Troubleshooting is higher order thinking. Comparing new software with older software has students thinking at a high level too. So, when new software is released, I use it to teach. Three recent software releases give you a great way to teach technology: Announced this week —  Windows 10 is free (as a technical preview until October 1, 2015), for consumers. With it Microsoft releases a new web browser — SPARTAN to replace Internet Explorer The creator of Opera releases another web browser — VIVALDI - out for download. Here’s how to teach with these three new software programs (without having to install them). Windows 10: RAM, Consumer Upgrades, and Processors If you are a beginner or novice — the Windows 10 upgrade is NOT FOR YOU. BUT, you can still teach with it. BEGINNERS SHOULD SKIP THIS PARAGRAPH: Of most interest to me is the ability to have more RAM than the 4 GB that Windows 7 32-bit supports. I did see on the System Requirements that some older 64-bit processors aren’t supported. I am running 32-bit Windows on a 64-bit processor so I’ve been considering an upgrade for a while. I’ll need to dig deeper on this one and may do this early summer. I also have all of my files in Dropbox so if I lose things, I won’t really lose them. Remember that Windows 10 is still in early release, so beginners won’t be ready to install it now. Wait a little but not too long if this appeals to you - it expires on October 1, 2015. Looks like the charms bar is gone and that the tiles are less prominent. Desktop is back too! Teach Using the Windows 10 Release  Teach 32 vs 64 bit processors ( see my microprocessor pizza video and lesson.) Give students a scenario where someone has a 32 bit processor running Windows 7 and ask them to research and write recommendations if they should upgrade. Have students research and explain what an ISO is. Have students examine Windows 10 — or even better install it on a machine and ask them to test and write about it. What is a technical release? Why would Microsoft give away this operating system? Troubleshooting is higher order thinking. Vicki DavisPowered By the Tweet This PluginTweet This Two New Web Browsers: Spartan and Vivaldi Windows has a new web browser: SPARTAN. Some are reporting big performance gains with this web browser. Others say that Spartan is Microsoft’s answer to Windows Chrome. Spartan will also support extensions - something Internet Explorer has not. Windows 10 Spartan can write on every web page, collaborate with others, and read items offline later. It is Microsoft’s answer to the Chrome web browser and some report speed gains. The coolest thing I’ve seen about Spartan is the ability to write directly on the page (think Skitch) and collaborate with others inside the browser. It looks like Diigo-type behavior but in real time. It also automatically downloads items in the web browser to read later. (think Pocket) Vivaldi is from the creator of the Opera web browser. It has a new innovation called stab stacks and lets you take notes inside the web browser. Vivaldi: a new web browser from the original creator of the Opera Web browser. With notes inside the web browser and a fresh innovation called "tab stacks" - whether you use this web browser or not Vivaldi will impact you. There are some new cool features in the technical preview (although extensions aren’t supported yet). This is designed for power users and will even have a mail client built into the browser. Teach Using the Release of Spartan and Vivaldi Interestingly, many students don’t know what a web browser is. All students should understand that there are various web browsers: Chrome, Firefox, and Internet Explorer (being replaced by Spartan). More advanced students can compare and contrast Opera, Safari, and Vivaldi with other web browsers. Have students test new web browsers and put them in Venn diagrams to compare them. Discuss and have students install extensions. (If you use Chrome, Extensity should be the first one you use as it is the extension to rule all extensions. Yes, I’ve blogged about Extensity and made a YouTube video.) Extensions are mentioned in both of the browser release press coverage — why are extensions such a big deal? Download Vivaldi on a machine and ask some students to test it. You can have them screenshot or screencast a guide to help others get started. Remember that innovation is an opportunity to teach.  When software is new, students have to use their brain and form opinions because there is so little they can look up online! I want my students on the leading bleeding edge all the time — not so they can bleed but so that through the struggle, they can learn to lead. I want my students on the leading bleeding edge, not so they can bleed- so they can lead.Powered By the Tweet This PluginTweet This   The post Teaching with Windows 10, Spartan, and Vivaldi appeared first on Cool Cat Teacher Blog.

Jeromie Heath engages students by dressing up. Some days he’s Super Mario or a Mad Scientist — other days he’s a pirate. He was even a finalist for People’ Magazine’s teacher of the year (see the video to believe his classroom — notice the standards on the wall - yes, they are still there.) He engages students by immersing them in experiences. On the show, he says, "I’m tapping into their childhood…" If a child feels you have a connection with them… then they start learning. Jeromie HeathPowered By the Tweet This PluginTweet This Listen to Jerome Heathie In the show Jeromie points out that you don’t HAVE to dress up … you can do little things too. Note from Vicki: Jeromie has so much energy, but also a practical approach to what engages kids. Students don’t remember worksheets, but they’ll remember the MEMORIES. We all need these epic moments. Wow. I just love Jeromie! (I talk about the importance of celebration in Reinventing Writing. Every class at every age needs this.)  Add @TeachHeath to your PLN @TeachHeath Mr. Heath Teacher - his website has tons of teacher math, science, and engagement ideas. (You don’t HAVE to dress up - there are tons here for you.) He’s even made a "Common Core" central page to share with parents. Jeromie has a mega awesome YouTube channel with tons of Math and Science Songs including the Math Fractions Song and the Science Rules Song. Listen to Jeromie Heath   Teacher Jeromie Heath’s website has tons of resources for math and science teachers as well as engagement and Common Core. SHOW NOTES: Jeromie Heath - Show #84 - Making Learning Fun: Engaging Students with Imagination Jeromie Heath is an elementary teacher in Seattle, Washington where he makes learning fun. By incorporating imaginative play using songs, games, and costumes, he engages his students in learning. He also uses thematic teaching, games, and music; although he lacks research data, he feels his students perform well on standardized tests. Jeromie calls teaching an art where teachers build connections with students in order to further learning. While also using Understanding By Design and mastery learning principles, it is the zany dress up costumes that students will remember. Listen now to find out how this works in Mr. Heath’s classroom. Jeromie’s Super Mario Classroom We can be the most amazing prop in our classroom. Vicki DavisPowered By the Tweet This PluginTweet This Listen to Jeromie Heath Every Classroom Matters is a bi-weekly Radio Show by Vicki Davis on BAM Radio network with best practices for busy teachers. Subscribe. Show notes prepared by Lisa Durff, Production Coordinator for Every Classroom Matters. Note from Vicki Davis: I added quite a bit of my thoughts to these notes as well - so this show outline is really a mashup of us both.  Need help listening to the show? Click "Play" on the BAM Radio Site, or subscribe in a podcatcher. If you need help, use this tutorial. The post Making Learning Fun: Engaging Students with Imagination with @teachheath appeared first on Cool Cat Teacher Blog.

You don’t accidentally climb Mt. Everest. If you don’t plan to, you won’t. As you set your goals for your life, one of my top time management tips is to plan your ideal week.  Michael Hyatt  shared this tip back in 2011 on his blog and it has made a huge difference since I picked it up in 2012. You don’t accidentally climb Mt. Everest. If you don’t plan to, you won’t. Vicki DavisPowered By the Tweet This PluginTweet This Why does planning your ideal week work so well? In The Power of Habit, author Charles Duhigg shares how making an appointment with yourself significantly increases the likelihood that you’ll do the item! I’ve found this true. When you plan your ideal week, you’re visualizing what it looks like. As you make choices of what you will (and won’t) do, you’re aligning your week with your goals. While I don’t always follow my "ideal" week, using this method, my ideal week follows me. As my Google calendar reminds me what I SHOULD be doing, I tend to keep up on grading, lesson plans, and videos. I also have worked out five days a week when I redid my calendar in January to include a workout first thing in the morning. You are what you do. What would you do with your time if you could plan your ideal week? Here’s how I do it. My ideal week includes time to exercise, read, write and plan. I also include essential tasks for teaching so that I can keep up. This one habit helps me plan my week and get more done. I color code my week by changing the default colors. Sometimes I can’t do all of these things but that is OK. Notice it isn’t on my main calendar so that I can turn it off and ignore it anytime plans are slightly different. Step 1: Create an Ideal Week Calendar First, create a special calendar on your Google Calendar or Outlook. (see above) You can also download an Excel template (link at end) and do it in there. I call mine "Routine of Excellence." You’ll want a separate calendar so you can turn it on and off. I turn it on as I plan my week. Step 2: Intentionally Schedule the Things You Want in Your Week There is an ironclad rule of farming. When Dad planted corn in the back field, he never… not once harvested soybeans. It doesn’t work that way. You plant what you want to harvest. Make Time to Exercise FIRST If you don’t plant physical exercise in your body — you won’t inherit a physically fit body that can climb to the top of a Mayan temple when you’re on vacation. If you plant all the physical worry of being a teacher and don’t plant something to help soothe your nerves and handle stress — you’ll harvest a shorter, less healthy, unhappier life. Psychologist  Dr. Charles Lowery calls exercise, "The silver bullet of psychology." He claims no medication invented today is better at handling depression and giving you better health than the one habit of exercise. But if you don’t schedule it, YOU WON’T DO IT! Charles Duhigg in the Power of Habit says: "Typically people who exercise, start eating better and becoming more productive at work. They smoke less and show more patience with colleagues and family. They use their credit cards less frequently and say they feel less stressed. Exercise is a keystone habit that triggers widespread change." Schedule exercise FIRST. Plan it. Make time for it. Everything depends upon it - most of all your own happiness. Make a List of the Essential Things You Want to Do Every Week Second, make a list of the essential things you want to do every week. Here are some ideas: Exercise — How often? What times are idea? Going outside - When is a time and place that works for you? Read? Leaders are readers. Important routines (I’ll be sharing more about this but see my Pareto Saturday post) Reading and Learning - You’ll see "IRD" which means "Intentional R&D". I use Feedly for this quick time of reading and learning in field. Journaling? Quiet Time? Reading your Bible or other inspiration? Prayer? Meditation? How do you quiet down and focus on the values that are important in your life. You are what you think. Errands like Groceries or Dry Cleaning? How do you need to close out your day, so you have a list for tomorrow? Essential job tasks: Lesson Plans? Recording Videos? Grading? Email? Social media or writing tasks? Special projects? Rather than choose what project I’ll be working on, I note that special projects will happen at certain times. Pareto Power Zone activities like weekly review, planning menus, laying out clothes. The times when you prefer that you have appointments. Clustering appointments saves time! Spending time with key people: spouse, children, parents, siblings, friends. Include "messing around" time to make memories. Goofing off time is especially important with kids. They spell love T-I-M-E. You don’t have to BE doing something just be around them. Hobby time Time spend moving your goals forward (See Thomas Edison’s info below) Essential housework activities. Essential things that you attend: church, meetings, clubs, exercise classes. Step 3: Schedule Your Time and Set Clear Goals Using your special calendar from Step 1, plan your ideal week including the items in Step 2. If something is in a smaller chunk than 20 minutes, then consider making it a routine or ritual. (See info on the 30/30 app in my 18 Epic  Productivity Apps blog post.) You’re going to run out of room and have to make CHOICES. It is best to make the decision now. Make Time for Accomplishing Your Goals In a sermon series on Leadership, my pastor, Michael Catt, shared that Thomas Edison had a goal to create a major invention every six months. He had as a goal to create a minor invention every ten days! EVERY 10 DAYS. Edison wasn’t an accidental inventor - he was an intentional one. IF you are fortunate enough to know your calling - GO AFTER IT WITH ALL YOUR BEING. I love this quote by John Maxwell You can spend your life any way you want, but you can only spend it once. John Maxwell Powered By the Tweet This PluginTweet This I schedule time to write my books. Books don’t write themselves. I won’t have a new book unless I put my derrierre in the chair and WRITE. (Same with this blog!) Step 4: Plan Your REAL week this week Fourth. Once you have your calendar as you like it, then get ready to plan your week. If you’ve used an electronic calendar, then just copy the item over to your "real calendar".  If you need to move it around you can because of other appointments. I attached a sticky mailing label on top of an old magnet. After I wrote the places I want to share, I cut them apart. As I share in that place, I move it to the day where I shared it. This way I can keep up with the last time I’ve shared in each place. When I do my social media routine, I Just start with the oldest magnets and move them forward. The question for me is forward progress - not if I get to every place every day. Can people trust me to consistently share helpful things. Routines like this help me keep up with it.  Remember to Plan time for Routines For example, I’ve had a routine for years designed to help me be someone who is consistently sharing helpful stuff on social media. Now, I am spending more time writing books and want to finish this third one. So, I’m shifting my routine so that I schedule many blog posts and social media items ahead of time. Then, I take 15-20 minutes every afternoon to respond to current conversations on various social media. That way, I’m sharing good stuff and participating in the conversation but also carving out larger chunks of time to be able to write books. I use magnets (shown below) to track when I’ve shared and when to keep up with it. When I get to school, I have a beginning school routine that I do that makes my day flow so much better! (See 3 Little Tricks to Smooth Out Your Day) Good luck! Plan Your Ideal Week! So, good luck working on your personal routine. Consider your ideal week. To hit something, you must aim for it. If you aim for nothing, don’t be upset where your arrow flies. Life is too short just to let it go by, be intentional so you can be a leader but it starts by leading yourself! Leaders are repeaters — they repeat the routines and habits that help them consistently achieve greatness. When you want to achieve something - whether it is an awesome classroom, a book, or a family vacation — don’t let yourself get in way of your dreams. Schedule it. Plan it. Do it! BE IT! Helpful Links Michael Hyatt "How to Better Control Your Time By Planning an Ideal Week" (includes his Excel spreadsheet) VAD-my-ideal-week My Excel spreadsheet for an ideal week (I now use Google Calendar but started with this tool.) 3 Ways to Make 2015 Epic on my Edutopia blog QUESTIONDid you try this? How did it work for you? Do you do something similar. Please share in the comments! You can leave a comment by clicking here. The post My Top Time Management Tips: Plan Your Ideal Week appeared first on Cool Cat Teacher Blog.

When you lose, it hurts. Don’t ever look at someone and think they don’t lose. Don’t think that others don’t fall. They do. We all fail at some time. I failed today. It hurts. In Steven King’s book On Writing, he talks about the many rejection letters he had nailed to the wall in the attic at his home. You lose 100% of the shots you don’t take. We all fail. We all fall. I’ve been struggling with failure and falling this week. At the midpoint of a mega-app programming project with 60 of my students, I’m exhausted and pondered quitting. This morning I got a rejection notice for something I had pitched. I gave it everything I had and believed I was the best candidate. I wasn’t chosen. It nearly broke my heart. In self-pity, I considered letting it take me down. But it didn’t. I won’t let it. Yesterday, Michael Hyatt‘s podcast on "Don’t Quit Before the Whistle Blows" was one I needed to hear. He mentioned Heather Dorniden’s 600 meter race . In the middle of this 600 meter, Heather falls FLAT ON HER FACE. Instead of limping off the track, she comes back in a Secretariat like move - WINS. You lose every race you QUIT. Every single one. You never know - sometimes when you fail and fall down - you end up winning the race you thought you had lost. So, as I called my husband at work on the early side of 6 am to tell him my disappointment, I said, "Well, I guess I’ll have to keep on moving ahead by working hard every single day. There’s no such thing as a ‘big break’ for me only working every single day." In his wisdom, Kip said, "Welcome to life. Usually there’s no such thing as a big break or an easy win. Only very very hard work that pays off in the end." We all want to achieve things. For me, I have a weakness. I guess you could call it that. I love amazing people. In many ways, I’ve always attracted these amazingly busy people as my friends. I love people who overcome. I love people who defy the odds. I love people who are exceptional achievers. I want to sit at their feet and learn from them. I adore amazing. Not (usually) famous, mind you. But people who work hard every day and live exceptional lives. Like my 87-year-old learning lab director, Grace Adkins, who rides 120 miles A DAY on her stationary bike. Or my curriculum director, Betty Shiver, who convinced me to get into teaching. Or people like my new friend Cathy Rubin, who thinks big and dreams bigger. Or my friend Angela Maiers, who pushes hard to help people know they matter after the heartbreak of losing a brother who didn’t know it. Or my friend Kevin Honeycutt, who releases new music on iTunes that he cuts in his basement with friends (in between amazing keynotes). Yet, Kevin takes the time to draw a picture of my son on a napkin to make him feel amazing. My son, John, keeps that napkin in his room and looks at it every day. Or my friend Lee Kolbert, who always bravely says what needs to be said in hard situations. One time the sharks were circling me, and Lee was the only one who spoke and brought reason to the insanity. Or my friends at Edutopia who incessantly push to be more — Betty Ray, Kristin Franklin, and my editor Alan Lipton. I learn just from our email exchanges and Facebook group. Or my friend Lisa Durff, who tirelessly helps me with my inundated email box, so when I come home I can work on the main thing. When I’m exhausted, she helps me rachet down and get some rest. I’m a better person with her helping me. Or my friend Errol Smith, who tirelessly brings radio quality to the Internet and mentors me or his wife, Jeannette, who just knows what to say every time I talk to her. Or my friend Steve Dembo, who showed me Twitter all those years ago and encourages me with his life. Or my friend Alicia Roberts, who hosted me in her home with the most beautiful office I’ve ever seen and a gorgeous view of the Arizona desert. Or my dear pastor Michael Catt, who has encouraged me to keep writing as I rise from the scars of a terrible situation with another man I will not call a pastor but who had that job. He is brave and cares more about telling the truth than being popular. He brings people like Andy Andrews, Dr. Charles Lowery, and Jon Acuff to our church to inspire us. If he sees or reads someone awesome, he picks up the phone so he can introduce his church members to awesome too. How could I consider myself a loser with friends like this (and at least 100 more that I don’t have time to write about and still make it to school this morning)? Or you — I find all these amazing people when I go to conferences and just fall in love with them. Or you — I find all these amazing people when I go to conferences and just fall in love with them. (I’ve found that the people who RUN conferences tend to be AMAZING people by nature. They give so much and work so hard.)  These epic people who live awesome lives without being on everyone’s lips or having more dollars in the bank than they have breaths to take in their life. But the one common thing is that all of them keep going. How can I be an epic person when I let losing make me quit? How can I be like them when I hang my head and walk out of the race when I fall? Come to think of it, how can I teach these precious students who fail every day at something if I don’t embrace my own. The question is never, "Do I quit after this no?" It is always, "Will I keep telling myself ‘yes’?" The question is never, "Do I quit after this no?" It is always, "Will I keep telling myself ‘yes’?"Powered By the Tweet This PluginTweet This This morning as I worked out to my Daily Burn, the "True Beginner" Coach, Justin, said No challenge. No change. Justin RubinPowered By the Tweet This PluginTweet This He’s right. When you lose, you only have one option. Take the challenge and change. Get up and move forward so you can win. Falling down doesn’t have to be your permanent position if you get up and keep running. Getting told "no" is just one more "no" that you have behind you as you move to "yes!" As for me, I will not quit. I will not stop. I will keep moving ahead in my calling to write, encourage, and inspire. I’ll keep moving forward into my calling to teach, encourage, and help these precious students in my care. Though I hurt, I will not blame. I will pick myself up - learn - and move ahead. I will not quit. I will not give up. I will survive, and I will thrive. Fail forward. You can do this. The post What to Do When You Fail appeared first on Cool Cat Teacher Blog.

I’ve never seen anything like this book for teachers. But that is a good thing. In this day and age of crazy busy-ness, this may just be the perfect book for quick inspiration! P is for PIRATE: Inspirational ABC’s for Educators looks like a children’s book but reads like an inspirational kick in the pants for teachers who want to be awesome. I could see a whole school create a 26 week PD for teachers around each letter of the alphabet. My head was nodding yes. I wanted to underline, but the book is just too beautiful. I’m going to keep this by my desk and read a letter and focus on one each day. I just love it! (As I was thinking about it, someone on Twitter reminded me about my Planning to Teach from A to Z  that I blogged some time back. Using the alphabet is such a powerful way to ponder our profession.) Dave and Shelley Burgess have truly leveled it up. They’ve taken this idea into bite sized pieces to remind us who we are. I highly recommend this book for every single school’s teaching library but, I’d call up Dave and get a bulk book deal and get it for every teacher in your school. It is that inspirational. I believe not only do they have another best seller on their hands but that we’ll be seeing great things from these two authors for many years to come. They’ll have us all saying arggg (in good ways) before finishing. Great book for teachers. Buy it now. (It is worth buying in Hard cover!) I received a review copy of this book but have not been compensated in any way for this endorsement. The post Book Review: P is for Pirate appeared first on Cool Cat Teacher Blog.

"Before I can live with other folks, I’ve got to live with myself. The one thing that doesn’t abide by majority rule is a person’s conscience," says Atticus Finch, the stalwart character in To Kill a Mockingbird. Today, I reflect upon three decisions that have made my life — and can make yours — more epic.   (This is an extension of 3 Steps to Make 2015 Epic, I dedicate this to a dear person in my life working to find herself.) As leadership author John Maxwell says in his book How Successful People Think, "you can spend your life any way you want but you can only spend it once." Spend your life well. Be a better you. "You can spend your life any way you want but you can only spend it once." John Maxwell Powered By the Tweet This PluginTweet This 1. BE YOU The conference ended, and I’d been talking to some awesome educators in Memphis. The people were so engrossing that I was running late to the airport! As I’m doing the TSA shuffle, I’m not making eye contact. The line is as slow as  a one legged hound dog on tranquilizers. There seems to be something slowing the line down just on the other side of the metal detector.  But all of a sudden, as I rush through the metal detector and pick up my bags, I hear this Elvis Presley voice behind me, "Thank you, thank you very much…" I turned to the voice of Elvis. There he was, buttons busting at the waist — a TSA agent who looked just like Elvis. Same pompadour, same glasses. He even had the snarly grin down. When he saw my glance, he and gave me that superstar smile and pointed his ring encrusted fingers at me. I slowed the line down as I stared in wonder. What would possess a TSA agent to dress like Elvis every day? He was an imitation Elvis. As I hustled off in disbelief, I started thinking about all of the people who make their lives as an imitation Elvis. Indeed, the best of them can make some big bucks in Vegas from what I’ve heard. But some of these men (and women) have stellar voices. What would have happened if they decided to be "ME" instead of "HIM"?  We’ve already had an Elvis, but we haven’t had YOU! Elvis Presley laughed about his intended career, "I was training to be an electrician. I suppose I got wired the wrong way round somewhere along the line." Elvis could have been a second rate electrician or a first-rate Elvis. Don’t be Elvis — be you!  Find your purpose. Read great books. Try lots of new things. Look to others for inspiration but be YOU. The picture above is my "new office". We’ve moved my desk from a tiny corner of our workout room to my youngest son’s old room. (I have two of three in college now! Wow!) I love this wall because it is MINE. When we first moved in, someone else helped me decorate. I didn’t love my house as much as I do now because now my house is ME! Shakespeare says "No legacy is so rich as honesty." Be honest with yourself about your strengths, gifts, and your own calling. When you are honest with yourself you can start truly building your legacy. Make a determination today that you will determine to be yourself. Ask yourself questions about yourself. Am I being true to my talents and calling? Do I surround myself with things that represent me? Do I put thoughts and books in my mind that help me be a better me? Who am I trying to imitate? Can I break out and do something that is more uniquely me? You have a unique purpose — find it! BE YOU! 2. BE ETHICAL There’s a funny story where a little girl begs her teacher to tie her shoe. The teacher replies, "You’ll have to do it yourself, dear," to which the girl replies, "Oh dear! I don’t know what I’d do without myself!" So, YOU have this one life for YOU to live. The most winning basketball coach of all time, John Wooden,  had his 7-point creed that I keep beside my desk between my two computer monitors. I read it every day. (pictured below) John Wooden’s 7 point Creed. 1. Be true to yourself. 2. Make each day your masterpiece. 3. Help others. 4. Drink deeply from good books, especially the Bible. 5. Make friendship a fine art. 6. Build a shelter for a rainy day. 7. Pray for guidance and give thanks for your blessings every day. John Boyle O’Reilly was an outspoken poet, journalist and fiction writer advocating freedom for the Irish People. In his poem "Rules of the Road" he says: "Be silent and safe - silence never betrays you; Be true to your word and your work and your friend; Put least trust in him who is foremost to praise you, nor judge of a road till it draw to the end." O’Reilly and Wooden and many great men and women of history knew their beliefs. They knew what to do with themselves. William Shakespeare says, "Mine honor is my life; both grow in one; take honor from me and my life is done." Part of living an epic life is knowing not only who to live for but how to live. "How to Live" is actually the title of one of my favorite songs from "Point of Grace." I play this song as I make decisions and ponder life. Turn up the music Turn it up loud Take a few chances And let it all out Cause you won’t regret it Lookin back from where you have been Cause it’s not who you knew And it’s not what you did It’s how you lived Twelve years a go, I realized that the best days of my life were those I started on my knees in prayer and reading my Bible. I also realized that the only time of the day that was mine was the morning before everyone else woke up. So, if I wanted to live the best life I could, I was going to change my morning routine and get up an hour before the rest of my family. I set my alarm clock for five a.m. Beginning my day grounded doesn’t make me a perfect. (Far from it!)  But it makes me wiser. It gives me strength for the hard moments that come  like a tornado out of a blue sky. Be intentional about your morning. Where do you draw strength? Ask yourself these questions. How do you want to live? What are the things you believe? What are the best days of your life? How do they begin? Can you change your days so they start well? How can you be more grounded in your personal ethics? 3. FOCUS ON THE BEST USE OF YOUR TIME "Sometimes you have to let go to the small things so your hand will have room to grasp the bigger things," Said my pastor, Michael Catt as part of his sermon on leadership. He should know. He’s the man who said yes to two of his pastors who wanted to make movies and not only changed our church but made an impact on the world of entertainment (and many lives.) Here’s how he told the story to our church a few weeks ago. The staff of the church had been at Disney studying excellence. They had just finished a backstage tour. Each minister was spending time with Michael to share their vision for the next five years.  It was Alex’s turn. He said Alex looked at him and said, "No church would let a minister be on staff and make movies would they? I really want to make movies." Pastor Catt said he thought a moment and then said, "I don’t see why not." Alex and his brother Stephen Kendrick have now gone on to make Flywheel (2003), Facing the Giants (2006), Fireproof (2008), Courageous (2011), and are finishing up post production Movie Five. (See all their projects.) On the Christian film database website review of Movie Five (to be released in 2015) and their first film independent of Sherwood pictures, you can see the continuing story unfold: "Sherwood is still our church home, and we’re here talking to you now only because Michael Catt, our pastor, took a risk, supported us and let us make a movie," Alex Kendrick said. So, in order to grasp something bigger, the Kendrick brothers had to let go of smaller things. Notice, I didn’t say unimportant things. There are lots of important things to do in their church ministry. But to grasp at a big huge vision, they had to let go of smaller things. Our small hands can’t hold everything. We choose what we hold onto. Thomas Fuller, chaplain to Charles the Second of England says, "He that is everywhere is nowhere." I can think of two big examples in my own life. I had to let go of my 250 question exam to create the Flat Classroom Project, often claimed as one of the first projects that showed the true potential of global collaboration. Then, just a year and a half a go, I had to let go of the Flat Classroom Project and the 7 projects that went along with it so I could focus on the purpose for my life. My work on Every Classroom Matters and increase in writing on sites like Edutopia and work on my third book are part of those bigger things. Not to mention, living life with no regrets as I enjoyed and savored my oldest son and middle daughter’s senior year of high school. You can’t do it all. You have to often make choices between good, better, and BEST. Bad is not the enemy of best. Good is. We have all these little tiny good things that we won’t let go of to grab at the best, epic things. And when you finally grab that epic thing, magic awaits! Sir Winston Churchill, the doggedly determined Prime Minister who led Great Britain through World War 2 said, "To each there comes in their lifetime a special moment when they are figuratively tapped on the shoulder and offered the chance to do a very special thing, unique to them and fitted to their talents. What a tragedy if that moment finds them unprepared or unqualified for that which could have been their finest hour." If you’re a successful person — that tap on the shoulder usually happens WHILE YOU’RE DOING SOMETHING ELSE. When I’ve had great opportunities happen, the greatest of them happened when I was very very busy and I had to choose to let go of something good to grasp at great. Jason Cohen @asmartbear says "Only ever work on the thing that will have the biggest impact." Warren Buffet says "The difference between successful people and very successful people is that very successful people say no to almost everything." To be a better person, you must make choices. Sometimes you must let go of a lesser thing to move onto greater things. Sometimes you must say "I don’t see why not?" Consider the things you have to do. Take an inventory of how you’re spending your time. Is there something great you feel called to pursue? What are things that might be good but are holding you back from pursing your purpose? Seek wise advice and visionary leaders to advise you. (These decisions shouldn’t be made rashly.) Seize your purpose and let that be your finest hour. Live a Better Life - Live an Epic Life Live an epic year this year.  I do not share as one who has arrived but as a fellow journeyman on the highway of life. I want to live an epic life. How about you? The post 3 Ways to Be a Better You appeared first on Cool Cat Teacher Blog.

What will be the most significant classroom innovation in the next 10 years? "The caged bird sings with a fearful trill, of things unknown, but longed for still, and his tune is heard on the distant hill, for the caged bird sings of freedom." ― Maya Angelou, "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" The story is well known now that Stephen Hawking, who many consider the most brilliant theoretical physicist since Albert Einstein, has been able to continue his illustrious career despite a debilitating diagnosis in 1963, due to technology that has assisted his communication. This post is series of questions that Cathy Rubin is asking several education bloggers. I’ll be sharing the link to her post that collects all of the responses. I appreciate being part of this group of edubloggers. Like Hawking, many students are trapped in the prison of a body that does not unleash their capability. Unlike Hawking, they don’t have access to the technology that will do that. Thousands of caged birds sit quietly in today’s classrooms. Their wings flit, eager for a voice to share the song in their heart. Now that it is more affordable, shouldn’t more people have access to the technology that has helped Stephen Hawking live more fully? Recently I interviewed Karole Pearce, the mother of such a student, Lanie. Lanie’s classmates raised $5,000 so Lanie could regain her ability to speak after her mobile eye-tracking device broke. While excited about the device and her child’s ability to speak, Karole shocked me with her offhand comment that Lanie was sometimes "lazy" and could do more. Are we letting the disability of those like Lanie make us unable to see their ability? In the 1980’s and before, we typed into computers using the command line interface (CLI). And then transitioned to the mouse and the graphical user interface (GUI). Now, with Siri and gesture-based computing we are using the Natural User Interface (NUI). But a new age is upon us and it is not just smart watches that measure your heartbeat. Just take a look at the tear-inducing YouTube videos of those receiving cochlear implants. Neil Harbisson (called the "world’s first human cyborg") is painting with sound. The biologic user interface (BUI) is here. While Matrix-like implications will raise ethical dilemmas we cannot understand perhaps our biggest ethical dilemma is this: Can we justify caging the birds when it is within our power to open the gate and let them sing? If we unleash the potential of the BUI, then a generation of disenfranchised people will find their voice. BUIs will unleash an exciting age for those with special needs. I say "exciting" with tempered joy because those with special needs and their families have many struggles few others can understand. As I hear mothers like Karole excited about talking with their child for the first time, it is joy I hear. "There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you." Maya Angelou, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings In the next ten years, I hope we work to give all children a voice and listen to them sing. We have the technology. Do we have the will?   The post Let the Caged Birds Sing! Giving Special Needs Kids a Voice appeared first on Cool Cat Teacher Blog.

Vicki will present a FREE Webinar entitled, "Empower students with collaborative writing tools" February 26, 2015 at 4:00 pm EST / 9:00 pm UTC on the WizIQ platform as part of the Featured Teachers Webinar Series. The host for this event is Jason R. Levine @FluencyMC, the rapping educator who blogs at "It’s FLUENCY MC!" Who should attend? All writing teachers grades 4 and up, curriculum directors, and school long-term planning and policymakers. The Webinar is free and you can join at ->+Join Free Webinar Vicki Davis is a full time classroom teacher and IT director in Camilla, Georgia. She won the 2014 BAMMY as "Best Talk Show Host in Education" for Every Classroom Matters, a BAM Radio Network show highlighting inspirational teachers in the trenches. She is the author of Reinventing Writing and coauthored the guidebook on global collaboration in education, Flattening Classrooms Engaging Minds. Vicki also blogs for Edutopia. Learn 9 ways to reinvent writing with @coolcatteacher in a free webinar. Enroll Now Here: http://goo.gl/FnOaxs Powered By the Tweet This PluginTweet This The post Free Webinar: Empower students with collaborative writing tools — Feb 26, 2015 appeared first on Cool Cat Teacher Blog.

Bob Greenberg, a veteran educator, inspires other educators through his Brainwaves channel. Bob hosts exciting guests in education . Bob passionately says "Students  are our legacy." Bob GreenbergPowered By the Tweet This PluginTweet This Bob hasn’t retired, he has sent himself into overdrive as he records and shares a snapshot of history and educational thought at this moment on his YouTube Channel. What a great story! Listen now to Bob Greenberg Add @bobgreenberg to your PLN @bobgreenberg The Brainwaves Channel Bob Greenberg - Show #85 - Capturing the Best Teaching Practices and Leaving a Legacy Bob Greenberg was a teacher for 15 years, then a magician for 15 years, then returned to teaching for 15 years. Now in "retirement," he hosts a successful series to inspire teachers in the trenches. Bob travels around the world to interview educators for his Brainwaves YouTube interview series. "Brainwaves" was the name of his class while he was teaching, so when he retired he took the name with him. He has interviewed 50+ people around the world. Listen now to find out more about this amazing educator who is using his retirement to inspire other educators everywhere. During the interview, Vicki remarked that,  "Living life all out, pursuing your passions, helping the profession you love: these qualities exemplify Bob Greenberg."Powered By the Tweet This PluginTweet This During Bob’s 100th Brainwaves episode, he featured thought leaders in education from around the globe, including Ken Robinson, Yong  Zhao, and Jerome Brunner. Vicki was honored to be on his show a while back, speaking about teaching, writing, and transliteracy.   The saying, "Once you’re an educator, you are always an educator" is really true with Bob, as he continues to teach with passion even after he has "retired". We take our hats off to Bob and every other "retired" educator who continue to passionately support our noble profession. Well done, Bob! Listen now to Bob Greenberg A Few of Our Favorite Brainwaves Videos (Check out the Whole Channel) Dr. Yong Zhao: "World Class Learners" Sir Ken Robinson: "Can Creativity Be Taught?" Carol Dweck: "Mindset: The New Psychology of Success" Lisa Nielsen: "The Innovative Educator" Andy Hargreaves: "Professional Capital: Transforming Teaching in Every School" Alan November: "Who Owns the Learning? Preparing Students for Success in the Digital Age" Vicki Davis: "Reinventing Writing" Angela Maiers: "You Matter" Jerome Bruner: How Does Teaching Influence Learning? Jose Luis Wilson: "This is Not a Test: A New Narrative on Race, Class and Education" Michael Fullan: "The Principal: Three Keys to Maximizing Impact" Jeff Gomez: "Responding to New Technology" Robert Sternberg: "Successful Intelligence" Catlin Tucker: "Blended Learning" Listen now to Bob Greenberg Every Classroom Matters is a bi-weekly Radio Show by Vicki Davis on BAM Radio network with best practices for busy teachers. Subscribe. Show notes prepared by Lisa Durff, Production Coordinator for Every Classroom Matters. Need help listening to the show? Play the show on the BAM Radio site or subscribe in a podcatcher. If you need help, use this tutorial. The post Bob Greenberg and Brainwaves: Capturing the Best Teaching Practices and Leaving a Legacy appeared first on Cool Cat Teacher Blog.

This time of year, the pace picks up at school. There are times my shoulders are neck feel so tight that if you put you hand on them, they’d crack like thin ice on the top of a frozen lake. It is easy to get overwhelmed with all you have to do. Can you come to grips with the fact that you are not a robot? You can’t schedule every single moment and drive yourself until you get it done. We’re all tired sometimes. How to Relax Your Mind This one simple practice helps me get it back together when I feel like I’m about to crack into a thousand tiny shards of who I used to be. My basketball coach in middle school taught us this relaxation technique and I’ve used it through my whole life (often before a test). I was sitting here thankful that my coach had taught me this. It has been very useful in my life, particularly in moments when I needed a level head and a calm mind. All men’s miseries derive from not being able to sit in a quiet room alone. Blaise PascalPowered By the Tweet This PluginTweet This Step 1: Listen to Nature I like to put on my Naturespace app and listen to a river flow. You can listen to any type of nature sound you wish. When you close your eyes, your mind doesn’t really know that you"re physically not at that place, so pick a relaxing place. I have a thing for mountain rivers but I know some people who savor beach sounds. Step 2: Breathe Deeply and Focus on Your Breath So, as I listen to the sounds, I breathe in through my nose very deeply and out through my mouth. I slowly breathe in and out just focusing on the place where my breath goes in and the feeling of the air going out. My goal is to focus on my breath until I get to 20 (30 if I have time.) I don’t feel much in this between 0 and 10 but after 10, if I can keep bringing my stressed thoughts back to breathing, I’ll start relaxing. Sometimes I’ll pray as I breathe, but usually I just focus on the in and the out. Step 3: Relax Your Body as You Breathe As I feel myself relax, I’ll drop my shoulders (and yes, they usually crack quite a bit). When I’m done, I feel more focused and refreshed and able to make it through the day. Learning How to Relax Your Mind Will Help You Focus While I’m certainly no meditation or mindfulness coach, this is just my simple way of relaxing that helps me remember that I’m not just a human doing but I’m a human being. As teachers we must be careful. We are so busy serving others that we can easily neglect ourselves. When will the cook take time to eat? We don’t want to be the starving baker, we need to take small moments to nourish our own well-being so that we can thrive amidst the chaos that is our classroom. Teach Students How to Relax Their Minds Too By the way, have you thought of teaching relaxation techniques to your students? Resources: Applying Mindfulness to Mundane Classroom Tasks Energy and Calm: Brain Breaks and Focused-Attention Practices the 5 Finger Relaxation Technique Stress Reduction Activities for Students [PDF with many exercises] Sometimes, we just have to learn to relax. The post How to Relax Your Mind: A 2-minute Stress Busting Technique appeared first on Cool Cat Teacher Blog.