Professional Development

Have you attended one of my PD sessions?

Find all PD resources and session notes here.
2018 Mt. Diablo Unified School District, Summer Learning Academy

 2017 Mt. Diablo Unified School District, Summer Learning Academy
2017 STEM and EdTech Symposium

2016 Mt. Diablo Unified School District, Summer Learning Academy

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Math Around the Room - Scavenger Hunts

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One of my favorite strategies to use in my math class is "Math Around the Room" My students refer to these activities as scavenger hunts. This strategy works best when reviewing a concept in which most students can work independently. I usually have at least one or two scavenger hunts per unit that we are working on. I use this strategy mostly with Math, but the idea can be transferred to any content area. I start by having the students create a recording sheet by folding a piece of plain white paper into eighths. The students number the sections 1-8 on the front and 9-16 on the back. The first time they do this it takes some time and can be a math lesson by itself with lots of good math vocabulary (lines of symmetry, fractions, equal parts etc...). Once the students do this two or three times it is a breeze. Now, when I have a scavenger hunt planned, the students enter the classroom, see the neon pieces of paper around the room, and immediately start preparing their ...
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CUE 2017 National Convention - Day 2

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KEYNOTE - George Couros  -  http://georgecouros.ca/blog/          George Couros is the author of "The Innovator's Mindset"   His passion for student learning is infectious. He talks a lot about the opportunities that technology allows as opposed to the risks.  Some of my favorite quotes shared during the presentation: "The world only cares about - and pays off on - what you can do with what you know (and it doesn't matter where you learned it.)" Thomas Friedman "Transformational leaders don't start by denying the world around them. Instead, they describe a feature they'd like to create." Seth Godin The person who says it cannot be done should not interrupt the person who is doing it. - Chinese Proverb Social Media is like water. You can either let us drown, or teach us to swim." He shared the three things he thinks every high school student should graduate with: 1. A professional social network 2. A dig...
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Round Robin - Math Around the Room

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Another strategy that I use in my Math class that promotes teamwork, problem-solving, and collaborative conversations is what I call a "Round-Robin."  It is fairly simple, but it gets the students up out of their desks and working together to solve story problems. I divide my class into six teams (about 4-5 students each) and each student creates their own recording sheet by folding a plain sheet of white paper into thirds. The first time they do this it takes some time and explicit instruction, but after a few times, students can create their recording sheet quickly and with little direction. I put two copies of the story problems in plastic sheet protectors at each table group. Students begin working on solving the problem together in the appropriate section on their recording sheet. To ensure equal participation, all students must complete a recording sheet, and the group does not know which sheet I will collect from each group to be awarded points....
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