Pam Hubler
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5 Tips to Finish Up the Year Strong!

5/18/2021

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It's almost over! Since we moved last summer, this year seems like it's just a continuation of last year! Needless to say, I'm ready for a break. We are ALL ready for a break! Which is why I wanted to write a quick post on how we can finish up the year strong. This is to help you AND hold myself accountable for practicing what I preach. 😉
The order of these tips might be different for you, choose what works best based on where you are now. If you have any tips that work for you, please share in the comments or tag me on your favorite social media platforms.  I love getting ideas from my like-minded educators! 
​

1. Pace Yourself

Your to-do list can get really long at the end of the year, so make sure to pace yourself.
Prioritize your list and put them on your calendar so you aren't running around like a crazy person the last week of school. You want to enjoy the excitement of the promise of summer with your students and coworkers, not just focusing on what I like to call the end of the year scavenger hunt. 

Tools that can help you prioritize your to-do list: 
  • Google Keep     This is my favorite technology tool for organizing and project management!
  • Todoist  I don't use this one personally, but I know a lot of people who swear by it! 
  • Franklin Covey prioritizing strategy  I used Franklin Covey planners for years before switching to a Passion Planner. I still love and use the strategies I learned from this planning system. 
  • The Pomodoro Technique​  This one is more about scheduling your actual time, not just the to-do list. If you can't focus for long periods of time, this one is for you! ​

2. Start Organizing Your Files

If you are leaving your district, you have to try Google Takeout so you can keep those files you've worked so hard on throughout the year(s).  *Find out more about it here. 
If you are a desktop saver (no judgement), I suggest creating a folder on your desktop called something like "Desktop items 20-21" so you can drag the entire folder into your personal Google Drive or onto a flash drive. I like to go through the files first and trash what I don't need, but if you don't have time right now, at least you know where it is even after you have to turn in your laptop or move to a new school.  

3. Create a Summer Wishlist

We all need something to look forward to right now! I like to create a personal and professional summer bucket list and add to as things pop into my head while dreaming about those no alarm days of summer!
I'm a PD geek, so I also like to make a list of trainings or certifications I'd like to participate in to make the next year better.  I'm finishing up year 23, and I still love learning new things!

Bucket List Tracker Ideas:
  • Google Keep List - just add check boxes to a Google Keep note (mentioned above) so you can enjoy the satisfaction of check them off when you are done.
  • Bullet Journal -prefect for paper and pen lovers! Check out the article linked here to learn more about this planner/journal way to track the important things in your life. 
  • Sketchnote -Check out Carrie Baughcum's video to get an idea of what Sketchnoting is if this is new to you.  Again, if you love to embrace your creative side when planning, you'lll love this! 
Summer PD Ideas: 
  • Google Meet Master Class - This is my first Teachable course that I created for Kasey Bell (Shake Up Learning) as a part of her Training Team. If you are new to using Google Meet, this would be a great self-paced training for you! You can find the podcast  about Google Meet  here if you want to check it out. 
  • Badges! I don't know why I love earning badges, but this site caught my eye on Twitter, so it's on my summer learning list (FREE).  #BadgEdTech 
  • 📚 BOOKS! I have some audio books I want to listen to from  my GoodReads list . If you use track your books to read here too, I'd love to connect! My short stack of PD books include (two practical, one passion topic): 
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4. Reflect

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I reflect personally and professionally every month using the pages in my Passion Planner. What I love about this, is looking back to see the different stages of my life. Want to give it a try, download a copy of those reflection pages for free here. 

Here are some of my favorite quotes on Reflection that might inspire you to give it a try.
"The unexamined life is not worth living." ~Socrates
"We do not learn from experience... we learn from reflecting on experience." ~John Dewey
Need ideas on becoming a reflective teacher? Check out this blog post. 

5. Make Self-Care a Priority

You are tired, all educators are tired. It's been a long year that might seem like it will never end, but like all things, it will.  We have to take time to take care of ourselves to stay healthy and productive as we finish up the year. Here are some of the tips that have helped me, maybe they will help you too.
If you want more tips, I highly suggest Dan Tricarico's The Zen Teacher and Sanctuaries.  
  • Make time for things you WANT to do, not just things you HAVE to do. 
  • Say No!
  • 5 S's: Silence, Stillness, Subtraction, Space, Slowing Down - if you can't do all of them - try to pick one. (from Dan Tricarico's Sanctuaries)
  • Turn the news off! If it stresses you out, it's as easy as a click of the remote to remove that stress.  If it's super important, chances are you will hear about it.
  • ​Make time for exercise. I know, it's what everyone says, but even going for a quick walk can reduce your stress level.  
  • Music - Create an upbeat playlist to play when you are tired or feeling stressed.  It's hard to be stressed when listening to songs like Shake It Off (admit it, you like it too). 😜

What's Next? 

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Summer PD for me! I will take a break here and there, but I'm a PD geek and I love using summer to brainstorm ideas. I don't know about you, but I don't have the mental capacity during the school year to really let me imagination go.  I'm also going to spend time with friends and family, as well as going on our (postponed from last summer) trip to Nicaragua. I can't wait!
You'll see some pool or beachside #booksnaps soon!

I wish you all the best of luck with the end of the year and I hope you will take some time for yourself so you feel refreshed when you walk back into the school building next Fall! ~Pam 

Other popular posts: 

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Edcamp Style PD
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Google Slides #Classygraphics
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Choice Boards for the Win!
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Mid-Year Tech Refresh!

2/19/2021

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The school year that will never end...

Okay, we know that's not really true, but it has seemed like an eternity since we started school last fall!  This post isn't to remind us of WHY it seems that way... I just want to share some new tips, tools, and strategies I've learned (or revisited) over the last couple of months to help you get through the rest of the school year with a little more enthusiasm. 😉​ 

Some of the tools I share below aren't necessarily new, but they are ones that have moved to the top my to-do list! If you already use these, check out these podcasts to find something else you might be needing.
Shake Up Learning Show, Episode 95 [EPIC Digital Tools I Can't Live Without]​
House of Edtech, Episode 170 [2020 Smackdown]

Cult of Pedagogy, Episode 161 [6 Ed Tech Tools to Try in 2021]
​

Top 5 Tools to Checkout! 

1. Mote [justmote.me]

Mote "enables voice note feedback within Google Classroom, Docs, Sheets, and Slides. It's a Chrome Extension that makes it easy for anyone to add voice notes and feedback to documents and assignments." It is a "free-mium" program, so you can still get unlimited recordings that are 30 seconds or shorter. 
​

2. Glide [glideapps.com]

My friend Jen Hall showed me this at least a year ago, and I haven't made the time to give it a try yet.  She created an app for herself using this site and it's awesome (check it out here)! You can build an app right from Google Sheets. You have to see it to believe it!
This one is also "free-mium", so see what works for you.

​

3. Jamboard [jamboard.google.com]

A lot of people are hopping on the Jamboard waggon, with good reasons! It is a really valuable tool, especially right now where so many of us are working with student in person and virtually at the same time. This is one way you can still work together simutaneously.  I didn't feel the need to explore it that much until they added the feature of inserting your own background.  This adds an entire level of usefulness! Creating your own background in Google Slides is the perfect way to personalize your Jamboards.  Let your imagination run with all the possibilities! Check out Jake Miller's post on how to create your own along with the posts below the video.
​
  • ditchthattextbook.com/jamboard-templates
  • Hello Teacher Lady Jamboard Templates
  • https://www.weareteachers.com/jamboard-ideas/
  • Jamboard in Google Meet (Shake Up Learning)
  • The Suite Talk: Jamboard Resources 
​

4. Wakelet 

If you still haven't given this a try, you must! It's not new to me, but I have to have it on my list of things for other people to try ALWAYS! They keep adding new features to make it even better (not that it needs improvements). Did I mention that it's free?! I have tons of collections to check out if you need ideas. Create an account and follow other educators to see how they use it in their schools/classrooms. ​
My Wakelets

5. Wizer.me ​[https://wizer.me/]

​"Create unforgettable worksheets that grade themselves.  Win your time back - and end overwhelming and late night prep - with fun, easy-to-make, interactive worksheets students love."  Even though they are called "worksheets" I like to think of this as more of a #hyperdoc, so it's way more engaging and purposeful than a regular worksheet. Even if you upgrade, the pricing is pretty reasonable at $35 a year!
Key Features you get for free:
✓ Unlimited question types 
✓ Up to 5 differentiation custom rules 
✓ Audio teaching instructions 
✓ Audio student answers
​​

We are on the downhill side of this school year, so try something new and have some fun!

Do you have any favorites to share? Tag me on social media with your tips and idea! 
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The Lies We Tell Ourselves as Educators

1/31/2021

2 Comments

 

Girl, Wash Your Face!

Over the summer, I listened  to a book by Rachel Hollis called: Girl, Wash Your Face. It's such a great book! If you are a guy and you are reading this, just pass the recommendation on to your wife, mom, sister, or girl friend. :) As I was listening, it got me thinking of how this relates to us as educators. We wear a lot of hats! Which means, the lies that run through our heads causing doubt and burn out, are very real.  Rachel mentions the lies we tell ourselves through negative self-talk, then touches on how to get out of that mind trap.  

The Lies...

Some of the lies she mentions in the book really go hand-in-hand with our lives as educators.
  • "Something Else Will Make You Happy" ... this is hard, I'll never be happy doing this.  
  • "I'll Start Tomorrow"  ... that's a lot of work, I just can't ... today. 
  • "I'm Not Good Enough" ... I don't know enough, I'm not experienced enough, etc. 
  • "I'm Better Than You" ... my class/school runs like a well oiled machine, no need to change.
  • "No Is the Final Answer" ... I tried something big, but got shot down, so I guess that's it.
  • "I Should Be Further Along by Now" ... those big plans I had,  passed me by somehow.
  • "I'm a Terrible Writer" ...  I want to write a book/start a blog, but I'm not a writer.
  • "I'll Never Get Past This" ... I messed up, I may as well quit while I'm ahead. 
  • "There's Only One Right Way to Be" ... If I was like Mrs. Jones, I'd be the perfect teacher.
You may not have all these thoughts running through your head, but I'm sure at least one strikes a cord with you. 
​

My Life Long Lie...

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One more I'd like to add is very personal, and I hesitate to even mention it, but I can't be the only one that feels this way sometimes. It stems from growing up with a lot of negative comments from my dad because of how I was as a student . Really, I didn't put ANY effort into my educational experiences between 3rd grade and my senior year of high school.  One day, I'll write a book to get into that full story.  
  • "I'm Not Smart Enough"
Now that I'm 47 years old and have been an educator for 23 years, it's not something I tell myself as much as I used to, but the phrase does try to rear its ugly head when I'm starting a new endeavour or stepping out of my comfort zone.   

Rewriting Those Lies! 

I wouldn't do Rachel's witty humor justice by summarizing them, so check out the book if you want to hear her thoughts on rewriting those lies.  I have been gathering some quotes and resources to keep that negative self-talk at bay and focus on what really matters. I hope you find them helpful too!   Check out our conversation on Twitter as well. 
​

Blog Posts: 
14 Confidence Quotes to Help You Beat Self-Doubt and Achieve Your Goals

Planning Resources: 
Cultivate What Matters #Powersheets Goal Planner - walks you through a VERY in depth reflection process to get to the bottom of your goals based on what matters most to you right now.  Powersheets start at the beginning of the year, but there are other great planners available year round. 
Passion Planner - a journal that has a unique reflection process, including space after each month to reflect on how things are going and what you might want to change for the next month. 
DBCInc. Journal #JournalLAP - a journal filled with inspirational quotes from your favorite DBCInc. books to help you reflect through out the year. 


Books: 
I find a lot of books to be inspirational, but here are my top 2 that I refer to often as an educator! 

 1. Tara Martin's Be Real "In Be REAL, BookSnaps creator, Tara Martin, encourages you to share your unique talents and passions as an educator. Through her personal and engaging stories, you’ll learn the power of being true to yourself and find the courage to “cannonball” into the adventures life offers." - It's a wonderful book that I plan on reading again over the summer to get my head in the right place before starting a new school year in a new position.  
​Get your copy here! 


2. Dan Tricarico's The Zen Teacher "In The Zen Teacher, educator, blogger, and speaker Dan Tricarico provides practical, easy-to-use techniques to help teachers slow down and create a sense of focus, simplicity, and tranquility in the classroom - and in life. As a teacher, you have incredible power to influence, even improve, the future..." 
​Get your copy here! 

I could add more, but I think that's a good place to stop and share more later. This subject is more than one blog post for sure! 
​

Twitter conversations on the topic...

@msrachelhollis's book, "Girl, Wash Your Face" got me thinking... what lies do we tell ourselves as educators? What dialogue runs through your head that keeps you from trying new things or staying in EDU?#REALedu #leadlap @burgess_shelley @TaraMartinEDU @BethHouf @ShakeUpLearning

— ᑭᗩᗰ ᕼᑌᗷᒪᗴᖇ (@specialtechie) May 17, 2020
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​You can also check out this Wakelet collection from our #pd4uandme chat on 1/30/2021 to hear from some of our educator friends on the lies that they have to over come just like you.  Then come back soon for more on this topic. I've found myself having this conversation with educators a lot recently because of our current pandemic situation and it really makes me want to help!
​In the meantime, please take care of yourselves! ~Pam

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Google Sites Keeps Getting Better!

1/18/2021

0 Comments

 

🖊️​ Fonts are here! 

Google Sites has been the best tool to use with students because of the ease of access and drag and drop features. The one thing that has kept me from using it outside my hub for teacher resources is the lack of creative choices native to Google Sites. 
The wait is over! You can now change your fonts inside Google Sites!
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Google Workspace Updates: Google Sites December '20

Looking for more updates, check out this Workspace post.  Making font changes to your entire site is coming, but it's not here yet.   I'll take this in the meantime! 
​

📢​ Announcement Banner

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Another feature I missed somehow is the announcement banner.  To add this to your current site, click the settings wheel and toggle on the "show banner" option. You can personalize it from there depending on if you want the banner on all pages or just the home page.

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Example: I'd use it to guide educators to my blog since I use my Google Site as a resource hub for teachers in my school.  The directions for adding this to your site can be found here (only available in the new Google Sites). ​

⬇️​ Collapsible Text

The last feature I was super excited to find is a collapsible text box! Again... not sure how I missed this update! Some of my pages have a tendency to get a little long, but I don't necessarily want the content to be on another page in the drop down menu. This is the perfect solution!   Here's an example using content standards. Detailed directions for using  this feature can be found here. 
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🎨​ Have fun with your Google Site! 

Now, I have some updating to do! I hope this will give you the push you needed to give Google Sites a try if you haven't already. 
I'd love to know how you use Google Sites.  Please tag me (@specialtechie) on Twitter with your thoughts and/or creations.  I love learning from you too! 
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Choice Boards for the Win!

10/4/2020

3 Comments

 

Choice Boards

Choice Boards aren't new, but they have become a life saver since education changed drastically last March due to Covid-19! 
The current trend for a lot of the teachers I work with or follow through social media is to create digital Choice Boards so students can have some options in the activities they do from home based on a certain topic or subject area.
  Kasey Bell from Shake Up Learning calls them Interactive Learning Menus, which gives you a better idea of the purpose. Check out some of her free templates here!
​ 

Video Tutorial - Quick version! 

There are many beautiful templates our there for teachers to download for free to create their own Choice Boards. My favorites are from Paula at Slidesmania! You have to check out her resources if you are in search of some educational Google Slides or Powerpoint templates.
I created the video below to share with my teachers as a quick-start guide, so Ithought I'd write a quick blog post to share it with you too!  I didn't want to get too geeky, because that's when we start losing track of the time (which we don't have a lot of these days)!
So here's a 10 minute video on how you can use Google Slides to create a clickable Choice Board to help students choose what activities they work through each week. 

Free Slides Templates

In the video above, I created a weekly choice Board on the go, so it isn't overly complicated or pretty. ​ It's an easy place to start if you've never created one before though! The second template is to help teachers incorporate writing remotely.  Both of these templates are just a starting point, so have fun!
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Resources to make you own! 

Besides my favorites mentioned above, here are some more helpful links. ​
  • Catlin Tucker - Choice Boards
  • Matt Miller -Ditch That Textbook - Math Choice Boards
  • Using Digital Choice Boards - Hello Teacher Lady
  • Jake Miller - Choice Boards Presentation
  • Choice Boards for Professional Development - Spedtechgeek (ME!)
  • Choice Board for Coaching -TeachBoost (also ME) ​​
It really just depends on your purpose and how much time you want to spend creating Choice Boards/ Learning Menus. Have fun and remember to not stress yourself out by trying to make it Teachers Pay Teachers or Pinterest perfect! Remember, the purpose is to give your students choice and be able to differentiate whenever possible.
Happy creating and please tag me on your favorite social media platform with your creations! 
~Pam
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    I'm an Innovative Learning Coordinator in Berkeley County South Carolina and a Google Certified Trainer.  
    I have 25 years of experience teaching K-8 special ed., General Ed., and instructional & technology coaching. 
    ​Since I enjoy technology more than some, I started this blog for educators who love it too. Thanks for visiting! 

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Pam Hubler ~ Instructional Coach, Daniel Island School, Berkeley County School District ~ @specialtechie
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