FETC 2014 The Experience: Building My Better

This year I had the opportunity to attend my first FETC (Florida Educator Technology Conference) conference with Tiffanie Timmons, a colleague from my school. The conference is held annually in Orlando, Florida during the month of January. Danny Forster, host of the Science Channel's "Build it Bigger" kicked off the event. His keynote addressed his work as an architecture and his passion for finding the deeper meaning behind the construction and development of the world's most scenic structures. From the One World Trade Center at Ground Zero in New York to the world's tallest building Kalifa, in Dubai, Forster offered a simplistic rendering of the building's designs and key features. His message of developing curiosity and reasoning through STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Math) education inspired the crowd.

During our three days at the conference we attended workshops, viewed virtual labs and demonstration sessions, participated in raffle drawings, observed the wonder of 3-D printing, experienced google glass (blew my mind),  and of course extensive visits to the exhibit hall.

Google Glass, Amazing!

3-D Printer

Even with all of the excitement and happenings surrounding FETC we kept our focus. We were commissioned with the task of finding ways to better utilize the technology we already have at our school. We came away with some pretty awesome ideas and we are currently working on building a "menu" of topics to showcase what we learned with our school. 

With that being said, what I personally took away from the experience was the face time. The time I got to spend with other educators who were more than willing to share their love and knowledge of teaching. Those that were passionate about engaging students and making sure that students came first no matter what. One of these face time moments happened during one of the morning sessions when I got to meet Jon Bergmann and was interviewed for a segment for his podcast called, "The Flipped Side" through BAM Radio (more about that in an upcoming blog post). Another face time moment happened at the FETC "tweet up" held at TGIF.  It was so great to see (in person) many of the educators that I have connected with through twitter. Being in a room with Jerry Swiatek, Jerry Blumengarten, Adam Bellow, Kathy Schrock, Carlos Fernandez, Stephen Veliz, Stacey Roshan, Tom Whitby, and many others was an amazing experience. 

However, the intimate face time moments spent talking, laughing, planning, searching, wondering, learning, questioning, and "building my better" were all done with Tiffanie Timmons, my friend, my colleague. 

Building my better comes with a price, a price not easily understood by the educators I share most of my time with. So, I find myself connecting with others that get it, that get me, that help me build my better. Twitter has been my outlet and what an awesome way to connect with educators all over the world! I've learned and gained so much through these interactions. But this time, the time during FETC 2014, I was connected to Tiffanie. She's not on twitter, she doesn't have a blog, she's not your stereotypical "connected" educator. She is an educator in my county, at my school, and she gets it. 

My name is Celeste, I'm a work in progress, and I'm building my better. 

Who helps you Build Your Better?

Live, Laugh, Learn

Celeste Clemons

Testing (not a blog post)

testing 123

My Journey:The Flipped Class and Small Group Instruction

A group of our students at work

I can definitely say that I'm learning a great deal about instruction and how to meet the needs of individual students in the classroom. The great dilemma in teaching: How do I teach all of the students while at the same time meet each child's individual needs? This is no small feat. It takes time, thought, and lots of planning. The ongoing desire to be a better teacher than I was the year before led me to the path of the flipped classroom. My sole purpose was this: How can I make the most use of my instructional time while the students are with me during the school day?

During the summer of 2012 I searched for ways to be better at managing my time. I felt that so much time was being lost during the school day but I really couldn't tell where this time was going. So one day I sat down and mapped out a typical daily classroom schedule. What I came to realize was that although the schedule said things like 60 min for math and 90 for reading, most of that time was spent with me at the front of the class teaching. This wasn't necessarily bad teaching. I mean, most of what I was able to incorporate in my teaching were considered to be good practices. Using approaches like I Do- We Do-You Do, Think Time, Think-Pair-Share, and other Kagen Strategies resulted in good class averages and good evaluation scores. However, these methods usually benefited the students right in the middle the most. The outliers weren't getting all that they needed. You know the kids I'm talking about. The ones that needed an extensive amount help and the ones that were far beyond where I was teaching.

The flipped classroom seemed to offer the best solution to my problem. I was able to remove the lecture from the classroom completely or almost completely and focus my efforts on facilitating learning within the classroom. While I am far from and expert on flipping, I can truly say that it has made a tremendous difference in how I view teaching and learning. I'm finding my own way within the flipped model. I facilitate the learning in my math class through small group "instruction". I'm perfecting my ability to meet with all students everyday and guide them at their level of need.

I am grateful for the on-going support that I have received from students, parents, my team, and admin. However, I must commend my PLN (Professional Learning Network) on twitter. What great group of educators! Shout out the Jon Bergmann, flipped class pioneer, who encouraged me and helped me get this going at my school. I have often said that I am a work in progress. This holds true for every area of my life and teaching is no exception.

Live, Laugh, Learn

Celeste Clemons

Flipped Madness...Follow Up

As it turns out, only two students did not watch the first flipped class video of the original 5 previously mentioned. Two of the five watched from a mobile device and one watched in after school in the computer lab. The remaining two students didn't watch due to a language barrier in the home and lack of technology in the home. Both of these issues have been resolved. Thanks to my wonderful teaching partner who speaks spanish fluently, we were able to communicate with the families and take care of the tech issues they were experiencing. Now 100% of the students are able to watch flipped class lessons for homework. Yipee!! Stayed tuned for more insight into our class. 

Live, Laugh, Learn

Celeste Clemons 

Flipped Madness

So today my kids experienced their first flipped class video from home. It was a crazy first attempt for them when they tried to view the video. Before I get into that, let me describe how today went. 

The kids were paired up and used the desktop computers or laptops in the classroom so that I could introduce Edmodo and how they would use it to view tonights math video. The kids were very excited. They've been waiting all week to test out Edmodo. The kids used photo booth to take and upload pictures to their Edmodo profile. Everyone was attentive and followed directions well. They shared, took turns, and helped each other out. Two thumbs up for helping 44 kids navigate Edmodo. 

Now, on to the madness! Picture this, eager faces exit the classroom ready to begin their new adventures with math. Anxious hands long to access an interesting way of learning. Finally at their destination, curious bodies connect to the world wide web. The Edmodo guys greet them with a warm welcome. Clicking mice and finger taps gravitate towards the lesson. Wandering eyes watch the screen only to see ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!! 

At 3:10 I had about 15 emails/Edmodo messages and 3 kids (that found me after school) all saying the same thing "Mrs. Clemons, we can't see the video!" OMG! Literally that's what I said. So I immediately log on and guess what? The video plays perfectly for me. I even show the 3 waiting kids. They went straight to the computers in the classroom and the video is not working. As I'm working on a solution I get about 15 more emails/Edmodo messages "video not working". So I respond to my parents and kids by sending them the direct link to the video. Did that work? Are you kidding, of course it DID NOT! I continued to trouble shoot and figured out that there was a settings/preference error that I needed to correct. Finally, voila, the video works. Altogether I received about 45 emails/Edmodo messages. 

Whew! What a crazy start to the flipped classroom. Despite this crazy start, as I reflect on this experience a few things come to mind:
1. The kids were determined to watch the video, (really kids desperate to do homework!) 

2. Even though I said that we would not be using Edmodo to talk to each other for this assignment but just to watch and post a response to me, the kids began to try to problem solve and help each other out (really, the kids wanted their friends to be successful and do their homework too!) 

3. Out of 44 kids 39 watched the homework video. I have to come to terms with this number. I am always pushing for 100%. (100% of the kids learning and doing the work 100% of the time). I'm wondering what happened to the other 5? What was hindering them from being able to do the work? How can I help to make sure they do it next time? Ahhh next time, music to my ears. I'll get 'em for sure next time. 

Overall, I count today as a success. Are there things that need to be worked out? Absolutely. The great thing about being a teacher is that I am a student first, always learning. And I wouldn't have it any other way!

Live, Laugh, Learn

Celeste Clemons 

Nehemiah: Building With One Hand and a Weapon in the Other

In Nehemiah 3 we learned that the work of the Lord is not solo work. The vision God has given us is not ours alone. It will take the help of like minded people to get the "good work" done. Our diligence today can have everlasting effects tomorrow. 

Nehemiah 4 Facing the Opposition 

Nehemiah faced opposition right from the get go. I believe that he would have had even more trouble if he hadn't had the foresight to ask the king for the two letters (you can read more about that here...Neh 2:7-9).  

Sanballat and Tobiah, remember them? Well, their back. So the mockery and ridicule continues. They hurled insults at the Jews calling them feeble, weak. At one point Tobiah even says that the wall they were building would not hold up. It would break down even if a fox climbed onto it. So what was our good man Nehemiah going to do this time? Pray of course. Nehemiah's first response was to pray. Then he went on building. Let's follow Nehemiah's example. Take it to God and get back to work (Pastor Scott Hunter). Wow! I admire Nehemiah so much, help me Lord to reach this point of maturity in You, cuz that's not what I would've done! (just saying). 

When we are doing the "good work" for the Lord, everyone is not going to support us but the right people will. We need to trust God to handle our Sanballat's and Tobiah's. After Nehemiah prayed, the people worked more fervently than ever. Nehemiah was their constant reminder of the goodness of God. 

The more work they did, the more opposition they faced. The more work they did, the angrier Sanballat and Tobiah became. They plotted to kill Nehemiah and the Jews. Again, Nehemiah prayed. Then he stationed workers with weapons all around the wall. So they essentially worked with one hand and held a weapon in the other! Our "weapon" against the enemy is the Word of God. We continue to do God's work with our "weapon" in hand. 

Therefore, we give due diligence to His Word. It's just like taking an exam. If we have not studied the required material, chances are, we are not prepared. When we are not prepared, we have not given ourselves the opportunity to achieve the desirable outcome. The Word of God prepares us and gives us the opportunity to respond rightly in the face of opposition. 

Regardless of what the Lord is asking us to do in obedience, we must have a response to the opposition. Because when we step out in His name, the attacks will come (SRT). Let's let no one put an end to the work we are doing for His Kingdom. In spite of the opposition the work must go on.


Lord, help us to hold tight to your Word. Let it penetrate our hearts as we turn our face towards you. We need your help to remain faithful to reading your Word daily. In Jesus name, Amen. 

*image from praying.kansasbob.com

Nehemiah: Builders of the Wall

image from terrainplanning.com

In Nehemiah 2 we learned the importance of being patient and what action steps to take when moving forward with the call that God has placed in our heart. We also learned how to respond rightly to opposition.

Now on to Nehemiah 3. I have to admit, upon first glance I wasn't really excited about this chapter. It's basically an overview of who repaired what part of the wall. This gate was repaired by so and so. This section by so and so. Next to him was so and so, and so and so. You know, just the basic mundane building of a wall. Right....wrong! So wrong!

Man, I had to stop dead in my tracks. Isn't this exactly what was supposed to be happening! The people were fulfilling the call that God had placed in Nehemiah's heart. They were supposed to be building the wall section by section, gate by gate, side by side. Generations of family members, neighbors, friends, leaders, and priests helped to rebuild the wall. They were doing the "good work". The day-to-day grind of life using whatever skills they had.

The vision had been written and made plan for all to see and understand. Every great and powerful move of God, from rebuilding walls, planting churches, or leading a bible study requires work. There comes a time when we have to GET UP, STOP TALKING, STOP VISION CASTING, and START WORKING (SRT). Putting down beams one at a time using whatever skills and talents we've been blessed with. The "good work" may not  always be "glamorous" work or give us goose bumps, but it is part of the necessary work to carry out the plan of God. 

What are you supposed to be doing to help get God's "good work" done? What am I supposed to be doing to help get God's "good work" done? What is God asking us to do within our day-to-day grind that is going to help towards God's 'good work'. We have to remember that the vision that God has giving us is not ours alone. It is not going to get done by us alone. It isn't going to come to fruition by us alone. It's going to take the influence of God on our lives, to influence others, to see a need and be willing to get down in the trenches with us, doing whatever it takes, using whatever we have to get the work done. 

Check this out: In Nehemiah verse 15 we meet a guy by the name of Shallun. What's so special about him? Well I'm glad you're curious. The bible tells us that Shallun repairs the wall of the Pool of Siloam*. Fast forward to John 9:6 where Jesus is on the scene healing a blind man with mud made from saliva and dirt. Guess where Jesus told him to go wash it off; in the Pool of Siloam. We never know how the work we do today will impact the lives of others tomorrow. Let's go build some walls! 

Lord, help us to remember that we need you and each other as we take on the task of building the section of the wall that you've called us to build. In Jesus name, Amen.



 (SRT) = She Reads Truth an online community of women with a heart for God.
 *Pool of Siloam or Shelah= There are also other places in the bible where this pool is significant.