Interface 2013 Items

Here is the link to the Interface 2013 conference items.

It has been a nice break from the normal to be at Interface 2013 this year. I love coming to this conference as I return to the classroom energized and ready to implement some of the fun strategies that I have learned.

I"ve had a few good take-a-ways this year:

1. I became a Math and Science Superhero today at a session. Learning a great fun way to get families to come out for a Math and Science night at school.

2. The science notebooking strategy was reconfirmed as an important implementation in the classroom. I didn't do one this year, but have missed it with my students. It will go high on the to do list for next year.

3. I really learned how to customize Google chrome today at a session that showed me tons to cool ways to use the Google apps and integrate them into using Chrome.

4. I got some problem-solving ideas for turning any math question into a higher order thinking question.

5. I also went to a session and received a CD with tons of math and science websites. There were so many that there was no way that I could check them all out. I'm excited to share those with the teachers at school.


All in all, I always get some good things to go back to school and implement. I hope that my presentation is received well tomorrow and it is informative and helpful to people.

Currently

Gotta thank Farley for the currently's. I find so many good blogs from the links.

Listening: Internet Radio... Music is calming and inspiring to me. It provides the motivation to get things done and keeps me moving.

Loving: Weekends, Calm, Quiet..... I don't get much calm and quiet, so it is totally appreciated this morning.

Thinking: About all the work I need to get done. There is a list somewhere. I really need to get the powerpoint done for my conference presentation at the end of the month. I want to be prepared and just don't want to waste teachers' time. I would rather them participate in the presentation and feel that it is a valuable use of their time.

Wanting: Spring.... I have spring fever really bad this year. My house has been deep cleaned, and I'm ready for some warmer weather to head this way. 

Needing: To get over this cold.... Granted it isn't a bad cold, but who wants to feel bad. I've been using the Greens from IT WORKS!! They really really work, but I like all of their products that I've tried. I've used the Wraps and lost 30 pounds since May. I'm ready to start for an additional 30 pounds to get to my goal. 

Pet Peeves:  It is that time of year when 6th graders start to believe that their teachers are STUPID! Lies and Laziness are my biggest pet peeves. I'm getting lazy answers and worst of all lies. Silly kids, you'd think that they would learn that I always find out. 

CELEBRATING: I have to add some positiveness in this post.

1. Students are really starting to understand the SRR approach. They are wanting to see their assessment scores increase. 

2. I just booked a huge Scentsy event!!  Whoohooooo, that is hard to do with so many consultants.

3. Hitting the 30 pounds gone mark this week. They are staying off and I'm even exercising more. 5k's are getting easier to run.

SRR Progress

Progress with Standards Referenced Reporting

Raves....

1. Students are really really understanding the tracking and starting to see progress.

2. Math is so easy to transfer. I"m working on a process for Science.

3. I may have finally tackled the Middle School Earth Science NGSS document!!! BIG CHEERS!!

4. Science Learning Targets 90% complete.  WOOOHOOO!

5. NearPOD was a huge hit with my 6th graders. I will totally put some time into this app for the IPads.

6. I love the data sheet that our computer's teacher created for us to use with SRR. It is so completely easy to enter the data points and visually see how students are learning. 

Rants/Wants....

1. I need a better way to do some unobtrusive assessments as data points. Any ideas out there?

2. TIME.... It seems that I spend lots of time coming up with assessments now.

3. Proficiency scales....This is my next thing to tackle. We haven't even started on proficiency scales for science or math. This is my next big project.

4. District technology and all of their processes. ENOUGH SAID, moving on........ I so can't control this one.