Category Archives: Uncategorized

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Overcoming Adversity: A Story of a Resilient Student and The Power of Relationships

Overcoming Adversity: A Story of a Resilient Student and The Power of Relationships

A Guest Post by Heather Loomis

“According to the American Psychological Association, 17% of teenagers engage in self-harm. This staggering statistic reflects the silent struggles many of our students face, often unnoticed.

Image created using Chat GPT 4.0 based on this post’s content and prompts.

One such student in my class taught me an invaluable lesson about resilience and the power of relationships.” When we encounter these students we need to assume that no one is checking in on them, that they are not receiving support, or that they are continuing with the things they need to do to stay mentally well.  They are middle school students who don’t necessarily have the skills to navigate difficult roads and can take care of themselves.  As teachers and human beings, it is our responsibility to be kind and open the door for those students to walk into and help when we can.  

One year, a new student, taught me a powerful lesson about relationships and the ability to bounce back. She was a very beautiful girl who was quiet and had a kind heart.  She started at the middle school as a new student, knowing no one, had no friends, and was so shy that I was truly worried about her both socially and academically.  

I looked out for her throughout the year.  I spoke with her daily and checked in just to see how she was doing.  We both got to know each other and she would tell me things about her life at school and home.  She was split between her parents because they were divorced.  Which is difficult for both her and her parents and the relationships seem rocky at best.

As the year went on she started to blossom.  She gained friends, started to smile, and actually sat with other students at lunch.  Her grades were stellar and she was academically ahead of most of the students in that class.  I still checked in with her and saw the counselor regularly and all seemed well in her world.  

Then the tears started.  Her grades were still good, but she started missing school.  She still had friends and even a boyfriend, but she was turning inward and just wasn’t herself.  I wasn’t quite sure what was going on.  There was no new information or concerns, but something was definitely off.  I’m always careful not to push or ask too many questions.  If a student wants to share most of the time they will.  She wasn’t, tears in her eyes, I finally asked, “What’s going on?”  She claimed she was fine, but I told her that if she needed to talk we could or I could get the counselor.  She stood there with tears in her eyes and told me her story.  There were more issues with the family and now the courts were involved. She was devastated and didn’t feel heard by either side.  They never asked her what she wanted.  She felt alone and powerless.

After listening and supporting I asked if there was anything I could do to help her.  She said, “I’m 14 days clean”.  Completely thrown off I said, “That’s great, what are you clean from?  She said, “cutting”.  I looked at her and told her how proud I was of her and that just because she was having a bad day was no need to break her 14-day streak.  She agreed and went on to her next class.  I immediately contacted the counselor and let her know everything. She needed help and more than I could give her. The counselor contacted the student’s mother and let her know what we had learned.  At that time I had no idea how things were going with the family.  Hoping she is okay and that whatever happens, she will be able to work through it all.  Feeling powerless but knowing I did the right thing in getting her help and having the counselor contact her mom was best.

Relationships are everything!  Between the counselor and my care for her,  we had at least been able to intervene and get her some help and support along this journey.  We only had a short time left in that school year.  My hopes were that there would be support in place before all was said and done.  God Willing!

Before that year ended I received a note from this beautiful young woman.  Thanking me for being there and listening.  She was back on her streak of days not cutting and was smiling again.  That year it was hard to say goodbye.  I still have her note in my box of special things and I will treasure it always.

What are some things I have learned from this experience?  Put building relationships above everything else!  Always be willing to listen and sometimes you need to ask if they need help.  Some students just can’t verbalize what they are going through. Students are resilient and can bounce back once they have the support they need. 

Last, but certainly not least make sure that either you or the school counselor are in touch with the parents.  Communication with home is key.  If you don’t have that then nothing can get better.

~ Heather Loomis

Follow Heather on Twitter (X) at: Loomis_h

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Thank you, Heather, for another wonderful post. The power of building authentic relationships can never be underestimated. Heaather’s approach to take on the genuine and tough situations that occur every day in our schools is to be commended, and the advice she is offering current and future educators should be valued and applied. This particular situation is one I personally would have had great difficulty facing. Heather’s courage and experience is incredibly helpful and appreciated.

Kelly

If you’d like to blog for Wired Educator, please send us a short bio and writing sample/idea for consideration. Include your role in education, school and the driving purpose behind your post. Thank you for supporting educators. 

Order Kelly’s books, Along Came a Leader and Unthink Before Bed: A Children’s Book on Mindfulness for your personal library.

Educator, Author, Keynote Speaker
Twitter: @kellycroy
Instagram: @kcroy
Website: kellycroy.com and wirededucator.com
Podcast: The Wired Educator Podcast
and of course: Facebook.

Sign-up for Kelly’s newsletter here.

Interested in booking Kelly for your Next Event?
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Behavior, What Does it Really Mean?

Challenging Students and What Drives Their Behavior. A Guest Post by Heather Loomis

As adults, educators, and parents, we navigate countless challenges daily. According to busyteacher.org, we make on average 1,500 decisions a day.  That’s four decisions every minute of our six to seven-hour day.  WOW!  So the big question is how do we cope? How do we manage all these challenges while still balancing other aspects of our lives? For some, it’s about unwinding with exercise, a hot bath, a good book, or simply enjoying a moment of silence.

Being an adult we find ways to relax and deal with the stress of the day and keep moving forward, but what about our students?  Do they have that skill set?  Do they know how to problem-solve issues that arise with their peers, home, and school?  Depends on the district and the students. At the middle school where I teach, we serve a highly diverse and economically disadvantaged community. All our students receive free breakfast and lunch.  A lot of my students have very limited coping abilities to handle what’s going on in their homes let alone school and their peers.  I affectionately refer to my students, who bravely face tough challenges while learning to navigate life’s difficulties, as ‘The Tough Ones.’ This term is used with the utmost respect and care. One of my goals is to write a book titled “The Tough Ones” to support myself and other educators in helping our most at-risk children.

One of my “Tough Ones” was recently being particularly strong-willed. I’m usually very patient, but on this particular day, I was exhausted and not at my absoulte best. The student had been particularly challenging recently. We always pick our students up from lunch and he was the last one there, hood up, and refused to leave with everyone else.  I fussed at him and told him to take his hood down, get up, and get to class. He completely ignored me. I asked again in a not-so-nice voice.  He refused. One of the administrators was there and I let them take care of him and continued on my way to class. Normally, I handle situations like this with passion and ease, but on this particular day, it was especially challenging. As I was leaving the cafeteria two girls from our team told me I shouldn’t talk to him that way, that he was being bullied.  Confused, I asked the girls to clarify and explain to me what was going on.  I have often found that when students are defending someone there is a reason. They are not always so willing to report the issue, but in this case, they knew I would listen and that I would help.  Turns out that someone had access to his social media account and had posted some very negative and inappropriate information about him.  The posts were very damaging.  So what does my “Tough One” do?  He shuts down, becomes defiant, and is now more vulnerable and likely to get into trouble.

Most often the “Tough Ones” behavior is a way of communicating.  When things get difficult and you don’t have the strategies or skills to problem-solve you are going to see less than awesome. True for students and teachers alike.  I was wrong for being short-tempered and impatient.  I didn’t ask what was wrong, if there was something he needed help with, or if he’d like to talk to a counselor.  I just reacted to his defiance because I wasn’t in the mood to deal with it.  That happens too.  We do get tired and some days are just tougher than others. 

Takeaway: As educators, we need to stop, reflect, and think about what’s happening with our students. Each and every time. We may not catch everything, we can’t, but when we do we need to make sure that our students are taken care of and get the help they need.  Not just for our “Tough Ones” but for ALL.

~ Heather Loomis

Follow Heather on Twitter (X) at: Loomis_h

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Thank you, Heather, for this wonderful post. A great opportunity for all of us to reflect on and grow as educators. I love your passion and vulnerability; I admire your willingness to grow and try new ways to make a difference in the lives of students!

Kelly

If you’d like to blog for Wired Educator, please send us a short bio and writing sample/idea for consideration. Include your role in education, school and the driving purpose behind your post. Thank you for supporting educators. 

Order Kelly’s books, Along Came a Leader and Unthink Before Bed: A Children’s Book on Mindfulness for your personal library.

Educator, Author, Keynote Speaker
Twitter: @kellycroy
Instagram: @kcroy
Website: kellycroy.com and wirededucator.com
Podcast: The Wired Educator Podcast
and of course: Facebook.

Sign-up for Kelly’s newsletter here.

Interested in booking Kelly for your Next Event?
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WEP 242: Teaching and Learning with the Magic of Artificial Intelligence An Interview with Jeni Long

This is Wired Educator Podcast Episode 242:

Screenshot

Teaching and Learning with the Magic of Artificial Intelligence, my interview with Jeni Long who has been at the forefront of educational innovation as an EdTech speaker, consultant, and author helping educators. Jeni has a new role as Senior Community Strategist at MagicSchool AI is helping educators in fascinating new ways by leveraging artificial intelligence. Dive in. You’re going to love this episode. 

Click here to listen to my interview with Jeni Long.

Jeni is a seasoned educator with over 25 years of experience in the field. She is a respected EdTech speaker, consultant, and author dedicated to providing unwavering support for teachers both in and out of the classroom. Jeni empathizes with the daily challenges educators encounter and strives to offer guidance, resources, and encouragement to all educators. In her role as the Senior Community Strategist at MagicSchool AI, Jeni’s primary goal is to ensure that every teacher on the platform feels supported, motivated, and empowered to positively impact their students’ lives. She strongly believes in the strength of community and understands that collective collaboration among teachers can foster magic within classrooms. Jeni is actively engaged in organizing events, delivering professional development sessions, fostering community growth, and establishing partnerships with school districts in collaboration with MagicSchool. 

Mentioned in this Episode: 

StreamYard: Our sponsor for this episode. This is the app I use to record interviews with my guests. It’s the best way to record audio and video. Go to www.StreamYard.com and turn your browser into an awesome recording studio.

Magic School AI: This is where Jeni works and it is an amazing tool for using Artificial Intelligence as an educator. More to come on this, but I must say… I am so impressed by Magic School. Check it out.

Wired Wednesday Chat and Live Stream: Follow @wirededucator @kellycroy #wiredwednesday and the entire squad for a unique video live stream and Twitter chat on Wednesday at 9PM.

Here’s the link to ALL of Jeni Long’s social media, website and information: https://www.canva.com/design/DAEbRxl2tN4/AFSz0bNzL9PrPIOVJNod9Q/view

Thanks for taking time out of your busy week to listen to The Wired Educator Podcast.

You are awesome!

Kelly

I would like to speak at your event!

Order Kelly’s books, Along Came a Leader and Unthink Before Bed: A Children’s Book on Mindfulness for your personal library.

Educator, Author, Keynote Speaker
Twitter: @kellycroy
Instagram: @kcroy
Website: kellycroy.com and wirededucator.com
Podcast: The Wired Educator Podcast
and of course: Facebook.

Sign-up for Kelly’s newsletter here.

Do you like what you heard? Invite Kelly to speak at your school.
Interested in booking Kelly for your Next Event?

 

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Excellent Advice For Teaching 001: Record The Journey

Things I Wish I Knew Earlier in My Career in Education

Record the Journey

Lesson: Everyone you meet has something they can teach you. Yes, everyone! It doesn’t matter how old they are, or if some people think they are super successful or not. Everyone knows something you don’t. But here’s the trick: you have to really listen and be open to learning new things.

Image created by text description written by Kelly Croy in Chat GPT 4

Sometimes, we think we know a lot about something, but there’s always more to learn. So many teachers, young and old, just do things their way. Teaching is about collaboration, an eagerness to learn and apply it.  It’s important to listen and keep our minds open to new ideas.

Everything good I’ve accomplished as a teacher I learned from someone else. Sometimes they were teachers in my school, or people I met at conferences, or even someone I learned from online. I saw the awesome things they did, and I wanted to learn how to do them too. So, I asked a lot of questions and tried my best to learn, put my spin on it, and try them out. Sometimes it took many attempts, and a few times it worked great the first time.

Sometimes, people teach us exactly what to do. Other times, they show us what not to do. Both are really helpful.

Don’t be shy to ask others when you need help or have a question. And if you find something that works well, share it with others! That’s how you can be a leader.

Watch what other teachers do and learn from them. Try out what you learn in your own way.

Challenge:  No matter where you are in school or what you’re learning, try to keep track of your adventures in learning. You could write it down in a journal, make a video, or even keep notes on your phone. When you learn something new, write it down and think about how you can use it.

I’ve been keeping track of my teaching journey by making podcasts, writing blogs, and speaking at educational events and conferences. I’ve even written a couple of books. It’s been really fun! I’ve met so many awesome teachers and learned so much. It has even helped my students meet experts in areas they are interest in and learn about places all around the world. It’s provided me with opportunities to travel the world and even helped my family with additional income streams. Most importantly, it made me better and my district better. When we listen to learn and share to help, we level-up and make a difference in the lives of others.

I’m going to write some short posts here about what I’ve learned about teaching in a series titled: Excellent Advice for Teaching. I hope you enjoy them, and maybe even comment and share.

Every single person has something to teach you if you’ll listen and have an open mind, but the thing is most people don’t ask, don’t listen, and don’t apply. An eagerness to learn is better than saying, I’m a life-long learner. Let’s practice learning and model it.

Record the Journey.

Always forward,

Kelly

I would like to speak at your event!

Order Kelly’s books, Along Came a Leader and Unthink Before Bed: A Children’s Book on Mindfulness for your personal library.

Educator, Author, Keynote Speaker
Twitter: @kellycroy
Instagram: @kcroy
Website: kellycroy.com and wirededucator.com
Podcast: The Wired Educator Podcast
and of course: Facebook.

Sign-up for Kelly’s newsletter here.

I had this idea over the weekend to  take a few minutes each day to jot down a short piece of advice I believe I have learned about teaching and post it on @wirededucator to pass it along to the next generation of teachers. That’s how I learned. So, here is my first. (This will be a good practice in consistency too.) #LeadEveryDay #WiredEducator

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WEP 239: Publishing Students Through Creative Collaborations an Interview with Donnie Sorah

This is the Wired Educator podcast Episode 239, my interview with Donnie, Sorah titled “Publishing Students Through Creative Collaborations.”

Donnie is a  musician, educator, composer, and an associate professor of music at The University of Virginia’s College at Wise. He’s amazing and he’s going to share his story as well as inspire us all to publish students’ work in powerful and unique ways to enhance their voice, build connection and provide the best learning experience possible. This episode is perfect for teachers in any content are, teaching any age, educational leaders and YOU!

Click here to listen to Kelly’s interview with Donnie.

Dr. Donald Sorah, Associate Professor of Music at The University of Virginia’s College at Wise, boasts a diverse teaching portfolio encompassing applied high brass, conducting, music technology, composition, orchestration, and various other courses. As an Apple Distinguished Educator and recipient of the Outstanding Use of Technology in the Classroom Award (May 2022), Dr. Sorah actively supports students and colleagues as an Apple Learning Coach at UVA Wise, an Apple Distinguished School.

Under his guidance, the college achieved initial accreditation by the National Association of Schools of Music in 2019. Beyond UVA Wise, Dr. Sorah has served as Associate Adjunct Instructor at Mountain Empire Community College since 1999 and previously taught at J.J. Kelly High School and L.F. Addington Middle School in Wise, Virginia.

As the Associate Director of the Spirit of America National Honor Band, he conducted and performed as a trumpet soloist across Europe. He co-founded the Guayaquil Summer Music Academy in Ecuador, where he engaged in performances, lectures, and trumpet instruction. Recent teaching and research ventures have taken him to Chile and Spain.

Sorah is a member of the Symphony of the Mountains and the Johnson City Symphony. In 2006, he founded the Winds of the Mountain Empire, a regional wind ensemble comprised mainly of music educators and is a champion for new works, presenting numerous premieres and commissions.

As a prolific composer, Dr. Sorah has crafted works for various ensembles, including piano, organ, chamber groups, wind ensemble, and orchestra. His compositions have been performed by The University of Louisville Symphonic Band, University of Florida Symphonic Band, Nicholls State University Symphonic Band, and Madison Concert Band. Most recently, his orchestral work Rhapsody on In the Bleak Midwinter was featured at the 2023 Midwest Clinic in Chicago, Illinois.

As an advocate for proving free high-quality educational resources for his students he has published four books on Apple Books including Composing with Found Sounds in GarageBand, Everyone Can Create Music With iPad Curriculum Guide, Book of Rhythms and Melodies Vol. 1, and Book of Rhythms and Melodies Vol. 2. Under his leadership, students in his music appreciation course published five introductory books covering eras of classical music.

Dr. Sorah earned his Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Music Education from The Florida State University and holds master’s and bachelor’s degrees from Morehead State University (KY). He resides in Wise, Virginia, with his wife Kelly, son Brennan, and dog Roamer.

– – – – – – – – – – – –

Mentioned in this Episode: 

Book Kelly to Speak at Your School!

Kelly

I would like to speak at your event!

Order Kelly’s books, Along Came a Leader and Unthink Before Bed: A Children’s Book on Mindfulness for your personal library.

Educator, Author, Keynote Speaker
Twitter: @kellycroy
Instagram: @kcroy
Website: kellycroy.com and wirededucator.com
Podcast: The Wired Educator Podcast
and of course: Facebook.

Sign-up for Kelly’s newsletter here.

Do you like what you heard? Invite Kelly to speak at your school.
Interested in booking Kelly for your Next Event?

Order Kelly’s books, Along Came a Leader and Unthink Before Bed: A Children’s Book on Mindfulness for your personal library.

 

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WEP 238: Storytelling with Purpose an Interview with Michael Hernandez

Digital Projects to Ignite Student Curiosity

This is the Wired Educator Podcast Episode 238 my interview with Michael Hernandez, Apple Distinguished Educator, and author of the new education bestseller Storytelling with Purpose: Digital Projects to Ignite Student Curiosity.

Click here to listen to my interview with Michael.

Acclaimed documentary film director Ken Burns says this about Michael’s book, “Teaching is the most important profession in any democracy. Michael Hernandez has written a wonderful book that anchors storytelling in the classroom and provides a highly readable and hugely helpful guide for teachers, who each day are taking students on an intellectual journey that is critical to the well-being of our country.”

Wow! Now, that’s a book endorsement! In this episode, Michael and I will talk about how storytelling is perfect for your classroom despite what grade you teach and what content you teach. Storytelling is for all classrooms! You’re going to love this episode!

Michael Hernandez is an international speaker, author, curriculum designer, and award-winning educator who helps individuals and organizations discover and share authentic stories that matter. I’ve been featured in Forbes, Edutopia, PBS, NPR, and #SXSWEDU.

As a trusted consultant and community manager, he helps tech startups, non-profits, and corporations develop their brand and engage their stakeholders. Clients include Apple, Adobe, Google, and National Geographic. His monthly newsletter, Change The Narrative, shares resources and inspiration around innovation, tech, education, and leadership.

Michael is an Apple Distinguished Educator, Adobe Education Leader, PBS Digital Innovator, and Lindblad/National Geographic Grosvenor Teacher Fellow.

We talk about how his book helps with: 

  • Uncheatable Assessments
  • How to use storytelling projects for assessment
  • How digital story projects support literacy, civics
  • How non-fiction storytelling projects are like science and design thinking.
  • How story projects leverage student passion and curiosity to increase engagement

Award-winning educator and speaker Michael Hernandez brings together over 20 years of in-the-classroom experience to help solve some of our most existential challenges in education today: artificial intelligence, steep declines in student engagement, and the need for authentic learning experiences. The solution: digital storytelling as a framework for learning.

Rather than viewing storytelling as a nice-to-have reward for students after their ‘real work’ has been completed, this book shows educators how to use story projects–from data visualizations to social media posts, to podcasts and video documentaries– as the scaffold upon which we can position our curricular skills and knowledge. The process helps students make interdisciplinary connections, activates higher level thinking and critical analysis skills, and provides multimodal learning opportunities for all students.

This book is perfect for learning coaches, classroom teachers, and education leaders seeking practical ways to elevate teaching and learning in every grade level and subject area. The book focuses on student-centered, project-based learning experiences that use digital tools to:

  • Create uncheatable, authentic assessments
  • Leverage curiosity as the engine for learning
  • Provide purpose for the skills and knowledge central to our curriculum
  • Develop a mindset of collaboration, mental agility and resilience
  • Cultivate digital literacy skills and ethical mindsets
  • Bring purpose and joy back to learning

With practical advice, case studies, and examples of how to plan, create, publish and assess student stories, this book offers a fresh approach to digital storytelling. And it includes guidance on how to provide students with the tools and structure they need to develop a mindset of curiosity, agency and purpose.

More than a practical edtech guide, this book explores the why behind digital storytelling as much as the how. Educators will learn how to help students explore cultural and historical context, develop social emotional resiliency, and develop the skills they need to become engaged global citizens.

Originally determined to become a filmmaker, Michael quickly realized the power that narrative has to change minds, and the potential it has to make a positive impact on the world. Right out of film school, he took a job teaching journalism and film production, making it his five year plan before he returned to a ‘real job’ in filmmaking. He quickly fell in love with teaching, and embraced the noble work of helping young people find their voice to tell stories that make a difference.

Since taking the leap into education, Michael has become an award-winning teacher, international speaker, author, and curriculum designer who helps individuals and organizations discover and share authentic stories that matter. He has been featured in Forbes, Edutopia, PBS, NPR, and SXSW EDU. Some of his most memorable teaching experiences include moderating conversations with Ken Burns, Dolores Huerta, and teaching his daughter Maya, who was one of his high school journalism students.

As a trusted expert, he has worked with schools, tech startups, non-profits, and corporations to develop their brand and engage their stakeholders. Clients include Apple, Adobe, Google, and National Geographic. His podcast and monthly newsletter, Change The Narrative, has a global audience of thousands.

Michael is an Apple Distinguished Educator, PBS Digital Innovator, and National Geographic Grosvenor Teacher Fellow. Follow him on these social platforms:

Mentioned in this Episode:

Kelly’s two books:

Michael’s book: Storytelling with Purpose: Digital Projects to Ignite Student Curiosity

Follow Michael on: 

Instagram: @Changing.The.Narrative

Change The Narrative Newsletter

www.michael-hernandez.net

Twitter: @cinehead 

Linked In: https://bit.ly/MichaelHernandezLinkedIn

Thank you for taking time out of your busy day and week to listen to the Wired Educator podcast to level up and make a difference in the lives of others.

Always forward,

Kelly

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Do you like what you heard? Invite Kelly to speak at your school.
Interested in booking Kelly for your Next Event?

Order Kelly’s books, Along Came a Leader and Unthink Before Bed: A Children’s Book on Mindfulness for your personal library.

Educator, Author, Keynote Speaker
Twitter: @kellycroy
Instagram: @kcroy
Website: kellycroy.com and wirededucator.com
Podcast: The Wired Educator Podcast
and of course: Facebook.

Sign-up for Kelly’s newsletter here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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WEP 236: Legacy of Learning, an Interview with Meghan Lawson

Learn About Meghan's New Book and Hear Joe Miller, Ohio TOY Finalist, Joins Me as Co-Host

The Wired Educator Podcast kicks off 2024 with an interview with Meghan Lawson, author of the new EDU best seller, Legacy of Learning: Teaching for Lasting Impact.

My colleague at Port Clinton City Schools, Joe Miller, an amazing high school English teacher and Ohio
Teacher of the Year Finalist, joins me on this episode as cohost.

We talk with Megan about her book, social, emotional learning, strategies for making a lasting impact, and creating awesome spaces to teach and learn. You’re going to love this episode.

Click here to listen to my interview with Meghan.

Meghan is a thought leader who studies and implements the conditions and systems needed for transformational change. She is the author of Legacy of Learning: Teaching for Lasting Impact. A lover of learning who believes in the goodness of people, Meghan works to cultivate spaces that honor the humanity of all people. She promotes storytelling, the exchange of ideas, and risk-taking. She is passionate about disrupting the status quo and creating kinder, forward-thinking communities of action. Meghan is also intensely curious about how to enhance the customer experience in schools. Meghan began her career in the English Language Arts classroom. So, inevitably, her mantra is “Words matter”. She has worked in all levels of K–12 education as a teacher, school administrator, district administrator, and educational consultant.

Mentioned in this episode: 

Meghan Lawson’s website: https://meghanlawson.com/

Order a copy of Meghan’s book: Legacy of Learning: Teaching for Lasting Impact.

Joe Miller, finalist for Ohio Teacher of the Year. Read about Joe’s accomplishment here: https://hs.pccsd.net/apps/news/show_news.jsp?REC_ID=860338&id=0

Check out last week’s Wired Educator Episode 235: My Reflection and Review of My Personal and Professional Goals for 2023. This was my last episode where I hold myself accountable on how I did in 2023. Now, I will soon be publishing an episode on the goals I am setting for 2023. I hope you will check it out and set some goals of your own.

I was on George Couros’s Podcast: Watch it on YouTube. • Listen to it on Apple Podcasts. • Listen to it on Spotify. I made it on his highlights of 2023 episode too! Very cool. Thank you, George.

Find Your Joy! Thinking of asking my youngest, Jillyan to assemble a BIG Lego set like this one or a big car or something like it in 2024. Anyone know anything about Lego kits like this? Give me your expert opinion. Having some stick shock to be honest. I am trying to find a project with her that we can get lost in and have some fun.

Thank you for taking time out of your busy day and week to listen to the Wired Educator podcast to level up and make a difference in the lives of others.

Always forward,

Kelly

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Do you like what you heard? Invite Kelly to speak at your school.
Interested in booking Kelly for your Next Event?

Order Kelly’s books, Along Came a Leader and Unthink Before Bed: A Children’s Book on Mindfulness for your personal library.

Educator, Author, Keynote Speaker
Twitter: @kellycroy
Instagram: @kcroy
Website: kellycroy.com and wirededucator.com
Podcast: The Wired Educator Podcast
and of course: Facebook.

Sign-up for Kelly’s newsletter here.

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Leveraging the Holiday Season to Empower Educators with Technology

Guest Post by Jason Kathman

The holiday season isn’t just a time for festive cheer and joyful celebrations.  It’s also a great opportunity for educators to infuse their classrooms with the magic of technology. As teachers, embracing this seasonal spirit can pave the way for innovative and engaging teaching practices, ultimately benefiting educators and students.

The holiday season presents an opportunity for educators to embrace technology in the classroom, fostering innovation, engagement, and collaboration. By leveraging the spirit of the holidays, teachers can not only enrich their teaching practices but also empower students with valuable digital skills and a love for learning that transcends the festive season.

As an instructional coach for technology, I am always looking for opportunities to get students to create with technology.  In Jamestown, we are 1:1 with iPad so the options to be creative are limitless.  Occasionally, as in any district, some educators are apprehensive about leveraging technology for learning.  “It takes too much time,” “I don’t have the time to learn how the tech works so I can’t use it with my students,” and “Kids are too distracted on the iPad for learning to happen” are phrases that I hear from fellow educators.  If I can get those teachers to have students use tech in ways that don’t deal directly with their content, then more times than not, they can see how engaged and excited students are when asked to be creative with technology.

Below are a few holiday resources that I use with educators in my district to get them to use iPads in creative ways in their classrooms.  Most resources are iPad-specific but all can be adjusted for any device.  

  1. 12 Projects for the Holidays:  My colleague and fellow Tech Integrator, Jeff Kresge and I built this website.  It asks students to create different holiday-themed products.  Students follow video tutorials to help them along the way.
  2. Susan Maynor’s Imaginarium:  Susan is an extremely creative educator and her monthly Imaginariums show that creativity.  Her December Imaginarium is a 30-page Pages (or pdf) document that is beautifully designed.  Each page represents a task for students to show off their creative genius.
  3. 12 Days of Creativity Series:  This four-volume series is packed full of ideas and resources!!  The genius educators who authored these books give you everything you (and your students) need to complete each task.  This is such a valuable resource!

As educators, let’s unwrap the gift of technology this holiday season and embark on a journey toward a tech-infused, dynamic learning experience for all!

Happy holidays and tech-filled teaching adventures!

 

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Join Our Chat: Helping Teachers After the School Day Has Ended

Join Us Wednesday for a 30-Minute EDU X-Chat, November 8, 2023, 9PM EST

Hey awesome educators and EDU leaders.

Join the Wired Educator Squad, Wednesday, November 8th at 9PM EST for a 30-minute EDU X-Chat. (You know… Twitter.)

Our hosts are Apple Distinguished Educators, Leah LaCrosse and Kelly Croy.

Our topic is: “After the School Day: Helping Teachers After School Hours”.

Below is all the info you need to join in to learn and share:

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Wired Wednesday EDU X-Chat: Reflection and Goal Setting for Students

September 27 #WiredWednesday Twitter Chat with hosts Theresa Welch and Jason Kathman 9:00 PM Eastern

Join us Wednesday, September 27, 2023 at 9PM Eastern for a #WiredWednesday EDU X-Chat (You know X, the app formerly known as Twitter) on the topic of “Reflection and Goal Setting for Students.”

This is a 30 minute chat. Just follow the hashtag #WiredWednesday.

Our hosts Theresa Welch and Jason Kathman are wonderful educators and will each be sharing two questions with you and interacting with all. In fact, our whole Wired Educator Squad will be there with educators around the world.

Come to learn and share and have fun.

Follow @TeacherTheresa and @JKathman on X (Twitter) and get ready to learn, share and have fun.

Bring a friend.

Our questions for Wednesday are: 

Introduce yourself. Favorite Fall Flavor?

Q1: How often do you have students reflect on their learning and what strategies/tools do you use?

Q2: Do your students set goals from their reflections and how often do they set goals?

Q3: How do your students record/track their goals?

Q4: Who should students share their goals with and how should they share them?