Life.Learning.Doodles… are Heck Awesome!
It all began when I saw snaps of snapchat artists and their drawings. I was in aww of their playfulness and use of doodles in real life. I wanted to do that too.
August last year I was unpacking boxes in my new classroom. As I looked at the boxes I had left to unpack I suddenly an idea. What if my classroom had a pet. It would need to be something fast and easy to draw…what about a hamster. I picked up my phone, used the drawing option in snapchat and drew my very first Stanley the Hamster.
Three months ago the idea came to me while I was driving to work one day. It was a crazy idea. Completely insane…but what if?!
So I did what anyone with a crazy dream big, leap off a cliff idea has does. I texted my friend and asked her if she wanted to be a part of this crazy idea…and like any good believe in crazy dream big ideas too friend does, she said heck yeah!!!
My idea was to pitch the Illinois Computing Educators (ICE) to live sketchnote the keynotes for their upcoming 2017 conference. I typed up the email and I hit the send button (then I tried not to fall of my chair or hyperventilate at what I had just done). Continue reading “Learning In Permanent Marker”
Back in August (ouch…its been a long time) I decided I would take a huge leap and share my gamification planning process. I had big plans. I would start by sharing my planning process and then throughout the months to come I would continue sharing by giving others deeper insight on my process. I decided to start by sharing the process of how I create my game and what goes on in my head when I am creating it. I recorded my process, components I consider and my thinking. I finished what was going to be the first in a series and proudly typed “ This is the first part in “My Gamification Process Series” (I’ll be recording and sharing my entire process as I create this year’s game)”. I hit the publish key.
….then there were crickets.
Nothing. Continue reading “The Moment My Gamified Classroom Almost Failed”
Today I started planning my 5th classroom gamification game…5th!!! Holy wow! Can you believe it has been that many already. I sat at my kitchen table and channeled my inner Jedi, Hans Solo, Princess Leia and Chewbacca and R2D2 organizing my thoughts and ideas for my newest game…“Star Wars: The Force Be With You. The Battle Against the Dark Force”.
Continue reading “In A Galaxy Far, Far Away: My Classroom Gamification Process (Part 1)”
Last month (July 11, 2016) was International Edcamp Leader day. Not only was I super excited to be part of this day, learn from and be inspired by local Illinois leaders but the organizers of the Edcamp thought it would be fun to have ignite speeches after our lunch. I jumped at the chance to give an Ignite Speech (actually I squealed in happiness and then thought what the heck have I gotten myself into…eeekkk). After a day or two of brainstorming I had my theme. As I wrote the speech, I knew I wanted to use this opportunity to really push myself as a creator and as a presenter… not only would I share a belief I am deeply passionate about, I would draw the entire ignite speech. Continue reading “WHY NOT: The Story Behind my “Why Not” Sketchnote”
Monday June 27th (I know, I know, it has been a while, a longggg while since I have shared here…insert hanging head of shame). I stepped on a plane before the crack of dawn and headed to ISTE 2016 (International Society for Technology in Education) Conference in Denver, Colorado. On the plane I was absolutely giddy, nervous and excited…really excited. Continue reading “#F2FOMG: My ISTE 2016 Reflection”
I first stumbled upon the Barkley Marathons: The Race That Eats Its Young Documentary when it showed up on my Netflix. It struck my curiosity so I saved it to my list to watch and there it sat for a couple of weeks. Now I’m typically not a documentary lover. I am more of Marvel comics spin off, terrible B horror movie (I know…its a problem) or a Sci-Fi movie kind of gal.
… one Sunday night I decided I’d give it a try. Continue reading “Barkley Marathons: 22.3 Things It Can Teach Teachers (and Us)”
He shared with me the power-ups he uses with his classroom. Power-ups that were not tangible items or special activities.
“Gosh” I thought, “I just don’t think that would work for my students. For my students, their needs and my goals for our gamification system earning tangible items and special activities was what they needed to motivate and encourage them to take big risks and Continue reading “Bright Ideas #7: Mini-Game: Keep. Trade. Auction”
He said, “I never get tired of talking about it. I could talk about it all the time.”
In that moment I couldn’t help but think…really? Continue reading “I Will Never Get Tired of Talking About It”
A week ago I stared at the blinking curser on my screen. The curser blinked waiting for me to put the finishing touches on my session notes for Illinois Computing Educators Conference (#ICE16) that I would be speaking at. Continue reading “#ICE16 Reflections: I Will Never Fail”
I have shared with you about this school year. I have shared that when this school year started I quickly realized it was collectively a classroom of the most challenging students I have ever taught, but I haven’t shared with you this part of that journey yet…this lesson learned. Continue reading “Me and My Ship…A Lesson Learned”
Three week ago (after a rabbit hole of a discussion in Reading class) my students decided they were curious and wanted to learn more about the Great Wall of China. That discussion lead to more discussion, that lead to an impromptu research project, that lead to my students making their first green screen video (the first of many…they were a great success). Continue reading “There is No Too Hard……My Journey Into Project Based Learning”
For the last two years my classroom has been full of innovation, a wide variety of technology, and 21st century ideas. I brought new, exciting tools and ideas into my classroom. Continue reading “The Best Part of My Day”
Last month I shared my first fun foto. It was an idea inspired by the uber amazing Kirsten Piccini. Since her one inspiring tweet I have filled my idea journal with a fun foto theme for each month of the year. Then I wait eagerly for time in my schedule for me to create my next one. Continue reading “October Silly Wacky Fun Foto”
