I've never seen myself as a mountain climber, but after yesterday's Innovation Kitchen session at the NAIS Annual Conference, I am reconsidering. I love the metaphor of a school's journey to innovation as a climb up a Magnetic Mountain, a series of day hikes, ascents and descents, and summits of innovation. All the while, the … Continue reading Innovation Kitchen: What’s Cooking? – #NAISAC @NAISNetwork #TMILearns @TMIEpiscopal
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It’s Been a Long Day – #BLOG365 Day 269 @TOPTeachGermany #TOPStudyTour
It's been a long day. But, I got a ton accomplished. Now that I finally have a moment to sit at the end of the day, I am reminiscing about my first evening in Germany and our TOP Study Tour visit to Krenzers Apple Wine Press. We had the most wonderful tour of the apple … Continue reading It’s Been a Long Day – #BLOG365 Day 269 @TOPTeachGermany #TOPStudyTour
Museum Monday: The Power of Objects to Tell Stories – #BLOG365 Day 267 #TOPStudyTour @TOPTeachGermany
While at Neungamme Concentration Camp we heard an amazing story of the power of an object to tie individuals together and transcend cultures. One object held a narrative of the bravery in a time of incredible horror. Our guide shared the story of Fritz Bringmann, a prisoner in Neuengamme arrested for high treason. He was caught … Continue reading Museum Monday: The Power of Objects to Tell Stories – #BLOG365 Day 267 #TOPStudyTour @TOPTeachGermany
German Education Part One: Project-Based Learning – #BLOG365 Day 261 @TOPTeachGermany #TOPStudyTour #PBL #PBLChat
I have been holding off on posting about German education because I knew it would be a meaty post that required some time to flush out. So, this will be part one of a small series on German education. I can't do justice to the German education system in one blog post! Before I begin … Continue reading German Education Part One: Project-Based Learning – #BLOG365 Day 261 @TOPTeachGermany #TOPStudyTour #PBL #PBLChat
The Power of Play: German Edition – #BLOG365 Day 257 @TOPTeachGermany #TopStudyTour
When I applied to be part of the Transatlantic Outreach Program Study Tour to Germany I had to craft a lesson based on a recent news article about some aspect of German life or culture. We had a handful to choose from and, of course, I chose the one on playgrounds in Germany. The article … Continue reading The Power of Play: German Edition – #BLOG365 Day 257 @TOPTeachGermany #TopStudyTour
#TOPStudyTour Day Two – #BLOG365 Day 251 @topteachgermany
Among my the many things I am learning in Germany, I am learning patience. I can't get the Wi-Fi to work on my computer so I am completing blog posts on my phone. Hopefully tomorrow, in another hotel, I won't have this problem. I am reading and rereading my posts, but I am sure there … Continue reading #TOPStudyTour Day Two – #BLOG365 Day 251 @topteachgermany
Boxes – #BLOG365 Day 238
Five different schools and countless classroom moves over the years... And I am still not sure I have mastered the art of packing lightly. Yesterday as I packed up my office I tried to clean out, really I did. I even did a bit of a clean up a few weeks ago. Dumping old files … Continue reading Boxes – #BLOG365 Day 238
Museum Monday on a Wednesday – #BLOG365 Day 227
On Monday I had the opportunity to go to the Alamo. It was a fabulous experience, one I never thought I would have. It was a chance to connect my understanding of Florida history with Texas history and, most importantly, a chance to check out new exhibitions and objects. In 2010 I traveled to … Continue reading Museum Monday on a Wednesday – #BLOG365 Day 227
Using Video to Improve Instruction: Part 2 – #BLOG365 Day 207 @NBPTS #nbctstrong
A few weeks ago I wrote a blog post entitled Using Video to Improve Instruction. At the time I had come across an old video of when I was doing an object-based lesson with students in my sixth grade world history class. Today a friend shot another video of me doing a lesson, using reciprocal … Continue reading Using Video to Improve Instruction: Part 2 – #BLOG365 Day 207 @NBPTS #nbctstrong
Museum Monday: Museum Summer Reading-#BLOG365 Day 205
I know many of you are working on summer reading lists for your students. Although I am not a fan of rigid summer reading lists, I do hope you will consider a few of my favorite museum related children's book titles. . From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler By E.L. Konigsburg … Continue reading Museum Monday: Museum Summer Reading-#BLOG365 Day 205
Jill Cross 