BubbleUp Take5: Rubrics, Podcasts, and More...

​Let's face it. This time of year, we are awash in testing, end of school year to-do lists, and that constant nagging feeling that there is never enough time. While this is usually a time to opt out of something new, we encourage you to lean into some new practices, strike up conversations about education news, and keep searching for new ideas. To help out, we've picked out a few things we want to you check out.

So, take 5 minutes, look through some of the resources that have helped our ideas bubble up lately, keep counting down the days until summer, and make sure you are living and teaching each and every one of those days to its fullest.​

Take 5 with Corey

​1. Check out this Cult of Pedagogy blog post on Single Point Rubrics. I'm now a believer and am trying this out in June! If you decide to try it, be sure to share with the world using #singlepointrubric.

2. Start dreaming of your classroom next year and get inspiration for new design that promotes collaboration at A.J. Juliani's "Meet 4 Teachers Who Took Classroom Design to the Next Level."

3. This Washington Post article on displaying student data had me cringing and then talking to colleagues. "This ed-reform trend is supposed to motivate students. Instead, it shames them."

4. Learn more about the newest trend in professional development, EdCamp, and find a way to join. You'll be glad you did.

5. As a teacher, I am captivated by Gretchen Rubin's podcast, Happier. Check out her take on different personality types, episodes 35-38. You might just find that it helps you understand students, colleagues, and even yourself.

---

Take 5 with Gretchen
​
1. There are lots of phenomenal educators on Pinterest. Two of my favorite pinners are Tech Coach Techy_Margaret and Teacher Librarian Diana Rendina. It's easy to get lost in their boards and then come away having found new ideas, resources, and inspiration.

​​2. I am a complete podcast addict, having jumped in headfirst, like many others, the moment I heard season 1 of Serial in my earbuds. I listen to range of programs and keep adding more to my collection, but one favorite is Gimlet Media's Reply All, which bills itself as "a show about the Internet." It is smart, compelling, and funny and I mostly recommend that you start at the beginning and binge listen to all of it. But, if that is too much for you, start with this episode. Or this one. Or delve into this 4-part series that channels a bit of the fire of Serial. Their newsletter is also fantastic so you'll have to subscribe to that too.

3. At the Fall 2015 edCamp NOVA, I attended a session on sketchnoting and have been intrigued ever since: this video offers a great primer on the basics.  Search #sketchnote on Twitter or Instagram for examples, or take a look at Sylivia Duckworth's notes on Flickr. It would be fun to sketchnote a session at a summer conference or even use it with students as the year wraps up -- why not ask them to do a year in review using this visual note taking strategy? I've been meaning to introduce my Sharpie Pens to sketchnoting; I'll commit to sharing one with you by the end of June. Hold me accountable!

4. The end of the year is full of stress -- testing, transitions, trying to wrap it all up, why not break out one (or all 5) of the 5 Positive Hallway Conversations suggested by blogger Aaron Hogan.

​5. Love the new approach to summer reading that our district is taking this year: Book Your Summer. It is a BINGO-style program designed to develop a community of readers and to promote choice. Follow along on social media with #FCPSreads.

---

You might also like:

• BubbleUp Take50: It's our 50th blog post! (February 7, 2017)
• Dispatch from a Flexible Seating Classroom (September 27, 2016)
  
• BubbleUp Take5: "I don't know," Defiance, Podcasts and PBL (September 19, 2016)
• Sketchnote: Year in Review (June 30, 2016)