Looking Forward to More in 2018!

I know there are not many people following this blog.  That doesn't really bother me, right now.  There hasn't been anything added to it for quite some time. 

My hope for the new year is to add at least one entry per week.  The topics?  I have no idea yet.  It will most likely pertain to something happening in my world of education.  Maybe some new subscribers will recognize some of the stories.  Names will be changes, of course.  I hope that whoever goes to follow this will see value in situations that arise and how I handled them, whether right or wrong.

I'm looking forward to 2018!  I hope you are, too!

Every day is what you make it.  Make it a great day!

Digital Publishing with Kids

Micheal Berg, Shelly Ray, and I sat down today and talked about digital publishing with students.  We discussed blogging, iBooks Author, Google Sites, and ePub files.  What are ways you do digital publishing with kids?

Kindergarten and Kindergarten Readiness

A Parent’s Testimony

“I have to admit, I was skeptical about all day kindergarten. None of my children attended preschool, and I wondered if this would be too big of a jump. I worried that my daughter would not be able to have time to just learn through typical child-play. The first week was tiring for her, but she was eager to get to school. She took great pride in her work, and I was pleased to see how quickly she began to read. When I visited the classroom, I was also pleased to see that there was such a range of activities for the students to enjoy. Not only are they working on the newest technology with Ipads or internet field trips to far away places right on their smart board, but there is also time for that very important imaginative play with a kitchen, restaurant or toy trucks. The all day program provides time to address the current curriculum recommended for kindergarteners without making children feel rushed or burnt out. The bottom line is that at Eastern we are fortunate enough to have plentiful child-centered materials and excellent teachers who observe each child carefully and tend not just to the child's academic success, but to the emotional well being of each child as well. “  

--A parent of a previous kindergarten student.

Frequently Asked Questions

Kindergarten and Kindergarten Readiness

My kindergarten student will receive an iPad?

 A: Yes.  Every student here at Eastern will receive an iPad.  This iPad will be used in school and the students will bring it home each night for extra practice with apps and other assignments that the kindergarten teacher will assign throughout the year.  It is also used on E-Learning days.  We ask that the students have it charged for each school day.

Are there any fees for Kindergarten?

A:  No.  There are no book fees for Kindergarten at Eastern Elementary School.

How involved are parents in the classroom?

A:  Kindergarten teachers utilize parent volunteers almost daily in the classroom. Teachers will have scheduled times for volunteers.  This information will be available at the start of the school year.

What type of handwriting do you do in kindergarten?

A:  We use the Modern Manuscript formation with our students at Eastern.

Will my child be tired after a full day of school?

A:  Students are a little tired from a full day of school at first until their bodies adjust to the new schedule.  Most parents do not see this as a problem after the first couple weeks of school.   

Does Eastern still provide busing to students out of the district?

A:  Yes.  Families will need to attend a mandatory transportation meeting towards the start of the year  to learn more about the stops and bus rules.  That meeting will be announced.  Currently, we have 5 stops outside of our district.   

Feel free to ask us more questions and we'll provide an answer on this blog.  Email your questions to randy.maurer@eastern.k12.in.us or leave a comment to this post.  Thank you.

E-lementary E-Learning

NREA Conference St. Louis, MO

October 16, 2015

2:00-3:00 p.m.

Randy Maurer, Principal 

Eastern Elementary School

308 South Harrison Street

Greentown, IN 46936

Successful E-Learning In the Elementary

I.  Introduction of Workshop

1. QR Code and Ow.ly (Url shortener)
2. The Principal's Tie Rack Blog
3. Eastern Elementary School and Eastern Howard School Corporation

II.  What Makes E-Learning Successful?

1. What is E-Learning?
1. "E-Learning is prepared (blended) lessons, relevant to our curriculum, able to meet all of the student's needs, and without the need for the internet out of the classroom."
2. My Four Points
1. Relevance of the Curriculum
2. The Staff, Students, and Parents
3. Accessibility of the Material
4. The "Tech"

III.  Relevance

1. Standards Based Curriculum
2. Continuation of the Classroom
3. Not Busy Work!!!!!
4. Engaging or be prepared for complaints.

IV.  The Staff, Students, and Parents

1. Teachers-Building Islands of Success Not everyone gets onboard immediately.
2. PD and Sharing Make showing off teachers within your building a priority through tours or PD.
3. Tech Coach or Manager  We have 1 Tech Coordinator, 1 Coach, and 1 iPad Manager
4. Parent Tech Night  Great way for parents to get on board with the apps.  Students occasionally mislead parents.

V.  Accessibility of the Material

1. All Means All-Everyone should be able to access the material at home.  IEP's can be met and other accommodations.
2. The materials you send home should be available to all students, whether they have wifi at home or not.  We use E Backpack and we are moving to Canvas.  Google Classroom works the same way.  The files can be downloaded and stored on the tablet.  Use PDF Expert or Notability to make marks on.  It turns in when they come back to school.
3. Make the information transfer point at school.-All of the information should be downloaded and uploaded from school.

VI.  The Tech

1. What do you all use?-iPads and laptops seem to be what everyone is using.
2. BYOD This is a great way to start.
3. School Provided Tech-Everyone is in a "school provides tech" district.
4. Teacher choose the apps and software.  This provides vetting and ownership.  It will get used until something better comes along.-We charge $5 in the book fees to pay for the new apps the teacher is using that year.
5. Flipping the classroom and the office.-Be the star because the kids love you.  They will "share you."  Video and audio are important because it personalizes it for the kids.

VII.  Touch Cast-Mr. Maurer's Flip of Choice

1. Relevance
2. Staff and Parents
3. Accessibility
4. The Tech-Vapps, Pictures, Maps, and More.

Every day is what you make it.  Make it a great day!

Successful E Learning In and Out of the Elementary

NextGen IDOE  Summer of eLearning Conference

June 17, 2015

10:15 a.m.-11:00 a.m. and 11:15 a.m.-12:00p.m.

Randy Maurer, Principal 

Eastern Elementary School

308 South Harrison Street

Greentown, IN 46936

Successful eLearning In and Out of the Elementary

I.  Introduction of Workshop

1. QR Code and Ow.ly (Url shortener)
2. The Principal's Tie Rack Blog

II.  What Makes E-Learning Successful?

1. Audience Answers- Thank you, Candace (IDOE eLearning) for you clarification on the expectations and the guidance you shared with us today.
2. My Four Points
1. Relevance of the Curriculum
2. The Staff, Students, and Parents
3. Accessibility of the Material
4. The "Tech"

III.  Relevance

1. Standards Based Curriculum
2. Continuation of the Classroom
3. Not Busy Work!!!!!
4. Example from other schools
5. Engaging or be prepared for complaints.

IV.  The Staff, Students, and Parents

1. Teachers-Building Islands of Success
2. PD and Sharing
3. Tech Coach or Manager
4. Parent Tech Night

V.  Accessibility of the Material

1. All Means All-Everyone should be able to access the material at home.  IEP's can be met and other accommodations.
2. The materials you send home should be available to all students, whether they have wifi at home or not.- 1 teacher said she had a class where all kids had wifi, once.  Everyone else knows of staff or students without wifi.  
3. Make the information transfer point at school.-All of the information should be downloaded and uploaded from school.

VI.  The Tech

1. What do you all use?-iPads and laptops seem to be what everyone is using.
2. BYOD-Noone is using BYOD.  It is informal.
3. School Provided Tech-Everyone is in a "school provides tech" district.
4. Teacher choose the apps and software.  This provides vetting and ownership.  It will get used until something better comes along.-We charge $5 in the book fees to pay for the new apps the teacher is using that year.
5. Flipping the classroom and the office.-Be the star because the kids love you.  They will "share you."  Video and audio are important because it personalizes it for the kids.

VII.  Touch Cast-Mr. Maurer's Flip of Choice

1. Relevance
2. Staff and Parents
3. Accessibility
4. The Tech-Vapps, Pictures, Maps, and More.

Every day is what you make it.  Make it a great day!

Things To Do This Summer

Summer.

Time for outdoor fun and trips to exciting destinations.  Or, maybe it is a "stay-cation" or time for home improvements.  For kids, it is a magical time to take a break from school and create a different routine.  I can't help but think that some of them decide to put learning on hold.  For those going into Kindergarten, though, it is a time to build up excitement for starting school, and they can use that excitement for good.  Here are a couple activities they can do to keep their skills sharp and create some good experiences:

• Scavenger Hunt:  Backyard, beach, living room, or wherever you go.  Have them find items that are in certain categories:  shapes, colors, things that begin with a certain sound, living things, plants, bugs, different textures, smells, wet or dry, etc.  The world has endless possibilities of things to find.  You set up the criteria and the directions.  
• "In the backyard, you need to find five rough items and arrange them on the porch from biggest to smallest." 
• "See if you can find four pictures of animals or insects with four or more legs.  Or, use this iPad, camera, or whatever and take pictures of them outside."
• "What item do you play with in the pool that holds the most water?"
• "How many different birds have we seen at the bird feeder or bird bath?"
• "Using this stick, how many sticks tall and long are the chairs on the porch or deck?  Can you write those numbers down?"
• "If I trace your body in chalk, you will design your own outfit."
• Shared Reading:  They pick the book and you take turns reading or telling the story.  You may read on side of the page and they will retell the other side.  This helps them be very aware of the elements of a book and it is a great opportunity to show them reading is fun.  Especially when they are reading with one of their favorite people!
• Future Chef:  Have them help in the kitchen.  They can learn about the different tools and what they do.  They are great mixers, stirrers, water fillers, and taste testers.  Measuring cups and spoons are fun ways to learn about parts.  Recipes are great for directions.  And, hopefully the end result is tasty and the memories are lasting.
• Art:  Print off several cards that can be used for school, family, or friends and have them take their time and color them.  These cards can be kept for thank you's, reminders, invites, and anytime notes.  Let your artist shine.  Maybe they can make placemats for at home or for the Fourth of July gathering, or for special occasions.
• Nice to meet you!:  Have your child practice greeting people and introducing themselves at family events, church, or anywhere where they can practice with people they already know.  This gives them the practice of speaking to others, including adults, so when kindergarten does arrive, they already have a voice.

These are just a few things you can do.  There are lots of websites and resources out there that can help you find other activities for summer to get ready for school!  Kindergarten is coming up!  Kindergarten readiness is now!  Let's build up that excitement and get them ready to be ready!  

Every day is what you make it.  Make it a great day!