Flight Crew

Challenges

Challenges are ways for you to extend your instruction into new and exciting levels. Challenges will be more extensive tasks that require multiple steps for completion. We currently have FOUR challenges available. Read below to learn more about these challenges and how to apply for the badge!

Classroom Fixer Upper

This challenge is set up for you to give your class a much-needed update by adding a touch of innovation. Does your room arrangement provide for discussion as well as for direct instruction (U-Arrangement, small groups, flexible seating vs. traditional rows of desks)? Think of how you can rearrange your room to make students more comfortable, promote discussion and collaboration. Students will learn the benefits of working with others and cultivate skills necessary to pitch their own ideas to fellow classmates, who will eventually be colleagues in the real world. So let’s get to fixin’ up your classroom to make it so! Then share with us some pictures of your layout with students, create your classroom layout on paper and share as an image or as a scanned PDF, and provide a description of how you came to the setup you chose and what you’re seeing as a result.

Cross-Curriculum Challenge 

This challenge is a team effort! To complete the Cross-Curricular Challenge you must plan a cross-subject lesson with someone from a different content area at one of the three transformative levels of PAGER (Levels G-E-R). The team must show evidence of their collaborative planning and the lesson being executed in both subjects. Evidence includes your lesson plan, pictures/videos/links, and picture/link to a Tweet with the #CentralISD hashtag. Only ONE person from the collaborative team needs to submit the form. Contact Dr. Ivey for help!

The Gallery Walk Challenge 

The Gallery Walk is a chance for teachers and students to set up an exhibition with student work, including program descriptions. This is a great way to showcase what students are producing through Project-Based Learning, whether individual or collaborative projects, and give those who visit the Exhibition an opportunity to learn and see the power these types of projects in student learning. Share pictures/video of your exhibition when you complete the badge application.

Twitter Challenge

To complete the Twitter Challenge and earn your badge you have to participate in three Twitter Chats. You also have to follow 10 new people and implement something you learned on Twitter. Last, complete the badge application to submit your evidence and earn your badge!

Looking for some Twitter Chats to join? Check out these awesome chats! or even more on the Education Chats calendar. 

EdTech Chat – Mondays from 7-8pm – #edtechchat (Using tech in the classroom? This weekly chat focuses on educational technology in its various forms.)

Learn Like a Pirate – Mondays from 7-8pm – #LearnLAP (A great collaborative group lead by @paulsolarz who wrote the book “Learn Like a Pirate”. The focus is on invigorating classroom learning experiences to empower students to take ownership over their learning. 

Teach Like a Pirate – Mondays from 8-9pm – #tlap (Looking for inspiration? #tlap was inspired by the fabulous book “Teach Like a Pirate” by Dave Burgess (@burgessdave) and attracts passionate, creative educators seeking to improve their professional practice.

Kinder Chat – Mondays from 7:30-8:30PM – #kinderchat (A chat for early learning educators around the world focused specifically on students in Kindergarten)

Ed Chat – Tuesdays from 6-7pm – #edchat (One of the longest running educational chats on Twitter, covering a wide variety of topics related to education, with participants from all over the world.)

PBL Chat – Tuesday from 8-9pm – #pblchat (A chat about technology and Project-Based Learning)

Fearless Ed Chat – Wednesdays from 7:30 – 8:30pm – #fearlessedchat 

LeadUpChat – Saturday mornings – #leadupchat 

CA Ed Chat – Sundays from 6-7pm – #caedchat (Weekly chat with educators from CA and others who join in)

TX Ed Chat – Sundays from 7-8pm – #txeduchat (Weekly chat with educators from TX and others who join in)