The Hottest Posts Everyone's Reading

Here’s the roundup of what's been popular on The Innovative Educator blog. Below you’ll see the top posts along with the number of page views. I hope there's something that looks of interest to you.  If it does, check it out. If you’re inspired use one of those icons below the post to share it with others and/or leave a comment.

Entry	Views
10 #BacktoSchool Tips for Students to Keep in Mind... Aug 16, 2015,	6900
5 Benefits of Using a Hashtag for Events Aug 2, 2015,	6197
Relationships, Not Fines, Lead to Great Schools + ... Aug 20, 2015,	5166
Should cellphones be allowed in school? My Respons... Aug 12, 2015,	3432
5 Strategies To Trend On Twitter at Your Next Even... Aug 5, 2015,	3410
Don't Go #BacktoSchool without Knowing How Every C... Aug 9, 2015,	3217
Flipping for New Chromebook for Today’s Classrooms... Jul 29, 2015,	3175

Relationships, Not Fines, Lead to Great Schools + Communities

Editor’s note: This post takes a detour from the usual topics covered on this blog, to address an issue I recently encountered. I share it here because there is a connection with community relations, effective communities, and effective schools.  

One of the things New Yorkers love about our city is our marvelous transportation system. Whether it’s trains, buses, bikes, or feet, New Yorkers know how to get around. And get around we do. In fact anyone who lives here and tracks their steps can tell you that without even trying, we get the recommended 10k steps a day just living our daily lives. More and more not only is this city pedestrian-friendly, but with the introduction of services such as CitibikeNYC, it’s also become bike friendly.  Or at least one would hope so.

If you’re a New Yorker, you know the rules of the road on foot and pedal. According to a New York City Transportation spokes women, most buttons are placebos. More than 90% of crosswalk buttons don’t work. When you are at a corner, you look both ways and cross when safe. Or as Time Out New York puts it in the article 51 reasons you know you’re a real New Yorker: #4. You jaywalk (and would never consider not jaywalking).

In fact, when you see someone waiting until the light changes when there are no cars coming, it can mean only one thing.

You’ve spotted a tourist.  

Not only has this become a rule of the road, but it’s also become an efficient and effective way to keep people moving more safely. Rather than moving among cars, walkers and cyclists can move on empty or less crowded roads.

When the topic came up in San Francisco, Tom Shuler of the Boise Police Department explained to the San Francisco Examiner that allowing cyclists to yield, rather than stop, “makes the road safer for cyclists because it gets them out of the way of cars.”

This is a community norm. The common sense way we operate in New York.

But perhaps not anymore. One of the things that New Yorkers hold dear, (the effective means of getting around town) is being threatened under the guise of “safety.”

Your Chance to Win The Only 3 #BacktoSchool Supplies Necessary This Year

When the parents and teachers of today's students prepared for school, they had a long list of supplies and back-breaking book bags. Thank goodness that can be a thing of the past for students today.  

With the exception of Kleenex, nearly everything else on the following back to school list is obsolete and replaced with just three items in the 21st century classroom.

The 3 Back to School Supplies for Today's Learners

10 #BacktoSchool Tips for Students to Keep in Mind When Using Social Media

Traditionally as students come back to school, it is important to establish a positive classroom culture. Today, more and more districts are following the lead of places like New York City where schools are empowered to support students in the responsible use of cell phones and social media. That means that not only must we support the establishment of a positive classroom and school culture, but we must also ensure our students are engaging positively and responsibly as digital citizens.  While students are all familiar with the “social” aspect of social media, teachers have an important new role. That is to help students consider the “power” of social media for academic and career success. If our students want to run for office, run a business, or change the way things are run where you live, work, or play they must be savvy in the use of social media. 

Not only is effective and responsible use of social media important in our student's day to-day-lives, but it is especially important for students pursuing college, internships, or careers. Social media is the public identity that our students are sharing with the world and the world of college recruiters and human resource personnel are watching closely.

That's why as we head back to school this year, it is important that teachers ensure that what students are sharing will get them positive results.

The Hottest Posts Everyone's Reading

Here’s the roundup of what's been popular on The Innovative Educator blog. Below you’ll see the top posts along with the number of page views. I hope there's something that looks of interest to you.  If it does, check it out. If you’re inspired use one of those icons below the post to share it with others and/or leave a comment.

Entry	Pageviews
5 Benefits of Using a Hashtag for Events Aug 2, 2015,	5707
Close Captioning Tools Support Literacy Jul 26, 2015,	4935
Using Cell Phone Technology to Support Students Wh... Jul 22, 2015,	3888
Socialization: How are Schools Doing? Jul 15, 2015,	3822
Flipping for New Chromebook for Today’s Classrooms... Jul 29, 2015,	3046
Socialization: How are Schools Doing? Jul 15, 2015,	2822
5 Strategies To Trend On Twitter at Your Next Even... Aug 5, 2015,	2783
After the Cell Phone Ban - NYC Schools Launch #BYO... Jul 19, 2015,	2512

Should cellphones be allowed in school? My Response.

Do personal devices support learning? That's what I was asked by "The Signal" blog which facilitates a conversation about communication, safety and making families work.

The question was prompted after a recent study that found students performed better on exams under a cellphone ban which has been used to cast doubt on city's like New York who have lifted the ban. Of course studies such as these are highly flawed for numerous reasons. For example they assess students as though they live in a disconnected world where the tools we need for success outside of school are considered devices of cheating. Additionally, they look at environments where teachers look at student devices as weapons of mass distraction, rather than those where educators are knowledgeable about using devices as tools of engagement. 

I shared my ideas about how cell phones become learning tools when they are a part of, rather than apart from learning by following a five step plan and incorporating strategic building blocks to success.  Find out how by checking out the article here.