Time for a break. Time to reflect.

Sarah Hodgson
Oct 13, 2018
3 min read

October break is here. Quick think about how the year is going so far.

Image credit: https://pixabay.com/photo-2123971/

A fair amount has happened since the beginning of the school year in August.

I am now a Google Certified Educator (Level 1)! I started working on this literally years ago, and finally found time to finish it. Already started to work on Level 2.
Student Twiga Tech Team is up and running. So far so good. We meet every Monday morning recess as a whole team (G2-5 students, 1 per class). Each grade team also run a lunchtime activity of their choice in the Ubunifu Lab. It’s great to see them lead.
I’ve just been appointed Chair of the IT/Design Curriculum Review Committee. Looking forward to working with the rest of the committee in developing a solid Tech curriculum. We start after the break.
I’ve started reading the school PD book. The book I chose out of 10 options: Brain Rules by John Medina. I’m planning to do a separate post on this one!
I’ve presented some PD sessions for Teaching Assistants. Love working with local staff.
I’ve facilitated a Seesaw PD session with teaching staff and I’ve already signed up to present to faculty in November.
During the first two weeks of the school year I visited every class from Grade 1 to Grade 5 and we looked at the Technology Agreement. I created this with a team of Grade 4 students at the end of last year. If felt good to start this year with clear expectations. All students on the same page.
I’ve had tons of fun working with the KG classes… exploring general iPad care and photography. They created some incredible images (see below). One KG class also became interested in making movies, so we had a great play with the green screen and they set up a cinema in their classroom.
I’ve been working closely with the Grade 1 team in their current unit. Students are recording their ongoing thoughts and understandings using Book Creator. I love working in classrooms.
I’ve worked with the Grade 2 classes, focusing on how to make comments on Seesaw posts.
I’ve worked with Grade 3 classes on citations of web pages.
I’ve facilitated three sessions focusing on Digital Citizenship with each of the Grade 4 classes.
I’ve introduced the Grade 5 classes to sketchnoting. Great fun and some of them have flown with it!
I’ve worked with two classes on their Genius Hour/Passion Projects.

Other non-tech things I’ve been working on:

Roots & Shoots – working with a student group, and also with the local Dar es Salaam team. Definitely adds a different dimension to the work I do. Extremely grateful to be involved with this.
Musical – as part of the Core Team (three of us), we have had a few meetings, facilitated auditions for lead roles, and finalised the cast list (over 150 students!).

Looking ahead. October to December:

I’m going to continue getting into classrooms and attending planning meetings as much as I can. So far, this year feels a lot more positive than last year.
Collaborating with the Art teacher in her Grade 3 classes. Exciting times ahead!
Continue to develop Twiga Tech Team and their roles and responsibilities. Love seeing students taking the lead.
I’ve signed up my school to Hour of Code. I’ll be running sessions for classes for two weeks in December.
I will be starting to work on the Yearbook. A lengthy process!
Work on the Elementary school musical has already begun, but will step up a few notches in coming weeks!
Continuing with my own ‘Passion Project’ – facilitating our school’s Roots & Shoots group. Campaigns are coming completely from the students. We are working on installing a butterfly garden! LOVE this.
Aim to create a couple more posts before December break!