It’s been a long day and I’m not able to blog. That’s a lie. I am able to blog. But I choose to sleep.
There are days we should choose sleep.
Saturday, January 4, 2020
Friday, January 3, 2020
Say Thank You
I decided today that I need to teach my son to sign thank you. He said thank you for the first time on Christmas and then he said it again today at the pediatrician's office. After the excited reaction from mom, he also said it a few more times just for fun.
When we were done at the pediatrician, we went back to the front and I told Matthew, it's so important to say thank you when someone does you a favor or goes out of their way for you. Even if you have to go out of your way to say thank you. Now, going back into the office after I'd gone through the exit door isn't exactly going out of my way. However, with a toddler, that walk becomes a little longer. So we went back in and I thanked the lady behind the desk for getting us in early so we didn't have to wait. After that, we left.
No big. But it made me think about how often do we say thank you for even the smallest things that probably typically get forgotten? When was the last time you went out of your way to say thank you?
I'm not going out of my way, but I would like to say thank you to you for reading this. Thank you for taking your time away from anything else to read this.
When we were done at the pediatrician, we went back to the front and I told Matthew, it's so important to say thank you when someone does you a favor or goes out of their way for you. Even if you have to go out of your way to say thank you. Now, going back into the office after I'd gone through the exit door isn't exactly going out of my way. However, with a toddler, that walk becomes a little longer. So we went back in and I thanked the lady behind the desk for getting us in early so we didn't have to wait. After that, we left.
No big. But it made me think about how often do we say thank you for even the smallest things that probably typically get forgotten? When was the last time you went out of your way to say thank you?
I'm not going out of my way, but I would like to say thank you to you for reading this. Thank you for taking your time away from anything else to read this.
Thursday, January 2, 2020
Nothing to Say
Do you ever feel that way? Maybe not that you have nothing to say, but your afraid that nobody wants to hear it.
That's how I'm feeling right now. Well, it's how I'm feeling often.
I was out and about with my son today, getting some things handled before we have to head back to school. And while we're running these errands, my mind races with all these ideas. Things I want to say, things I want to do but can't, things I want to do and can, ideas to blog about, ideas to podcast about, ideas for a book, ideas, questions, strategies, etc. And every time I think of something, my default response is, I can't do that. Nobody wants to hear what I have to say. There are so many people that already do that. There are so many people that already do that WAY better than me!
I'm a little fish in a big pond. With no real focus.
But, I just can't let that stop me.
My strategy in the classroom was everyday, if I can't make a difference in just one kids life, then I've done something good. If I make a difference for more, then I've done something great. I have to take that strategy outside the classroom too.
Here's the difference, you don't always know if what you've said, in whatever platform you said it, made a difference to anyone. So I just have to have that faith that it is.
So it's not about having nothing to say...it's about saying something that someone wants or needs to hear.
That's how I'm feeling right now. Well, it's how I'm feeling often.
I was out and about with my son today, getting some things handled before we have to head back to school. And while we're running these errands, my mind races with all these ideas. Things I want to say, things I want to do but can't, things I want to do and can, ideas to blog about, ideas to podcast about, ideas for a book, ideas, questions, strategies, etc. And every time I think of something, my default response is, I can't do that. Nobody wants to hear what I have to say. There are so many people that already do that. There are so many people that already do that WAY better than me!
I'm a little fish in a big pond. With no real focus.
But, I just can't let that stop me.
My strategy in the classroom was everyday, if I can't make a difference in just one kids life, then I've done something good. If I make a difference for more, then I've done something great. I have to take that strategy outside the classroom too.
Here's the difference, you don't always know if what you've said, in whatever platform you said it, made a difference to anyone. So I just have to have that faith that it is.
So it's not about having nothing to say...it's about saying something that someone wants or needs to hear.
Wednesday, January 1, 2020
WHY
Well, it is January 1, 2020.
My family and I are settled in Florida, as well as we can be. I've got my job at my new school. I am working on my book, Balancing the EDU Life, with a multitude of talented educators with stories that move and inspire me with each word I read, staying active on Voxer with a few different PLNs, and I still have the Undrcaff3inated Podcast that I work on with Joelle and Ashley. Combine that with all the other "stuff" of life, and I'm feeling...full of life.
Of course, in my PLNs this year, #oneword2020 was a hot topic. My word is WHY. Also of course, that is not the only hot topic. My friend Melissa wanted to start #edublogyear in one of our Voxer group. I knew that I would not be able to blog 365 days. I am already juggling too many things to be able to do all of them as well as I would like to, if for no other reason than they aren't my number 1 priority...my son and my husband and my parents and my in laws are my number 1 priority.
As I sat down tonight to scroll through Twitter as my husband watched TV and my son slept peacefully, I opened up my friend Holly's blog. She is participating in the #edublogyear initiative. I read her post and I was inspired! I thought her post was insightful and interesting. I know that it took time and effort, but as I read it, it didn't seem like it was a difficult task for her to write. I began to think.
Then I thought about my #oneword2020...WHY. WHY do I have to blog every. single. day? WHY can't I do what I can do? Nobody is judging me, except perhaps myself. So WHY not?
I may not see you every day, but I'll do the best to see you some days. Cheers Melissa, Holly, and anyone else participating in #edublogyear!
My family and I are settled in Florida, as well as we can be. I've got my job at my new school. I am working on my book, Balancing the EDU Life, with a multitude of talented educators with stories that move and inspire me with each word I read, staying active on Voxer with a few different PLNs, and I still have the Undrcaff3inated Podcast that I work on with Joelle and Ashley. Combine that with all the other "stuff" of life, and I'm feeling...full of life.
Of course, in my PLNs this year, #oneword2020 was a hot topic. My word is WHY. Also of course, that is not the only hot topic. My friend Melissa wanted to start #edublogyear in one of our Voxer group. I knew that I would not be able to blog 365 days. I am already juggling too many things to be able to do all of them as well as I would like to, if for no other reason than they aren't my number 1 priority...my son and my husband and my parents and my in laws are my number 1 priority.
As I sat down tonight to scroll through Twitter as my husband watched TV and my son slept peacefully, I opened up my friend Holly's blog. She is participating in the #edublogyear initiative. I read her post and I was inspired! I thought her post was insightful and interesting. I know that it took time and effort, but as I read it, it didn't seem like it was a difficult task for her to write. I began to think.
Then I thought about my #oneword2020...WHY. WHY do I have to blog every. single. day? WHY can't I do what I can do? Nobody is judging me, except perhaps myself. So WHY not?
I may not see you every day, but I'll do the best to see you some days. Cheers Melissa, Holly, and anyone else participating in #edublogyear!
Thursday, October 31, 2019
Undrcaff3inatED Podcast: Episode 2.02
Podcast Episode Link
How Do You Make A Podcast?
Really, how did we make a podcast, because the way you get started may look different. However, we wanted to share our story so that if this is something you're interested in, you have our road map and take from it what works for you.
Our Concept
We started by figuring out our concept and content. It was important to us that our podcast was short because we were all 3 coming at this from the perspective that we were busy and didn't have the time to listen to hour-plus long podcasts and we're banking that our audience doesn't have that time either.
Our Name
Going back to our concept of being very busy, we started looking at other things we had in common that our audience might feel the same way. We also wanted to make sure that it fits Twitter's naming and sizing conventions. When we finally landed on the fact that caffeine, not coffee, but caffeine was a driving force for all 3 of us, as well as a number of other educators, we worked on a website that helped us to become creative for Twitter. Thus undrcaff3inatED was born.
Our Branding
Joelle is the mastermind behind our branding logo. She attended a session on building your brand by Intelligent Hoodlums at CUENV. She worked using a website called Tailor Brands.
And then we just had our ideas, our conversations, and we hit record within Anchor. And that, is they say is that. From that point on, we get together on a weekly basis to catch up and record any idea, question, or topic education related.
Podcasting in Your Class
If you are interested in starting a podcast in your class for your students and you have any questions on how to get started, feel free to reach out to use at @undrcaff3inated, @joellemassari, @ebgtech, or @msgriffscorner on Twitter.
We wanted to share a couple of ideas on how your students could podcast.
1. Students can report weekly learning targets and activities
2. Students can share book reviews
3. Students can record lab reports
AND something for teachers and admin
4. Have you ever thought of recording your newsletters?!
How Do You Make A Podcast?
Really, how did we make a podcast, because the way you get started may look different. However, we wanted to share our story so that if this is something you're interested in, you have our road map and take from it what works for you.
Our Concept
We started by figuring out our concept and content. It was important to us that our podcast was short because we were all 3 coming at this from the perspective that we were busy and didn't have the time to listen to hour-plus long podcasts and we're banking that our audience doesn't have that time either.
Our Name
Going back to our concept of being very busy, we started looking at other things we had in common that our audience might feel the same way. We also wanted to make sure that it fits Twitter's naming and sizing conventions. When we finally landed on the fact that caffeine, not coffee, but caffeine was a driving force for all 3 of us, as well as a number of other educators, we worked on a website that helped us to become creative for Twitter. Thus undrcaff3inatED was born.
Our Branding
Joelle is the mastermind behind our branding logo. She attended a session on building your brand by Intelligent Hoodlums at CUENV. She worked using a website called Tailor Brands.
And then we just had our ideas, our conversations, and we hit record within Anchor. And that, is they say is that. From that point on, we get together on a weekly basis to catch up and record any idea, question, or topic education related.
Podcasting in Your Class
If you are interested in starting a podcast in your class for your students and you have any questions on how to get started, feel free to reach out to use at @undrcaff3inated, @joellemassari, @ebgtech, or @msgriffscorner on Twitter.
We wanted to share a couple of ideas on how your students could podcast.
1. Students can report weekly learning targets and activities
2. Students can share book reviews
3. Students can record lab reports
AND something for teachers and admin
4. Have you ever thought of recording your newsletters?!
Undrcaff3inatED Podcast: Episode 2.01
Podcast Episode Link
ISTE 2017
ISTE 2017
In the Fall of 2016, a small group of teachers and our administrator sat down to discuss the idea of going to ISTE 2017. One of the principal's goals was to have educators from our school present at ISTE. I (Erin) had presented at ISTE during the summer of 2016, so I shared some of the experiences I had had submitting proposals and attending the conference in previous years. In the end, we had 3 out of 4 proposals accepted and 5 of us attended ISTE 2017 in San Antonio, TX. That time spent collaborating, traveling, exploring, and learning together created a bond, both professionally and personally.
CUENV 2018
ISTE 2017 was the start of our collaborative alliance for presentations. We presented a couple of webinars for NCEA. We submitted proposals for CUENV 2018 and SNELS 2018. The CUENV conference was another turning point for our trio. We were in our session on climate and culture, and who else was there, but Dr. Randall Sampson. At the end of our session, one of his comments was particularly uplifting. He said that our trio, despite each being at a different location, scattered all across the Las Vegas valley, had something special and that we should continue our "work".
It was that comment that became the catalyst for our desire to continue to work together and continue to provide professional development. It was that comment that caused Joelle to reach out to me and Ashley and state, "Let's do a podcast!" To which we of course unanimously responded, "YES!"
Now what?!
Thursday, September 26, 2019
Undrcaff3inatED Podcast Season 2
Greetings!
It's been a hot minute since I've opened up my blog to write anything. Probably because now I have a child and a podcast and moved to Orlando, FL. Lots of life changes since I last blogged. But it's ok...it's all good life changes. I think we all know though, that life changes are hard. We get settled into a routine and then that routine gets completely disregarded.
It's been a hot minute since I've opened up my blog to write anything. Probably because now I have a child and a podcast and moved to Orlando, FL. Lots of life changes since I last blogged. But it's ok...it's all good life changes. I think we all know though, that life changes are hard. We get settled into a routine and then that routine gets completely disregarded.
Right? I think at some point or another we've all felt like this ☝🏻.
However, I am ready to get back into the blogger's seat and start writing! What am I going to write about? I will admit that while my brain has a million things it COULD tell you about, it never comes out right when I'm trying to type it. Or it just has TOO much to say and then I'm not ready to sit in the blogger's seat for that long.
SOOO...>insert bright idea<
I am going to keep up my blog with each podcast episode! Short, sweet, and to the point.
A little background info in case you aren't familiar with the podcast. I started a podcast in December (I think) of 2018 with Ashley Pierce and Joelle Massari. We are the Undrcaff3inatED Podcast. When we started, Ashley and I both had a baby under the age of 1 and Joelle had 2 teenagers. We were all 3 working in education, although in different schools and different roles. The things we had in common inspired us to start our podcast. We love PD and we love sharing ideas. We love our families. We love education. And we are all so exhausted that we drink copious amounts of caffeine.
We are now in our 2nd season and 4 episodes in. I clearly am already behind with blogging. It's fine though, I really only JUST had this idea.
So, be on the look out for weekly posts. We publish our podcast on Wednesdays and I will probably try to publish the blog by Friday. Please feel free to check us out and leave a review on Apple iTunes.
Thanks for reading and happy caff3inating!
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