WJHS Learns: Using Flipboard to Enhance Your PLN

This morning’s voluntary learning session was a quick overview of how Flipboard can enhance your personal learning network.

WJHS Learns is a Flipboard magazine that I’ve created for WJHS staff members that want/need the fastest, easiest way to “connect.”

Simply click the link and read.

What you’ll find are articles that I thought might be interesting and/or be conversation starters.

One of the cool things about Flipboard magazines is that you can have multiple contributors (a group of students, a PLC, a department, a faculty, etc.).

So, if you’re a Flipboard user and want to be a contributor to WJHS Learns, let me know and I’ll give you access to add articles to the magazine.

If you’re not a Flipboard user, I would encourage you to give it a quick test drive.

Not all tools are for everybody but if you’re looking for a quick way to find information related to teaching, education, pedagogy, professional development, etc., it couldn’t be any easier than Flipboard makes it.

WJHS Learns!

Tim Sparacino, Principal

Washington Jr. High School

Our First Learning Walk of 2015-16

Our first Learning Walk of the Year was a big success and a lot of fun!

Learning Walks are a component of our Teachers Visiting Teachers program at WJHS.

I was joined by Janan Foster, Ashley Jones, Betty Pollreis, and Leigh Ann Sandlin.

Our group visited the following teacher's rooms:

• Dave Rau
• Scott Terrell
• Brittany Nelson
• Sarah Luhtanen
• Deb Hight and Kandi Cowart
• Bentley Fisher

We saw several examples of teachers creating experiences with real-world applications for students, engaging instructional techniques, technology integration, and evidence of relationship building.

As you can see from this tweet, we were also pleased to be greeted by a display outside of Mr. Fisher's room.  Mr. Fisher had taken a cue from the recent #bpseduchat with guest host AJ Juliani and had sought student feedback on what would happen if students were allowed to pick their teacher, investigate topics that they wanted to pursue, etc.

It was a great opportunity for the Learning Walk group to read some of the student responses and reflect on the wisdom that they shared especially about the importance of the relationship between the student and the teacher.

As always, it was great to get into WJHS classrooms and witness the incredible teaching taking place and observe firsthand the amazing talent and intellect of our students.

Go Wildcats!

Tim Sparacino, Principal
Washington Jr. High School