"How MIGHT we..." Stoking the Fires of Student Inquiry UsingConditional Language

How might we HOOK our kids on LEARNING? Encourage intellectual curiosity in & out of the classroom.

This past July, to mark the one-year anniversary of the Ice Bucket Challenge, I tweeted the PEEL template that I developed for our Tuesdays With Morrie unit. Click the link below to download a PDF.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BzxBb04r9LK9aXYwVm1FZHRxLTA/view?usp=sharing

Mary Cantwell @scitechyedu proceeded to chat with me, as I tagged the tweet #dtk12chat. Mary & my Head of School, Dr.LisaAbel-Palmieri @learn21tech, founded the #dtk12chat. I'm indebted to Mary, even though she nearly gave me heatstroke... We'll talk about that later. She offered insights and advice for effectively implementing this technique--HMW...

"The 4th word is critical", she remarked. It's true, too: just look at how limiting and scripted my "Ice Bucket Challenge" template appears--full of words like "game-change" and specifics such as "social media campaign" or "fight against terminal disease". Sure--I developed it for a very specific part of a unit. But in doing so, I inadvertently put limits on my students' creativity.

This was "just-in-time" intervention. As I spent my summer traveling between Pittsburgh and Chicago, returning from the Active Learning Summit hosted by Lisa, I was in the right frame of mind to self-evaluate. Mary's observations challenged and inspired me. I had become so engrossed in our conversation, I accidentally got off the red line at the wrong stop. Trust me--an added two mile walk in +90* heat couldn't even slow down my momentum.

I love Pittsburgh... I'm a "Pittsburgh Girl"... But, my goodness--public transit in Chicago is just incredible. We have much to learn, Steel City.

Big Take-Aways:

I did not realize that July's Active Learning Summit would inspire me to resign my position of nearly eight school years and take on the role of Cultural Literacy teacher at an innovative start-up high school founded in the tradition of Catholic schooling for urban youth and families of any means. 

I did not realize that a Twitter brainstorming session would lead me to question and redevelop so much of my digital portfolio.

I did realize, though, on that hot-hot afternoon, that we need to be brave enough to look in the mirror and critically take stock of our work. To accept that the iterative process is ongoing and will have necessary setbacks and failures along the way. These missteps are not deal breakers, but on the contrary they are moments of exponential growth. Personally and professionally... If we allow them to be.

I completed a class in Computational Thinking, too. Talk about a truly inspired summer--quality time to push myself as a teacher and lifelong learner.

I've posted a few templates below--some are in varying stages of the iterative process. By no means am I an expert--but I want to share my work to help you to find your best work in and out of the classroom, too. Let's encourage each other and motivate one another!

The key, I believe, is to use conditional language as much as possible... Let's not lock our students into looking for one solution, but encourage free thinking in all of its varying forms. We can hook our kids on learning by creating relevant and thought-provoking discussion starters and writing prompts that tap into cultural movements. So, let the iterative process begin!

Templates:

PEEL + image/INFOGRAPHIC + writing prompt (PEEL = point, explanation, evidence, link to main idea)

HMW + PEEL + image

Project Zero Pittsburgh: Learning w/ Ron Richhart & Jessica Ross (Agency by Design)

Today was Project Zero Pittsburgh #pz_pgh. I worked with colleagues from schools across southwestern Pennsylvania in today's event at Quaker Valley. We collaborated on ways to make thinking visible--it was enlightening. My immediate take-away from a professional development conference as this is to become a more mindful practitioner of the art of teaching...

Additionally, I've found my way back to the blog! I took a (brief*) hiatus after leaving my post of eight school years  at my alma mater, Trinity Area, and accepting my new position as a Cultural Literacy teacher at Holy Family Academy, an innovative independent Catholic school in Pittsburgh. Needless to say, this has been a year of immense personal & professional growth--I count myself most fortunate, indeed. I will have a number of stories to share in the coming weeks...

For now, though, let's just say that it's good to be back on the blog!

In response to a request from my new friend, Charles @sf_k5enrichment, I've posted my #SketchNotes from #pz_pgh. 

Enjoy!

-Jennifer Lanas

@educateYINZ

Ron Richhart's Keynote Address

Jessica Ross' on The Promises & Practices of Maker-Centered Learning

Ron Ritchhart on Language, Discourse, & Questioning

Huge thanks to Jeff Evancho & Quaker Valley School District for hosting today's event!

"Twitter Vacation" or 10-Day Silent Meditation Retreat

"Every morning, when we wake up, we have twenty-four brand new hours to live. What a precious gift!" -- Thich Nhat Han

Today, I begin a ten day silent retreat...

I flew from Chicago to Minneapolis, and am about to surrender my cellphone for the next eleven days.

Talk about unplugging at the end of the school year.

On my way to the Vipassana silent meditation retreat, I hopped on the light rail and hiked this pristine city park. The Mississippi River cuts through Minneapolis and makes a 50-foot drop within city limits. It's breathtaking-- Minnehaha Falls in Minnesota. 

Save your pennies, nickels, and dimes and travel. See the world and share your stories!

Vipassana is meditation technique: it's not a religion. If you have a devotion, it might help you to strengthen your practice. I've wanted to do this for quite some time, several years... Each summer I ponder the occasion, and back away citing personal responsibilities and the illusion of unlimited time--"next year...".

At any rate, I don't have romantically notions of this being the first day of the rest of my life, but I know that this moment will forever be imprinted upon my consciousness.

Think about it: 240 hours with your inner monologue to keep you company??? Yes, an experience like that will penetrate the recesses of the soul.

Alas, I'm going on my "Twitter Vacation". Signing off of the blog...

For now.

-Jennifer Lanas

@educateYINZ

Graduation Selfies 2015

High Fives & Hand Grenades: You blew me away, class of 2015!

I'm proud to have been your teacher... And, yes--you may NOW call me "Jenny" :^D

#HillerNation Commencement Photos

Forever your teacher, forever a Hiller...

-Jennifer Sylves de Lanas

@educateYINZ

Power to the Tweeple - Democratization via Twitter

Is Twitter democratizing our schools in a way that outpaces the acceptable use policy? We are living in the Information Age--social media echoes the sentiments of Marshall McLuhan who proclaimed, "The medium is the message." As we strive to be stewards of educational innovation and improvement, shouldn't we embrace the power of social media in our ever-expanding learning ecosystem?

Think about it: When social media is used to promote the free exchange of ideas and showcase student creativity and innovation, that goes beyond "acceptable". It is downright exceptional!

Twitter Moment: Capturing "That Time Our Students Met Governor Wolf"

Twitter Moment: Introducing "The Child I Was" to the Students I Teach

Twitter Moment: Embodying "The Essence of Teamwork" and "Resilience in Defeat"

#PowerToTheTweeple

For those bold educator-innovators whom are in violation of their district's acceptable use/social media policy, I dedicate this post to you. As of this date, I am you... My district's official policy is opposed to teachers tweeting--but it sure is nice when colleagues, administrators, and students stop by my classroom because they saw the tweets showcasing the "cool and creative" things we do.

I am the high school representative on the Trinity Area School District Education Committee. To me, putting educators in the lead is one of my highest priorities as a committee member. We see the power of sharing and showcasing student creativity and achievements both in the classroom and our community. As a digital innovator, I want this to be as much a part of our culture and identity as reading, writing, and arithmetic. 

Teaching our students to be digitally responsible, 21st century citizens isn't an option: it's what the age of innovation demands. It is my honor and duty as a teacher to lead the way.

Let's make a push to democratize our schools and allow educators to responsibly post classroom artifacts, best practices, and student achievements... Without the fear of violating the same district policies that strictly forbid students from wearing "jams and Zubaz pants". 

The '90s called... They want their acceptable use policy back.

*Note: 

As a sophomore, I was assigned detention for going on the Internet without a signed and approved permission form. It was a beautiful spring afternoon in 1999, and I was locked in the after school detention dungeon with class skippers and bathroom stall smokers.

The website I accessed was a 10th Grade Chemistry Review Guide that I created using Tripod: I was so proud of myself--and so busted by our school's librarian!

My parents did not challenge the penalty, citing that it was a ridiculously silly policy, yet I knew what might happen if I went online. It was my folly for trying to learn independently between the hours of 7-3.

I am still amazed that I found my vocation as a teacher... The beauty and irony of it all. Life is a gift, and a sense of humor is a blessing!

Zombies & Steam Punk on Arts Day

This year's Arts Day festivities at Trinity High School included Zombie Tag and Guitars on the Graduation Stage. It continues to be one of my favorite days of the year--a celebration of diverse interests and activities, culminating in the annual talent show.

Enjoy the moments captured below. 

Zombies took over the graduation lawn. Props to Mrs. Jenkins & alum/former GSA president Danny Shaffer for the incredibly realistic zombie make-up. The work you did was straight out of Hollywood: impressive!

Old Main is a glorious sight to behold. Trinity High School was once a military academy. The bell tower rings triumphantly on graduation day.

Students were serenaded by our very own homegrown steam punk band. These animatronic musicians are powered by Crystal Pepsi. I'm pretty sure that they would be on Sherlock Holmes' playlist.

Seriously #AwesomePossum special effects. I'm a little frightened to give these Zombies their final exams!

We had a blast putting this whole thing together! Huge props to Mr. Hagerman & Mr. Baughman for organizing the Arts Day calendar.

Finally, the unveiling of the latest art installation by Mrs. Knight's Independent Art students. I'm blown away by their talent!

Teen Outreach Awards Night

I am honored to accept the Inclusion Award at the Washington Health System's Teen Outreach Awards Ceremony. I cannot even begin to give adequate thanks & praise to our students and my mentor, Dr. MaryJo Podgurski.

50 Shades of Social Justice: An original play produced by the "Real Talk Players". Take a bow--you rocked!

My favorite part of the night was the talk back session with the student cast and crew. What a brave and beautiful group of young people. You inspire me and have rendered this usually verbose teacher speechless--Bravo!

I'm proud to be the faculty advisor of the Trinity High School Gay-Straight-Alliance. It is an honor to be counted as a mentor, ally, and advocate for LGBT youth.

Thanks again to my mentor, Dr. MaryJo. I'm forever in your debt and will always be at your side.

#SmashTheStereotypes

Jennifer Sylves de Lanas

@educateYINZ