I have never been good at holding a New Year's resolution past a few weeks. It usually doesn't go so well, I mean does it really for anyone? This year I decided I wanted to focus on an attainable year-long idea. Something that I feel that I can do and something that I would actually enjoying doing.

I am going to give. 

I am going to give up what I can this year to make life better for other people. I have always had the belief that life is better when you give, not when you get. For 6 years (on and off) I have given up my birthday to charity:water and I love the feeling of getting my campaign together and love seeing the impact that was made at the end of it. This last year, I gave up my birthday to both charity:water and TRF. I wanted something more though, something that could give me that feeling of love and seeing the impact all the time. 

Like everyone else, I turned to the internet to see what else I could do. I found out that TRF was opening up an ambassador program, I could donate monthly to chairty:water, and I found Be The Match. 

• I am now awaiting my swab kit from Be the Match where I could potentially match with someone who needs a bone marrow transplant. Is is painful? I am sure it is, but saving the life of someone for a week or two of discomfort sounds like a pretty good deal to me. 
• Earlier this month I got a welcome saying that I am officially a TRF Ambassador. Soon, I will be selling handmade scarves to help raise money for this amazing charity that strengthens families emotionally and financially as they cope with the realities of pediatric cancer. 
• As for charity:water, I share all of their videos, posts, and love on social media. Financially, it is not a great idea to donate a monthly donation but my goal is that by the summer I will be able to give a monthly donation no matter how small. 

I am looking forward to a year of giving, learning, loving and growing. 
​
Until next time, 

"Babe, there was a shooting at the Mandalay Bay"

Those are the first words that I heard when my boyfriend woke me up. I was still groggy from just having fallen asleep and sat up to have him read the news to me. We stayed up for two more hours texting, Snapchatting, calling, and staying glued to social media to find out what was the fate of our family and friends until my heart was broken and my eyes full of tears. 

Waking up the next day was hard. I stayed glued to my phone for most of the day and cried in front of my students. I called my dad grieving as he told me what happened after being at work all night with the rest of our local heroes at Metro. My coworker held me at lunch while I wept not knowing if everyone I loved was okay, knowing my hometown was hurt, and there was nothing I could do about it. 

As the week went on, I was still grieving for my hometown. My first love, the place that I will always call my first home, the place that I thought I would never leave, and the place I return to with so much love in my heart.

I saw the true colors of Las Vegas, the 4 hours or longer waits at blood banks, the nurses, doctors, counselors, police officers, firefighters, and more coming in on their day off to help victims and their families, people driving strangers to the hospital, the man who brought crosses for all 58 lives taken too soon, the shelters for those affected saying that they had too many donations, a Healing Garden that was built in days, and the millions of dollars raised in hours. My hometown has never made me more proud yet so heartbroken. 

I've been thinking about the event going on the last few days, month, and year. There isn't a word to describe how I feel about all of the things that have been going on in our country but to sum it up- It shouldn't be this way. 

There is one thing that I know-love and kindness always win. It never hurts to be kind and love someone. We need one another. Now is the time to show the world that we can be kind and loving despite our differences. Really though, don't our differences actually make us pretty cool and unique? I think so. 

As you enter this school year my dear students, know that your teachers are loving, caring, and kind. We became teachers because we love teaching and inspiring kids year after year. We love you and we are here for you my dear students. 

Brad Montague (who is one of my favorite people) said "Be who you needed when you were younger" and I know when I was younger I needed loving, caring, and kind teachers. I promise you that I will do my best and I know that my fellow teachers will also do their best to be the person you need this year. 

We love you all my dear students. 

Until next time my beloved students, 

They say that Philly is the city of brotherly love. I have to say that during these last few days it was much more than that. I am not always the best at being well spoken so I will do my best to tell about the love I saw and felt in Philly. As I ride home on the train I am trying to restrain from crying because I have never seen so many amazing people do so many amazing things. 

The week started off for me on Tuesday morning where the day was kicked off by a quick shower, a short nap, and a trip to Rosa's Fresh Pizza with our main man Mason pictured below. 

If you haven't been to or heard of Rosa's Fresh Pizza I will let you in on a little secret...they are amazing! Mason has done a great thing by starting a pay it forward program to help those in need and by offering his slices for only $1. Some friends and I decided a few months back that we wanted the conference experience to be different and Mason helped us achieve our goal. We wanted to give back to a community that is used to conference goers devouring their beautiful city. We decided to visit Rosa's Fresh Pizza (mostly because I was hungry) and  used the hastag #sliceofISTE to share with others our love of Mason, pizza, and giving back. We decided that going and donating at Rosa's was going to be a great way to give back to the community. The best part was that there were so many teachers showing up and as of today, we ended up giving back 1,650 meals! My great friend Scott wrote any amazing blog giving some more details about the logistics of the event. It was an amazing experience and I went back each day. You can also purchase t-shirts, sweatshirts, and more from their website if you are interested in helping out Mason and the rest of Philly. 

Another phenomenal part of the conference that showcases some brotherly love was the Edcamp Session as well as Meet up put on by the Edcamp Foundation. After wrapping up an awesome Edcamp Session in Edcamp style of course, we walked over to  the String Theory School on Vine Street in Philly which is a beautiful school to be in. We had a ton of people that had either attended an Edcamp or was an organizer. It was so amazing to see so many educators from all over the WORLD join us for some cheese steaks and pizza. It was also amazing to be in the city where Edcamps had first started. It was so great to connect with other Edcamp Organizers who were able to talk me through my hopes and worries of our next Edcamp Vegas. I couldn't have asked for a better group of people to hang out with for the rest of the night! 

My time at ISTE was better than I could have ever imagined. I am so glad that I got to see friends from far and wide. It was a unique experience that I can't wait to go to again. Thank you to everyone for the great conversations,  ridiculously fun nights, delicious food, and for just being awesome. Thank you Philly. 

Until next time, 

CUE Rock Star La Jolla has been a blast! As I posted in previous posts, I was the Social Media director for this camp and had a ton of fun. Now I am getting ready to attend another conference, I wanted to reflect on what a great time I have had learning from so many amazing educators. 

There is no place more beautiful for a Rock Star Camp than Muirland Middle School in La Jolla, California. Since I was the Social Media Director, I was able to take the time to enjoy the sessions, sights, and talk with awesome people. It gave me a chance to explore each session and really get to talk to the attendees. Did I also mention that the school is within walking distance to the ocean? The ocean people, this Las Vegas girl doesn't get to see a lot of that giant blob too often. 

Each morning got started early and much to my delight included breakfast. Juli and I helped get all of the attendees checked in each day while the rest of the faculty got to hang out with the attendees and enjoy breakfast. One of the best parts of the mornings is that you weren't able to tell who was faculty and who was an attendee since everyone was talking, sharing, and laughing together which made the mornings so amazing. 

If you are interested in checking out what went down during the sessions, be sure to visit the La Jolla CUE Rock Star Page and visit my Storify to check out pictures, tweets, and more from those who presented and attended. 

Until next time my Rock Stars, 

Now is the sad, sad day we have been dreading. Day three of CUE Rock Star La Jolla. Luckily, there is still a lot to learn today. There is no doubt that you will walk away from this day with a new mindset and some amazing new skills to bring back to your school. That being said, let's see the schedule we have lined up for this amazing day!

Shred Sessions start at 9:30 am- 10:00 am
Session One starts at 10:00 am- 12:00 pm
Session Two starts at 2:00 pm- 4:00 pm

• Best Use of iOS Apps in a 1:1 iPad Classroom with Jo-Ann Fox 
• Blending Learning to Improve Student Writing with Scott Moss
• Game-Based Learning with Kahoot with Laura Spencer
• Integrating Technology into the Common Core Standards with Krystle Miller    
• Making Their Brains Hurt(in a good way) Inquiry-Based Learning for Deeper Understanding with Adina Sullivan                                                                                                              
• Redefine the Classroom with Flipped Learning with Reuben Hoffman and Dan McDowell
• Rethinking Class Time with Jennifer Roberts
• SAMR SLAMR with Julie Garcia
• Say What? Common Core Speaking and Listening with Leigh Murrell
• Screencasting How and Why with Kevin Fairchild
• WTF? Why Teach Failure? with Jeffery Heil

And that is a wrap for all of the sessions at CUE Rock Star La Jolla! So many great sessions and I will be keeping you in the loop via Twitter and this blog sharing anything that goes down during the Shred Sessions, anything that goes down at lunch and beyond. All of the information will be compiled into a Storify at the end of each day as well. We can't wait to have you join us for these three amazing days!

See ya there, 

Day two is all about STEAM! Presenters will take the day to talk about Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics otherwise known as STEAM along with showing you ways you can use your favorite tools to incorporate STEAM into your own classroom. 

Like the first day, each session will be repeated twice so that there is again, no FOMO ;) I forgot to add in yesterday that the day always starts with a Shred Session where presenters battle it out to get you excited about their sessions. 

Shred Sessions start at 9:30 am- 10:00 am
Session One starts at 10:00 am- 12:00 pm
Session Two starts at 2:00 pm- 4:00 pm

Below is the eduawesome sessions that will be going on for day two and much like day one, you don't want to miss out on these amazing sessions! For a look at their presentation, click on the  presentation link below and check out the "Session Web Page" button.

• A Perfect Pairing- Integrating English Language Arts and STEAM with Krystle Miller
• Capturing Creativity with Mobile Photography with Reuben Hoffman and Dan McDowell
• Coding Throughout the Curriculum with Scott Moss 
• Google Earth, Your New Math Manipulative with Adina Sullivan 

• Let's STEAM our learning: 20% Projects in the classroom with Jeffery Heil
• Make movies in the classroom full STEAM ahead with Leigh Murrell
• Sketchnoting in the STEAM Classroom with Jo-Ann Fox
• Teach Like Pythagoras, Learn like the Jetsons with Julie Garcia
• Using Online Simulations for Inquiry Learning with Kevin Fairchild
• Writing and Presenting in a STEAM Classroom with Laura Spencer
• Writing for Technical Subjects with Jennifer Roberts 

Woo hoo! Day two is going to be so exciting, I can't wait to see this train go full STEAM ahead. That ends the corny STEAM jokes for the day. Be sure to click on the presenter link to check them out and don't forget to chat with us during the conference! 

See ya there, 

Day one is full of amazing ways to use Google, Apple, and Microsoft in your classroom and school. Come master your skills or learn something new during our first day of awesomeness. 

Each session will be repeated twice so if you are like the average teacher that has FOMO, fear no more! With the am and pm sessions repeating each day, you will be FOMO-Free! 

Session One starts at 10:00 am- 12:00 pm 
Session Two starts at 2:00 pm- 4:00 pm 

Here are the awesome sessions that will be going on during day one. If you want to see all of the session in full detail or more about the presenters, click on the session title and it will take you to learn more about the presenters.

• Bodacious Blogging with Jennifer Roberts
• Branching out with YouTube with Adina Sullivan
• Going Google on iOS with Leigh Murrell
• How to Survive a Zombie Apocalypse with Google Apps with Reuben Hoffman and Dan McDowell
• Google Hangout to Connect the World! with Jo-Ann Fox 
• Google Sites for Teacher and Students with Scott Moss
• Hacking Google: Apps, Tools, & Extensions for a Smarter Classroom with Jeffery Heil
• iBooks Author Basics with Julie Garcia
• iPads and Screencasting- Insight into Student Thinking with Krystle Miller
• Re-Forming Forms with Kevin Fairchild
• Rockin' Learning with Student-Created Music Videos Using iMovie with Laura Spencer

All of this and only on the first day! I can't wait to actually see these amazing presentations in action in two weeks. Over the next few days I will share what is going on during day two at CUE Rock Star in beautiful La Jolla. 

See ya there, 

Now that you know a little more about what a CUE Rock Star Teacher Camp is, I am sure that you are excited to find out who is going to be at this awesome event on June 23rd-June 25th. Here are the twelve amazing folks as well as a bit about what amazing topics they will be presenting on. 

So there you have it, twelve amazing educators who are going to blow your mind for three straight days. If you want to get to know more about this awesome group, be sure to visit the CUE Rock Star La Jolla Faculty Bio page. 

See ya there, 

I am pleased to announce that I am the Social Media Director for CUE Rock Star La Jolla this year. Over the next few weeks I will be sharing what amazing things are planned for this amazing camp. 

CUE Rock Star Camps are not your typical summer camps, they are way more thrilling and you don't have to sleep in a tent.....unless that is your thing of course. Rock Star Camps are 3-day long hands on extravaganzas that fall between an unconference and a traditional conference. 

A Rock Star Camp is totally tailored to those who want more hands on time out of a professional development. Another awesome reason to attend Rock Star La Jolla (or any Rock Star Camp) is that the classes are kept small, usually selling out around 60-70 attendees. The ratio is usually 1:10 giving you time to dig into the session at hand and get the help from an expert teacher. 

Rock Star La Jolla will be an all day event with an extra long lunch so that you can networks, collaborate, throw ideas around, and of course eat. The schedule for Rock Star La Jolla this year will be: 

Daily Schedule:  June 23rd- June 25th
9:00      Coffee (AKA Wake Up Drink)
9:30      Shred Sessions (Figure out where you want to go today)
10:00    Session 1 (Learning: Round 1)
12:00    Lunch/Networking (2 hours of fun and food)
2:00      Session 2 (Learning Round 2)
4:00      Closing (Yes the day really is over, we are sad too)

Tons of time for hanging out and a crazy amount of learning going on too. I guarantee that Rock Star La Jolla will be totally different from any other professional development you have been too. We will be at the beautiful Muirlands Middle School, 1056 Nautilus Street, La Jolla, CA 92037 on June 23rd- June 25th. I know you are also wondering about the beach since we are talking about La Jolla and we have you covered. We are less than 10 minutes away from this wonderful sandy paradise.  

I know you are excited to check out this amazing spin on professional development (as you should be) so go ahead and wonder over to the main CUE Rock Star La Jolla page to check out some more details. In the following weeks I will be sure to share anything amazing that is going down. This is one professional development that you don't want to miss!  

See ya there,