Angela Maiers Educational Services

My Year in Review: Teaching and Learning

Thinking back on this amazing year of conversations and connections. I have learned so much. In each category, these are the posts have inspired the most conversations both on and offline. It is not to late to join the dialogue!

Teaching and Learning:

Teaching is more than delivering content; our work is about making learning happen. These stories drive our conversations about teaching and learning beyond sharing strategies and teaching techniques. By getting to the core of what makes learning happen , our teaching becomes a transformative experience, for our students and ourselves.

Sending Their Best

8 More Minutes Pleeeeease!

Reflection on Reflection

Listening to Writing

Lessons Learned

As we enter the New Year, I am sure together we enter new conversations.  I know TOGETHER WE ARE SMARTER!
 

Together We Are Smarter. What's Your Take? Comment Here.

My Year in Review: Teacher Inspiration

Thinking back on this amazing year of conversations and connections. I have learned so much. In each category, these are the posts have inspired the most conversations both on and offline. It is not to late to join the dialogue!

Teacher Inspiration:

For years, I have collected stories of humor and inspiration to share with teachers in my speeches and workshops.  We need daily doses of inspiration to keep us moving toward our goals, lift our spirits, and spread positivity and energy to one another. Enjoy!

The Teacher Movie

Fantabulous!

Run Girls Run

Teacher + Chance + WOW!

Beautiful...It Just Is

As we enter the New Year, I am sure together we enter new conversations.  I know TOGETHER WE ARE SMARTER!
 

Together We Are Smarter. What's Your Take? Comment Here.

My Year in Review: Strategies That Work

Thinking back on this amazing year of conversations and connections. I have learned so much. In each category, these are the posts have inspired the most conversations both on and offline. It is not to late to join the dialogue!

Strategies That Work:

As educators, we frequently search for more effective methods of communicating information and helping students to learn. There are a number of strategies that can be used to help students remember, assimilate, and retain the information we have worked so hard to help them understand. These strategies can develop students interest in the content, increase confidence and efficiency in learning, and support deeper understanding.

On Fire For Learning

Finding Big Ideas in NonFiction

Drama in the Classroom

Masking the Print

Finding Big Ideas: It's as Easy as 1,2,3

The Revolving Role

As we enter the New Year, I am sure together we enter new conversations.  I know TOGETHER WE ARE SMARTER!
 

Together We Are Smarter. What's Your Take? Comment Here.

My Year in Review-21st Century Education

Thinking back on this amazing year of conversations and connections. I have learned so much. In each category, these are the posts have inspired the most conversations both on and offline. It is not to late to join the dialogue!

21st Century Education:  Technology and globalization have changed the way in which students think,learn and define the skills necessary for success. This reality poses a number of challenges for educators developing the skills students will need in workplaces and communities of the future.

A Vision of Students Today

Would da Vince learn in Today's Classroom?

Are We Stuck(Right) Side Up?

Are We Asking the Right Literacy Questions?

21st Century Reading Realities

Kids Ask Teachers: 21st Century Please?

As we enter the New Year, I am sure together we enter new conversations.  I know TOGETHER WE ARE SMARTER!
 

Together We Are Smarter. What's Your Take? Comment Here.

My Year in Review-Comprehension Tools

Thinking back on this amazing year of conversations and connections. I have learned so much. In each category, these are the posts have inspired the most conversations both on and offline. It is not to late to join the dialogue!

Comprehension Tools

In an effort to facilitate comprehension in both reading and writing, we incorporate strategies and techniques to improve the power and effectiveness of our teaching and learning. With literally thousands of resources available, these are some of my favorite tools.

7 Power Thinking Tools: Keys to Critical Learning

Finding Big Ideas-It's as Easy as 1,2,3

The Conversation Begins: Intro to Writers Workshop

Introduction to Writing Territories

As we enter the New Year, I am sure together we enter new conversations.  I know TOGETHER WE ARE SMARTER!
 

Together We Are Smarter. What's Your Take? Comment Here.

Meet My Friends!

It has been an exciting and growing experience to be a part of what is the now infamous Iowa Blogga Nostra.  The brainchild of  fellow blogging  pals, Mike Sansone and Drew McClellen, the Blogga Nostra began as a way for bloggers to informally meet and connect off line in the same way they do online through their blogs.  Now, over 40 bloggers strong, the Blogga Nostra has become a consistent place for Central Iowa Bloggers to network and have conversations. 

Here's what some of the bloggers are saying about the power of this "off-line" blogging experience:

"You link out to other people, or mention them on a post; it is a reciprocal effect," said Rush Nigut, a local business attorney and member of the Blogga Nostra. "They write about you, and then someone else writes a link. That's how it grows."

"The diversity of the group makes for different readership; it allows us to cross audiences," said Andy Brudtkuhl, a Web developer for Simplifive LLC and a member of the Blogga Nostra.

"Mike Wagner with the White Rabbit Group said. "You have a shot to do business with people. Typically you hand a business card to someone and they throw it away. Give them a brochure, maybe they read it and then they throw it away. With blogging you can keep up the conversation. You keep business growing and react to consumers through an interactive piece."

Read more about our group in The Des Moines Business Record.

Let 2008 be a great year for both online and offline opportunities to engage, connect, and support one another! How about starting your own place and space for "Million Dollar Conversations"?

Together We Are Smarter. What's Your Take? Comment Here.

Happy Holidays!

I am wishing you all a very Happy Holidays.  Wherever you are, I hope that you take time to enjoy the season. Embrace time with your friends and family, and take some much needed rest for yourselves. May all your wishes come true.  God Bless, Friends!  Angela

Together We Are Smarter. What's Your Take? Comment Here.

Wanna Play Random Tag?

Tag-I'm It!  My new blogging pal, Pat @ Successful Teaching, has just tagged me with the following meme. Tags and memes are a great way to "get personal", so we get to know one another and build a closer community.

The rules are simple:

• Link to the person that tagged you and post the rules on your blog.
• Share 7 random and or weird things about yourself.
• Tag 7 random people at the end of your post and include links to their blogs.

So, here I go...7 random/weird facts about Angela Maiers:

1. I have not played the piano since I was in college, and I started playing again this week. (poorly, but playing no less)
2. I sing really really loud to the radio when I am driving, and people next to me laugh when they drive by!
3. I bite my nails and have tried everything to stop, and they are still short!
4. I have never taken a ride on a roller coaster.
5. I am a 24 fanatic-I LOVE JACK BAUER!
6. When I was teaching, I got a Black Hawk helicopter to land at my school for a unit on transportation.  It was amazing!
7. My first name is not Angela...it is my middle name!

Now Your It:

• Mitch Matthews @ DoYouQ
• Char @ Essential Keystrokes
• Ricardo Bueno@The Industry Report
• Amy @ Runners Lounge
• Art@ Moment on Money
• Drew@ Drew's Marketing Minute
• Larry@ Passing It On 

I have tagged the following 7 people, but anyone can join in on the fun. What a great way to start a day smiling!

Photo on Flickr by Punkartist

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Chalk Talk 12/21/07

Chalk Talk Friday represents conversations and brilliance discovered on my travels 'round the Blogosphere.  From professional to personal development, these posts and links have in some way touched my head or my heart.

Happy Holidays and Happy Learning!:

• Edublogs This is a safe, secure, and FREE tool to support your blogging efforts. You can embed video, create podcasts and customize your own unique webspace.


• No more "I'm bored" moments. Printable for Kids is a site run by new blogging pal, Charlene Polanosky. If your students love word searches, mazes, coloring pages, quiz sheets, “adlibs” and other puzzles, this is the place for you! 


• Get ready to load up your ipod educators. OpenCulture posts a list of free educational podcasts from top notch institutions. What a great way to make the miles on the treadmill go by with engaging learning!


• Web 2.0 Backpack: Web Apps for Students is a wonderful feature article on the current state of the Education 2.0. Read more about the many new Web 2.0 applications that could be useful in helping students organize, share and develop a greater understanding of information.
  

 

Together We Are Smarter. What's Your Take? Comment Here.

Make Your 2008 Great

Kevin Eikenberry of The Kevin Eikenberry Group sent me an early Christmas gift that I am excited to share with you all.  He has  just released a new tool entitled, Make Your 2008 Great - 26 Remarkable Questions to Unleash Your Potential. (For a short time it is available to try out free directly from his site.)

Make Your 2008 Great is designed to help you reflect on the past year and set personal and professional goals for your projected future.
This is great conversation for your own benefit, but would also be a wonderful tool to inspire and learn from one another. So, let's do the first question together!

Q:  What Did I Accomplish this year?

The most immediate (probably because I am blogging as we speak) accomplishment for me has been the new entry into the mysterious and wonderful world of the blogosphere. I learned about, started, and yes...have maintained my blog. In the few short months that I have been blogging, whole new learning worlds have opened up.  It has been an amazing journey that I can not wait to continue in 2008

My second most remarkable accomplishment, is finding balance.  I love my work, and I love my family, but sometimes both were "off balance".  I have put in place several things that will help me get the maximum from each.  I am actively trying to work smarter and not harder. Asking for help has been a huge accomplishment for me, and is not something that I have always done well.

As I look back upon this whirlwind year, the habitude I am most proud of is perseverance.  I have been taking time each week to write.  I have been working on a book for some time now, and I can finally say there is an end in site.  Blogging has been a tool to help me learn from other incredible writers, but also get my own thoughts about topics down in print.

Finally, I am very proud of the work that I did with a team of wonderful friends during the months of training we did to prepare for our first Des Moines marathon. In 2006, I could not run one mile, so the accomplishment for me was filling out the application papers and showing up race day.  I never did check my final time, I am just so proud that I actually did it!

So, friends, as you reflect on your amazing year, tell me (on your blog or mine):

What did you accomplish this year?

Together We Are Smarter. What's Your Take? Comment Here.