tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86344101075317850342024-02-07T03:35:55.207-06:00Spear Tip EducationMake an impact.Mr. Klumperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11458947077461578631noreply@blogger.comBlogger337125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8634410107531785034.post-44668666762900264232020-09-07T14:07:00.001-05:002020-09-07T14:07:08.774-05:0010th First Day<p style="text-align: left;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi63XaxwLU6Rtmf4P2IAWnChPTDoT7268vzFBSH2I64WlbB3_iNFKV-vrOABatRC1vyDUXzjxvOPpU0f6hxlRpRNuQvhypfR6XCB1tzcEJDmQ6oUcqHCe3rgdMobydGIiyVnNf4FqFRxLH_/s300/Keep+in+mind+first+day+at+work.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi63XaxwLU6Rtmf4P2IAWnChPTDoT7268vzFBSH2I64WlbB3_iNFKV-vrOABatRC1vyDUXzjxvOPpU0f6hxlRpRNuQvhypfR6XCB1tzcEJDmQ6oUcqHCe3rgdMobydGIiyVnNf4FqFRxLH_/s0/Keep+in+mind+first+day+at+work.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">YES. </td></tr></tbody></table></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br />Hello! It has been a while but I have returned to SpearTipEDU (on a limited basis because my world is going to get a lot busier!). </p><p>Tomorrow, September 8th, 2020 will be my 10th first day of school as a teacher. I have returned to the K12 world and it starts tomorrow! The first nine years of my teaching career was spent at Brandon Valley Middle School. After that, I took a 5 year sabbatical from classroom teacher world as I entered the instructional coaching world at Sioux Falls and the Higher Education world at Dakota State University. But alas! I am back and I couldn't be more excited. Sure, I had 'first days' of school the last four years at DSU, but my DSU 'first day' consisted of 50 minutes with in person students and 7 hours and 10 minutes sitting in my office alone. So, I don't really count those as the first day of K12 world is far, far different. The electricity and excitement and nervousness and newness and adventure -- the 'first day' of a k12 school year has it all. I may be a little rusty, but I am so looking forward to being 'back in the trenches' with 7th, 8th, and 9th graders teaching US history and geography. Oh, how my worlds could not be different from last year to this year. DSU world was all about helping students learn HOW to be teachers - now, I am teaching content. No more flexible schedule, getting to go to the bathroom whenever I want, sleeping in, leaving early, 2 hour lunch break, four day work week, no more coffee shops 3 times a week. But I am CHOOSING to give all that up. I am wired for the K12 world. This is where I am best. True, helping college students learn how to be a PIRATE teachers is noble, important work, but I belong with young adolescents. So bring on the grind. Bring on the non-stop action. Bring on the long, boring stories. Bring on the young adolescent issues and drama. Bring on the parent/teacher conferences. Bring on the poor hygiene (though, maybe not this year). Bring on the five day week, the limited bathroom breaks, the 4 minute lunch hour. Bring on all the emails, the collaboration, the feedback, the lesson planning, the grading, the creating. Bring it all on. Oh, and it was just my luck my return to the K12 world was during a global pandemic! Mask up. Let's teach! </p>Mr. Klumperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11458947077461578631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8634410107531785034.post-68015246759017390922020-03-28T09:25:00.002-06:002020-03-28T18:17:25.850-06:00Finding the Silver Lining<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The silver lining amidst the coronavirus pandemic</td></tr>
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Try to find the silver lining in this coronavirus mess. I think it's helpful to keep your sanity, to stay positive, and in trying to keep a good attitude about everything. The time passes way too slow if all you do is mope around the house wishing for our old life back. For me, I have thought a lot about the silver lining in all this.<br />
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1. Olivia. She is a junior at the moment. Next year, she will, of course, be a senior in high school, which will fly by and before we can blink twice, she will be off to college. Once that happens, it's never the same. Sure, a few summers at home but it will never be like it is when they are in high school or younger, living at home. So for this quarantine, a definite silver lining is the chance to have Olivia around a lot and spending time with the family. I am certain she would rather be at school, hanging out with her friends, being a high schooler - but I have so appreciated the chance to have her around so much before she goes off to college and beyond.<br />
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2. New challenge. Next year, I will be off to a new challenge back in the classroom teaching middle school/high school social studies. I am excited to be back in the classroom with all the action that comes with it, working with young adolescents again. I am also going to be the head girls basketball coach, a challenge I am so incredibly excited for. So during this quarantine, I have had a lot of time to start thinking/working on my new challenges. I have spent time everyday brushing up on US history and working on building my basketball program. It has given me time to spend thinking and planning and getting organized.<br />
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3. Hazel. Kids grow up so fast and time flies by. The time in which your kids are at that 'little kid' phase goes so quickly. Hazel is 6. She's at such a great age, one that is so fun and adorable. These times are priceless, times you can never get back. So instead of the hustle and bustle of life getting in the way of quality time with Hazel and enjoying her age, life has ground to a screeching halt, giving us time to really appreciate Hazel and the phase she is in. Each morning, she wakes up and crawls into bed with me and snuggles up. Every morning. It is something I so look forward to. This pandemic will end. Hazel will grow up and these moments will forever be gone. So this quarantine has given us a chance to slow way down and not take things for granted.<br />
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4. Cheap living! Since we can't leave, we can't go spend money, so we have been able to save more!<br />
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What is your silver lining? I hope you have found one or multiple. It goes a long way in saving our sanity.Mr. Klumperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11458947077461578631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8634410107531785034.post-34156470551606409022020-03-27T08:03:00.000-06:002020-03-27T08:03:06.738-06:00A time for perseverance <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hello to you all from quarantine. I hope you are all staying healthy and safe. I hope you are all being productive and not going too stir crazy during these weird/unprecedented times. My daily life has become defined by repetition: Wake up, make my Iced Caramel Latte, go on my computer, eat oatmeal with brown sugar, make Hazel breakfast, read, watch movies, watch Netflix, play with Hazel, talk to the girls, do our dribble workouts, eat, eat, eat. However, one aspect of my life that I have been able to continue is going for runs outside. And it was one of these such runs that I observed a tremendous lesson in perseverance. No, not me pushing through my run, but a subtle item that anyone passing by would surely miss. <br />
When I go for a run, I take the exact same route every time. During one such run, I noticed a green poker chip laying by the curb. I didn't think much of it. But as I continued to run and I would look to see if the green poker chip was still there. It began to give me something to look forward to each day - would the green poker chip still be there? This started back in January. It is the end of March. Yesterday, while on my run, I once again saw the green poker chip. But this time, I stopped and picked it up, for it represents a tremendous profile in perseverance and I wanted to keep it. Just think - since January, through all the snow, wind, rain, street sweepers, etc. it remained. It remained undeterred in the face of mother nature, throwing everything she had at the green poker chip to make it go away. But yet, it persisted. So it may just seem like an insignificant, plain, old green poker chip. But let me tell you, people, it is so much more than that. It is perseverance - through and through. Perhaps it was placed on that road for a reason because of the times we find ourselves in. We must persevere - not through something difficult, but through much boredom. We are not wired to sit at home and do nothing. We are too accustomed to the faced paced way of life - so now with all that crashing down around us - we must persevere through this boredom and inaction - because if we don't, if we fall to the temptation to return to normal too soon, this will never end and we will never get out of this boredom. If the green poker chip can persevere through all that it has, surely we can too. Be safe. Stay well.Mr. Klumperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11458947077461578631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8634410107531785034.post-64887483511043884832020-01-28T09:01:00.001-06:002020-01-28T09:01:34.998-06:00Kobe<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwHGcMPFyRdHmpvWChMt_lYSpT6lOPf9LIoMQQWEvIB5LS6BVTvPHrrPEOKrYFMBVYHfa5ibQYskXE8CrgMq_nfHjXcQXY-0Y2bzQacmj2liYd3CQwyujD-2QSf8uebCQq-odJI3JiU39Y/s1600/kobe+gig.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="520" data-original-width="780" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwHGcMPFyRdHmpvWChMt_lYSpT6lOPf9LIoMQQWEvIB5LS6BVTvPHrrPEOKrYFMBVYHfa5ibQYskXE8CrgMq_nfHjXcQXY-0Y2bzQacmj2liYd3CQwyujD-2QSf8uebCQq-odJI3JiU39Y/s320/kobe+gig.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
Legendary people like Kobe seem immortal. It seems like they are above normal things like dying in accidents. They are larger than life and could not be affected by things that affect 'normal' people. It was a complete shock to me when I heard the news that Kobe died on Sunday in a helicopter crash. I am still having a difficult time processing this. I was never a huge Kobe fan. I appreciated his work ethic, his competitive spirit but never considered him my 'favorite player.' Yet for some reason, I just can't stop thinking about the fact that Kobe Bryant is dead. Perhaps this is why... Gigi, Kobe's daughter that died with him in the crash, was 13 years old. Her basketball number was 2. My daughter Isabel is 14 and her basketball number is 2. Kobe has an older daughter who plays volleyball. Her number is 8. I have an older daughter who plays volleyball and her number is 8. Furthermore, Kobe and his daughter Gigi were on their way to a weekend basketball tournament. Something Isabel and I have done countless times. I think this is why it hits home so much is because they were doing something that so many of us 'mere mortals' have done as well....traveling to a weekend basketball tournament. I can't stop thinking about Kobe and his daughter in the moments before the helicopter crashed and what was going through their minds. I picture Kobe hugging Gigi tight, as the helicopter spun out of control, knowing the inevitable was about to happen. It gets me every time when I think about it - Kobe embracing his daughter, unable to protect her and keep her safe in their last moments.<br />
When a tragedy like this happens, it is always the same: a whole bunch of cliches are thrown out there, an outpouring of support/love. People sharing their memories. The things is...all those cliches are true. Yet, we forget about them because we get wrapped up in life and the hustle and bustle of always being busy. We focus so much on things that don't matter, so it takes a tremendously sad tragedy like this to remind us to slow down, take a moment, look up from the screen and appreciate what you have. How grand would it have been for Kobe to have been able to hear how important he was and how loved he was when he was still alive? Don't wait for a person to die to share how much they mean to you.<br />
Life is fragile. Life goes by so quick. Life can end in an instant. Yes, all cliches, yet all most definitely true.Mr. Klumperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11458947077461578631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8634410107531785034.post-36479385328026320872020-01-06T09:22:00.000-06:002020-01-06T09:22:04.031-06:00Off to Kindergarten and Beyond...<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hazel's School Picture - Kindergarten</td></tr>
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On Hazel's first day of kindergarten, she literally ran to the building. I had to call to her to wait for me because I wanted to be with her as she walked into the school and took that first step in her public school journey. She yelled back at me to hurry up and that we were going to be late. I assured her, as I jogged to catch up, that we had plenty of time, that we were early. I wanted to tell her to slow down, don't rush, time goes by fast enough without us trying to make it go faster. She was beaming. She was excited. She couldn't wait to get to school. Wouldn't it be nice if kids continued to have that exact same level of enthusiasm and excitement as they made their way through their K12 experience? Hazel wasn't alone in her excitement. We saw many other kindergarten-aged kids running to the school, smiles spread wide across their faces, urging their parents to hurry up. However, the 4th graders were not running. Head over to the middle school and you would not see students running to the building. You would not see high schoolers running to the building. Perhaps it is unfair to think middle school and high school-aged kids would actually run to the building - that that's the only way to show excitement. Perhaps being older makes it so running isn't an option, no matter how excited they are for school. But something happens to students along the K12 adventure - the older they get, the less excited for school they become. This is a very general statement as there are certainly students who are excited for school all the way through high school, but a truth, nonetheless. Why do students lose that excitement for school that compels them to "run" to the building? When does this happen? First grade? Fifth? Middle school? It undoubtedly happens at different times depending on the student, but in my experience, I have seen the gradual decline all too often. So why? The answers vary - stress, drama, pressure, homework, worksheets, bullying, etc. - much we, as teachers, can not control. However, we can certainly control what happens to those students during our time with them each day - we can certainly do our part to keep that excitement for learning alive, to not let it die out shortly after kindergarten. So how is this done? How do we keep the excitement for school alive, even as the students get older? Good question with an easy answer - but an answer that is hard to execute because it takes tremendous effort, consistency and an unflinching commitment to the student. Keep the excitement and love of learning alive in your students by engaging them with meaningful activities - simulations, hands-on, relevancy, thought-provoking, real-world, authentic. Keep the excitement and love of learning alive in your students by showing them that you care about them as a person, not just a statistic on the standardized test report - that you are there for them. Keep that excitement alive by showing kindness, building trust, reaching out to them. You don't need a fancy handshake or a nickname for each student - you just need to genuinely care for students and show kindness. Far too often, students hit a snag in their journey in which they cross paths with someone who is not willing to put in the work to get to know them and build a relationship with them. Don't be that teacher. Don't be the one teacher that causes the students to check out from the school experience. Don't be the reason why kids stop running to school.Mr. Klumperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11458947077461578631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8634410107531785034.post-52675836936393432062019-12-23T14:09:00.002-06:002019-12-23T14:09:37.390-06:00Culture Building the Zappos Way<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbZxBvm4lfWfXzq8n-9au6kPryBAgEcZ4u5ToYhbI6SYi-iK_ujhkDfSFSns1nmzhMDQvsu752jusY91V3WQA5CWKO32cbtEuGxRfnmg7u5mFMSxj52KHl0bJOpm4oEAT0K8rbAC0rYPFm/s1600/zappos.webp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="413" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbZxBvm4lfWfXzq8n-9au6kPryBAgEcZ4u5ToYhbI6SYi-iK_ujhkDfSFSns1nmzhMDQvsu752jusY91V3WQA5CWKO32cbtEuGxRfnmg7u5mFMSxj52KHl0bJOpm4oEAT0K8rbAC0rYPFm/s320/zappos.webp" width="309" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Zappos is a shoe company. It just happens to be the shoe company that I always use to get new all-black Chuck Taylor Converse All-Stars, the shoe I wear to school every day. Here is an interesting fact about Zappos: They pay their employees $5,000 if they leave the company. You might be thinking, “What?!?! That’s crazy!” Well, it is certainly unique, but it is Zappos applying pressure on themselves to make the culture at their company so good that people would rather stay and work for them, rather than leave the company with $5,000 in their pocket. Zappos knows that it’s all about culture when it comes to job satisfaction and employee morale. Let’s apply this to school - would you rather stay at your present school or take $5,000 and go to a different school? The answer will tell you how the culture building is going in the school in which you teach. Apply that same concept to your class - would students rather have you for a teacher or take $50 and go to a different teacher? Thinking about this through the Zappos frame is a helpful way to approach your efforts at building culture. It is such an important task - to create a culture in your school/classroom that would cause people/students to stay with you, rather than taking a bag of money and going elsewhere. I FOR SURE would have taken the money and took my chances with another teacher, rather than stay with who I currently had. However, there were other teachers/coaches along the way that I would have stayed with, no matter how much money was dangling in front of me. Why? Because it’s all about relationships. Those teachers/coaches were super nice and took a genuine interest in me. I knew they cared about me and had my best interests in mind. They talked to me and treated me like a person, not a subordinate student. So, examine your world. What would your students do if presented with the stay or leave option? If you area principal, what would your teachers do? Jump ship with the dough, or stay with you? </span></div>
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Mr. Klumperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11458947077461578631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8634410107531785034.post-60490881331519500562019-12-22T10:11:00.001-06:002019-12-22T10:11:45.765-06:00Kindness Wins<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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One of my biggest pet peeves in education/school is when teachers are not kind to their students. It bothers me so much hearing stories from students about how certain teachers treat kids. Granted, there are always two sides of a story, but when the same name continues to be brought up, time and time again, there must be some smoke there. I don't get it! Don't you know?? Kindness wins. Teachers on a power trip - boo. Teachers showing kindness - Yay! Students can become incredibly anxious when the teacher acts all high and mighty - or in other words, is on a power trip. I get how this can happen - you do have a sense of power over your students because you are the teacher and they are the subordinate students. However, that is no way to lead! It just cracks me up when a teacher is going back to school to be an admin yet, they are mean, sarcastic, etc. to kids. Wow, well on your way to being a crappy principal! Teachers flexing their power over students and making sure everyone knows who is in charge is such a bad approach. I don't care how well you know your content or how many teaching strategies you know or how many hours you put in grading. I, along with your students, care about how you treat students. Treat them with respect. Show empathy. Get off your pedestal. Interact with the students in a positive way. Don't think you are a celebrity or famous (you're not). Don't be sarcastic. Don't speak in an intimidating way. Listen to your students.<br />
I'll prove it to you: Being in my present role in higher education, I want to try to stay connected as much as possible to the k12 world. So I thought I would substitute teach during my breaks to get back into the schools and try to stay connected to that world. I subbed at a middle school recently and it was extremely challenging. There were 31 students in the class and to them, I was a complete stranger. They did not care what I had to say or who I was. They didn't care that I taught at a university. One student and I got off on the wrong foot so he became very belligerent and insubordinate. He was being very disrespectful and would not listen. I was close to pulling the trigger on sending him to the office, but instead, I decided to try my go-to approach with student behavior/challenging students: kindness. I chose to stay calm, not react and shower him with kindness. Over the course of the next 40 minutes, my kindness began to break down his barriers. I pointed out we were both wearing Chuck Taylor all-black converse. I smiled at him and asked him how it was going. I asked him about his favorite NFL player. I encouraged him in what he was working on. Time and time again, he got off task and was disrespectful. Time and time again, I responded with kindness. It was challenging to stay calm and continue to show kindness, but by the end of the period, we had moved an inch. It was only an inch, but progress nonetheless. I asked the regular classroom teacher about this student later that week and she told me his story. A terrible home life producing distrust of adults, so it was not hard to see why he didn't automatically trust me. I had to earn it. She also told me that he had really good things to say about me and that he wanted me to come back. I was surprised by this but at the same time, I wasn't. Why? Because Kindness wins. Always. <br />
<br />Mr. Klumperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11458947077461578631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8634410107531785034.post-28135248929085116502019-08-12T09:54:00.000-05:002019-08-12T09:59:53.892-05:00Stuff for Elk Point Jefferson! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeo6pV5RchgcoRaxynqOTxyKcK6Z-tz1qU_xnnV1fWXPoaJhbn62dJnTyBWGqeHTQ9P0BxXGhKzjQZdtrgP9lTreVnxMNQqdDLyVit0uwEkpve7fGwSHQ9W7XynslZnDkn8HJ4KRBB0cz-/s1600/Screen+Shot+2019-08-12+at+9.59.17+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="664" data-original-width="1182" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeo6pV5RchgcoRaxynqOTxyKcK6Z-tz1qU_xnnV1fWXPoaJhbn62dJnTyBWGqeHTQ9P0BxXGhKzjQZdtrgP9lTreVnxMNQqdDLyVit0uwEkpve7fGwSHQ9W7XynslZnDkn8HJ4KRBB0cz-/s320/Screen+Shot+2019-08-12+at+9.59.17+AM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;"><b><u>Gifts for Elk Point Jefferson Teachers!</u></b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: red;">1.</span><span style="color: red;"> <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1S5Bb79gi5jUYdti7R_6odAhto6CeKWiHs6xw97WIFrs/edit?usp=sharing" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Pirate Worksheet - Transform your lessons</span></a></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">2. <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1aZcBUPzNJeFKuboD6sK5wgvBZ7qIoqojGx-6ReyZtec/edit?usp=sharing" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Are you a Relationship builder? Q's to ponder...</span></a></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>3. <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1KtfSUkAlJMcMVyKV6oIVa-nD3ACQRxQhTm0JsRF9RxA/edit?usp=sharing" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">"30 Day TLAP Challenge"</span></a></b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">4. <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Sk6tuw3uUXCfbpDgd78NvFlj9qgyi3_Z9LJdcBqFUdA/edit?usp=sharing" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Link to good books to read</span></a></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">5. <span style="color: blue;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1DqUCpbyoatUYCfjzqtdX5kiMERAUwVuc0AdQaUIRHao/edit?usp=sharing" target="_blank">Twitter - Find your Pirate Crew</a></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">6. <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdhYzexXx3Mj3ngUYK4Se5I8vm5mVuQl43dEGRAJjW8eyukgQ/viewform?usp=sf_link" target="_blank">Culture Survey</a> - check the culture of your classroom</span></b></div>
Mr. Klumperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11458947077461578631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8634410107531785034.post-15754579769305730122019-04-11T13:32:00.000-05:002019-04-11T13:33:56.893-05:00ECET2 Gamification: Level Up Learning! <table style="width: 100%;">
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><u>Resources</u></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">1. <a href="http://realmofdragons.weebly.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Realm of Dragons Website</span></a></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">2. <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSebQIaCeR8lACCtO8o3oP7SpvfWAXgyaOClTU0GuQCZBIT9-g/viewform?usp=sf_link" target="_blank">Gamer Survey</a> - What gamer style are you?</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">3. <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1VHeufecEXOqUa90eo7-patcgsE97WmMXLUg6hUjxZZg/edit?usp=sharing" target="_blank">Gamification Tool</a></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">4. <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Sk6tuw3uUXCfbpDgd78NvFlj9qgyi3_Z9LJdcBqFUdA/edit?usp=sharing" target="_blank">Good books to read</a></span></div>
Mr. Klumperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11458947077461578631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8634410107531785034.post-1064536455648458712019-03-05T15:40:00.001-06:002019-03-05T15:40:46.096-06:00Discussion Strategy: Mock Trial<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6mkF7RzGaJRV7w4uk1mopx_CgJCr47f3zwbwqGQMoXE2LmNmKA-jnxHtlMO2hX4dKldylk0lhsB27k7BJQL4-sstqdV8b1IWyf_Pommr1dxDtZk_Qv3peqM7_oHT6xpSmm46zlXR3-387/s1600/Screen+Shot+2018-10-26+at+9.47.53+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6mkF7RzGaJRV7w4uk1mopx_CgJCr47f3zwbwqGQMoXE2LmNmKA-jnxHtlMO2hX4dKldylk0lhsB27k7BJQL4-sstqdV8b1IWyf_Pommr1dxDtZk_Qv3peqM7_oHT6xpSmm46zlXR3-387/s320/Screen+Shot+2018-10-26+at+9.47.53+AM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
Recently, in my social studies methods course, we held two mock trials. Mock trial #1 put the Confederate statues on trial, to determine, through trial, if the confederate statues should remain or if they should be taken down. In the second mock trial, we put the border wall along the US-Mexico border on trial, to determine whether the wall should be built or not.<br />
The process: Half the class participated in the border wall mock trial, while the other half of the class participated in the Confederate statues mock trial. Due to numbers, we needed two mock trials as there were too many people in the class for one mock trial. In the mock trial that the students were not part of, they served as the jury and fact checkers.<br />
For each mock trial, the students were assigned to either the prosecution or the defense. Students did not necessarily argue for what they personally believed should be done in regards to the issue. I believe this is important because it forces the students to think about and dive into both sides. Besides, if students were left to choose what side they wanted to argue for, we may not have equal sides and it could get too personal. In addition, some students do not want people to know what they believe in personally. Once assigned to a side, the group of students determined what role each would fulfill. There were two roles: attorney and witness. There were two attorneys and three witnesses per side. They were in charge of coming up with who their witnesses were. They submitted their 'witness list' to the court so the other side could see who would be called and prepare for cross-examination. Once the trial began, I acted as judge and facilitated the proceedings. Each side gave opening statements. Then, the prosecution called their three witnesses, with cross-examination each time. The defense then presented their case by calling their witness, with prosecution getting their chance at cross-examination. Finally, each side gave their closing remarks. The jury then deliberated until they had a verdict, consulting with the fact checkers on any errors that were presented in either side. The jury was supposed to make their decision NOT on what they personally believed, but who presented the best case for what they were arguing.<br />
The mock trial is a very engaging way to generate discussion on a deeper level. It's a great way to discuss current events. It's a project so there will be a significant amount of time spent with allowing the sides to be prepared, in order to have a rich, deep discussion/view of the issue at hand. It's a discussion technique that can be used in many different content areas. It allows the students to think critically, listen, speak and prepare.<br />
Perhaps there is a place for the mock trial in your classroom! Mr. Klumperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11458947077461578631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8634410107531785034.post-12235785091713081742018-12-13T09:56:00.002-06:002018-12-13T09:56:58.822-06:00The Lakota Way: Thoughtfulness<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The great thing about the United States, well, at least what I think is great about the United States, is that there are many, many cultures within its borders. We know it is horribly wrong to try to kill off a culture and get those people to assimilate into another culture. Instead, our cultural differences should be celebrated and shared! We should learn from other cultures, rather than shy away from them and treat them as inferior. Learning from other cultures can do nothing but help build empathy. Example: We can learn from the Lakota culture that it is good to be thoughtful before responding. When a question is ask, or an issue arises, or there is some sort of problem, the Lakota way is to think about what has happened silently, reflect and process the situation before responding. At times, in Euro-American culture (white America), we tend to respond instantly in a situation, without thinking it through. Something happens and we instantly fire back or respond or spout off, without care or concern for the other person's feelings. When there is a problem or disagreement, this can be especially harmful because when responding with emotion/anger, things can be said that are hurtful. The situation can become worse and feelings can be damaged. I am as guilty as anyone, as just recently, there was a problem and I responded instantly in a very emotional way, which did nothing but make the situation worse and people feel bad. I would encourage everyone to adopt the Lakota way. Before lashing out or ripping someone or immediately responding with emotion, think the situation/issue through. Process what is happening and look at the situation through their eyes, rather than just your own.<br />
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Adopt the Lakota way for handling problems. Be respectful and thoughtful. This, I challenge to you.Mr. Klumperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11458947077461578631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8634410107531785034.post-81893593171229600792018-11-26T08:00:00.000-06:002018-11-26T08:00:02.380-06:00What I'm Thankful for<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Ew9g9KbgI9HppvIGizhXQCLhbKp97xS69v_Vpb36EtzMTHA9WzaulK7W7zEC9K33uL85QA5k4VtHIHDrycYcFvFgA8ZzHzY7XqfItqscHvLQzbz1z0tokZpiNDYWJCGqn2YAM6ofuZzE/s1600/What+I%2527m+thankful+for....png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Ew9g9KbgI9HppvIGizhXQCLhbKp97xS69v_Vpb36EtzMTHA9WzaulK7W7zEC9K33uL85QA5k4VtHIHDrycYcFvFgA8ZzHzY7XqfItqscHvLQzbz1z0tokZpiNDYWJCGqn2YAM6ofuZzE/s320/What+I%2527m+thankful+for....png" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: "segoe ui" , "segoe wp" , "segoe ui wpc" , "tahoma" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.3333px;">I know Thanksgiving has past and we are all back to school. I was thinking about what I am thankful for and it took me a while to process it all. So, here is what I am thankful for: </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: "segoe ui" , "segoe wp" , "segoe ui wpc" , "tahoma" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.3333px;">I am thankful for many things. I am thankful for Sriracha mayo, Chewy Chips Ahoy, and Eggo waffles. I am thankful for books and learning. I am thankful for knowledge. I am thankful for movies and imagination. I am thankful for the first amendment. I am thankful for facts. I am thankful for Democracy and term limits (except in 2016). I am thankful that the 2020 election is almost here. I am thankful for Iced Caramel Lattes. I am thankful for the fridge in my office. I am thankful for the days I have had and the days yet to come. I am thankful that Jon Snow and Daenerys finally met. I am thankful for Amazon and my MacBook. I am thankful for Twitter. I am thankful my Dad didn't die in his motorcycle accident. I am thankful for those who are open-minded and empathetic. I am thankful for legos and lincoln logs. I am thankful for my JFK mug which makes hot chocolate taste especially delicious. I am thankful for culture. I am thankful for my garage door opener. I am especially thankful for the horse tranquilizers that I use to get Hazel to calm down at night. I am thankful for jokes. I am thankful for the sausage Breakfast Boy. I am thankful for my dragon goblet. I am thankful for all the articles people post on Facebook. I am thankful for sports and competition. I am thankful for people posting their workouts on Facebook. I am thankful for technology and iMovie. I am thankful for the air in my lungs, the blood in my veins and the electricity in my brain. Mostly, I am thankful for people like Abby, Olivia, Isabel, and Hazel. People like my mom and dad (best ever). People like my siblings. People like my DSU co-workers. People like my students. People that uplift me and make me think. Happy Thanksgiving!</span>Mr. Klumperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11458947077461578631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8634410107531785034.post-887344587570013422018-11-15T10:00:00.000-06:002018-11-15T21:31:44.571-06:00The NEED for Social Studies<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilsJv_wxi_UT0Q4Tqa6nYi7ZNUIFhgU3FyG45bYLKG8t4Wrn43h8YCEOcMNcmk1IOmNOgAkaN_odGZSGc7lmx9W7KYtcPCcwNcv-A2mY1mqp15hyphenhyphenSrsL-G3Q_VQQQfI_euBOhlmEcsKXqe/s1600/Acellus-7th-Grade-Social-Studies-720x388.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="388" data-original-width="720" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilsJv_wxi_UT0Q4Tqa6nYi7ZNUIFhgU3FyG45bYLKG8t4Wrn43h8YCEOcMNcmk1IOmNOgAkaN_odGZSGc7lmx9W7KYtcPCcwNcv-A2mY1mqp15hyphenhyphenSrsL-G3Q_VQQQfI_euBOhlmEcsKXqe/s320/Acellus-7th-Grade-Social-Studies-720x388.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
We need social studies. I'm not talking about an official study or formal research project. I'm just telling you what I think. I think we need social studies. We need to talk about and learn about other cultures, how else will kids develop into thoughtful, open-minded people? Ignorance is dangerous. People fear that which they do not know or understand. Through social studies, we can teach students to be empathetic. To accept differences in other people, but yet we are all human beings living in this world together. With social studies, we can teach students kindness, respect, and compassion. We can teach kids that it's bad to lie, no matter who you are or what position you hold. We can teach kids that if something is untrue, it will remain untrue no matter how many times it keeps getting repeated. We need to make sure students understand that a lie is a lie, no matter how many times it is spoken. "Speaking things into existence" isn't a thing and should NOT work, but it will be if we don't teach our students to be critical thinkers! It's important that we have social studies in school because we need to make sure kids understand that you treat people with respect, unlike the horrible examples they often see on the news. Degrading people and hurling insults is NOT OKAY just because those people don't agree with you about something. We need social studies because then we can teach kids to listen, think, reflect and then respond with a thoughtful response. I believe that studying social studies is one of our main weapons to end racism.<br />
A lot of people won't need to be able to solve elaborate math equations as an adult. Most won't need to conduct science experiments, or paint a picture, or write a poem. But ALL people, no matter what, should be empathetic, open-minded and respectful because we are all humans living in this world together. Imagine if that were true? Imagine what the world would be like, or just what this country would be like? This is what social studies brings to school. At least, it would if it wasn't constantly being eliminated and viewed as not as important as other subjects. It's as equally important as any other subject area.<br />
Take a look at social media comments. People are so nasty to each other! They are setting such a terrible example for kids! We tell kids to be nice and respectful, yet then go off on someone on Facebook. In today's world, with it being as divided as ever, I can see how it is difficult to bite your tongue and not respond. Trust me, I'm with you. But we must set a better example for our kids! Engage in dialogue respectfully.<br />
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Social studies every day. Physical Education every day. Read every day.Mr. Klumperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11458947077461578631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8634410107531785034.post-237600692615393752018-11-14T09:00:00.000-06:002018-11-14T09:00:01.192-06:00"Good enough" is not the goal<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVwalVTq-kAx1CoTNvR3WHaeZXa1VmLW13kOT0AVvrqXBxcKhdjnzsD4XOk2RxWQ8mOQvOp4B-Sz4yYx0WumRoUgzxmUu7vHHYpSs1dSXonRcojIu4CrdsNcWacVRGY2Cs4kXpj8tPRoTY/s1600/oaGS5hJi.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVwalVTq-kAx1CoTNvR3WHaeZXa1VmLW13kOT0AVvrqXBxcKhdjnzsD4XOk2RxWQ8mOQvOp4B-Sz4yYx0WumRoUgzxmUu7vHHYpSs1dSXonRcojIu4CrdsNcWacVRGY2Cs4kXpj8tPRoTY/s320/oaGS5hJi.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
"Good enough" is not the bar we should be shooting for.<br />
"How was the lesson?" - It was good enough. WRONG<br />
"How was the lesson? - It could be better. I'm going to change this and this, etc." CORRECT!<br />
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The term "good enough" is fine for home DIY projects or things like that. But for education, teachers and learning, 'good enough' doesn't cut it. To be happy with good enough, don't settle for good enough. If something is 'good enough' then that means it could be better. So make it better! Sometimes we don't know how something is going to go until we try it. Which is totally okay! But after you try a lesson and it was simply 'good enough' reflect on why it was only 'good enough' and make a tweak for next time. 'Good enough' lessons aren't disasters. They are not a total, epic failure, but they still fall short from making a real impact and difference in student learning.<br />
Recently, I gave my students a task to explain something so a 5th grader could understand. The topic was to explain the three branches of government. They posted their video to Flipgrid. I gave them all 0/100. Sure, their videos explained the concept. They talked about the three branches, what they did, checks and balances, etc. The videos were, well....good enough. But that's not our goal! We don't want to settle for good enough so I made this point with something near and dear to their hearts: points and grades! Boy, once those 0/100 were posted, they were beating down my door, demanding an explanation. Which I provided: yes, you got a 0/100. It was good enough, but we are not striving for good enough. We are striving for greatness. You need to do better. More effort. More creativity. So, they were allowed to redo the videos and oh my! They were so much better. A clear difference between their first attempt and their second attempt. Way more creative, much more enthusiasm. They used props, music, actions. They were no longer good enough, they were great! That's what we are shooting for. Being great. Sometimes, it just takes a bit more effort.<br />
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Sit down and reflect on how you have been operating as a teacher lately. Have you settled for good enough? Change your mindset and perspective. Strive for greatness. Be willing to put in their effort needed to be great. It's in you. Just let it out!Mr. Klumperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11458947077461578631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8634410107531785034.post-36437557527636410032018-11-13T09:00:00.000-06:002018-11-13T09:00:06.745-06:00There is an Epidemic Spreading... <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTe0mWTkBHfsUomAuM4AN1PGeeUyu0IHnKwY65n5XLuUNat9Jb62mKvUE_Y1icoSKUOHQSOvP-rf2toE_LTthvIn1NZQpPfaekIu81R-0jqPZCoYWTDjAZbsw753vBsdqcvjtOmLnAVQON/s1600/epidemic.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="220" data-original-width="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTe0mWTkBHfsUomAuM4AN1PGeeUyu0IHnKwY65n5XLuUNat9Jb62mKvUE_Y1icoSKUOHQSOvP-rf2toE_LTthvIn1NZQpPfaekIu81R-0jqPZCoYWTDjAZbsw753vBsdqcvjtOmLnAVQON/s1600/epidemic.jpeg" /></a></div>
Holy smokes. Do you realize the crisis we are facing? Are you aware of this seriously frightening epidemic spreading throughout college campus all over the USA? Seriously, it's not good people. You step on campus for ONE minute and you will IMMEDIATELY see what I am talking about. But wait, no point in having to come all the way to campus to see evidence of this scary plague, because you can see it right where you are, I am willing to bet. Just the other day, I was out for a nice stroll across campus and I almost became a victim of this epidemic FIVE times! And it's not even a very big campus. Sheesh. I'm telling you what. Something must be done. I don't think there is a vaccine for this. Not sure if there is a cure either. Oh, wait, there is. I know what the cure is. It's a sledgehammer. You may be thinking, "uh, what? What kind of epidemic is solved by a sledgehammer?? That makes no sense and I'm going to stop following this blog which is bad for him because I'm the only one who reads it."<br />
This epidemic started out gradually. It started appearing, but only subtly and nobody really paid it much attention, in fact, most just joined in, willingly infecting themselves. No surgeon general's warning on the box to warn us of the dangers or to ward us off from diving in and joining the group.<br />
It's too soon to see the long-term effects this epidemic will have. But the short-term results are in. And they are bad. For me, I have witnessed plenty of people suffering from the horrible things caused by this epidemic: Black eyes from running into a light pole. Scuffed face from running into a brick wall. Tripping over a park bench. Dropping all their books. First degree burns after spilling their coffee. One person even missed the love of his life because of this!!! She walked right on by and he never even knew it. Had he been looking up, he would have seen her. An instant spark would have popped into his head and prompted him to say hello. This would have led to grabbing coffee later in the day. Then, dating. Then marriage. Then kids. A full life of happiness with his soul mate. But nope, none of that stuff happened because of the screen he was staring at. It's terrible. I'm telling you, it's terrible! Cue the sledgehammer.<br />
This epidemic is "Walking while texting" and it's out of control. I was once standing in the hallway. Motionless, just watching a group of students walk towards me. One was looking down, on their phone while walking. I just stood there and do you know what happened? Yep, the person ran right into me. It was so awful (and awkward). Seriously! It's a problem. Even worse, some even text while walking backward. How dangerous! Not only for them but for the people around them who are actually engaged in the real world and not locked into a screen. It seems everywhere I go, people are walking while texting and I fear that once they finally look up, they will see that 10 years have passed and they have done nothing but wasted it away on their device. I offer a challenge! Put the device down. Look up while walking around. Perhaps you while notice the beauty in the world and engage in the present. There can't be anything that important that requires you to be walking while texting. And if it is an emergency or high priority, stop walking!<br />
Social media makes people less social. I'm right there with them, inflected by this epidemic myself, but now I'm going to do something about it. What you ask? I deleted Instagram for starters. What's next? Probably Facebook. Then snapchat. Then Twitter (wait, no, who am I kidding. I'm not getting rid of Twitter). Or, maybe you don't have to delete any of that stuff, but just achieve some level of balance in life. Yes, perhaps that's the best route. I'll go with that. BALANCE!<br />
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<br />Mr. Klumperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11458947077461578631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8634410107531785034.post-44539403507757117102018-09-11T12:57:00.001-05:002018-09-11T12:58:09.333-05:00Anniversary of September 11th<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlUIwOPAbhg11-b_8TEu4G8Y2IJUpqfSvtciM7qGh1jECbDxJdNo1GXFFeu0sOwVse7na303rudJcHKZn-yjLVCNIzyfNEvzCtX-c7vb0VuGGQO5XB_L5H7QuD9ilGFebtZKLqZUCb5Ia3/s1600/Screen+Shot+2018-09-11+at+12.57.20+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="484" data-original-width="364" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlUIwOPAbhg11-b_8TEu4G8Y2IJUpqfSvtciM7qGh1jECbDxJdNo1GXFFeu0sOwVse7na303rudJcHKZn-yjLVCNIzyfNEvzCtX-c7vb0VuGGQO5XB_L5H7QuD9ilGFebtZKLqZUCb5Ia3/s320/Screen+Shot+2018-09-11+at+12.57.20+PM.png" width="240" /></a></div>
Today is the anniversary of September 11th. I remember CLEARLY where I was when I found out about it. I was a freshman at Augustana College. I actually woke up fairly early this day, around 8:30 am and stumbled down from my loft and flipped on the t.v. I thought I was watching something from a movie. I thought the first plane was just an accident. But then the second plane hit. Then a plane hit the Pentagon, then a plane crashed in a field outside DC. It was no movie. No accident. America was under attack, on our own soil. It brought our nation together to stand up to terrorism and bring justice to those who murdered our people. Spend some time today thinking about September 11th and the horrific tragedy that it was. Watch some Youtube clips of the coverage of the day. We owe it to all those innocent lives lost that day to think about them and honor them. We owe it to the thousands of men and women of the military who answered the call of duty and laid down their lives to seek out the people responsible for this.<br />
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September 11th has a dual meaning for me and my family. On September 11th, 2013, my dad returned home from a horrific motorcycle accident that put him in a coma for five weeks, due to a traumatic brain injury. 79 days after he entered the ICU at Sanford Hospital in Sioux Falls, my mom wheeled him to the front doors of Sanford in a wheelchair. He then stood up and walked out the doors on his own. We then drove back home to Worthington, MN and had a pizza party. It was one of the happiest moments of my life.<br />
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So yeah. September 11th is quite the day for me. An emotional rollercoaster.Mr. Klumperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11458947077461578631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8634410107531785034.post-75371738604152284462018-09-06T14:13:00.000-05:002018-09-06T14:13:26.103-05:00I got a Blister on my thumb<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihiB-duZUJlAiOCImo_1u9Mw56rJgylkPpMxyP8CLznVJ8_6EOgK3dK5cg0ZVUPkR3Y4oIjUkcNbNWheFIiF4xDmzuGOYIGnme9ATavhqy7oELyJ_7OEJ0f1YNqkmmzaO9Pk1Ph7N0lDMj/s1600/IMG_0067.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1334" data-original-width="750" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihiB-duZUJlAiOCImo_1u9Mw56rJgylkPpMxyP8CLznVJ8_6EOgK3dK5cg0ZVUPkR3Y4oIjUkcNbNWheFIiF4xDmzuGOYIGnme9ATavhqy7oELyJ_7OEJ0f1YNqkmmzaO9Pk1Ph7N0lDMj/s320/IMG_0067.PNG" width="179" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Proof of my blister</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
So I was building a fire pit last weekend with pavers and gravel from Menards. Perhaps you are familiar with the process but at one point, you have to clear away the grass and level out the earth. Well, while doing this, after about 30 seconds of digging, I obtained a massive blister on my thumb. I guess my hands haven't developed tough callouses to ward off blisters from typing on my keyboard or turning the pages of my book. So yeah, my hands are, apparently, soft. So I got this huge blister and then I started feeling sorry for myself, especially after it popped. I was lambasting myself for not wearing gloves. A tried and true tactic to ward off blisters, even from the most vulnerable of hands. But nope, no gloves for me. I just grabbed that shovel and rushed into the action with reckless abandon, eager to clear that earth and construct the fire pit. So I was looking down at my thumb, trying to hold back the tears so my kids wouldn't see me cry over a blister, thinking about how horrible this was--to have a blister this big on my thumb. Having had blisters in the past, I knew the worst was coming---taking a shower! When a water blister pops open, the water from the shower stings so much. Just unbearable. Plus, after the shower, when you are trying to dry off with the towel, it hurts even more for the towel to rub against the exposed, raw flesh underneath the skin that had blistered off. Then, something miraculous happened. I had an epiphany! No, not about the best way to organize the pavers to make it look nice, no, not about a new strategy for consuming the most amount of S'mores in the shortest amount of time, but an epiphany on something far more important. I started thinking about the struggle I was going through and then started to compare that struggle to actual struggles people face. Real struggles. So I thought about my blister. Then, I thought about those who suffered during the Holocaust. Or those who toiled away building the Panama Canal. Or, those who endured countless oppression at the hands of racists. Or, those who stormed Omaha Beach and gave the ultimate sacrifice. Or, those who struggle through their lives, working three jobs to just get the bare essentials for their three kids. I thought about those who have suffered through long chemo treatments. Long rehab assignments for a variety of reasons. I thought about those who toiled away in the fields, under the unrelenting sun, behind a team of oxen pulling a plow, hour after hour to grow crops and build a better life for their children. I thought about John McCain and what he endured in Vietnam, never once giving up any information. I thought about Louie Zamperini and the extreme beatings he took, both physically and emotionally, day after day. There's been some real struggles. The human spirit has prevailed in an awesome way throughout the annals of history. So after all that thinking, there was no progress made on the fire pit, but definitely a renewed sense of appreciation and gratitude for those who came before me.<br />
So yeah, my blister, as it turns out, is not a big deal.<br />
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Mr. Klumperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11458947077461578631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8634410107531785034.post-16458224040593721212018-09-03T09:16:00.001-05:002018-09-03T09:16:30.681-05:00In Honor of Labor Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLUhRIcVxKdmtTrej3SEOd61EmSxXfmSaR6TKNHu7cFiYgDmG3hugb0yklsykl8wBijsL05WAEUpUQws9nrdc62z3pKXYY16QKpQ_KzmUfUBC9O00Fn_9ssICuUk4pqT_2AahHdkKhy366/s1600/Labour-Day_ss_475739002-790x400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="790" height="162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLUhRIcVxKdmtTrej3SEOd61EmSxXfmSaR6TKNHu7cFiYgDmG3hugb0yklsykl8wBijsL05WAEUpUQws9nrdc62z3pKXYY16QKpQ_KzmUfUBC9O00Fn_9ssICuUk4pqT_2AahHdkKhy366/s320/Labour-Day_ss_475739002-790x400.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Happy Labor Day to all. Today is a day to celebrate all those out there who work hard. Those "laborers" who have done so much throughout the history of our country to build it up to what it is today. Image those who built the skyscrapers of NYC in the 1920's. Imagine what it would have been like to build all those roads, interstates, highways, etc. Imagine the pain and misery of all those shinglers. Imagine the mental strain of trying to figure out how to build bridges over long expanses of water. The Laborer is truly someone to be honored and thanked. For we owe them so much. My question to you is this: Are you a Laborer? Do you work hard and put forth effort in your job, career, profession? As an educator, we owe it to our students to put forth maximum effort and to work hard at our jobs. We can't afford to go through the motions. Our students not only deserve a teacher that puts forth maximum effort, but needs that type of teacher! A few questions to ponder: Have you tried anything new recently in your classroom? Have you done any research to uncover a hidden gem of a lesson, idea or spark? Do you print off your entire year's worth of worksheets on day 1 and then be set for the year? Do you actively seek out passionate educators, have conversations with them and bounce ideas off each other? Do you sit and wonder? Do you contemplate and reflect on yourself as an educator? Do you engage in PD, not because you are forced to, but because it helps you grow and improve as an educator?<br />
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Be a hard worker. Put forth maximum effort. Work to be good at what you do. Putting forth effort is a choice. Please, for the sake of our children and future, make the right choice. Choose effort.Mr. Klumperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11458947077461578631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8634410107531785034.post-75660572297748074652018-05-23T08:38:00.001-05:002018-05-23T08:55:31.500-05:00So it's your first year of teaching...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOyHetfPaYouEcATei4Fi9qNaCAy3psfebIgBTsDuU8QTrupU1B42r3Oajq3ZejsEEsEpgYdwIOBTfmbp0xKdsxeCGhaepski6s7ZIrd0h_Xv8NnPSFQcdgvRgA2-tJ1DZaUSB6yLIrCz2/s1600/first-year-teaching.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="480" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOyHetfPaYouEcATei4Fi9qNaCAy3psfebIgBTsDuU8QTrupU1B42r3Oajq3ZejsEEsEpgYdwIOBTfmbp0xKdsxeCGhaepski6s7ZIrd0h_Xv8NnPSFQcdgvRgA2-tJ1DZaUSB6yLIrCz2/s320/first-year-teaching.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
So your first year of teaching is coming up. You have graduated college with a degree in education yet you have a ton more to learn about teaching in your first year. And your second year. And your third year. And every other year for the rest of your teaching or education career. You are now a professional educator, yet it is such a unique profession because it is difficult to learn certain things in college. There is an "on the job training" aspect to teaching. Never stop learning. Be a life-long learner.<br />
So now that you have your first job, the real work begins. The actual work of teaching students and helping them learn. Helping them reach their full potential. You are no longer just trying to pass student teaching, or get high scores on lesson plan rubrics. You are no longer trying to plan awesome lessons to impress your university supervisor during an observation. Now it is the real deal. It is time to put into action what you've learned and heard the last few years.<br />
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<b><u>Here are some tips for you as you enter your teaching career:</u></b><br />
1. Begin building relationships with your students on day one. And never stop until you retire in 35 years.<br />
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2. Don't try to be friends with the students.<br />
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3. Attend extra-curricular events to engage students in other environments. They notice and it means a lot to them to see you at their activities.<br />
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4. Read Teach Like a Pirate every August.<br />
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5. Reflect constantly. Every day. After everything you do. "What you did" - "What happened" - "How did it go" - "good/bad and why" - "What you will do differently next time."<br />
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6. Make sure your priorities are in order each day when you enter the building: You are not there to just socialize with your colleagues. The #1 reason you are there is for the students so rather than spending your whole prep period in the lounge talking about the weekend, spend your time creating a new and engaging activity for your students.<br />
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7. Stay out of the "good old boys" club.<br />
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8. Find passionate teachers that care about kids and have a growth mindset. Surround yourself with these teachers. Ask them questions (but don't be needy or annoying). Stay away from the teachers who have bad attitudes and a fixed mindset.<br />
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9. Get to know the support staff of the school: Secretary, custodians, the tech person and the food service workers. They may give you an extra chicken nugget on those days!<br />
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10. Don't feel like you have to teach the way the previous teacher did. Find your own style. It may take a few years, but eventually, you will find your own unique style and what you are good at.<br />
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11. Engage on Twitter. It is a great place to expand your resources and grow professionally.<br />
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12. Stay in contact with your professors for ideas, help, questions, to vent, etc. They are here to continue to help you and want to do so.<br />
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13. Don't do worksheets every day.<br />
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14. Keep a balance between your school life and your social/personal life. Don't let the profession overwhelm you and burn you out the first year. True, it will be busy, but a healthy balance will keep you healthy and sharp.<br />
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15. Don't use technology just for the sake of using technology. The best way to do something is NOT always with technology. Only use technology when it improves the learning, makes the learning/work more efficient/effective and/or allows you to do things that otherwise would not be possible.<br />
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Good luck as you embark on your teaching adventure. It's quite a ride!<br />
<br />Mr. Klumperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11458947077461578631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8634410107531785034.post-77950951549474042632018-05-16T13:35:00.000-05:002018-05-16T13:49:22.407-05:00Summer time! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiVE9iQnkC-7APHloapDv1jRxar8BeXsQT-TqsnvIkF4jYRrOHTzm6HgfwppEZx8g31KRoBa1WuqDeq9dLOnqx_IpPbZwfp75f5xtxif2K87k-KyMp0UjZ1q4XFJyHRvx45HqaCHkLUT4b/s1600/Summer_aafb1e_2220410.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="376" data-original-width="500" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiVE9iQnkC-7APHloapDv1jRxar8BeXsQT-TqsnvIkF4jYRrOHTzm6HgfwppEZx8g31KRoBa1WuqDeq9dLOnqx_IpPbZwfp75f5xtxif2K87k-KyMp0UjZ1q4XFJyHRvx45HqaCHkLUT4b/s320/Summer_aafb1e_2220410.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Summer break is bittersweet for me. I enjoy getting to spend a lot of time with my kids, especially Hazel since she's at such an awesome age (4 yrs). I enjoy getting to have some "down" time to read and just reset. I also enjoy having time to run, but so much for that! (Thanks, Achilles tear). However, I miss my students terribly. It seems the semester goes so fast and then, poof! They are gone and off to student teaching. I find myself having a hard time waiting for the next school year to arrive because I'm excited to get to work with a bunch of new students. So what do I do during the summer? I'll share it here. Not that you probably need any help with coming up with stuff to do in the summer. But, nonetheless, my summer plans:<br />
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1. Read YA social injustice books - A great way to continue to build empathy within me and be able to build a library of books to recommend to students. Also, I'm always searching for a new book to use in my social injustice unit.<br />
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2. Read one book from Dave Burgess Publishing. Let's face it, Dave Burgess is the man. He pumps out a lot of awesome books for teachers that are powerful, yet not difficult to read. The book I am going to read this summer is called "Wild Card" by Wade and Hope King. I suggest you do the same.<br />
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3. Read a bunch of novels. I feel that reading novels sparks my imagination which helps me become more creative. The imagination is a powerful thing - feed it!<br />
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4. Create a simulation - I look at my curriculum, dive into some content and try to create at least one rockin' simulation for the upcoming school year. Simulation is my favorite teaching strategy because of the transformative nature of it.<br />
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5. Mine Twitter - At least once a week, I fire up Tweet Deck to mine for new tech tools, resources, ideas, etc that I could use in the upcoming school year. Choose a hashtag and just spend 30 minutes looking through the tweets. I suggest #tlap, #games4ed, #xplap, #ditchbook, #sdedchat.<br />
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6. Incorporate a new tech tool in a meaningful way. I am NOT a believer in trying to use as many different tech tools as possible. I like to master one and use it in a meaningful way. I don't like using tech just for the sake of using tech. So I look at my tech tools google doc and think about what tech tool I could add to my courses in a meaningful way.<br />
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7. Unplug for school for a while. I feel it is healthy to check out from school and thinking about school. It can get to be too overwhelming if you are always in "school mode." However, even when I am "checked out," I keep school in the back of my mind just in case I come across something that would be useful for the school year.<br />
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8. Limit the amount of time I am on my phone. As the days, weeks and years pass, I am becoming more and more anti-iPhone. It is a powerful device and I use it regularly, but it can be such a time-consuming thing! This is a real struggle for me but I am making a huge effort this summer to get off my phone, look up more and engage with the world.<br />
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9. Fly somewhere. I really try hard to fly somewhere each summer (or each year) because if you are flying somewhere, that means it was too far to drive, which means you are going to a totally new/different place in the US or World. See as much of the US/World as possible. Fly somewhere and broaden your horizons and increase your appreciation for culture.<br />
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10. Read Teach Like a Pirate, Part 1.<br />
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What do you do in the summer to recharge, prepare for school, or just have fun?<br />
Enjoy the summer. You've earned the time off.<br />
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-Dan Klumper<br />
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<br />Mr. Klumperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11458947077461578631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8634410107531785034.post-31363326619402108262018-02-09T09:02:00.002-06:002018-02-09T09:02:48.476-06:00Flippity.net: A most useful tool<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.flippity.net/images/resources/Flippity-Logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="800" height="180" src="https://www.flippity.net/images/resources/Flippity-Logo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<b>If you haven't already, you should check out <a href="http://flippity.net/">Flippity.net</a>! It's a very useful tool. It is part of Google Drive and uses spreadsheets to create all sorts of tools for your classroom. </b><br />
<b>A few of the highlights: </b><br />
<b>*Jeopardy style Board: Ask questions with point values. All sorts of different ways to use this, other than the boring jeopardy style version. </b><br />
<b>*Spin the Wheel: Spin the wheel to randomly choose something</b><br />
<b>*Tournament: Enter teams and Flippity will create a nice looking bracket for you</b><br />
<b>*Flashcards</b><br />
<b>*Memory game</b><br />
<b>*Hangman</b><br />
<b>*Crossword puzzle</b><br />
<b>*Bingo</b><br />
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<b>User-friendly interface, which provides a demo, instructions, and template for each tool. </b><br />
<b>You do all the work in Google Sheets and Flippity does the rest! </b><br />
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<b>Check it out and spice up your classroom a bit! </b><br />
<br />Mr. Klumperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11458947077461578631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8634410107531785034.post-15394699198162364322018-01-22T11:11:00.000-06:002018-01-22T11:11:12.814-06:00Appear.In: Video conference tool<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLNQz2hJ80tqGNsnycRMsOH6w_B57tZ061NQ_GkRNh__YW9Cg6JigfFrGoZwvlEx9fvj1Ke5pAWwKNkpUXlKxWAlyZaJwM9i9Q5Hk9_0Om8CKyatENC4QCKdAL6ywACSXTJsokvYVhX20o/s1600/Screen+Shot+2018-01-19+at+11.10.53+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="854" height="111" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLNQz2hJ80tqGNsnycRMsOH6w_B57tZ061NQ_GkRNh__YW9Cg6JigfFrGoZwvlEx9fvj1Ke5pAWwKNkpUXlKxWAlyZaJwM9i9Q5Hk9_0Om8CKyatENC4QCKdAL6ywACSXTJsokvYVhX20o/s320/Screen+Shot+2018-01-19+at+11.10.53+AM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
Google Hangout and Skype are far inferior to this new video conferencing tool: <a href="http://appear.in/">Appear.In</a>. The video quality and sound quality is so much better than Hangouts and Skype.<br />
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*With Appear.In, you can your own URL, which is your "room." So the link to your room is always the same.<br />
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*It's Free.<br />
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*You can "lock" your room so when people click on your link, they will have to "knock," which will alert you someone wants to get into your room. Then, you can let them in, or not.<br />
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*You can use emoji's and stickers during the video conference.<br />
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*There is a text feature so allow you to have side conversations during the video conference.Mr. Klumperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11458947077461578631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8634410107531785034.post-79679873071664132312018-01-19T11:07:00.001-06:002018-01-19T11:07:38.770-06:00Try Flipgird. It's awesome. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj72sqTXhh1AU010xwqOT67Z6bjhu5UcYS09MuvXpbnxmCuEj_O4jayG-yUTf1Wml-E2gbDB8wtMq4jlcpI21lfoE3ftbMC4VsGbzofOdPr_zKc_G0qfdjc9C-3FiwmnmzbNfiWvW9KjK7r/s1600/Screen+Shot+2018-01-19+at+11.06.13+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="482" data-original-width="1197" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj72sqTXhh1AU010xwqOT67Z6bjhu5UcYS09MuvXpbnxmCuEj_O4jayG-yUTf1Wml-E2gbDB8wtMq4jlcpI21lfoE3ftbMC4VsGbzofOdPr_zKc_G0qfdjc9C-3FiwmnmzbNfiWvW9KjK7r/s400/Screen+Shot+2018-01-19+at+11.06.13+AM.png" width="400" /></a></div>
Perhaps you have seen <a href="http://www.flipgrid.com/">Flipgrid</a> and/or used Flipgrid. Perhaps not. Well, I am strongly encouraging you to use it, if you haven't already! It's a dynamite tool for student learning.<br />
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*It gives your students a voice by allowing them all to share their thoughts, insights, opinions, questions, etc. without the intimidation of a full class of peers.<br />
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*No sign in/username/password. This makes it so accessible and easy to use. No more forgetting passwords. Password protect the grid so it's not viewable by the public.<br />
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*Public Vs. Private. Students can see each other's videos and respond with their own video. However, you can also have the videos visible only by you with the moderation feature.<br />
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*Fun! The emoji's, stickers, and drawing feature for the video Thumbnail "selfie" is a lot of fun and gets kids excited about using it. Use this feature with meaning by having them design their selfie to represent whatever they are talking about.<br />
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*Direct link. It's never been easier to get something out to your students. Just give them the link!<br />
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*Resource Feature: Add a youtube video, google doc or any number of resources for your students to use and respond to with their video.<br />
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*Compare/Contrast: I posted a video of the "Great Race" myth of the Lakota people. I also attached a document of the Great Race in text form. My students are comparing/contrasting the two items in their flipgrid post. (See picture posted)<br />
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Sign up today! Use Promo Code: DANKLUMPER to receive 45 days of Flipgrid Classroom for Free.<br />
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<br />Mr. Klumperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11458947077461578631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8634410107531785034.post-19914843889894998442017-12-20T08:47:00.001-06:002017-12-20T08:47:59.309-06:00Things I would do if I were a Principal<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://teller.dpsk12.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/principal_for_a_day_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://teller.dpsk12.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/principal_for_a_day_1.jpg" data-original-height="518" data-original-width="800" height="207" width="320" /></a></div>
Sometimes, it is fun to play "If I were King for a Day" or another version of the same game "If I were President for a day." Well, I have decided to play a third version of the game, "If I were Principal for a Day." <br />
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So, if I were a principal for one day, here are 5 things I would do: </div>
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1. Hire the most compassionate, helpful, kind, patient, understanding, friendly person I know to be the secretary. When people come into my building, I want the first thing they experience to be an extremely positive thing. It sets the tone for the school, really. </div>
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2. Give every teacher a copy of "Teach Like a Pirate" and force them to read it. Wait, I know what you are thinking: Whoa, whoa, whoa--"forcing" teachers to do something? Surely, you can't be serious! Yet, I am serious. The book needs to be read by educators. It injects teachers with passion and inspiration! Not only would I force the teachers to read it, but I would require them to show me what they learned from the book and how that learning is playing out in their classrooms. I want to see action! I am not big into forcing teachers to do something but I will make an exception here. If a teacher needs to be forced to read "Teach Like a Pirate" then I seriously question their mindset and attitude about why they are here. </div>
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3. Hold an in-service/workshop on Twitter to show how it can be used in education to help them with their professional development. I would require all teachers to attend this Twitter workshop so they are at least exposed to Twitter and how powerful it can be. I wouldn't force teachers to use Twitter, but encourage them to try it for a month. Hopefully, after my session, they would see the benefit and begin using it.</div>
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4. Encourage my teachers. Make every teacher in my building feel valued and respected. #1 priority. A school is driven by the teachers so I want my teachers to feel like they are an important part of the school because they are! I want my staff to work hard and seek out ways to reach all students and in order to do that, they need to feel respected and valued. I would make a point to provide words of encouragement to my teachers regularly. </div>
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5. Hold teachers to a high standard. The days of textbook/worksheets every day are over. Students need more than that. They need to be empowered and engaged. Their curiosity needs to be fostered. There are so many ways to do that, both tech and non-tech, that it's simply not acceptable to roll out worksheets every day. This could ruffle feathers, but I'm okay with that because it is what's best for the students and as principal, that is my job. I would also hold teachers to a high standard of putting forth the effort needed to build relationships with the students. No more screaming at kids. No more making students feel anxious or nervous. "The cup of kindness needeth run over" throughout the halls and classrooms. </div>
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Mr. Klumperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11458947077461578631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8634410107531785034.post-16022097747951157032017-11-14T09:19:00.000-06:002017-11-14T09:19:05.392-06:005 things students should leave school with <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.clker.com/cliparts/T/Q/q/O/k/Y/five-md.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.clker.com/cliparts/T/Q/q/O/k/Y/five-md.png" data-original-height="299" data-original-width="216" height="200" width="143" /></a></div>
There's so much to teach! Standards, skills, knowledge, content, soft skills, citizenship, etc. The list goes on! As a student travels the k-12 journey, by the end, what should they have to show for it? In other words, what should students absolutely get out of their k-12 experience? We are kidding ourselves if we think they will retain EVERYTHING we are teaching them. So, when they leave school, what are the essential things we, as educators, want them to have?<br />
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1. <b>Ability to read</b>. No doubt, we need our students to be able to read and comprehend. The ability to read (and more importantly, the love of reading) can unlock so many doors and opportunities for them in life. No matter the content or the age level, getting students to increase their ability to read and comprehend sets them up for major success in their future. So what should they read? Novels! No student ever gets excited to read a textbook. Perhaps a few, sure, but if you want to spark that love of reading, get them hooked with a gripping story. ELA teachers especially are in a prime position to get novels into the hands of their students. Castaway that textbook nobody likes to read and get a novel into their hands. Who doesn't love a good story? Power in storytelling. Power in novels.<br />
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2. <b>Curiosity</b>. The only thing that a teacher can do to make me angry is if they crush my own child's curious spirit. If curiosity is gone, then that's a bad thing. I strongly believe that students enter school extremely curious. Watch 1-4-year-olds play and they are all over the place, checking out everything! They are curious and hungry to learn about the world around them. When they enter school, this should be fostered and allowed to grow! A curious mind craves learning and that is a great thing we can provide our students.<br />
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3.<b> Confidence.</b> If I could instill a computer chip into my own kids' brain with one characteristic, it would be confidence. A confident person allows so many negative things to fall by the wayside. A confident person does not get bullied. A confident person believes in themselves and believes they can accomplish great things. A confident person helps those less fortunate. They help the weak, the down and out. Confidence helps students through tough situations and gives them the ability to handle things. With confidence, comes all sorts of other "soft skills" that students will need in life.<br />
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4. <b>Ability to think and wonder.</b> When faced with a difficult situation or problem, we want our students to think about it and try, not shut down right away and have the fixed mindset that they can't do it. We want our students to have the reaction of "I'll think it through and work to come up with a solution." We want our students to think for themselves and not blindly follow the herd of sheep. We want our students to be able to let their mind wander and imagine.<br />
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5. <b>Empathy</b>. There's perhaps no greater characteristic than empathy. If our students leave school with empathy towards and for others, they are going to make the world a better place because they will be impacting people. Empathic students are not entitled. Empathetic students seek out those who need help. Empathetic students are the impact makers. Developing empathetic students means they are able to pop their own little bubble and see the world around them.<br />
<br />Mr. Klumperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11458947077461578631noreply@blogger.com0