#DitchSummit - Kim Strobel

Matt Miller (Ditch That Textbook) is currently hosting a Virtual Summit that he's calling #DitchSummit over on YouTube.  Basically, you can sit at home in the comfort of your PJ's and get some awesome professional development via YouTube from expert educators!  What else could be better!  On Saturday morning, I tuned in to watch Kim Strobel deliver a presentation called, "The Science of Happiness for Teachers and Students."  It was sooooooo relevant and timely, especially with the Christmas vacation lag beginning to kick in!  Kim is a happiness coach!  Who knew that such a thing existed???  I'm allll in!!!!

While watching, I decided to try my hands at sketch noting.  This is something that I've wanted to attempt for a long time but just never have.  I'd say I did pretty well for my first time!  The thing that I want to get better on is drawing more pictures/visual representations of the key points and not including as many words.  I posted my #sketchnotes on Twitter and have included them below!  Check them out!

In Kim's talk, she discussed taking time for yourself and that it's okay to put yourself first sometimes!  People tend to think that if they are successful and productive, they will in turn be happy.  In reality, it's the other way around!  You should be happy first, and this will lead to success and productivity!  Give it a try!  She also mentioned that we should have the courage to be okay with being effective.  We don't have to be perfect all of the time.  One of the things that I loved that she talked about was the importance of play in the classroom.  This made me think back to my days of being in school and made me think of my favorite teachers and classes.  They were indeed atmospheres that fostered play, creativity and fun!

The last bit of her presentation talked about the power of words and selecting a word or a mantra to carry on into the new year.  This word or mantra should be posted EVERYWHERE so that it begins to have power.  Post it on your desk, your bathroom mirror, in the car, as a screen saver on your phone, where ever you know you will glance.  Recite it and repeat it and live in it for the next year!  This past year, my word was intent.  I wanted to be more intentional with my time, energy and efforts.  I think I definitely lived in this word and am excited to begin to explore what my 2018 world will be!  This word or phrase should become your "north star" for the year.

You can follow Kim on her blog at www.strobeleducation.com.  I suggest you sign up for what she calls, a "joy drop" which will send you an inspirational message every Thursday!  How cute is that?

What will your world or mantra be for 2018?

By the way....

You can STILL sign up for the #DitchSummit!  Here's all you need to know:

It’s called the Ditch That Textbook Digital Summit. There are nine video presentations from awesome presenters on topics related to tech and solid teaching and learning. Get your free ticket at: DitchSummit.com.

HOW IT WORKS: New presentations are released every day from Dec. 15-23. They remain available until Dec. 31 so you can re-watch or catch up on any you’ve missed. They’re pre-recorded, so you can watch them whenever you want until Dec. 31. After that, the summit ends and the videos are unavailable to watch anymore.

FREE PD HOURS: You can get FREE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CREDITS for watching the videos. There’s a form to fill out after each presentation, and you’ll get an automatic PD certificate emailed to you.

FREE CHROMEBOOKS: They’re giving away two free Acer Chromebook 15’s, courtesy of Acer Education, the giveaway sponsor. Be sure to join the Chromebook Crash Course session on December 22 to enter the drawing.

Sign up for the digital summit at DitchSummit.com.

The schedule looks like this:

December 15 (Fri) -- Combining Tech and Solid Teaching Effectively (Tanya Avrith and Holly Clark, authors of The Google Infused Classroom)

December 16 (Sat) -- The Science of Happiness (Kim Strobel, happiness coach and educational consultant)

December 17 (Sun) -- Brain-Friendly Learning that Works (Dr. Pooja Agarwal, cognitive scientists and educator)

December 18 (Mon) -- How in the Google Did You Do That? (Eric Curts, Google Certified Trainer and tech blogger)

December 19 (Tue) -- How to Learn from a World of Educators (Sarah Thomas, tech coordinator and uber-connected educator)

December 20 (Wed) -- Plan Smarter, Not Harder with Edu-Protocols (Jon Corippo, interim executive director of CUE)

December 21 (Thur) -- How to Make Learning a Game (Michael Matera, teacher and author of eXPlore Like a PIRATE)

December 22 (Fri) -- Chromebook Crash Course: What You NEED (Matt Miller, Google Certified Innovator, blogger, speaker and author of Ditch That Textbook)

December 23 (Sat) -- What Schools Can Learn from Start-Up Culture (Don Wettrick, teacher and founder of StartEdUp)

Courageous Edventures Challenge - Day 6

Day 6's challenge asked that we create 3 goals for new things that we'd like to try and discuss them via blogging.  Let's see.....

1.  Sketchnoting
This has been on my "list of things to do" ever since I returned from ISTE this summer.  I just have not yet delved into it.  I need to go ahead and order Sylvia Duckworth's book (Sketchnotes for Educators) and just get started!  I've spent hours watching YouTube videos about it, but haven't started to implement it, which is surprising to me as I am very much so a visual learner! 

2.  Start creating YouTube content
This is another goal of mine that's been on my "things to do" list.  I spend sooooo much time on YouTube watching all kind of videos from inspirational videos, how to videos, daily vlogs, makeup videos (don't judge), cooking videos, etc...the list goes on and on!  I need to go on ahead and begin to add to what's out there!  Who knows....maybe the way that I present some content will be better received than someone else out there.  Won't know unless I try, right?

3.  Create a dynamic, inspirational keynote speech....and deliver it!
This is one thing that I know will get crossed off in the next couple of months and I am UBER excited about it!  I have started a list of topics to cover and ideas to speak about in my Google Keep app and have been adding to it like crazy!  I've also, no surprise, been watching a ton of YouTube videos about inspiration and how to deliver keynote speeches.  I used to work in customer service prior to teaching, was a high school teacher, taught teachers while working in the professional development department, so I've always been a people person.  I think it'll be interesting to put together a keynote that I not only create, but deliver as well!  Honestly, I don't think I'm any more special than the next person.  I put my pants and shoes on one at a time, just like everyone else.  I have been told in the past that I have a story to tell, that I'm inspirational and relatable.  I receive these compliments when they're given, however I'm just myself.  I treat others as I'd want to be treated.  With the things that I have been through, especially over the past year, people have asked me how I do it all, and how do I continue to be so positive.  Well, I know that I'm blessed.  I have a purpose to fulfill while I'm here on earth.  Although, I'm still trying to figure out what I'm going to be when I grow up...lol....I know that it involves helping others and being a positive, glass half full, inspirational, sunshiny person while I'm here.  I hope to be able to convey that through my developed keynote soon!

The scary thing about writing about goals, is that you make yourself vulnerable, transparent, and are putting them out there for others to read, maybe judge, and hold you accountable.  Not an easy thing to do.  I look forward to seeing how I develop and nurture these goals over the next year!

What are your top three goals that you'd like to accomplish?