I know it has been a very long time since I hit the publish button. Expect to see more updates in the following areas:

1. Design…long overdue.
2. Video….sometimes it’s better to show it.
3. Message….just wait and see.

The long and short of this post is the announcement to add more value to you the reader.

Let’s make the most of this year and all the right opportunities that come to us.

There has been a lot of discussion about the Flipped Classroom model. As much as I would like to flip my class….there is but one MAJOR issue. Well two. Ready?

Issue One. Most of of my students don’t have internet acccess at home, not too mention a computer. Issue Two. Getting more resolve from administration that flipped teaching is effective.

These are a constant in many school communities in urban, inner-city settings.

Until there is a major breakthrough to flip our class I will continue to share musings about this timely topic. If you are in need of resources to flip. Check out this article from  the NY Times.

What are your thoughts from the infographic above about this topic?

Let’s Flip This Class

I teach at Andrew Jackson High School in Jacksonville, FL. Jackson is an old, urban, inner-city high school. Over 73% of our school population is on free/reduced lunch. My classroom is in need of a great makeover. Most importantly, my students need greater access to technology. I only have four computers and an outdated projector. District and state funding sources are limited to upgrade to the necessary tools and purchase instructional materials.

The biggest divide in our education system is not the achievement gap, but the ever widening digital divide. Many of my students do not have desktops, laptops, or tablets in their homes. Local libraries close early. Students in the Jackson community are left with little to no options to get internet access for studying, research, and developing skills for post secondary education and/or the workforce.

With the funds we will be able to purchase:

• 30 Google Chromebooks
• 30 Steelcase Node desks
• 7 Magnetic Dry Erase Boards (because we still have chalkboards in our room)
• 1 Laptop Cart
• 1 Eno One Interactive Board
• 1 Classroom Amplification System
• 1 yr subscription of Achieve 3000
• 1 yr subscription of AVID Weekly
• 1 yr subscription of Safari Montage

New schools are being built where classrooms are equipped with more stuff and instructional resources than listed above. This is bare necessity for my Geography and Advanced Placement students.

Let’s work together to flip an old, urban, inner-city classroom with modern tools to impact student achievement.

Click here to donate https://hopemob.org/s/17c-help-us-flip-our-classroom

One of the courses I teach at Andrew Jackson High School is World Cultural Geography. Being able to integrate technology like the Smart Board above with my geography class would be nice! This would definitely take student engagement to another level.