#MakerMovement Bridges

In 6th grade social studies, students got involved in the#MakerMovement as we did a project from the magazine MAKE, which is all about making, tinkering and creating. Inspired by the Inca's amazing engineering skills and particularly their achievement of building suspension bridges across deep canyons in the Andes, we decided to make bridges. As mentioned we first researched the Incas and saw some of their designs.  goo.gl/0G3Pgc

Our bridges were made with popsicle sticks, wooden squares and hot glue guns. We worked in groups of 4-5 students as we followed to the best of our ability the bridge instructions while adding strategic designs of our own.  goo.gl/WOmelx 

After taking 3 class days to build our bridges, we decided to test out the weight of each bridge. This was a very exciting day as the students had worked hard throughout the project and filmed each and every step. To test the bridges, we used our social studies textbooks and to our surprise one of the bridges actually held 44 textbooks, which is the equivalent of 57 kilograms!

To reflect on the project, each team made a video about the process and what went well with their designs or what could have been improved in their structures.

Overall, the 6th graders learned a lot as they worked together and all came up with great reflections about their bridges. 

Here is a youtube playlist of several of the videos from our class.goo.gl/zubLh6 

Recharged.

“‘Ask yourself if what you are doing today is getting you closer to where you want to be tomorrow.’” —@owensbla

That quote comes from a great article on Medium, which you can find here by Blake.

So often our to-do lists pile up and we get overwhelmed. It's hard to keep our priorities in the right order. Or we end up doing mundane "busy" things while forgetting there's a bigger world out there.

It's easy to spend hours online and feel like you're "working" when really you end up distracted or spending way too long on one thing. I'm loving the Google Chrome extension called "TimeStats" that keeps track of how long you are on different pages.

Despite cool tools or gadgets that are meant to help us keep track of time, I've found that the best way to get myself together and back on track is to unplug and take a break.

That's exactly what I did over the holiday vacation. Two weeks sans technology (more or less). It was completely refreshing. 15 days of reading, playing games, talking with family, running on the beach, and sometimes just sitting was exactly what I needed to get my brain ready for 2015.

Even though I took a big chunk of "time off" from normal duties and online responsibilities, it has served me well.

Ironically, I have already accomplished more in less time this week. Funny how that works when you take time to rest, get re-focused and put things in the right order.

Not going to lie, I love the mantra above from Blake. I printed it out and stuck it on my computer screen, just so I don't forget to take some time off every now and then.

Taped this to my school computer, just as a friendly reminder.

Running on Fumes

All car owners know that a tank of gas always runs out. Some weeks it seems to go a little faster than others depending on what's on the calendar. And I reckon that many people often feel the same way I do every time I ask, "Is it already empty?" as I'm mentally going through where I've gone and when I last filled it up.

Time goes fast. The gas doesn't last forever. Sometimes it feels that way in balancing teaching and life too. I'm prepping Week #6 at school right now. And a couple days last week it felt like I was running on empty. Too many things on the agenda, not enough rest, the stress is building as I'm prepping different presentations, social events happening left and right, crockpot dinners becoming my best friend.

I found myself at a common place in my life. A place with too much to do, too many places to go, too many people to please and not enough gas in the tank. I was reminded by something my Mom has always told me though not always lived it out herself. "In life, you need time for yourself. Sometimes you just have to say no."

It sucks to be on the side of a road waiting for a boy on a bicycle to bring you a spare tank of gas in the middle of the Mexican mountains. (Yes, that may have happened to my husband and I.) It also sucks to be so worn out and exhausted that you're just running on fumes to get through your day of teaching.

A few weeks ago, I found this quote from a great post on Medium, which you can find here by Blake.

“‘Ask yourself if what you are doing today is getting you closer to where you want to be tomorrow.’” —@owensbla

This quote has become a daily reminder to me over the last 2 weeks to consciously think about what I am doing every day. Is it really something of value and something that is going to get me where I want to be? Is it worth spending the "petrol" on something or is it something that I can say "No" to and keep my priorities in order?

So the lesson I'm constantly learning in life is about taking time to rest, figuring out my priorities, which includes spending time with people I love and not always working. It's not fun seeing the low fuel light come on and wasting time on things that ultimately aren't going to matter. So as a reminder to myself, I've taped this new mantra to my school computer.

First Week in 6th Grade

I love it.

Being a 6th grade teacher is pretty hilarious. Having taught some of the the same kids just two years ago makes this transition all the better.

On the first day of class, a kid running in to avoid a tardy doesn't even look up until he finds an empty seat and suddenly yells "Ms. Dominique, is that you!?!?!" It's probably a miracle the kid even found the right classroom since he didn't notice my name on the door or on
his personalized schedule.

Or the student who fabricated a five-minute story to try to change her seat by making up some strange excuses that I wasn't buying until finally she says "Ok, really I just want to sit by my best friend."

How about the 6th graders at recess who just walk around looking like they own the place since they share their lunch hour with the 5th grader newbies? Or the 5th graders who are seen hunched over running from class to class with a backpack that can't even be zipped with all the materials they're carting around in fear of bringing the wrong book to class?

The random hugs I get one day and the grumpy scowls I'm given the next day. These kids are full of energy, hormones and forgetfulness.

I love it.

I remember when I was in 6th grade. My glasses were too big for my face, I started noticing the boys in my class, my Michael Jordan basketball jersey went nearly to my knees, I started being mean to another girl in my class only to be friends with the popular girls. I was a mess in 5th-6th grade. I thought I was independent, but I still needed so much guidance.

Feeling insecure and the need for acceptance was what drove me in 6th grade. It may seem like I was or even these kids are a complete disaster at times. But really, it's a beautiful mess.

6th graders have this energy and creativity that surrounds them. They may constantly forget to finish an assignment or bring the wrong notebook every single day to class, but if you ask them to dream or what they're passionate about they can't stop talking.

I love it.

My first week as a 6th grade teacher has been pretty awesome. I've heard kids telling their peers that they want to find the cure for cancer. They are going to invent ways to reduce the waste with the food we eat. These kids want to use solar panels for everything. They are sick of garbage and of discrimination.

These 6th graders want to change the world.

I only hope that as their teacher I can guide them in the right direction. That I may never squash their enthusiasm. These young men and women are our future and they truly amaze me. Yes, they make me laugh everyday and perhaps roll my eyes a time or two after they leave the room.

But seriously, I think 6th graders are on to something.

I love it.

Take a Seat

“Do people really have nothing to do and can just come here and sit?” asked my aunt while visiting me in Guadalajara, Mexico. We were downtown and visiting some of the historical buildings while taking in the surroundings. Her question struck me as odd.

My aunt was amazed that people have time to sit on the benches watching the kids swimming in the public fountain while eating their paletas or papas con limon y chile. Grandparents were led by the hand of their nietos while strolling up and down the plaza. Spray Paint artists were surrounded by onlookers who appeared to have all the time in world to sit and watch the painting come to life.

Is it that after 7 years of living in Mexico I have changed so much? I remember the rat race of life back in the States and hardly having a minute to myself each day. What is it about life in Latin America that allows us to slow down and sit every now and then?

I admit, by nature, I’m not someone to sit still. I’m guilty of filling my time with anything and everything and the word “No” is not a frequent word in my vocabulary. Yet, I realized when my Aunt posed the question that I too have changed.

Thanks to the people around me and the culture here, I’ve learned that sometimes life is not about a schedule and it’s about the relationships in our lives. Sometimes it’s more important to sit and listen than it is to get up and accomplish something.

There are times that “culturally” things drive me crazy here, yet in the midst of the chaos, I’m thankful for this culture. I’m grateful for having learned to appreciate the relationships with those in my life. Whether it be sitting down for a coffee, making that phone call or writing that e-mail, it’s important to keep the relationships alive. And, yes, it’s important to sometimes have nothing more to do than sit and enjoy our surroundings.

Downtown Guadalajara by: Dominique Dynes

Did that really happen?

You know that feeling when you wake up from a dream and can’t determine if was real or not. That feeling of “Wait a minute, did that really happen?” As cliche as that sounds, I think that is how I feel right now.

My mind is reeling after so much effort paid off and I’m sitting on a somewhat bumpy bus leaving San Jose, California and moving on. I just spent two days at the Googleplex in Mountain View learning with amazing individuals from around the world. I heard the passion, I felt the understanding amongst us, it was surreal to say the least.

Yet as quickly as it came upon us it also rapidly came to an end. The high we were all on hearing similar stories from schools around Canada, the US and Mexico sizzled as it’s the day after saying goodbye and our brains are reeling from the nonstop energy.

I’m honestly dreading the question, “So what’d you learn?” which I know that I’ll hear ASAP. It’s one of those answers that I can’t quite put into words (hence the wordiness in this attempt at a post.). My head needs some time to process not only the information but more importantly the responsibility and motivation needed to make a difference.

How can I help the professional development that is lacking at so many schools? How can I stay current and include coding in what I’m doing at school? How can gamification change my game plan in social studies? How can different mapping tools empower students to embrace their learning? How can I be an ambassador of change in my school and more so in Mexico where there is so much opportunity for growth?

I understand that I don’t need all the answers right now. The awesome thing is that I can now count on an international cohort to make sure this wasn’t all a dream. This is just the beginning of something bigger than my questions and curiosity.

I’m not alone in the fight. There’s a team of us swimming upstream and dreaming big. We may feel like small fish at our schools or in our districts but we need to “just keep swimming.” (thanks Dory for the reminder). This can be real and doesn’t need to be a dream. It did happen and more can happen when we stick together.

On my way to the GTA!

It’s hard to believe that after a year of waiting and trying to get into the Google Teacher Academy, that I am now sitting on my a flight with the final destination being San Jose, California.

I’ve learned through the defeat of not getting into #gtachi last summer that it’s sometimes good to experience disappointment. Sometimes we need the push to make ourselves better. This last year has been a year of self-improvement in many ways.

Twitter honestly became a lifeline anytime I got stuck or discouraged this last year. My PLN grew from 50 online educators to nearly 900 in 12 months. When I have a problem at work or am not sure how to begin a global project, I now look to Twitter and the amazing people I’ve connected with online.

#MexEdChat was just a dream a year ago today. It started as an idea that has now changed lives around Latin America and the world. Being a part of something so much bigger than my little self has given me meaning to keep striving towards excellence. To collaborate and grow with educators in Spanish and English around the world is exciting.

Our classrooms are no longer just 25 kids with 4 walls, we are talking with kids all over the globe as we Skype, Hangout, write letters, send videos and blog about what is happening in our lives. When I think of the potential we have as teachers today, it blows my mind. Studying Rome or South Africa becomes alive today as we don’t base our studies on outdated textbooks and can actually talk to kids living in those places.

Pushing myself to use Spanish and give bilingual trainings around Mexico has not always been easy, I still make mistakes in the language and doubt my abilities with the topics on hand. Just as I encourage my students to step out of their comfort zones, I’ve done the same this last year and am amazed at how much I’ve grown.

Going to conferences alone and not having anyone to lean on has been hard at times yet amazing as I find myself surrounded by educators who are changing the world one day at a time by building relationships that will never die out. It’s funny as I think about this since as a kindergartner I was that “quiet student” who always got seated with the loud, obnoxious boys to balance out the table. I’ve learned that speaking up and putting myself out there is worth it.

Applying for new tech jobs and being denied was tough, yet I can now see in retrospective that it all worked out for the best. I have learned more about what I need to improve and how I can grow to be the best educator I can be. Though doors were shut, new ones opened and I am excited to see where my new position in Middle School will take me.

Education today has changed dramatically since I was a student and I’m so happy to be a part of an intense global online community. The people I’m about to meet in Mountain View, California have so much experience and expertise in the field of education today and I can’t wait to learn from/with the best of the best!

So as my Mom always says, “Make some memories and enjoy every day.” Here goes nothing, #gtamtv let’s make some memories and enjoy this incredible experience together!