Jen Stover

Put Simply: a Resource Districts Should Not Ignore! "The Horizon Report"

This is a "Blog/RE-Tweet" giving attribution to ISU faculty member, Scott McLeod, who recently published a post called "My April SAI Report" on his site, Dangerously Irrelevant. 

Included in this post, he discussed "The Horizon Report, K-12" (2009), a document dedicated to the future of technology integration in the classroom.

Every Principal and teacher should read this report, in my opinion, because:

• It is a fantastic resource for educators preparing for the implementation of the Iowa Core....

• I am amazed at all the resources, giving our kids the capability to interact with the entire world! 

     

Some Examples:

http://mscofino.edublogs.org/projects/
At the International School Bangkok, students in kindergarten through fifth grade collaborate with their peers around the world using a range of methods including social networking tools, collaborative workspaces, blogs, wikis, and microblogging tools.

New Media Literacies.org
Scheduled for release in May 2009, the Learning Library presents a variety of interactive learning challenges that are designed for students to work through. The challenges are structured to encourage practice and exploration in new media literacy skills.

Top 10 Web 2.0 Tools for Young Learners
This article highlights ten high quality online tools, some of which use some social networking in the classrooms of younger students.

....and this is only the beginning of a huge list of resources to help with 21st century skills integration and the "WHY's" behind we so need to be doing this!!

Teachers, administrators: please pay attention to this report, and to Scott's research! 

If you want your district to be on the path of excellence, visit his site: "Dangerously Irrelevant!"

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Educators, No Witty Title, but Pay Attention to This one!

Still a bit cool out there today, but the sun is shining after many days of rain!  The sunshine has me looking forward to summer and warmer temps!

With that, I am also looking foward to June, when I will be working alongside Angela (and many other great educators) at the 21st Century Literacies Workshop, being held Monday, June 22nd at Valley Southwoods School in West Des Moines!!

When I was in the classroom, all I ever wanted was for another teacher to recommend something that I KNEW would be worth my TIME and MONEY, save me the grief of going to things and not getting much out of them.......

GUYS, THIS IS THE ONE!!

Teachers, if I can encourage you to attend a seminar that could (and would) be life-changing for your classroom, this is the one!

To register: Go to www.angelamaiers.com and find this poster!  The early bird special lasts until May 31st!

I hope to see you there, the experience will be wonderful!

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Dear World: I Need Your Help!

I am curious, excited, motivated, and I need input! 

I'm talking to all you brilliant, fantastic educators, parents out there, legislators, principals, custodians, paraprofessionals, counselors, ANYONE involved in the world of education!

I need your knowledge, curiosity, input, advice....

I want to collect bits of information, advice, insights, thoughts, concerns, anything you want to share when it comes to success of a child in today's educational experience, K-12.  Factors that support that success, or diminish a child's ability to become their best. 

Please send me examples of situations you have seen firsthand, leaving out infomation such as names and specific locations where these types of situations occurred.

My goal is this:  I want to research the types of conditions in which children find success and grow in their educational experiences.  I would like many different viewpoints and exerpts. I will be creating some type of resource for this information to be shared with the world!! 

As my friend, Angela Maiers, always says, "Together we Are Smarter!"

Please share anything!  It can be a story, a thought, an observation, a wish, a dream, anything you feel can make or break the educational experience of a child.

Thank you in advance for your participation!  I am excited to see where this project goes and what it can do for future generations of learners, especially my own two children!

And, thank you, Mike Sansone, for your brilliance on this project! :-)

Sincerely,
Jen Stover

photo on flickr by MXI

My experience as a child growing up in a small town was very positive.  Great teachers, safe neighborhoods, lots of playtime for exercise and imagination, a support of family and caring adults who were always there.  I was lucky.  I always felt connected to my community in some way and especially connected to the kids who were in my class. 

Many times, I wonder if we could bring that connection back into the schools by keeping the feel of a homeroom, or core group of individuals that you met with to start and end your day, everyday.  A group you know very well, you have connections with them, you build the foundation for a positive day of learning and decision making, and then reconnect with them at the end of the day to debrief and discuss your experiences of the day.  Kind of like a family within your school day.

Children in elementary school have this from the first day.  In most schools, you spend each part of the day working with the adult(s) and kids of your homeroom.  The teacher designs an environment conducive to learning and friendship with a strong sense of community (or atleast, this should be the goal of all classrooms) and within this framework, the learning happens.  My opinion of a positive and successful learning environment is one that works with the learner's perspective first, then the teacher's preferences.  Students should respectfully have a say in how things function within the classroom and should be involved in many aspects of decision making.  This becomes their investment of time and interest.  This can happen at all levels, Pre-K-12.  The community building process in the classroom at the beginning of the year is critical for success of the children in that classroom.  Each one must feel valued, important, have a sense of belonging and be taught appropriate social skills for positive involvement in the classroom.

Awhile back, a fantastic blogger, Evan Abbey, shared his thoughts about empathy in the classroom:

21st Century Learning Environments

• Create learning practices, human support and physical environments that will support the teaching and learning of 21st century skill outcomes
• Support professional learning communities that enable educators to collaborate, share best practices and integrate 21st century skills into classroom practice
• Enable students to learn in relevant, real world 21st century contexts (e.g., through project-based or other applied work)
• Allow equitable access to quality learning tools, technologies and resources
• Provide 21st century architectural and interior designs for group, team and individual learning
• Support expanded community and international involvement in learning, both face-to-face and online

taken from www.21stcenturyskills.org

 
Why am I saying this?  Many kids around the country and world have one need - to feel like someone loves and appreciates them for who they are.  They need to know they are important and valued.  They have a desire to be connected with others and have their thoughts heard.  They want to feel respected and have others believe in their ability to do great things.  Do we, as educators, truly understand the importance of our roles in these kids' lives?  Do we realize the kinds of things we can do for our students simply by letting them know you believe in them and that they can make a difference?

This "job" goes beyond teaching curriculum, every teacher knows that.  Many times though, we look at the responsibility that goes along with it (being a substitute parent, nurse, counselor, disciplinarian, custodian, comedian, actor, secretary) and see it as a burden rather than a blessing.  Teachers have the power to make or break a child's confidence in themselves.  We have the power to fix the wrongs and make them right.  We need to  hold our students to high expectations,  and then provide the ladders to help them achieve those goals.  If we keep reminding ourselves of the magnitude of this job, how can we ever stop trying harder, being a learner, and doing more for our kids?

I have a second wind!  I feel like I am back in the saddle again, ready to conquer new challenges in education!  And I invite you to come along for the ride, ready to face another day with your students and make it a great one.  Take a moment to think about each of your students, especially those who may be having a difficult time with one aspect or another in school.  Whether it is academic, social, disciplinary.....can you think of a way YOU might be able to assist and improve the struggle for them? 

You can make a difference, everyday, in a child's life.  What a powerful place you have in this world!

My "Official" Welcome....Such an HONOR!!

Happy Thursday, and thank you for reading my "edublog!"

For those of you who have been watching and reading my blog, twitter, etc.....the following is the whole reason why I have been getting all of this started.  Just a little more background about me, so you can get to know who I am and what I am about.

My inspiration comes from my mentor, Angela Maiers.  If you subscribe to my site, you HAVE to subscribe to hers; it is a chance for phenomenal learning. 

I place this posting on my blog, because it is probably one of the proudest moments of my life.  I can't tell you how excited, pleased and honored I am to be working in such company!  With the launch of my website and all that goes with it, Angela released this on her own blog:

Welcome Jen Stover to Team Maiers!

 I am soooo thrilled to welcome Jen Stover to my team.  I was humbled and honored when Jen first shared with me her interest in following a path similar to my own. As we got to know one another, it became clear that the fit was perfect! Her passion and excitement for changing the conditions of learning and helping teachers is contagious!

Jen brings her own uniqueness and talent to the work, but has discovered that these are the areas that she is most passionate about supporting:

• Lesson planning and curriculum development
• Modeling focus lessons and briefing teachers on strategies
• Finding and organizing resources (offline and online)
• Breakout sessions during some workshops and institutes

This new partnership comes on the heals of just finishing Steve Farber's newest business book, Greater Than Yourself  based on the idea that we can change the world faster when we advance anothers potential.  Steve believes that bigger change and influence comes as the result of giving the most of yourself to someone who you feel compelled to lift up, support, encourage, teach, coach and mentor. Great leaders, and I would add, great teachers do this by following these key tenants:

• Expand Yourself
• Give Yourself
• Replicate Yourself.  

As Mike Sansone and I joined forces, I saw the power of the impact grow. With Jen on our team, we can only imagine what is to come!  Make sure to follow Jen as she reaches levels that she can not yet imagine possible. She shares her learning journey at her new blog Jen Stover and the resources that help her most on Twitter  and FriendFeed.

I am so proud of how hard she is working, and how much heart and soul she is ready to give. I am looking forward to the future! Welcome, Jen!!

In My Opinion, an Exciting Future for Iowa!

Iowa Teachers, Parents, Students, Communities.....I am EXCITED about our future!! 

Maybe I am easily moved, inspired, excited...not sure exactly what it is, but I think the future looks bright for our kiddos here in Iowa. 

Take a look at this new Iowa Core Curriculum!  It is fantastic!!

 

It seems (in the past) when my colleagues and I in the "teaching world" entered a site like this, we thought to ourselves (I have to be honest, okay?), "Oh, great, just another program, half-baked, no teacher input, something more we have to squeeze into our instructional day, won't work anyway, won't even be around in a year or two, complete waste of our kids' time."  

 .....that is NOT the case, this time!

What is the Iowa Core Curriculum?

Here are some excerpts from the Iowa Core Curriculum Website:

"...Research shows that high expectations are a critical ingredient in improving student performance and ensuring student success beyond high school.....The Iowa Core Curriculum identifies essential concepts and skills for kindergarten through 12th grade in literacy, mathematics, science, social studies, and 21st century skills..... It takes learning to a deeper level by moving students beyond superficial knowledge to deep conceptual and procedural knowledge. It also enhances student engagement by emphasizing interesting, robust, and relevant learning experiences.

......The Iowa Core Curriculum presents the most important concepts and skills that students should learn in grade spans, such as K-2. This was done to honor the individual needs of students. The Iowa Core Curriculum sets high expectations for all students and respects that students will progress differently through the grade spans. The person closest to a student in school — the classroom teacher — is in the best position to determine the pace and rigor of learning for the student."

"......Within this 21st century skill framework we must identify common strands, or learning skills that will allow students to thrive in the world of work and to be productive citizens.....(1) critical thinking and problem solving; (2) collaboration and leadership; (3) agility and adaptability; (4) initiative and entrepreneurialism; (5) effective oral and written communication; (6) accessing and analyzing information; and (7) curiosity and imagination." 

...hey, this sounds familiar?  Angela's Habitudes!!

This is realistic, natural, authentic learning experiences, plain and simple.  It will motivate our kids to really WANT to learn, for learning's sake.  There will be a natural motivation behind each lesson and experience.

•  Kids in every classroom will feel successful, validated, motivated, believed-in.
• FEWER BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS!! With engaged kids who feel like they are in control of their learning, reduction in behavior issues will follow.  
• Learners, who are allowed to try, try, and try again to learn a concept in many different ways.

I have a feeling, working alongside Angela and her connection to the Iowa Core, is going to be even more exciting than I expected.  Stay tuned as I develop activities and lesson plans related to this fantastic approach to teaching and learning!

Enjoy These Online Tools!

In my quest to find resources that help integrate technology into the classroom, these resources recently came across my google reader today:

1. E-Learning for kids

Take a look at this fantastic website!  Geared towards students K-6, this site is packed with fantastic activities and games for the classroom, or to use at home.  Parents, kids would love to use this site!  I visited, played some games......would LOVED to have this around when I taught first grade language arts!

2. bygosh.com

Oh my gosh!  "By gosh" is awesome!  Visit this site and find MANY titles, along with links to other sites that host books by category, age level of reader, genre, you name it!  Fantastic resource for educators all ages!

3. www.jenuinetech.com

Fantastic website for the PreK-6 educator!!  This site is filled with ideas that integrate technology,from online projects share by other teachers, to educational seminars that can be taken online!  I suggest you check it out.

So glad we are living in the age of technology and FREE RESOURCES!!  The sky is the limit for your classrooms, so enjoy these sites......many more to come!!  Oh, and..... happy Friday!!

Welcome to JenStover.com!

Good Morning, Happy Wednesday, and Welcome to my Blog!!

My name is Jennifer Stover.  I am an educational consultant, beginning my new career alongside Angela Maiers (of Maiers Educational Services, Inc.), and Mike Sansone (of Converstations).  I am humbled and honored to be a part of their (my) mission, which is very simple: change the lives of learners all across the world.

This is a very exciting and brand-new day for me as I begin a completely new venture in my life.  Today marks the beginning of a turn in my career I never expected.  I couldn't sleep last night, I am having so much fun imagining the possibilities that are ahead!

Angela Maiers: Many of my friends and colleagues in the public school system, as well as the graduate level are familiar with Angela and the amazing work she does with schools around the country (and world).  While teaching in Johnston, IA, I had the pleasure of being involved with staff development with Angela.  She is acknowledged as an accomplished writer, leader in best practice research, and 21st century learning strategies.  More importantly, she works with her heart, then her head.  Her work isn't "work"...it is a life mission.  I am honored to be her colleague as well as her friend.

Mike Sansone, designer of the company "Converstations", is a business builder and conversation conductor, who works with Angela and I on every issue from designing our businesses to opening our car doors and holding our purses while we shoe shop!  He is an amazing man, committed to positive change in the world.   I am proud he considers me worthy to be a part of his team! 

 

As a reader of my blog, what I hope to provide is this: insights from one educator to another of what I believe to be important in regards to best practices and resources for your classrooms.  My goal is to constantly be researching, learning from the best, trying new lessons with learners, staying focused on helping you be your best at all times.  My background is elementary and early childhood education, undergraduate literacy education, graduate early childhood education and digital literacy. 

As an educational Consultant, what I hope to provide is this: to be invited to come to schools and work with teachers and staff, working with them to support the curriculum they already have, strengthen their strengths, and not "reinvent the wheel."   Thinking about what is important to teachers in staff development, I want to assist them in feeling empowered, inspired, and excited about what they do in their classrooms with our most precious future resource....our children.

With that.....I look forward to having conversations with you and hope to be working with you soon!

Sincerely,
Jen Stover

 

A Simple Reminder of Authentic Learning

Just a quick post about something fantastic that happened while driving with my daughter this week.
It was a great reminder of the learning process, especially in relation to young children.

We were driving along, she wanted to listen to her vacation bible school cd from a few years ago.  She loves that cd; it is familiar, she can sing right along and enjoy the songs, completely on auto-pilot.
I suggested we pop in a new one, our upcoming summer VBS songs, so she could begin learning the lyrics.

To this, she was very, very opposed.

I said, "Honey, why don't you want to listen to this one?
She replied, "Well, I just don't know it like the other one, it is more fun to sing.  It's no fun when you don't know the words."

We had a discussion about the new cd in relation to her beloved cd from a few years ago.  We discussed how she felt when we first started listening to it, whether she could sing along right in the beginning, or did it take some time to learn the words and music?

A light bulb popped on inside her little head and she realized.....the same thing would happen with this new cd!  She just had to try it out, then try it again, and again, each time in different ways.  Sometimes in the car, sometimes while dancing, while coloring and drawing, etc.   Her brain was literally "bathed" in that music, just in different ways all the time. And, guess what, just a few short days later, she is singing away, several songs memorized, belting them out at the top of her lungs!

Maybe not the most exciting story to read (I apologize).  However, it is a simple reminder of this...

We must always teach a concept more than once if we expect our learners to REALLY internalize the learning!!  Also, we should always teach the concept by incorporating strategies that work with many learning styles. 

I loved this story.....a simple reminder of learning. 

Through perseverance (keep on trying, you will get it) and adaptability (learning in many different ways), learners will have ownership.  Keep the activities spiraling; returning again and again, so students can feel successful and learn the same concept in many different ways.

.....Hopefully, they will be eager to come back for more!

Image taken from Flickr by Khwarlings

A Simple Reminder of Authentic Learning

Just a quick post about something fantastic that happened while driving with my daughter this week.
It was a great reminder of the learning process, especially in relation to young children.

We were driving along, she wanted to listen to her vacation bible school cd from a few years ago.  She loves that cd; it is familiar, she can sing right along and enjoy the songs, completely on auto-pilot.
I suggested we pop in a new one, our upcoming summer VBS songs, so she could begin learning the lyrics.

To this, she was very, very opposed.

I said, "Honey, why don't you want to listen to this one?
She replied, "Well, I just don't know it like the other one, it is more fun to sing.  It's no fun when you don't know the words."

We had a discussion about the new cd in relation to her beloved cd from a few years ago.  We discussed how she felt when we first started listening to it, whether she could sing along right in the beginning, or did it take some time to learn the words and music?

A light bulb popped on inside her little head and she realized.....the same thing would happen with this new cd!  She just had to try it out, then try it again, and again, each time in different ways.  Sometimes in the car, sometimes while dancing, while coloring and drawing, etc.   Her little brain was literally "bathed" in that music, just in different ways all the time. And, guess what, just a few short days later, she is singing away, several songs memorized, belting them out at the top of her lungs!

Maybe not the most exciting story to read (I apologize).  However, it is a simple reminder of this...

We must always teach a concept more than once if we expect our learners to REALLY internalize the learning!!  Also, we should always teach the concept by incorporating strategies that work with many learning styles. 

I loved this story.....a simple reminder of learning. 

Through perseverance (keep on trying, you will get it) and adaptability (learning in many different ways), learners will have ownership.  Keep the activities spiraling; returning again and again, so students can feel successful and learn the same concept in many different ways.

.....Hopefully, they will be eager to come back for more!

Image taken from Flickr by Khwarlings