Finally thinking outside that stupid box

For the most part I was very happy with the progress my students made with doing different things inside of Docs and tasks within Forms. Unfortunately in one class I had quite a few students that lost the laptop privilege because they were typing in other people's assignments. They had been warned day one, but unfortunately decided to do it anyway. I am debating about whether or not to show the students what I actually see with revision history or not. Students were surprised by the paper document and honestly, I disliked using it with the laptops. It seemed like a waste. I will have to keep this in mind.

I was proud of my own realization today though. I was going back and forth about how to do geography with the laptops and today I found my out of the box answer. Before I had always handed students a blank map and they used their book to fill it in. I thought I should use Google maps somehow, but I don't have much time this year before the semester is over. I decided this would be a good idea for next year, but what about now? Do I print out the blank maps and just have them fill it in from the internet? After the experience today I thought it would not be a good idea. Then remembered what I told my students today, "Tell Google what you want and it will usually give it to you." I used my own advice and stopped typing in "1:1 maps" "laptop classroom maps" and so on, and instead typed in "Middle East Map" Some of the first things I got were online games and quizzes! I am going to have them use http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/Middle-east_Geography.htm tomorrow and see how it goes. They will be able to work til mastery and take a screenshot of their score for a grade. Those that do not have a laptop will be given the old blank paper maps to fill in.

A friend recommended this video. A real inspiration about relationships with students.
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/ted-talks-education/speaker/rita-pierson/
"kids don't learn from people they don't like"
"you will not like all your students, but they should never know it"
"This job is tough, but it is not impossible"