Tech Tuesday- Stick Pick

*It's my first linky as a new teacher blogger and I am PUMPED! Hope you enjoy!
I am linking with Second Grade Sizzle for her #TechTuesday

I am a tech girl. I love a solid phone, a solid computer, my document camera, my projector and all the goodies that can come with it. Sometimes I have to make conscious decisions to step away from everything and not be so involved with technology! But thats another subject for another day...

This year two things that I have had to work on are my pacing or timing and making sure as I am teaching a whole group lesson to NOT call on that same person every single time... although its tempting because that little one has the right answers and it makes me feel those warm fuzzies that he or she is listening and engaged. But in the end it's not fair to my friends who are struggling to understand or are getting distracted. So when my observation happened and my principal gave me suggestions, I jumped in.

The first suggestion was a timer. Y'all this saved my year! I LOVE teaching with a timer. It's a brilliant idea in that it allows me to do a mini lesson, to have some guided practice and then really focus on the kids questions as well as make sure that my closings are solid and not rushed into the next class or activity. It's genius. 

The second suggestion were pick sticks. Now, it's old school but it's a good way to make sure that everyone is involved, engaged and tracking with me. {I, unfortunately, have this phone problem. I don't want to be on it- but with everything like Plickers and Class Dojo, a teachers cellphone is just the connection for the classroom. I am still working through how to be really intentional with my phone without it looking like I am not doing my job}. Anyway, there's an APP for pick sticks called Stick Pick! 

Which is awesome and heres why:

After you insert your class and your kids info- you can choose what kind of questions you would want to ask a specific student based on Blooms Taxonomy. So let's say you have one student who needs to work on Application or Comprehension you can select the Blooms questions you want and then ask those kinds of questions when that students name gets picked. OR {and this is big for me} you can select the ESL option for those kids who are in ESL. FANTASTIC!

So go check it out because its basically one of my new favorites and I can't imagine teaching without it!

Hope everyone is having a great Tuesday!

Lots of Pineapples,
Stephanie

#Findingyourtribe

Hi! Oh my word it's so weird to be starting a brand new blog that will be about my adventures in teaching.

About  Me



So before I get to far, a little about me. I am getting ready to begin my 4th year as teacher who lives in Southern China, close to Hong Kong. I have spent the last 3 years teaching first grade but this year I will be teaching 2nd grade! I spent two years teaching preschool in another city in China and have loved {almost} every minute of my time in China.

What do I want to do?

Hmmm that's a fun question. Right now I am doodling and dreaming about starting my own business teaching with emojis {Teacher friends think Predictable Sentences}. I am also very interested in going back to school. I am a nerd! I love all things books and learning so I want to go back to school and learn more about ESL and Reading Intervention. Right now, I want to be the best educator I can be.

Why Pineapples?

I'm so glad you asked! I love the pineapple emoji on the iPhone! To me it just seems like a welcoming symbol. I know sometimes when you think about pineapples, they don't seem very inviting but I think that sometimes the toughest things to get through {maybe meeting new friends, moving to a new city, changing grades or doing your first periscope} can give way to the sweetest tasting fruit {cheesy, I know!}

So What Now?

Well if you are on social media no doubt you have recently seen post about the SDE or the TPT conference in Vegas. But this new, crazy, fun, little app called Periscope- which I admit can be creepy- has drawn so many people together! Angie Olson and Ashley Schroeder have be periscope-ing from Vegas all week. At one point they said something about finding your tribe. Well, through that little tip- I have been connecting with Instagram favorites {Lori, Megan, Lindsey and Jameson} and Facebook favorites who share the same passion for teaching that I do. I have also been able to connect with other people who Periscope, Blog, Facebook and Instagram and have so far LOVED every connection that I have made. So I made this little leap to begin blogging about teaching. Since it's Summer {Whoot! Whoot!} I am not entirely sure what to blog about but I am sure inspiration will come and soon this will be full of ideas, creativity and the sense that all are welcome!

Okay, I am pretty sure that's enough rambling for now. I am so excited to begin this blog journey and can not wait to share it with YOU!

Lots of Pineapples,

Stephanie