Emily Strickland, ABPC’s Program Coordinator, has just finished a fascinating read recommended by the Next Big Idea Book Club, You Look Like A Thing and I Love You: How Artificial Intelligence Works and Why It’s Making the World a Weirder Place. Author and research engineer Janelle Shane both entertains us and makes us think more deeply about how we influence the budding intelligences around us.
Adding new regional networks and more educators to existing networks means the Alabama Best Practices Center must increase our supply of adult learning facilitators. This summer, ABPC paired with the University of Alabama RIC to host our first Facilitator Training Institute. Educators from across the state spent three days diving deep into the most effective methods for leading professional learning.
This summer, ABPC Program Coordinator Emily Strickland has been asking teachers in our statewide educator networks how they’re spending their summer break. We have one more contributor! Renee Dickerson is a third grade teacher (the “Community 3 Lead Learner”) at Pike Road Elementary School. Among other learning activities this summer, she attended the always amazing ISTE Annual Conference.
This summer, ABPC Program Coordinator Emily Strickland asked teachers in our statewide networks to let us know how they’ll be spending summer break. Our final volunteer is Laura Buder, a world languages teacher at Vestavia Hills High School, who defines the goal of summer professional learning as doing enough prep to reduce your stress and increase your confidence in the year to come. Thanks to all our volunteers!
ABPC Program Coordinator Emily Strickland is asking educators how they’ll be spending their summer break. Sara Steindorff, a second grade teacher at Pike Road Elementary, plans to peruse her year-long “highs and lows” journal now that she has some time to reflect more deeply on what worked, what didn’t, and why. She also shares a tip for new teachers that can help relieve stress.
This summer, ABPC Program Coordinator Emily Strickland is asking a selection of teachers engaged in our statewide educator networks to let us know how they’ll be spending their summer break. Ninth grade English teacher Elisabeth Burns will get serious about new professional learning in July, including four weeks interning in school libraries as part of her master’s work.
This summer, ABPC Program Coordinator Emily Strickland is asking a selection of teachers engaged in our statewide networks to let us know how they’ll be spending their summer break. First Grade teacher Frances Granger is another contributor who plans to mix relaxation with lots of professional learning. Her advice for newbies? “Work on mastering one major teaching strategy a year” to develop deep understanding.
This summer, ABPC Program Coordinator Emily Strickland is asking a selection of teachers engaged in our statewide educator networks to let us know how they’ll be spending their summer break “and what’s on your mind as you use this time to relax and plan for the year ahead?” First up: Environmental Science teacher Brad Waguespack shares his plans and some great advice for new teachers.
ABPC’s Emily Strickland recently observed an instructional round at Pike Road Elementary in Montgomery County. “What I saw was a short snippet of a much larger picture, but it was a a glimpse of what might be possible in a school culture of collaboration, respect and innovation.”
Since Emily Strickland began her new job at ABPC a few months ago, “I’ve learned to just smile and tell people there are plenty of positive things going on in Alabama schools they just don’t hear about – especially in schools where faculties have achieved collective efficacy.”
