Virtual Learning Networks

Yesterday some of us had the opportunity to participate in a book club discussion. The energy in the room was positive, compassionate, open and receptive.  We shared best practices, ideas, knowledge, both newly acquired and vetted.  We left the discussion energized with strategies to take back to our classrooms today.  This discussion left me not only thinking about how I can better support students with behavior challenges but also what constitutes quality PD. Open discussions? Presentations led by teachers or experts? Unpacking standards or units of study? On-site training, hybrid or virtual sessions?

So many of the ideas and tools I bring to my work stem from my virtual personal learning networks.  Twitter, Google + Communities, Pinterest, Teachers Pay Teachers, and even Facebook all provide shared communities of thoughtful discussion and best practice.  You may already be using the latter few but I urge you to set up a Twitter account and begin to follow people of interest.  You don't have to contribute to a conversation until you are ready.  This virtual conversation is powered by the collective group sharing ideas, successes and failures, knowledge and sometimes, just as important, are the tweets that ask a question to kick start a dialogue.  Begin by following our school (@westwood_ps, @sheehan_ps, @marthajones_ps), search for your favorite author, educator or organization and check out how much you can learn by adding virtual learning to your personal learning network. Additional benefit - school delays and cancellations are immediately shared on Twitter.

To learn more about the benefits of virtual PD, check out Holly Clark's article, The Essentials of Great PD.  Have ideas about personal learning or professional development?  Add your suggestions to our PD Brainstorming Padlet Board!  

Modeling with Virtual Tools

Number pieces can help students develop a deeper understanding of place value while building their computation skills with multi-digit numbers. Teachers and students can use the pieces to model multi-digit numbers, regroup, add, subtract, multiply and divide. Students can represent equations but dragging and dropping the virtual tools including cubes, rods, and flats (or singles, stickers, and sheets). Teachers can model strategies by projecting for the whole class or in small groups on Chromebooks or iPads.

This virtual tool is an open-ended educational tool, ideal for elementary classrooms and home use.  It is a free app which can be used on an iPad or visit the Math Learning Center's web page on a computer or Chromebook.  

Some key features include:

• Add and manipulate pieces (ones, tens, and hundreds).
• Join pieces in groups of ten or break them apart (e.g., 10 ones into 1 ten and vice versa).
• Choose from three different colors to clearly identify groups or pieces.
• Move, rotate, and duplicate pieces individually or as a group.
• Use the drawing tools to label representations and show understanding.
• Write equations and expressions with the text tool.
• Take a screenshot, pull the image into Seesaw and have your students explain their thinking.

Westwood Resources

Need to renew your license?  Wondering about upcoming PD? Or want to teach a course?  Information on a student?  Make a tech request?  We have provided a folder on the top left side of your bookmarks bar (if you are signed into Chrome).  

This folder provides access to links that every Westwood educator routinely needs.  These links are also available on the 

WPS Home Page.  But you will love having these educator resources right at your fingertips!