All Google All Day with Alice Keeler

Who is Alice Keeler?  I first heard Alice speak at ISTE this past summer.  She is the author of many educational professional development books, especially on all things Google.  In her bio, she states that she believes, "professional development is not always formally delivered"; which certainly resonates with me. When deciding how best to accomplish the goals of my sabbatical, it became clear that I would not find the professional development I felt I needed through a university setting.  Furthermore, for me, I have always learned so much more through other excellent educators who are passionate about providing students with the most engaging learning experiences.

I have always appreciated professional development that is given in a somewhat faster pace.  For me, when information is given too slowly, I find my mind drifts and it is hard for me to stay focused.  Alice, on the other hand, was presenting information so fast, I could barely keep up.  What do the 3 dots in Google products mean???? It means there is MORE!  What is the answer to most questions....it is usually a spreadsheet!  There were so many more takeaways than I could possibly list here.  For our students, we need to:

Engage.....Explore....Explain how it relates to the real world.

TRETC and the Pittsburgh Technology Council

The Three Rivers Educational Technology Conference is held in Pittsburgh every year in the fall.  This is a one day (and also an evening pre-session) event that I have attended many times over the years.  This years theme was on "Digitizing Personalized Learning".   The location for this event has moved over the years, but this year, it was held in Montour School District's new elementary schools building.  That plural on the schools is not a mistake; this one building is home to two separate schools, divided by the common areas of the cafeteria, the library, the Minecraft Room and soon to come, Lego experience room.  The school is also home to a fairly elaborate Sensory Room that I was able to tour.

This schools concept was interesting.  Most of the classrooms have offer flexible seating and many teachers do not have assigned seating.  Montour School District has a "Director of Academic Achievement and District Innovation" who has been responsible for bringing the Minecraft and Lego rooms to creation.  

The most helpful session from this conference revolved around STEAM Storytime utilizing picture books.  The presenters talked a great deal about having common vocabulary throughout the STEAM lessons, which reinforces the Engineering/Design process for students. 

ALA Sensory Storytime Expert

    

As I stated earlier, I found it difficult to source the best experts in Sensory Storytime.  I found myself going to Ohio several times.  The pictures above are from my visit to the Wallhaven (NW) Branch of the Akron Public Library in Akron, Ohio. Tricia, the Librarian, allowed me to view her Sensory Storytime and then spent a ton of time afterwards talking about her experiences from public libraries across several states.  

My biggest takeaway from this experience was the collaboration with an organization called, "Pilot International".  This organization has supported the public library and will often create takehome manipulatives for the parents of AS children.  Tricia included an almost endless music playlist throughout her storytime.

School Library....Public Library

One of the important goals of my sabbatical revolves around Storytime, and in particular, Sensory Storytime.  In trying to find the best professional development, I learned there are slim pickings!  What I did know, was that our Public Library held Sensory Storytimes often and the PA Library Conference 2017 had training specific to this topic.

Our own Carnegie Librarians were the speakers and quoted the CDC who identified 1 in 68 children were diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder in 2011.  As anyone who has ever worked with Autistic children knows, that only means a "Developmental Disability, with a neurological basis that affects their communication and interaction with other".  That does NOT mean that the student will necessarily have an intellectual disability.

The Librarians walked us through their plans for Sensory Storytime.  I was really glad to hear it didn't differ from the ones I have been doing at MES.  However, after listening to their talk, I learned so much to improve my program.

They began by talking about picture schedules, which we do for each lesson.  They talked about multiple means of presentation, which we also plan for and include.  The one item that stopped me cold, though, was time for "calming and relaxation".  Nope, never did that one!  Never even thought about it.  Let's start with I am a Type "A" person with my goals in mind; every lesson should be engaging and memorable for my students.  Yes, it should follow our curriculum as well, of course!  There should not be a minute of instructional time "wasted".  That is another goal I am constantly aware of and work towards.  So "relaxation was not a concept I considered "educational.  But considering that these children's minds must be racing at all times, working on a few minutes of relaxation is like a much needed brain break we all need.

The Librarians shared their favorite books, apps and sensory manipulatives, which I can use during my storytime right away.  I hope we never forget what a wonderful resource our public libraries are for us all.