Greetings!
I once taught at a school where the Home and School parents provided each teacher with large paper stars to hang on the outside door just before Parent/Teacher conferences. On each star teachers wrote one item that they wished they could have for the classroom. We were told to dream big because you never know what you might get. One teacher wished for a new overhead projector and I believe that a few parents got together and raised the money for one. Another wished for a new desk and one father happened to be upgrading the furniture in his office and gave her his old desk which was still in very good condition.
This might be a good idea for you to add books to your library or your classroom. Parents might be thinking of a gift to give you for Christmas to show their appreciation. If you had a classroom door wish list of books you would like to have in the classroom, parents could take the star of the book they would like to donate.
Another way is to have a wish list on Amazon. Parents can browse the list and when a book from your list is purchased, it disappears from your list so you don’t get more than one copy. I keep a list of books that I want or need for our library here and use it to remind myself what I need to buy. I print the list out and take it to my local book store and they give me a 20% discount very similar to what I would get through Amazon. That way I am supporting my community, but the list is much easier online. I have had a parent or two purchase books for the library from this wish list.
Put a personalized bookplate inside each book to honor the donor. This would also be a great time to display the book and promote it to the children to read.
Please consider a wish list of some kind for your school or classroom. How will parents know what you want or need if you don’t tell them?
Have a great week.
Audrey
Monday, November 18, 2013
Monday, November 11, 2013
Technology Credit Options
Greetings!
Most of my readers are in the North Pacific Union Conference and know that we need technology credit to renew our certification. For many of us it is fairly easy to collect credits and clock hours to renew, but the technology part is difficult for some. If this sounds like you, here are some options for you.
SUMMER CLASSES: Walla Walla University offers classes in the summer and you can usually find one that will take care of your technology requirement. I didn’t take this particular class, but there was one that guided you through putting together your own computer. I put together the computer I use at home with my husband’s guidance and it really is interesting and fun, too. Another summer class that will count for technology is the digital photography class. I took that class and really enjoyed it. It may be that your local community college might offer a digital photography course that would count. Check with the conference or the union to make sure you can get credit.
ON-LINE CLASSES: If you aren’t interested in traveling and staying at WWU, you could take an online class. Avln.org offers a technology class online. You need to sign up and take the class along with a group and a teacher and you get credit at the end of the class. There is a cost of $250.00 for each class. Check the website for more information about the classes and when the next classes begin. Another online class is a self-paced and free. It is a class called “Power Searching with Google” and is taught by a Google representative. The class does not promote Google, but shows you lots of the cool things you can do with Google and how to search more efficiently and effectively. I took this class and had a great time. The whole class took me approximately 10 hours, but that is just my best guess. I didn’t keep track of my time since I didn’t know it would count for technology credit at the time. I did like the self-paced aspect of the class because I could do it as I had time and when I came back, I came back to where I had left off. I checked with the union and they will accept this for technology credit.
WEBINARS: There are hundreds of free webinars available. Do a search by typing in ‘Technology webinars for teachers’ and you will come up with many sites to check out. I like edweb webinars. Others that looked good would include edtechteacher.org, and Simple K12 – Teacher Learning community.
I hope this information has been helpful to you. Check your certification and see when you renew and if you need technology credit and then plan how you will get it. If you ask me what I would do, I would look for a digital photography course. That will be helpful to any teacher.
Have a great week.
Audrey
Most of my readers are in the North Pacific Union Conference and know that we need technology credit to renew our certification. For many of us it is fairly easy to collect credits and clock hours to renew, but the technology part is difficult for some. If this sounds like you, here are some options for you.
SUMMER CLASSES: Walla Walla University offers classes in the summer and you can usually find one that will take care of your technology requirement. I didn’t take this particular class, but there was one that guided you through putting together your own computer. I put together the computer I use at home with my husband’s guidance and it really is interesting and fun, too. Another summer class that will count for technology is the digital photography class. I took that class and really enjoyed it. It may be that your local community college might offer a digital photography course that would count. Check with the conference or the union to make sure you can get credit.
ON-LINE CLASSES: If you aren’t interested in traveling and staying at WWU, you could take an online class. Avln.org offers a technology class online. You need to sign up and take the class along with a group and a teacher and you get credit at the end of the class. There is a cost of $250.00 for each class. Check the website for more information about the classes and when the next classes begin. Another online class is a self-paced and free. It is a class called “Power Searching with Google” and is taught by a Google representative. The class does not promote Google, but shows you lots of the cool things you can do with Google and how to search more efficiently and effectively. I took this class and had a great time. The whole class took me approximately 10 hours, but that is just my best guess. I didn’t keep track of my time since I didn’t know it would count for technology credit at the time. I did like the self-paced aspect of the class because I could do it as I had time and when I came back, I came back to where I had left off. I checked with the union and they will accept this for technology credit.
WEBINARS: There are hundreds of free webinars available. Do a search by typing in ‘Technology webinars for teachers’ and you will come up with many sites to check out. I like edweb webinars. Others that looked good would include edtechteacher.org, and Simple K12 – Teacher Learning community.
I hope this information has been helpful to you. Check your certification and see when you renew and if you need technology credit and then plan how you will get it. If you ask me what I would do, I would look for a digital photography course. That will be helpful to any teacher.
Have a great week.
Audrey
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