Out With Erin

Exploring the Beauty of YYC and Beyond

Comics are a great way for students to show their learning in a concise manner. They are limited to the speech/thought bubbles, but still allow for creativity and appeal to a variety of learning styles. Today I used Comic Life with my beginner Spanish class, and loved the creations that they came up with. Without …

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Within the last year, social media has consumed many parts of my life. I always used it as an outlet to connect with family and friends around the world, mainly for personal purposes. However, this year I have found my use increasing because of professional reasons. Twitter has been an incredible source for growth, knowledge, …

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Being a leader in any societal realm requires one to stay current, step outside the box, challenge ideas, and learn. Sometimes it seems that people are stuck in their current state, using the same tools or devices, and unable to grow. Technology can be a difficult area to be a leader in, as current ways …

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Recently, I had my students use the app Tellagami to complete an assignment and was blown away by their abilities and the ease of use of the app. For those of you who don’t know Tellagami, it’s an app where you create an avatar, design their hair, clothes, etc…, as well as the background. You …

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Recently, I have been taking some google courses online and have been surprised by my reaction with the way I prefer to learn. I have always considered myself a “text” learner. I love reading and feel that I learn best that way, as I can go back and reread, go at my own pace, and …

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According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, failure is defined as “omission of occurrence or performance” and the “lack of success.” Failure happens when you don’t achieve a desired outcome. Failure is associated with negative words and connotations such as defeat, unsuccessful, ineffectiveness, and set backs. Why does failure have these negative views and how can we …

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Leaders exist all around us; administrators, teachers, students, parents. They are able to create sparks, challenge thinking, and support others in their passions and fears. But what makes a leader great? Is it the way in which they deal with difficulties? Their ability to persevere in challenging times? The strong bonds and relationships they form …

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This week during our staff meeting, our admin had us discuss with a partner about our best and worst teacher; their name, qualities, and why we felt how we did about them. It was a moving discussion, in the fact that both memories brought very strong feelings for staff. It was very easy to remember …

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Tonight, I participated in a fantastic chat on twitter, #6thchat, and was bombarded with an overflow of new tech ideas and tools that could be used in the classroom with students. Although I haven’t had too much time to experiment with them yet, I thought I’d share the sites and information that was offered through …

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I grew up in a small town in Ontario, Canada, taking French from the first grade. I guess you could say that I caught on easily, and thoroughly enjoyed learning a new language, mostly because of my vibrant and wacky French teacher. Her enthusiasm for teaching French was contagious! I continued with French for the …

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