Summer is here and that can only mean one thing, ISTELive 23 is right around the corner! We can’t wait to see everyone in Philadelphia and share the exciting sessions, giveaways and experiences we have in store for you.

Here are a few things Learning.com has planned for this year’s conference:

• In-booth sessions about the hottest topics in education. From integrating computer science into core subject areas, to the power of teaching students coding, we’ll be ready to answer all of your questions about all things computer science. And our partner, Common Sense Education, will be in our booth Tuesday morning to present on the key topic of Digital Citizenship. Check out our in-booth session schedule.
• Open-House Breakfast. Stop by and chat with us at Booth 2413 to claim your breakfast ticket. We’ll be hosting an open house, continental breakfast on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of the conference.
• Games and Prizes! We encourage everyone to come by our booth to show off their keyboarding and mouse skills, see how we’ve gamified coding education and more! Plus, you can win some awesome giveaways, including our LCOM fanny pack, Ollie stickers, pens, and gift cards!

Did you know Codesters is now a part of Learning.com? A lot has changed, stop by and let us show you!

And the fun doesn’t stop there! We’ve also got a Selfie Station, cornhole game and more at Booth 2314. We invite you to stop by and sample the fun! Learn more about Learning.com’s plans for ISTE.

Further Reading

After leaving teaching to pursue other interests, I started working at Learning.com and quickly realized how perfect our curriculum would be for substitute teachers. As a sub, I was always looking for activities that would provide asynchronous learning, didn’t require a lot of background knowledge or prep time, and that met state and national standards. Our curriculum at Learning.com fits the bill. Besides being grade-specific, synching with classroom LSM systems, and requiring no teacher-lead instruction, our curriculum is fun for students. 

Here are some tips for acing last-minute sub plans:  

Read out loud. You’d be surprised how many older students loved it when I read out loud to them. It can be a novelty as children get older to be read to, so pulling this simple trick out of your pocket at the end of a busy day or after lunch when everyone needs to relax is perfect.  

Improvise and have a sense of humor. Be honest with the class, in an age-appropriate way of course. If you took the job just a few minutes before the bell rang, let them know! Kids are more understanding than adults give them credit for sometimes.  

Introduce yourself to the teachers nearby. This was by far the tip that made me the most successful as a sub. Teachers are a friendly bunch of people and know first-hand how tough overseeing a classroom can be. Knowing a few of the teachers in nearby classrooms can come in handy when you have a quick question, an emergency or even just need to know where the nearest restroom is!  

Last, but not least, a web-based back-up plan. Students love to get on their devices, so what better way to pass the time than with a little online lesson! There are a ton of great online tools for teachers these days, but none of them make it easier to provide grade-specific, asynchronous, standards-aligned, digital literacy curriculum to students than Learning.com. For districts that already have Learning.com, making login information available to subs is a great way to set them up for success. If you’re interested in learning more, sign up for a free trail here! 

Happy Subbing!

Further Reading

Working for Learning.com, I am constantly thinking about how we can make educators’ jobs more manageable and more enjoyable. With so much on teachers’ plates as we get back into the school year, the last thing we want to do is overload them with more information. To help, here are a few tips to use when you are getting ready to attend a professional development course or conference. 

First, have a growth mindset. As hard as the last few years have been, it’s been more important than ever for teachers to have a growth mindset and instill that in their students. While finding time in our busy schedules for professional development isn’t always a top priority, attending the right session can sometimes be just what we need to get over our next hurdle. Psychologist Carol Dweck, who coined the term “growth mindset,” said “The passion for stretching yourself and sticking to it, even (or especially) when it’s not going well, is the hallmark of the growth mindset. This is the mindset that allows people to thrive during some of the most challenging times in their lives.” Check out her TED Talk on fostering growth mindsets, here.  

Second, find a session or conference that targets a specific concern. With conference season back in full swing, the options can be overwhelming. It is helpful to focus on one thing you’re struggling with, and just start there. For example, if it has been challenging to incorporate digital literacy skills into your classroom, maybe a conference that targets that specific concern would be most beneficial to you. If you are interested in learning more about the solutions we offer at Learning.com, or how to get the most out of your school’s license, you can sign up for our free Users’ Conference on October, 18th 2022. 

And lastly, know that ongoing, incremental changes are the ones most likely to stick. As with any change, starting small and continually evaluating as you implement, ensures the new tools or techniques are working for your classroom.  

Further Reading