Monday, January 12, 2015

Flash blog!?? Getting Unstuck

Its funny how things work.  I just in the last two weeks started flipping again and decided to drop into the #flipclass chat tonight.  I have been wanting to get blogging again, but trouble starting.  So I couldn't believe it when Cheryl Morris (@guster4lovers) suggested this flash blog thingy.  Not really sure what it is, but I think I am supposed to be writing for 25 minutes about where I am stuck in my practice and what I'm doing about it.

So cool!  Since that is why I'm back to flipping again.  Not sure how I was "stuck" I was just not happy with how my classes were going and knew that I wanted more work time in my class instead of me lecturing.  I had visitors in my class today who wanted to see a lesson and so I decided to go the traditional way and although it went well, it was today that really showed me I am so much more comfortable with flipping the lesson.

Some of the reasons I think it is working for me better now than it did two years ago is that I have access to iPads and Chromebooks now that I didn't really before.  Also my students seem to have more access to the internet and technology in general.

I am keeping it super simple as well.  I just record my lessons by writing notes in my own notebook under the document camera and record the screen using the free version of Screencast-o-matic.  I upload to youtube and then post on Google Classroom.  Nothing fancy at all, the videos are about 5 minutes, and its basically me modeling a procedure.

The next day, I give a do now ticket that I use to sort the students into groups.  If they get it, they go off to do classwork, if not or they are a little shaky they stay with me and we work on it together until they are released to do the classwork.  I give another exit ticket, leveled for the two groups.

So that is where I am at, I feel like such a newbie again, but a little more comfortable newbie.

After the lesson I did today I met with the visitors to my classroom (actually it was all the math teachers in my school plus an outside coaching consultant.) I shared with them how I've been using video lessons so  this lesson didn't really represent what was happening in my classroom. We talked about it a little bit and I shared one of my videos.  Well, the consultant asked "Where did you hear about this???" He never heard of it before and I was surprised.  I thought everyone knew about it.  Later he told me he was taking notes and was going to tell every teacher he sees about it.  Then he suggested I run a session at the regional charter school convention in April.  Holy cow!

10 comments:

  1. Great job today! Would it be possible for you to share a link to one of your videos? I am interested in flipping at least occasionally in my upper math classes. Thanks!

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  2. Thanks Kathy! I have to admit I am really embarrassed to share my video, but I hope that it helps you get an idea that it doesn't have to be fancy. One of the things that used to hold me back was thinking that my videos were so horrible and I make mistakes sometimes, but my students really don't care and they would rather hear me teaching it than someone else who might have a fancy program and be scripted perfectly. So here is the one I shared with my admin and visitors the other day. This is for 6th grade. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wF3N56oXyEo

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  3. I am so glad you followed up with them afterwards! After 5 semesters of flipping I feel so uncomfortable giving lecture mode classes which inevitably happens for PD sessions I am asked to give. I have started *insisting* on pre-session readings and activity before courses and seminars I give but it is a tough sell in the traditional world.

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    1. I am having another visitor to my class next month and I am totally keeping it flipped. I am even going to send her the video before hand!

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  4. Hi, Robin. I just finished watching your youtube video and you did a great job! Thank you for putting yourself out there so we could see what a flipped classroom looks like for you. It will definitely help me when I am ready to try this in my classroom.

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    1. Give it a try even if its only one lesson! and your welcome :) If you have any questions or want any help please let me know!!!

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  5. Love the "do now" idea. I often just do the "your turns" assigned from the video with my students and then release all together. Maybe a "do now" would be great way to change up the structure.

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    1. I'm probably going to blog about it, but the do now's are the game changer for me this time around. The students come in and are totally engaged with the problems because they just learned about it the night before. Its like the ideas had time to marinate and they are ready to put them to work. Unlike when I would teach in class and expect them to jump right in.

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  6. Really cool to see someone else flipping 6th grade! We're pretty rare.

    I think there's an advantage to being a passionate novice in education. You are working harder than "experts" and you're constantly being pushed to innovate. And flipping REQUIRES constant innovation.

    Keep up the good work!

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    1. Thanks Cheryl! I'm also flipping my 5th grade classes too! They are really loving it. I am getting ready to post about the awesome results I've had with our first quiz after starting the flip in my class.

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