tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7992626747475555942024-03-13T18:14:54.098-07:00Endicott SpotMegan Endicotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03536800381897369560noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-799262674747555594.post-29558303753713308032016-02-04T08:17:00.002-08:002016-02-04T08:19:43.590-08:00Atlanta Families' Awards of Excellence in EducationI am still very honored to be a member of the Altanta Families' Award of Excellence in Education winner circle. I had the priveledge of speaking the night of our award ceremony this past fall and wanted to share with you my speech on WHY music education is important to me and how my students impact my life. Check it out below!<br />
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<span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-family: "tahoma" , "sans-serif";">Good
evening fellow cohort 2015 winners, past winners, and friends and family. It is
a real honor to be invited to speak on behalf of my cohort and an even greater
honor to be selected as a winner of the Atlanta Families’ Award of Excellence
in Education. My journey is much like most of us here today. We graduate
college with the dream of becoming an educator and impacting students’ lives
while sharing the joy and love we have for our craft. It was only after years
of teaching that I had my own “ah ha” moment. Teaching is so much more than
what I could have ever imagined. </span></span><span class="eop"><span style="font-family: "tahoma" , "sans-serif";"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-family: "tahoma" , "sans-serif";">As an
elementary music teacher, I have the ability to impact hundreds of students
yearly. In addition I have the honor of teaching these students for sometimes
up to six years consecutively. Then I have the privilege to teach siblings and
who knows, one day those children's children! Within this time frame I am able
to build relationships with my students and their parents unique to other
teachers in my building. I am able to personally watch them grow as I
take part in molding their path along the way. I teach children to
discover who they are and develop them culturally. Through my students I am
forming relationships with parents and the community and helping them see music
through the eyes of their children. This impact on a community is not taken
lightly. I not only teach my students the skills necessary to meet and exceed
music standards, I am also teaching them the value of cooperation, teamwork,
success, failure, problem solving, creative thinking, and critical thinking
while tying in relevance from across the curriculum. Music is culture and lends
toward developing the whole child in a way that academics cannot possibly
compete. I strive to educate the community to become more culturally well
rounded. I also aspire to continue to bring the global community into my
classroom with music professionals from all around the world while sharing our
work with the world as well. </span></span><span class="eop"><span style="font-family: "tahoma" , "sans-serif";"> </span></span><span class="eop"><span style="font-family: "tahoma" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 6.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-family: "tahoma" , "sans-serif";">As a music
educator in today’s heavily academic-driven world, our time is often spent
demonstrating and advocating for the placement of music in our schools.
To our advantage, research supports that musically trained students show gains
in math and spatial reasoning, reading and verbal skills, as well as social and
emotional development. Music truly is the universal language as well as
an outlet for cross curricular learning.</span></span><span class="eop"><span style="font-family: "tahoma" , "sans-serif";"> Not a moment goes by in my
classroom where we aren’t making some connection to language arts, math,
science, or social studies. These connections are a natural fit and make
learning more meaningful to my students.</span></span><span style="font-family: "tahoma" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 6.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-family: "tahoma" , "sans-serif";">What you
might not know is music is most commonly displayed through performance elements
and project based learning. What is unique about music class, is the
ability to master a concept. The only way to truly show mastery is to
practice, adjust, evaluated, analyze and finally perform a polished production
for an authentic audience. I am proud to say that each child in my school
has this opportunity on a regular basis to perform for an authentic
audience. </span></span><span class="eop"><span style="font-family: "tahoma" , "sans-serif";"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-family: "tahoma" , "sans-serif";">If you
aren’t familiar with music performing arts, you may not realize that in order
to successfully make music, you must first learn to work together. To
prepare my students for this collaborative effort, I start from the kindergarten
up with musical performances. Each student has a special role, costuming,
and part assignment from the very beginning. We learn to work together as
a team to present a perfected, well-rehearsed performance for the student body
and the parents. Music defines
collaboration. Mutual respect among classmates builds a collaborative team,
allowing students to make connections with one another in a unique way
different from their classroom environment. This common goal creates an
inviting, non-threatening classroom environment in which students are able to
take risks without feeling failure while building teamwork and developing
interpersonal skills. Among the one hundred and twenty fourth and fifth
grade student volunteers in my afterschool choral group, teamwork is evident as
we look out for each other, we build each other up, and we talk through Edmodo
to provide support for one another much like a family. We are our biggest
cheerleaders. You know that students are part of a true community when
they clap for each other during rehearsals to show their support.</span></span><span class="eop"><span style="font-family: "tahoma" , "sans-serif";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "tahoma" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 6.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-family: "tahoma" , "sans-serif";"> </span></span><span class="eop"><span style="font-family: "tahoma" , "sans-serif";"> </span></span><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-family: "tahoma" , "sans-serif";"> </span></span><span class="eop"><span style="font-family: "tahoma" , "sans-serif";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "tahoma" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 6.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-family: "tahoma" , "sans-serif";">Through
social media and personally written letters, I have been able to keep in
contact with many of my students. However, one student in particular will
always stand out in my mind. I will never forget working with my little
kindergarteners on their musical, EIEI Oops. Out popped this amazing small
voice. Vibrato and all! I don't think I have ever heard Old MacDonald had a
Farm sound so beautiful, and I probably never will! I knew then there was
something special about this young lady. In 3<sup>rd</sup> grade, we featured a
soloist, and as luck would have it, she rocked the audition! Right away, she discussed how nervous she was
when performing in front of her peers and a large crowd. I told her what I tell
most of my young vocalists, “just look right at me and I’ll help you through.”
She sounded like an angel on Greece is the Word. The next year, she joined my chorus group as
a 4<sup>th</sup> grader. This was the
first year I was able to get a sneak peek at her true talent. She auditioned
for a simple solo in our winter school performance. She had an amazing ear and could sing in tune
with such ease. It was inspiring. I
added a special part just for her! Her voice soared over the top of the chorus
in her own improvisation style for our closing piece. I don’t often get goose bumps, but every
single hair on my body stood on end. And
between you and me, I may have even teared up a bit! She again earned a solo
singing a very difficult role in the spring show. Her confidence was building each year, but
the nerves still existed. I was able to
convince her to look just past me to her mother in the audience, getting one
step closer to acknowledging the audience as a whole. Brooke really showed her talent off her fifth
grade year when she sang the solo “Where the Boys Are”. It was always a joy to watch the audience
react when she was on stage, both peers and adults. A calm, quiet hush would come over the crowd,
as if they didn’t want to miss a single moment.
Brooke taught me a valuable lesson. The lesson that I really needed to
find those gems in my classroom and help build their talent, offer
opportunities, and hone their craft. Laying the foundation for success starts
with us as we mold these young students. Finding each of their talents and
guiding them at the very beginning is key. I keep in touch with Brooke. From
elementary age to now I was always heard saying the same thing. She would be
able to quote me…. “Remember me when you are famous”. This young lady is simply amazing! Last year my little student who I met singing
Old MacDonald Had a Farm, Brooke </span></span><span class="spellingerror"><span style="font-family: "tahoma" , "sans-serif";">Adee</span></span><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-family: "tahoma" , "sans-serif";">, made it
to the live rounds of The Voice! Talk about a proud teacher moment. In recent
contact, she paid me with one of the most incredible compliments an elementary
music teacher could ever receive. “You
inspired me to be a singer”. </span></span><span class="eop"><span style="font-family: "tahoma" , "sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-family: "tahoma" , "sans-serif";">We must
never take what we do for granted. We must live each day to our fullest. What
we do DOES matter. We are building our future. It is my dream that my passion for
teaching spreads to other educators so that we have a strong network of leaders
to care for the next generation. It starts with us! Thank you for being on my
team!</span></span><span class="eop"><span style="font-family: "tahoma" , "sans-serif";"> </span></span></div>
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<span class="eop"><span style="font-family: "tahoma" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">Thank you Atlanta Families' for allowing me to impact so many students through the adoption of Quaver's Marvelous World of Music in our school through my project! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">~ Until next time!</span></div>
<div class="paragraph" style="text-indent: .5in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">Megan </span></div>
Megan Endicotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03536800381897369560noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-799262674747555594.post-83865534044066162802015-10-21T06:29:00.001-07:002015-10-21T06:34:42.723-07:00Quaver's Marvelous World of Music!!!!<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Love Ya Like A Sister"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Quaver’s Marvelous World of Music</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Love Ya Like A Sister"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">… a one stop shop for all your
music education needs? I’ll let you read through the evidence and form your own
opinion! <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Love Ya Like A Sister"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<i><u><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Curriculum Overview</span></u></i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">: Aligned with
the national standards and customizable with state and district standards, the
curriculum’s content will enhance student learning through tech integration and
higher order thinking skills in connection with Blooms Taxonomy. Each lesson incorporates singing, moving,
playing, composing, listening to, analyzing, and describing music with consistent
updated content. Moreover, students will be exposed to relevant current popular
trends as well as exposed to real world experiences through creating and
composing with enhanced digital learning tools.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">In
my classroom, I strive to provide my students with current music content. Quaver’s team is on target with this request
and consistently updates their content based on feedback. The curriculum offers students the ability to
transfer teacher-led instruction toward student-created tasks. With the
Quaver’s Marvelous World of Music curriculum, students will be completing
authentic tasks that align with those of professionals in music production and
composition. With the connection of mobile devices built into the curriculum,
the implementation of iPad sets per classroom, students can create projects and
collaborate in groups to manipulate interactive websites in a meaningful way
that aligns with state and national standards. In addition to participate in
connected assessment pieces built into the curriculum to collect data and
measure student growth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<u><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></u></div>
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<u><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">So,
how will students demonstrate achievement?<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">-<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Through this tech
tool with modern tracks to folk music, Quaver original tracks, and the quirky </span>lovable<span style="font-size: 12pt;"> character Quaver himself, students show increased engagement in the
learning process and retain more knowledge.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">-<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Due to the
increase in interest, there is a decrease behavior problems.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">-<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Through
ClassPlay, which is also included as part of the curriculum, multiple
intelligences are included through visual, kinesthetic, tactile, and auditory
skills in each lesson. The curriculum
incorporates listening, moving, playing, and singing options for each piece in
connection to the content.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">-<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The curriculum
boasts of including blooms taxonomy, or higher level skills in their lessons
which is evident through the Class Toolbox. Teachers are able to dissect music
theory within each song for a microscopic look at a piece of music. The
ActivBoard in conjunction with the curriculum’s draw function makes writing on
music easy. This increases student’s
ability to analyze and evaluate written music.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">-<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The curriculum
has assessments built into the curriculum as well as customizable options to
include additional resources. These assessment pieces include music theory,
analysis opportunities, as well as auditory listening examples. All of the assessments, whether Quaver made
or teacher made are linked to the Teacher Admin Panel and can be easily sent
out to mobile devices using a QR code. Tracking student data in a timely manner
with over 700 students will be manageable and enable higher measurable student
achievement. In addition, at the completion of the assessment, students are
able to view and review their responses either individually or as a class for
feedback in the moment. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">-<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Through Quaver’s
website and applications, students can complete project based learning &
compositions at all levels and submit them through the teacher panel. The
curriculum also supports project based learning in the upper grades with built in
assignments that tie into the curriculum with tools available through the
website providing students with real world, authentic tasks to better train
them for future careers in music.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<u><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">How
can the curriculum build student self-esteem?<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">-<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The curriculum
incorporates a teacher administrator panel in which teachers can enroll
students, assign work, and grade work.
Data is stored in the teacher’s grade book. For each grade, a section is listed for
instant feedback with the ability to add detailed descriptions pertaining to
the student’s work. Students are then able to resubmit their work. This type of mastery and quick feedback
instills a sense of self-worth and ultimately builds self-esteem. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">-<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The program
provides a new modern way of composing and sharing digital arrangements of full
scores at all levels in addition to traditional compositions on instruments.
This will help with student choice enabling self-expression and interests that
build pride and self-confidence.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">-<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Building a sense
of community and pride for polished student performance pieces or project
demonstrations. Students will be able to share via the ActivBoard their digital
synthesized compositions or if able, play their compositions for each other on
a classroom or orchestral / band instrument. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<u><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">How
will collaboration will be impacted?<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">-<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Students will
pair and share tech tools for a hands-on approach following the release method
of teacher-led to student-led classroom management based on diagnostic
assessments and informal assessments through the unit on a daily basis.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">-<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Student group
projects, or project based learning assignments included in the curriculum will
offer students the ability to work together in groups for a common goal.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">-<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">With the option
for printing or saving work as well as downloading MP3 version of student work,
final presentations or compositions can be posted online for parent and
homeroom teacher collaboration and feedback.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">-<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">As commonly
practiced, Skype calls from Quaver and his team are available to aid in
providing the professional perspective to student concepts. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">-<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Quaver himself
offers a monthly webinar for teacher collaboration through UStream which allows
for real time chat sessions to ask questions and get answers or feedback as
needed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Screencasts and
Tutorials for teachers and students are available through a host of many
websites, blogs, or venues all located their main page. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Competitions
and gaming opportunities are also incorporated through the website to
demonstrate student knowledge and skill. These competitions are with the entire
Quaver community nationwide.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">A
highly functioning music room is one that encompasses all aspects of music
making including singing, moving, playing, creating, listening, imitating,
exploring, experiencing, analyzing, classifying, sharing, and performing. What
is missing from my current content driven classroom is a unified way to bring
these pieces together in an engaging, relevant way that provides opportunities
for my students to reach out to the real world and create authentic tasks. Quaver’s Marvelous World of Music Curriculum
sequences and paces each of these tasks in a logical pattern that includes all
facets of learning. My students would be
missing out on a wonderful opportunity for a unique, individualized learning
environment without access to this project.
I am so excited to say that my school will be a part of the “Quaver
nation” through our purchase of the Quaver Curriculum thanks to the Altanta
Families’ Awards of Excellence in Education! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Still
worried about “too much screen time”? </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">
With products like these, students are not only learning music, but having FUN!
Here’s to hoping for a musical future for our young learners through molding
these young musical minds! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Until
next time!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Megan
Endicott<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Megan Endicotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03536800381897369560noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-799262674747555594.post-14882216991522944312015-10-02T11:45:00.000-07:002015-10-21T06:31:00.235-07:00Virtual Field Trips with Nearpod!<div dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-33a5f3a9-2f32-7f66-61e8-2764ec6668b3" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Virtual Field Trips with Nearpod!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.2; vertical-align: baseline;">Finding ways to maximize the potential of every moment of class time, reach each and every student, and engage them in a meaningful activity seems like the most difficult task in the world. Luckily, the team at Nearpod is consistently working to improve their product to reach learners of all ages and abilities in ways that inspire imagination and curiosity. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">As a member of the </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.fcsvanguard.com/">Fulton County Vanguard</a></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> team, I have the opportunity to work with the teachers in my elementary school as a coach to seamlessly integrate technology into the classroom. Nearpod is the tool my teachers gravitate toward, from kindergarten through fifth grade. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">At the beginning of the school year, I participated in one of Nearpod’s incredible “webinears” in which they unveiled an exciting new feature, Virtual Field Trips! I was so thrilled at the idea of using a field trip as a back to school activity. I had to experiment right away! Working together with a fellow Vanguard member and 4</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 7.99px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: super;">th</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> grade teacher, Tammy Felton, we took the challenge head on.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">To kick off the lesson, I used a picture from my backpacking trip to Zion National Park as the title slide with the learning objective for the lesson. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img height="465" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/xOJb8zRRVrqFabFZg-CGYfOE0_zECAM0A0iVqPE29Q6t5fmmCkbUsgWpJH34-1ZqEaRlzJCknMYOCbRLYeukcwIqwza8pUC408nnjKN5kJ4wAD3pFCN9ydZoxOXyfZ47nA86nGKS" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border-image: none; border: currentColor; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="624" /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I followed this by briefly telling the students about my incredible canyoneering trip including rappelling, hiking (and sometimes swimming) through the Virgin River, and describing the tall canyon walls. My favorite part was that when I moved to the next slide I was able to SHOW the students what I experienced through Nearpod's Virtual Field Trip feature. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Students were able to hold the iPad and move around 360 degrees to see and experience what it was like in the very same canyon that I hiked through!</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Following that slide, I showed the view from the top of Angel’s Landing, the most popular hike in Zion National Park. This breathtaking view is not for the weary of heights (like me!)! I have been to Zion National Park two times and never gained enough courage to make it to the top of Angel’s Landing. So, we all experienced the view virtually in a safe environment thanks to Nearpod! I was able to gain a deeper understanding of our students based on their heartfelt confessions about their fears of heights. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img height="307" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/mTlKpZVq1YURoN32-6bRtjMntuNXjvgx_2fnEDgveuMNO-vxcKdNj_1_TWq3PHVcFvHRbrcECBh0A6QMC5yXezIx8o4aHHpzj9aTJD8L1rIdOQHwihFX33u8VbeIZo6I50hKfI7m" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border-image: none; border: currentColor; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="624" /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Yes! That’s a road and huge building WAY down there! And notice the chain and handrail assistance for the narrow path? (picture from Google 360 screenshot)</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Through Nearpod’s polling feature, students are offered the opportunity to drive the lesson. We asked our students, “If you could take a field trip with your classmates, where would it be: Where you were born, where you have traveled, or where you want to travel?” The students’ selection guided the rest of the lesson. Our students selected, “Where we have traveled”. On the following slide, a link was placed to Google Maps. Students typed in their destination for a closer look. From here, we were able to use the images attached to the location to find the perfect representation of their trip from the summer. Students took a screenshot of their pictures and on the following slides used the Nearpod Draw It assessment tool to add their picture and text explaining the location and a fun fact. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img height="204" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/pWQb_Au3hDGZ3ucmTSIH7EtOZqHv-60403YgfUWohejB3quPldfbKpqsE67uOVPUQnYoiEmgKVU0ABlMaH642s_P7RtUPySVOW_F91nHkQIQAp0bPCPu8AW4N5dlHaGAsg6YKnco" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border-image: none; border: currentColor; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="273" /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Part of integrating technology isn’t the tool itself, or the concept of replacing the traditional classroom environment with technology, but rather, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">using the technology to accomplish a goal that could not have been done in a traditional way</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> Nearpod allows teachers to to create offline learning opportunities where students times work in groups or step away from their devices. This lesson offered that chance for each student to share their Draw It activity on the ActivBoard in the form of a presentation. This lesson offered students a chance to tell their own story about their vacation spot. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img height="203" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/Bi9HMXF7KIC1uf7yZP_1yijhK7vdKWj_jV9LliKPPAcD4LEMC9-Q9HilfAUBzBwTrZXeyREvOn2IOeX_7DzhHQvI7ihQUyiyWsBnZ41by8YmRXSMJ4TiR2bNsR8mrTGC91gn8wfa" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border-image: none; border: currentColor; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="272" /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">We all want to give each child a chance to participate and to hear their voice, but finding the time can sometimes be daunting. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Nearpod is a great tool to provide the platform for each child, no matter their personality type, to have a voice.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> Virtual Field Trips was a great way to kick off the year while letting each child have a moment to share a little bit about themselves, as we all know they are so eager to do!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I hope to tie in a Nearpod's Virtual Field trip feature with one of my second grade classes as we begin our journey of learning about Georgia regions. Nearpod is a great tool for comparing and contrasting the past and present while never leaving the confines of our own building!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Until next time!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Megan Endicott</span></div>
<br />Megan Endicotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03536800381897369560noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-799262674747555594.post-28031278075172524032015-09-30T12:13:00.001-07:002015-09-30T12:13:27.447-07:00Welcome!I am so very excited to begin a new adventure of sharing technology integration with the global community. My interest in technology began as a youngster with a tech savvy father. As the lead position in sales at an influential scientific company, my father was "hip" to technology and often times brought home computers to rebuild to ensure top quality performance in the company. This sometimes has it's drawbacks as our basement went from entertainment for family and friends to "computer graveyard"! Regardless of what was going on, my dad was always excited to share his knowledge and I was always eager to learn more. Most recently, I chose to go back to school to earn my masters degree in Educational Technology to quench my thirst in seeking out innovative ways to seamlessly integrate technology into my classroom and foster a personalized learning environment. Within the last two years, I was honored to be selected for the Fulton County Schools Vanguard Team where I serve with a team as a mentor for teachers in my building to aid in tech integration across the school. The most interesting part of coaching, honestly, has been getting to know the K-5 curriculum! I look forward to our online sharing and welcome comments with YOUR successes and experiences! Please consider following me on Twitter @EndicottSpot and Instagram @dolvinmusic. <br />
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Until next time....<br />
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Megan EndicottMegan Endicotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03536800381897369560noreply@blogger.com0