I recently had a telling experience while sitting at a friend’s dinner table. The mother asked her son how his class was today. He answered, “It got deleted”. Let’s be honest. Unless you are living under a rock, most of us are not only reliant on our computers for daily functioning but are also involved with social media in one form or another. In this digital era, our youngsters may no longer know the difference between something getting cancelled and something getting deleted

Though I have no doubt that by the time our elementary school students graduate high school there will be many more “new and improved” digital social outlets, social media today is more than just a way to connect to friends. It has evolved into a serious tool used for education and business as well. As many of our young people are practically born with a Smartphone in hand, is bringing social media into the classroom a necessity or a distraction?

There are pros and cons on both sides of the discussion. Some feel that social media is here to stay. Therefore, teaching students the significance of having a digital footprint developed over a lifetime might save future embarrassment or worse. Social media in the classroom can be a tool for encouraging shyer students to participate is discussions without forcing them to raise their hands. Additionally, there are teachers who feel that social media can make an unattractive topic more exciting.

On the other hand, I am sure that I am not alone when I say that I find it not only sad but also frustrating and even insulting to be in a social setting only to find that most of the people around are focusing on their Smartphone rather than the activity or discussion at hand. I believe that few today feel truly listened to. What ever happened to looking a person in the eye to show engagement?

Those who argue against social media in the classroom use the same shy student example as proof that this will only increase the person’s challenges. How will the shy person be able to interview or have a voice when they have never developed it in a relatively safe environment like the classroom? We all know that cyber-bullying is a serious issue which, in my opinion, should be addressed whether social media is or is not used in the classroom. And, if we thought that ADHD was increasing before, well, take one look at a person addicted to social media and you will be wondering when was the last time he took his Ritalin-even if he doesn’t!

Like most things, I believe there is a happy balance between the inevitable of using social media in the classroom and assuring that our students have real-life people skills, can form a proper verbal statement and are able to socialize interpersonally by looking directly at people. We can incorporate specific, limited times in our school day for social media activities and keep the rest, well, actually social. Let’s face it. Most of our students have plenty of social media time outside of the classroom. It’s real socialization that is lacking.

What do you think? How have you successfully incorporated social media or socialization in your classroom?

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Involve your students in planning your makerspace design and be astounded by the results.

I was once trying to plan a video for a contest with my students. I am no expert in art or cinematography, but somehow this project was given to me. I had a concept, but I was having a hard time with the execution so I went to consult with the art teacher. She told me that I was going about the whole thing the wrong way. Rather than asking the students to do something very specific, which fit my idea, I should tell them what the rules of the contest were and see what they came up with. She was so right. They made a beautiful and clever clip, which was far better than anything I could have planned myself. I learned a valuable lesson about letting students lead the way, when possible. In fact, I think a lot of things in education are better when students are involved in the planning. Makerspace design is a great example.

The whole point of the makerspace is to teach students how to be innovative, solve problems in creative ways, and collaborate with peers. So allowing them the freedom to design the very space where all of these things will be taking place is only natural. The challenge of designing a space combines all of the elements of interdisciplinary STEAM education. Students need to plan steps in advance and see the project through from concept to execution. They will need to make calculations and build prototypes, and account for logistical and aesthetic considerations as well. All of these critical skills that we are working so hard to foster in our students will be integral parts of their role in the makerspace design.

Obviously, there will need to be some parameters and guidelines for the project (unless of course, you have unlimited space and budget). Don’t be afraid to tell your students about what the requirements are. This is a great opportunity for them to learn about budgets. They can even submit proposals with all of the details of the costs along with the scaled models that they build. Whether or not you actually use the full design of one team of students, you will probably get some great, out-of-the-box ideas for your new space. When students see that even a part of what they worked so hard to plan is used in reality, they will feel validated, important, and empowered. I think those are some pretty valuable feelings.

What if you aren’t doing a major renovation and building a brand new, state-of-the-art makerspace? That doesn’t mean you can’t get students involved. Whether you are just deciding which supplies to order, or purchasing a few new workstations, students can be a real part of decisions both big and small. One company  even went as far as allowing middle school makers to design their own makerspace furniture, and the results are truly impressive. Even if you aren’t a big company manufacturing on a large scale, you can give students the opportunity to plan, design and build the very furniture they are using in the makerspace. When it comes to choosing supplies, allow students to submit proposals explaining why you should invest in or acquire particular materials, and demonstrate how they will make a real difference to them.

When it comes to involving students in design and planning decisions, there is so much to gain. The makerspace, the hub of the budding entrepreneurial spirit and the seeds of the next major innovations is the perfect place to start.

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Hertz Furniture transforms the Old Highland Kmart into a brand new charter school with active – flex seating

Watch ABC’s Channel 7 Eyewitness News video featuring Hertz Furniture’s installation of new active – flex seating in the brand new Entrepreneurship High School in Highland, California.

It doesn’t take a long to realize that this school is different. The design of the classroom tables and chairs allows for movement of antsy students according to Steve Neudorff, Hertz Furniture regional sales manager of Southern California. And check out the cool furnishings in the “Entrepreneurship Room”.  Ray Culberson, executive director of the school says that the school lends itself to creative learning. Watch the video and see for yourself!

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Time to Relax?

Anyone who works in the field of education knows how all-encompassing the job can be during the school year. We finally reach the summer months and really need some time for self-care, family, and personal projects. But once we have spent a few weeks on those things, we can really take advantage of the freedom of summer to invest in the upcoming school year. The more time you put into planning during the summer, the smoother your year can be. Instead of worrying about prep all the time, you can focus on the individual students and all of the other tasks, such as grading and meetings, which can’t be done in advance.

One great idea is to look through all of the materials you have used in the past year, and think about whether you would want to use them again. You might decide that something is worth keeping but could use a little tweaking or updating. By making the necessary changes in the summer, you will be sure that it is ready to be handed out whenever you need it. If it is a game or an activity that requires prep such as cutting or dividing up supplies, you can do all of that in advance to save time during the year. You might even go as far as making photocopies of sets of handouts so they are literally ready at a moment’s notice.

In addition to deciding what you want to keep and tweak, and what you would prefer not to use again, the summer is a great time to test out new ideas. The constant innovation in STEM education and all of the STEM and maker-space furniture and accessories that go along with it forces teachers to stay on their toes if they want to keep their subjects relevant. But you can’t just walk into a classroom on the first day of school and start using new furniture and materials. Any experienced teacher knows that you need to try out anything new yourself before you can guide students who are trying it. The summer is a great time to test out new furniture and materials and experiment with them. You may come up with some great new ideas, or learn to anticipate certain challenges before they arise.

No matter what your subject area is, the summer is also an ideal opportunity for revising and planning projects. Just writing up the instructions for a project can take a lot of time, as can planning out all of the smaller steps and scaffolding that will take place before reaching the final product. Sometimes in the midst of a project, it can be quite challenging to make adjustments, and keep up with the worksheets and instructions that are needed to reach a successful result. As Andrew Miller suggests in the article I linked to above, the summer is the perfect time to go through projects you have used in the past and tweak them. Because projects require a lot of foresight and planning in terms of time management and breaking down the different components, taking care of all of these things way before you need them can be a huge advantage.

Aside from thinking about the content of your lessons and projects, you should also focus on planning the physical space of your classroom. Did you like the layout last year? Is there anything you would like to change about it? Check all of your furniture and make sure that the classroom chairs, school desks, bookshelves and computers are in working order. If there are things that are missing or broken, you want to make sure to have them fixed or ordered well in advance of needing them on the first day of school. In addition to the furniture you already have in the classroom, you can look into what’s new and exciting for the upcoming year. Even if you have a limited budget (or none at all) for new furniture, you can apply for grants and contests that might allow you to take advantage of innovative products.

Obviously, educators need a break, and I am not suggesting that we should be spending all summer thinking about school. However, I do think that by setting aside some time to consider certain aspects of the coming year, we can go into the school year excited, energized, and better prepared than ever before.

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Some of the amazing things Southern University at New Orleans (SUNO) students are saying about the newly designed library and media center:

• *the colors are amazing
• *awesome environment
• *creative, calm setting
• *like a home
• *stands out
• *goes with college students

See the fantastic new furniture designed by Hertz Furniture and hear more from the students themselves. Watch and then tell us how your library measures up!

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It is so easy to get used to whatever classroom furniture you already have, especially if you are an experienced teacher. When we were in school, there was no such thing as collaborative desks or soft seating in the classroom, so it’s easy to get used to the idea that students don’t need these things to learn. No matter how easy it is, don’t allow yourself to get stuck in the rut of the status quo! Even if the classroom furniture you have right now is fine, why should you settle for satisfactory, when you could have fantastic? These five questions will help you evaluate what you have and how it can be improved to give your students the best learning environment possible.

1. Does the layout support different learning styles?

Some students are more traditional learners and some prefer project-based learning. Some kids do better when they are working independently, and others shine when they collaborate with a group. In the same way that we try to vary the types of learning and assignments that we give our students, we also need a layout that enables us to create the optimal setups for various kinds of learning. When thinking about a flexible layout, the sizes and shapes of the work surfaces in the classroom can have a major impact. Don’t just choose any collaborative desk that looks cool and modern, make sure that it will also be easy to move around and accommodate individual learning as well as groups of various sizes.

2. Is the furniture easy to move around?

Flexible layouts are wonderful, but not if it takes ten minutes to rearrange the classroom when moving between activities. Whether you have collaborative desks or more traditional rectangular work surfaces, being able to move them around easily is ultimately what makes a space truly flexible. Locking casters are ultimately the ideal facilitator for flexibility. When the chairs and desks are on wheels, it’s easy for the students themselves to just glide them from place to place, even in the middle of a lesson. You can even choose to put wheels on only two of the legs, and then the desks can be moved around wheelbarrow-style.

3. What kind of seating choices are you offering?

The great thing about offering a variety of seating is that you don’t necessarily have to say goodbye to what you already have. You can still keep the traditional school chairs for those students who prefer them, and just add some more options. Wobble stools  are making a big difference for students who have a hard time focusing, because their gentle movement allows kids to release energy, thereby increasing focus on the lesson. Soft seating is another option you might want to consider. Soft seating is comfortable, colorful and flexible. It allows students to relax a bit in the classroom. Some classes are even using cafe-height stools with the cafe tables to go along with them.

4. Is this furniture functional?

If you are just used to what you have, you may never take the time to consider whether you really need everything that you have in your learning space. For example, you might have some file cabinets or shelving that really aren’t necessary but have always been in your classroom. And the same goes for thinking about new and exciting things that you want to add to your space. Don’t choose things just because they have a modern flair, make sure to invest in things that you actually need, which will change the way your students learn, for the better. If you find some items that don’t necessarily need to be in your learning space, you can move them somewhere else and then enjoy the flexibility that the extra space provides.

 5. Is this comfortable and healthy?

Consider all of the people in your classroom community, including students, teachers and support staff. Everyone should have a healthy place to sit and work, and that includes the educators. Nobody can work well when they are uncomfortable all day. No matter how cool your seating looks, what really matters is how supportive and ergonomic it is. The same goes for work surfaces. The most important thing about desks is their height. If you are using standing desks, they need to be adjusted to keep hands properly positioned while working. Students should not be bending over or reaching up when they are writing. The same goes for teachers. Even if you have a more traditional arrangement with chairs and desks, making sure that the heights are adjusted to support each student in the best way possible is extremely important.

Don’t take anything for granted when it comes to classroom furniture. Make sure to ask the right questions that will help you support your students’ learning. The arrangement of the classroom, and the quality and style of the furniture you fill it with will have a tremendous influence on how your students learn.

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Since it opened in 2013, Rancho Mirage High School, near Palm Springs, California, has never used bells. An audio recording of a rattlesnake, which is the school mascot, can be heard in the hallways at the beginning of the school day, the end of lunch, and when school is over. The rest of the day, students rely on their personal cell phones and watches to keep track of time. Indeed, getting rid of school bells is a growing trend that has been sweeping American schools. But just because it sounds trendy and new, doesn’t mean it is the right choice for everyone.

The Pavlovian response that students have to hearing a traditional school bell is well known by anyone who has ever been to school. You are in the middle of playing a game outside or eating lunch with some friends, and then some obnoxious bell sounds, and the dread sinks in. The fun is over, time to go back to work. Even the end of a lesson is less enjoyable because the sound that students hear is the same as that which begins the lesson.

Bells aren’t just tied into an emotional response, they can also create challenges at the end of a lesson. They stop a teacher in the middle of a very important sentence, whether that is announcing the material for next week’s test or answering the question of a curious or confused student. School bells have also been known to stop students mid project, while they are engaged in meaningful collaboration. Once the sound is heard, students lose their motivation, and the thought process is interrupted. No matter what they are in the middle of, whether a sentence, math problem or project, students will jump up immediately at the sound of a bell, because they know the countdown has begun. Soon the break will be over and the next class will begin.

Some educators have raised the concern that students will not be able to keep track of time and tardiness will increase. However, schools that have already done away with bells say that this actually lowers the percentage of tardiness, because it encourages students to learn independent time-management skills. At Justin-Siena, a catholic high school near Napa, California tardiness has dropped 30% since they stopped having a bell last year.

We should trust students to take responsibility for being on time, because that is what is expected of them in the real world. All high school students have cell phones, which they can use to keep track of time during breaks. Colleges and jobs do not have bells to tell students when class is over, or when it is time to move from one task to the other, and yet most people manage to show up on time. The earlier we teach students to take responsibility for their time, the better equipped they will be for life in the real world.

Time management and general responsibility are great skills to develop in high school. By eliminating bells, and thereby helping students learn how to come on time, without relying on anyone else, we are helping prepare them for the future, and life in general.

What are your thoughts on eliminating school bells? Should they be eliminated altogether, or just adjusted? What has your experience been with or without bells? Please share your response in the comments below.

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Meet the teachers who truly stand out as some of the most effective and inspiring educators from across the country in our Teacher of the Year Infographic – 2017!

Don’t miss our Teacher Of The Year 2017 Blog post! Get more details about these 6 educators plus one outstanding principal!

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It takes a lot of creativity, dedication and love to be chosen as a teacher of the year. In a sense, every teacher that has inspired students, made them feel that they matter every day, and helped them attain some real academic progress, is worthy of this title. It was not an easy task, given all of the exceptional candidates, but these teachers of the year -2017 really stand out as some of the most effective and inspiring educators from across the country.

Don’t Miss Our Teacher Of The Year Infographic!

1. The Language of Song

Bilingual Music teacher Sara Quintanar is helping young students gain confidence and language skills through her original music. She worked her way up from being a volunteer music teacher to a member of the faculty at Franklin Magnet School in Glendale, California. Starting with simple songs in Spanish, Ms. Quintanar’s music as gained popularity fast. She has written a bilingual songbook, and is looking forward to continuing to teach Spanish to elementary school students in the coming years. “You never forget the songs they sing to you,” she said.

2. Rookie of the year

James Sutter is a real pioneer in science education. A former environmental scientists and geologist, Mr. Sutter retrained to become a teacher through a Woodrow Wilson teaching fellowship at Ohio University. He made it his mission to educate the students in his rural Ohio school about climate change. With a true hands-on approach, Mr. Sutter gave the students first-hand experience of climate change, through the exploration of its effects on their immediate surroundings. Despite facing real opposition within the classroom, he persisted, even choosing special materials that specifically related to his students, and showing a high level of care for them as individuals. Being a good teacher means showing your students that your material matters, and that is exactly what Mr. Sutter is trying to do. His creativity and consideration for the individual, along with a real commitment to his subject matter make Mr. Sutter a stellar educator. In addition to all of the amazing programming he has integrated into the classroom, he also runs the school’s science club and is the Quizbowl team advisor. We can’t wait to see what he accomplishes as he continues to develop his craft.

3. Advocating for Technology in the Classrooms and Empowering Digital Educators

Rafranz Davis is the Executive Director of Professional and Digital Learning for the Lufkin Independent School District in rural Texas. She started out as a middle-school math teacher, and quickly realized that technology could be a great boon for her students. She became an advocate for bringing technology into the classroom, and making sure that teachers are a part of decisions about technology in their schools. In her current role, she created a corps of teacher ambassadors in her district, who provide feedback about how current initiatives are working and bring new ideas. Ms. Davis also takes time to engage and work with students, so she can gauge their level of digital literacy and figure out the best tools to help them advance. As a Google Certified Innovator and a Microsoft Innovative Education Expert, she is a sought-after speaker at EdTech events all over the country, yet she still dedicates her time to empowering the next generation of digital educators and innovators right at home.

4. Real Life Wall Street Experience In the Classroom

Instructor Peter Clark runs the Butler Tech Financial Services Honors Program at Northwest High School in Colerian Township, Ohio. With almost 15 years of experience as an investment banker, Mr. Clark brings real Wall Street experience into the classroom. His students study important topics such as business law, accounting, real estate and risk-management, and even earn free college credits in the process. He was a pioneer in his persistence to help his students earn college credits for their college-level work in high school. He also encourages his students to give back to the community, by teaching financial literacy to elementary-school students and staffing the Knights Credit Union, a collaboration between Northwest Local Schools and Cincinnati Police Federal Credit Union, which promotes financial education and assists students with banking transactions. Mr. Clark is a true role model to his students, because he chose to transform a successful career in business into an opportunity to empower the next generation with financial literacy.

5. Taking to Instagram

Being an exceptional educator isn’t just about what you do in the classroom. As the Seattle State Senate deliberated over the education budget, graphic arts teacher Alex Snyder took to Instagram, advocating for his students by posting pictures of his students with profiles @portraitsofthefuture, with the goal of showing that the students are our future, and schools need more and better funding. He made sure that public school students were seen as individual, real people and not just part of a statistic. In creating his own unique online advocacy, he didn’t just stand up for his students, he also taught them a powerful lesson about how social media can be used to stand up for your rights.

6. Diversity in the Media Center

It turns out that you don’t need to be a traditional classroom teacher to be teacher of the year. Kathleen Rauth is a Media Specialist for Indianapolis Public Schools. She has been teaching in urban public schools for 30 years. She makes sure to bring diverse reading materials into her media centers, so every child can relate, no matter what background they are from. She really listens to students, to help them find books that will really speak to them. Rauth is so popular with her students, that some choose to stay after school to spend extra time with her.

Honorable Mention

A true leader.  While great teachers can make a huge impact on their own, having the right guidance from talented administrators makes their potential for success even greater. Principal Eric Bethel, of Turner Elementary School in Washington, DC knows how to inspire teachers to educate some of the nation’s poorest students. Even potential teachers can tell how enthusiastic and committed he is to giving his students the best shot at success. But Bethel isn’t just a man of words, he has the results to prove that his methods are working. He has been able to retain fresh young talent, increased enrollment by over 30%, and guided his faculty to give his students the education they need, with the percentage of students reading at or above grade level rising by 37% in a few short years. His “infectious excitement,” and “commitment to working closely with [teachers] to turn the school around” have become a recipe for astounding success.

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When I was growing up, there was no such thing as a “peanut free school”, at least as far as I knew. I had a few friends who carried around Epipens, and I remember learning how to use one at the staff orientation for a camp that I worked at. Things have certainly changed in the past two decades. Now the country is full of peanut free schools, camps and play areas. It’s great that public spaces are trying to accommodate the needs of all children. However, the real question is whether any of this makes a real difference in the lives of children with severe allergies.

While it is certainly a responsible idea to keep allergens away from children who could potentially be harmed by them, food allergies are not limited to peanuts. I know plenty of children with severe allergies to certain kinds of fruits, does that mean that their schools should ban all kids from bringing those fruits? Why should the children with peanut allergies get better accommodations than children with all of the other allergies out there? It is obviously impossible to completely remove anything that even one child in the school might be allergic to from the premises, but it also doesn’t really make sense in that case to only “favor” one kind of allergy, when there can be many others that are just as severe.

In addition to the rising popularity of peanut free schools, there is also an increased number of schools offering gluten free school lunch. The number of children who no longer eat gluten is increasing rapidly. In the case of gluten, it is often not an allergy per se, but rather a sensitivity, or a health preference. While offering gluten free school lunch is laudable, the same question arises as to whether this is fair to people who have other sensitivities or health preferences. Additionally, if making lunches gluten free across the board causes an increase in cost, or the amount of time it takes to prepare lunches, I’m not sure it’s fair to assume that the school district, or all of the parents should be expected to absorb the costs.

It seems that the best way to accommodate allergies and sensitivities is by giving options. There is no proof  that peanut-free schools see a lower incidence of allergic reactions, but it does seem that having peanut-free tables within a school makes a difference. Now, I am not suggesting that we isolate the students with allergies. That seems cruel and unnecessary. However, perhaps a school can request for a specific class that has a child with a peanut allergy in it, to only bring peanut free foods, so their lunch table will effectively become peanut free. And the same could go for any other severe food allergy.

In general, any sort of baking project or anything that involves the students handling food should be arranged with sensitivity to the needs of all the individuals in the class. No matter what combination of allergies there is in your particular group of students, there should be a way for everyone to participate safely, even if that means adjusting the recipe. It is also of utmost importance to ensure that all utensils, bowls and baking pans have been properly cleaned in advance to avoid contact with residue from substances that could be dangerous to some students.

When it comes to protecting students with severe allergies, the school community needs to be both proactive and reactive. Encouraging the allergic student, or one of their parents, to explain to the class why it is important for them to be careful, and how to look out for warning signs of an allergic reaction in their classmate is extremely important. All students should know what the proper procedure is in the event of a severe reaction from their peer in school.

Even though the likelihood of a child dying from contact with an allergen is very small, the trauma and injury they can suffer from having a severe reaction in school is significant. There is a large range of possible reactions, including severe digestive problems, itching and closing of airways, and there is no reason any student should ever have to experience these, if we can help it.

I am opposed to the idea of peanut free schools because I think they create a false sense of security, and that they favor one type of allergy over the others. However, I do think it is of utmost importance to accommodate the allergic students in our class to the best of our abilities. While we can’t protect them from everything, we can teach them and their peers to be vigilant and sensitive, important life skills we can all afford to develop.

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