Teacher Spotlight - Standley Lake High School Summer Reading Program with Tanya Jensen, Digital Teacher Librarian

First year Digital Teacher Librarian, Tanya Jensen, has been collaborating with the Jefferson County Public Library (JCPL) and her English teachers to develop a website that supports summer reading at Standley Lake High School. The website functions like GoodReads, but has been created specifically for students; high schoolers can write reviews and search for titles based on genre and recommendations. In addition, the staff will participate and add their reviews to the website. The school's vision is to grow the site so that it is an easy way for students to locate books of interest, based on peer reviews. Students can also submit suggestions for books they want the library to purchase in the future.

The summer reading program has changed from giving students a list of books they have to choose from, to allowing students the freedom to select any book they want. Students that don’t know which book to choose will now have this peer-generated list of recommended books to guide them. In their English class next fall, with the support of the Digital Teacher Librarian, students will write book summaries and reviews for the website.

The kick off for the summer reading program at SLHS is during during Literacy Week, which falls from April 24th-28th. The JCPL team and Tanya are working together to introduce the students to as many books as possible in a short amount of time through a book speed dating activity. There will be tables based on genre, and the students will peruse the books for five minutes at each table to determine where their interests lie. Students will be provided with bookmarks to jot down interesting books they discovered. If students find a title they want to check out, they will be able to do so through JCPL. On Friday, April 28th, Barnes and Noble will visit the school for a mini book fair, where students will be able to purchase books that match their interests.

The staff is excited about this exciting new website, and they feel this will be a better fit for students to find books that match their interests. The JCPL summer reading program entices teens to read through the summer by awarding an Eliche's 1-day pass to the first 5,000 readers, achieving 8 hours or more. The Jefferson County high school with the most readers will receive an $800 prize.

Link to SLHS Summer Reading Website

Speed Dating with Jefferson County Public Library

What's all this talk about a MakerSpace?

You’ve probably heard the word thrown around in certain circles. People casually dropping the catchy word, MakerSpace, like it’s no big deal. You smile and nod but don’t really know what they’re talking about. It sounds fun and STEM-like but it sounds a little intimidating.

So what IS all this buzz about a MakerSpace?

A MakerSpace is just what it sounds like...a SPACE to MAKE! Makerspaces provide students with the opportunity to create, learn, invent and make, using a variety of different resources. From Legos to robots, straws to 3D printers, the sky's the limit when it comes to innovation. And even with tight budgets - scrappy DTLs and teachers have found great ways to include some incredible resources.

So you might be wondering, “How does that work in a school?”

Great question.

Keri Douglas is the DTL at Deane Elementary School located in Lakewood, CO. She got her MakerSpace up and running in the library this year. She’s a rookie, too, so hopefully her journey can inspire you, as you embark down the MakerSpace road.

What sparked your MakerSpace curiosity?

I took a Maker Culture class through CU Denver a few years ago while completing a Masters. A seed was planted as this was the first time I had heard about MakerSpace. I went to a MakerFaire at Denver Museum of Nature and Science with my sons and was so inspired. The whole idea was overwhelming, so I did not begin to act on it for 2 years.

How does the MakerSpace work at Deane?

We've been a PLC school for years and have had trouble with substitutes. We have used several models and schedules that weren't as effective as we'd hoped. Our leadership team was brainstorming last year, and we came up with using our talents/resources from within. The amazing library para/IT specialist, Amos Baca, and I created a MakerSpace as part of that solution. We are a great team as we see the same vision for students engaged in STEM activities. Students come once a month to the MakerSpace in the library to do STEM activities and MakerSpace challenges while their teachers are in PLCs.

How did you get started?

I have been saving Book Fair money for a few years. I started there. I tried to focus on what resources we already had and started small. We knew we wanted a LEGO wall, so that's where we focused the bulk of our monies. We also had a LEGO drive and collected pieces from our community through Facebook and my neighborhood website. We partnered with the Lakewood Faith Coalition and they have been helping with Legos also.

I got rid of our “lookup station” and it is now a workstation. I purchased stools and got rid of the bulky chairs. I purchased bins for supplies. We purchased inexpensive consumables: duct tape, straws, plastic cups, pipe cleaners, washi tape, origami paper, binder clips, paper roller coaster templates, craft sticks, clothes pins, and books for ideas (LEGO creations, Easy Origami ideas, Duct tape ideas). We also purchased some TinkerToys, Snap Circuits, and Spheros. Every activity has challenge cards so there is a focus and purpose.

For our official KickOff, we had a MakerFaire instead of a Book Fair for two nights during conferences. Families loved it and stayed for hours. They are now coming back to volunteer on their child’s STEM/MakerSpace time.

Teachers can now use the MakerSpace for their science and social studies lessons. I collaborated with a 6th grade teacher who used the MakerSpace for students to create a student-chosen project that represented the theme of an independent book. It was exciting!

What advice do you have for those wanting to dip their toes into the Makerspace world?

Start with what you have and build up. I gathered materials and money for awhile before I actually started to implement. I was able to easily find ideas online, Twitter and on Pinterest. They inspired me for lessons and supplies. I also have a purpose and/or challenge for each activity.

What resources can you share with others?

I could not find task/challenge cards that I liked so I made my own.

I follow on Twitter: @DianaLRendina, @Makerspaces_com, @gravescolleen.

I love Pinterest!

There are many DTLs in Jeffco already immersed in MakerSpaces. This is just one tale of greatness happening out in our schools. So whether you’re already swimming in the deep end of the MakerSpace pool or just dipping your toes in at the shallow end, keep up the great innovation. Our students are learning from you!

How does the MakerSpace work in your school? Comment below! We’d love to hear your ideas!

Annotating Documents using Google Classroom

While you were away enjoying your summer, Google Classroom came out with brand new feature that allows both teachers and students to annotate PDF's and JPG's using the Google Classroom mobile app. Previously, students and teachers would need to have another app, such as Notability, to annotate documents.

Annotation tools within Google Classroom include the eraser, pen, marker, highlighter, and text tool. Using these options, Students can use the annotation feature to draw, sketch, notate, and write out their thinking. Check out the presentation below to learn how to use the annotation features within classroom!


Think beyond the limits of worksheets! Imagine how students could capture their thinking by taking a photograph of a text they are working with and could mark up the document using their annotation features to show their thinking. No more sticky notes in text books that make it difficult for a teacher to view!

Not only can students annotate their thinking, teachers can, too! Teachers can select a different pen color and provide feedback to their students on the same document previously annotated by students. Teachers have the same annotation tools as students. Just remember to return student assignments in Classroom in order for students to see the feedback on that assignment.

To use the new annotation feature, you will need to make sure your students and teacher iPads have the most updated version of Google Classroom. To update your Google Classroom app, delete the app off of your iPads and reinstall it through the Jeffco App Catalog. Don't worry, you will not lose your classes and data, as that information is saved in the cloud.

Here's the official announcement from Google, published August 17th.

Student Spotlight: Einstein has Nothing on These Geniuses

Genius Hour = Engagement x Learning2

Fourth graders at Van Arsdale participated in Genius Hour, based on Google's 20% time. This is part of a movement to promote self-directed learning, innovation, creativity, and sharing. Students spend time devoted to a topic of their choice. It is more about the process  than the product. Fourth grade teacher, Dawn Wiley worked with her DTL, Michelle McHugh, to tie Genius Hour to CAP.  "Students were the ones recognizing the cross-curricular connections. They were the ones leading the learning,” remarked Dawn. "I was so impressed with them. Genius Hour brings learning full circle.”

• One student began with a strong interest in fashion-- her work morphed into different styles that change throughout the year. She eventually taught us about the analogous colors on the color wheel.

• Another with a passion for gymnastics dug into how the leotard design impacted movement and pursued sewing her own leotard.

Research on how the design of the leotard affects movement

• One student wanted to know how an ipad worked. He used a broken ipad and chronicled taking it apart in photos.

• Another student learned how to build a glider with his dad and actually took a flying lesson.

What would you tell students and teachers who are new to Genius Hour? 

Ainsley: “To come up with your topic think about things you would like to do or think of topics you would like to learn more about or are curious about. For example, if you are really interested in bikes you may want to learn about how bikes work, how to build a bike, or what types of bikes are new, what they used to be like and how they have advanced through the years."




Michelle (DTL): A teacher may feel apprehensive because it is inquiry based, but it is all about thinking and DOK. It also provides amazing opportunities for incorporating digital citizenship, ISTE standards, ELA, and oral expression. Many students choose science or social studies topics. We defined the difference between interests, hobbies, and passions. 

How to get started:

Begin with helping students select a topic and ask a "non-Google-able" question. This is challenging. Dawn and Michelle used the analogy of a watermelon and seeds. The watermelon is the big idea; the seeds are all of the details. Students start with a great big idea (the watermelon) and want to get to the specifics (the seeds).  After students choose their topic, they write three inquiry based questions. Dawn and Michelle used Google Classroom for pre-assessment, progress monitoring, and daily class communication. They suggest using a notecatcher for students to record their information. Finally, students need to have time to reflect on the process and the learning, not just present their information.

CAP Connections

When Dawn and Michelle began to plan Genius Hour, they started with CAP. ISTE technology standards were integrated into the writing curriculum through their collaboration. They focused on bringing it into writing, determining importance, determining reliable resources, and identifying criteria for a reliable resource. They talked about such skills as: "How do you search in Google?  How do you know this is a reliable resource?"

Learning points for next time:

• As a teacher, blog or journal  about your Genius Hour nightly.

• Caution students to focus on the topic, not the presentation tool

• Using Explain Everything on the iPads was a great way to keep the work at school, driven by students, not completed by parents.

Michelle’s advice- Go in with a growth mindset.  You are not the keeper of the knowledge. You are adjusting instruction every day. It is a huge opportunity for you to learn about yourself as a teacher and a learner. Make sure students are blogging or doing some type of exit ticket. They get so excited. You have to help them channel that excitement.

“It really pushed my thinking as a teacher.”- Dawn Wiley

Resources:
http://www.cnn.com/2014/03/09/living/genius-hour-education-schools/
http://www.livebinders.com/play/play?id=829279
www.geniushour.com