#innov8dmps Archive
Run by Des Moines Public School Instructional Technology Coordinators and moderated by them and educators from the district every Tuesday from 8-9pm CST during the school year. We take occasional breaks for the Holidays, but we are consistently trying to reach out to our 60 plus schools and programs to collaborate and tell their stories.
Tuesday October 4, 2016
Q1 Please tell us your name, grade level/subject, and your school?
Don't forget to use and A1 https://t.co/lNPFFCqxRq
Yeah may be in the 515 at The Well but he's missing chat we started from the bottom now we're he… https://t.co/aS6wjCxhJ0
A1: Melanie Gildharry, Instructional Tech Coordinator residing in the Fleur building!
Q1- Jenny Inman, Instructional Tech, DMPS Elementary Network
A1. Kathie Arlaud, 3rd grade teacher Glad to be back to the chat!
a1 6th grade science and math @ Brody
Dave - HS SS in Ankeny joining for a bit
A1 Me llamo Señor Joe McCright. Soy maestro de español en escuela Stowe.
A1: Cherry-Anne Gildharry, ELL Math at &
Q2: How was your summer? Share a photo or tell us what you did (or both would be awesome)
A1 Jake W., Instructinonal Tech Coordinator, Middle School network
A1 mike Sherman instructional tech coordinator
Nathan Kleinmeyer, 8th American History in Plattsmouth, NE. Always love learning from the great educators at
Just finishing up conference stuff! Hoping to rush home by the end of but not tweeting and driving! https://t.co/V94v2Gdjty
A1 Kelsey Jenn. 4th grade math. King Elementary
A2 Summer was a lot of ⚾️ ⚾️ ⚾️ ⚾️ and no vacay, but would not trade it for these reasons , time well sp… https://t.co/TQLG6XeaU2
You may get the furthest away award tonight, thanks for coming and checking this out! https://t.co/A2CbCjCZ0E
Nathan Kleinmeyer, 8th American History in Plattsmouth, NE. Always love learning from the great educators at
Last summer I worked on adding my ELL endorsement and my photography www.instagram/joemccright
A2 incredible- fishing in Minnesota, week at Clear Lake, and Cubs at Coors Field
So beautiful! We are originally from NC and miss those views sometimes!!!
Q3: What was something brand new you did in the first few days in your classroom related to...community, teamwork, technology?
A3 began a morning meeting routine in my room to work on building a positive community. It has been an awesome experience so far
A3 I introduced the kids to all 10 Dash and Dot robots and coding.
Q3 I taught w/o computers thanks to MAP tests
Students meet with each other?
A3: this may sound negative, but we went 1:1 this year so I instituted a phone caddy for all student cell phones.
A3: I started embedding all of my instruction into my OneNote lessons to provide additional support to students
A3: began classroom meeting routine of building community and started exploratory mornings...that I can't wait to expand on
A3. Our school began yoga in the classroom as part of our morning mtg! Incredible!
Awesome picture! Scenery is breathtaking and you definitely look accomplished!
Interesting idea, since they really can't use the excuse of not having tech they shouldn't need phones
Q2: Great summer! Classic road trip through the south with family, and lots of softball
A3: We brought in sophs and new students for the first half day to orient them specifically and make them feel welcome & valued.
That sounds awesome and a definite way to build relationships!
Developing and implementing the Early Literacy Self-Directed PD modules with my awesome team!
exactly - problems have diminished drastically
A1 Diana O'Leary TLC coach at Brubaker
Q4: If you could start the year back over, what is one thing you would do differently or change?
how does exploratory time work for your 1st graders?
No - district policy says only school issued devices.
Summer softball!!! Great times were had with that but not sure I can stand the heat anymore!!!
Not brand new, but spent time hearing each other's stories! Explained to Ss why my ancestors moved to Trinidad using Google maps
That's an awesome idea to help them get ready for school!
A4: I would create an anchor activity and have 1 to 1 convos with students to build relationships.
A4: I would've gotten a jump start on my mini-units for my 8th grade personal choice unit in Dec.
I have had less problems in 6 weeks with phones than I typically had in one day last year.
A4 spent more time teaching students to navigate the websites we use like and some still struggle
Such a cool use of Google Maps! There is certainly a colorful history to be shared!
next snap circuits, coding, and student ideas to add to the mis
Our feedback told us that it was meaningful for those kids.
A3 Explored new icons on Office 365 waffle. Not right away but did for first time use online form (survey) and a shared document
I bet your connection with students was even more due to the stories shared!
A4: I would have jumped into debate prep a lot sooner. After 7 weeks, I feel 5 weeks behind. Silly teaching skills over content.
that is awesome what are they going to do with their websites?
A3: it's all new! 😀awesome new team, new location, new teachers and schools to work with...learning new stuff everyday....
Really just a - "What's to expect and the how-tos of Centennial HS" so their comfort levels were better.
jealous! Italy is on the bucket list!
I am sure! I know I would have felt more confident walking in the first day if I'd already walked around the block!
Q5: With 29 days or so of school in the books what are you most looking forward to this year?
A4: I wish I would of done a little more team building but good news is I can bring it in more throughout the year!
That's fantastic! There are new ones appearing all the time! Never know what treasures you might find!
We have no S tech teams. I invite to every week, but alas, no show!
Ummm... can we say engaged?!!!!
A5 individualized learning!!! Using student evidence to drive what they need, and using resources like to provide it
A4 spend more time prepping level 4 activities
Q5: I can't wait to see what personal design projects my students come up using Autodesk Inventor!
I'm sure! I can't even begin to guess how many hours were spent at the ball fields!
A4 I feel I am just now coming out of a whirlwind. Might be able to answer later!
Ss tech teams or Genius bar something I want to see in schools, someday https://t.co/EcBZTn8kSX
We have no S tech teams. I invite to every week, but alas, no show!
A5 looking forward to collaboration with old/new Trailblazers and building unique learning opportunities https://t.co/hsiuoJoMNT
A5: As always, I can't wait for students to embrace the growth that is possible for them.
A5 seeing what 6th graders can do with the coding/robots/logos/engineering. Love it
A5: I always look forward to watching how much Ss grow throughout the year!
I know that at Southview MS in Ankeny has a student tech team
Q5 I look forward to getting 2nd graders doing online Spanish stuff outside of school nours.
Q5 Finding new ways to support Ts in my bldg. DMPS is on such a good path in all areas!
I think that's a teachers favorite thing!
A5: Hoping for that moment when it sinks in that they don't have to chase points for me, and start chasing the learning instead.
A5: I am just looking forward to working with , working on new projects with my team, taking risks!
Q6: What is one of your goals for the school year? (professional or student)
We are hitting the halfway pt next question coming up soon, remember to use and include A for answer and number with all answers
A5: I love it when I see students share their expertise and help others learn.
I can't wait to get started!
I want to improve on individualized learning, and provide more opportunities to celebrate student growth and success.
A6: Better support schools and teachers with what they need by being visible in the schools and reaching out more!
A6 productive group work. Getting good at it! Being purposeful with it. Student being masters at it https://t.co/BZjHcGR045
Q6: develop at least 5-8 new mini-units a semester and really have a large list for students to choose from
I can't either! You all are amazing and an inspiration to educators everywhere!
A6: Professional goal is to increase engagement with technology. Its not just a replacement for notebooks, it's a creation tool.
Q6 Digging deep into cultural proficiency. What is getting in the way of achievement for so many of our students of color?
A6 provide individualized learning opportunities and celebrate student growth and success
A6: I want to help my peers turn the corner with standards referenced instruction and grade books.
Oh boy! Do I start shouting my love for and yet?!?! 😍😍😍 https://t.co/o1Hla2Rwmx
A5 individualized learning!!! Using student evidence to drive what they need, and using resources like to provide it
Great focus! I wish more teachers would tackle this issue head on in their classrooms!
A6: to continue to individualize learning for my Ss and to stay afloat learning a new grade thank goodness for great teammates
A6: Personal Goals: Land that Admin. job this spring and help get going as a great sources of cross district PD.
A5 Trailblazers, and spending more time with classrooms
Q6 I add my ELL endorsement. My students will complete hundreds of online Spanish lessons.
A5 &6: Excited to see my Ss websites designs and watch them acquire academic and personal growth! I'm already so proud of them!
A6 Support Trailblazers help them grow, help network find ways to solve problems, increase use of O365 tools like
Good luck to you! I'm sure it will happen!
A6 to work less than 46 hours a week....balance
with k-3 just jumping on train of SRG I'm excited to dig deeper!
Q7: What is one fun event or story that has taken place in your classroom? (doesn't have to be content specific...just funny)
let me know when you figure it out!
Give tomorrow night at 8 - its been great for my learning.
They are going to do awesome things this year! Ss always have an unbelievable ability to surprise us, don't they?
A6: helping more classrooms "connect digitally" and moving toward more personalized experiences for Ss
A6: Gain additional knowledge on website designs and on creating Mix videos so I can help my Ss represent knowledge gained
I'll have to try and remember to put it on my calendar!
So important to balance your time at work! Don't burn out please!!! You are too !!!
has stoked the Learning in myself and our Learners! https://t.co/zh32ZJgx1M
Give tomorrow night at 8 - its been great for my learning.
Q7: Coolest thing to happen so far: reviewing character traits, S insisted "child of God" must be listed for ALL characters!
A7: We do Fight Song Friday to help build morale and teach the words to the school song.
Q7: today we actually spent an entire period answering Ss ? and misconception about the 2016 election. Not tech class but needed
A7 Brubaker Family Zoo Night this Thursday!
A8 my fund gets going in our office when we get off task for few seconds! but it is so welco… https://t.co/ZylAdVbs0q
Haha! Hilarious! Haven't quite made the connection yet!
I think learning school fight song is underrated!!! Pride for school athletics! Kind of like yearbooks, fading away.
Q8: In what ways do you build in fun on the daily with your Ss?
LOVE it!!! Science and science teachers are just plain awesome!
A7: When I speak broken Spanish my Ss laugh at me! 😊They also had a good laugh when I said the word brain in other languages!
I also sell it as simple school pride - Ss may not like sports, but they need to ID something to be proud of.
A8 I show Kindergarten students Webcam of volcano in Mexico. They love it.
A8: gives us fun AND a brain break every day!
A8: Morning meeting, and finding ways to include thier interests into our daily activities. Also, random push-up contest today
Oh my goodness, that is fantastic! So much good can come out of a therapy dog being present!!!
A8: we do a daily "would you rather" ? In the warmup to get Ss think outside the box, great to listen to them justify their ans
When 1st graders ask me to open ketchup packets I make them say "Abracadabra"
A8: Music is always a fun thing - not daily, but I try to use it often - chunked in appropriate ways.
Most definitely! For me, it was athletics but I was active in band & clubs, so it would've happened nonetheless!
yes I'm excited for our journey. He is not there every day but working on trying to get it once a week
A8: for the win and just random dance parties
Sorry I missed the chat. Reading through tweets now. Awesomeness
Q9-A: What are the BIGGEST HOPES you have for your Ss, the hopes you will work tirelessly for?
Q9-B: How might you give your Ss a chance to share their biggest hopes for them and for you?
A8 we launch chickens. True story.
A8: I'm a firm, but fun teacher! Today we sang songs for even and odd and did a dance. This time they imitated my dance 😊!
A9-A That they can be confident in their ability to learn, fail, and learn from failures. To get comfortable being uncomfortable
A9-B This is one of our themes for morning meeting this week. How can you be successful- Starts with what that looks like to Ss.
love your description here, it took me a awhile in teaching to realize what failure can do to/for a Ss!
So many great ways to have students share: multimedia, blogs, blogs, presos, Instagram or snapchat stories & always discuss
Love this! So important that Ss recognize taking risks is part of life and what you do after failing is growth!
A9: I hope that find a passion in the STEM fields we explore and it leads them to a bright future
A9 Help them find what they're passionate about learning and then helping act upon that.
Q9A: Biggest hope for my Ss: that school is a safe, fun, peaceful place for them no matter what else is going on in their lives.
A9-A:Ss to be learners 4 life,view me as an ally,friend,&a person that has invested&will continue 2 invest in them&care for them
A 8A I want them to have hope.
Agree that sharing is a huge part of Ss learning! finding ways to do this is so important! https://t.co/FWPn1IKDgD
So many great ways to have students share: multimedia, blogs, blogs, presos, Instagram or snapchat stories & always discuss
A9-B: classroom meeting would be a good topic for this or even our personal goal setting time
Q9 b. In everyday conversations...playground...cafeteria. Any time there is a chance to make that human connection.
A9: I hope that students will trust the process - that they will take risks in learning - I will support that 100%.
These are awesome hopes for students to have. Continue to nurture them!
As we start to finish up what are some topics or themes you would like to include in our chat line up f… https://t.co/MCgcrIbxqO
Always trust in the process as always says!
Q10 any topics or themes you would like to include in our chat line up for this year?
Q10 any topics or themes you would like to include in our chat line up for this year?
Thanks for the great hour and welcome back! Please join and me on Thurs at 8:00 for - talking RISK
I would love to see SRG chats now that we are all on the SRG train
A9 my biggest hope is that they see their potential and trust that I will push them and cheer them at same time.
