Monday, January 30, 2012

...Because carrying your collection shouldn't break your back

This summer I finished my level III Kodaly certification that was a part of my graduate degree, and anyone who has completed this monumental task has a 3 inch binder that ways 100 pounds to prove it!  Carrying my collection back and fourth to my two schools and home so that I can explore it, has done more than given me extra gems to add to my lesson plans, it has also given me another reason to schedule a massage!  Channeling with my "mac" brain, I decided to do something about it.  Hence, my latest project....scanning my collection and loading the PDF files onto my IPad.  Check out the picture for the difference!  I am in the process of making mini collections of Kodaly concepts to put on my IBook shelf as well.  This project is inspiring me to scan my other past conference/workshop notes that are currently housed in a three inch binder on my office shelf.  Looking to do this too?  Try your school's copy machine.  Ours has the ability to scan a stack of papers at once (at lightening speed I might add) and upload them to a flash drive, I then transferred them through email to my IPad...VOILA!!


Another fun gem...Do a quick google search for various master teachers workshop notes and teaching resources....I have been able to load numerous PDF teaching tools that I currently have in notebooks in my office to my IBook shelf.  These notes and their easy to access status have proven to be an invaluable resource!  Digging through binders to find "that one note from that one workshop" is becoming a thing of the past for me!  

Monday, January 16, 2012

Pump up your lesson plans with a dose of brain-based research!!

I have recently attended some courses taught by Kim Bevill.  Kim Bevill is the founder of the education consulting group Gray Matters.  Bevill's workshops weave brain research and education together to create greater results in the classroom.  One of the resources I picked up was a card packet at the last workshop.  Each card in the packet includes an activity to complete in the classroom along with brain-based research to back up the activity.  I have begun utilizing these activities in the classroom and WOW!  Quick, effective, and purposeful! Just what I am looking for! I recommend ordering this resource for the classroom.  Click here for a link to purchase the cards.  Check out Kim's website for some powerful brain-based classroom tools and education and if you are in the Denver area, take one of her Saturday workshops!  Click here for a course schedule.