Day 4

Hi Internet Audience! 

I know I haven't been true to the 30 days in a row, but I still intend on completing the challenge. Everyone understands, I'm sure because life gets in the way and the past five days have consumed all my writing energy! 

So here is what I need to reflect about today:

"What is your most favorite part about teaching?"

I know that in my first post, I alluded to what I thought my favorite part it, but as many of you know, my mind changes like the wind. I think that is my favorite part about teaching. I love that behavior can change from day to day, and I love that kids are so flexible when they have trust in their teacher. I can't even tell you how many times in the past three years, that we needed to alter part of the lesson or the whole day because of a variable in the day. 
I remember one day specifically, when I had to cancel all plans of academic and hold a class meeting to make sure everyone was emotionally ready to learn. 
Teaching is such an enriching profession and so unique. Everyday is  a new adventure with these kids. They are the future of tomorrow. I'm so lucky to have the best job in the world! 

-Heather

Day 3!

Day 3: Discuss one observation you would like to improve on for your next teacher evaluation.


This is really a great question. There are so many different things that I know I can make better. However, this year, I really want to focus on domain 3 instruction for providing feedback and domain 1 in assessment and using assessment to really guide my instruction. I know that I have done this is in the past, however, I do want to try and make it an every day occurrence and to get students to notice that it's on purpose.

Today I was able to start putting this goal into motion by explaining the different checkpoints they will go through before their final draft is due. We talked about why would we need to make sure students meet with me at three different dates down the road with a "finished" writing piece, and the students came up with great responses!

"So we can fix our errors"
"So we know what we should have had accomplished"

All students seemed to like the idea of knowing what the final product should sound like and look like. It was a basic model that as a class and a team we will develop more specific results and expectations. However, for now I think this was a good first step!

Now I know that was my reflection question but I must say that I am completely wiped after today! I must have been looking at a computer screen for the past twelve hours! Not because I had to, but because I wanted to continue to learn and teach more! I had many visitors today, students, teachers, and administrators, come in to my room to see what I was doing with the technology.

I love being a third year teacher because it's almost as if some magic confidence just exudes out and people start believing things you have to say. I must admit, I kind of like it.


I love what I do. I love helping people. I'm so glad that I am a teacher. I always say that if I could teach for free and still survive, I would.

However, I do need to echo a co-worker today. I don't want to teach in order to earn the big bucks. I would rather be appreciated with a thank you, or just a pretty picture. My co-worker told me about this video below and I am just appalled that someone would degrade the profession of teaching to this level. Of course it would be nice to get paid like an athlete, however, money doesn't always encourage brains...

Teachers paid like athletes

This video just upsets me mostly because they are objectifying the role of a teacher. It is more than just assigning homework and taking attendance. I wish the media would report the real stories of teachers.

In the end, would I work hard for money? Absolutely. Would I work harder for recognition and positive feedback? Without a doubt. I don't have to preach to any of you teachers, but we all know who the true teachers are. We are the ones with heart. Who would do this job that teaches all other jobs without pay.

With that, I leave you to your night time thoughts.

-Heather

Day 2- Challenge accepted

Hello all!

I hope you are having a wonderful night! I know it's late, but I am going to make sure that I complete my challenge, therefore, Day 2 is underway.

When I accepted the challenge initially, I didn't see any prompts that I needed to follow daily. I am a creature of habit and thus will need a bit of guidance when reflecting in each blog. I'm basing my challenge off of this website- Reflect.

For day 2 I have to talk about a piece of technology that I am willing to learn or try this year and what am I planning on seeing with the new tech integration.

This is a perfect question because I have already started my journey into the android and chrome book world. As mentioned in previous posts, I am an iOS user and proud of it. However, learning all of the extensions, additions, and other opportunities that Google can over to young readers/writers is becoming not only overwhelming but also exciting! My goal really is to use Google as my edtech integration and as a tool, not a necessity. So many times, my brain is wrapped around the idea that technology is the end all be all to my problems. However, in many cases it opens up a whole new can of worms.

I hope to see not only student growth in content knowledge and skill level, but also growth for learning. I want my students to be as passionate as I am about learning new devices. I know that many times this excitement and passion comes from the teacher, but I am hoping that Google and all of the opportunities it has offered our district will have influenced students to think for themselves and find solutions to difficult problems.

-Heather

First day of Reflection

"By sharing your views, ideas, challenges and experience, you are not only setting an example for other teachers to follow, but also an example for your students.  Remember, those kids will grow up in a world that has always known the idea of sharing one’s thoughts online with the world.  And they need guidance on finding their own voice in that world.  Among others, they will look to you.  Share not only a love of lifelong learning, but of lifelong sharing  – show that it’s okay to be vulnerable and “out there”."
-Steve Woods 

Wow! Those are some powerful words. 

I use to blog back when Xanga and Myspace were cool. It's interesting growing up in a time without technology and social-cyber norms and then one day getting "slapped in the face" with innovation and collaboration at its finest. 

I have to say, for my ripe age of 24, I've been pretty adaptive to all that has been thrown my way. However, when I think on it more, isn't that what surviving is all about? The ability to adapt at a moments notice is in my opinion one of the strongest qualities of a teacher. Education has had its roller coaster drops and its superman soars, however, I'm wondering when or if Education can be at a constant. 

So let's get back to answering these questions: 
 What do you love most about teaching? 
What do I love most about teaching? Hmmm. I clearly love all the adorable letters, and pictures that kids just feel like giving you... then again I have sixth grade so that phase doesn't last that long. Honestly, I love teaching for the amount of knowledge that is interchangeable through student and teacher. Especially for this school year. In the previous post, I mentioned how our district was fortunate enough to afford two devices for every student. However, this causes a large learning curve not only for students but teachers as well. It's been great having my class jobs set up so my tech crew can really dive into the problem solving world of technology! I feel that teaching is more than just an exchange of information but also an exchange of compassion and familiarity. This is what I strive to do day in and day out of teaching. Another favorite of mine, which is new this year, is watching my former students excel in their studies. It makes me feel a little guilty that I am starting to like my new students almost as much! I feel like it's the second child syndrome to a mother! I'm definitely learning how to deal with these emotional rides and I don't even have my own students yet! 

 Name three strengths you have as an educator.

1. Compassion
2. Enthusiasm for lifelong learning
3. Versatility 

With that, I am signing off until tomorrow. Thanks for reading! 

-Heather

Fun Friday

Hello Internet Audience!

It surely has been a while since you heard from Miss Knobloch! Here are some key points I will be blogging about today:

Coming up... New Last Name:
Next year I am taking out the knoblochmeansgarlic and changing my blog name to something with the Sherwood Forest. My new last name will be now be Sherwood! Hooray!

First week of school:

The first week of school has been crazy! However, it has also been extremely rewarding and new! I know that I will be learning and teaching to best of my ability!

This year we are going through quite a few innovative changes in our district.
- New devices:
   Every student in our school has been given TWO devices.

Nexus 7 tablet 

and 

Acer Chromebook 

The teachers are given a tablet and a Macbook pro to complete their tasks. 

I know many of my readers know how much I love technology! At first I was bummed that our Apple products were going away. (The students use to all have a 

Classroom Set up
Classroom environment (SEL)

New Devices

Start with your home screen. 

Locate  and click on the "chrome apps" they are different that doc apps and Google Play apps. 

Click on the Chrome Store (top left widget) 

Type in "Presentation Remote" in to your search bar on the left hand side

Look at all of your options! I just copied and pasted the device link that the district sent out into the example, but you can easily drop other documents in as well! 

On your table Download the Mo Dobo from your Google Play Store 

When you open it, you get this screen 
Once you reach this screen you can now stand anywhere in the room and go to the next slide. I find this useful for my classroom because it organizes my lessons into a sequence that the kids can understand. It also allows me to be up and around and not near my desk all the time. Just figured I would share it with you all. Yes it is free. 

-Common Core submergence corresponding with Curriculum Design Reconstruction. 

Our district is working hard to make sure we dissect the Common Core and select anchor standards that will bring students to successful applications for life and not just for the classroom. We are changing the way our teachers, administration, and students think. We are requiring more writing and more importantly more thinking about our writing. Reflection is such a strong skill to acquire no matter what profession you belong to. If you can reflect and adapt based on those reflections you are creating stronger dendrite reactions in your brain. 

Transitioning towards the reflective portion of this blog. I am participating in the reflective challenge for teachers. Starting September 1, I will be blogging every day for thirty days about my teaching and how I can improve my teaching. I look forward to following other teachers who are also taking this challenge. 

With that I am signing off. Thanks so much Internet Audience! I will return on September 1! 

-Heather  

Socratic Friday

​Today was our Socratic Seminar Discussion quiz for chapters 12-15 in our Lost Hero Novel. The outside circle maintained an authentic conversation about the verbal conversation going on in the inner circle. All students were responsible for coming up with questions for the quiz. We compiled all of the questions and made it into a study guide for the weekend. We held a practice round yesterday so students would feel confident going into the test today. 

I got the idea to do this from my AP Literature class in High School. I told the kids how proud I was that they were able to go through this intense process. When I told them that they were partaking in an Advanced Placement level activity, well let's just say there were a lot of smiles and pride engulfed the room. 

The student feedback was overwhelmingly positive! Students were EXCITED about going back into the inner circle to discuss their favorite question a second and a third time! I had a total of 17 students out of my 25 voluntarily and excitedly go back into the inner circle to increase their understanding and knowledge of the text. 

In addition to the feedback and the engagement I had for the inner circle, everyone was determined to express their intelligence on the site Todaysmeet.com. 

Aside from a few technical errors, the site worked wonderfully and students were excited to see their question/comment pop into the RSS feed. 

Finally, in case there were any shy students in the discussion, they chose two of the questions that they created from each chapter to answer in a written format. This written format of the test was taken after they spend a couple rounds in the socratic seminar. 

This lesson is research based and aligned with the CCSS. 

http://webzoom.freewebs.com/charlesamesfischer/documents/Seminar%20and%20Common%20Core.pdf

Testing Tuesday

Hello Internet Audience!

I know I have been MIA... for a while now. But as any newer teacher understands, life gets stressful after winter break.

Today marks the second day of standardized testing at my school. It is the last year that we will have to administer this test in paper and pencil format. I'm just curious how the PARCC assessment will look and if we will get any PD to prepare for it. I'm hoping that code writing has something to do with this test.


Speaking of code writing and technology, last Friday I attended and presented at the ICE conference. Can you say NERD alert?

I was able to try on a pair of Google Glasses! I know to some of you daily techies this means nothing, however, I'm sure I will never get to touch them again!

I learned so much at this conference that I will have to update a new blog post all about it next week. 

I just wanted to get all of your feedback on some of the CPS teachers refusing to administer the ISAT test. I wonder if the repercussions will take place and if they will lose their job?

Check back next Tuesday for a lengthy update!

-HK