All About Nellie

Active Learning: Engage Your Students!  What we took a look at... 365 days. A year. A lot of months, weeks, and days. A lot of opportunities for a lot to happen. Could you sum up a year in just 6 words!? My lovely group members (Amelia and Pearl), and I examined an active learning activity in which students were asked to do just that. Students, grades 1-7, at Coonley School in Chicago were asked to use just 6 words to describe their school year. Their answers were then shared via PowerPoint with their peers. Below are some snapshots of our Padlet, but you can access it in its whole here.  Image source: Padlet.com  Image source: Padlet.com  In the top left image, you can see student examples of their six word summaries, a small description of the activity, and a blurb about active learning. On the image to the right, you can see options on how to modify this activity for various student functioning abilities. And there is even a link on our fu...

Digital Spaces I actually think about this a lot, but I am so truly lucky to be part of the generation that knows both life before technology ruled the world......and life during it. 90's kids, am I right?? I am proud to say I had a land line! And now I have an iPhone, a Mac, a Firestick, and way too much other unnecessary stuff. I can recall the pain of dial up internet, and also know the ease of Wifi. Being an 'inbetweener' like this, I think it has been easier for me to not let technology take over my life. Of course I have my go-to apps and websites, but I don't have my phone glued to my hip. In looking at my digital spaces map, I realized I am quite 'boring' with my digital life.  Image source: Google Images  Personal-Resident  I found myself with the most digital spaces in my personal/resident quadrant. I do not post very much on social media- definitely not one to overshare. I think mostly because of my career choice. Though all of my account...

Ted Talks: Let's Talk About It! I think we have all been there- in a undergrad class, grad class, or professional development....a TED Talk comes on and suddenly you are ready to go out and change the world! You feel like you can overcome every obstacle that stands in your way! TED Talks are inspirational, motivating, and constantly thought provoking.  But can we use them in our classrooms? That's what I am about to dive into.  To hear my *not so TED Talk* on this subject, check out my presentation here!  I talk more in depth about the pros, cons, and what exactly a TED Talk lesson would look like.  It is so awkward hearing your own voice on a recording!! When I started putting my presentation together, I went straight to the TED Talks website to get some info. I realized that the Talks just kind of became a hit out of nowhere, and though I have watched a bunch- I did not really know the mission or purpose behind them. It turns out their missio...

The Three E's  Okay when I first read this model's title, I have to admit I thought of the show This Is Us and 'the big three'. Anyone?? I can never watch that show without crying.                                                         Image source: nbc.com  Anyway, this model is a little different in it is harder to evaluate myself using its framework because it uses a rubric to decide how useful a mode of technology is in a single lesson. So...I will just discuss the model and talk about why I think it is great!  First, I want to be bluntly honest and say I use little to no technology for actual instruction. We use the SmartBoard in the morning for our morning meetings. Then the students use their Chromebooks or iPads for breaks and schoolwork throughout the day. I would definitely say that the most vital piece of...

Hi Everyone!  I'm Nellie. I am currently taking my last 2 classes of my master's program at Dominican University. Almost done! I have been working in special education for the last three years in Park Ridge. I can genuinely say that I have chosen the right career path for myself, and that I truly enjoy going to work every day.  I got my undergrad degree from Loyola University Chicago- go Ramblers! :) Though I love Dominican, nothing will ever quite compare to my Loyola experience...I even sport a Loyola tattoo. I currently live in Jefferson Park, so you can say Chicago has definitely always been home for me. I have 5 siblings (I know!)- 4 of them just moved to New Orleans with my parents. So I visit there a lot when I need to get away, and when I need some good southern food.  I look forward to this semester! I've never blogged before so bare with me...I can't wait to read all of yours!  My latest trip to New Orleans!  4 out of 5 of my sibli...