Heather Wolpert-Gawron

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San Gabriel Valley CUE Teacher of the Year!

San Gabriel Valley CUE Teacher of the Year!

By on May 5, 2009

I won the San Gabriel Valley CUE (Computer Using Educators) Outstanding Teacher Award. Hazzah! I’m not sure CUE realizes, however, that my enthusiasm for Ed Tech outweighs my knowledge.  My daily calls with questions to the computer teacher can attest

Top 10: How to Take Control of Your Teaching

Top 10: How to Take Control of Your Teaching

By on February 25, 2009

How can you take control of your teaching, both literally and internally? Read my Top 10 list that advises a teacher on how to get what you need in this demanding job of ours, how to survive it, and how to love it.

Starting from scratch in teacher training

Starting from scratch in teacher training

By on February 18, 2009

I recently heard Judy Willis (of “syn-naps” fame) speak at a conference.  In her pre-teaching life, she was a neurologist and she brings her knowledge to the classroom and to her lectures.  (See my recently published article in Teacher Magazine, “My

My New Interactive Whiteboard…an update

My New Interactive Whiteboard…an update

By on January 28, 2009

OK, you know when you get a new puppy and you love it and you couldn’t live without it and then you find out it has hip dysplasia?   That’s a little of what my relationship is like with my

Marketing Metacognition

Marketing Metacognition

By on January 25, 2009

So I just got the January MindWare catalogue and I realize that here we have a toy catalogue that is solely for metacognitive purchases.  So this got me thinking: how can schools market metacognition?  I realized, of course, that until

“Hit a Jew” Day. Um, er…

“Hit a Jew” Day. Um, er…

By on October 26, 2008

I’m not sure what one can say about this latest story.  AP reports that a number of students at a St Louis middle school are facing suspension for a spirit day gone awry.  But how “Hug a Friend Day” de-evolved

Innovative Learning Conference ’08

Innovative Learning Conference ’08

By on October 13, 2008

Well, I’m off to San Jose to present at the ILC.  I’ll be presenting my session, “Podcasting with 50 Middle Schoolers – RU Crazy?!”  It isn’t just about podcasting.  It’s also about the evolution of a tech-tentative Language Arts teacher

The Excitement Graph: Plot and Word Choice

The Excitement Graph: Plot and Word Choice

By on October 2, 2008

Every year, I do this activity when teaching Narrative Plot.  I’ve used it from 3rd grade to 12th grade.  I learned a version of it first in 1993 at a UCLA Extension class on “Teaching Reading to Secondary Students” and

Find the Fib…First Day Activity (UPDATED)

Find the Fib…First Day Activity (UPDATED)

By on September 5, 2008

I learned a version of this activity from Erick Gordon this summer at the UCI institute. Basically, it’s a get-to-know activity where the students get to learn a little about me and then learn a little about each other. It

Hurry up & Wait – My New Interactive Whiteboard: Part II

Hurry up & Wait – My New Interactive Whiteboard: Part II

By on August 24, 2008

So, I had my online training.  I met the Whiteboard sales guy in my classroom to discuss where the board is to be mounted.  I talked with my principal to develop an interactive whiteboard presentation during our first staff development

Joanne Jacobs comment:”Stop facilitating and start teaching”

Joanne Jacobs comment:”Stop facilitating and start teaching”

By on July 6, 2008

The Seattle Post-Intelligencer posts a not-so-intelligent take on teacher vs. student-directed classrooms.

Collaboration…Blocked by a Firewall Near You

Collaboration…Blocked by a Firewall Near You

By on July 2, 2008

I just saw Doug Fisher's presentation on ELL students in the Language Arts classroom. I got me reflective on tech's role in collaboration in the classroom.

Surely Shakespeare has a sniglet for it?

Surely Shakespeare has a sniglet for it?

By on June 21, 2008

What's a word for both grateful and frustrated?

NCLB?  How ’bout B-studentsLB

NCLB? How ’bout B-studentsLB

By on June 21, 2008

NCLB might be losing the highest students, but it is also causing the loss of the middle-of-the-line student's electives.

Comment on Dangerously Irrelevant’s “Ed Tech Quarantine?”

Comment on Dangerously Irrelevant’s “Ed Tech Quarantine?”

By on June 19, 2008

As I commented on Dangerously Irrelevant's blog, we need to respect those who do not share our tech enthusiasm, yet keep the battle waged.

It’s the End of The Internet as we Know It (and I feel…)

It’s the End of The Internet as we Know It (and I feel…)

By on June 8, 2008

Is the Internet as we know it really coming to an end in 2012? Well, not if Google and the porn industry have anything to say about it.

Don’t Knock the Less Experienced Teacher

Don’t Knock the Less Experienced Teacher

By on May 23, 2008

I know the use of new teachers in harder-to-teach classrooms is frowned upon, but maybe they have some pros in the face of so many cons: energy, passion, and flexibility.

UPCOMING CONFERENCES

UPCOMING CONFERENCES

By on May 8, 2008

Here you will find more information about me and my upcoming conference sessions at the CCHE and FETC/CUE conferences