Happy New Year! Our family has enjoyed a lovely vacation thus far and I hope you all are having a restful and relaxed time away from school. As we end another calendar year and begin one together, I am continuing the tradition of sharing some 'end-of-year' posts that I have enjoyed reading and thought you might as well.
Top Education Stories of 2015: Education Week’s Most Viewed
Compiled by the editors at Education Week
All My 2015 “Best” Lists In One Place
by Larry Ferlazzo (@larryferlazzo)
Ferlazzo is a prolific writer, reader, archivist, and blogger of 'all things education' and this link has over 15 lists, from content-specific 'best of' to recommendations to predictions for 2016. I recommend bookmarking this site.
Top 11 Moments of 2015 - Momentum to Build On
by Starr Sackstein (@mssackstein) in Education Week Teacher
In this post Sackstein shares highlights from her 2015 experience as a teacher - noting personal and professional accomplishments. I think she is a model for all, as she openly shares her learning, accomplishments, and failures. If you are not following her on Twitter, add her to your PLN.
26 Incredible Innovations That Improved the World in 2015
by Matt Petronzio in Mashable
Each day we are educating the present and future innovators for our community and world and this list is inspiring, meaningful, and pertinent. I encourage everyone to take a look and share with our students.
From a new sneaker that helps people with physical disabilities, to "nanosheets" that can absorb oil spills, to a bindi that delivers much-needed iodine to women in India, these are some of our favorite innovations that truly made a difference in 2015.
6 Resolutions Every Family with Tweens and Teens Should Make in 2016
by Caroline Knorr in Common Sense Media
With the season of resolutions, I found this post to be encouraging and centering, providing excellent advice and reminders for all of us. As with much of our work, the implications and meanings hold true for our professional and personal lives. Katie and I will certainly be renewing these resolutions with our children.
Parents who are actively involved in their kids' media lives help them consume less, make better choices, learn, and understand more of what they're interacting with. So even if your tweens and teens know way more about media and technology than you do, you can still help them navigate the digital world safely, responsibly, and productively.
To My 13-Year-Old, An iPhone Contract From Your Mom, With Love
by Janell Burley Hoffman in The Huffington Post
I shared this post prior to the holidays and it is one I have shared for the last few years as it is worth reading and sharing from time to time. # 18 is wonderful - 'You will mess up. I will take away your phone. We will sit down and talk about it. We will start over again. You and I, we are always learning. I am on your team. We are in this together.'
Relax, rest, play, read, and enjoy the weekend!
Take care.
Nat Vaughn