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# Hot Lunch Tray

Serving up steaming scoops of K12 edtech observation, thoughts, and opinions. With gravy.

## Sitemaps

- [XML Sitemap](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/sitemap.xml): Contains all public & indexable URLs for this website.

## Posts

- [Professional Upskilling: LMS Implementation](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/professional-upskilling-lms-implementation/) - I do not typically seek change. Since 2009, every year has been unique. In the summer of 2022, I did seek change and wanted a new way to grow, I wanted Professional Upskilling. So, I intentionally applied to a job that would offer the chance for LMS implementation. This district did not have a learning Professional Upskilling: LMS Implementation
- [It Happened...](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/it-happened/) - On September 4, 2024, I was emailing back and forth with a math teacher at a large high school I serve, trying to arrange a meeting with a vendor. After my last reply to her, the shooting at Apalachee High School occurred near her classroom. And nothing can ever be the same. The Columbine shooting It finally happened, a school shooting. As a close bystander it has taken me months to synthesize my reaction.
- [Quality Matters Training](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/quality-matters-training/) - In May 2017 I completed Quality Matters Reviewer training. I completed it as part of a subscription my K12 district purchased and was the QM Coordinator for that district 2017-2022.It has been a touchstone for me as I lean into online education. [Tweet "Being a #QualityMatters @QMProgram reviewer has been valuable. #edchat #OnlineTeaching #OnlineLearning"] Context What is the value of being a Quality Matters certified reviewer?
- [Join the 2024 #8WeeksOfSummer Blog Challenge](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/join-the-2024-8weeksofsummer-blog-challenge/) - It is time for the 2024 #8weeksofsummer Blog Challenge! Last summer we acknowledged that time and technology stand still for no one. We started to explore large language models (LLMs) such as ChatGPT. This summer we build upon last year's #8weeksofsummer blog challenge to encourage bloggers and readers of blogs to explore what we know, This summer we build upon last year's #8weeksofsummer blog challenge to encourage bloggers and readers of blogs to explore what we know, want to know, and need to know about Artificial Intelligence (AI) in education.
- [Week 8 #8WeeksOfSummer Blog Challenge 2024](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/week-8-8weeksofsummer-blog-challenge-2024/) - Welcome to the 2024 #8weeksofsummer blog challenge! This summer we dedicate our #8weeksofsummer blog challenge to going beyond an introduction of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in education. We are going to share our AI experiences from the past school year. Your input is crucial as we want to crowdsource this huge topic to rapidly identify which This week in the #8WeeksOfSummer Blog Challenge we examine, how are you prepared to accommodate AI into your current instruction.
- [Week 7 #8WeeksOfSummer Blog Challenge 2024](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/week-7-8weeksofsummer-blog-challenge-2024/) - Welcome to the 2024 #8weeksofsummer blog challenge! This summer we dedicate our #8weeksofsummer blog challenge to going beyond an introduction of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in education. We are going to share our AI experiences from the past school year. Your input is crucial as we want to crowdsource this huge topic to rapidly identify which Week 7 of 8 in the #8WeeksOfSummer Blog Challenge asks educators what training is needed to teach and learn with Artificial Intelligence
- [Week 6 #8WeeksOfSummer Blog Challenge 2024](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/week-6-8weeksofsummer-blog-challenge-2024/) - Welcome to the 2024 #8weeksofsummer blog challenge! This summer we dedicate our #8weeksofsummer blog challenge to going beyond an introduction of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in education. We are going to share our AI experiences from the past school year. Your input is crucial as we want to crowdsource this huge topic to rapidly identify which Welcome to the 2024 #8weeksofsummer blog challenge! This summer we dedicate the blog challenge to Artificial Intelligence (AI) in education.
- [Week 5 #8weeksofsummer Blog Challenge 2024](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/week-5-8weeksofsummer-blog-challenge-2024/) - Welcome to the 2024 #8weeksofsummer blog challenge! This summer we dedicate our #8weeksofsummer blog challenge to going beyond an introduction of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in education. We are going to share our AI experiences from the past school year. Your input is crucial as we want to crowdsource this huge topic to rapidly identify which Week 5 of the #8WeeksOfSummer Blog Challenge is all about how your district or school plans to address Artificial Intelligence.
- [Week 4 #8weeksofsummer Blog Challenge 2024](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/week-4-8weeksofsummer-blog-challenge-2024/) - Welcome to the 2024 #8weeksofsummer blog challenge! This summer we dedicate our #8weeksofsummer blog challenge to going beyond an introduction of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in education. We are going to share our AI experiences from the past school year. Your input is crucial as we want to crowdsource this huge topic to rapidly identify which Week 4 of teh #8WeeksOfSummer Blog Challenge asks, Is there an equity or accessibility issue with AI use?
- [Week 3 #8weeksofsummer Blog Challenge 2024](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/week-3-8weeksofsummer-blog-challenge-2024/) - Welcome to the 2024 #8weeksofsummer blog challenge! This summer we dedicate our #8weeksofsummer blog challenge to going beyond an introduction of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in education. We are going to share our AI experiences from the past school year. Your input is crucial as we want to crowdsource this huge topic to rapidly identify which
- [Week 2 #8weeksofsummer Blog Challenge 2024](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/week-2-8weeksofsummer-blog-challenge-2024/) - Welcome to the 2024 #8weeksofsummer blog challenge! This summer we dedicate our #8weeksofsummer blog challenge to going beyond an introduction of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in education. We are going to share our AI experiences from the past school year. Your input is crucial as we want to crowdsource this huge topic to rapidly identify which
- [2 Month Update: You Should Be Reading Project](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/2-month-update-you-should-be-reading-project/) - It is the second month of the You Should Be Reading project - time for an update. I created an Infographic for month two of the project: [Tweet "How is the #YouShouldBeReading Project going? Month 2 Results #edchat #ArtificalIntelligence"] the Facebook page has drastically increased in followers. The page was recently monetized for Stars, but
- [1 Month Update: You Should Be Reading Project](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/1-month-update-you-should-be-reading-project/) - One month in and I want to share an update with you about my You Should Be Reading project. For a 1 month update to my You Should Be Reading Project, I created an Infographic: [Tweet "How is the #YouShouldBeReading Project going? Month 1 Results #edchat #ArtificalIntelligence"] The first step I took in the You How is the #YouShouldBeReading Project going? Month 1 Results #edchat #ArtificalIntelligence
- [Week 1 #8weeksofsummer Blog Challenge 2024](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/week-1-8weeksofsummer-blog-challenge-2024/) - Welcome to the 2024 #8weeksofsummer blog challenge! This summer we dedicate our #8weeksofsummer blog challenge to going beyond an introduction of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in education. We are going to share our AI experiences from the past school year. Your input is crucial as we want to crowdsource this huge topic to rapidly identify which
- [Graphic Creations](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/graphic-creations/) - Canva is the single best edtech tool for teachers in the last five years. And Canva is a constantly evolving and adding new features with increasing Teacher benefit. My school year can often be captured by the review of my Canva graphic creations. I want to not just review them but speak to what makes
- [You Should Be Reading Project](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/you-should-be-reading-project/) - My entire dissertation process was during the peak of the pandemic. I completed my dissertation in my dining room at a tiny corner desk or from a race car trailer at a race track. And through the process, I kept reminding myself "You should be writing." Post-it notes littered my mirrors, my car, my desks,
- [Teacher-Learner Personas](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/teacher-learner-personas/) - I remember the challenge. It came from a Principal I respected. It was the right call, but I did not have an answer - at that time. I was delivering training, not even a professional development session, just a "when-you-need-this, do-that" session. And the principal had a read to the room that I did not,
- [What to do about the Saturn App?](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/what-to-do-about-the-saturn-app/) - Many families and educators are asking what to do about the Saturn app. The app is currently #3 in the Apple App Store for social apps, behind Threads and WhatsApp. What is the Saturn App? The Saturn app has a powerful hook for young people with mobile devices and lifestyles. The Saturn app promotes itself
- [Join the 2023 #8WeeksOfSummer Blog Challenge](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/join-the-2023-8weeksofsummer-blog-challenge/) - It is time for the 2023 #8weeksofsummer Blog Challenge! Educators will never be the same after the COVID pandemic that forced many educators to teach with technology, many for the first time. Time and technology stand still for no one. The newest disruptive technologies are large language models (LLMs) such as ChatGPT. This summer we
- [Week 8 #8weeksofsummer Blog Challenge](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/week-8-8weeksofsummer-blog-challenge/) - Thank you for participating in the 2023 #8weeksofsummer blog challenge! The newest disruptive technologies are artificial intelligence in the form of large language models (LLMs) such as ChatGPT. Right now education-centric organizations like ISTE and ASCD are developing protected versions of Artificial Intelligence for K-12 organizations. This summer we dedicate our #8weeksofsummer blog challenge to
- [Introduce Yourself to your Online Classroom](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/introduce-yourself-to-your-online-classroom/) - An introduction is difficult. The introduction is the start of your Social Presence in your online classroom. If you are a novice online educator you may be especially concerned. Allow me to share two methods for K-12 educators to enhance your social presence in your online classroom. First, you need an effective online environment introduction
- [ARCS: a Model for Online Learner Engagement](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/arcs-a-model-for-online-learner-engagement/) - I use this graphic when I need to think about a model for online learner engagement. Keller's ARC model for fresh ideas on what to add to your online classroom for increased student engagement. [Tweet "Use this proven model for online learner engagement #edchat"] [Tweet "Use this proven model for online learner engagement #edchat"]
- [Week 7 #8weeksofsummer Blog Challenge](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/week-7-8weeksofsummer-blog-challenge/) - Thank you for participating in the 2023 #8weeksofsummer blog challenge! The newest disruptive technologies are artificial intelligence in the form of large language models (LLMs) such as ChatGPT. Right now education-centric organizations like ISTE and ASCD are developing protected versions of Artificial Intelligence for K-12 organizations. This summer we dedicate our #8weeksofsummer blog challenge to
- [Week 6 #8weeksofsummer Blog Challenge](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/week-6-8weeksofsummer-blog-challenge/) - Thank you for participating in the 2023 #8weeksofsummer blog challenge! The newest disruptive technologies are artificial intelligence in the form of large language models (LLMs) such as ChatGPT. Right now education-centric organizations like ISTE and ASCD are developing protected versions of Artificial Intelligence for K-12 organizations. This summer we dedicate our #8weeksofsummer blog challenge to
- [Week 5 #8weeksofsummer Blog Challenge](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/week-5-8weeksofsummer-blog-challenge/) - Thank you for participating in the 2023 #8weeksofsummer blog challenge! The newest disruptive technologies are artificial intelligence in the form of large language models (LLMs) such as ChatGPT. Right now education-centric organizations like ISTE and ASCD are developing protected versions of Artificial Intelligence for K-12 organizations. This summer we dedicate our #8weeksofsummer blog challenge to
- [Ready to Teach Online?](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/ready-to-teach-online/) - I've been ready to teach online for years. Or so I thought. The more I learn about it, the more I realize I have much more to learn. Maybe you have had similar thoughts and wonderings and would appreciate an overview of how you can check in with yourself on how ready you are to
- [Teaching Graduate Courses Online :: Reflection](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/teaching-graduate-courses-online-reflection/) - I chose my last degree program based on three criteria. First, I wanted to find an online school that utilized the learning management system with which I was most comfortable. Second, I needed an affordable option with an easy payment plan. And lastly, I wanted a program with good student reviews. 🎊 I am happy
- [Microlearning Content versus Microlearning Audience](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/microlearning-content-versus-microlearning-audience/) - The focus of microlearning is usually the chunking of content. How small should segments of microlearning be? Consider microlearning content versus microlearning audiences. Microlearning is not just about the content. The strategy you apply to content segmentation can also be applied to segmenting your microlearning audience. Microlearning content is essential, but managing microlearning audience grouping
- [Prime Days 2023](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/prime-days-2023/) - 📢 🗣️Calling all educators! 📢 🗣️ Amazon Prime Days are July 11 and 12, 2023 this year. Let's game plan in order to maximize your savings this summer. [Tweet "#PrimeDay2023 10-Day Countdown || Deals and Shopping Info #edchat"] The Setting for Prime Days 2023 The back-to-school season is retail's second-largest spending event of the year
- [Communication Across Modalities](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/communication-across-modalities/) - Blended learning, online learning, and face-to-face learning are all different modalities of teaching. You can expect to see all of these modalities at some point in the 20-21 school year, some had that pleasure this past year as well. According to Brodersen and Melluso (2017) the greatest change in teacher communication occurs not when moving
- [Week 4 #8weeksofsummer Blog Challenge 2023](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/week-4-8weeksofsummer-blog-challenge-2023/) - Thank you for participating in the 2023 #8weeksofsummer blog challenge! The newest disruptive technologies are artificial intelligence in the form of large language models (LLMs) such as ChatGPT. This summer we dedicate our #8weeksofsummer blog challenge to encouraging bloggers and readers of blogs to explore what we know, want to know, and need to know
- [Week 2 #8weeksofsummer Blog Challenge 2023](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/week-2-8weeksofsummer-blog-challenge-2023/) - Thank you for participating in the 2023 #8weeksofsummer blog challenge! The newest disruptive technologies are artificial intelligence in the form of large language models (LLMs) such as ChatGPT. This summer we dedicate our #8weeksofsummer blog challenge to encouraging bloggers and readers of blogs to explore what we know, want to know, and need to know
- [Week 3 #8weeksofsummer Blog Challenge 2023](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/week-3-8weeksofsummer-blog-challenge-2023/) - Thank you for participating in the 2023 #8weeksofsummer blog challenge! The newest disruptive technologies are artificial intelligence in the form of large language models (LLMs) such as ChatGPT. This summer we dedicate our #8weeksofsummer blog challenge to encouraging bloggers and readers of blogs to explore what we know, want to know, and need to know
- [Week 1 #8weeksofsummer Blog Challenge 2023](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/week-1-8weeksofsummer-blog-challenge-2023/) - Welcome to the 2023 #8weeksofsummer blog challenge! The newest disruptive technologies are artificial intelligence in the form of large language models (LLMs) such as ChatGPT. This summer we dedicate our #8weeksofsummer blog challenge to encouraging bloggers and readers of blogs to explore what we know, want to know, and need to know about artificial intelligence
- [Why you haven't Resigned from Teaching](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/why-you-havent-resigned-from-teaching/) - How many does this make? I may be intentionally not keeping track, but here is the latest viral resignation post by a teacher. When I read these I understand more facets of the argument than I am proud of. I wonder what other teachers think when they read about peers who have resigned from teaching.
- [Factors of Learning Environments](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/factors-of-learning-environments/) - Higher education has broader experience in a variety of learning environments. Distance education and more recently online education is more often a higher education offering. This is in contrast to the K-12 setting which is custodial in nature and often functions as loco parentis. The recent pandemic provided K-12 with an experience of synchronous distance
- [Submission Content in a Blog](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/submission-content-in-a-blog/) - In my last degree, I completed a course where I created a blog post to accompany each assignment. You can see mine from #TECH6363 on this blog. Now I am teaching at the same institution and finally have the opportunity to teach a course similarly structured. I received a good question from a student on
- [Where I Learn](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/where-i-learn/) - I came across an interesting discussion post in a course I am teaching. The post wanted to know where I learn and how I manage my professional learning network (PLN) I try to respond in a variety of ways to model possible responses, and for this one I created an infographic. Oddone et al., (2019)
- [Universal Design for Learning Framework](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/universal-design-for-learning-framework/) - The Universal Design for Learning framework is a more recent approach to instructional design. With the rise in Internet-enabled platforms, K-12 classroom educators are now paying attention to how they teach online, whether partially (as in blended learning) or fully (as in online learning). Using the Universal Design for Learning framework to design learning experiences
- [Documentation Upgrade](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/documentation-upgrade/) - Documentation Upgrade We should acknowledge that an undercurrent of the pandemic in K-12 was stalled support. I find myself updating documentation and am startled by the significance of the changes. The scheduled documentation upgrade was often the last task to be completed (if it was completed). With a constant flow of urgent and important issues
- [Podcasts and Vodcasts: Positive Aspects](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/podcasts-and-vodcasts-positive-aspects/) - Podcasts, short audio recordings, and vodcasts, short video recordings, are available to learners on demand and meet the needs of modern learners in a timely way. Podcasts and vodcasts have many positive aspects. Content creators can easily create brief snippets of content in which learners can control the speed, order, and frequency watched. There are
- [Edu Supply Chain Disruptions](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/edu-supply-chain-disruptions/) - Edu Supply Chain Disruptions The pandemic has disrupted many supply chains. The edu supply chain disruptions will have a wide-reaching impact for years to come. There are really two levels of disruptions, for educators and for students. [Tweet "The edu supply chain disruptions will have a wide-reaching impact for years to come #edchat"] Educators Educators
- [Remote Skills for Next Semester](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/remote-skills-for-next-semester/) - Remote Skills for Next Semester As the new semester approaches, K12 teachers should review all their synchronous and asynchronous online remote skills. While educators have learned so much, there are increasingly new ways to apply those skills. COVID-19 variants are still able to disrupt public life, educators can expect individual to large-scale educational disruptions and
- [No one is Coming to Save Teachers](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/no-one-is-coming-to-save-teachers/) - If 2021 taught me anything, it is that no one is coming to save teachers. We need to save ourselves. No one is Coming to Save Teachers I tweeted this in response to a wonderful educator I follow on Twitter, @PernilleRipp, and noticed that it received a good amount of traction. [Tweet "No one is
- [Teacher Communication Upgrade Infographic](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/teacher-communication-upgrade-infographic/) - Teacher Communication Upgrade Communication in an in-person classroom and a blended learning classroom is the same according to Gurley (2018). Given the opportunity, teachers default to face-to-face communication to assure understanding. Consider when/Imagine if you had students both in-person and out on quarantine versus only virtual students. You need a teacher communication upgrade. [Tweet "Teachers
- [Taking Notes Online](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/taking-notes-online/) - Taking Notes Online K12 is very invested in synchronous time between teachers and students online when in-person is not possible. A traditional format in 6-12 in-person classrooms has been notetaking. Without structure, this process is destined to fail in person, but with structure and predictability, taking notes online can be a way to engage students
- [Social Presence in Online Environments](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/social-presence-in-online-environments/) - Social Presence in Online Environments Online environments require instructors to craft their social presence in online environments. Two methods I recommend to K12 educators are an effective online environment introduction by the instructor and the use of memes by both the instructor and participants. [Tweet "Online environments require instructors to craft their social presence #edchat
- [Conferences and Professional Learning](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/conferences-and-professional-learning/) - The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) conferences (n.d.) has been an anchor in my professional learning. Traditionally I attended the ISTE conference at the end of every June from 2012 until the pandemic. While there were many conferences on blended learning and microcredentials which influenced me the relationships I found and nurtured over
- [Discussion Ideas for Every Online Teacher](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/discussion-ideas-for-every-online-teacher/) - Online teachers need to know how to craft engaging online asynchronous content for online courses. While teachers will rapidly adapt their skill set to the new format of online, teachers cannot stay online all day - and we know students definitely will not {Read: Synchronous Teaching 1:1 Input to Return}. Needed are discussion ideas for
- [Technical Tips for Zoom Teaching](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/technical-tips-for-zoom-teaching/) - Any teacher newly teaching online must learn some technical skills. These technical tips for zoom teaching are essential, but may not be explicitly taught to educators. Assure educators are ready to do the teaching, by helping them with the technical aspects of Zoom in advance of teaching. [Tweet "Assure educators are ready to do the
- [Teaching Activities within Zoom](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/teaching-activities-within-zoom/) - As soon as a teacher feels comfortable with the Technical Tips for Zoom Teaching s/he will want to know how to incorporate traditional teaching techniques into this new format. Identifying teaching activities within Zoom will put educators at ease as to completing their teaching assignments regardless of platform or format. [Tweet "Identifying teaching activities within
- [Publish and Unpublish as Instructional Tools](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/publish-and-unpublish-as-instructional-tools/) - If you have been in a classroom in the past 19 months (since March 2020) you already know about the power of the publish and unpublish as an instructional tool. And if not, I know don't how you've been doing it friend, but you must be especially tired. Tired of making videos about posted directions
- [POUR for More than IEP Students](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/pour-for-more-than-iep-students/) - The practices exemplified through POUR guidelines exemplify why accessibility address more than only students with Individual Education Plans (IEPs). [Tweet "POUR guidelines #infographic shows how to help more than IEP students with online content. #edchat"]
- [Stick to an Announcement Schedule](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/stick-to-an-announcement-schedule/) - The best interaction in an online course is the interaction you create through suspense. By creating an Announcement Schedule you can stick to, you build anticipation for each forthcoming announcement. Courses that stick to an announcement schedule create timely interactions to keep both instructor and participants on pace. Students anticipate your announcements and then are
- [Units of Design](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/units-of-design/) - Units of Design When designing components of a course, elements of a lesson, or just a stand-alone online experience it can be useful to consider the project from the smallest unit of design. The designer can look for the smallest units of design, perfect them, and then scale up to the larger units of design.
- [Be an Online Teacher to be Proud of!](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/be-an-online-teacher-to-be-proud-of/) - Be an online teacher to be proud of! To be an online teacher to be proud of you need specific skills. Those skills build on the knowledge of face-to-face teaching but must be honed and practiced to expand beyond only those in-person skills. With hundreds of years of teaching history in-person, with all preservice educational
- [UDL Principles](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/udl-principles/) - UDL Principles The Universal Design for Learning Principles (UDL) can increase retention in classroom interactions, programs of choice, and school in general. [Tweet "Everyone should care about #UDL #edchat"] Everyone should care about UDL Higher education may have more obvious and immediate feedback through attrition than K12. Yet, both higher education and K12 need to
- [Laptop Refresh 2021](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/laptop-refresh-2021/) - From 2011, 2017, to this week I try to keep track of the set-up I perform on new work laptops. I wrote down the things I did to my new work laptop to compare and share. Welcome to my laptop refresh 2021. I was running a Dell 7400 2 in 1that has an awesome touchscreen;
- [Community of Inquiry (COI)](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/community-of-inquiry-coi/) - The basis for building K-12 online courses is the Community of Inquiry (COI) theoretical framework. Community of Inquiry The Community of Inquiry theoretical framework represents a process of creating a deep and meaningful (collaborative-constructivist) learning experience through the development of three interdependent elements – social, cognitive, and teaching presence. Social Presence Social presence is “the ability
- [How to Organize a Module](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/how-to-organize-a-module/) - If you're reading this post you likely use a teacher using a learning management system (LMS). And if you are a K-12 teacher right now, you need to know how to organize a module! After just coming through the most consequential event in public education in America, and with the recent infusion of Cares Act
- [Basic Blog Post Formula](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/basic-blog-post-formula/) - There is a basic blog post formula I use. By having a basic blog post formula, I can quickly start a post and then tailor it to any unique needs of the topic. [Tweet "Here is the basic blog post formula I use #edchat"] Content Sections Three is a magic number. I typically keep three
- [Synchronous Teaching as 1:1, Input: Return](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/synchronous-teaching-as-11-input-return/) - Taking teaching and learning online has a distinct look and feel in K12. Many educators tried to replicate classroom teaching with synchronous teaching as 1:1, Input: Return. The efficiency of current K12 synchronous teaching cannot scale beyond this unsustainable phase. [Tweet "The efficiency of current K12 synchronous teaching cannot scale beyond this unsustainable phase. #edchat"]
- [Instructional Technology Impact](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/instructional-technology-impact/) - While education reorganizes, just to reorganize again, instructional technology is increasing its importance in classrooms, schools, and learning. [Tweet "Consider the Impact of Instructional Technology #edchat #edtech #edtechchat"] Teachers and Technology Teachers may view the recent entry of technology into the classroom as either intrusive or a welcomed aid to their instruction. The goal of
- [3 Guidelines to Design an Effective Online Course](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/3-guidelines-to-design-an-effective-online-course/) - The top three requirements for designing an effective online course are all related to teacher presence. The teacher has to be present in the communication throughout the course, compiling or creating the course content, and the design of the course. Interestingly, these skills are more than some face-to-face classroom teachers possess right now. So it should not surprise anyone that
- [3 Ways Educators Come through COVID-19](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/3-ways-educators-come-through-covid-19/) - All educators are tired at this point. After a full year of COVID-19 school in 2020-2021 after the Spring of 2020, educators did not expect another COVID-19 school year, but here we are. We need to stick together and strategically spend our energies this school year. Follow these three guiding principles to come through COVID-19.
- [How to Request and Receive Support from #edtech Companies](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/how-to-request-and-receive-support-from-edtech-companies/) - There are more educational technologies than you can use. ever. The users of #edtech apps vary; schools and districts subscribe, but also individuals subscribe. How should you request and receive support from #edtech companies? [Tweet "How should you request and receive support from #edtech companies? #edchat"] Often #edtech apps have a freemium model where there
- [Start Here: K-12 Instructional Design](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/start-here-k-12-instructional-design/) - Instructional design is not developed as a standalone skill set in K-12. The instructional designer skills in K-12 can best be described as somewhere between the ability to build & read slides and the need to recreate-everything-until-overwhelmed. While higher education offers instructional design supports, K-12 assumes skills and implies competence. Select K-12 educators can rise
- [30 Days of Blogging Challenge](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/30-days-of-blogging-challenge/) - I participated in, and even administered my own #8weeksofsummer, blog challenges. But the variable which seems to challenge me and many other participants is the time constraint. I do not wish to have the success of my challenge be measured by the time when I can much better control the creation of my content. Right
- [Stop Misusing Pandemic Era Teaching Terminology](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/stop-misusing-pandemic-era-teaching-terminology/) - The pandemic has been confusing enough. The recklessness of educational terminology should not contribute to more confusion. Stop misusing pandemic era teaching terminology. Consider those relationships between these terms and correctly use the terms to contribute to transparency and not chaos. [Tweet "The Pandemic is confusing enough. Stop Misusing Pandemic Era Teaching Terminology #edchat"] Traditional
- [Blog Renew](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/blog-renew/) - Time for a blog renew for HotLunchTray. In an effort to refocus on serving the target HLT audience it is time to rebuild focused content. The One Hour Content Plan by Meera Kothand advised bloggers to do several things which will help to renew HLT. I had previously used the workbook Create from Meera, but
- [If We Go Home Tomorrow](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/if-we-go-home-tomorrow/) - Are you ready, if we go home tomorrow? What do you need to do to be ready for the possibility of being sent to teach remotely again? [Tweet "Free eBook: If We Go Home Tomorrow. Are you ready if we go home tomorrow? #edchat"] If We Go Home Tomorrow The echoes of March 2020 still
- [2021 #8weeksofsummer Blog Challenge Concludes](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/2021-8weeksofsummer-blog-challenge-concludes/) - The 2021 #8weeksofsummer blog challenge concluded at the end of August. {Apologizes for the delay in posting} Now it is time to award the $100 USD Amazon Gift Card; those who participated in all 8 posts are eligible. Last year we were preparing for the most unique ever, but it seems here we are again.
- [5 Revisions for your Online Classroom](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/5-revisions-for-your-online-classroom/) - Now that you have an online classroom how should you improve it? Here are 5 revisions for your online classroom. These suggestions will create a better learning experience for your participants. [Tweet "5 Revisions for your Online Classroom #edchat"] Format Singularity Courses are often assembled from the point of view of one subject matter expert.
- [What if Nobody is Behind?](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/what-if-nobody-is-behind/) - Since March 2020 educators have worried about students falling behind. It has pushed teachers to work past reason, parents to stress about doing the teacher's job, and left students outside of the traditional classroom. However, a pandemic is a worldwide challenge to education right now. It should embolden us to ask what if nobody is
- [Zoomed Out](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/zoomed-out/) - The video conferencing solution does not matter - Zoom, Skype, Google Hangout, Big Blue Button - but the effect is the same. The overuse of live lesson platforms, frustrated teachers, and underwhelmed families are all Zoomed Out. [Tweet "Free eBook: Zoomed Out. Don't retire because of Zoom. Read this first. #edchat"] < Teaching During a
- [Week 8 #8weeksofsummer Blog Challenge 2021](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/week-8-8weeksofsummer-blog-challenge-2021/) - You've made it. This is becoming a trend with you ! Welcome to Week 8 of the #8weeksofsummer Blog Challenge 2021. Not only have you stood through a tumultuous time in education, but if you have the fortitude to be reflecting post-process, you've probably thrived - what has been the most beneficial to you, new
- [Week 7 #8weeksofsummer Blog Challenge 2021](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/week-7-8weeksofsummer-blog-challenge-2021/) - Welcome to Week 7 of the #8weeksofsummer Blog Challenge 2021. Educators have likely experience more training in the past 15 months since March 2020 than ever. Teachers especially need to now examine all the tools used over that period and selectively identify what to move forward with - when you think about what you will
- [Transition to Kindergarten #Infographic](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/transition-to-kindergarten-infographic/) - [Tweet "The transition to Kindergarten starts 6 months before the school year starts. Are you on schedule? #edchat"] [Tweet "The transition to Kindergarten starts 6 months before the school year starts. Are you on schedule? #edchat"]
- [Communication Strategies](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/communication-strategies/) - The structure of learning environments is within the control of the adults crafting the classroom experience. Recently classroom environments have been online and face-to-face; both modalities can enjoy the same structure to include more students and more points of view. Consider the three communication strategies to demonstrate a dedication to diversity. Communication Strategies Lim and
- [Establish Literacy Partnerships Infographic #ECE](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/establish-literacy-partnerships-infographic-ece/)
- [Play 101: The Serious Business of Play](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/play-101-the-serious-business-of-play/) - As a summary of the course Theories and Foundations of Child Development from the American College of Education, I share an infographic on the Serious Business of Play for early childhood learning. This course has afforded me a new perspective as my own children have already completed this early childhood learning stage and I have
- [Narrative Assessments](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/narrative-assessments/) - Maybe it is because we have so many of our students being educated by parents, siblings, non-educators, but the time to bring back narrative assessments might be now. I am also not sure who should author them. Teachers can describe the learning without judgment from afar, but really the parents are the ones with the
- [What Advocacy Looks Like #ECE](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/what-advocacy-look-like-ece/) - It would be easy to be intimidated by the title of an advocate. You might think that is a title for lobbyists, politicians, or executives. But in fact, advocacy looks like anyone with a passion for a topic and the willingness to share that passion. [Tweet "advocacy is for anyone with a passion for a
- [School Leaders Facilitating Community Partnerships](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/school_leaders_facilitating_community_partnerships/) - I compiled a nice guide for school leaders facilitating community partnerships. The guide may be useful to generate ideas and spark interesting ideas as much as a literal implementation. [Tweet "Check out Guide: School Leaders Facilitating Community Partnerships. #edchat"] If you are interested in the downloadable PDF of this guide, subscribe to the HotLunchTray.com and
- [Does School Start Early Enough?](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/does-school-start-early-enough/) - The old adage that school starts earlier every year may be truer than you realize. Kindergarten is only required in eight states (Education Commission of the States, 2008), yet many families send their children essentially “early” to school. The reason for Kindergarten school enrollment may be based on childcare cost, the primary caregiver (re)entering the
- [Help Young Students Deal with Stress and Anger #ECE #SEL](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/help-young-students-deal-with-stress-and-anger-ece/) - Right now if you are checking your email, you are seeing all the offers from vendors who want you to purchase their Social-Emotional Learning content (SEL). Many are of high quality and could be very beneficial, but it begs the question of do you have time to incorporate another program into your routine, and is
- [Week 5 #8weeksofsummer Blog Challenge 2021](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/week-5-8weeksofsummer-blog-challenge-2021/) - Educators are known for repeating directions. Typically, we are glad to help our students back on to the path of learning. This year has been different in how we repeated directions, however. Oftentimes, the directions changed as local circumstances changed. As technologies changed, sometimes directions had to change. And sometimes we had to give directions
- [Week 6 #8weeksofsummer Blog Challenge 2021](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/week-6-8weeksofsummer-blog-challenge-2021/) - Welcome to Week 6 of the #8weeksofsummer Blog Challenge 2021. Educators like to learn from each other. We did not have that opportunity to learn from much more than March 2020 this school year. As teachers look to improve on their face-to-face learning environment, a blended learning environment, and maybe offer a completely online learning
- [Ace that Teacher Interview](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/ace-the-teacher-interview/) - Your first interview for a teaching job or your hundredth? It doesn't matter so much. Everyone is somewhat nervous for these situations, even the interviewers to an extent. The stakes are high all around; how do we get the right teachers in front of the right students? There are somethings to consider before the interview.
- [Join the 2021 #8weeksofsummer Blog Challenge](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/join-the-2021-8weeksofsummer-blog-challenge/) - It is time for the 2021 #8weeksofsummer Blog Challenge! Educators just experienced an unprecedented school year - a whole year - in incredibly challenging circumstances. We should have all kinds of thoughts on how online platforms augmented our teaching and our student's learning experience. Will we go back to pre-pandemic schooling? And should we? How
- [Week 4 #8weeksofsummer Blog Challenge 2021](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/week-4-8weeksofsummer-blog-challenge-2021/) - Educators have been on a learning curve for more than one year by the time this last school year ended. We do love to learn, but that was a lot of learning! With new formats to contended with did you use existing tools in new ways or did you branch out to discover new tools
- [Amazon Prime Day 2021](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/amazon-prime-day-2021/) - Amazon has shared in a press release that the 2021 Amazon Prime Day sale in June. The annual two-day online sale was disrupted by supply chain issues due to COVID-19 last year and was delayed. But Amazon is committing to 2021 Amazon Prime Day before the end of June. So let's get ready, Amazon Prime
- [Week 3 #8weeksofsummer Blog Challenge 2021](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/week-3-8weeksofsummer-blog-challenge-2021/) - The past year was a year of exceptionalities. We all needed to do different things to survive all the constantly changing demands of education. Let's examine what your learner needed this past year. Welcome to Week 3 of the #8weeksofsummer Blog Challenge 2021. [Tweet "#8weeksofsummer :: Week 3 Blog Prompt :: Blog Challenge #ETCoaches #BloggingBuddies
- [Suggested #EdTech Reading #TECH6363](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/suggested-edtech-reading-tech6363/) - This annotated bibliography is a list of ten topics emerging in K12 educational technology. Each of the 10 listed discusses the importance and relevance of the topic, differentiation opportunities, and associated resources. I would submit that K12 and higher education are different on some topics and I have included topics where those differences are included
- [Week 2 #8weeksofsummer Blog Challenge 2021](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/week-2-8weeksofsummer-blog-challenge/) - As you extricate yourself from school mode you may be talking to friends you have missed in the business of this past school year. Let's examine how you collaborated with peers this past year. Welcome to Week 2 #8weeksofsummer Blog Challenge 2021. [Tweet "#8weeksofsummer ~ Week 2 Blog Prompt ~ Blog Challenge #ETCoaches #BloggingBuddies #TECHtalkGA
- [Inclusive Technology Rubric #TECH6363](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/inclusive-technology-rubric-tech6363/) - The assignment of creating a geolocation-based lesson culminated in a rubric for the purposeful inclusion of instructional technology when teaching in an inclusive classroom. [Tweet "Inclusive Technology Rubric #TECH6363 #edchat"] Geolocation Lesson A Geolocation lesson I would propose is teaching longitude and latitude to 4th-5th graders in either social studies or science. I would start with the
- [Oh, Carl Sagan. Tell me more about Eratosthenes.](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/oh-carl-sagan-tell-me-more-about-eratosthenes/) - How I taught Eratosthenes in a Face-to-Face Classroom One of my favorite books to read to my middle schoolers was The Librarian who Measured the Earth by Kathryn Lasky. And I read it to each of my classes before starting our study of the Layers of the Earth. There were a couple of reasons for that placement.
- [Engage Students in Synchronous Online Meetings](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/engage-students-in-synchronous-online-meetings/) - Meeting your students in Zoom, Teams, Google Meet? Regardless of the platform educators have learned some ways to engage students in synchronous online meetings this year. [Tweet "Engage Students in Synchronous Online Meetings #OnlineLearning #OnlineTeaching"]
- [Week 1 #8weeksofsummer Blog Challenge 2021](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/week-1-8weeksofsummer-blog-challenge-2021/) - Welcome to the 2021 #8weeksofsummer blog challenge! Wow, that was some school year. What did we just do? Let's reflect. [Tweet "#8weeksofsummer || Week 1 Blog Prompt || Blog Challenge #ETCoaches #BloggingBuddies #TECHtalkGA #ReflectiveTeacher #edchat #ETCoaches #edtech #PD4uandme"] It has been a long time since March 2020 and hopefully, you have had a chance to
- [Articulate 360 #TECH6363](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/articulate-360-tech6363/) - I have used Articulate software since it was an install on a beefy desktop I had for it and Captivate software. I have also viewed content from our state department of education created over the years made in Articulate to serve the many districts in my state without a learning management system (LMS). I have some
- [Revise your Philosophy of Education](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/revise-your-philosophy-of-education/) - Maybe after the emergency learning last spring into the normalized pandemic teaching of this past year your philosophy of education has changed. It is time to revise your philosophy of education. Even educators who don't feel like their philosophy has been impacted by the past 15 months {and maybe into next school year} should consider
- [How much Online Content in Blended Learning?](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/much-online-content-blended-learning/) - The good thing about Blended Learning is there are many ways to do it. The bad thing about Blended Learning is there are many ways to do it. So while you are planning as a school, grade level, or a team to offer "Blended Learning opportunities" in classrooms, how do you know what others mean
- [AR & VR Lesson Ideas #TECH6363](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/ar-vr-lesson-ideas-tech6363/) - Community-based AR & VR Lesson Ideas Community as a classroom is an unexpected way to incorporate augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR). The approach for these lesson ideas relies on Dani’s statement “turn communities into classrooms by encouraging teacher educators, teachers, and students to use the community, public lands, and other special places as
- [Twitter Starter #TECH6363](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/twitter-starter-tech6363/) - Twitter can be overwhelming. You may benefit from a Twitter Start Kit! Consider this infographic on how to find Twitter resources. [Tweet "How to Find Twitter Resources || Twitter #StarterKit || #edchat"] Feel free to download a copy of the infographic Find Twitter Resources Infographic.
- [Online Teacher Communication #TECH6363](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/online-teacher-communication/) - Online teacher communication is essential to a successful online course. Make a copy of the podcast transcript to follow along. Why does Online Communication Matter? Teachers know how to communicate with students. We have used some techniques for years, decades, and collectively for centuries. However, online communication differs from face-to-face and even blended learning. Online
- [Online Teachers Peer Review Each Other](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/online-teachers-peer-review-each-other/) - A peer review may take place in the early stages, or drafts, of a multiple-step project. The peer review may focus on a topic of interest to learners at a point in time in order to reinforce the concept, a focus on grammar, a focus on tense, or a focus on syntax in the classroom.
- [Research Productivity #TECH6363](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/research-productivity-tech6363/) - Productivity Productivity is often viewed by output alone, but that ignores the input by which the output should be judged. The Harvard Business Review (2014) frames the concept of productivity as a “…focus not on dollars per hour but on labor dollars per product” (p.4). As schools invest dollars to boost productivity the input should be closely scrutinized. I am viewing my recent research process through productivity lens in this blog
- [Accessibility for All #TECH6363](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/accessibility-for-all-tech6363/) - The work of assuring content is accessible is often viewed from the viewpoint of already created content. Content that has already been created once may give the impression of extra work; the act of assuring the content is accessible additional work. Dana McGarr had the best tweet earlier this week... COVID-school has forced many educators
- [Grow Digital Collections to Courses](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/grow-digital-collections-to-courses/) - Our district started crowdsourcing online content almost a decade ago. The content was teacher-facing, imagine an electronic Teacher's Edition. Three years ago the goal was changed to student-facing content. Content items addressed standards, but with little continuity, no module/unit feel. And so teachers treated single items from the available content as the smallest unit of
- [The Lifecycle of a Course](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/the-lifecycle-of-a-course/) - Lifecycle of a Course Courses have to start somewhere. Never be afraid to launch version one of your course - otherwise, it will never improve! [Tweet "The Lifecycle of a Course #Infographic #edchat"] Evaluation Evaluation is the process of assigning value to the rigor and usefulness of a curriculum or course. Many learning management systems
- [Doctor of Education (EdD)  Knowledge](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/doctor-of-education-edd-knowledge/) - Not everyone knows an EdD well enough to ask them particular questions. I had to acquire much of my academic, writing, and how to work with my dissertation committee on my own. [Tweet "Not everyone knows an EdD well enough to ask them particular questions. #edchat"] I have started a Pinterest board for some of
- [Computer Lab Launch #TECH6363](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/computer-lab-launch-tech6363/) - This blog post is an assignment for the American College of Education, Doctoral Instructional Technology program. Background: The blog was established in 2010. This blog is currently oriented toward practicing K-16 educators interested in educational technology. [Tweet "Sample Computer Lab Refurbish #EdTech"] This announcement reopens the refurbished computer lab in the 6th-grade hall. The opportunity to
- [VoiceThread Review for Tech Thursday](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/voicethread-review-for-tech-tuesday/) - This post is linking up with Teaching Trio. You can find similar posts searching under the category Linking Up. One of the things you can do as teachers is find these great free tools and evaluate if you think the paid-level of the product is worth it for you, your school, or your district. That is
- [Teacher Presence in the (Online) Classroom](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/teacher-presence-in-the-online-classroom/) - Face-to-face teachers naturally do it, but how can teacher presence in the online classroom ensure or boost student engagement? Increasing Online Opportunities Online charters, state online schools, and higher education are offering more classes online; even your traditional public K-12 is dabbling in online teaching. With an increase in opportunities for educators, how can you begin
- [You Aren’t an Imposter](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/you-arent-an-imposter/) - Armies of traditional face to face teachers just taught their first full semester of courses online. And for those who thought they were imposters, they just proved themselves wrong. [Tweet "Teachers who thought they were imposters just proved themselves wrong. #edchat"] Teachers have all undergone a transformation without precedent {Related: The End of Unprecedented Times}
- [Grad School Tools](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/grad-school-tools/) - I am two years into a three-year advanced degree. Often I am tired and wish that I could be more carefree with my time, but with less than a year to go in grad school, I do my best to stay motivated. When I think about everything I am learning I feel more equipped to
- [Teachers with X-ray Vision](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/teachers-with-x-ray-vision/) - At the end of the fall semester of 2020, teachers with x-ray vision did the best in this new format. You may have only just discovered this superpower in some of your teachers, so it is worth a discussion. [Tweet "Teachers with Xray Vision did the best job in the fall semester of 2020. #edchat"]
- [The End of "Unprecedented Times"](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/the-end-of-unprecedented-times/) - I stopped using the phrase "unprecedented times" as soon as I could this semester. Because no one wants to hear what they feel in their bones, how novel this situation is, how exhausting, how sustained, and how stressful the unprecedented nature of teaching was this year. Teachers have been deprived of their strength - interacting
- [Pandemic Grading](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/pandemic-grading/) - Before a parent or an educator becomes too emotional in response to pandemic grading, let us consider the situation... Craft an Intentional Perspective "Unconditional positive regard" means an approach that slows us down and considers student /teacher motivation and overall student skill and capacity when designing learning experiences (Venet, 2019) which could be situational. And
- [School: A Place, Relationships, or Learning?](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/school-a-place-relationships-or-learning/) - Many communities have been out of the school building since mid-March of 2020. As we approach winter 2020 people are reminiscing about "school." Is school a place, relationships, or learning? What does school mean to people? Are all stakeholders reminiscing for the same thing? Could this be an opportunity to define what school is moving
- [Blog Post 101](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/blog-post-101/) - I have been blogging since 2010. I am grateful for the deep thinking this practice has provided me. I can provide the Blog Post 101 overview because I have learned so much organically. I have missed this practice as I work through an advanced degree, but am keeping track of all sorts of new ideas
- [Your T̶e̶a̶c̶h̶e̶r̶ Debt Collector](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/your-teacher-debt-collector/) - A teacher friend of mine said, "I feel like a bill collector" recently and I felt it. We can extend all the grace we like in our virtual classrooms, but the disconnect between our deepest selves and what we do daily is broken for many of us. It isn't about how kindly we treat each
- [How to Help Teachers](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/how-to-help-teachers/) - Teachers Need our Help K-12 teachers are either teaching online, teaching face-to-face, or doing both. Despite what you think you learned last spring, the easiest job is teaching online. [click_to_tweet tweet="Look for ways to help teachers this year. They are already tired and they have so far to go still. #edchat" quote="Look for ways to
- [Prime Day for Teachers 2020](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/prime-day-for-teachers-2020/) - Maybe you are justified in your disappointment in 2020; after all, it was so rough that even Amazon had to delay their annual Prime Day due to the worldwide crunch on logistics and supplies. But the wait is over now, October 13-14th is this year's Prime Day and I have ideas for teachers. [Tweet "October
- [The Trinity of Online Learning](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/the-trinity-of-online-learning/) - Is this the year of online education - along with the year of everything else? Online Learning has a different meaning depending on the audience. This post will review the trinity of online education: commercial, higher education, and K-12. [Tweet "The Trinity of #OnlineLearning - commercial, higher education, & K-12 #edchat"] Commercial Commercial course platforms
- [2019 #8weeksofsummer Blog Challenge Concludes](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/2019-8weeksofsummer-blog-challenge-concludes/) - Thanks to everyone who participated in the #8weeksofsummer blog challenge, bloggers, readers, and sharers of these posts! Today is the drawing for the $100 USD Amazon Gift Card; those who participated in each post are eligible. Take time to look through the prompts and responses from the blogging participants: Week 1 Prompt: What are your
- [2020 #8weeksofsummer Blog Challenge Concludes](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/2020-8weeksofsummer-blog-challenge-concludes/) - Today the #8weeksofsummer blog challenge concludes and the $100 USD Amazon Gift Card is awarded; those who participated in each post are eligible. While it is overdue, no educator should be surprised. This school year will be the longest, strangest educational journey. The spring, this summer, the fall will require so much determination. If anyone
- [Join the 2020 #8weeksofsummer Blog Challenge](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/join-the-2020-8weeksofsummer-blog-challenge/) - It is time for the 2020 #8weeksofsummer! Educators just experienced this entirely new way to end the school year - and it should show! We should have all kinds of thoughts on what was #RemoteLearning and what this past spring means for the fall. Will this immersion in online learning have longer-term implications? And how
- [Week 8 #8weeksofsummer Blog Challenge 2020](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/week-8-8weeksofsummer-blog-challenge-2020/) - How is your school/district operating differently this year? We know how surprised we all were the abrupt nature of #RemoteLearning {Read: Remote Learning posts}. But that might not mean you aren't surprised by some of the measures local schools/districts are or are not taking. [Tweet "#8weeksofsummer || Week 8 Blog Prompt || Blog Challenge #ETCoaches
- [Week 7 #8weeksofsummer Blog Challenge 2020](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/week-7-8weeksofsummer-blog-challenge-2020/) - This past spring you likely had to flex time like never before in the classroom. Many teacher's first encounters with asynchronous learning was harsh. After all, many thought they had to be present for students to be learning; would others judge them if the students were not working synchronously with them online? [Tweet "#8weeksofsummer ||
- [Week 6 #8weeksofsummer Blog Challenge 2020](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/week-6-8weeksofsummer-blog-challenge-2020/) - K12 education is exploding with opportunities. Educational technology companies, both higher educational and K12 are looking for educators to teach online, and content creation will be another burgeoning industry soon. Based on the recent events and reimagining of public education, are your professional goals strengthened, accelerated, or changed? [Tweet "#8weeksofsummer || Week 6 Blog Prompt
- [Flip Back to School](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/flip-back-to-school/) - Family engagement is tough. A wide variety of factors can converge to create a gap between school and home. Sometimes work schedules, vacation schedules, and/or extracurricular events seem to conspire to keep families out of the school. When a school gets desperate, or smart, enough to be ready to try anything to bring families onto
- [Show Blended Learning in a Lesson Plan](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/translate-blended-learning-classroom-lesson-plan/) - I loved writing out a good lesson plan. And I was always disappointed when an administrator didn't look in my plan book on my desk for the lesson plan. There was some art (and a few arrows) there - and my boss missed it. If you are trying out Blended Learning in your classroom and
- [Week 5 #8weeksofsummer Blog Challenge 2020](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/week-5-8weeksofsummer-blog-challenge-2020/) - Educators acquired an immediate understanding of the potential power of educational technology during the COIVD-19 pandemic. While we missed the proximity to and the interactions with our students, we poured our energies into moving instruction online. [Tweet "#8weeksofsummer || Week 5 Blog Prompt || Blog Challenge #ETCoaches #BloggingBuddies #TECHtalkGA #ReflectiveTeacher #edchat"] There were educational technology
- [What Parents say about #RemoteLearning](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/what-parents-say-about-remotelearning/) - No doubt, opinions about remote learning are innumerable. Public schooling brings together very diverse families, all with differing priorities. When something as necessary as public education substantially changes, life changes. Children stayed out of school and stayed home. Home could have meant: two or more responsible adults working outside the home, one or more adults
- [#RemoteLearning Roundup](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/remotelearning-roundup/) - As the new school year approaches, educators need to look back to the spring to learn how to improve what we can offer this fall. [Tweet "#RemoteLearning Roundup // Time to look back to look forward #BlendedLearning #BLinAction #BLchat #blendchat #edtech #edchat"]  [Tweet "#RemoteLearning Roundup // Time to look back to look forward #BlendedLearning
- [Week 4 #8weeksofsummer Blog Challenge 2020](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/week-4-8weeksofsummer-blog-challenge-2020/) - Halfway through the 2020 #8weeksofsummer blog challenge is time to consider a weightier issue. After a summer of protests over racial inequity, how will you and your students return to the classroom? Even if students do not experience privilege or oppression, they will have questions. [Tweet "#8weeksofsummer || Week 4 Blog Prompt || Blog Challenge
- [Your New #EdTech Diet](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/your-new-edtech-diet/) - Whatever your politics, it is shocking that immediately after the huge teacher-win of shifted face-to-face teaching and learning to emergency remote learning in mere days that teachers will be furloughed to meet state budgets. And yet, here we are. And you may want to tighten your #edtech belt a little. Here are some places to
- [Week 3 #8weeksofsummer Blog Challenge 2020](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/week-3-8weeksofsummer-blog-challenge-2020/) - What teachers missed the most during #RemoteLearning was the proximity to their students. When distanced from students teachers could identify real barriers to learning. [Tweet "#8weeksofsummer * Week 3 Blog Prompt * Blog Challenge #ETCoaches #BloggingBuddies #TECHtalkGA #ReflectiveTeacher #edchat"] Whether it was technology, family dynamics, Internet access, or other concerns, teachers now have a list
- [Summer Reading List 2020](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/summer-reading-list-2020/) - There are two things teachers can prepare for going into the 2020-2021 school year. And the pandemic isn't really one of them! Sort of. There are only two things that should be on your reading list this summer. [Tweet "There are only two types of books teachers should be reading this summer. #ETCoaches #edchat"] Seriously,
- [Week 1 #8weeksofsummer Blog Challenge 2020](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/week-1-8weeksofsummer-blog-challenge-2020/) - Welcome to the 2020 #8weeksofsummer blog challenge! After the single largest show of determination and professionalism this past spring, teachers need this summer like no other! [Tweet "#8weeksofsummer || Week 1 Blog Prompt || Blog Challenge #ETCoaches #BloggingBuddies #TECHtalkGA #ReflectiveTeacher #edchat"] Hopefully sharing our posts can be part of our coping process with the way
- [Week 2 #8weeksofsummer Blog Challenge 2020](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/week-2-8weeksofsummer-blog-challenge-2020/) - When a teacher can relax, really relax, it will be epic after the way the 2020 school year ended. [Tweet "#8weeksofsummer || Week 2 Blog Prompt || Blog Challenge #ETCoaches #BloggingBuddies #TECHtalkGA #ReflectiveTeacher #edchat"] Maybe it is going to take more than one good book in a hammock this summer to unwind from the stressful
- [6 Steps to Understand Blended Learning](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/6-steps-to-understand-blended-learning/) - Blended Learning is a term whose high usage threatens to obscure its meaning. Unless you understand Blended Learning for yourself. Let's break it down to 6 steps. [Tweet "Take these 6 Steps to Understand Blended Learning #edchat #blendchat"] Educators often have to see such big educational ideas broken down in front of them, "with my
- [#RemoteLearning Project: Operation Relax](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/remotelearning-project-operation-relax/) - Kindness Rocks #RemoteLeanring and isolation from our teachers {except for overly populated, under-managed video conference calls} makes my boys sad. We have to find a way to connect with our teachers. We want to let them know we miss them, value them, and we are more than our tenuous relationship with technology. We decided to
- [Amazon Prime Day Delayed](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/amazon-prime-day-delayed/) - The annual Amazon Prime Day is being delayed this year due to COVID-19. Their Chinese-based supply chain, the lean inventory of Amazon, and domestic supply chain concerns are all contributing. Some estimates are August or even September, but that could be good news for teachers. [Tweet "Amazon Prime Day is Delayed - what this means
- [Student-Led Conferences Online](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/student-led-conferences-online/) - Teachers need new perspectives on traditional tasks. After the last quarter of the 2019-2020 school year went online, every K-12 function must consider what it looks like online. Certain traditional tasks may even be enhanced by taking them online, such as conferences. In particular student-led conferences (SLCs) are a highly engaging way to share with
- [Podcasts for the Times: #RemoteLearning](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/podcasts-for-the-times-remotelearning/) - Home Work: Life Balance You may have started to settle into a pattern with your #RemoteLearning schedule. I enjoy less commuting, more time for real meals, and my own children being with me all day. I know they are looking forward to rejoining their friends in August; I'm not bringing up in conversation the country's
- [A Blended Learning Workflow](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/a-blended-learning-workflow/) - Teachers who are not fluent in Online or Blended Learning environments struggle to imagine what their students would do online. They fail to imagine how to integrate those instances into their existing classroom. Those teachers require a variety of sample workflows to start to picture their students, with their content, navigating through the online versus face-to-face
- [Your Teacher Instagram Account Needs Followers!](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/your-teacher-instagram-account-needs-followers/) - If you are a teacher, you know how to make teacher friends. But how do you get social media followers on platforms like Instagram? If you need followers for your teacher Instagram account I have some strategies for you. Remember that the ratio of followers to those you follow does not count for more than
- [Non-Classroom Teachers Work During COVID-19](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/non-classroom-teachers-work-during-covid-19/) - America knows what teachers are doing during this #RemoteLearning episode, but what about others who work in the school district? I have a small view of what is going on in our medium-sized school district in Georgia. The most important work right now is actually the distribution of food to our families. But other than
- [#RemoteLearning is Something Different](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/remotelearning-is-something-different/) - I have the background of a face-to-face K-12 teacher, an online graduate student, and someone who has studied blended learning for the past ten years. But this Remote Learning is something different than face-to-face/online/blended learning. [Tweet "#RemoteLearning is something different than face-to-face or #onlinelearning or #blendedlearning. #edchat #ETCoaches #BLinAction"] We use familiar terms because we
- [What comes after #RemoteLearning?](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/what-comes-after-remotelearning/) - The K-12 educational world is having a moment. And the only thing we know about moments is that they do not last. Mid-March K-12 districts across the country started to shut down physical locations and offer remote learning instead. Teachers took the reins and had been figuring it out ever since. Teachers are pretty awesome
- [Teacher Technology Competencies](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/teacher-technology-competencies/) - What are your technology competencies as a teacher? What should the technology competencies be of a teacher entering the profession? And how do we catch some teachers up with other teachers? [Tweet "What are your Technology Competencies as an educator? #edchat #edtechchat"] New Skills Needed The introduction of The Internet has changed many things in
- [Pandemic Preparations](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/pandemic-preparations/) - S̶o̶,̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶r̶e̶ ̶i̶s̶ ̶n̶o̶t̶ ̶a̶ ̶p̶a̶n̶d̶e̶m̶i̶c̶ ̶y̶e̶t̶.̶ UPDATED: March 11, 2020 the World Health Organization declared Coronavirus (COVID-19) a pandemic. But teachers typically don’t wait to prepare for something. The global financial market is fluctuating as the news spreads of Coronavirus, or COVID-19, cases. In your corner of the world, how can you prepare/react when
- [Prepare for School Closures](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/prepare-for-school-closures/) - As schools either close or think about what closing would mean for them, here are some things to consider. Schools are struggling with how their actions would impact the community. What are the factors your school or district is considering? [Tweet "Prepare for Possible School Closure #Infographic #edchat #COVID19"] Download: Prepare for Possible School
- [School-From-Home with Your Children](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/school-from-home-with-your-children/) - Extraordinary circumstances are culminating in an extended period of time for students to be out of school. Parents are now forced into a role they may not have the expertise to feel confident in and students are confused by the shakeup in their schedules and routines. This is different than a Snow Day, but we
- [Day # School From Home #COVID19](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/day-school-from-home-covid19/) - With ever-increasing days under our belt as remote teachers, thousands of educators are likely taking stock this morning. If this is the new normal, how normal was yesterday? [Tweet "School From Home: If this is the new normal, how normal was yesterday? #edchat "] Teachers It was obvious which teachers had been taking Blended Learning
- [Week One Online Report Card](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/week-one-online-report-card/) - It is report card time and the school is sending my son's report card through the mail, the U.S. Postal Service. That is where K-12 education has ended this week, reduced to sheltering in place in our homes and the school reaching us however it can. Luckily many schools have devices to send home with
- [Coronavirus Student Journal](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/coronavirus-student-journal/) - [Insert Child's Eye Roll Here] 🙄 I have many stories from when I was growing up living in Michigan. I feel confident my boys can recite them by heart. There is the one where I was in college and I remember walking to classes in -55* wind-chilled temperature. There was the one about how I
- [That #EdTech Boulder you've been Pushing...](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/that-edtech-boulder-youve-been-pushing/) - We know each other. We have been promoting the power of #edtech together for a while now. We may have met through Twitter, various #EdTech conferences, #EdCamps, or found each other in the hallways of our school - but we always found each other. So, what does this new wave of #RemoteLearning mean for our
- [Is Progress Just in my Head?](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/is-progress-just-in-my-head/) - The week back from winter holiday is always an odd experience for any educator; the caffeine is never strong enough, every one seems to wander about trying to find the couch for the obligatory 2 PM nap, and work generally cramps ones style developed over three weeks of watching Downton Abbey. But I made it
- [The 12 Days of C̶h̶r̶i̶s̶t̶m̶a̶s̶ HotLunchTray](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/the-12-days-of-c̶h̶r̶i̶s̶t̶m̶a̶s̶-hotlunchtray/) - Traditionally the 12 Days of Christmas starts on Christmas and extends roughly through teacher break; however it was celebrated in times of old is fine, but that's how I observe it now. My stance is that fewer Geese a Laying is typically better. I offer my 12 Days of HotLunchTray instead. [Tweet "The 12 Days
- [PLN Enrichment Framework](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/pln-enrichment-framework/) - Social Media has become an embedded part of every day, sometimes do not intentionally use it. We may use it without thought or post something incendiary, or we may even overshare. I challenge you to step through this PLN Enrichment Framework with me and your favorite social media account. Let's discover how we are doing
- [What teachers need this break...](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/what-teachers-need-this-break/) - I don't know every teacher, but teachers aren't so different no matter where I have taught. Teachers do not work normal work pace for these weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas. If you had not considered that, consider everything your family is sending in or volunteering for or paying in money to have someone else do
- [Learning in a Course Versus Social Media](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/learning-in-a-course-versus-social-media/) - Differentiating Course and Community Both coursework and interactions in online learning communities, such as social media, are concerned with literacies. Song "pluralizes the word" literacy to denote the multiple literacies today's students have to possess to interact and learn successfully (2017, p 66). Each contains a different level of formality based on history and composition,
- [Do you want to Build an Infographic?](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/do-you-want-to-make-an-infographic/) - I have a love affair with every good infographic I see. It can't just be me, don't you love it when you "see" the idea before someone makes you read the idea? That kind of double-enforced messaged, confirming what your audience thought all along - brilliant! Of course, the trick is creating one yourself, right? I'd
- [Interaction in Virtual Communities](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/interaction-in-virtual-communities/) - Virtual Communities Virtual Communities include online courses and social media platforms. Online classes offer a variety of interactions. Some are expected and unexpected; there are also some interactions that do more to build social presence than others. Online classes have a limited audience but are more closely monitored. Social media opens up the world to
- [Three Emails You Meant to Send](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/three-emails-you-meant-to-send/) - I hold some strong opinions on Email Efficiency for Teachers. Yes, that is a thing. This article is more about the email that you have not sent, yet. The ones you are ruminating over, trying to phrase just so. I'd like to help you send those emails. Timing is as important as the content. If
- [Ethical Educators & Social Media](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/ethical-educators-social-media/) - Social media has been around for a long time now. Maybe it was around, maybe you were on social media before you were a teacher? If so, it might be check-up time to make sure you are using social media as an Ethical Educator. [Tweet "Check-up Time: make sure you use social media as an
- [I am Serving my Audience or I am Not](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/i-am-serving-my-audience-or-i-am-not/) - The days of compulsory attendance of professional learning have ended. Well, maybe not completely yet, but we should act as if they have. [Tweet "You should be acting as if the days of compulsory attendance of your training has ended. Here is why... #ETCocahes #edchat #edtech #edtechchat"] Compulsory Attendance of Training has Ended Especially in
- [Teacher Holiday Gifts](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/teacher-holiday-gifts/) - Don't forget the Teacher's Holiday Gifts! Teachers really don't expect anything, but save them from only receiving coffee mugs and fudge with fingerprints on it. Show them appreciation through simple gifts that show you were thinking of them - before the checkout lane. Show teachers appreciation through simple gifts that show you were thinking of
- [Go Ahead, Become A "Certified Educator"](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/go-ahead-become-a-certified-educator/) - My workgroup encourages teachers in our district to become certified in educational technology tools that our district purchases. We encourage certification in Nearpod, NewsELA, ThingLink, FlipGrid, BrainPop. In fact, we have paid them to be certified in June after school is over - and we want to add more options - we feel that strongly
- [How To: Twitter Challenge in your School/District](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/twitter-challenge-schooldistrict/) - Do you want to jumpstart Twitter usage in your school or district? Have you considered holding a Twitter Challenge? Run your challenge any number of days, but a well-publicized Twitter Challenge should encourage educators who have been on the fence about Twitter to lurk, if not participate, in your Twitter Challenge. Learning about Twitter Challenges Twitter Challenges are not
- [Prime Day = Teacher Day](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/prime-day-teacher-day/) - Amazon has become one of the cheapest places to find teachers supplies and *bonus* avoid that one parent. Prime Membership "Amazon Prime Day" began on July 15, 2015, for Amazon's 20th birthday and included deals for prime members similar to Black Friday deals. Prime Day has become an annual summer holiday sale for "Prime" members.
- [The Real Problem you have with #EdTech](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/the-real-problem-you-have-with-edtech/) - Well, maybe not "you," but the real problem that someone-you-know has with educational technology... Resilience You are not always able to spring back quickly from a difficult #edtech challenge. The unplanned can stop you in your tracks and you are not yet able to comfortably improvise. It is important to remember you are the adult
- [Your Syllabus. The #edtech Version.](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/your-syllabus-the-edtech-version/) - It's the time of year we bring kids back to classes. And has been jokingly been referred to as Xbox Detox. However, back to school time is not just about pulling the plug, but instead redirecting thinking. Some of the most relevant learning students can do builds on their existing skills, maybe not on FortNite
- [To OER or not to OER?](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/to-oer-or-not-to-oer/) - If that is the question, the answer is it depends. [Tweet "Should you be considering OER content? Find out for sure. #edchat"] Open Educational Resources (OER) “Open Educational Resources are teaching, learning and research materials in any medium – digital or otherwise – that reside in the public domain or have been released under an
- [Training versus Professional Learning?](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/training-versus-professional-learning/) - What kind of Sophie's Choice is training versus professional learning supposed to be? I do not think you need to choose one over the other. [Tweet "Training versus Professional Learning? #edchat"] An Either/or Choice Why would you give one up for the other? Training and professional learning are mutually beneficial. Training is when I learn
- [Big Impact, Little Investment](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/big-impact-little-investment/) - Teachers have scarce resources. One is tempted to think money is the scarcest, but in reality, it is time. What teachers perennially want to know when faced with new initiatives and mandates is - how to attain the balance of big impact, little investment? The question comes from a place where compliance meets reality; teachers ask this to honor
- [Week 8 #8WeeksofSummer Blog Post](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/week-8-8weeksofsummer-blog-post/) - Welcome to the #8weeksofsummer blog challenge – the LAST week of the #8weeksofsummer challenge! All educators are welcome to participate and reflect on their practice this #8weeksofsummer - a break for reflection and connection. Since this is the last week make sure you complete ALL your prompts be entered into the August 7th drawing for a $100 USD Amazon
- [Where are you on the Learning Continuum?](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/where-are-you-on-the-learning-continuum/) - Learning Continuum: Face-to-face, blended learning, online learning
- [Week 7 #8WeeksofSummer Blog Prompt](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/week-7-8weeksofsummer-blog-prompt/) - Welcome to the 2019 #8weeksofsummer blog challenge! All educators are welcome to participate and reflect on their practice this #8weeksofsummer - a break for reflection and connection. [Tweet "#8weeksofsummer :: Week 7 Blog Prompt :: #ETCoaches #BloggingBuddies #TECHtalkGA #TeacherBlogger #edchat"] Check-in with us in a blog post on where you are in your summer learning
- [Week 6 #8WeeksofSummer Blog Prompt](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/week-6-8weeksofsummer-blog-prompt/) - Welcome to the 2019 #8weeksofsummer blog challenge! All educators are welcome to participate and reflect on their practice this #8weeksofsummer - a break for reflection and connection. [Tweet "#8weeksofsummer :: Week 6 Blog Prompt :: #ETCoaches #BloggingBuddies #TECHtalkGA #TeacherBlogger #edchat"] You have considered your role as both a leader and follower, and know the optimal
- [Week 5 #8WeeksofSummer Blog Prompt](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/week-5-8weeksofsummer-blog-prompt/) - Welcome to the 2019 #8weeksofsummer blog challenge! All educators are welcome to participate and reflect on their practice this #8weeksofsummer - a break for reflection and connection. [Tweet "#8weeksofsummer :: Week 5 Blog Prompt :: #ETCoaches #BloggingBuddies #TECHtalkGA #TeacherBlogger #edchat"] WIth enough perspective for last school year and some space to think through your past
- [Week 4 #8WeeksofSummer Blog Prompt](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/week-4-8weeksofsummer-blog-prompt/) - Welcome to the 2019 #8weeksofsummer blog challenge! All educators are welcome to participate and reflect on their practice this #8weeksofsummer - a break for reflection and connection. [Tweet "#8weeksofsummer :: Week 4 Blog Prompt :: #ETCoaches #BloggingBuddies #TECHtalkGA #TeacherBlogger #edchat"] Teachers may be relaxed by this point in the summer. Most people learn better when
- [Celebrate, Tolerate, or Undermine #EdTech](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/celebrate-tolerate-or-undermine-edtech/) - Current teachers have a variety of stances on instructional technology. We may be the last generation of teachers to consider teaching with and without technology as fundamentally different. Students currently view our segmented stance on using and not using technology as old-fashioned. Part of my job is instructional technology, the other part is helping teachers
- [Worst Facet of Blended Learning](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/worst-facet-of-blended-learning/) - Is the worst facet of Blended Learning that you are only hearing about it from your Technology Department? Is Blended Learning Different? Education in the Past Historically, education moves pretty slowly. I taught in much the same way my great-grandmother taught in a one-room schoolhouse. That is until I started experimenting with the Internet. Education
- [Week 3 #8weeksofsummer Blog Prompt](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/week-3-8weeksofsummer-blog-prompt/) - Welcome to the 2019 #8weeksofsummer blog challenge! All educators are welcome to participate and reflect on their practice this #8weeksofsummer - a break for reflection and connection. [Tweet "#8weeksofsummer :: Week 3 Blog Prompt :: #ETCoaches #BloggingBuddies #TECHtalkGA #TeacherBlogger #edchat"] This blog post is on the same day as the #ISTE19 opening session. I value
- [Join the #8weeksofsummer Blogging Challenge](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/join-the-8weeksofsummer-blogging-challenge/) - We aren't fans of non-educators giving the seemingly obligatory line about summer ...work...pay...yadda, yadda... and while we know it isn't true, it still stings. We know that educators are always learning, thinking about how to better teach, and investigating new ways to reach students. This summer, consider joining the #8weeksofsummer blogging challenge and make your
- [Week 2 #8weeksofsummer Blog Prompt](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/week-2-8weeksofsummer-blog-prompt/) - Welcome to the 2019 #8weeksofsummer blog challenge! All educators are welcome to participate and reflect on their practice this #8weeksofsummer - a break for reflection and connection. [Tweet "#8weeksofsummer :: Week 2 Blog Prompt :: #ETCoaches #BloggingBuddies #TECHtalkGA #TeacherBlogger #edchat"] This blog post falls on Father's Day this summer. As we consider all the father's
- [19 to Follow for #ISTE19 #NotatISTE](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/19-to-follow-for-iste19-notatiste/) - It is time for my annual list of Twitter accounts you should be following in advance of the largest #edtech conference all year! {See Also: #ISTE18 List, #ISTE17 List, #ISTE15 List, #ISTE14 List} [Tweet "#ISTE19 or #NotatISTE this year ~ you need to follow these 19. #edchat"] Whether you are attending #ISTE19 or #NotatISTE this
- [#ISTE19 Thrive Guide](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/iste19-thrive-guide/) - Every once in a while I step back and see the awesome opportunity of attending great conferences like #ISTE19. I know that the first few times I approached conference attendance differently than I do now. It isn't enough to survive an ISTE conference, how do you thrive at an ISTE conference? [Tweet "It isn't enough
- [Week 1 #8weeksofsummer Blog Prompt](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/week-1-8weeksofsummer-blog-prompt/) - Welcome to the 2019 #8weeksofsummer blog challenge! All educators are welcome to participate and reflect on their practice this #8weeksofsummer - a break for reflection and connection. [Tweet "#8weeksofsummer :: Week 1 Blog Prompt :: #ETCoaches #BloggingBuddies #TECHtalkGA #TeacherBlogger #edchat"] Educators seem to charge hard toward their calendar breaks. Exposing students to content, experiences, and
- [🍍8 Weeks of Summer Blog Challenge🍍 #8weeksofsummer](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/🍍8-weeks-of-summer-blog-challenge🍍-8weeksofsummer/) - Educators do have a nice amount of breaks throughout the year, but none as wonderful as summer break - maybe not for the reason you think. [Tweet "Nothing is quite like summer break for an educator and not for the reason you think! #edchat🍍"] Summer break is the period in the year where you are
- [Promote Yourself as a Teacher!](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/promote-yourself-as-a-teacher/) - Recently we hosted our third annual Northeast Georgie EdCamp. Fresh on my mind, a couple of friends who are making their way into an entrepreneurial version of their teacher persona. So one of the sessions we offered was "How & Why to Promote YOU!" It was well attended and had some awesome contributions especially from
- [Join an #edtech Professional Organization](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/join-an-edtech-professional-organization/) - Some #edtech educators belong to professional organizations, is it right for you? A professional organization can lead to authority in a field as a thought leader, volunteer opportunities to contribute back to the larger #edtech community or help you make professional connections to further your career. Often we only consider one small part of a
- [Summer 2019 Teacher Reads 📚](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/summer-2019-teacher-reads-📚/) - The summer focus is on Blended Learning. I have sent many of the teachers I work with home with these books this school year, I have just purchased one and love it, and I have one on here I just added to my wishlist. If you are a teacher ready for summer here are some
- [Differentiation in Training](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/differentiation-in-training/) - I have been asked to differentiate face-to-face training before and struggled with it. Now, teaching I differentiated all the time for my students... I was embarrassed that I could not differentiate that training, but half of what I was imparting was button pushing and account information - which I still am not sure I could
- [End of Year Digital Checklist](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/end-of-year-digital-checklist/) - Don't leave for the summer just yet. I have some digital housecleaning we need to chat about, please. [Tweet "The new part of your end of year checklist, ✔️digital housekeeping. #edtech #edchat"] No, we are not going to wax the floors in your digital teaching space, unless the custodians tell us we have to, but
- [I'm Back in School](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/im-back-in-school/) - My blog is not my primary online destination lately.Why so busy? Well, I am a teacher, and teachers love to learn. I am back in school for my last degree, my Ed.D. in Instructional Technology. I want to tell my fellow graduate school educators about some things I have discovered/rediscovered and must share. Check these
- [I made you a workbook...](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/i-made-you-a-workbook/) - Well, it's sort of a workbook for you in that it is for every teacher. [Tweet "I have created a workbook to walk educators through the basics of #BlendedLearning. #edchat"] At the request of a friend, I have created a workbook to walk educators through the basics of Blended Learning. The workbook is 11 full pages
- [The Online Parenting Challenge](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/the-online-parenting-challenge/) - You are already participating in The Online Parenting Challenge. The good news is it only lasts for 18 years, per child. The bad news is no one has ever done it in the exact same environment twice, so parents are bound to slip up. I'm not even your host for this challenge; your inner voice
- [When was the Last Time you Tried Something New?](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/when-was-the-last-time-you-tried-something-new/) - Yes, outwardly this post is about Minecraft - it was the something new that I recently tried. But really this post is about you and the last time you tried something new. Something that was totally unknown and scary. Something that you didn't already know how it would end when you started. When did you last
- [Can Blended Learning Wait?](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/can-blended-learning-wait/) - There are no shortages of initiatives in education. Blended Learning is an interesting initiative; this teaching strategy is only possible because of the amazing technology available. The intersection between the current availability of technology in schools and new ways of instructing students and managing content via technology are powerful. With anything, new it can be daunting
- [Top Ten Servings of the Hot Lunch Tray in 2018](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/top-ten-servings-of-the-hot-lunch-tray-in-2018/) - /div> It has been a great year at the Hot Lunch Tray. These are the top ten blog posts by page views. You can compare to the 2017 Top Ten & 2016 Top Ten.Enjoy![Tweet "Top Ten Servings of the Hot Lunch Tray in 2018 #edchat #edtech #edtechchat"][listly id="2dNq" layout="full" per_page="25"] It has been a great
- [Start a K12 Blog .... Part One](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/start-a-k12-blog-part-one/) - How to start a K12 education blog
- [How to Mess up in #EdTech](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/how-to-mess-up-in-edtech/) - I don't mean to pull rank on anyone. However, I am semi-professional at how one might mess up in #EdTech. While I could share some tales (read: ALL the tales) about my mistakes I want to instead take a step back. Let's look at what is really is going on in educational technology and how we are
- [3 Ways to Move Instruction Online](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/3-ways-to-move-instruction-online/) - When face-to-face educators try to imagine online education they are immediately challenged. Face-to-face educators major in compliance and attendance. When planning lessons they structure based on the amount of time budgeted to teaching a concept. They fit assessments into semesters, or 9-weeks, or the dinosaur unit, but rarely to mastery of a concept, mostly to
- [Gift Idea: #edtech Teachers love Books!](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/gift-idea-edtech-teachers-love-books/) - Teachers just love to learn. And just because we are interested in gadgets, online learning, and technical solutions, do not make the mistake of thinking we don't love a good book! Right now I am deep into Blended Learning. I have just completed a workbook for teachers on Blended Learning for a friend's course. I am
- [Teacher Gift {Giveaway} Season](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/teacher-gift-giveaway-season/) - As a teacher, I have received my share of coffee cups, pot holders, and homemade baked goods (with and without fingerprints). And they have all been lovely. But maybe you would like the inside scoop on a gift teachers would really enjoy? [Tweet "Maybe you'd like the scoop on a gift teachers really enjoy? #edchat"]
- [Style Guide](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/style-guide/) - There is a reason you love TeachersPayTeachers. There is a reason you love to create in Canva. There is a reason your friends ask for a copy of that last presentation you created. You appreciate and can create well-designed content. [Tweet "Good design is more than pretty. The design itself is helpful, serves a purpose,
- [Sharing Blended Learning Strategies](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/shared-blended-learning-strategies/) - The two bookends of my job are the technical integration/maintenance of our Learning Management System (LMS) and educating others on Blended Learning. That's a wide spectrum, and often I do more of the former than the latter. But I think you know that I prefer the latter. So when the CTAE Director asked me to
- [Blended Learning Misconceptions](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/blended-learning-misconceptions/) - The term Blended Learning has been overused by educational technology vendors. And it has been used too broadly by educators. It has been used inaccurately by many. As a result, many teachers are suffering because of the misconceptions which accompany this term. [Tweet "Which of these 3 #BlendedLearning misconceptions are in your school? #edchat"] Blended
- [The Effectiveness of Diminished Choices](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/the-effectiveness-of-diminished-choices/) - In an age when everyone has more choices than just a couple generations ago could ever have imagined - it is time to consider the effectiveness of diminished choices. Consider children and the overwhelm they often demonstrate with so many things to do. Can we help them narrow down choices, relieve stress while illustrating a clear path to
- [Your Invitation to Fail](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/your-invitation-to-fail/) - In the event that a fellow educator mentioned to you that you could fail and it not be fatal, but a formal invitation never arrived ... I have something for you. The HotLunchTray requests your presence at your next big failure. The HotLunchTray proudly wishes to celebrate with you at your next opportunity to likely learn what does
- [Tech Integration vs. Blended Learning :: Does it Really Matter?](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/tech-integration-vs-blended-learning-does-it-really-matter/) - If educators have been so confused, for so long, about the difference between technology integration and Blended Learning, does it matter? Maybe these terms mean the same thing or so close that the difference isn't important? Spoiler Alert: It Matters Having a strong definition of Blended Learning and how it differs from technology integration is
- [Teachers: your Largest Employee Group](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/teachers-your-largest-employee-group/) - In any school or school district, teachers are the single largest employee group. Listen to teachers for the health of any school. Do you listen to teachers in your school or district? [Tweet "Are teachers listened to in your school or district? #edchat"] How are teachers Developed? Not everyone will professionally develop themselves, but that
- [Time for a Change?](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/time-for-a-change/) - Often educational initiatives are pre-measured (read: pre-judged) on how receptive educators might be to the new idea. Will it be perceived as more work? Just one more thing? Are leaders willing to back the initiative? Is it really time for a change? Some initiatives are more worthy of a top-level push than others. But how
- [#EdTech Focus on Teachers](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/edtech-focus-on-teachers/) - There is a reason that when an administrator really wants to know how something works in a classroom they focus on teachers. Look at the spectrum of the educational professionals in differing roles at this time; classroom teachers are really the only ones with practical experience with educational technology or #EdTech. Administrators have barely cleaned
- [You Need A Big Idea](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/you-need-a-big-idea/) - Educational Technology is a big business. And every vendor wants to sell you. It is your job to keep in mind the guiding principles of your organization (classroom, school, district) - not the job of the #edtech vendor to only offer the tools which align with your philosophies. You need a big idea. [Tweet "Mind
- [How to Make Changes Quickly](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/how-to-make-changes-quickly/) - The more your experience, the quicker your iterations. The need to create updated versions of lessons, classroom structures, and experiences for learners is a constant pressure in education. With any strategy, idea, or educational technology tool your experience has benefits. You are able to interact abstractly with the concept of it in ways novices cannot.
- [Sphere of Influence](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/sphere-of-influence/) - Maybe the most exciting part of my job is when we talk about adding technology tools to our classrooms. As someone who always wanted to use technology but was limited by my personal budget, I feel like Robin Hood. I am part of a team who purchases educational technology software subscriptions for our teachers and
- [Tech Integration vs. Blended Learning](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/tech-integration-vs-blended-learning/) - What is the difference between Technology Integration and Blended Learning? This is an essential question and important to ask and answer early in any program rollout. Knowing the difference helps target behaviors and outcomes you desire. Not knowing can result in technology being discounted without fair evaluation. The best graphic on the relationship between these
- [Participate 3.1.2 Digital Resources and Netiquette Quest](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/participate-3-1-2-digital-resources-and-netiquette-quest-eteacertool/) - netiquette infographic
- [Start a K12 Blog ... Part Two](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/start-a-k12-blog-part-two/) - You want to start blogging about K12? So far from Part One on Starting a K12 Blog you have started to consider your area of passion and have walked through the Getting Started Checklist to set-up your blogging platform. Identify your Tasks per Post When you start any blog post there are some standard things you should
- [Create 1.1.1 Time Management Quest](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/create-1-1-1-time-management-quest-eteachertool/) - This post is one in a series for a MOOC. You can find similar posts searching under the Category MOOC or searching for hashtag #eteacherTOOL for more about this particular MOOC. What if I don't have time to explain to you - oh never mind here I will do it.... I would not say it
- [6 Tips for Success in your LMS](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/6-tips-for-success-in-your-lms/) - If you are wondering how to be a successful teacher in your school's Learning Management System (LMS) I have some tips for you: [Tweet "6 Tips: Success in your school's Learning Management System (LMS) #edchat"] "Did you Check Online?" Point everyone here, every time. Create the expectation that the procedure is always to check your online
- [I Created A Blog Challenge & You Can Too!](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/i-created-a-blog-challenge-you-can-too/) - I have always liked a good blog challenge. As someone who has not always enjoyed writing, a good prompt has always comforted me. I wrote about Blog Challenges for Educators long before I ever dared to consider hosting my own. I am not sure why I waited so long to host a blog challenge, but
- [Teachers of Instagram](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/instagram-content-for-teachers/) - We are probably very similar, teachers usually are. We care about kids. We show that in different ways, but we all care. Together we offer a myriad of ways for students to learn. We help families explore how each child learns best. To know a teacher in a face-to-face way is to see deeply into those
- [Thanks, #8weeksofsummer Blog Challenge Concludes](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/thanks-8weeksofsummer-blog-challenge-concludes/) - Thanks to everyone who participated in the #8weeksofsummer blog challenge. Bloggers, readers, and sharers of these posts. Today is the drawing for the $100 USD Amazon Gift Card; those who participated in each post are eligible. Take time to look through the prompts and responses from the blogging participants: Week 1 of 8: Potential Professional Growth
- [Should Alexa be in Schools?](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/should-alexa-be-in-schools/) - As I was writing a post for educators selling materials and/or services online I realized the question of if smart speakers like Alexa should even be in schools was a big deal. I broke this information into its own blog post to give some weight to this question: [Tweet "Should smart speakers like Alexa be
- [Should Educators Care about their Alexa Ranking?](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/should-educators-care-about-their-alexa-ranking/) - Should educators care about the ranking that Alexa, an Amazon company, assigns them? I feel like you already know the answer to this, yes. Yes, you should care. Especially educators who want to promote the materials or services they sell on their websites. [Tweet "Should educators selling online products care about their Alexa ranking? #edchat #TPT"]
- [3 Ways to Become a Teacherpreneur](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/3-ways-to-become-a-teacherprenuer/) - Entrepreneurs and educators do not always overlap. The nature of an educational career is predictable, and often a long sail on a ship, which if it turns, turns slowly. Not the environment you think of for an entrepreneur. However, when entrepreneurs are also educators it is ideal; they are never very far from their most
- [Week 8 of 8 🍍 #8weeksofsummer Blog Prompt: How Will You Keep Reflecting?](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/week-8-of-8-8weeksofsummer-blog-prompt-how-will-you-keep-reflecting/) - Welcome to the #8weeksofsummer blog challenge - the LAST week of the #8weeksofsummer challenge! All educators welcome, join us and reflect on your practice during this built-in break for refreshment and reflection. Since this is the last week make sure you complete ALL your prompts be entered into the July 29th drawing for a $100 USD
- [Week 7 of 8 🍍 #8weeksofsummer Blog Prompt: Share Favorite Strategies](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/week-7-of-8-8weeksofsummer-blog-prompt-share-favorite-strategies/) - Welcome to the #8weeksofsummer blog challenge. All educators welcome, join us and reflect on your practice during this built-in break for refreshment and reflection. Make sure you complete all the weeks and keep posting through July to enter in the drawing for a $100 USD Amazon Gift card: Week 1 of 8: Potential Professional Growth Week 2 of
- [The One {Most Important} Thing](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/the-one-most-important-thing/) - I have a 10YO who is very mature for his age and a 6YO who is a little brother. Twice in the last week, I had to explain to the older boy how to give his younger brother constructive feedback. Both conversations boiled down to me stating that of course many things could be improved, but we
- [Summer Reads](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/summer-reads/) - Sometimes I find myself "saving up books" to read when I have more time. Sound familiar to any teachers out there?
- [Week 6 of 8 🍍 #8weeksofsummer Blog Prompt: Apply Summer PL to Classroom](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/week-6-of-8-8weeksofsummer-blog-prompt-apply-summer-pl-to-classroom/) - Welcome to the #8weeksofsummer blog challenge. All educators welcome, join us and reflect on your practice during this built-in break for refreshment and reflection. Make sure you complete all the weeks and keep posting through July to enter in the drawing for a $100 USD Amazon Gift card: Week 1 of 8: Potential Professional Growth Week 2 of
- [2018 Halfway Report](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/2018-halfway-report/) - The end of June marks halfway through the calendar year. As a teacher, I rarely care about the calendar year. I do, however, make exceptions for taxes and blog statistics. So allow me to share my halfway report for 2018. Increase Traffic Since Christmas Break I have made a concerted effort to draw more traffic
- [Week 5 of 8 🍍 #8weeksofsummer Blog Prompt: Student Summer Experiences](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/week-5-of-8-8weeksofsummer-blog-prompt-student-summer-experiences/) - Welcome to the #8weeksofsummer blog challenge. All educators welcome, join us and reflect on your practice during this built-in break for refreshment and reflection. Make sure you complete all the weeks and keep posting through July to enter in the drawing for a $100 USD Amazon Gift card: Week 1 of 8: Potential Professional Growth Week 2 of
- [Week 4 of 8 🍍 #8weeksofsummer Blog Prompt: How do you Lead/Follow?](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/week-4-of-8-8weeksofsummer-blog-prompt-how-lead-follow/) - Welcome to the #8weeksofsummer blog challenge. All educators welcome, join us and reflect on your practice during this built-in break for refreshment and reflection. Make sure you complete all the weeks and keep posting through July to enter in the drawing for a $100 USD Amazon Gift card: Week 1 of 8: Potential Professional Growth Week 2 of
- [5 Things I am Taking to #ISTE18](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/5-things-i-am-taking-to-iste18/) - So if you are just getting around for ISTE you might need some help packing your suitcase. That's not me, I'm no good at that. But I can help with a minimum of five things I know I am taking: Comfortable Shoes You should plan to take comfortable shoes too! All your step-counting devices may
- [Week 3 of 8 🍍 #8weeksofsummer Blog Prompt: Biggest Change](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/week-3-of-8-8weeksofsummer-blog-prompt-biggest-change/) - This is the #8weeksofsummer blog challenge. All educators are welcome to participate and reflect on their practice during this built-in break for refreshment and reflection. Make sure you complete all the weeks and keep posting through July to enter in the drawing for a $100 USD Amazon Gift card: Week 1 of 8: Potential Professional Growth Week
- [Week 2 of 8 🍍 #8weeksofsummer Blog Prompt: Impactful PL](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/week-2-of-8-8weeksofsummer-blog-prompt/) - This is the #8weeksofsummer blog challenge. All educators are welcome to participate and reflect on their practice during this built-in break for refreshment and reflection. Make sure you complete the prior week's post and keep posting through July to enter in the drawing for a $100 USD Amazon Gift card! [Tweet "Nothing is quite like summer
- [18 to Follow for #ISTE18](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/18-to-follow-for-iste18/) - As you prepare for the annual biggest conference in your professional learning with me at ISTE make sure you are following these educators into the #ISTE18 Conference in Chicago, IL. [Tweet "Follow these 18 educators as you prepare for #ISTE18 #NotatISTE #edchat"] Check out my lists from prior years (still awesome follows): 2017, 2016 (slacked
- [How Not to Suck at #ISTE18](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/how-not-to-suck-at-iste18/) - Harsh, right? Well, I've met your inner voice; I believe our inner voices are related in fact. Because sometimes teachers can be so critical of - themselves. And know that being a teacher is, in itself, what makes you awesome to others. International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) conference is the largest international conference
- [Week 1 of 8 🍍#8weeksofsummer Blog Prompt: Potential Personal Growth](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/week-1-of-8-8weeksofsummer-blog-prompt-potential-personal-growth/) - Welcome to the #8weeksofsummer blog challenge! All educators are welcome to participate and reflect on their practice during this built-in break for refreshment and reflection. [Tweet "Nothing is quite like summer break for an educator and not for the reason you think! #edchat🍍"] Educators do have a nice amount of breaks throughout the year, but
- [Summer Reads for the Teacher](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/summer-reads-for-the-teacher/) - The phrase - Professional Development - may or may not make you roll your eyes hard. However, professional learners such as teachers are always learning, no matter is it is the school year or summer. These personal drivers that make teachers into professional learning machines dictate that even a teachers most quite moments can be
- [End of School Check List](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/end-of-school-check-list/) - Teacher End of School Check List: ✔ Give away some of your classroom library books to good homes. ✔ Have students help you move furniture, pretend like students never move furniture for you. ✔ Help students break the cycle of cleaning out a locker by filling up a backpack and vise versa - it all has to go
- [Blended Learning Roundup](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/blended-learning-roundup/) - Blended Learning is as new as the personal devices students carry. Just as with those devices educators, find themselves learning about teaching methods, like Blended Learning, alongside students and families. Check out this Blended Learning Round-up to find some resources on the big ideas around Blended Learning. [Tweet "Teacher Thought #512: Have I waited too long
- [Who do you Follow?](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/who-do-you-follow/) - Probably for the same reason I hesitated to drink in the same town in which I taught, I am hyper-aware of my social media presence. As I acquire a social media account, I try to identify a purpose early on and let that dictate the audience I follow. Social media changes quickly, and I find
- [50 Ways to Start Using Your LMS](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/50-ways-to-start-using-your-lms/) - I understand that not everyone loves educational technology the way I do. {clutches pearls} {remembers I do not wear pearls} {makes a Post-it note to buy pearls} {immediately loses Post-it note} But at some point you may be part of a larger educational body which mandates use of a Learning Management System, a LMS. And
- [Who to Involve in Edcamp](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/who-to-target-for-an-edcamp/) - This post is first in the series The Beginner's Guide to Starting a Local Edcamp. Check out all posts in the series: Who to Involve in Edcamp, Edcamp SWAG & Door Prizes Round-up, and Jobs at an Edcamp. Who to Involve in Edcamp I fell in love with the idea of Edcamps the moment I
- [Edcamp SWAG & Prizes Round-up](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/edcamp-door-prizes-round-up/) - This post is the second in the series The Beginner's Guide to Starting a Local Edcamp. Check out all posts in the series: Who to Involve in Edcamp, Edcamp SWAG & Door Prizes Round-up, and Jobs at an Edcamp. Yes, the real reward is the knowledge and connections you make at an Edcamp. Right, but
- [Jobs at EdCamp](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/jobs-at-edcamp/) - This post is third in the series The Beginner's Guide to Starting a Local Edcamp. Check out all posts in the series: Who to Involve in Edcamp, Edcamp SWAG & Door Prizes Round-up, and Jobs at an Edcamp. Jobs at Edcamp You may not have paid close attention attending an Edcamp to take note of
- [Updating my Online Courses](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/updating-my-online-courses/) - I published a course back in 2013 {yikes, a while ago} which desperately needed updating. I accomplished a mini-goal of publishing a second course to this platform today. So I took that oldy, but goody, out of mothballs for an overhaul today and started updating my online courses. I am pleased to say I appear
- [All Content: Beyond the Platform](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/all-content-beyond-the-platform/) - I had been threatening since December to actually finish an online course, but I actually just published today. Rapid, eh? I like to believe the time between when I started and today was spent processing, but maybe not every thought was totally focused, on what the content needs to be to transcend its platform.
- [Something that wasn't there before...an EdCamp](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/something-that-wasnt-there-before/) - I hosted my first EdCamp last Saturday with some colleagues. It was outside my safety net of a district professional learning day. It was smaller. It was less structured. And it was incredible. By the end I was proud that we offered something that wasn't there before. While I have attended edcamps before, I had never
- [5 Summer Plans Teachers Already Have](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/5-summer-plans-teachers-already/) - Yes, it is January. Yes, you are only half way through the school year. But teachers already have summer plans and the (often unpaid) work they want to do. [Tweet "Teachers already have plans for the (unpaid) summer work they want to do. #edchat"] Content Upgrades & Refresh An ongoing thing teachers do is evaluate
- [Your LMS as a 3 Ring Binder](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/your-lms-as-a-3-ring-binder/) - A traditional classroom has many different facets which vary by grade level and personal teaching style. An online classroom can have those same unique stylistic and organizational elements. When one combines pieces of a face-to-face classroom with an online classroom there are now exponential variations. It is important to understand these variations for teachers setting
- [This is me, writing an ebook](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/this-is-me-writing-an-ebook/) - You'd be forgiven if you cannot tell. But this is me writing an ebook. Since 2010 I have been writing two things. I have been writing portions of a larger thought which will end up in my book and then the other thing is just practicing writing itself. This blog is my pre-writing exercise. I
- [Reads for the Coach](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/reads-for-the-coach/) - Part of my job is to coach educators toward their ideal balance of technology integration and the right blended learning for their environment. My idea of the coach I was going to be, my assessment of the coach I am, and the coach I want to grow into is important to how I do my job.
- [The Truth about School](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/the-truth-about-school/) - The truth about school is it doesn't matter. At least, not like you think. Maybe I should refine that; for most of the students you teach, the content you teach matters less than how you teach. Students are already half-formed by their families and home life. Educators are not easily able to overcome, or refashion
- [Here Comes Transparency](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/here-comes-transparency/) - Educational technology offers a new lens through which to examine educational practices. Historically the teacher was both knowledge and pedagogical authority. Likewise, teacher reporting was the largest factor in measuring students performance. By adding technology to classrooms, subjective measures of performance can enjoy more quantitative measures. {Related Post: What your TPACK is missing} [Tweet "#edtech
- [Wordless Wednesday](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/wordless-wednesday/)
- [5 Things your Principal Thinks you Know about Technology](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/5-things-principal-thinks-know-technology/) - For whatever reason, Principals increasingly expect some basic knowledge out of all teachers. Yes, even that teacher down that hall. Use this round-up of basic technology knowledge to have a productive dialogue with your administrator. [Tweet "Use this round-up of basic technology knowledge to have a productive dialogue with your administrator. #edchat"] How to communicate
- [Wordless Wednesday: How Teachers Became 'Resented and Idealized' via @nprbooks](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/wordless-wednesday-how-teachers-became-resented-and-idealized-via-nprbooks/)
- [Wordless Wednesday | Fuel up for School](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/wordless-wednesday-fuel-up-for-school/)
- [Mixed Message Monday](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/mixed-message-monday/)
- [Thoughtful Thursday](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/thoughts-for-thursday/)
- [P.S. About Google Classroom](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/p-s-about-google-classroom/) - A unique position for me, I actually discourage use of a certain technology. That is atypical, but it might be understandable, let me explain. I cannot stop hearing about Google Classroom. Coincidentally, this surge in chatter coincides with a mandate for use of our district Learning Management System (LMS). So really this might be the
- [Out of the Classroom for a While](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/out-of-the-classroom-for-a-while/) - I have been out of the classroom since 2009. That is a while. A friend recently pointed out to me exactly how long that is. That same friend insinuated that other things have changed, but I am not too sure they have. This made me wonder, have I idealized some aspects of the classroom? And
- [Improve Communication Now & Next School Year](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/improve-communication-now-next-school-year/) - Every educator needs to communicate. And communicate well. How can you improve your communication? Make these small adjustments for the rest of this school year and then plan to make these adjustments for next school year to improve your communication. [Tweet "Make these small adjustments for the rest of this school year and then plan
- [Improve your Communication](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/improve-your-communication/) - The best thing about writing a blog is also the worst thing about writing a blog. My level of communication is laid open for the world to see. The world might see it and marvel at it {spoiler alert: they don't}; the world might read it and have more questions than answers. While I am
- [No Habla Español, but ask my kid.](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/no-habla-espanol-ask-kid/) - Not to brag, but I still remember how to say cat and pants from high school Spanish. Impressive, right? Needless to say, my preparation for being a public school teacher was woefully short in language dexterity. This post contains affiliate links. Nothings costs you extra, but I earn if you purchase. Fast forward 15 years
- [Where are you Saving your Notes?](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/where-are-you-saving-your-notes/) - There is no anxiety equal to trying to pull together meeting notes on a project/assignment/student when it is crunch time. How many anxiety attacks must I give myself before I can identify my ideal note taking system? You remember where it all started, right? Many {in my age bracket} started taking notes on paper, then
- [What do K12 Teachers Own?](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/what-do-i-own/) - Does it Matter what Teachers Own? Teachers in public K12 classrooms have some very basic similarities. We create, carry out, and then redo our lesson plans. We use the common arrow in our plan book to indicate the extra effort on the part of all in the classroom to internalize the material that much more.
- [I lied to my son](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/i-lied-to-my-son/) - When the news was only reporting two students dead in Lakewood Florida I lied to my son. I told him about how the school has built physical barriers that would protect him from people who want to do him harm. I told him how the people who work at the school are trained to talk
- [A TPT Conspiracy?](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/tpt-controversy/) - The democratic idea of one teacher creating something and selling it to a teacher for a nominal fee is attractive. That is the premise of TPT. Who wouldn't like that? It turns out that this ruffles various feathers in a variety of ways: Traditional Publishers Textbooks which sometimes arrive out of date are certainly part of
- [Another Snow Day in The South turns Digital Learning Day](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/another-snow-day-in-the-south-turns-digital-learning-day/) - Another snow day in The South; while locals lament the inability to buy more bread and milk than logic allows, something else is happening. One of the largest counties in the state has advertised "Digital Learning Days" again with their cancellation notice. What does this new education venture mean? [Tweet "Digital Learning Days in The
- [Second Semester Lessons #blogamonth](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/second-semester-lessons-blogamonth/) - This blog is part of the #blogamonth challenge. Join in our community of educators and give your blogging an audience, a purpose, and accept the monthly prompt! New Year's Resolutions are tough. It feels like I am setting myself up for failure when I make them; so I either hedge my bets by making slight ones
- [Upgrades to Your Online Content](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/5-instant-upgrades-to-your-online-content/) - The hard part is putting your content online. Once your content is online, different challenges await you. Expect to revise your content at least once per year (ideally, right after you deliver it to your students). Expect to update for two things: new information and improved user experience. New information is expected in education, but
- [Messy {Digital} Teacher Desk](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/messy-digital-teacher-desk/) - Can we talk about your digital desk? Why is it so cluttered? Do you need some help? We all have that one teacher friend with the "pile system" for grading {suddenly hoping you're not that friend}. This article from Evernote examines the link between messiness and food choices, creativity, and stress. So don't go forward
- [Who isn't a visual learner?](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/isnt-visual-learner/) - Have you heard the statement: "I am a visual learner." Have you heard it less than a million times? Oh. My. Have you said it? Surely not more than a million ... nevermind. [Tweet "When someone says "I am a visual learner, " what is going on? #edchat"] There are all types of learning theories
- [Wannabe YouTubers](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/wannabe-youtubers/) - Did your child tell you that s/he wants to be a YouTuber yet? Is your child trying to emulate those How Tos, Minecraft Guided Tours, and self-interview videos which fill YouTube? You may have a wannabe YouTuber. These are not the career dreams of our youth, so parents need to know how to support, nurture,
- [Content is King & You Don't Know Much](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/when-content-is-king-and-your-dont-know-much/) - It happens throughout your teaching career, you change something and have to start over again. It is eye-roll-worthy and exhausting, but it happens. New teachers, teachers who move, who change grade levels, or content assignments all go through this. You can choose to embrace it or dread it, but it happens often in the field
- [Top Ten Servings of the Hot Lunch Tray in 2017](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/top-ten-servings-hot-lunch-tray-2017/) - It has been a great year at the Hot Lunch Tray. These are the top ten blog posts by page views. You can compare to the 2016 Top Ten. Enjoy! [Tweet "Top Ten Servings of the Hot Lunch Tray in 2017 #edchat #edtech #edtechchat"] [listly id="1t6d" layout="full" per_page="25" show_item_voting="false" show_item_numbers="false" show_item_relist="false"]
- [Return your 2017 Hot Lunch Tray Here](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/return-2017-hot-lunch-tray/) - As you return your 2017 Hot Lunch Tray let me remove my hair net and tell you about the year around this blog. [Tweet "Return your 2017 Hot Lunch Tray Here: Year in Review #edchat"] What Worked The blog post that really caught on this year was Show Blended Learning in a Lesson Plan, published in November of 2016.
- [Tech is no Longer The Barrier](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/tech-is-no-longer-the-barrier/) - When you look around and see some classrooms not integrating technology, remember it isn't tech that is the barrier. Devices Many classrooms, schools, and districts are not yet 1:1 and still need to purchase large numbers of devices to get there. However, devices are likely present in close proximity to that classroom. Even when devices
- [Closeness to the Classroom](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/closeness-to-the-classroom/) - When you return to your classroom after an extended break it just feels different. You have a long-term perspective that you cannot replicate without a lengthy break. Classroom teachers are impacted by their closeness to the classroom. Details in everyday teaching, paperwork minutia, working with the families of their students create an immersion which can
- [3 Ways to Grade Faster](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/3-ways-grade-faster/) - How many weekend television programs have you "watched" while filling the coffee table, the couch, and -surprise- some of the floor with the papers you are attempting to grade? Maybe it is time to consider some grading alternatives? Some things must be graded thoughtfully by the teacher. However, if a chunk of the other kind of
- [Tech Helps New Teachers](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/tech-helps-new-teachers/) - Technology can help new teachers be more successful in their first years of teaching. Careers are often established or abandoned in those first several years, so it is important to remove hurdles as many as possible. Particularly blended learning, amplifies teaching effectiveness and learning for students. But before a teacher can get to teaching with technology, often
- [Your Personal Firewall](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/your-personal-firewall/) - A firewall keeps things out. In the classroom teachers have always kept somethings out, a position unique to the teacher alone. Students and families to some extend can only respond to the firewall of the classroom. So as an educator, what does your personal firewall keep out? Some teachers cherish the cover, the mystery, of
- [EMAIL Hacks: Teacher Efficiency](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/email-hacks-teacher-efficiency/) - Chances are you are still thinking about an email from work. Email sure is pervasive, isn't it? At the risk of bringing up the topic, let us talk about how to manage email instead of it managing us. Unless you were already teaching when email was introduced to classrooms you may not have given this a thought
- [By the Time it Snows, It is Too Late](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/time-snows-late/) - When your most proper teacher friends in The South talk about "The S Word," you pay attention. Their hushed tones and serious looks barely cover a teacher's excitement. Because for the longest time around here, a snow day meant a day of no school. Of course, that is changing. [Tweet "The S Word. For the
- [Students BYO Channel](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/students-byo-channel/) - While educators were debating if we should provide students with email a funny thing happened... ...students invested their time in creating, populating, and curating their own channels of social media. Bring Your Own The BYO (Bring Your Own) movements used to be device-centric. The idea was to allow students to bring personal devices to school to
- [The Gift of EdTech #blogamonth](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/gift-edtech-blogamonth/) - This blog is part of the #blogamonth challenge. Join in our community of educators and give your blogging an audience, a purpose, and accept the monthly prompt! Gifts of EdTech Past I left the classroom with Vis-A-Vis stains on my hands. So to consider my gifts of educational technology could be to consider the gifts of
- [Does #EdTech Need Everybody?](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/does-edtech-need-everybody/) - I find myself in a cycle. I want to on-board everyone to everything and then inexplicably when that does not happen I feel disappointed. Beyond comprehension, I find myself repeating this cycle numerous times before I intervene on behalf of my own sanity and ask - - - is what I am trying to accomplish
- [The 10 Commandments of Technology Coaching](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/the-10-commandments-of-technology-coaching/) - We have all been new at something, done something for the first time, and we know some fast tips can make the experience better for everyone involved. Technology coaching in education has an especially high learning curve because you need to be effective since time is a valuable commodity to educators. [Tweet "10 Commandments of #EdTech Coaching:
- [Create Perfect HTML Pages, Modules in your LMS](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/create-perfect-html-page-module-lms/) - If you have an idea of the content to present in your LMS, your next thought turns to how it looks as just plain text - and how can you dress that up? Most educators did not learn this type of Instructional Design in our undergraduate programs; so here is how to make perfect HTML
- [Top Ten List: The first updates to your new computer ....](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/top-ten-list-the-first-updates-to-your-new-computer/) - I have just transitioned to a new laptop and was mindful of the steps I took when customizing my new computer. I thought it was interesting to see what I "had" to do "first." Here is the order so far: Open IE to download Mozilla Firefox Use Mozilla to download Safari browser Use Mozilla to
- [US Football is an Educational Pursuit](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/us-football-is-an-educational-pursuit/) - Not that I am trying to deduct my TV bill on my taxes, but I had an educational epiphany while watching National Football League (NFL) playoff games this weekend. In the NFL teams change end zones after each quarter of play. "Duh" you say? Yes, "Duh," but think about what we watch the NFL for
- [Modern Torture Techniques](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/modern-torture-techniques/) - National Public Radio's Fresh Air segment on The Inquisition is an interview with Cullen Murphy, author of God's Jury: The Inquisition and the Making of the Modern World. (National Public Radio, Fresh Air podcast. January 23, 2013) In this interview Cullen talks about the Third Inquisition, or the "Roman Inquisition" and how it occurred due
- [Pinterest Party](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/pinterest-party/) - Pinterest Party Invite for WordPress
- [Playing with Pinterest](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/playing-with-pinterest/) - Well, now you're sure I am female - I've just outed myself by admitting I frequent (read: 'am-addicted-to') Pinterest. I have wanted to do more with the pinboard I dedicate to "Strictly School" for some time. I have some male peers who think Pinterest is too girly. But really I think men would appreciate the
- [Biggest Difference...](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/biggest-difference/) - I was a teacher for 10 years and have been an e learning specialist now for 5 years. I just discovered this AM that I had taken home the Post-it notes I had been using by accident. As I went to the supply closet to get myself another pad of stickies I realized how things
- [Top 13 Things I Tweeted about in 2013](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/top-13-things-i-tweeted-about-in-2013/) - review of items tweeted in 2013
- [Do not Confuse Movement with Progress](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/do-not-confuse-movement-with-progress/) - difference between progress and movement in education
- [Create 4.1.2 Principles of Building Portable Learning Objects Quest](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/create-4-1-2-principles-of-building-portable-learning-objects-quest-eteachertool/) - Building portable learning objects
- [Create 4.1.3 Aggregating Lesson Material Quest](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/create-4-1-3-aggregating-lesson-material-quest-eteachertool/) - aggregate lesson material
- [Becoming A Blended Learning Designer #BlendKit2014 Week 5](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/becoming-a-blended-learning-designer-blendkit2014-week-5/) - Quality Assurance in Blended Learning
- [The first time a new habit is tested #AprilBlogaDay](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/the-first-time-a-new-habit-is-tested-aprilblogaday/) - Spring Break is over. That is sad enough. However I am worried about this habit of writing daily I picked up from #AprilBlogaDay. Can I keep it up?My Plan:Write at lunch: I can do this atleast 3/5 daysWrite in the AM: maybe on the weekendsWrite after the kids are in bed: maybe the remaining days.My
- [Spring is Hope #EdBlogaDay](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/spring-is-hope-edblogaday/) - Spring is hope. And I knew to start hoping when I saw the first boy come into class with a see-to-the-skull haircut. I loved watching my students whittle down the "number of Mondays" or "number of spelling tests" to something which could fit on two, then one hand. It gave those young minds a number
- [Spring Break](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/spring-break/) - There are really only three possible ways to spend pre-Spring Break: Acquiescence to Lethargy Actually plan instruction for the days leading up to the holiday which are purposefully not instructive so that you do not have to teach the same thing again after break. A sad shadow of a classroom where you face the slow
- [Paralyzed by Choices](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/paralyzed-by-choices/) - Maybe you think you do not have choices in your professional growth. Every so often we should check our assumptions though. Do you really not have choice or are you paralyzed by all the possible choices you actually *do* have? [Tweet "Do you really have no choice or are you paralyzed by all the possible
- [Working from Home Today? Choose your own Professional Learning Adventure!](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/working-from-home-today-choose-your-own-professional-learning-adventure/) - Choose Your Own Professional Learning
- [Most Exciting Professional Development...](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/most-exciting-professional-development/) - exciting professional development
- [❄ Snow Day 101: Invest or Wing It? ❄](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/snow-day-101-invest-or-wing-it/) - I have fond memories of listening to the snowplow rumble by my house around 6:00 AM and fancying I could tell by the sounds it made if school would be cancelled. The seconds it took me to jump from my warm bed and peek around the window shade was anticipation filled, all two steps. I
- [Snow-worthy](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/snow-worthy/) - When your chances of snow look like this, but you get an email from school at 5:30AM that yes-you-still-have-school-today it might mean you believe you are snow-worthy. To different people this might mean different things. The students are easy to understand; they want to play in snow. Being Southern children, they covet the snow that never
- [Laptop Refresh 2017](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/laptop-refresh-2017/) - The last time I made a list of the first updates to a new computer was at the end of 2011. I remembered to jot down some notes today when I changed out laptops and thought it interesting to compare what I did then to what I did today. Physical set-up of different stations. Monitors,
- [Can you see TPACK in your Org Chart?](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/can-you-see-tpack-in-your-org-chart/) - Not to brag, but educators know things. Like how to teach content. And how to turn people into teachers. We've known this for while. And because we are good at it, we keep doing it. In fact, we rarely deviate from the pattern from this successful pattern. Maybe that is how we find ourselves here.
- [The Unasked Question](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/the-unasked-question/) - I recently heard a great story from a parent on the sidelines of a sporting event. The other parent was a trainer for a season in life and had some great hooks she shared with me. My favorite was about the unasked question. As part of the annual holiday dinner preparation she routinely asked her
- [Challenge: Chunking](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/challenge-chunking/) - I have never said, “You’ve chunked that too small” when working with teachers on creating digital content. Never. Classroom teachers spend years honing year-long themes, semester syllabi, units of study, weekly plans, and lesson plans. They can scale-up with ease; they can quickly tell you where the current lesson fits in the grade level scope
- [A Promise to My Kid's Teacher](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/promise-kids-teacher/) - We are both teachers. Invariably one of us will have more experience. I promise not to lord that over you or be intimidated by yours. [Tweet "A Promise to My Kid's Teacher #edchat"] In the rush of our lives, we will misspell, lose our temper, or just plain get something wrong. One of us will
- [How You Take Back Your Professional Learning](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/how-you-are-taking-back-your-professional-learning/) - For the longest time your Grade/Department Chair, or your building Administration, or your school district has directed your Professional Learning. It is time to take back your professional learning as a professional learner. Because, despite how you sometimes feel, you are in fact a professional learner. And taking charge of your own professional learning will help
- [Digital Tootsie Rolls](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/digital-tootsie-rolls/) - There is wisdom in the analog classroom. In this age of what to bring with us from the analog to the digital classrooms, we are challenged. Training is not different. What effective practices do we copy as-is into digital platforms? What practices could be tweaked and incorporated into digital classrooms? What practices should stay in the
- [Maybe it isn't about You](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/maybe-it-isnt-about-you/) - Don't get me wrong, you're probably a rock star. But this isn't about you. If you are an effective coach, it is about making the other teacher the rock star. I personally struggle with that same drive that brought me to the classroom. I want to try things my way, I already know what I know,
- [Communication Home. Don't Blow It.](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/communication-home-dont-blow-it/) - Your goal is to partner with parents. Yes all parents, even if the reason you communicate with parents differs, you want to communicate to positively move forward. Methods have changed since you were in school. Once paper and the telephone were the only way to reach home. With the introduction of electronic means of communication,
- [Move Your Content: Version 1 to Version 2](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/version-1-vs-version-2/) - Throughout teaching you encounter many versions of things. There are parent/student perceptions, there are versions of assignments for different IEPs, and there is what the lunch room calls meatloaf. But to focus on moving your content from one version to the next is important for your professional growth. [Tweet "Focus on moving content from one version to next
- [A New Beginning #blogamonth](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/a-new-beginning-blogamonth/) - This blog is part of the #blogamonth challenge. Join in our community of educators and give your blogging an audience, a purpose, and accept the monthly prompt! I have struggled with this prompt several times this month and decide the real story of this blog has to be my struggle to articulate my answer
- [In Support & Resistance of #EdTech](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/in-support-resistance-of-edtech/) - Can you identify the support and resistance of educational technology in your educational community? Are you sometimes in support and other times in resistance of #edtech? That actually sounds right. Educational technology is an amplifier of content and task completion. It makes sense to select the right time, tasks, and content to receive amplification. When
- [The TOOL Experience #SPLS14 Presentation #eTeacherTOOL #MOOC](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/georgia-virtual-learnings-2014-summer-professional-learning-symposium/) - Analysis of MOOC #eTeacherTOOL
- [Inbox eLearning](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/inbox-elearning/) - You've already read further than I thought you would. Maybe you received this via your Inbox? An email Inbox may not be your idea of a premier or innovative eLearning platform, but I challenge you to find a more ubiquitous platform as far as reach than email. [Tweet "An email may not be your ideal
- [Add Value to Recycled PL](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/add-value-to-recycled-pl/) - Yes. Professional Learning is not as fresh as you suspect. Let's get that out-of-the-way immediately.It is normal to calculate a presentation, class, or training will be re-run. In fact, we count on it. We need an authentic run-through to work out the kinks. The kinks are the types of things you find the first time
- [Educational Non-Negotiables](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/educational-non-negotiables/) - What are your Educational Non-Negotiables? I use the term "non-negotiables" often on this blog: The good news is I am not your Union Representative I am a fellow educator. But I think it would do us both good to identify our educational non-negotiables. Classroom Standards Teachers starting the school year can tell you how important
- [Book Report: The Water is Wide](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/book-report-the-water-is-wide/) - I reread (2005, 2017) this book with advance knowledge of the cringe worthy, sideways glance at every teacher's first years. I read it knowing that one of my favorite, but most embarrassing, quote at the end of the book hit too close to home for me. And I reread this anyway. One of my favorite
- [KEEP CALM it's only PRESEASON #BlogAMonth](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/keep-calm-preseason-blogamonth/) - This post is a part of #blogamonth monthly blog challenge. The 2017-18 school year has begun for me and for others it is fast approaching. Join this "edu-couragement" community for monthly reflecting and commenting led by @UGAFrank. But for now, this is "Pre-Season #blogamonth. [Tweet "Consider joining #blogamonth and cement some online educonnections going into
- [5 Things Students want from Blended Learning](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/3-things-your-students-want-from-your-blended-learning/) - Blended Learning is more than just a benefit to teachers. The students benefit from Blended Learning too, but what do your students want from Blended Learning? [Tweet "5 Things Students want from Blended Learning #edchat"] Clarity Students want clarity on what part of classwork is online and what is face-to-face. It is a best practice
- [Want to Improve Your Online Content?](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/want-to-improve-your-online-content-ask-these-questions/) - It is time. Time to update your online content. When you are ready to freshen your online content there are some essential questions to ask. [Tweet "When you are ready to freshen your online content here are some essential questions to ask. #edchat"] How easy is my online content to: Read at a Glance There
- [How Ready are Your Students for Blended Learning?](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/how-ready-are-your-students-for-blended-learning/) - Congratulations, you are ready to start blending your class! Now what about your students? Educators who pioneered blended learning can offer the next wave of potential blended learning teachers a hand-up. Teachers who elect to implement a blended approach to their classroom are in greater control of student access to materials and are able to
- [Create Online Content without a Subject Matter Expert?](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/create-elearning-without-a-subject-matter-expert/) - In K12 there is a gap remaining between face-to-face teaching and online learning that colors interactions with all the hybrids in between. It is the experience gap with online content. And without experiencing online learning (and sometimes even with online learning experience) educators might not understand the importance of the subject matter expert in the
- [The Blended Learning Customer Experience](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/the-blended-learning-customer-experience/) - Teachers really may be the busiest people you know during the school year. And when it comes to building blended learning content, what they do daily is evident in the struggle to produce the best blended learning possible. Instead of viewing the blended learning creation as the crucial point, what about considering content from the Blended
- [Educational Nostalgia](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/educational-nostalgia/) - Some times of year are thick with educational nostalgia. Graduations and the start of a school year are traditional times to reflect on your years in educational service. Veteran teachers wax philosophic if they would still start a career in education with the "current state" of education. When educators look back, what do we miss?
- [How to Turn Worksheets into Online Content](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/turn-worksheets-online-content/) - Dear Asking for a Friend - It sounds like there is some confusion about online content at your school. And that sounds typical for where K12 education is with creating digital content. [Tweet "How to Convert your Worksheets into Online Content #edchat"] scroll to the bottom for a sample conversion First Thing is First Let's
- [Is Content I Create for Class Mine?](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/is-content-i-create-for-class-mine/) - Teachers have always created things for their students. Teachers spend so much time in the classroom and know their students so well, that is natural they create content for those classrooms. And then, when they eventually emerge from the classroom they all ask the same question: Is the content I create for my class mine?
- [Blending your Instruction: Make it or Break it](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/blending-your-instruction-make-it-or-break-it/) - Blended Learning is one of the more nebulous educational terms lately. It ranks up there with "disruptive" and "innovative" and if completing an EDU BINGO card is not what you are in the field of education for... You require some solid advice to get started blending your instruction. Provide directions for ev-ery-thing. If you add a new
- [Pioneers turned Settlers](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/pioneers-turned-settlers/) - My classroom was like an old western movie. I often thought of myself as a "white hat" and there were times when I certainly went "cowboy" after some new technology, literature set, you name it I probably started a shoot-out over it. So when I try to gather compelling course content around Blended Learning - I
- [30 Day Blog Challenge Review](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/30-day-blog-challenge-review/) - It has been 30 days since I joined the group 30 Day Blog Challenge. I scheduled this post in my editorial calendar to remind me to check in on how I did with the challenge. Truth is I am still doing it! I joined this challenge after connecting with a fellow educator in a
- [5 Wrong Beliefs Holding Teachers Back #AprilBlogaDay](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/5-wrong-beliefs-holding-teachers-back-aprilblogaday/) - I am just a teacher. You are not "just" a teacher. You - are - a - teacher! And teachers close the door and have the undivided attention of the young for impressive stretches of time. You set the weather for their learning each time you teach. You show them not how to be perfect, but
- [Increased Transparency needs Increased Assurance](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/increased-transparency-needs-increased-assurance/) - Many educational technologies include features with the benefit of making teaching and learning more transparent. For many transparency is a benefit; transparency creates more accountability between stakeholders and equalizes the playing field of education for those who traditionally may not succeed. What about the teachers and learners who view increased transparency as a deterrent? [Tweet "Increased Transparency
- [5 Ways to Fail at Blended Learning](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/5-ways-to-fail-at-blended-learning/) - Five ways to fail at Blended Learning: [Tweet "Avoid these 5 ways to fail at Blended Learning #edchat"] Try to make everything available online all at once. Impossible and you would be too tired to teach students face-to-face. Instead, carve out small goals in reasonable amounts of time. Try making one type of assignment/assessment available online,
- [A Lesson in every Platform, A Grade in every Place](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/lesson-every-platform-grade-every-place/) - This is no longer the days of create-everything-from-scratch with some scissors, tape, and a copy machine. Multiple websites promise to be your educational platform and grading program of choice. There are seemingly limitless resources out there for educators to access... seemingly.. endless. In fact, maybe there are too many good resources. [Tweet "I used to be overwhelmed
- [Professional Learning and Conferences #edublogsclub](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/professional-learning-and-conferences-edublogsclub/) - This post is prompt 25 of the #EdublogsClub – a group of educators and edtech enthusiasts that blog around a common theme each week. All conferences can be Professional Learning, but not all Professional Learning happens at conferences. I want to tell you about both the conferences and the professional learning I am doing this summer.
- [17 to Follow on Twitter for #ISTE2017 #ISTE17](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/17-follow-twitter-iste2017/) - As you ramp up to the annual pinnacle in your professional learning with me at ISTE make sure you are following these folks into the #ISTE2017 #ISTE17 Conference in San Antonio, TX. [Tweet "Check out the 17 to follow heading into #ISTE2017 #ISTE17"] [listly id="1Xcx" layout="full" per_page="25"] [Tweet "Check out the 17 to follow heading
- [3 Ways Technology is Reshaping the Classroom](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/3-ways-technology-is-reshaping-the-classroom/) - More than an acceleration of the pace of education, more than the expansion of content to teach, your classroom is being reshaped in new ways. Technology is reshaping what your classroom is right now. Veteran teachers can tell you classrooms are not only changing, but changing at an exponential rate. Here are three ways... [Tweet "Technology
- [What your TPACK is Missing](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/what-your-tpack-is-missing/) - The TPACK graphic is compelling. The complex relationship between the demands of teaching are well represented. And ideally balanced. The overlapping sweet spots are easily pictured by experienced educators. How I See TPACK The nature of my job is that I see many teachers in the overlap area Technological Content Knowledge (TCK). These teachers are often
- [Curation of Content](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/curation-of-content/) - Walking in to Steven Anderson's session on Curating Content the Right Way I felt okay about the curation of my professional learning. I knew he had a book out on the subject Curate This: The Hands-On, How-To Guide To Content Curation and I was expecting a preview. I *did not* feel so okay by the end of the session. By the
- [How #EdTech Impacts Your Calendar](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/edtech-impacts-calendar/) - With the proliferation of #edtech products comes an unexpected squeeze, not on your wallet as much as on your schedule. You may want to consider the full cost of #edtech to your school or district at purchase or renewal. That full cost includes time, spent on training and the cost of not training, as well
- [The Meeting that Never Happens...](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/meeting-never-happens/) - ...is often the gift of time to teachers...makes an attractive email - read now, reread later...allows more family time and reduces stress...does not makes your teachers resent professional meetings...does not require anyone to bring snacks..teachers can grade openly instead of in their laps..will not be live-tweeted...makes you wonder did anyone fall asleep in the Library
- [Blogging Buddies with #ETCoaches](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/blogging-buddies-etcoaches/) - I want to share this awesome resource for potential bloggers! My ISTE PLN, EdTech Coaches #ETCoaches is kicking off "Blogging Buddies." Instead of an event, such as a blogging challenge, this attempts to pre-connect bloggers in groups. Where a challenge might supply content prompts, this supplies context between blogs and accountability between bloggers for frequency of
- [5 Minutes Away from Disaster](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/5-minutes-away-disaster/) - Every teacher is five minutes away from disaster. All day long. However, good teachers fill those minutes with decisions which constantly reroute students and events away from disaster. No wonder teachers are so exhausted! [Tweet "Every teacher is 5 minutes away from disaster. #edchat"] Happy Teacher Appreciation Day! Savor the next 4 minutes and then hurry
- [If you don't pass The Test #BlogAMonth](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/dont-pass-test-blogamonth/) - I always felt bold when I said it to middle schoolers, "Do you know what happens if you don't do well on The Test?" The fourth, fifth, sixth, or seventh graders would lean in and hold their collective breath ... "Nothing. One test doesn't make or break anyone." I said it to my students because
- [Nothing Personal, Love Technology](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/nothing-personal-love-technology/) - Have you ever noticed how people take technology failures so personally? However, technology does exactly what is is told. So what are you telling it to do? And what makes you think this is personal? Do you often get results you did not intend in life? How is your Personal Communication? Trouble communicating your thoughts, ideas,
- [EdTech Leadership Cycle](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/edtech-leadership-cycle/) - The EdTech Leadership cycle is complex. So much of what a school or district needs depends on where they are in the journey of converting Teacher Technology (Type I) to Student Technology (Type II). {Check out the difference between Type I and Type II technology: Using Technology How?} Where a district is on that journey dictates the type of
- [Laptop required, and everyone brings a smartphone](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/you-have-to-require-a-laptop-but-not-a-smartphone/) - If you have ever hosted a professional learning event or training for teachers, you likely called out in the invitation - laptop required - right? And you still have to plan for when someone forgets their required laptop as well. Have you ever wondered, why do I need to require a laptop? And yet, everyone automatically
- [Repeat after Me ...](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/repeat-after-me/) - Sometimes it is an idea you know is rudimentary, but you recognize your idea in it when they repeat it back to you. I always worry the easiest parts of an idea take hold and the details are forgotten, but there is the gist of what you said, coming right back at you. There is
- [One Good Strategy](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/one-good-strategy/) - Early learners of anything flounder. Their learning is almost visible in their struggles. It is easy to forget how little things can make a big impact. Anyone in the nascent stages of learning something needs the same thing - one good strategy. Educators often struggle with certain aspects of their profession at stages in their career. Early in an educational
- [My Blog Story #EduBlogsClub](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/my-blog-story-edublogsclub/) - This post is a product of the 30 Days of Blogging Challenge and post 1 in a series of posts for EduBlogs Club. I am participating in a couple of Blogging Challenges to stay engaged on my blog and to mix up the content. I would love for you to join me in either or both: @GCouros
- [Does this PLC Cover Me?](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/does-this-plc-cover-me/) - The idea of a Professional Learning Community, a PLC, is awesome. I want to sit with other professionals and participate in critical conversations around student work, achievement, and my personal practice. But that doesn't always happen. Maybe people are particularly open about their use of educational technology in these groups, but I am hearing some unexpected
- [Digital Divide: Teachers & Students](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/digital-divide-teachers-students/) - There is a new digital divide. It is the digital divide between teachers and students. Some Students Start Behind Students show up to school with so many different strengths and challenges. One of those challenges is lack of dependable Internet access, consistent access to technology, an understanding of how to behave online. Often this is a function of economic
- [Refuse to Accelerate](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/refuse-to-accelerate/) - As an adult I have control over a great deal. I retain control of what I attend to, especially in this hyperactive news environment. The truth is, I just don't do it very well. The current news cycle can highjack my morning routine, car rides, and unstructured Internet usage. It turns out that many adults are caught-up
- [A Picture Is Worth ... #EduBlogsClub](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/a-picture-is-worth-edublogsclub/) - ...a 1,000 views? Well, maybe not quite 1,000. But, pictures or images are an important facet of any blog post. Images serve a few functions on my blog. Sometimes they inspire, or help me refine my focus for a post. They promote my post to potential readers via social media. And they can clarify the
- [Blog Challenges for Educators](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/blog-challenges-educators/) - It seems every blog I read for specific content also wants to talk to about blogging. Maybe I am just another one of those... Blog challenges have helped me write when I was out of ideas, focused me back on education, and introduced me to new people and their blogs. I want to share with
- [New #eteacherTOOL #MOOC to Consider…. $49 work reviewed & LinkedIn Badge](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/new-eteachertool-mooc-to-consider-49-work-reviewed-linkedin-badge/) - My dabbling with MOOCs has been quite well self-documented. Today I registered for a MOOC I feel rather differently about… let me explain. This MOOC is offered by Georgia's Virtual Learning/Schools. https://www.openteachertraining.org There is an inherent appeal to me since I am currently a Georgia educator, but maybe because I sat through an in-person presentation on
- [Capstone: Participate #eteacherTOOL](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/capstone-participate-eteachertool/) - MOOC Capstone on Participate
- [Capstone: Create #eteacherTOOL](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/capstone-create-eteachertool/) - MOOC Capstone on Create
- [Capstone: Evaluate #eteacherTOOL](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/capstone-evaluate-eteachertool/) - MOOC Capstone on Evaluate
- [Capstone: Navigate #eteacherTOOL](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/capstone-navigate-eteachertool/) - MOOC Capstone on Navigate
- [Capstone: Communicate #eteacherTOOL](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/capstone-communicate-eteachertool/) - MOOC Capstone on Communication
- [Edublogs Teacher Challenge: Steps 5 & 6](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/edublogs-challenge-steps-5-6/) - Continuing the Edublogs Teacher Blogging Challenge EduBlogs offers different blogging challenges: personal blogging and student blogging. In the Teacher Challenge (personal) series I am following these 8 steps: Step 1: Setting up your blog Step 2: Setting Up Pages Step 3: Publish your first posts Step 4: Connecting with others Step 5: Working with Widgets Step 6: Images, copyright
- [Steps 7 & 8 Edublogs Teacher Challenge](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/steps-7-8-edublogs-challenge/) - Completing the Edublogs Teacher Blogging Challenge Edublogs offers different blogging challenges: personal (teacher) blogging and student blogging. In the Teacher Challenge (personal) series I am following these 8 steps: Step 1: Setting up your blog Step 2: Setting Up Pages Step 3: Publish your first posts Step 4: Connecting with others Step 5: Working with Widgets Step 6: Images,
- [Lesson Learned: Students have Different Challenges #ReflectiveTeacher](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/day-26-teachthought-blog-challenge/) - As part of the TeachThought January Blog Challenge today’s prompt is: Share a time when you learned a very important lesson from one of your students. The Florida Today newspaper archive only goes bask to 2002, so we will both have to rely on my memory. In 1999 I was a second year teacher in Brevard
- [Reporting Progress Ideally #ReflectiveTeacher](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/reporting-progress-ideally-reflectiveteacher/) - As part of the TeachThought January Blog Challenge today’s prompt is: How would you choose to report progress out to children and parents? I was not going to post on this topic, I felt too far removed from this since I am five years out of the classroom. However, another #ReflectiveTeacher brought this back to my
- [Showin' Some Love #ReflectiveTeacher](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/showin-some-love-reflectiveteacher/) - As part of the TeachThought February Blog Challenge this week's prompt is: How can we demonstrate love while maintaining boundaries? I think the early years of our career are so interesting. We have the most enthusiasm and the least baggage. We will try things, do things, and say things that we will be too reserved to do for the rest of
- [Improve your Argument #BlogAMonth](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/improve-your-argument-blogamonth/) - For the October #BlogAMonth challenge I have only just found my soapbox moment as October is closing. And I had to improve my argument and not raise my voice. Recently I found myself in a teacher meeting where I realized I was in a minority view and had to change my tactic to maneuver back
- [Achievement & Success #BlogAMonth](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/achievement-success-blogamonth/) - Achievement is the knowledge that you have studied and worked hard and done the best that is in you. Success is being praised by others. That is nice but not as important or satisfying. Always aim for achievement and forget about success. Helen Hayes
- [Inspirational and Educational Videos :: January 2017 #BlogaMonth](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/inspirational-educational-videos-january-2017-blogamonth/) - An awesome idea is to follow-through on the prompt for the Jan 2017 #BlogaMonth: Suggest one to two of your favorite videos (Ted Talks, YouTube Clips, Vimeos, Movie Clips…etc) that you have used in your school setting, and share how you used it. Explain how incorporating this visual into your presentation or lesson has helped
- [Sharing Treasure #BlogAMonth September 2016](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/sharing-treasure-blogamonth-september-2016/) - A teacher friend is worth his/her weight in gold for a reason; they hold treasure! Over the years teachers build up experience and the knowledge of where to access the best resources. If you pick the right teacher friends you gain immediate access to their experience and knowledge - that is gold in educational circles. For
- [Leadership #EduBlogsClub](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/leadership-edublogsclub/) - This post is a product of the 30 Days of Blogging Challenge and post 3 in a series of posts for EduBlogs Club. Leadership Authority Your Principal. Some positions come with responsibilities for people and associated automatic leadership. Think of Leadership Authority as a "Leadership Head Start," but those positions are few and sometimes must include other skill sets
- [Please Don't Ruin Twitter](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/please-dont-ruin-twitter/) - I watched that last election. I know how everything is suddenly different. Like when cars made horses obsolete. Like when radio and then television made printed books obsolete. But please don't give up on, don't ruin Twitter. Educators have been on Twitter longer and better than politicians. Early in 2014 Twitter execs said educators dominated the
- [2017 Blogging Goals](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/2017-blogging-goals/) - Happy New Year! Sorry, should I whisper? Ready or not, you woke up to a new year today! What are you going to do with it? I am ready to grow this educational blog into the next phase. While I do not know the final result, I have some solid ideas for 2017. After re-reading my
- [Online Hours #EduBlogsClub](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/online-hours-edublogsclub/) - This post is a product of the 30 Days of Blogging Challenge and post 1 in a series of posts for EduBlogs Club. Getting work done for me revolves around my kids and their schedules (2007, 2011). This is an excellent prompt from #EduBlogsClub, share our work spaces! Allow me to walk you through the three distinct spaces
- [Three Things about SAMR](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/three-things-about-samr/) - Recently I listened to SAMR described in a new way which changed my opinion of its immediate usefulness with educators. When you view popular SAMR graphics you may consider your lesson planning process, how you cannot move all your lessons "up the ladder" at the same rate, and how much you just do not know/understand about this model
- [Participate 1.1.2 Reputable Digital Communities Forum](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/participate-1-1-2-reputable-digital-communities-forum-eteachertool/) - This post is one in a series for a MOOC. You can find similar posts searching under the Category MOOC or searching for hashtag #eteacherTOOL for more about this particular MOOC. I use Delicious for my social bookmarking since 2010. I picked one of my favorite tags to share. Here is my #BlendedLearning collection of
- [The Forgotten Technology Partner, Home.](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/forgotten-technology-partner-home/) - As an educator you can count on learning new technologies. But what about as a parent? How do you involve parents in classroom technology? As a parent, what kind of technology partner are you supposed to be? Teachers, Students, and Parents are all important partners to consider in education. But the last partner considered in technology is often
- [Lead Nobody](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/lead-nobody/) - Have you ever noticed that something is missing from some leaders? Like followers? How did that happen and how can you avoid falling into that same trap? Leaders who do not Lead Some people are in a predetermined leadership role, literally the job description describes them as leading something. The leader should be leading people or shaping the
- [Real or Perceived Hurdle?](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/real-or-perceived-hurdle/) - Some teachers are always giving the reasons they cannot do something. Maybe they even share reasons you cannot do something. To engage with each real or perceived hurdle would be exhausting, should you? Is there a better way? [Tweet "How should teachers help each other overcome hurdles? Either real or perceived. #edchat"] What if all their hurdles
- [Top Ten Posts of 2016](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/top-ten-posts-of-2016/) - It is the week of the obligatory Top Ten lists of 2016. Who am I to not join in? [Tweet "Here's a serving of the Top Ten #edtech posts on HotLunchTray in 2016 #edchat"] HotLunchTray had an awesome year. Traffic increased from Pinterest, Facebook, and Twitter. And here are the top posts according to views: [listly id="1Kyu" layout="full" per_page="25"]
- [UX is not about You](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/ux-is-not-about-you/) - As more content moves online the User Experience is increasingly important. Public K12 institutions increasingly offer asynchronous content. And the UX is about the end-user, the student or parent at home. UX is not about the teacher, the designer, or the school. It is about the student user. UX is important. And if you are reading this,
- [Your Steps to Blogging](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/your-steps-to-blogging/) - These are small steps you can take toward authoring your own blog. As in life, you can skip steps, repeat steps, or stay on steps as long as you like. [Tweet "Your 8 Steps to Blogging #edchat"] Value Blogs The first thing you must do is value blogs. Find one or two which really speak
- [Using Technology How?](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/using-technology-how/) - This is a version of a Type I & Type II Technologies presentation from 2011, presented at a local educational technology conference. So much has changed since then, but the purposes of technology in the classroom are increasingly important and worthy of continued discussion. The narrative throughout these slides centers around the purposes which different technologies serve
- [Judging Teacher Work](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/judging-teacher-work/) - There is a certain understood professionalism between educators - or there should be. Judging the quality of a teacher-created contribution is tough, but how does one judge another teacher's contribution to quality instruction? Before you answer that let's examine the Educational landscape around this question. How have we been measuring this? Traditional measurements have been the number of
- [Different but not Better](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/different-and-not-better/) - Educators are the nicest people you will ever meet. That makes it extra tough, but at some point "trying #edtech" is not enough. By only trying educational technology educators are not investing enough in the power of the technology and are only doing their lessons different, but not better. It is a mistake to let this happen as
- [Technology in the Classroom #AprilBlogaDay](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/technology-in-the-classroom-aprilblogaday/) - This is a relevant question for me at day 19/30 of the #AprilBlogaDay challenge. When, how, and why do I recommend technology in the classroom? [Tweet "When, how, and why do I recommend technology in the classroom? #edtech"] WHEN: Already 15% of the way through the 21st Century is no time to ask when technology
- [Teach the Key Point](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/teach-key-point/) - How do you teach anything? Teachers and coaches are constantly searching for the most efficient way to teach. Below are some points of conversation from a coach I have always respected. In sports, you teach the key point. The motion that differentiates almost getting it right from nailing it. If you can help someone see the key point which
- [Things Students Already Replaced...](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/things-students-already-replaced/) - ...before their teacher, school, or district did.... Before the district considered BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) students were bringing devices to school. Before the school thought to promote collaboration, students were digitally storing, sharing, and providing feedback on each other's work. Before the teacher allowed publishing to a live audience on the Internet, students were sharing to online communities. [Tweet
- [Transparency Hurts](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/transparency-hurts/) - I am a teacher. Always have been, always will be. They are my people and I "get" them. So when I transitioned to a technology integration job I had the inside track on teachers, right? I knew the animal well. I had experienced the superlative moment of delivering the perfect lesson, I understood the day
- [Narrowing your Sphere of Influence](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/narrowing-sphere-influence/) - Social media in a political season is ... interesting. It seems to reveal that some in our sphere of influence do not think deeply about what is shared and/or may not care if it offends. Which leads to an awkward situation. Those you follow may in fact seem more like those you intentionally DON'T follow. The political season for
- ["Hello, My Name is #EdTech" EdTech Introductions](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/hello-my-name-is-edtech-edtech-introductions-part-one/) - #EdTech Introductions, Part One Hello, my Name is #EdTech Educational technology, or EdTech, is a long running component of education, but how would one recognize it today? Allow me to make some EdTech Introductions. The Marketplace It isn't just educational companies from which schools purchase anymore, and it isn't just the school purchasing. Individual teachers are purchasing for their classrooms,
- [The Internet Is Down](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/the-internet-is-down/) - I remember back to teaching through an Internet outage and not realizing it until planning period. And I was grateful for the outage - no pesky emails in my Inbox to answer! But today's Internet outage in the classroom can shred your teaching instantly. Let's agree that NO ONE wants the Internet to go down. No malicious
- [If it isn't about the Tech, Why go to an #EdTech Conference?](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/isnt-tech-go-edtech-conference/) - I am an educator. I am an educator who sees great value in appropriate use of technology throughout teaching and learning. And I have a secret, sometimes it is just about the tech. [Tweet "I have a secret, sometimes it is just about the tech. #edtech"] I support classroom teachers to Principals find their perfect
- [Distribution of Learning](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/distribution-of-learning/) - Three months. That's a long time to distribute building a professional learning experience. However, I am proud of it for several reasons. I am also sad that this is unique, that I do not get to replicate this distribution of learning with other colleagues. I have been walking alongside a colleague developing an online book study, which she
- [Moving from a Conceptual to Experimental Practice](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/moving-conceptual-experimental-practice/) - Innovation. It is what some people have for breakfast. Or so we're told. It is another facet of the tale of the difference between predestination and creating your destination. Adam Grant in his book Originals: How Non-Conformists Move the World, offers the examples of early achieving and late-blooming innovators and the reasons behind the seemingly opposed ways
- [Influential Blogs #ETCoaches Blog Challenge Week 4](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/influential-blogs-etcoaches-blog-challenge-week-4/) - It is Week 4 in the #ETCoaches Blog Challenge - the challenge is almost complete! Part of the #ETCoaches Blog Challenge. See my other weekly posts: What is my Purpose? Challenges and Successes Current Tools, Problems, and Solutions Influential Blogs What is Next in Blogging? [Tweet "Influential Blogs - sharing my @feedly export #ETCoaches Blog
- [Current Tools, Problems, & Successes #ETCoaches Blog Challenge Week 3](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/current-tools-problems-successes-etcoaches-blog-challenge-week-3/) - Different educators like seeing an educational technology coach for different reasons. Some people want to share new tools and tips with you/you with them, some people have problems they are trying to overcome, Some people have successes to share with you. Sometimes educational technology coaches like seeing different people for different reasons too! There are days
- [Challenges and Successes #ETCoaches Blog Challenge Week 2](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/challenges-and-successes-etcoaches-blog-challenge-week-2/) - Part of the #ETCoaches Blog Challenge. See my other weekly posts: What is my Purpose? Challenges and Successes Current Tools, Problems, and Successes Influential Blogs What is Next in Blogging? Everyone has challenges and success at work, but working in a job which is less than a decade old - in the education industry which
- [Purpose #ETCoaches Blog Challenge Week 1](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/purpose-etcoaches-blog-challenge-week-1/) - Part of the #ETCoaches Blog Challenge. See my other weekly posts: What is my Purpose? Challenges and Successes Current Tools, Problems, and Successes Influential Blogs What is Next in Blogging? As I identify the purpose of my blog, I concentrate on how I feel when I am actively blogging versus when I am not.
- [What is Next in Blogging #ETCoaches Blog Challenge Week 5](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/what-is-next-in-blogging-etcoaches-blog-challenge-week-5/) - It is the last week in the #ETCoaches Blog Challenge. I am excited to have completed the challenge and picked up some new EdTech blogs in my RSS reader. All this just in time for #CE16 to boot! So what is next for me and the HotLunchTray in blogging? Part of the #ETCoaches Blog Challenge. See my
- [EduBlogs Teacher Challenge: Steps 1 & 2](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/edublogs-teacher-challenge-steps-1-2/) - Welcome to the EduBlogs Teacher Blogging Challenge EduBlogs offers different blogging challenges: personal blogging and student blogging. In the Teacher Challenge (personal) series I will follow these 8 steps: Step 1: Setting up your blog Step 2: Setting Up Pages Step 3: Publish your first posts Step 4: Connecting with others Step 5: Working with
- [Determined to Consume](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/determined-to-consume-before-its-even-done/) - It was a typical classroom event. The students had gathered to culminate a Reader's Workshop and invited parents. My son attends a traditional school for the most part. It is not a technologically savvy school. So I did notice when the students were using phones to record their classmates presentations. Record The devices belonged to
- [#ETCoaches Teacher Starting A Blog](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/etcoaches-teacher-starting-blog/) - An awesome #ETCoaches Twitter chat last week inspired the group to start-up an Ed Tech Coaches Blog Challenge. I offered to get the ball rolling on some challenge items - I sure hope everyone into the idea chips in and makes the prompts meaningful - I have a lot to learn from this group. I plan
- [Work Around a Clumsy Student Information System, SIS](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/work-around-clumsy-student-information-system/) - What is an SIS? Student Information Systems, known as SIS to many in the educational technology circles, have been around for a long time. As a function of that longevity your local SIS: Is a Huge investment. Probably predates interoperability. If you have a newer SIS the above might not be the case. If so,
- [The Internet is Not Your Enemy](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/internet-enemy/) - Neither Al Gore nor the US Military invented The Internet to make a teacher's job harder. Nor is The Internet part of a conspiracy to dumb our students down. Sometimes we as educators opt to eliminate technology instead of modeling selection processes for or with our students. And that isn't helping the teachers or the students. Repeat after me:
- [Disciplinary Literacy, next level Content Literacy](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/disciplinary-literacy-next-level-content-literacy/) - For years, I've proudly explained my content specialities in grades 4-8 as having a strong focus on "content literacy." Imagine my surprise during the first video in MOOC, when they explained that content literacy is an intermediary step with Disciplinary Literacy being the pinnacle for depth of learning. Huh. My motivation in teaching Content Literacy had been to
- [Kid Cloud Strategy](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/kid-cloud-strategy/) - I wrote about my cloud strategy and even anticipated my husband might need/have a cloud strategy, but I was not prepared to teach my 3rd grader his own kid cloud strategy. Yeah homework. I could sense trouble the minute I spied papers with usernames and passwords. Trouble with a capital T and that rhymes with C and that stands for
- [Tell Me About The Real World](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/tell-real-world/) - As if teachers do not live in the "Real World," but please go on about how I am not preparing my students for your "Real World." While you do so, I am over here: Allowing a kid to sleep in my class, be late to my class, eat in my class because the students
- [Distributed Learning for Your Class Parents](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/distributed-learning-class-parents/) - As a classroom teacher you just know some things. You know some parents cannot make Open House, Curriculum Night, Parent/Teacher Conferences, and/or Parent Teacher Association meetings. You know that your more fragile learners have parents who might be considered "Missing In Action" by your fellow teachers if attendance of these meetings is the only measure of parental support. If
- [How is this #EdTech Supposed to Work?](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/how-is-this-supposed-to-work/) - It is an honor when any other educator honestly asks you a question. Think about admitting what you do not know in education; until recently teachers were keepers of the knowledge - all the knowledge. Not anymore. You can imagine, a teacher asking another teacher a question they really did not know the answer to - that
- [If I didn't record it, does it still count?](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/didnt-record-still-count/) - As I stepped onto the college campus for a walk, I realized I left my fitness band on the charger. Do you know this feeling? Why am I doing this if it doesn't even count? We didn't used to think such things. Of course it counts. Things don't only count when you can share them. I recently
- [Pick your Tightrope](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/pick-your-tightrope/) - You might not have thought about this, but we are all walking a tightrope each day in our roles within education. When my youngest son picked up the picture book The Man Who Walked Between the Towers I first met Philippe Petit. Naturally I immediately recognized this man's insanity. Upon closer examination, this is a person who
- [July 2016 #blogamonth](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/july-2016-blogamonth/) - I love a good blog challenge, and I have a feeling #blogamonth is primed for a come back - so I want to share this challenge with my readers! Check out #blogamonth and respond to the July prompt, before July slips away from you. The prompt for this month is: What are you doing this summer
- [Where do I Professionally Develop Myself? #ReflectiveTeacher](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/where-do-i-professionally-develop-myself-reflectiveteacher/) - As part of the TeachThought January Blog Challenge today's prompt is: How am I going to update myself professionally? Specify support resources. I am glad to supply resources which have helped me develop myself. I recognize the importance of addition personalized development as a way in which to distinguish yourself among those with whom you work; how can you
- [Career Compacting](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/career-compacting/) - When The Great Recession happened, educators experienced a contraction of available teaching positions. Educators were grateful for the work which remained and accomplished the same as if those let go were still present. The same amount of students showed up to be educated, the same amount of duties were preformed around the school - just by fewer
- [Looking for a Teaching Job? Book Review: Confessions of A Teacher Recruiter](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/looking-teaching-job-book-review-confessions-teacher-recruiter/) - The book Confessions of a Teacher Recruiter: How to Create an Extraordinary Resume and Hook Your Dream Job by Tracy Brisson is an excellent investment for those future teachers looking to land their first job. (Consider the Kindle version for $5 less Confessions of a Teacher Recruiter: How to Create an Extraordinary Resume and Hook Your Dream Job
- [Extend the Learning from that Field Trip](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/extend-the-learning-from-that-field-trip/) - While it is true that 'Nature abhors a vacuum,' that is such a mild description compared to what a teacher experiences when a learning opportunity is present, but there is no structured activity or exploration associated with such an opportunity. So the upcoming natural history museum trip for my 7YO deserved the best Plan B I could muster. I wanted something
- [Flipped Classroom Introduction](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/flipped-classroom-introduction/) - I was recently asked where a teacher could find more information about the Flipped Classroom model. I realized I was immersed in it daily through my online readings and Twitter feed, but was challenged on how to start from the beginning with it - what a great prompt to write a blog post about Flipped
- [Personalization Resistance](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/personalization-resistance/) - The term 'Personalization' has made the rounds in the educational technology portions of education for sometime now. Usually the education community incorporates terms like this or abandons them, but 'Personalization' seems to have been artificially kept alive by #EdTech companies. Teachers demonstrate a consistent resistance to the practice of personalization. It does not seem reasonable so
- [What is your Blend? Becoming a Blended Learning Designer #BlendKit2014 Week 1](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/what-is-your-blend-blendkit2014/) - finding your ideal blend to your blended learning class.
- [Slow Chat Book Study](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/slow-chat-book-study/) - I just finished an interesting, new (to me) professional learning format. And I can't wait to try my next book study in this slow chat format! ISTE's Ed Tech Coaches Network hosted a Spring book study April 4 - May 20th on Twitter. The chat was a day-long chat (8ish to 8ish) and was searchable
- [Office Mix: Good Enough to make you ask What's the Catch?](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/office-mix-good-enough-to-make-you-ask-whats-the-catch/) - rapid elearning software, microsoft office suite, elearning
- [Start a K12 Blog … Part Three](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/start-a-k12-blog-part-three/) - You want to start blogging about K12? So far from Part One and Part Two on Starting a K12 Blog you have started to think about your area of passion and have walked through the Getting Started Checklist to set-up your blogging platform. You have explored the content of your posts and considered the manner in which you format
- [What if there isn't one right way?](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/what-if-there-isnt-one-right-way/) - Lately I have been in search of the one way to do things. Not necessarily related items, but the common question people are asking is how to do these things. As in, what are the exact steps to follow? I am glad to help if I can, but today I am asking myself should I be solve problems for
- [EduBlogs Teacher Challenge: Steps 3 & 4](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/edublogs-teacher-challenge-steps-3-4/) - Continuing the EduBlogs Teacher Blogging Challenge EduBlogs offers different blogging challenges: personal blogging and student blogging. In the Teacher Challenge (personal) series I am following these 8 steps: Step 1: Setting up your blog Step 2: Setting Up Pages Step 3: Publish your first posts Step 4: Connecting with others Step 5: Working with Widgets Step 6: Images, copyright
- [Principals/Building Leaders 5 Things to do Right Now #leadershipday14](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/principalsbuilding-leaders-5-things-to-do-right-now-leadershipday14/) - My Leadership post from last year never made it out of my drafts, but this is the year for me to post! I am posting after an #edchat today, August 26, so I am outing myself that I am posting this late. However, this was such an Aha Moment today in the early #edchat: "What
- [Revision Needed: Educational "Experts"](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/revision-needed-educational-experts/) - Many people in Africa never had land line phones, and they never will. By the time large-scale telephone services were in demand the technology had already advanced enough enabling African countries to leapfrog over the old technology of copper wires to wireless technologies. I can regale you with stories of a party-line at my grandmother's house,
- [No, I will not unfollow you #FF](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/no-i-will-not-unfollow-you-ff/) - Ready to get real? There are some facts about (some) educators on Twitter which we might need to discuss. You say you don't, but you kind of care how many followers you have OMGosh do some of you get hacked ... repeatedly. Sometimes, you share random, strange things However, I will not unfollow you. Some
- [Getting Started with MinecraftEDU #MOOC](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/getting-started-with-minecraftedu-mooc/) - Week One Summary This is an assignment for the course Getting Started with MinecraftEDU found at the Canvas Network. How could/should video games be incorporated into the a regular school environment? To know a young person now-a-days is to know a gamer. The game does not matter, but the attitude and flexibility of thinking matters. It matters
- [Holiday Time is Pinterest Time: EdTech to Follow](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/holiday-time-is-pinterest-time-edtech-to-follow/) - Off school? On Pinterest! Or is that just me? Pinterest is a great social media platform for mixing our school and private lives. Here are some pinners and Pinterest boards to follow. Who else do I need to add to this list? [listly id="VJy" layout="full" show_header="true" show_author="true" show_sharing="true" show_tools="true" per_page="25"]
- [Creating an ISTE Prep Course](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/creating-an-iste-prep-course/) - Whew, there's the politics of this course and then there is the reality. Let's dwell on the latter. March of 2014 I proposed a three segment online "course" for the 200+ International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) attendees of district was sending via Title IIA funds to Atlanta. While participants could always receive credit for attending
- [Debrief on In-district EdCamp Opportunity](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/debrief-on-in-district-edcamp-opportunity/) - My opportunity to help facilitate an in-district edcamp has come and gone and I want to share the results with you, both the official results and my personal observations. Not that they differ so much, but I can tell you things. And when I tell you things you understand that I am critical sometimes because
- [Content Literacy List of Resources](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/another-listly-post-on-content-literacy/) - Content Vocabulary ties in to online learning experiences since teaching the vocabulary is teaching the content. It also makes for a nice introductory unit to any online module/course work sequence. If consistent throughout all courses offered it can also be a nice predictable element for students within courses. This list contains more than enough to start
- [Edu Swap This for That! #AprilBlogADay](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/edu-swap-this-for-that-aprilblogaday/) - I enjoyed this great quote by @blunteducator Tuesday which helped me tie up some of my recently loose ends. I often chuckle at the wit this twitter account delivers, but this thought hit me deep and I spent the day letting it simmer on my back burner. When I reached a quiet place in my day that evening
- [Customer Service in Education #EdBlogaDay](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/customer-service-in-education-edblogaday/) - At the time of year when our thoughts turn to "next year," it is important to agree everyone needs to acknowledge who the customer of education is. But it is not easy to identify who everyone thinks that customer should be. Who is the customer? Students, parents, or the community? It depends on your point of view. Usually that
- [I haven't been trained on this yet.](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/i-havent-been-trained-on-this-yet/) - I really like to train others in educational technologies It is my job and something I used to do from the classroom out of passion. When I was in the classroom I will confess that I trained people differently. First, I was not obliged to train everyone, and I didn't. From the classroom-teacher point of view,
- [Don't Hide Your Light Under a Bushel](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/dont-hide-your-light-under-a-bushel/) - Everyone has Something to Share The expansion of social media is meaningful. People want to share with each other and people want others to share with them. Whatever your topic, if you are sharing digitally you may as well share to the fullest when you are publishing. I write about educationally focused topics. In the entire
- [Check Your Skills](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/check-your-skills/) - It is easy when you are a teacher, an expert, surrounded by other experts we defer to each other as writers of the grade level newsletter or calculators of recent fundraiser and feel smart amongst each other. Very smart. And when it has been awhile since you've been outside that environment you forget. You forget
- [the Wrong Question](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/the-wrong-question/) - That feeling of utter confusion could be a sign you have asked the wrong question. People generally give the proper, if not expected, answer to a question. So if you have that uh-oh feeling as you receive answers please consider the question you asked. It is also possible those answering are giving you the answer
- [The Selfie you MUST take Before Leaving #ISTE2015](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/the-selfie-you-must-take-before-leaving-iste2015/) - Consider the selfie sticks hoisted, capturing images of you at the "Rocky Steps," with Moby in the Exhibition Hall, in Love Park, with your Twitter friends you are finally meeting In Real Life. What purpose are these selfies achieving? Do they document your attendance to something of which you are proud? Can they capture your
- [What Challenges Culture, Not Supports Culture?](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/what-challenges-culture-not-supports-culture/) - It is usually the second question they ask me. Where are you from? If I am feeling saucy I say give the name of the small town in Georgia where I currently reside, but that isn't what they wanted. They need to know what part of Yankee I am from and then I guess they silently
- [Content Cycle](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/content-cycle/) - Attending a 2nd grade classroom play I had to snap some pictures of my son's classmates. They were doing something I had not yet seen. These students were recording the various plays presented and immediately replaying and watching them; in one case before the play was over. Think about what these young students were doing.
- [Two Front Education](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/two-front-education/) - There is more than one constituency we educate. There are many facets, but primarily two fronts in education we must address. Do not make the mistake of thinking the only people we educate are our students. We spend our time educating the students and then everyone else. Education is a two front war. No wonder
- [What Makes this MOOC Different?](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/what-makes-this-mooc-different/) - You may have signed up for a Massive Open Online Course, or a MOOC, already. And if you signed up, you may have dropped out; most people drop out of MOOCs. Some say completion rates (from sign-up to completion) are around 15%, but could be as high as 40%. But if you are still signing up for them, then
- [Dealing with a Competence Gap](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/dealing-competence-gap/) - Students are the easy part of teaching. Students are easy to like. Students do not know it all, and really are able to act like curious learners easily. Adults however, can be a challenge. Adults are often scared to not know things. Many times adults work harder to keep hidden that they do not know something. It
- [#EdTech Bill of Rights](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/edtech-bill-of-rights/) - Not yet resolved or ratified, have your first glimpse of the #EdTech Bill of Rights You have the right to The Internet. Well, sort of ... if by The Internet you mean a censored version, subject to rolling firewalls, then yes you can have that. Educational organizations who receive federal dollars for Internet services (called E-Rate)
- [3 #EdTech Questions You're Afraid to Ask](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/3-edtech-questions-youre-afraid-to-ask/) - Teaching if different from it was when many of us were in school. It would be natural if you had some questions. But where can you get those questions answered? Here are the answers to a few #edtech questions you are afraid to ask: Social Media - on the clock Is it okay to use social
- [The First Rule of #EdTech Cannot be: "We Don't Talk about #EdTech"](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/first-rule-edtech-cannot-dont-talk-edtech/) - Not unlike that crazy movie with Ed Norton and Brad Pitt, there seem to be certain #EdTech rules. [Tweet "Wait. #EdTech is like Fight Club? Kinda."] Which Rules Stand & which Rules to Challenge? Wait, You Don't Talk about #EdTech? Challenge this Rule. Obviously, #EdTech entusiasts are not interested in being silent about the potential of #EdTech. The
- [How To: Read Educational Blogs](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/read-educational-blogs/) - How To Read Educational Blogs Sure, Twitter is a micro-blog, but have you ever found yourself wanting more of a tweet? The educational blogs behind those tweets may be just what you are looking for. Blogs, short for weblogs, are not of limited length and are often the intentional, authentic, self-guided professional development you may be
- [When your worst year in education ends...](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/worst-year-education-ends/) - I want all teachers to have long enough careers to see the fruits of their labor. I feel so sad when someone moves out of education before s/he gets to experience a student coming back to visit them with the proof that there was something special in that classroom relationship which mattered to that student. If you
- [Stalking your Teacher Web Page](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/stalking-teacher-web-page/) - Most of the parents I know do this "Web Quest" in the Spring. We look at the web pages of the teachers in the next grade level for the Fall. We look through your web page with an eye toward what our students' experience - our experience - could be next Fall. [Tweet ""Hi, just stalking your
- [Used to Matter in #EdTech](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/used-to-matter/) - Devices Used to Matter Mac vs PC I remember starting my teaching career using whatever Mac was in Brevard County School classrooms in 1998. I had to do everything at school on that machine, because I certainly could not do it at home on my PC. Luckily I was a first year teacher, so I
- [#EdTech Red Flags](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/edtech-red-flags/) - If you are not immersed in educational technology (#edtech) daily you are excused from the memorization of these red flag terms used while vendors try to sell either educational hardware of software. That is however where I live, in #edtech land. And I need a quick chat with you, so that you are not drawn into a pitch on
- [New Containers, Old Methods](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/new-containers-old-methods/) - What social media does for Connected Educators today is amazing. I noticed an inbound link to my blog Thursday, likely because it was "funny" Spanish to me - also known as - not English or Spanish. I followed it to an interesting blog in Italian. I am so glad I was able to read this via Google Translate {My Great
- [Over Invested](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/over-invest/) - I am trapped I wanted to be part of the group for lunch, but now I am 20 minutes in to a 60 minute presentation. My investment exceeded my pay off as soon as I was done with my sandwich. My employer already has a similar product. Because I am not excited about the content, I am now
- [Participate 1.1.1 Character Traits Quest](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/participate-1-1-1-character-traits-quest-eteachertool/) - This post is one in a series for a MOOC. You can find similar posts searching under the Category MOOC or searching for hashtag #eteacherTOOL for more about this particular MOOC. The first assignment from Georgia Virtual's Learning openteachertraining.org is to present the three most impressive character traits of an exemplary citizen within a digital learning community
- [Participate 1.1.3 Joining a Digital Learning Community Quest](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/participate-1-1-3-joining-a-digital-learning-community-quest-eteacher-tool/) - This post is one in a series for a MOOC. You can find similar posts searching under the Category MOOC or searching for hashtag #eteacherTOOL for more about this particular MOOC. These are two most recent Digital Learning Communities I have joined: EdConnectr, through connecteducators.org edweb.net EdConnectr offers ways
- [Participate 3.1.1 Access to the Digital Community Quest](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/participate-3-1-1-access-to-the-digital-community-quest-eteachertool/) - Access to the Internet in geographic locations, by income
- [Navigate 1.3.1 Discussing the LMS and CMS Quest](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/navigate-1-3-1-discussing-the-lms-and-cms-quest-eteachertool/) - Comparing Learning Management System, LMS, Content Management System, CMS
- [Navigate 1.2.1 Describe Roles and Functions in Online Learning Environments Quest](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/navigate-1-2-1-describe-roles-and-functions-in-online-learning-environments-quest-eteachertool/) - Roles, Functions in LMS
- [Navigate 1.1.1 Delineating Between Synchronous and Asynchronous Content Quest](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/navigate-1-1-1-delineating-between-synchronous-and-asynchronous-content-quest-eteachertool/) - Asynchronous ans synchronous content
- [Navigate 2.1.1 Delivery Methods and the Synchronous Vendor Market Quest](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/navigate-2-1-1-delivery-methods-and-the-synchronous-vendor-market-quest-eteachertool/) - This post is one in a series for a MOOC. You can find similar posts searching under the Category MOOC or searching for hashtag #eteacherTOOL for more about this particular MOOC. My background is primarily face-to-face and blended learning, so the idea of virtual or fully online learning still holds some mystery for me. One
- [Participate 4.1.2 Digital Safety and Security Quest](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/participate-4-1-2-digital-safety-and-security-quest-eteachertool/) - Digital Safety and Security online
- [Participate 4.1.1 Digital Rights and Responsibilities Quest](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/participate-4-1-1-digital-rights-and-responsibilities-quest-eteachertool/) - Digital Rights and Responsibilities
- [Navigate 2.1.4 Lecture Capture Quest](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/navigate-2-1-4-lecture-capture-quest-eteachertool/) - This post is one in a series for a MOOC. You can find similar posts searching under the Category MOOC or searching for hashtag #eteacherTOOL for more about this particular MOOC. Much like the lecture portion of traditional face-to-face class, using lecture capture can expose the participants to ideas which guide the practice of studying
- [Participate 4.1.3 Digital Health Quest](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/participate-4-1-3-digital-health-quest-eteachertool/) - This post is one in a series for a MOOC. You can find similar posts searching under the Category MOOC or searching for hashtag #eteacherTOOL for more about this particular MOOC. The Challenge: Digital Citizens must take special care of of their health. This is easier said than done however! Time in front of screens
- [Communicate 1.1.1 Definitions of Communication Quest](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/communicate-1-1-1-definitions-of-communication-quest-eteachertool/) - definition of communication
- [Communicate 1.1.2 Laws of Communication Quest](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/communicate-1-1-2-laws-of-communication-quest-eteachertool/) - This post is one in a series for a MOOC. You can find similar posts searching under the Category MOOC or searching for hashtag #eteacherTOOL for more about this particular MOOC. What are the Guiding Laws of Communication? How can one refrain from violating FERPA guidelines in online communication? Common sense self-questioning about the purpose
- [Communicate 2.1.1 Identify Stakeholders Quest](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/communicate-2-1-1-identify-stakeholders-quest-eteachertool/) - This post is one in a series for a MOOC. You can find similar posts searching under the Category MOOC or searching for hashtag #eteacherTOOL for more about this particular MOOC. Constant Timely Specific Student Parent School Constant, Timely, Specific The frequency and interval of
- [Navigate 2.1.2 Recorded Session Quest](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/navigate-2-1-2-recorded-session-quest-eteachertool/) - This post is one in a series for a MOOC. You can find similar posts searching under the Category MOOC or searching for hashtag #eteacherTOOL for more about this particular MOOC. Screencasting, an Investment of Time If done well, a screencast can serve your teaching enough to pay back the upfront time investment. How long
- [Create 1.1.3 Appearance Quest](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/create-1-1-3-appearance-quest-eteachertool/) - creating content for online learning
- [Navigate 3.1.1 LMS Tool Categories Quest](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/navigate-3-1-1-lms-tool-categories-quest-eteachertool/) - Learning Management LMS Tool categories
- [Create 1.1.2 Creating a Content Map Quest](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/create-1-1-2-creating-a-content-map-quest-eteachertool/) - content map for online content creation
- [Create 2.1.1 Web Tools Quest](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/create-2-1-1-web-tools-quest-eteachertool/) - Web Tools
- [Create 2.1.2 Using Web 2.0 Tools to Differentiate Teacher Instruction Quest](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/create-2-1-2-using-web-2-0-tools-to-differentiate-teacher-instruction-quest-eteachertool/) - Create differentiation with web 2.0 tools
- [Create 2.1.3 Using Web 2.0 Tools to Differentiate Student Assessment Quest](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/create-2-1-3-using-web-2-0-tools-to-differentiate-student-assessment-quest-eteachertool/) - Differentiated learning with web 2.0 tools
- [Communicate 4.2.2 Digital Feedback Quest](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/communicate-4-2-2-digital-feedback-quest-eteachertool/) - Online teachers and classes need varied ways to give students feedback.
- [Navigate 3.1.3 Tools within the LMS Quest](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/navigate-3-1-3-tools-within-the-lms-quest-eteachertool/) - Tools within a LMS, Tools within an LMS
- [Communicate 4.1.2 Rubrics Quest](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/communicate-4-1-2-rubrics-quest-eteachertool/) - rubrics and online assessment
- [Navigate 3.1.4 LMS Reporting Quest](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/navigate-3-1-4-lms-reporting-quest-eteachertool/) - LMS reporting
- [Communicate 4.3.1 The Synchronous Session Quest](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/communicate-4-3-1-the-synchronous-session-quest-eteachertool/) - This post is one in a series for a MOOC. You can find similar posts searching under the Category MOOC or searching for hashtag #eteacherTOOL for more about this particular MOOC. Don't let your students miss the good stuff... ...ummm, that isn't the stuff we are talking about here... An asynchronous educational experience can allow
- [Create 3.1.2 Fair Use and the TEACH Act Quest](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/create-3-1-2-fair-use-and-the-teach-act-quest/) - This post is one in a series for a MOOC. You can find similar posts searching under the Category MOOC or searching for hashtag #eteacherTOOL for more about this particular MOOC. I have a concern with Fair Use Defined video used in this assignment. It perpetuates the "10% rule" I have heard my entire teaching
- [Create 3.1.3 Locating Resources Quest](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/create-3-1-3-locating-resources-quest/) - This post is one in a series for a MOOC. You can find similar posts searching under the Category MOOC or searching for hashtag #eteacherTOOL for more about this particular MOOC. Open educational resources are available in a variety of formats. Searching for plate tectonics I was able to find a multitude of free resources.
- [Create 4.1.1 Define and Explain Learning Object Authoring Tools Quest](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/create-4-1-1-define-and-explain-learning-object-authoring-tools-quest/) - learning object authoring tools
- [Evaluate 1.1.1 Formative Assessment Quest](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/evaluate-1-1-1-formative-assessment-quest-eteachertool/) - Formative assessment online
- [Evaluate 1.1.2 Quality Feedback Quest](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/evaluate-1-1-2-quality-feedback-quest-eteachertool/) - Quality video feedback
- [Evaluate 1.1.3 The Summative Assessment Quest](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/evaluate-1-1-3-the-summative-assessment-quest-eteachertool/) - Summative assessment online
- [Evaluate 2.1.1 Data Driven Instruction, Analytics, Reporting Tools Quest](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/evaluate-2-1-1-data-driven-instruction-analytics-reporting-tools-quest-eteachertool/) - Data driven instruction, analytics, Reporting tools
- [Evaluate 2.1.2 Rubrics and Competencies Quest](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/evaluate-2-1-2-rubrics-and-competencies-quest-eteachertool/) - Rubrics and competencies
- [Evaluate 3.1.1 Differentiation Quest](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/evaluate-3-1-1-differentiation-quest-eteachertool/) - Differentiation in online teaching
- [Evaluate 3.1.2 Self-Reflection on Teaching Abilities Quest](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/evaluate-3-1-2-self-reflection-on-teaching-abilities-quest-eteachertool/) - Reflection on teaching abilities
- [Communicate 3.2.1 The Newsletter Quest](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/communicate-3-2-1-the-newsletter-quest-eteachertool/) - Asynchronous communication, newsletters
- [Still in School?](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/still-in-school/) - Are you still in school? An innocent question this morning via Twitter flitted between two folks I follow: That is quite the question isn't it? My son might ask his cousin living up north that question. Instead of teasingly laced with sarcasm, it is a different question when I ask another educator. If someone asked you
- [Questions, not Opinions](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/questions-not-opinions/) - Communication is tricky now a days, and not just for the young. With social media continually prompting for comments it is no wonder we have a glut of opinions out there. And of course, it is okay to have an opinion, but is it best to have an opinion on everything? Unfortunately the platforms on
- [Create a Help Module](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/time-create-help-module/) - Once you get some content online from your face-to-face classroom you might wonder how to facilitate that area of your classroom. This is a good question because a significant portion of a teacher's work in a face-to-face classroom is classroom management and answering student questions - sometime the same questions. In posts such as Converting Your Class
- [How has Social Media Impacted You? #AprilBlogaDay](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/how-has-social-media-impacted-you-aprilblogaday/) - Post 16/30 for #AprilBlogaDay When I think about social media, I am really talking about Twitter and everything else is secondary to me. What Twitter has done for my career is the opposite of the dismal news you hear about new teachers quitting the profession in their first few years. It reassures me that not
- [It is Not the Education Critic who Counts](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/not-critic-counts/) - It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who
- [12 Educational Blog Challenges](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/12-educational-blog-challenges/) - I have shared how I got myself back into the habit of blogging, by participating in blog challenges! If you are finding yourself overwhelmed start removing layers of things standing between you and a completed blog post. By participating in some blog challenges, I found myself practicing just writing instead of being paralyzed by selecting topics
- [Twitter Basics for Teachers](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/twitter-basics-for-teachers/) - What does a Teacher Need to Know about Twitter? Twitter is by educators and offers a peer-to-peer, grassroots professional learning opportunity never before experienced by educators. Twitter is called micro-blogging because it limits messages to 140 characters at a time. Twitter can be experienced in phases of participation. Twitter basics for teachers can be approached through vocabulary, profile
- [Leave at the end of this year](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/leave-at-the-end-of-this-year/) - I have many job references I fill out this time of year. As someone who has moved often early on in my career I know the feeling from their side, but from the side staying it is tough also... Why are these teachers leaving? Why don't we work to retain those who leave? At least an
- [Amplify Yourself](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/amplify-yourself/) - Blended Learning Amplifies Teaching Blended Learning is changing teaching. Changing teaching from something which happens once to something which is available to a student as s/he is ready. The focus turns to the learner and his/her needs. There is something exotic in the idea of redesigning school to fit each learner over just fit the learner to what
- [Features of Successful Online Learning Environments](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/features-of-successful-online-learning-environments/) - Features of Successful Online Learning Environments No matter whether examining your personal learning network, PLN, or a learning management system, LMS, the online learning environment probably has these features if it is successful. [Tweet "Consider the features of any successful online learning environment ... "] Discussions The discussions of educators on social media networks should be the model for many
- [Spring Clean into Blended Learning](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/spring-clean-into-blendedlearning/) - While you convert your class into a blended learning experience is the perfect time to spring clean. Clean up your content Broken links are a show stopper for any online portion of a course. Consider investigating if your Learning Management System (LMS) has a link checker, such as the one Canvas has. If you are working
- [The Next Thing you Do](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/the-next-thing-you-do/) - It is that time of the school year. You are ramping up to state testing, you aren't close enough to Spring Break to get excited yet, and you're exhausted. Your students too. The next thing you have to do... ...is something you are wildly passionate about. Make room in your plan book to introduce something
- [Creating Images & Sharing Online](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/creating-images-sharing-online/) - What are you saying with your social media pictures? Let's explore PicMonkey and consider what your Instagram, Twitter, and blog posts can convey. Created for TOMECON16, a regional literacy conference for Georgia students. Learn more about TOME.
- [Hey…it’s your hard drive. Can we talk?](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/hey-its-your-hard-drive-can-we-talk/) - This post is linking up with Teaching Trio. You can find similar posts searching under the category Linking Up. This week I would like to share how I handle family pictures. I know that it is not strictly educational technology, but during natural breaks in the school year it is nice to take a "vacation" from school
- [Teaching Moon Shot](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/moon-shot-teaching-career/) - A Moon Shot is a term used when a goal or a solution requires a revolutionary level of novel work to accomplish an unthinkable goal. Enjoy this inspiration from Solve for X: A Moon Shot is something which humanity can rally behind, can support for the greater good, and change the trajectory of lives. Kind of
- [Book Review: EdTech Leadership](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/book-review-edtech-leadership/) - I try to weave professional books into my reading when I can. Being a teacher in a Technology Department puts me in a special category; I have a lot I need to learn about EdTech Leadership! This book contains a foreword by Thomas C Murray, Digital Learning Director for the Alliance for Excellent Education, someone I
- [Compensation, Compliance, and Professional Learning](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/compensation-compliance-professional-learning/) - Often in Education Compensation, Compliance, and Professional Learning all look similar from outside education. But every once in a while some daylight surfaces between these categories and something rises to the surface as different-even exciting. And it isn't compliance or compensation hoop-jumping. [Tweet "Compensation, Compliance, & #ProfessionalLearning look similar from the outside. But every once in a
- [More Digital Subscriptions do not Produce "Better" Learning](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/more-digital-subscriptions-do-not-produce-better-learning/) - Classroom Essentials You used to mean pencils, paper, and textbooks when you used the phrase "classroom essentials." Now a days that phrase could apply to an array of digital subscriptions, content, or platforms, which could be purchased by you, your school, or your district/state to aid in your instruction. What it takes to define something as
- [Surprise - someone already thinks you ARE the Tech Coach!](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/surprise-someone-already-thinks-you-are-the-tech-coach/) - There has always been a Tech Coach at every school in America. That person may not have a fancy title, an extra planning period, and most likely not even extra pay. However, there has been a Tech Coach in every single school in America. And chances are, if you do not know who that person might
- [Creating Online Content Mistakes](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/creating-online-content-mistakes/) - When making online content for either a completely online or a blended learning course there are some online content mistakes to avoid. Creating Online Content Mistakes to Avoid: Listing of links, just links, nothing but the links, so help me God. If you have a HTML editor in your online delivery platform, use it man! Embed
- [Not everyone wants to go to #EdCamp](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/not-everyone-wants-to-go-to-edcamp/) - I assisted a group of local leaders explore an Edcamp option earlier in the week for a leadership meeting. This group consisted of people leading schools through real challenges and I respect them for their experience and results. It was fascinating to watch them work through the obvious uncertainty that an Edcamp brings with it. They were
- [What Can Hardware Reveal about Instruction?](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/can-hardware-reveal-instruction/) - Some of the classrooms in America look like they could be launching a rocket any minute. Some look the same as when my great-grandmother taught in a one-room school-house, save the clothing fashions. But we are not talking about those two extremes, but the multitude of classrooms in the middle. The vast majority of American classrooms
- [Educational Accounting](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/educational-accounting/) - No one would have worried about me coming around to the notions of Accounting when I took my first class in balancing a spreadsheet in my Junior year of High School. However, I am struck by the similar place I am in life right now. Approaching a milestone in my educational career gives me pause
- [Content Creation Checklist ~ add your thoughts!](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/content-creation-checklist/) - If creating digital content is on your mind we need to chat. I have a Content Creation Checklist started, but could use some help completing it. There are somethings you should consider before investing time and effort: Is the content engaging? Neither teachers nor students want passive content when online. Is your content chunk-able? Chunking
- [Who am I Grateful for?](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/who-am-i-grateful-for/) - The Breakfast Club #BFC530 asked a question this morning that I was not prepared to respond to in the short 15 minute chat time. I couldn't respond immediately - there were too many people to include. I am always thankful for coaching, but do an excellent job of disguising my thanks. I've always needed good
- [My Learning Trendline](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/my-learning-trendline/) - Conventional wisdom dictates that some things cannot be rushed. In education, that often meant you needed to put in your years before you were wise. I would suggest that even though school years plod on at a consistent pace, your can increase the rate at which you learn - you can speed up your Learning
- [Who is your Audience?](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/who-is-the-audience/) - I have an idea of who my audience is for this blog. However, I often check-in with myself trying to establish, am I reaching that audience? The manner in which I expect to find an audience has changed over the lifespan of this blog. It is worth noting the people I think would read the blog
- [Views Expressed are NOT Just My Own](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/views-expressed-are-not-just-my-own/) - I understand why some of my peers add the statement to their Twitter accounts, "views expressed are my own." [Tweet "If your Twitter acct states: "views expressed are my own" I want to challenge you in a friendly edu-sort of way. #edchat"] Do mean that you do not stand by your views if they conflict
- [Happy Blogging New Year!](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/happy-blogging-new-year/) - 2015 was an interesting year for me as a blogger. I started off blogging New Year 2015 strongly, but then waned in the second half of the calendar year. I am excited to increase my participation and be blogging more this new year! Happy Blogging New Year! What Worked I had such a great first
- [#TLAP Passions Examined](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/tlap-passions-examined/) - Recently I read Teach Like a Pirate: Increase Student Engagement, Boost Your Creativity, and Transform Your Life as an Educator (affiliate link) by Dave Burgess. The parts of TLAP which stuck for me, which have me thinking about the future of the #EdTech movement, was when I identified my passions in different categories. Content I
- [When you meet your future and you don't recognize it](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/when-you-meet-your-future-and-you-dont-recognize-it/) - Today is the day Marty from Back to the Future traveled to... You Won't Believe All The Stuff Back To The Future Got RightBasically, everything ‘Back To The Future II’ predicted came true Posted by NowThis Entertainment on Monday, October 19, 2015 It doesn't feel like we are in that future though does it? How
- [Real or Not Real, Digital Citizenship?](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/real-or-not-real-digital-citizenship/) - Kids these days. They really need a lesson in how to behave! Simply look at all the drama, personal details, and regrettable content they post on social media. If Facebook were around when you were in High School or College, what would we find you tagged in? Who is Qualified to Teach Digital Citizenship? Typical
- [I don't want to be an Innovator](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/i-dont-want-to-be-an-innovator/) - Don't get me wrong my iPhone is great. Thanks Steve. However, the innovator-worship is out of control. Mother Teresa was an innovator too, but you never saw her in her New Balance and jeans on a stage collecting your admiration. I think we are selectively worshipping innovators who validate The American Dream. And that is a
- [Fitting the New Internet into that Old LMS](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/fitting-the-new-internet-into-that-old-lms/) - The Learning Management System. You want one until you get one, and then you desperately work, work hard, to figure out the features. You need to identify if the features are just cool or if they provide a benefit for your classroom. The work you don't expect is trying to fit the Internet into your
- [4 Ways to Make your LMS Work for You](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/4-ways-to-make-your-lms-work-for-you/) - The moment you realize that you cannot work any harder as a teacher is the time to make some changes. Luckily, we have access to many educational technologies in our classrooms we could not have dreamed about ten years ago. One of them is the Learning Management System, the LMS. No longer just district purchased
- [Teachers who know what poverty is about...](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/teachers-who-know-what-poverty-is-about/) - People do not know it by looking at you, but there is a question that anyone could ask that would unleash that answer. That answer which tries to encompass all the gratitude, and pride, and determination which pulled you out of a poor circumstance and is the very reason you are an educator. That answer,
- [Top Ten Professional Learning Posts](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/top-ten-professional-learning-posts/) - Last year at this time I made a list of my Top Ten Professional Learning posts, so far. I think it is time to update for the current year as we all start back to school. [listly id="mo9" layout="gallery" show_header="true" show_author="true" show_sharing="true" show_tools="true" per_page="25"] Let me know if you have any posts I should be
- [PLN vs PLN](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/pln-vs-pln/) - Your PLN is your Professional Learning Network, your PLN is also your Personal Learning Network. The two terms are often used interchangeably. After a professional conversation recently I am now considering never doing that again. The discussion centered around the future of professional learning. Our state Department of Education recently ended the requirement for teachers to earn a set
- [Educational Blogging: Read, Comment, Write #AprilBlogaDay](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/educational-blogging-read-comment-write-aprilblogaday/) - So maybe you are not ready to start educational blogging just yet. That is okay. I have some steps which will gradually move you closer to that goal. Read The first step is to start reading the great wealth of educational blogs which are already out there. When I made this move for myself (circa
- [#EdTech Tools for Any Teacher](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/edtech-tools-for-any-teacher/) - Ishan of EdCoogle asked me a question the other day, on what I would recommend as three edtech tools for science teachers just starting in the classroom. Just Three #EdTech Tools If you limit me to just three tools they will be broader than only science. Still, great edtech tools for any teacher, let alone a new teacher!
- [How to Schedule a Conference](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/how-to-schedule-a-conference/) - If you are lucky enough to attend educational conferences you know they are as much an experience as anything else. The comradery, the openness with which teachers learn from each other is inspiring! So how do you approach such an event and schedule a conference? Any attendee at any conference must first acknowledge they will not
- [ORAGNIZATION Hacks: Teacher Efficiency](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/oragnization-hacks-teacher-efficiency/) - The good news is that there are more resources than ever with which to teach! The not-so-good news is how are you supposed to keep track of all of this? [Tweet "In an online world how is a teacher supposed to organize for face-to-face and/or #BlendedLearning?"] Here are the Top Three Organizational Hacks you need to
- [ChatterPix Kids App Review](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/chatterpix-kids-app-review/) - App Review
- [Intentional Stuff: Large Displays](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/intentional-stuff-large-displays/) - I read a twitter post recently that referenced this article: https://tinyurl.com/2ftkz7c entitled, "SMART Boards Becoming Classroom Staples" I have a few issues to raise with this article, I want to explore the idea of what we expect as a return on investment from interactive whiteboards (IWBs) and put up for discussion the general idea of
- [Teachers: How to #EdChat](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/teachers-how-to-edchat/) - Why Are Teachers Using Twitter? It is safe to say no other social media has been co-opted into education like Twitter. A recent post by one of the founders of #EdChat, @Tom Whitby, sums the relationship between Twitter and educators nicely: "...educators who are Twitter users are very collaborative and prolific in their use of Twitter.
- [Becoming a Blended Learning Designer #BlendKit2014 Week 3](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/week-three-becoming-a-blended-learning-designer-blendkit2014/) - Blended Learning Designer
- [Anticipating #ISTE2015](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/anticipating-iste2015/) - It takes me a while to get ready for an ISTE conference, the International Society for Technology in Education's annual conference, and #ISTE2015 is like no exception. Last year the Atlanta conference was 50 miles away from our Georgia district and so there were many newbies attending from our district, many administrators. I made a course
- [Top Fifteen to Follow for #ISTE2015](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/top-fifteen-to-follow-for-iste2015/) - I took a new approach to my annual list of who/what you need to be following while attending #ISTE2015 this year. I looked through both the #ISTE2015 program and my complete followers list on Twitter. I checked anyone who had been particularly useful to me this year against this year - or past - ISTE
- [Next Level Professional Learning](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/mooc_next_level_professional_learning/) - My affinity for the promise of the Massive Open Online Course, or MOOC, is well documented. However, while enrolled with thousands of colleagues I did identify the experience as disconnected from my daily practice. I sometimes wanted to brainstorm with local peers how ideas in the course translated to my classroom. After completing three MOOCs last spring I
- [3 Things your Online Content Says](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/3-things-your-online-content-says/) - Your online content is only a portion of your blended learning environment. Tagxedo - Tag Cloud with Styles You are the same teacher online as in the classroom. However, the duration of it your written words online compared to the spoken words in your classroom is impressive. Your online content is a unique opportunity to truly craft
- [EDU Graphic Design](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/edu-graphic-design/) - EDU Graphic Design K12 teachers do not go to college to learn how to design online components around their content. So when we learn nice tips and tricks the collegial thing to do is to share. If your school or district does not provide you with professionally designed online learning material you might find your online
- [Teach like it is the end of the year - all year long](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/teach-like-it-is-the-end-of-the-year-all-year-long/) - 5/11 #BFC530 led me to a question - why don't we teach like it is the end of the year all year-long? We are trying to keep the attention of students, want to try out potentially more engaging practices, and are anxious to collect feedback from our students - couldn't we just do that ALL
- [Why is Blogging Important to Teaching and Learning? #EdBlogaDay](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/why-is-blogging-important-to-teaching-and-learning/) - Blogging? How does it Relate to Teaching and Learning? Discussions @gcouros posted earlier this week The Power of a Good Lecture where he challenged the notion that 'the person talking is doing all the learning.' I happen to agree with him, allow me to clarify. I do not think they are learning as much as being transparent, revealing what
- [PAPERLESS Classroom Hacks: Teacher Efficiency](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/paperless-classroom-hacks-teacher-efficiency/) - How's that Paperless Classroom Coming Along? I kid, I kid. But seriously, how did I know? Every teacher with - piles of paper, paper cuts to spare, and a need to find that one paper that student swears she turned in - is interested in going paperless... Relax we are all interested in a paperless classroom.
- [3 Hurdles Writing Blended Learning Content #EdBlogaDay](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/3-hurdles-writing-blended-learning-content/) - Classroom teaching is as much art as science. You can see this in action observing a face-to-face class. Teachers are constantly assessing students, providing feedback, and managing pacing for students as needed. So don't wonder why teachers are apprehensive to move their practice into a more blended or an online arena. Teachers fear loss of control of the
- [Link-up: End of Year Countdown #AprilBlogaDay #BlogAMonth](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/link-up-end-of-year-countdown-aprilblogaday-blogamonth/) - It is easy to countdown to the school year's end, but it is a challenge to stay focused on school and teach/learn through the end. Through out the next few months it is my top priority to get as many teachers and students experienced in the new Learning Management System (LMS) as possible. My work group is
- [Evaluate #AprilBlogaDay](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/evaluate-aprilblogaday/) - It was 2 1/2 weeks since my previous post when I accepted the #AprilBlogaDay challenge. I needed a jump-start. What did I get? Reviewing my 30 tweets in 30 days, here is what I concentrated on... Authentic Topics I started #AprilBlogaDay by opening up many, many "Drafts" I had started but not yet finished (later I
- [Twitter Tools #AprilBlogaDay](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/twitter-tools/) - Last December I completed the post: Top 13 Things I Tweeted about in 2013, clearly not thinking ahead to 2014 and the *one* more thing I would feel pressured to chronicle this year. While the exercise was very introspective for me, I received the most comments/questions about the process I followed to create the tweet collages.
- [Forget Online, Think Blended. #AprilBlogaDay](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/forget-online-think-blended-aprilblogaday/) - There is enough room in public K12 education for just about every type of teacher. In fact, one of K12's strengths is that we offer the public a variety of teachers, learning environments, and differing ways to experience knowledge. So why would we choose a narrow path in online learning for all our awesomeness? When we
- [Making Time... #AprilBlogaDay](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/making-time-aprilblogaday/) - In my eLearning role I hear and try to respond to the call for more trainings, more in-depth training. But what are teachers really asking for? Time. [Tweet "I hear calls for more in-depth training. But what are teachers really asking for? Time."] Time is a finite commodity. It must be conserved by using greater
- [Twitter in Education #AprilBlogaDay](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/twitter-in-education-aprilblogaday/) - April 2015 I hit 10,000 tweets...I didn't know I had that much to say. However, I have to say that I am very happy with my current relationship to Twitter. Twitter in education is not the same as in our industries, certainly not the sports or entertainment industries. I have been using Twitter since 2009
- [Infographics: Checking In #AprilBlogaDay](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/infographics-checking-in/) - I really like a well constructed infographic. I would probably willingly learn about anything from a cool infographic. There is a real approach you need to take when creating an infographic. Infographic Journal has collected over 5,000 of some of the coolest - just for the joy of browsing. I find that viewing all the
- [How do you Know if your Content is Being Delivered Well?](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/blog-on-sister-but-do-they-pin-you/) - Update and share your blog with these content tips.
- [Working on Now: Instructional Design Skills #AprilBlogaDay](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/working-on-now-instructional-design-skills-aprilblogaday/) - Day 21/30 in the #AprilBlogaDay Challenge. Yesterday's prompt was what am I working on? Several things, but my overarching strategy is to improve my skill set as an instructional designer. What makes that especially challenging is I have never been a formal 'instructional designer.' I have been a teacher for a great many years however. And
- [Your Current Mentor #AprilBlogaDay meets #BFC530](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/your-current-mentor-aprilblogaday-meets-bfc530/) - One of my new favorite Twitter chats is #BFC530. It has a positive slant and happens at 5:30 each weekday by give one question 15 minutes of attention. This morning the question from @BFC530 had me bubbling over with praise for some select teachers in my career: "Tell us about your mentor. What made them a great
- [Grandma's Google Doc #AprilBlogaDay](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/grandmas-google-doc-aprilblogaday/) - My grandma was born in 1924. And this month we will wrap up distributing her worldly treasures throughout the family via a Google Doc. My grandma lived through an amazing range of experiences. She shared with me a story of the first time she saw an airplane in person. My imagination could never see her as a little girl, but
- [Who is your Professional Learning Community? #AprilBlogaDay](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/who-is-your-professional-learning-community-aprilblogaday/) - Your Professional Learning Community (PLC) is the one which supports you in your continual learning. Aside from asking you who your PLC is, I would also ask if it is formal or informal? My supposition is that the less formal it is the more meaningful it is. I have worked with five groups of professionals during
- [Literacies to Develop #AgeofLiteracy #AprilBlogaDay](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/literacies-to-develop-ageofliteracy-aprilblogaday/) - I am proud to be at day 15/30 for #AprilBlogaDay! The prompt (which I am using for 4/15) honors International Literacy Day by asking some great questions, mostly captured In this article by the International Literacy Association. I am publishing this post in advance of day 15 to include it on the actual International Literacy Day. On
- [Real Teachers... #AprilBlogaDay](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/real-teachers-aprilblogaday/) - I feel sorry for those not inside education when they hear the stories similar the systematic cheating in Atlanta. They do not understand that these are not the real teachers. The public or pre-service teachers might be frightened; they could worry there is nothing they can do to save or even help education if all teachers are like
- [Passion Project: Personalized Professional Learning](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/passion-project-personalized-professional-learning/) - Today #AprilBlogaDay asked what is my passion project? Before I answered, I took a look at what I really pour myself into at work and came up with personalized professional learning. I am lucky. I am in a sweet spot for flexibility within my K12 district; I am not scheduled like a classroom teacher, and I
- [What am I Reading #AprilBlogaDay?](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/what-am-i-reading-aprilblogaday/) - Participating in #AprilBlogaDay I have been cleaning out my draft posts so far, but today's topic: What are you reading, either professionally or personally? Why? caught my interest. I have a really interesting book I am working my way through. Blended: Using Disruptive Innovation to Improve Schools by Michael B. Horn and Heather Staker is
- [Letting a LMS Go #AprilBlogaDay](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/letting-a-lms-go-aprilblogaday/) - Our instructional technology department was new in 2009. And almost immediately we were interested in a Learning Management System (LMS). I remember asking our technical counterparts about Moodle and the resistance with which that was met. It was obvious the technical side was not looking to take on more work for a more usable classroom technology presence.
- [Google : Education #AprilBlogaDay](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/aprilblogaday/) - Wednesday we were invited to sit in on a meeting our director of technology had with Google (when will I ever say that again?). And the facility was as "cool" as you would expect. A teacher is bound to be impressed by any lunchroom free of cartoned milk and ketchup packets, so check off our
- [Converting your Class to Online: My Advice](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/converting-your-class-to-online-my-advice/) - There is usually an element of customization an instructor needs as s/he is putting content online... The instructor usually has an idea of her/his non-negotiables are, but the instructor also needs to an idea of the time line and hierarchy/amount of effort each of the platform's features require - and therefore plan the investment of
- [#ISTE2014 Tweeps to Follow](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/iste2014-tweeps-to-follow/) - #ISTE2014 Twitter
- [Professional Development Insecurity](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/professional-development-insecurity/) - Who is in charge of my professional development?
- [In the Mood for a MOOC? Join me for #K12BlendedLearning](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/in-the-mood-for-a-mooc-join-me-for-k12blendedlearning/) - You might remember that I love a good MOOC. And if you didn't remember that, I should point out that last year I tried out five Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) and the first MOOC I finished was a Coursera one called K-12 Blended & Online Learning presented by a local college Kennesaw State University. Well,
- [Top Ten: Professional Learning Posts ... so far](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/top-ten-professional-learning-posts-so-far/) - I am slowly attempting to wrap my mind around what I really think Professional Learning is, and what I can/should be. Here are my Top Ten posts so far....My Professional Learning Posts [listly id="QID" layout="full" show_header="true" show_author="true" show_sharing="true" show_tools="true" per_page="25"]
- [The Professional Learning Treadmill - and how to step off! #AprilBlogaDay](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/the-professional-learning-treadmill-and-how-to-step-off-aprilblogaday/) - You know the feeling, you've sat through this professional learning before. Huh, no, the title is different. I think we had M&Ms for a snack the last time I was trained on this-same-thing, but the feeling is the same. We have all been there. I swore that when I had the opportunity to facilitate I would be
- [Good News/Bad News: Your Mom is a Geek #AprilBlogaDay](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/good-newsbad-news-your-mom-is-a-geek-aprilblogaday/) - I love science and educational technology. So, for one of our "staycation" stops this Spring Break was the local Scale Model of the Solar System. And because we had an extra visitor in grandma this trip I didn't set up the timeliner app for my 7 year old. But don't worry, I came up with
- [Your Strategy in the Clouds #AprilBlogaDay](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/your-strategy-in-the-clouds-aprilblogaday/) - I recently asked my husband what his cloud strategy was ... he looked at me like I was trying to sell him insurance and remarked that I paid enough for cloud storage, he thought I had the strategy. I guess we're both in trouble. As a consumer I do pay for a great many clouds: Flickr,
- [Leaders and Their Journey #AprilBlogaDay](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/leaders-and-their-journey-aprilblogaday/) - In education the path to leadership differs. You often prove yourself as a teacher and then are hired to lead teachers. Except when that doesn't happen. And goodness forbid education changes. To become a principal requires a prerequisite of degree(s) and experience. So the decision to pursue a principalship is an intentional act in advance of
- [Help Chain #AprilBlogaDay](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/help-chain-aprilblogaday/) - I heard an interesting and totally unrelated story on The Diane Rehm Show which started me thinking of interactions which need to happen for end users to receive assistance. If measuring a chain of events from start to finish can quantify the speed of help, how could I utilize that analysis to expedite the help end
- [How do you know when you've reached a Tipping Point? #AprilBlogaDay](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/how-do-you-know-when-youve-reached-a-tipping-point-aprilblogaday/) - Yesterday I sat in on an eBook demonstration. The eBook had it's own light Learning Management System, an eBook. The salesperson was surprised when I asked if the content was available in pieces, outside the management system. I guess because he was surprised I want content outside a LMS. I mean for an eBook they built
- [Is Your LMS a Black Hole?](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/is-your-lms-a-black-hole/) - Working with LMS in K12 Most of my work in this phase of my K12 career centers on learning management systems (LMS). I am fortunate to be in a district which is able and willing to purchase an LMS for teachers and learners. They are a huge investment of resources. One of the efficiencies our district sought was
- [Share your New Year's Resolution!](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/share-your-new-years-resolution/) - Everyone thinks about a New Year's Resolution. However, if you have taken the extra step of creating a blog post I'd love you to share it right here on HotLunchTray! [inlinkz_linkup id=479559 mode=1]
- [Design: Delicate yet Powerful](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/design-delicate-yet-powerful/) - If design is done well it may not be noticed. However, design which offends feels obvious and often overwhelms content. When I am confronted with great designs around me I am humbled with my own attempts to make design fade into the background and support content. To become the stream which carries the content to the audience
- [#infographic - what does it take to be a teacher?](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/infographic-what-does-it-take-to-be-a-teacher/) - how much time do teachers spend infographic
- [Hi, are you new here? #ReflectiveTeacher](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/hi-are-you-new-here-reflectiveteacher/) - As part of the TeachThought January Blog Challenge today's prompt is: What advice can you give a new teacher as to the priority or focus for energy as they begin their careers? I remember when I started teaching in 1998. But really I had always known I was a teacher and was lucky enough to grow
- [Patterns of Social Media Usage #ReflectiveTeacher](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/jan-10-reflectiveteacher/) - As part of the TeachThought January Blog Challenge today's prompt is: What are the benefits of connecting with other educators? How am I going to make sure I do this on a regular basis? I have taught in four different districts, three states. I am glad I did that when I was young, because adjusting to
- [Education: Ten Years from Now #ReflectiveTeacher](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/education-ten-years-from-now-reflectiveteacher/) - As part of the TeachThought January Blog Challenge today’s prompt is: What changes do you envision in the next ten years? In ten years I will be in my 28th year of education. Woah. That is enough to make me catch my breath; additionally my oldest will be considering life after high school and my youngest will
- [In-District EdCamp Opportunity](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/in-district-edcamp-opportunity/) - When I stopped in to the Professional Learning department of my district office to turn in my reports about my ISTE preparatory class I had some questions. I am interested in holding a regional EdCamp for the northeast Georgia region and wondered how I might offer Professional Learning Units (PLUs) to the participants. I received
- [Learning & Teaching to Develop this Year #ReflectiveTeacher](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/learning-teaching-to-develop-this-year-reflectiveteacher/) - Today I am examining one area of my learning and teaching I want to develop this year through the TeachThought blog challenge. I do not have my own set of traditional-aged students I have a different environment; I feel like I am doubly challenged by having to not only teach other teachers, but attract them as
- [2015, Here I Come!](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/2015-here-i-come/) - This post is part of a Link-up.For more link-ups search the Linking Up category. When I think about my educational goals for the new calendar year I do get excited! When I think about what I want to change I know that I want to build, want to contribute through creating more content. And it
- [Names of some of my son's #Minecraft Worlds](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/names-of-some-of-my-sons-minecraft-worlds/) - My son is 6YO and has been playing Minecraft for about one year. He first started out on my phone with Pocket Edition Lite, quickly persuaded me to buy the app. He persuaded his Dad to buy him an XBox version, but it is safe to say most of his Minecraft play is on my
- [A Right to Technology?](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/who-has-a-right-to-technology/) - A post I recently discovered via Triberr, Do Students have the Right to Use Technology in Class started me thinking about this topic. Does the teacher or the student make the ultimate decision of how the learning occurs? I have seen teachers be the decider for groups of students, and I have seen a student's path
- [But what did you get the teacher?](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/but-what-did-you-get-the-teacher/) - Sure, we are all successful educators. I get it, you're just as brilliant as me. However, at some point after Thanksgiving and before Christmas Break you run a terrifying equation through your head. And during that calculation all your degrees and apple-tinged accolades are for nothing unless you find the *best*, most unusual teacher gifts that inspires awe in the other parents and
- [Sending Christmas Cards - the 1 graphic, the 5 tools](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/sending-christmas-cards-the-1-graphic-the-5-tools/) - Every year when I send out Christmas cards I want to know where they travel. I have an idea I send the most to the states in which I have lived, but without a visual representation I don't feel like I really *know*. Yes, I have a total on a spreadsheet (how did you know?), but
- [Participate 2.1.3 The Digital Concept Map Quest](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/participate-2-1-3-the-digital-concept-map-quest-eteachertool/) - This post is one in a series for a MOOC. You can find similar posts searching under the Category MOOC or searching for hashtag #eteacherTOOL for more about this particular MOOC. The quest in this assignment was to select a reputable digital resource to construct a concept map of my personal learning network. In selecting
- [Participate 2.1.2 Collecting Reputable Digital Resources Forum](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/participate-2-1-2-collecting-reputable-digital-resources-forum-eteachertool/) - This post is one in a series for a MOOC. You can find similar posts searching under the Category MOOC or searching for hashtag #eteacherTOOL for more about this particular MOOC. Completing the "Web-based Walkabout:" Minilesson/Starter Content: Learnzillion, MERLOT, Gooru, Curriki , CK12 Flexbooks Delicious Tag(s) - minilesson, online content, highered, online textbooks Web Tools: Audacity, Jing,
- [Participate 1.1.4 Ideal Digital Learning Community Quest](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/participate-1-1-4-ideal-digital-learning-community-quest-eteachertool/) - This post is one in a series for a MOOC. You can find similar posts searching under the Category MOOC or searching for hashtag #eteacherTOOL for more about this particular MOOC. The Ideal Digital Learning Community quest discusses the concept of an exemplary digital learning community and the general requirements for participating in such an environment.
- [Participate 2.1.1 Selecting Reputable Digital Resources Quest](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/participate-2-1-1-selecting-reputable-digital-resources-quest-eteachertool/) - This post is one in a series for a MOOC. You can find similar posts searching under the Category MOOC or searching for hashtag #eteacherTOOL for more about this particular MOOC. Assignments #2 for this course is to list the three best practices for ascertaining the trustworthiness of resources/websites. I suggest looking closely at these
- [What Does it Take to be My Leader, Mentor, or Teacher?](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/what-does-it-take-to-be-my-leader-mentor-or-teacher/) - I have been feeling introspective lately and had two recent conversations with @LancelotTeacher and @JohnHardison1 that have helped me make some connections to what I believe. John is starting up a blend learning academy for our district and as we were chatting about ways I hoped my group could lend support to his group he
- [The EduBlog Awards #eddies14](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/the-edublog-awards-eddies14/) - The nominations for #eddies14 are open through November 24th. The most nominated make it to the next round, so maybe I provide you with a nominee to consider for YOUR nomination? While you can make your official nominations HERE, I prefer to expound on my nominations below: Best individual blog - My Island View - Tom Whitby, or
- [October Link-up: Free Professional Development](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/october-link-up-free-professional-development/) - Professional Development shouldn't be something which happens *to* you. It shouldn't be something which others plan for you. So, for Connected Educators Month, share where are you finding your own, free professional development now a days. Link up your existing or a new blog post of the topic! [inlinkz_linkup id=453824 mode=1]
- [What's Your Deal?](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/whats-your-deal/) - Listening to NPR today I heard a story about The Humans of New York blog, book, and author. It is startling how honest people will be and how deeply people desire to connect with other people. This man asks people for a photograph and several open ended questions which often result in very candid comments.
- [Focus on Mentoring with #ETWATL](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/focus-on-mentoring-with-etwatl/) - I have not always needed support with guidance in my career. Decisions in becoming a teacher follow a predictable pattern: You decide in 4th grade, check back in with yourself first semester of 12th grade, and then select a college known for education. Isn't that the same for everyone? Well, your journey may have enjoyed had
- [Professional Development Happens](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/professional-development-happens/) - This post is part of a Link-up. For similar posts search Category Linking Up. Professional Development has happened to all of us, in a library or cafeteria, from 4:00-4:30 weekly or {insert your own sad, sad example}. While I did learn some things this way throughout my career those things included how to inconspicuously grade
- [September Link-up: Fave Start of Year Activities](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/september-link-up-fave-start-of-year-activities/) - [inlinkz_linkup id=442158 mode=1]
- [#EdCampATL Take-Aways](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/edcampatl-take-aways/) - My first EdCamp was #EdCampSav earlier this year. I was determined to just observe, so naturally I joined in and presented something on Twitter. I went from 0-60 in about the first five minutes I was there. And I find it cute how I intended today at #EdCampATL to just observe again. Because I again
- [Closer to True Professional Learning for Educators - What do you Think?](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/closer-to-true-professional-learning-for-educators-what-do-you-think/) - WHat is ideal Professional Learning for Teachers?
- [Favorite Start-of-Year Activities](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/favorite-start-of-year-activities/) - This is part of a Link-up, September Link-up: Fave Start-of-Year Activities. For more Link-ups search Categories "Linking Up." The last year I was in the classroom was 2008-2009. The last three years I was in the classroom I taught Earth Science to sixth graders. Loved the content, found the edge of how young I should
- [Share Your Story: How/Why did you get into Education?](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/share-your-story-howwhy-did-get-into-education/) - This is a link-up on your story on why/how you entered into the field of education. You can find more link-ups under Category Linking Up. [inlinkz_linkup id=430098 mode=1]
- [Why are you going back to school?](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/why-are-you-going-back-to-school/) - Why are you going back to work in your school district this year? Perhaps "because the summer is over" is not a deep enough answer? There are many jobs in any school district, but the vast majority of employees are in the classroom with students. If the last time classroom personnel made a decision to show up was right after
- [Create 3.1.1 Open Educational Resources and Creative Commons Quest ](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/create-3-1-1-open-educational-resources-and-creative-commons-quest/) - My experience with Open Educational Resources goes back to the days of photocopiers and whiteout. When I was randomly "liberating" myself form copyright - as I perceived it then. I could NEVER ask a new teacher to replicate that process for two reasons; 1-because I now know it to fly in the face of the
- [The Power of A Teacher and the Shut-Off Notice from the Public](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/the-power-of-a-teacher-and-the-shut-off-notice-from-the-public/) - ...erroneously assumes teachers that are good at making connections with students will have students in their class that always produce high test scores. If he is allowed to play out his litmus test of test scores evicting teachers he will most likely rid Illinois schools of the very teachers he praised at the onset of his article. Luckily there are unions, that slow such processes which might gut the school system if public opinion was able to be carried out without check.
- [You Need A Start-of-Year Game Plan](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/you-need-a-start-of-year-game-plan/) - What is your start of year game plan? Three steps every teacher must take this year! Professional Development Playbook: what do you want to do for your career this season? Proactively organize your own professional development this year. As a teacher, evaluate what you want to learn and investigate where to learn it. School leaders
- [Why am I in Education?](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/why-am-i-in-education/) - This post is part of a Link-up. For similar posts search Category Linking Up. In fourth grade my father told me I should be a lawyer. I remember a period of weeks I entertained the only other profession I have ever considered. By the time I taught 5th graders for Junior Achievement in high school I
- [First Day of Kindergarten](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/first-day-of-kindergarten/) - The good news for this mom is that I have spent 15 years in education by the time my oldest is entering Kindergarten, the bad news is that doesn't matter. The panic allegedly began 2PM Thursday, when my son's long term substitute teacher called to welcome me to Open House that evening. Bless this poor
- [Becoming A Blended Learning Designer #BlendKit2014 Week 2](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/week-two-becoming-a-blended-learning-designer-blendkit2014/) - Course authoring a bended learning environment
- [Becoming A Blended Learning Designer #BlendKit2014 Week 4](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/becoming-a-blended-learning-designer-blendkit2014-week-4/) - Blended Learning Designer
- [Navigate 2.1.3 Commercial versus Open Virtual Classrooms Quest](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/navigate-2-1-3-commercial-versus-open-virtual-classrooms-quest/) - Communication options for online classes
- [How Deeply are you Thinking about Your Practice?](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/how-deeply-are-you-thinking-about-your-practice/) - how do you participate in your profession? Do you blog? Do you use twitter?
- [Next stop #ISTE2014 ... but first let me take a selfie](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/next-stop-iste2014-but-first-let-me-take-a-selfie/) - #ISTE2014
- [Color Me Happy - Technology Thursday](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/color-me-happy-technology-thursday/) - This post is linking up with Teaching Trio. You can find similar posts searching under the category Linking Up. Have great colors in your digital creations If you have wondered about making your own images for your digital classroom creations your first task is to find a (free) user-friendly tool. I have had success with both Powerpoint and PicMonkey.
- [Make an #infographic by the end of this post - Technology Thursday](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/make-an-infographic-by-the-end-of-this-post-technology-thursday/) - This post is linking up with Teaching Trio. You can find similar posts searching under the category Linking Up. What is an infographic and why should you want to make your own? Think USA Today's weather section or, if you are too young to remember a newspaper, consider how Ikea tries to impart lengthy descriptions with just
- [Project Roundtable: What is the Moral Imperative as Educators to share our work?](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/project-roundtable-what-is-the-moral-imperative-as-educators-to-share-our-work/) - Should educators share work?
- [#infographic: THEN versus NOW how Technology in Schools has Changed over Time](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/infographic-then-versus-now-how-technology-in-schools-has-changed-over-time/) - educational technology infographic
- [MOOC Reflection - I finally finished one!](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/mooc-reflection-i-finally-finished-one/) - Reflection on completed MOOC
- [Digital Learning Transitions #MOOC: Goals and Challenges #Infographic](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/digital-learning-transitions-mooc-goals-and-challenges-infographic/) - Part of the assignment for the Digital Learning Transitions MOOC is to write goals and challenges for the area you wish to impact. Statement of important goals for updating teaching and learning in my district: Celebrate an environment where the destination of learning can be reached in multiple ways and at varying paces. Highlight teachers
- [ThingLink Challenge](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/thinglink-challenge/) - ThingLink
- [ThingLink Teacher Challenge](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/thinglink-teacher-challenge/) - using thinklink, use cases for thinglink
- [Digitally, Tread Lightly](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/digitally-tread-lightly/) - Everyone needs to be intentional about what we tweet, decidedly neutral when we respond, and tweet with a benefit-of-the-doubt mentality whenever possible. We are each others best resource, we can't be this tough on each other.
- [#MOOC Two in the Books](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/mooc-two-in-the-books/) - review of MOOC, two MOOCs reviewed
- [What is Behind those Arrows in that #BlendedLearning #Infographic ?!?](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/what-is-behind-those-arrows-in-that-blendedlearning-infographic/) - Blended Learning Infographic
- [#BSNmooc Week One, so far, so good!](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/bsnmooc-week-one-so-far-so-good/) - I became interested in joining Blended Schools Network MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) for two reasons. One was that it sounded like a cool thing to try out in an area I already had some background knowledge - it was more within my realm than one of those MIT MOOCs - and it should be
- [#BSNmooc Week Two, How about some #PBL ?](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/bsnmooc-week-two-how-about-some-pbl/) - Educational terms can become overwhelming. And if they don't make you quit in the first five years of your career, they will hound, test, confuse you for the next 25 or so. So forgive the initial eye roll on the topic of Problem Based Learning. However, I am driven to complete this mooc experience and
- [Still Deciding *if* you need to use 21st Century Skills? We're 14% through the 21st Century.](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/if-youre-still-deciding-if-you-need-to-use-21st-century-skills-we-are-14-through-the-21st-century/) - 21st century skills
- [#Infographic Love](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/infographic-love/) - In the process of starting something for a Udemy course I (of course) wanted to include an appropriate infographic. I found this infographic on Pinterest - https://pinterest.com/pen63/ . As you pinners know the source page for pins you love are not always correct. Once I read through the credits on the infographic to find the
- [Saving PDF as JPG for zoom.it, Camtasia, Articulate, LMS course - Geesh!](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/saving-pdf-as-jpg-for-zoom-it-camtasia-articulate-lms-course-geesh/) - I am not sure about MS Word document value (dramatic pause) in online Professional Development courses. Compliance courses masquerading as PD are one thing, but please, don't let this bleed over into PD!
- [Challenged](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/challenged/) - I had a great ISTE this year. I was a little Twitter-star struck, managed to be act normal with several cool people that I was lucky enough to meet, and had some of my paradigms shifted. And, I was challenged to write. I attended an awesome presentation by @GCouros on Learning to Change, and Changing
- [The Joy of Helping](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/the-joy-of-helping/) - Ahh, to over-deliver. Allow me to marinate in this feeling, it doesn't come around too often. I shouldn't act like I am not helpful typically, but it is not the helpful which is visible. I wonder sometimes if all people see is me defining the places where I cannot be helpful, but I am working
- [Confessions of a Martyr](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/confessions-of-a-martyr/) - I have just made a connection based on something which has stuck with me since the end of July and something that came up today. Both conversations (the only meaningful way I make connections) were with outside vendors to our school district. But not the roll-your-eye kind of vendors, but actual educators who now serve
- [Happy Unconnected Educators Month!](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/happy-unconnected-educators-month/) - Bahahaha. I am not trying to be contrary, I totally think this is a great annual theme for educators. But my last few days have pointed out to me I may do better to limit myself to some quality connections versus stockpiling them like a cold war arms race. This past weekend I signed up
- [I drove my dump truck to the meeting](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/i-drove-my-dump-truck-to-the-meeting/) - I had a meeting I wasn't looking forward to today. It wasn't a tough topic or a tough personality that made me apprehensive, I was apprehensive because the meeting was called because the person's boss made an off-hand remark about a technology to incorporate and I was the checkmarks to her list. So in order
- [#iNACOL13 Brain Dump](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/inacol13-brain-dump/) - This was my first iNACOL. I jealously watched my colleagues attend a couple of years ago and am so grateful I was able to attend this year! It is worth noting they have recently changed their name from Virtual School Symposium to Blended and Online Learning Symposium. I think the name change sends a real
- [Media Specialist are Geeky](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/media-specialist-are-geeky/) - And you say, "Duh?" Well I might retort, "No, I mean in an exotic, train-wreck, but beautiful sort of way." And hopefully you don't want to punch me. Fresh off a full day in-service with a group of 40ish K-12 of them I am feeling inadequate, exhausted, and slightly scared of their power in a
- [New Tech - New Problem, or New Tech - Old Problem?](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/new-tech-new-problem-or-new-tech-old-problem/) - One of the systems I support in my school district is a relatively new technology, a Learning Management System (LMS). Of course being a model of public K12, my system has some entrenched prior systems with unique idiosyncrasies. For the past few years any attempts to integrate with the established Student Information System (SIS) have
- [Tweet 3K](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/tweet-3k/) - This was my 3,000th tweet. I did not even realize that I had surpassed 3,000 until the next day when I had an occasion to look something up on twitter.com directly. Surely, this is a chance for reflection. I am not a Tweet Goddess, but do find Twitter an indispensable educational tool. So, what is
- [Trouble Ticket 200 Status Update](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/trouble-ticket-200-status-update/) - One facet of my job is to support an LMS. I recently had occasion to enter the 200th trouble ticket and since it felt like a milestone I browsed through some of the previous tickets. How I have Grown I have changed because of working with this company. For the worse: I may have asked
- [What do we Abandon?](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/what-do-we-abandon/) - Who am I you say? Oh, well, I am the blog owner. Although from the infrequency of my posts I can see why you might ask. I was weeding out my GoogleReader feed and was struck by the abandoned blogs I was watching. Blogs with names indicating the author might be (or attempting to appeal
- [Jon Bon Jovi is to Steve Jobs as Some Teachers are to ?](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/jon-bon-jovi-is-to-steve-jobs-as-some-teachers-are-to/) - I could not care less what celebrities think about anything, call it a personal bias. So the first time my Sirius radio station was talking about how Jon Bon Jovi blames Steve Jobs for killing the music industry I didn't care. Now the second time I heard the same story I was in a more
- [PD + TECH = Pretty Darn Tough in EConomic Hardships](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/pd-tech-pretty-darn-tough-in-economic-hardships/) - And you thought getting someone to buy you technology was tough. The first things cut are teacher professional days or the purchasing of new equipment. Try getting technology and training/professional development together!
- [And You Thought Your Job was Hard . . . ](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/and-you-thought-your-job-was-hard/) - But imagine a job where you were hired for your high degree of competency ... and then a topic sneaks up on you in which you feel you are tremendously ill-prepared. This is the type of educating that any person in the school can do to help prepare our decision makers for the tough choices in technology they will surely encounter.
- [Interview Question](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/interview-question/) - In the course of my job I was recently interviewed by an educational department of a company that writes its own magazine. At some point a person asked me if the students, as "digital natives," were more engaged by teachers, the "digital immigrants," who were now using technology to teach them. A leading question you
- [Blogging for Real School Reform](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/blogging-for-real-school-reform/) - Teachers seem a logical group to experiment with when compared to students. They are willing participants, have some level of education themselves, and whether the experiment is successful or a failure a teacher should gain some knowledge from it.

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- [Blended Learning](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/tag/blended-learning/) - Blended Learning is more than a buzz word. It is more than “the best of both worlds” between face-to-face and online education. Any definition should include The Christensen Institute’s student control of Time, Place, and Path – and – The Sloan Consortium (presently the Online Learning Consortium) recommended 30-79% of content delivered online. Words matter, do not allow vendors or colleagues to misrepresent Blended Learning.
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- [Early Childhood Education](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/tag/early-childhood-education/)
- [Artificial Intelligence](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/tag/artificial-intelligence/)
- [Microlearning](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/tag/microlearning/)
- [Amazon Prime](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/tag/amazon-prime/)
- [Professional Upskilling](https://www.hotlunchtray.com/tag/professional-upskilling/)