Balloons Over Broadway

Photo Credit: http://melissasweet.net/ 

Every year growing up at home my family had a tradition.  We would wake up, help mom get the food started for our meal, then we would curl up in front of the TV to watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.  I think as soon as the parade started mom enjoyed the peace, quiet, and solitude she had when she was in the kitchen without us in her way!  My dad is a huge Broadway and marching band fanatic and his enthusiasm has oozed onto me!  I love being able to get a glimpse of "city life" and dreaming of traveling to the amazing NYC to see the parade in person some day.  So, you can imagine my excitement when I stumbled across the book Balloons Over Broadway by Melissa Sweet.  It is a beautifully written book written about Tony Sarg, the puppeteer of Macy's parade.  The week before Thanksgiving I got the idea to have the fourth graders create SES' own Macy's Thanksgiving Parade in our cafeteria.  I asked them to think of book characters that kids would recognize and create that for the parade. Next year, I will allow more time for them to study the history and to also have more creative time to create their masterpieces.  Here is how this year's turned out...the kids were stoked about it.  And they got a ton of compliments!

Rock Out with Dewey!

I'm working on a Dewey Decimal Classification System unit for my 4th graders.  One of my favorite things to help introduce the DDCS is this song that I found online.  Some people are SOOOOO creative, wouldn't you agree?  This is song is dedicated to all my librarian friends out there:

http://www.lemonswedge.com/dewey-decimal-rock-song

Storybook Pumpkin Patch

When I saw this idea on Pinterest I fell in LOVE!!  The Pumpkin Book Project was our library display for the month of October.  I invited all of our 2nd graders to participate.  They wrote a description of their book including character traits and decorated a pumpkin to leave on display in the library.  This year was exceptional!  We had some amazingly creative kiddos create AWESOME pumpkins! Fifty-six to be exact! How awesome is that?! I created a Certificate of Participation for each student, as well.  Our library is eerily empty now!  I can't wait for the next library display for November! Stay tuned!

What is a blog?!?

This is the second year I have taught technology at the Middle School.  I enjoy it!  A lot! It is fun to rebuild those relationships with the kiddos that I had when they were cute little third graders.  They haven't changed too much so it feels like we just pick up where we left off and enjoy each other.  At least I like to think so.

My seventh grade class is basically an introduction to technology tools while the eighth grade class is a multimedia class.  It is a fast paced time together.  We only get something like thirty days together!  Crazy, right?! Right now the eighth graders are creating some pretty amazing iMovies based on their life so far.  It is fun to watch their creations come to life.  We also have a lot of fun using Photoshop for picture editing.  Its been a fun learning experience for us all.  Of course the seventh graders come in after the eighth graders and drool over what they're working on and keep thinking about how the grass is greener on the other side.

Today the seventh graders came in and I start our conversation off by talking about the Blogger's Code of Ethics.  I asked them if they knew what a "code of ethics" was.  They didn't know.  I asked if they knew what "ethics" were. They didn't.  So we back tracked a little bit.  I brought up examples of code of ethics other professions use: nurses, psychologists, doctors, teachers, writers, etc.   Just as I was about to move on I was interrupted by our awesome school counselor to talk about a student.  I asked the kiddos to talk to each other about if there is a middle school code of ethics they follow without even realizing that they do, while I speak with our school counselor just aside of the class. While I'm talking with our school counselor I hear an uproar of voices talking.  Score! Conversation! On topic? Who knows!  When I opened the door back up they were all sitting quiet as mice, all with their hands raised and waiting for me.  So you can imagine my surprise when I walk in to see SEVENTH graders, sitting, and QUIET!  I just kind of slowly walked in, waiting for doom to hit, and just kind of weasel out, "Sooo? What's up?"  They all say at the same time, "What is a blog?!!?"  My head was spinning.  How could they not know what a blog was?!  We pulled up the definition of a blog and then I showed them some examples of a blog.  We talked about how a blog has a purpose and mine for example, has a purpose to communicate about teaching at the elementary and middle schools in library and technology.  So for me to add a post about eating some amazing tasting mac-n-cheese really wouldn't be appropriate.  Guess what they will be starting on Monday?!  BLOGS, you betcha! Why didn't I think to do this sooner with the other rotations?!  Live and learn!

Did You Know?

I've created a new board on our easel inspired from a pin on Pinterest! I need your help, SES Bluejays!  I will start posting a new fact per day.  If you decide you'd like to help this is what you can do:

• Bring Ms. Flemings a fact you found in a non-fiction book, in print, or a digital source.
• Then Ms. Flemings will let you write the interesting fact on the easel with the caption "Found by: Your First Name" 

I bet you can't wait to come to school on Tuesday to see what I've just posted!  I look forward to you helping me out with this.  It could get really fun, don't you think??

Mold. Yuck!

Moldy, nastiness, growing in a library book!

I love gross stuff!  I love weird stuff!  I will be the first person to touch and experiment with something when other people are squirming in their seats. But. I have to say I have my limits.  Especially when books come back damaged like this one did. Just LOOK at all that mold growing inside the book!  Yuck!  I love to use this book as an example to students at the beginning of the year on how to NOT take care of our books.  We talk about the four things to beware of when you are reading a book.
1.  Water! The way the pages wrinkle and smell mildewy afterward create books you do not want to cuddle up to!
2.  Food and drink!  I share this Junie B. First Grader book as my example.  Honestly, I have no clue if that's how it got moldy.  I like to think so.  It was especially fun to use a microscope camera to get that bottom right image.  Super cool!
3.  Little people!  There are times when little brothers and sisters just don't know how to take care of books like the big kids!
4.  Pets!  Not just dogs...cats too! And gerbils, and hamsters, and fish.  I like to remind the kids that all animals can chew, poop, and pee...so lets keep our books away from all animals.  (I'm a dog lover, what can I say?  I don't want to say specifically dogs!)  :)

Do you have any other suggestions on book care?  Do you have any fun tips and tricks that work?  I'd love to hear them!

Happy Reading Everyone!

Book Love: The Book Whisperer

Photo Credit: http://www.bookwhisperer.com/

Anyone else cringe when they finish reading a book that they wish could keep going?  Like you're saying goodbye to a friend?  That's how I felt when I finished reading The Book Whisperer by Donalyn Miller.  For a few days, she was my very close teacher friend and now I just want EVERYONE to be her friend too!  I loved, loved, LOVED her book!  It gave a realistic teacher's perspective of how important reading with your students truly is! And...how important it is to have conversations about books with our students.  And...how important it is for us as teachers to take the time to read daily! I can keep gushing about this book for hours! Seriously!  I am also elated that she is coming to Plum Creek Literacy Festival's Adult Conference this September!  I can not wait to sit in her session is soak up every word she has to say!  Yay for an inspiring book! I feel re-fueled!

Book Love: Sing

This summer was filled with a lot of fun memories made with my Gingers.  One of my favorite memories made this summer was the arrival of Tom Lichtenheld's newest book, Sing.  Lichtenheld illustrates the song many of us know from Sesame Street called "Sing", written by Joe Raposo.  The illustrations give you goosebumps and leaves you feeling warm and fuzzy.  I got exceptional warm and fuzzies when I would read the book with my freshly bathed and lotioned up girlies in my lap.  The book comes with a CD including three songs from Sesame Street. The first is "Sing!".  The next two songs are "Somebody Come and Play" and "One of These Things" both sung by Becca Kauffman with The Midnight Sun Ensemble.

Needless to say we read a lot of books at home.  But this book became my favorite book read this summer. Hands down.  We read it numerous times, talked about the birds, how they're feeling, the colors...then after we would read it we would listen to the CD and always ended the CD with a dance party.  Our favorite part is at the end of the song "One of These Things" the singer says, "You're so smart!"

Watch the book Sing come to life in this YouTube video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vW_PU7WwCAc

On a side note, I've noticed a lot of families choosing to bring the book "Oh, The Places You'll Go" by Dr. Seuss to school to have teachers write a note to their child.  Then at graduation they present that book with years of heartfelt notes written about that child to their graduating senior.  I think what I may do is use this book instead.  It is a beautifully written book that really encourages you to do what makes you happy and to not put too much worry into what others think.

Poem in Your Pocket Day!

The doors to the library were decorated to look like jean pockets by the wonderful Mrs. Reese

This year we celebrated Poem in Your Pocket Day on Thursday, April 18, 2013.  A few years ago when I first started taking my classes for becoming a media specialist, I was introduced to Poem in Your Pocket Day via www.poets.org. Two years ago I was on the third grade team, I swear my team thought I was crazy for scheming up another activity to our already busy schedule.  But it proved to be a huge success and the kids loved it. We even made aprons that said I <3 Poetry and stuffed our pockets with a variety of poems.  

3rd Grade Team on Poem in Your Pocket Day 2011

Last year when I found out I was going to be in this position a couple of us on the third grade team were talking about how fun it would be to get the entire school on board with celebrating poetry month and enjoying Poem in Your Pocket Day. That idea never really went away.  The seed was planted! 

This year we sent home notes (check out this Google Doc) letting kids know that Poem in Your Pocket Day was coming up soon.  We promoted it by asking teachers, paras, support staff, EVERYONE in the building to get into this.  You could walk down the hallway and say to any kid, "Hey! What poem is in your pocket?" Then you could take a few minutes to exchange poems and walked away with a smile.  It was a building activity that really brought us together.  Many teachers commented on how their students were completely excited about the day and how impressed they were that their students really got into it.  Isn't that awesome!?  A day to let literacy shine.  A day to unite the building.  A day to let kids have fun reading a poem they enjoy. 

Mrs. Reese and I also really got into it.  We decided we should be POETrees:

The Library POETrees 2013

"Mrs. Reese, what poem is in YOUR pocket?" 

I'm thinking next year we need to broaden the poetry horizons with April being National Poetry Month and have a Poetry Cafe for the entire building.  I'll continue scheming and seeing how I can make that happen! I'm looking forward to making it a building wide activity for ALL of our SES Bluejays.  Wouldn't it be fun each year to watch your kiddo grow with their poetry from Kindergarten to Fourth grade?  Ahh...the Kodak moment possibilities! 

Poetry Takes You Places!

This month in the library I wanted to highlight a very influential piece of literacy: POETRY!  I asked third graders to choose their favorite poem OR a poem they have written and to write it on a balloon or a kite.  Then I took their picture and attached it to the end of the balloon or the kite they chose.   Finally, we hung them up from the ceiling of the library and they have created such a fun display for all of us to read and enjoy!!

Coming soon: Thursday, April 18th...POEM IN YOUR POCKET DAY!

Blogging Bluejays

At the beginning of the year I got my students blogging using KidBlog.org.  It is a safe way for my students to practice using digital citizenship.  What I'm thrilled with is that it provides wonderful discussion of what we should and should not do on the Internet.  They've even made mistakes and luckily they made them with me over their shoulder which then lead to some awesome conversations.  I'm so glad they're able to make mistakes now rather than later.

Every year in the library the students get to hear all the books nominated for a Golden Sower Award: an award given to books in age leveled categories for books that ROCK!!  To keep track of the books that we've read the students created a post on their blogs that kept a running track of a couple of things.  They were to keep track of what the book was about, their favorite part, and on a scale from 1-10 (1 meaning it didn't float my boat and 10 being the most awesomest book ever--I want to scream on top of a mountain how good it is).  Then after we read all the books they created a blog post called "Favorite GS" in which they wrote about their favorite Golden Sower Nominee.

I then went to our settings and adjusted them so that ANYONE could comment on them.  This way we can really discuss how important it is to have an audience.  I used the analogy: imagine you're getting ready for your school music concert. You're all dressed up, you arrive at the high school, you get up on stage ready to sing your hearts out...and no one is there.  That lead to some great discussion of how you'd feel without having someone there to watch you.  That is so true with blogging. No audience, no fun! So, I went onto our school Twitter account (which is synced with our school Facebook page) and asked our followers to follow the link to the 3rd grade blog and 4th grade blogs and comment!  They have gotten a LOT of comments, and the kids are so excited about it.  They LOVE seeing if a "guest" commented on their blog.

My next lesson I'd love to do with them is to work with another class and exchange comments/posts.  So, if you know anyone that uses Kidblog.org and would be up for working with the 3rd and 4th grade please let me know! I really would love to get them excited about communicating with students around the country or the world!

I can make anything complicated

I'm the first to admit that I am a ditz. Tonight, I made Evernote complicated. Yes. Evernote! Its not that hard...its very user friendly. But I did it..I made it complicated.  Tonight was one of those nights I slapped my forehead and said, "DOH!!"

When I attended York Public School's technology professional development day in January I was lucky to sit in on Laura Kroll's packed session on Evernote.  If you don't follow her on Twitter. You're loosing out. She is inspirational with daily quotes, she is constantly providing feedback to others, she actively participates in chats, she's funny, she is a leader in so many ways, she constantly talks about Evernote and how amazing it is...my list can go on and on. Basically she knows her stuff!  Because of her session, one of my goals has been to utilize Evernote more often; really become fluid in using it. So at parent-teacher conferences tonight I made a to-do list.  One of my items on my agenda was to NOT print off the long schedule for the NETA conference I'll be attending in April but instead download it onto my iPad   Well, I couldn't find the downloadable version into iBooks like they had last year. So I thought this was the perfect opportunity to get creative.

First, I saved it as a PDF then uploaded it to my docs in Google Drive.  But.  The inner elementary teacher in me has this screaming urge to grab my beautiful and brightly colored Sharpie markers and decorate with fun stars or a puffy cloud around the sessions I really want to go to.  And then perhaps add sun rays beaming away from the session "winner" as if they've just won The Price is Right.  So, I remember back to Laura's Evernote session and how she used Skitch  I feel it has some really great potential that can really make life a whole lot easier.  You're never going to really understand how useful something is unless you use it, right?  So, I am treading in unfamiliar waters.  First Evernote novice mistake: let it intimidate you!

I tried to download the PDF to Skitch but it wasn't working.  So, at this point I am thinking I have just found the most difficult problem that only a true genius will be able to answer. What do I do?  I contact THE Laura Kroll. I'm thinking this is going to be a difficult one even for her.  NOPE.

What does she do?  She made a new note (for non-Evernote users that's like making a new document in docs or Word) and did the unthinkable...are you ready?  (Someone play some suspense music here.) SHE COPIED AND PASTED the schedule into the new note!  I know, right? Can you believe this?  Then, you know what she did NEXT?! She was able to highlight the text AND change the color AND manipulate the document how she wanted to so that the schedule stood out.  Can you believe it?  She conquered my challenge with flying colors.  You know what she did next? Just for ME?  She made her Evernote session from the NETA schedule really stand out for me...

I know what you're thinking.  Holy smokes.  This is an easy fix...I could have done that! Jennifer is loosin' it!  Yeah...well I'm going to blame it on a crazy day, my long list of to-do items, the constant flow of people in the library restricting me from thinking clearly...and...uh...a late night at parent-teacher conferences.  Am I allowed to pass the buck?

Lessons learned: slow down. Think. Don't let yourself get intimidated.  Don't be afraid to ask for help even if you don't think you should be.  And...don't be afraid to slap your forehead and exclaim, "DOH!" and admit when you do silly things!!!

Special thanks go to Laura Kroll for this learning experience.  You are the Evernote Goddess!

Web Presence

Today's Goal: To collaborate with a group of awesome teachers from Seward Public Schools to teach how to use Google Sites to middle and high school teachers. You must teach well enough to have them launch their sites onto the district site.

Results: SLAAAAM DUUUNK! TOUCHDOWWWWN!! GOOOOAAAAALLLL!!!!!!

You can tell by my use of the caps lock button and the excessive exclamation marks one of two things: I'm definitely an elementary teacher OR that my team totally dominated our goal today.  The latter of the two is correct.  Okay. Well. They're both true.  

Being on an awesome team by collaborating with Josh, Julie, Brittany, and Laura, we were able to help out over 30 teachers from the middle and high schools get acquainted with Google Sites and help build their digital presence.  We even rocked the RtI tiers to accommodate teachers' learning styles: whole group, one-on-one, and small group.  Yep. You read that right. The inner teacher in us taught using teaching methods that work. Period. Done. BAM!

I know from experience how it is difficult to start a new blog or a website.  We feel the pressure from the "Pinterest Teacher" blogs and websites. You know what kind I'm talking about.  The types you wonder, "Do they really sleep? Or do they just have an IV pack of straight up Red Bull?!?"  We all simply must remember that the hardest part of anything is jumping off and doing it. Jump in the deep end of the pool and swim.  Our goal is not to be a "Pinterest Teacher" community but rather to have a website or blog that communicates effectively with our students, parents, families, and communities.  We are here for our students.  As long as we do what works for us and our students then we're doing an awesome job.  We have a lot of great teachers, some of whom I just met today, that really took Google Sites and embraced it. It was fun to watch them play with templates, add tool bars, subheadings...the list could go on and on.  

Go Bluejays!

The Power of Twitter

Ever since I was encouraged to start using Twitter by a fellow and brilliant colleague, I was told it is the best professional development (PD) a person can experience.  Its PD when you want it, how you want it. And ever since I signed up I have been an avid Twitter advocate. I feel that my professional learning network (PLN) is crucial to making me be the best I can be and help provide the students in my school with the best that is out there.  Many people ask, "What is the big deal with Twitter?".  Many use our answers so they can present it to others, to help encourage them to use Twitter.  Well...prepare for an emotional explanation of how the power of Twitter just made my night.

You see, my hubby is not as into "tech" as me.  He teases me and pokes at me, all in good fun, about how I spend time on the computer/device of choice and probably questions how Twitter can help me.  This is also the same man that will be the first to ask, "What are people saying about the Husker game on Twitter?" or during the election he enjoyed watching the hashtag #election and all the goofy things being said.

Well, last night I surprised him with the Power of Twitter. No joke people. I made a believer among us.  As he is working on a home improvement project, I sneak in and ask him, "How would a trip to Minneapolis in May sound to you?"  He says, "Uhhh...why?!" Keep in mind, we live in Nebraska-so that's a pretty hefty drive with two younguns ages 3 and 1.  I explain to him that I saw on Raffi's twitter feed  is doing some concerts, and that someone had posted how they're taking their kids to see Raffi in concert. Raffi is Hubby's all time favorite artist growing up: we have his CD's, concert DVD's, and books. I looked it up on Ticketmaster-it was legit, he is doing a small tour.  So, I explain how most of his concerts are on the East coast, but there is one in Minnesota, and how I was going to Tweet Raffi and say something like, "Its too bad you can't travel closer to Nebraska." At this point the Hubs says, "Do it!!! Buy the tickets!"  So...I bought tickets!  You have NO idea how big this trip is at this point. HE is giddy to be able to take HIS girls to see RAFFI. In concert!  Then out of excitement I tweet to Raffi letting him know about how excited we are. Thinking he probably won't see it, he's a busy guy. I mean, hello! He's like totally famous and has other things to do versus replying to little ole me.  Get ready, people... He. Tweeted. Back. If you don't believe me look below:

Okay. This is where it gets more sappy and personal, I apologize for taking my professional blog to a more personal level, but I'm going there. You've been warned. Pregnancy can really make you feel like everything is all about you, especially with your first born. Which it totally is!  Most of all everyone makes you feel like you are a goddess, even after the birth of your amazing little bean. It is an amazing support system that develops during that time.When we welcomed our Olive into the world, we were amazed at how WE changed as she came into our lives. She changed us, and thank goodness she did.  She (and her sister Lucy) have made us become better people: parents, professionals, and people in general.  

As I was home on maternity leave with Olive, my mother-in-law was staying with us that first week.   It had to be the second day we were home with Olive that my mother-in-law had gave my hubby a Raffi CD as a gift.  I never had heard of Raffi. I never had experienced his music. I didn't get it. He looks at his mom with googly eyes.  He got choked up with emotion. I didn't get it.  My head is looking back and forth at them as if they're playing tennis.  As I'm looking at the two of them having this "moment", I'm wondering, "Aren't I supposed to be the one that gets emotional around here?!" He was excited to share this music with his own child. Me. Still not getting IT. Asks, "Sooooo...who is this guy? Is he a new artist?"  Tom looks at me in horror and starts to tell me about the time when he saw Raffi at the Orpheum Theater in Omaha when he was probably 5 or 6. At that moment I experienced one of the most beautiful and unforgettable moments in life...that we still talk about to this day...

Tom got up from holding Olive, started playing the song Baby Beluga, and was dancing with her around the living room. I see my husband dancing with our daughter with tears streaming down his face and I am frozen. I didn't move. I didn't snap a picture (which is a shock to those that know me). I didn't say anything. Suddenly, my face was warm. I touch my face and I realize I'm crying. It was one of the most beautiful moments I've experienced.  Ever.  I look over at my mother-in-law and she is crying also. Ever since then Raffi has been with us to doctor's appointments, to family dinners, holidays, play times, cruising down the highway, everywhere.

I told my husband last night, "Hey...so...I tweeted tonight about the Raffi concert...and look what happened." I scroll down to show him that Raffi tweeted back and my husband choked up upon seeing that.  He was speechless.

Then he asked me to send him the screenshot.

We can not wait until our trip to Minnesota to see Raffi in concert, especially after last night. Thanks go to Raffi for making this an even more exciting experience with his reply!! Can't wait to rock out with Raffi!!

Lovely Books Heart Walk

Alright if anyone has a genius solution to making seat spots on the floor that the kids don't peel up and destroy...I'd LOVE to hear all about it! I promise I'll pass all the credit to you because Lord knows I've told my little Bluejays enough times, "Stop!" or  "Don't play with the tape!" or "We just put those down!" So as I am bending over, trying to figure out the right amount of seats, and if they're perfectly spaced...my mind is wondering.  Does it think about things that I need to be doing? Nah. I'm thinking about how kids love seeing things taped to the floors and then it hit me!  Wouldn't it be so cool to see a floor covered in hearts? In the library!? For the month of February?!   

I asked the teachers here at SES to fill in a pink heart I put in their mailbox with a picture of the book they LOVE and to explain a little bit about why they love it.  The kids are totally loving our "Lovely Books Heart Walk" in the library. It has been fun to see them go out of their way to stop and read about what books the teachers love.  Thank you to my fellow amazing, awesome, and totally tolerant teachers!  Just when their plates weren't full enough, I throw this onto their plate and I haven't heard one complaint!

First Steps...

I'm doing it. You hear that Craig? And Brent? And Ann? And the numerous others out there that inspire me? I'm finally BLOGGING!! So many inspiring people in my PLN and within my school district are continuing to push me to be the best I can with my abilities I am finally taking my first steps. The weirdest part of this experience for me, that has come to me in the past couple of days, is that I grew up (in my eyes) a writer.  I was always writing: diaries, stories, reports, articles for school newspapers (not that I was any good at any of them but I was at least writing).  Then I started teaching.  And I stopped. I can't figure it out.  I regret it. Can you imagine how fun it would be to go back and read some stories from my first year of teaching? Suddenly something sparked in me this morning and I told myself today is the day I start blogging.  What pushed me to take the plunge?  I firmly believe it is the awesome team of teachers I work with in Seward.  

I have started Technology Thursdays at the elementary school. I want to be there for my team of teachers. I admire their hard work, their talents, their love of students and their best interests.  Point blank I idolize the teachers I work with.  I want to help them any way I can integrate technology into the classroom.  If I can take just an ounce of stress off their back, I've done my job.  I understand I am "just" the media specialist in my school...and I am teaching classes all day.  I must say I am by NO means a technology genius and do not proclaim that I am going to change things by leaps and bounds by arranging these Tech Thursdays.  My hope for starting this in the elementary school is to make time to talk about technology.  I firmly believe that it may help people to not be afraid of technology, to embrace it and to share with others. Ideally, I would be in the classroom with them and work side by side on projects like so many other schools I read about. But just like all things we have to make due with what we have in our building.  

I attempted two weeks ago to meet with fourth grade and unfortunately our days just weren't meshing.  Fourth grade teachers have a lot on their plate, by golly!  They're a great group and I look forward to meeting with them for the first time.  

Last week I got started with the third grade team and had a GREAT kickstart to Tech Thursdays.  I was able to help get Chrome installed on some of their computers, how to access Google Docs, add apps and extensions, and show them the cool YouTube Options extension available on Google Chrome.  It was an exciting day for me. I felt that I was finally doing what I should be doing!  Almost like I may have made a difference.

Fast forward to today I got to meet with the second grade team today.  That is an intimidating statement right there. They're all fabulously talented teachers and rock at technology.  We were able to spend that time together focusing on sharing.  Did I just hear you say "whoop-whoop"? Or was that me?  We talked a lot about the different technology conferences we were able to go to recently and shared what we learned.  Just a few of those discussion items: Smartboard for the ipad app, Evernote, writing and technology, Chrome, extensions and apps, and finally Twitter. It was a great time.  I valued that time.

Thank you to those that inspire me. I will try to keep up with my new blog at least once a week related to technology and education...and gloating about the awesome #sewardjays.