A Summer To-Do List for Educators

Here are some of my top things I will be doing here in the DMV area during my time off this summer.  
Read a Good Book or Magazine: 
This summer, I have made a pack with myself to finish reading a few books and magazines I have begun and never finished, so I will be doing more reading this summer.  I will also be in search for new books and magazines to read.  Let’s start with the books I will be finishing:
  1. Move On, Move Up by Paula White
  2. Each That Frog by Brian Tracy
  3. Turning Everyday Conversations into Gospel Conversation by Jinny Scroggins and Steve Wright
  4. The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell
  5. Jesus As CEO by Laurie Beth Jones 
  6. The First Days of School by Harry K. Wong (Re-read)
  7. When Kids Can’t Read: What Teachers Can Do by Kylene Beers 
There are several magazine issues I have to read to refresh and revive my spirit and way of  thinking; here they are: 
  1. Shape Magazine:provides great ideas on exercise and eating healthy.
  2. Better Homes and Gardens: provides wonderful ideas on living spaces in the home.  I also like looking at the pictures to get color ideas for my home and tips on how to make my garden more beautiful.  
  3. The O Magazine (Oprah Winfrey): one of my best magazine reads that provide insight on personal well-being, decision making, and self-improvement.  
Take Day Trips
This summer I plan on staying in town for the summer, so I am in the process of locating places I can visit that are close enough to visit in one day and possibly over a weekend.  One place I definitely will be visiting is St. Micheals, MD,which is about an hour and 30 minutes away, requiring you to leave after the DMV rush hour traffic.  Check the weather to ensure the day will be filled with plenty of sunshine.  Another wonderful place to visit for one day is Harpers Ferry, WV.  Harpers Ferry is a historic town filled with rich history and you can learn about the revolt started by John Brown; I love visiting this antiquated town. The Appalachian Trail also begins in Harpers Ferry and offers a perfect opportunity for hiking or just walking on the trail.  Carroll Valley, PAis a place where golf lovers must visit and is only about two hours away from Washington, DC.  I love traveling to Carroll Valley because the drive takes you through Emmitsburg, MD (a small historic town) and the hospitality is superb; I am always treated like a queen even when I stink up the course. You can find some unique gifts and great eats in Emmitsburg.  Carroll Valley Golf Course offers a wonderful all-inclusive golf package that includes18-holes, breakfast, and dinner; the food is excellent!  Another quiet, restful place to visit is Colonial Williamsburg, VA. This can be a weekend getaway trip that could break the pockets because of the number of shopping outlets located in Williamsburg, VA. My husband and I visited this historic spot  one summer and fell in love with the place; so much to see and learn.   Last but not least, Chesapeake Beach, MDis another little hide-away spot that I like visiting during the week when everyone is working.  Chesapeake Beach offers a small, quiet beach where I can go and read, write, or just get a little quite time. The beach sits on the Chesapeake Bay and provides a wonderful view of the bay.  After laying out on the beach, I then like to go to one of the restaurants on the beach, Rod-N-Reel Restaurant, which offers delicious seafood entrees.  Rod-N-Reel also has a wonderful brunch  buffet on Saturday mornings.  There is also a wonderful hotel on the beach if you decide you want to stay over night or a weekend.  
Fun Things To Do
I love being outdoors in the summer time so I like to find places where I can enjoy the outdoors, such as parks.  One of my favorite parts to visit is Haynes Pointbetter know as East Potomac Park. I like to take long walks around the park and look at the water and airplanes landing and taking off at Regan National Airport.  There is also a golf course and miniature golf course, both of which provide opportunities of fun.  Not too far from Haynes Point are the Smithsonian Museums, which are full of information or culture, science, engineering, art, and technology. Spending an entire day visiting the different museums is a wonderful way to spend time with the family.  While visiting the various museums, make sure to catch a movie in one of the IMAX theaters (located in the Natural History and Air and Space Museums); teachers can view educational movies for free with identification. You can also plan a sightseeing tour of the city by double-decker buses or sedge ways.   The National Zoois another fun place to go visit during the summer.  There are several exhibits that have been renovated and I want to see the finished products.  Last but definitely not least is spending time with family and friends.  During the school year I find it difficult to get out and be with family and friends because of my work schedule, but I plan on making up for lost time this summer with family and friends.  I want to journey to South Carolina and see my relatives and spend some quality, fun time with them; I dearly love my family.  I will also find time to catch up with some of my dear friends and old colleagues over a meal or refreshing summer drink.  
Be Safe This Summer
Be sure to protect your skin while out in the sun and wear plenty of insect repellent to avoid those pesky mosquitoes.  Stay hydrated as well by drinking plenty of water instead of sodas and even juices, which contain a large amount of sugar.  I like eating fresh fruit salads during the summer months, which we know are very good for your body; dig in!  Staying safe also means maintaining good health by exercising at least three times a week.  I have made a promise to myself that I will get back into the gym at least three days a week; I will stick to it!  Have a great summer!!!   
Be Positive on Purpose! 

A Summer To-Do List for Educators

person hands woman pen
Here are some of my top things I will be doing here in the DMV area during my time off this summer.  
Read a Good Book or Magazine: 
This summer, I have made a pack with myself to finish reading a few books and magazines I have begun and never finished, so I will be doing more reading this summer.  I expect my students to read over the summer, so why shouldn’t I do the same?  I will also be in search for new books and magazines to read.  Let’s start with the books I will be finishing:
  1. Move On, Move Up by Paula White
  2. Each That Frog by Brian Tracy
  3. Turning Everyday Conversations into Gospel Conversation by Jinny Scroggins and Steve Wright
  4. The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell
  5. Jesus As CEO by Laurie Beth Jones 
  6. The First Days of School by Harry K. Wong (Re-read)
  7. When Kids Can’t Read: What Teachers Can Do by Kylene Beers 
There are several magazine issues I have to read to refresh and revive my spirit and way of  thinking; here they are: 
  1. Shape Magazine:provides great ideas on exercise and eating healthy.
  2. Better Homes and Gardens: provides wonderful ideas on living spaces in the home.  I also like looking at the pictures to get color ideas for my home and tips on how to make my garden more beautiful.  
  3. The O Magazine (Oprah Winfrey): one of my best magazine reads that provide insight on personal well-being, decision making, and self-improvement.  
Take Day or Weekend Trips
This summer I plan on staying in town for the summer, so I am in the process of locating places I can visit that are close enough to visit in one day and possibly over a weekend.  One place I definitely will be visiting is St. Micheals, MD,which is about an hour and 30 minutes away, requiring you to leave after the DMV rush hour traffic.  Check the weather to ensure the day will be filled with plenty of sunshine.  Another wonderful place to visit for one day is Harpers Ferry, WV.  Harpers Ferry is a historic town filled with rich history and you can learn about the revolt started by John Brown; I love visiting this antiquated town. The Appalachian Trail also begins in Harpers Ferry and offers a perfect opportunity for hiking or just walking on the trail.  Carroll Valley, PA is a place where golf lovers must visit and is only about two hours away from Washington, DC.  I love traveling to Carroll Valley because the drive takes you through Emmitsburg, MD (a small historic town) and the hospitality is superb; I am always treated like a queen even when I stink up the course. You can find some unique gifts and great eats in Emmitsburg.  Carroll Valley Golf Course offers a wonderful all-inclusive golf package that includes18-holes, breakfast, and dinner; the food is excellent!  Another quiet, restful place to visit is Colonial Williamsburg, VA. This can be a weekend getaway trip that could break the pockets because of the number of shopping outlets located in Williamsburg, VA. My husband and I visited this historic spot  one summer and fell in love with the place; so much to see and learn.   Last but not least, Chesapeake Beach, MD is another little hide-away spot that I like visiting during the week when everyone is working.  Chesapeake Beach offers a small, quiet beach where I can go and read, write, or just get a little quite time. The beach sits on the Chesapeake Bay and provides a wonderful view of the bay.  After laying out on the beach, I then like to go to one of the restaurants on the beach, Rod-N-Reel Restaurant, which offers delicious seafood entrees.  Rod-N-Reel also has a wonderful brunch  buffet on Saturday mornings.  There is also a wonderful hotel on the beach if you decide you want to stay over night or a weekend.  
Fun Things To Do
I love being outdoors in the summer time so I like to find places where I can enjoy the outdoors, such as parks.  One of my favorite parks to visit is Haynes Point, located near downtown Washington, DC,  better known as East Potomac Park. I like to take long walks around the park and look at the water and airplanes landing and taking off at Regan National Airport.  There is also a golf course and miniature golf course, both of which provide opportunities for fun.  Not too far from Haynes Point are the Smithsonian Museums, which are full of information on culture, science, engineering, art, and technology.  Spending an entire day visiting the different museums is a wonderful way to spend time with the family.  While visiting the various museums, make sure to catch a movie in one of the IMAX theaters (located in the Natural History and Air and Space Museums); teachers can view educational movies for free with identification. You can also plan a sightseeing tour of the city by double-decker buses or sedge ways.   The National Zoo is another fun place to visit during the summer.  There are several exhibits that have been renovated and I want to see the finished products.  Last but definitely not least is spending time with family and friends.  During the school year I find it difficult to get out and be with family and friends because of my work schedule, but I plan on making up for lost time this summer with family and friends.  I want to journey to South Carolina and see my relatives and spend some quality, fun time with them; I dearly love my family.  I will also find time to catch up with some of my dear friends and old colleagues over a meal or ice cream cone.  
Be Safe This Summer
Be sure to protect your skin while out in the sun and wear plenty of insect repellent to avoid those pesky mosquitoes.  Stay hydrated as well by drinking plenty of water instead of sodas and even juices, which contain a large amount of sugar.  I like eating fresh fruit salads during the summer months, which we know are very good for your body; I can’t wait to dig in!  Staying safe also means maintaining good health by exercising at least three times a week.  I have made a promise to myself that I will get back into the gym at least three days a week; I will stick to the workout plan I created!  Have a great summer!!!   
Be Positive on Purpose! 

Reflecting on This School Year

beach beautiful bridge carribean
Photo by Nextvoyage on Pexels.com
This year has been filled with more challenges than past years of my teaching career.  I have experienced loss, abuse, both verbal and physical, and witnessed the decline in the climate and culture of the school at which I work.  However, despite the negative experiences of this past school year, I can celebrate knowing that the ending is near; four days to be exact.  Working in Urban Education can be exhausting under the wrong, or ill-equipped leadership team.  No matter where teachers work, suburban or urban school districts, they should be reflective practitioners to regain their confidence and identify instructional strategies that will improve student learning.  A reflective practitioner should celebrate the highlights of the school year, begin setting goals for the upcoming year, and engage in some well-needed rest and relaxation during the breaks from work.  
Celebrate Highlights of the Year
Even though this year has been an extremely difficult year, I still look back in hindsight and identify those experiences that rendered positive outcomes, such as field trips and science investigations.  The last field trip I planned for this school year was to Luray Caverns, located in Luray, Virginia.  Both the students, parents, and chaperones all enjoyed venturing into Earth’s crust and seeing the various formations created by Earth (As you guessed I am an Earth Science teacher).  I love seeing the expressions on my students’ faces when they are learning new things and when the light bulb finally turns on in their head and they say, “oh, I get it now!” Another celebrated highlight is that I had 73% student growth during the second interim testing of ACT Aspire in science; 73% of my students made gains of 3 points or more.  I maintain my focus on the positive events and experiences rather than the negative ones so that I do not lose hope and keep moving forward in my pedagogy. I hope for a better next year and strive to ensure that each year is better than the last.  
Set Goals for the Upcoming School Year
Now that I am at the end of School Year 2017-18 I am now focused on next school year.  I will begin preparing for next school year by updating/writing my curriculum and lesson plans for the first month or two of the upcoming school year.  I prepare a curriculum map for the entire year and then create my syllabus, which is based on the curriculum map and also has additional information, such as grading policy, course outline, and my contact information.  I also update assessments and study guides, and I research new resources and professional development opportunities to attend for the upcoming school year.  In October 2018, I have been selected to present at the Association for Middle Level Education’s (AMLE) annual conference; my topic is on literacy and how every teacher is a literacy teachers (I am extremely excited to be presenting for a second consecutive year).  Also, I suggest that every educator aim to attend at least two outside professional development sessions each school year; teachers should be life-long learners.  If we want our students to develop a love for learning we must set the example.  Conferences are an excellent way to meet other educators in your content and you can collaborate and share ideas.  I read an article that suggested that the best professional development in which teachers can participate is collaborating with each other.  Begin planning for next year, so that next year is even better than this year.  
Rest, Relax, and Read
Several of my friends and family members make sly comments about me being off during the summer months as if I am the luckiest person in the world.  I explain to them that I don’t get the entire summer off (6-7 weeks) and the ten months I work, I work 12-14 hour days at least four out of the five days a week; at the beginning of the year I put in time on the weekends as well.  Teachers work long hours without overtime pay, especially when school first begins (August-November), which is why when the end of June rolls around, most teachers are more than ready to take a break.  Some teachers opt to work summer school, I used to work summer school every summer to make extra money; however, as I got older and the work became more challenging, I decided I needed a break in order to maintain my sanity.  During the summer break, I encourage my fellow educators to rest; do not set the alarm clock except for important events to which you do not want to be late.  My first three days off I usually stay in my pajamas and catch up on some well needed sleep.  After catching up on sleep, then I usually put my house back in order and then I relax.   I relax with a good book, having lunch with my friends, and hanging out with family.  I also like to do a little traveling and playing a few games of golf.  But my two favorite activities are spending time with family and reading (and writing).  I use the summer months to catch up on reading books I did not finish during the school year.  Books are a form of entertainment for me and if I want my students to read in their leisure time, I should do the same.  Read, read, and read this summer.
Enjoy Your Time Off
 I am wishing all educators a wonderful summer and well-deserved time off!  Enjoy your time with family and friends.  Reflect on how you will be an even better educator next school year and keep these three questions in mind:
  1. What are some areas in which I can improve?
  2. What new experiences will I bring into my classroom next year?
  3. What new instructional strategies will I implement in my classroom next year? 
Wishing A Wonderful Summer!

Integrating Technology into Classroom Instruction

Students and Tech

     Integrating technology into classroom instruction requires proper planning.  Teachers should not assume that students know how to use devices appropriately.  When I first introduced technology into my weekly lessons, I had to  teach the basic skills such as how to turn on the digital devices, adjust volume, identifying the headphone jack, Etc.  I then had to teach my students about various types of software, such as Microsoft Word and Power Point.  I also had to show how to effectively use Google Classroom and the entire Google platform, such as Google Docs and Google Drive to ensure they were able to use these features when completing assignment.
    Many of my students come from low-income families which means many of them do not have a computer or tablet in their homes and assignments that require them to use the internet or computer cannot be completed as homework.  Furthermore, as a result of not having technology in their homes, many students lack the basic skill needed to properly use technology, which may be the reason so many young teens and young adults misuse or underuse their digital devices; they are either using their digital devices to text or talk on the phone.  Now the the new use is streaming inappropriate movies or videos.  But when young people are shown how to use technology in new and interesting ways, they become excited about the new tools that facilitate their learning.
    As educators and responsible adults, we must teach our young people how to use technology appropriately and in ways that will stretch their learning, which is why I search for new and innovative websites, applications, and software that will enhance my students learning.  I even us technology to engage my parents and keep them involved in their children’s learning by using Class Dojo, which my parents love.  There are several websites, applications, and software that will help to increase students’ interests in learning activities.  For example, my students love taking exit tickets and quizzes on a website named Go Formative (www.goformative.com).  I, too, love Go Formative because I don’t have to grade the exit tickets; the website provides immediate feedback and I can also use the data to inform my instruction for the next day.  Technology also helps educators in the classroom as well and it definitely helps me with organizing student data.  I find technology to be an extremely helpful tool when I have properly planned for it in my classroom instruction.
    In conclusion, Class Dojo and Go Formative are just a few educational websites that can be used to enhance learning and engage, both, parents and students.  Educators must be proactive in finding digital resources that will enhance learning and engage students in learning new information and new ways of thinking.  Educators should be more open-minded about including technology in their instruction so that students are more engaged and invested in their own learning.  Sure, it will require a little more time to research the various digital resources, but in the long run it will be worthwhile.  So I challenge all educators to find three new digital resources that will enhance learning and engage your students.  Help students utilize technology in a more meaningful and educational way.