3rd Week of March

True Tech Integration is DOK 2 & 3

When I saw this tweet from @justintarte, I thought to myself, "Tech integration is really hard" and "What does tech integration look like at its highest levels?"  As I pondered that question a little deeper, I reflected back on the various posts that I made throughout the year.  Tatum has a lot of great examples of tech integration.

• Mrs. Beazley's use of Kahoot to hook her kids into science through a bell ringer.
• Melody Ojeda's Print Shop as they leverage technology to create projects that impact the community.
• Throughout the year, we have spotlighted numerous TPS teachers and all of the apps that they use to empower kids to drive their own learning independently.
• Coach Eppler's class leverages student cell phones as useful tools for learning.
• THS's Teachers work with Google Drive as their primary tool to teach English & Social Studies
• Mrs. Januwati has a coding & computer programming club that meets after school.
• Kevin Grace's honors English 2 class participated in CSPAN's annual national video documentary competition.
• Tatum News Today is an outstanding video news program which continually amazes me with their creative promotion of the great things THS has to offer students.

To reach the pinnacle of tech integration, it's not about the tool; it's what you do with it to drive student learning.  If students are leveraging technology to accelerate their learning to deeper and higher levels, that is true tech integration.

This month, I invite you to share your examples of tech integration.  It's simple.  See it.  Snap it.  Tell me what you're doing and I'll share it.  Why should we share?  When we share the great things happening in our classroom, we give all of our colleagues one more idea that has the potential to impact every student in TISD, and that is what Excellence for All is all about.

College and Career - "Pick your Path"

Ag. Mechanics

8th Grade students came to THS on Monday to participate in the Pick your Path event hosted by the THS CTE teachers.  From A/V to Animals and all points in between, THS students and teachers exposed our future freshmen to the world of possibilities that THS has to offer them.

Special thanks to Jessica Rymel and Melody Ojeda for organizing the tour and thank you to the CTE teachers for presenting your outstanding programs to the kids.






Academic Calendar of Events

Agriculture Plant and Animal Pathways

It is hard to keep up with all of the academic spring events, so I decided to add it to the blog.   For a calendar of everything happening in the district, CLICK HERE for the TISD District Calendar

Academic Events for the next month
March 27 - End of 3 Weeks
March 30 - STAAR 4 & 7 Writing (Day 1) and EOC English 1
March 31 - STAAR 4 & 7 Writing (Day 2) and 5 & 8 Reading
April 1 - STAAR EOC English 2 & TELPAS Holistic Rating (TPS & TES)
April 2 - TELPAS Holistic Rating (TMS & THS)
April 3 - School Holiday
April 10 - Teacher submit TSR 2 & 3 in Eduphoria
             #LoveMySchoolDay (share on Twitter all the reasons why you love your school)
April 13 - Librarian Appreciation Week (Thank your MITS for all that they do for you!)

Print Shop & All Technology Pathways

April 17 - End of 5th 6 Weeks
April 20 - STAAR 5 & 8 Math
           Public School Volunteer Week (Thank our volunteers for all that they do.)
April 21 - STAAR 3, 4, 6, 7 Math & 8 Social Studies
April 22 - STAAR 3, 4, 6, 7 Reading and 5 & 8 Science
              Administrative Professionals Day (Thank your office staff for all that they do)
April 29 - Early Release Day
May 4    - STAAR EOC Week at the High School





TIP (Tech Integration Pic) of the Week
This video integrates our Tatum News Today's work with the THS Ag Mechanic Team's work in preparation for all of the Ag Mechanics shows coming up this spring.  Chris Tondre's students are creating some outstanding works of art.





What I'm Reading

• Smartphone Apps Helping Students with Dyslexia
• The Fire Within  by @benjamingilpin (CHECK OUT HIS VIDEOS at the bottom)
• Learning should NEVER be Lonely. by Bill Ferriter