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Hyperdoc! Hyperdoc! Hyperdoc!

2/25/2019

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One of my favorite movies is The Princess Bride, so every time I say the word Hyperdoc, I end up saying it three times like Mad Max's wife says Humperdink. ​

Hyperdoc! Hyperdoc! Hyperdoc! ​

And, just like Mad Max's wife, I am going to attempt to make you do something outside of your comfort zone. Use a Hyperdoc!

If you have been in the world of education long, you have seen every teaching style get praised for a while and then a few years later criticized.  We have gone from whole class lecture, to jig-saw everything, and now we encouraged to teach in small groups. Well, I don't know about you, but i do no have the ability to clone myself to be in multiple places at once---or do I?

We recently went to TCEA, and it seemed like many of the sessions we attended someone mentioned video at least once, so I tried to stay on that theme and went to several sessions about using video in the classroom.  I thought they would be encouraging the use of already made YouTube videos, but I was wrong! The going trend is to video yourself. One presenter even claimed students would rather watch you on a screen that watch you at the front of the class.  That means. . . . I can clone myself!

So, I came back and I started using Screencastify to video myself teaching lessons, but then what do I do with those videos?  How do I get them to the kiddos? Well, duh!

Hyperdoc! Hyperdoc! Hyperdoc! ​​

I immediately started setting up Hyperdocs with links to MY videos, and then a series of tasks they must follow in order to complete the lessons.  If I need to clarify instructions on something -- I make a video. One presenter said if you are saying the same thing multiple times in a day--video it.  If students come and interrupt my small group lesson, I remind them to go watch the video. Everything they need is on the hyperdoc.

Not only that, the hyperdoc follows the lesson cycle and forces me to think through from beginning to end what I want my students to accomplish.  My lessons now seem to be more thorough. AND, I can differentiate my lessons for all the students using Google Classroom.
So, for those of you who do not know, a hyperdoc is a set of instructions on a Google Doc which contains links (underlined blue font) to multiple different things.  In my hook, I might include a snazzy song from YouTube. After that I might give them a link to a form with some questions to answer before they read. Then, there might be instructions for the students to read from their book, or there might be a link of me reading to them from their book.  Then, I always try to put in a Google Form to quiz them over their reading to ensure they actually read, PLUS I get an automatic grade. Win, win! I use different types of Hyperdoc Templates to make my lessons. Most of the time I use numbers down the left hand side to show the order they should work.  I do this when I plan to pull small groups randomly to check in with them. Our Texas Hero Report was perfectly set up on a hyperdoc. The students worked through the hyperdoc and I was able to pull kids based on who they chose to research. This gave them an opportunity to compare notes. 
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Another day, I pulled kids by technology type.  Some choose to make a Google Slideshow and others choose to make a Google Site. This hyperdoc gave me the freedom to keep everyone working, but also let me meet with the students I needed to meet with, when I needed to meet with them.
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I'm currently doing more station work in my classroom so I can differentiate and try to help those that are struggling before we get to the end of the year testing.  I plan my stations on a Google Slide, with links included, and then rearrange them and send them out through Classroom so the students know where to start working. I choose a station where I plan to sit down with my preselected groups and make sure they all get the same Hyperdoc.  This makes small group lessons so much easier. Sometimes we meet so I can read to them, sometimes I meet with a group so I can give feedback on their assignment, or sometimes I just go stand by and observe their collaboration.
If you have not tried Hyperdocs in your classroom, you might want to consider it.  Include video, or don't include video. Regardless, try the hyperdoc. If you need more examples, check this site.  They have tons of examples for multiple subjects.  

My teaching partner (Carol Adams) and I even create lesson plans using hyperdocs!  We share links to resources and blog posts so we can communicate better because we don't always have time to sit down together and plan face to face.  


I am a big supporter of hyperdocs.  If you need help setting one up, let me know. And just because I like it--one more time:

Hyperdoc! Hyperdoc! Hyperdoc!
"Have fun stormin’ da castle."
-Mad Max and Valerie


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​This blog post was written by A.C. Williams Elementary School 4th Grade Reading teacher and iCoach, Amy Scaff.
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Delegating Communication Responsibilities to the Students

2/22/2019

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We can all agree that communication is the key to success.  And not only do the parents want us to communicate when we have problems concerning their child, but they also want to know when their child is doing well.  So, if we can start the line of communication early and with positive vibes, then parent’s will not think the worst when they see an email or a phone call from the school in regards to their child.  I know what you're thinking; "Just add one more thing to my to-do list!" But that is not the case here...keep reading!
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There are several ways to delegate the responsibility of reporting daily activities, academic performance and behavior to the parents by the students.  By making this one simple change in my classroom, it has made a world of difference.  Students are working harder, there are less zeros in my grade book, everyone is acting better and taking ownership of their actions and attitudes. I’ve even had several parents thank me for keeping them in the loop about their child’s progress, or lack thereof.






I know from personal experience that parents want to know how each day goes with our child at school. I know the first thing I say to my children when I see them in the afternoon is:

MOM:  “How was your day at school?”  

Everyday, I get the same old dreaded response.
CHILD: “Ugh, fine, mom!”  
MOM: “Did something happen or go wrong?”  
CHILD: “No mom, nothing happened!” (as eyes roll)
MOM: “Well did you learn anything new today?”
 And guess what, yes, that’s right.
CHILD: “No mom, it was the same as yesterday!”    
And they go about their business to tend to something else.
  
​

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I know they are frustrated with me at this point, and I am just as frustrated with them.  I sincerely want to know how their day went, and what they did.  But they do not want to talk to me about school, especially after they have been there all day.
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In my classroom, we recently started an assignment in regards to proper etiquette in emails.  So I thought what better way to provide real-world experience and show the parents of my outstanding students exactly what they are capable of. So, after practicing on a couple emails sent to me, students received an assignment that said they would need to email their parents and cc (carbon copy) me. They were required to let their parents know about the many different things we were doing inside our classroom.

Parents tend to not realize there is a problem until they get a progress report that is sent home with the student. Half the time, the progress reports never makes it out of my classroom.  I feel that having the students contact their parents on weekly basis (if not daily basis) will also strengthen their relationship with each other.  Middle school students are at the age where they tend to pull away from the parents.  So these parents tend to have no clue as to what is going on in their child’s school life.  ​

I wanted my students to take more ownership over their learning. They are incredibly creative human beings with endless talents. Why not tap into them as resources and make them do some of the planning, teaching, troubleshooting, assessing, and communicating with parents?
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The most rewarding part of this strategy is the conversations that take place between parents and their children. Because I am CCed on the initial email, parents typically “reply all” and keep me in the loop as they dialogue with their child. I love the questions parents ask in their follow-up emails, like “Why weren’t you able to complete this part of the assignment when it was due? How are you using your class time? What can I do at home to support you in getting your work done?” I see so much value in encouraging students to have these conversations with their parents.

It is important for teachers and parents to have meaningful and regular communication with one another to ensure that the student is doing well both in school and outside of school. If the child is sick or perhaps dealing with a family issue, then parents can reach out to teachers to let them know that their student might be having an “off” day. Additionally, teachers can report back to parents on student behavior and academic progression in a timely manner.

New technologies have made communication between home and school more efficient, and improved in both quantity and quality. When parents and teachers communicate with one another, they are able to work towards their common goal of facilitating the best educational experience possible for students.  Even though parents have access to our online grade book system and they can login at any time to view their child's grades, some parents just don’t do that.  

So, whenever you feel overwhelmed by all you have to do as an educator communicating with parents and guardians, ask yourself how you can have your students do more of the work in your classroom? From that work will come real-world experience. We have to quit making things harder on ourselves.  The technological tools are in our hands, so let’s have our students put it to use for their own good, and ours. 

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This blog post was written by Commerce Middle School BIM teacher and iCoach, Amanda White.
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    Heather Kilgore & CISD Tech Team

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