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Spring Break is Over!

At least for me. I spent time my week with sick kids, cutting 300 math vinyl images from Desmos, writing computer science curriculum, and getting things ready for the next few weeks. I also made some amazing projects with my youngest daughter, did some reading, and explored new areas of learning.

Despite missing sunshine and beaches it was a good break to finish up some projects and bring closure to some ideas.

In this edition I hope you find some more inspiration to get your brain moving in the right direction.

I got work done over break and I feel energized. Don't waste opportunities. Check out all the work below. Go get it done!

-Coffeechug

 

“It ain’t what you don’t know that gets you into trouble. It’s what you know for sure that just ain’t so.” — Mark Twain
Buy Me a Coffee as a Thank You!

First Cup of Coffee: Project Based Learning

 

Something I am pouring over as I develop a workshop on equity in the classroom: "Group work holds the promise of being a pathway to equity" Group work is essential but continues to be a monster for the classroom when stakes are so high with grades and measuring success.

I love aquaponics and want to create a wall in my makerspace for a system. This quote from this article sounds like the perfect driving question: "One of the original motivations was to create the perfect climate and conditions that we could replicate to create the perfect strawberry" And now I need to pick up my books on this topic and get going.

Why Your Project Needs a Verb - This article is short article reminding us of the small details that can rather important like the choice of verb we use for our project. We need a strong verb that calls for action and doing instead of passive consumption.

I don't know anything about this school and why they are making change, but I do love this part "We see when teachers are working together, we have better outcomes for kids and that's what we really want," Coffin said. "Grade-level bands, where you have the majority of the grade levels together, that is a very common structure in high-achieving schools." This is such an important idea and when teachers work together you know they are making things happen by the learning. So much of the success to learning happens under the hood and not so much on the paint job of learning. We often are misguided by these notions.

Second Cup of Coffee: Makerspaces

Building a makerspace in universities for health prototyping? I think we will see more and more of these spaces for innovation.

Ava and I are making in our house. Check it out! It is not so much as what we are making, but the conversations that develop from the activity.
Awesome Ava and Dorky Dad Episode 2: Bristlebots 

Here is episode 1 if you missed it
Awesome Ava and Dorky Dad Episode 1: Making Slime and Life 


A video I made for an educator who was hosting a makerspace workshop. This video kicked off their day.  Why Make? A video to kickstart you to create change in your classroom https://youtu.be/PdjML6umees 

Just in case you want help picking vinyl. How To Pick Your Vinyl Once Cut from Vinyl Cutter https://youtu.be/BNEj0myfzus

Third Cup of Coffee: Resources 

If you are a fan of The OA on Netflix, then you must listen to our latest podcast where we discuss our theories. If you have not watched this show, then crawl out from underneath your walk and binge watch. 041: Living On The Edge Of Chaos Roundtable Talk on The OA 

I posted my first ebook. It is more of an experiment of sorts really, but it is a compilation of thoughts, ideas, and mental nuggets I wrote for my basketball players. There is something for everyone within these pages. Check it
out!
M.T.X.E. for your Mind Volume 1

If you missed this announcement from Google, then.....
Google Classroom Open To EVERYONE! Gamechanger!!!!!! 

A video I created, but have not posted yet to the blog. This is going to be part of a Speedgeeking series I am developing.
Office Lens + OneNote = Productivity Success!! 

“What worries you, masters you.”
~ Haddon W. Robinson
 

Happy to help.

I hope these links help. This is what I have been reading this week and want to spread the wealth. If you have something worthwhile to share let me know and I will feature it on the next newsletter.

In the meantime let me know your thoughts on this format. Until next week.......

Stay Awesome and Caffeinated
Copyright © 2017 CoffeechugPLN, All rights reserved.


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