Apple Pie Ridge à la Mode

What are HyperDocs? HyperDocs are interactive worksheets where students explore and learn information at their own pace OR during an explicit instructional lesson. In other words, the student is provided a document with links to outside resources, including research based sites and/or videos, and then asked to write their responses or reflections on the worksheet to turn in for later. Generally, HyperDocs are created using Google Docs.    Click here to view an example the HyperDoc pictured on the right.  To create the example, I followed teacher direction and used a worksheet the teachers previously provided on paper.  With the HyperDoc, students were able to learn more information, complete additional tasks, and finish work independently of the teacher.  The teacher could then circulate the room and provide direction as needed.  Additionally, the teacher could then give feedback after the students had turned in their work.  BUT...wi...

I'm at a time in my life where many of my friends have their children in preschools. I heard a story over the weekend where a childhood friend of mine picks up his little boy every day from preschool.  As the little boy gets into the car, the father asks, "What did you do today?"  The boy always replies, "It's a secret" or "Nothing."  We were laughing about the cuteness of the boy's response, but the question remained:  What do these kids do all day?  In today's classroom, many projects are technology created, but that means that parents may not see student projects unless they have access to a computer. As teachers, we know the connection between the classroom and parent is extremely important.  The bridge between school and home can help align student expectations and instructional needs. We know, as educators, that positive reinforcement provides more intrinsic motivation for our students. Therefore, our communication with our paren...

Tony's Interview Story to become a bonafied Dream Director      This post has been dedicated to my goals for this year and beyond for Apple Pie Ridge with focus on the SAMR model, but before I discuss the theory behind my thinking, I want to share a story. The story is not mine; it's of a classmate from George Mason University: Tony.   Tony Keith  is a PhD student in Educational Leadership who focuses his research on Spoken Word Poetry as a manner to help minority groups find platforms to preform and learn.  He has also recently coauthored The Open Mic Night: Campus Programs that Champion College Student Voice and Engagement.       One day, however, Tony was late to class for good reason.  He was interviewing to become a Chief  Dream Director for an organization called The Future Project .  That's right:  I wrote Chief Dream Director...as a real title for a job.  He will be helping the youth of Washington DC by ...

What if you never had to give a traditional spelling test again?! This is a question that Heather Hess, instructional coach, and I posed to APR elementary teachers. To accomplish this, Heather and I have been working on a "Words Their Way" Solution, based on a plan put in place at a neighboring elementary school through Instructional Coach Cindy Petty and Instructional Technology Coach Jennifer Arey (Thank you, ladies! You rock!). In this strategy, students are placed in various spelling groups to match their needs.  Then, the groups rotate to three different stations over a five day period (which is independent of the days of the week). On the group test day, students are given a video file, allowing the student to test at their own pace. Check out this chart*, to help understand the breakdown of our day-to-day: *Originally created by Ms. Petty and adapted by Ms. Hess A B C D E Introduce to: No group, teacher interacts among differentiated groups as the...