An Idea

So, I’ve been thinking about EduCon and conferences. EduCon is always in Philadelphia at SLA. I live in the area and can get there easily. So, even if not every session I attend is earth shattering, and really that is a lot to expect, it’s worth it to me for a number of reasons: ideas, [...]

Can I really say that?

So, I’ve been thinking lately, but as my lack of posting here shows, I have not been writing about it. I could and have come up with all sorts of reasons, which I will not bore you with here.  Anyway, I decided to make a list of topics I would like to write about, if [...]

Dinner Table Talk

So, I’ve been thinking about conversations I do or don’t have with my students. Two events got me thinking about this. First, I was at school a few Saturdays ago for an open house event. This year there were a number of 5th graders there too. They were adding a student perspective, which I thought [...]

The Friend speaks my mind

So, I’ve been thinking about 2 things a Friend said at Meeting for Worship last week. Actually, it was after the official rise of meeting when the community was gathered for a celebration and saying farewell to a weighty Friend (not necessarily a heavy friend, just someone whose opinion is respected and whose ideas carry [...]

Is a peer edit a good edit?

So, I’ve been thinking about peer editing. Honestly, there is no way that I can read and edit everything that my students write. And, just as honestly, there is no reason for me to do so. I get that I am the paid professional in the room, but that does not mean that I am [...]

I stole this idea.

So, I’ve been thinking about this great idea I found on WhatEdSaid’s blog. It’s ok, she won’t mind. She even said so on her initial post. Anyway, here’s how she ended her post: But how about planning a one day ‘conference’ on a theme that’s relevant to everyone? Or a grade level ‘conference’ day as [...]

First Day of School 2011

So, I’ve been thinking about how I haven’t posted anything here in a really long time. I’ll try to write about that later. But, today was the first day of school. Besides going over the boring basic stuff, we made labels for our cubbies, listened to this Yoyo Ma tune for a little dancing, and [...]

A Big Idea and Some Big Questions

So, I’ve been thinking a lot about creating a digital museum for ancient history with my 5th graders next year. I know, there is still plenty of time left in this year. But, something this big needs time to develop. I am part of a group at my school that is working together to understand [...]

It’s all Fun and Games

So, I’ve been thinking about what do on the day before spring break when there will be a few too many people absent to do something new and a few too many people present to just do fluff all day. I planned my formal assessments for the day before the last day since I actually [...]

What Makes a Good Conference Session?

So, I’ve been thinking about EduCon again and sessions in general. What makes a workshop, session, speaker good? I recall reading a description of one reviewer’s process of reviewing cookbooks. This reviewer and cook was going to be on a panel discussion about several cookbooks. He described a conversation he had with another panelist in [...]