apPLE for the teacher: January

Happy New Year! Hopefully, you've had some time to decompress, de-stress and rest! It's that time of (new) year again: time to make resolutions. Maybe resolutions aren't your thing, but the new year provides at great opportunity for teachers and students to reflect. In gearing up for the remainder of the school year, what kind of things are you challenging yourself to do? I urge you to take a moment to reflect and project using the template below:

BONUS: Below is a link to several writing activities (including the one above) that you can share with your students to have them revisit their goals for the year and set some new ones! These activities can be used in any subject area!

2015 New Year Activities

Thank you for answering the survey to gather information about what you need to better personalize learning in your classroom. Just as our students have various needs, teachers do as well and we are striving to do a better job of meeting you exactly where you are.

Be on the look out for PDs that will be available at a time most convenient to you. All will be invited to attend the PDs, but special invitations will be sent to those who indicated a specific need in order to coordinate meeting best dates/times.

Meanwhile, if there are requests outside of instructional practices (i.e. how to use a particular app), please let me know and I will be glad to come to you individually or to a grade level/content meeting.

As December was such a quick but hectic month, the focus on mClass Beacon as a formative assessment tool for Math and ELA will be shared in January. See last month's newsletter as a reminder of Beacon's offerings.

December Newsletter

Please encourage students to use their Gaggle email accounts when signing up for school-approved websites such as Edmodo, Animoto, etc. Each student has a Gaggle account whether they use it or not. The login for students credentials are below:

A video (currently in production) will be shared soon with instructions on how to set up Gaggle email on the tablets using the email app. In the meantime, talk to your Media Specs about the process if you have not already!

(Teachers, you also have Gaggle accounts! The credentials are as follows:

• Username: gcsusername@gaggle.gcsnc.com
• Password: GCS password (same as your regular GCS email))

Just a reminder that the tablet avatar contest is still going strong this month. The contest ends February 2 and the work can be submitted via the tablet (email) or on paper (scanned). Students 13+ can submit their own work. If under 13, the student's teacher, media spec or PLEF can help them submit their entry. More details in the Holiday Tablet Care newsletter.

Check out this link for even more info: https://www.projected.com/contests/70-create-your-own-avatar#sthash.39q4BXmJ.dpuf

Don't forget about your techies! Students are still being training for the long-run. Even after our Amplify support members have left, we still want to have a level of tablet support before reaching the media spec or PLEF. Students should know the basics of troubleshooting as well as a few additional items they have/will be trained on. Let's use these students in a leadership role that will stretch them and perhaps even foster up-and-coming technology gurus!

I am a PLEF, Personalized Learning Environment Facilitator, serving Kernodle and Kiser Middle Schools in Guilford County, NC. I am 1/12 of a team of instructional coaches and technology integration specialists who are passionate about revolutionizing education. In my former life, I taught ELA and SS at the elementary and middle grades level. I also taught remedial reading to 6-8 grade students. I <3 middle school!

Email: brownj2@gcsnc.com
Website: ple.gcsnc.com
Location: 501 W. Washington Street, Greensboro, NC 27401
Phone: 336-370-3287
Facebook: facebook.com/pace.plefs
Twitter: @performerplef

September Newsletter

November Newsletter

December Newsletter