.

This story from the Standard Examiner highlights technology integration in the Ogden School District. Maybe you'll be inspired!

Reminders for 9/28/09

We hope that everyone had a relaxing, rejuvenating weekend! Here are the Program reminders and updates for Monday, 9/27/09:

1. Check the blog DAILY! This is the MAIN communication tool for the High-Ability Program (we're trying to stop cramming your boxes with email).

2. Goal sheets are due by Friday, October 2 (that's THIS week!). This serves as both your professional development and reflections activity for September. We need your goal sheets, both to guide or professional development/reflection activities for October, AND because it's a check-off item for your end-of-year stipend. Teachers, please send a copy to both your coach and to Amy. A copy of the type-on PDF goal sheet is available for download through Confluence - it is currently the top news item (right-hand column of the main page).

3. Teacher Talk will happen this Thursday, 10/1, at 7:00 a.m. in Amy's Wimba room.

4. Check out the front page of the HASIP public website - new site resources, announcements (conferences, etc.) and cool links are posted/updated frequently.

5. Let Amy know about any USU billing issues!

6. Confluence is your friend. We'll be using the Intranet site more and more to provide resources and support. If you need help using your scanner, setting up iChat, using iChat theater (for screen sharing), or setting up/using the Time Machine back-up function you can find video tutorials under "Public Works."

7. The JIRA Trouble ticket system is also your friend. This is the BEST way to let us know that you have a tech problem. You can access it through Confluence - Click on "Department of Public Works" on the main page, and then go to the third blue box on the right and click on "Create a New Issue." You can also link through the public website via http://www.highabilityutah.org/web/educators/hasip-participants - click on "HASIP Help" in the "HASIP Participants" drop-down menu on the right.

KEEP COMING BACK! (Because the blog is your friend, too.)

Teacher Talk!

Our Tech Talk session on Friday, 9/25 was helpful for at least one person... but we sure would like to chat with more of you! I realize that Friday afternoon may not be the ideal time, so let me suggest a couple of alternatives:

Thursdays from 7:00 - 8:00 a.m. on 10/1, 10/15, and 10/29

alternating with

Thursdays from 3:30 - 4:30 p.m. on 10/8 and 10/22

We're changing the name to "Teacher Talk," because we can certainly discuss more than technology - any program issue or question, anything we can provide in the way of resources or advice, and tech help you need - it's all available! Amy will be at every session, and either Matt or Trent will join each time to handle tech questions.

Communication is essential to have the best experience possible in the High-Ability Program - don't be shy, come visit! You'll find us in Amy's "Wimba Room" (click for a direct link).

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USU Account Holds

If you are enrolled in the current HASIP/USU online G/T endorsement course (TEAL 6420/6430) and are receiving notices from USU that your registration has been placed on hold "due to an unpaid balance" for this course - PLEASE LET ME KNOW ASAP! I am SO SORRY that some of you have received these letters/emails; there seems to be a small communication gap at USU between departments. You are NOT responsible for the tuition cost for this class; in USU's vocabulary it is a "sponsored course," paid for by another agency (HASIP). I am working with our contact person at USU to resolve this (not for the first time, I might add).

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Fabulous Prizes!

Congratulations to ARI FISHMAN of Park City - the first teacher to email me his/her goal sheet! His coach, Julie Hooker (also of Park City) reports that ELLIE GALLAGHER and STEVE CUTTITTA actually met with her before Ari, but Ari emailed first, so he gets the BIG BLUE RIBBON (right-click above, Ari, and it's yours to download!).

Way to go Ellie and Steve as well!

Remember... goal sheets are due on October 2.

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What does the High-Ability Program look like for 2009-10?

Here's a snapshot of what we (the HASIP staff) envision for the program in its second year of existence. In some ways things will be the same, and in others, there will be some changes. Participants can expect to be involved in:

1. PLC groups - meeting once a month or so with your group at your school to share resources and ideas, discuss challenges, look at student work, talk about strategies, etc.

2. Coaching support - talking (phone or iChat) with your coach weekly about what's going on in your classroom, what strategies you might try, what kinds of things you need in terms of support/resources/information.

3. Reflections - approximately 2x/month. NOT the same format every time (different from last year). Tied to your own personal goals, and also aligned to some of the topics that are covered in the endorsement classes. In September, the "assignment" is the personal goal-setting sheet that went out at the beginning of this week. Sometimes, a reflection will include videorecording your instruction or class activity, but not EVERY time (or even every week).

4. Professional Development - ongoing opportunities to access readings, webinars, internet resources, etc. We'll be a little more structured than last year, hopefully with a more clear sense of focus and direction. The PD will also be aligned to some of the topics that are covered in the endorsement classes. For example, in October we'll hone in on characteristics of gifted kids, and how we know who it is we need to be targeting with our classroom strategies. This PD focus will give your PLC group and your coaching conversation some direction as well.

5. Continued/enhanced technology training - developing skills for using and integrating technology in a meaningful way in your professional practice. We provide several tools for this program aspect, including the Program MacBook, digital camera, and document scanner. Our Confluence intranet site, the High-Ability Utah public website, and the HASIP blog are all forums for communication and resource-sharing.

Finally, an optional part of the program is the online gifted and talented G/T endorsement class, offered through Utah State University. This is really "icing on the cake" for our participants, but if you choose to get the endorsement, we'll support you in every way possible!

What questions do you have, or what clarification would be helpful in understanding the different program elements? Feel free to comment!

Utah Writing Project Opportunity

Washington County participants, here's an opportunity for you to receive inservice through the Utah Writing Project. I'm confident that there will be information that pertains to high-ability learners in this workshop!

Chris Crowe and Debbie Dean, two BYU professors, have offered a free inservice on October 16th. This is not a work day for teachers. If you would like to participate in this opportunity to learn more about writing instruction and the Central Utah Writing Project, please contact Ramona Jensen at 673-3553 ex. 237 or rjensen@admin.washk12.org. Because the district office is closed on that day, the inservice would take place at Dixie College. 3.5 recertification points will be available for participation.

Central Utah Writing Project

Instructors: Chris Crowe & Debbie Dean

October 16th, 8:30 a.m. - 12 noon

Dixie State College Campus (directions will be sent to participants)

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GOAL SETTING - September Professional Development

SEPTEMBER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOCUS:

As part of the High-Ability Program, it is our goal to align endorsement coursework, professional development, and classroom practice. This applies to ALL our participants, whether enrolled in the online class or not. We want to create a rich, cohesive experience that supports the work you do daily with your high-ability learners. The first step in this process is to determine where you're at, and where you want to go. So, our first significant professional activity of the year is for all participants to complete a goal-setting worksheet.

For September, instead of lesson reflections, participants and coaches will meet (in person, on the phone, or via iChat, whichever suits your situation) to discuss and create a "HASIP Collaborative Goal-Setting Worksheet" to cover the months of October - December 2009 (we'll do this again in January 2010 for the second part of the year).

Think SMART about your goals - SMART goals are:

Specific

Measurable

Attainable

Realistic

Timely

Be comfortable with your goal(s), and make the document a tool to help guide your classroom practice for the next few months. Talk with your coach about where you're at in terms of knowledge and strategy implementation, and design your goal(s) to meet your own needs - everyone's will be different!

The form is attached to the email update on 9/21, and is also available on Confluence. It is a type-on PDF. The TEACHER should have the worksheet open on his/her computer during the coaching conversation, and should be the one to fill in the form. Once the teacher and coach are satisfied with the contents, the teacher then emails a copy to BOTH his/her coach and to ME (make sure to save a copy on your own computer!). It's important to do this, as this document will be one of your "checklist items" at the end of the year to qualify for your stipend.

If you have any questions about the goal-setting worksheet, please let me know. Worksheets should be emailed to me by Friday, October 2. Remember, you are NOT expected to do a lesson reflection form this month! We'll have a new professional development focus in October, and lesson reflections will be aligned to both your personal goals and a strategy/content theme.

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