5 Lessons from a Beach Vacation
(Originally published on gettingsmart.com on July 16, 2013.)I write where I am, and for the last week I have had my toes entrenched in the sand on the beaches of Panama City, Florida. My seven days of sun and relaxation were reminiscent of a song from the Zac Brown...
My 5 Splashes of Brilliance from ISTE ’13
(Originally published on gettingsmart.com on )Just like trying to choose an eating venue from a multitude of amazing restaurants or deciding where to hang out with a group of creative colleagues while walking along the Riverwalk in San Antonio, ISTE 2013 was a...
Keepin’ It Real with RealTime Boards: Online Collaborative Boards
(First published on gettingsmart.com on June 20, 2013.)For a teacher, the summer affords so many opportunities for growth. Aside from the pure blessings of family vacations, recuperative time, and challenging, outdoor projects, June and July offer me a chance to...
#ISTE13: Inspiration, Synergy, Trailblazers, Expertise
(Originally published on GettingSmart.com on June 5, 2013.)Even though ISTE ’13 in San Antonio is just a few weeks away, I am already excited about the absolutes of such an amazing conference for educators. Having experienced the magnificence of ISTE twice already, I...
Educator Resuscitation 101: A Prerequisite for Summer Learning
(Originally published on GettingSmart.com on May 23, 2013.)I need to admit something. I am dead. Dead-tired. Exhausted. Fatigued. Drained. Emotionally and physically spent. And no, I don't need a trusted colleague to play an armchair psychologist. My cheese is not off...
Blended Learning That is Truly Blended
(Originally published on GettingSmart.com on May 10, 2013.)One aspect of education that will never change is the incessant introduction and demise of buzz words. These days educators are discussing flipped classrooms, flattened classrooms, MOOC’s, infographics,...
Infinity: The Size of Today’s Classrooms
(Originally published on GettingSmart.com on April 25, 2013.)There was once a time when contemplating tearing down my classroom walls fancied me wearing a yellow safety helmet and operating a wrecking-ball wielding crane machine. Surely after knocking down windowless...
60 Seconds & a Camera: Essentials for a Culminating Activity
(Originally published on GettingSmart.com on April 10, 2013.) Please excuse any unintentional misleading as suggested by the above title. In all exactness, the blueprint for rendering a solid “60-Second Recap” is a bit more involved and time-consuming,...
22 Power Cards to Revolutionize a Class Discussion
(Originally published on GettingSmart.com on March 27, 2013.) The excitement generated from the interactive learning structure I am about to reveal will definitely not be confused with the impact felt from the French and American Revolutions or the Civil...