Why You Should be Voxing

June 17, 2014 Pernille Ripp

I am not one to post much about new tech tools, after all, I don’t use a lot, which I know may be a surprise to many. I tend to find a few that I really, really like and then use them to death, telling everyone to use it and then helping everyone do it. I don’t review a lot of tech tools on here because that is not what this blog is about. In fact, I can’t even remember the last time I wrote a post about anything new. But it is time to introduce the world to something new, that may just make your whole summer; Voxer.

What is Voxer? It’s a free walkie-talkie app. Now, you may think, like I did, why would I want a walkie talkie app on my phone? The first time I was told about it by my friend Leah Whitford, I didn’t get it. Then I forgot about it. Then the Bammys finalists announcement happened, and another friend urged me to join the conversation happening on Voxer. So I did, and I have loved it ever since.

First of all, Voxer adds another layer to my connections. I can now hear someone’s voice on my own time (the audio messages are archived for whenever you want to play them) and that matters to me. I can tell a lot simply by a tone or a quick comment. Much easier than texting, much more meaningful than a direct message on Twitter.

Second, Voxer lets you add as many people as you want to a conversation. I am a part of a few different groups that started out discussing one thing, but have since branched out into other topics. I have loved seeing where these conversations have headed and also the new people that have joined that I did not know before. (Don’t worry, you have to invite people to the conversation).

Third, I can reach out so easily now. I have reached out to several of my friends and fellow connected educators with everything from a quick hello to asking for a favor. I have also been sent messages from people I have never spoken to or met but that I have connected with through Twitter. You decide whether people can find you or not, I like that I am findable though so I can expand my connections.

Fourth, it is making my commute awesome. Because the audio and text messages are archived within the conversations chronologically, I can catch up whenever I want. All I have to do is hit play and listen.

And finally, for all of the other reasons that I left out and a much better explanation of how to use it, please see Joe Mazza’s post on Voxer and how he uses it. And a Google Doc where people have shared their Voxer names and info.

I am a passionate (female) 7th grade teacher in Wisconsin, USA, proud techy geek, and mass consumer of incredible books. Creator of the Global Read Aloud Project, Co-founder of EdCamp MadWI, and believer in all children. I have no awards or accolades except for the lightbulbs that go off in my students’ heads every day. First book “Passionate Learners – Giving Our Classrooms Back to Our Students” can be purchased now from Powerful Learning Press. Second book“Empowered Schools, Empowered Students – Creating Connected and Invested Learners” can be pre-ordered from Corwin Press now. Follow me on Twitter @PernilleRipp.

Be the change, being me, books, reflection, Student-centered

Pick My Brain! (If You Want…)

June 16, 2014 Pernille Ripp

With the release of my book “Passionate Learners – Giving Our Classrooms Back to Our Students” we thought it would be nice to have a chance to ask me questions, brainstorm ideas, and discuss anything and everything that has to do with how you are trying to implement change in your classroom or school. So please join me this Sunday, June 22, at 7 PM EDT for a webinar to do just that. No question is too big or little.

Here is the official information and how to join me.

Join us: Passionate Learners Live Webinar with author Pernille Ripp

Posted by Sheryl Nussbaum-Beach on Jun 15, 2014 in PLPress | 0 comments

After several years of wondering why her own classroom didn’t match her vision of students driven by curiosity and passion, Pernille Ripp discovered that even the smallest changes can make monumental differences. Trusting yourself and your students and sharing the power of the classroom with them can lead to great teaching and learning even within the boundaries of our confining standards, testing obsessions and mandatory curriculums.

In her new book Passionate Learners, Pernille tells us what and how she changed—and how her students changed with her. We learn about the little and not-so-little things she did over the course of a transformational year, so that she could shift the responsibility for learning – the joy and wonder of it – to the kids themselves.

Now that this book has been out for a few weeks and hundreds of you have read her story, we want to give you the chance to ask your burning questions and discuss your own student-centered classrooms.

Passionate Learners Live Webinar

Join author Pernille Ripp, PLP CEO Sheryl Nussbaum-Beach, and PLPress Managing Editor John Norton for a one-hour live webinar on June 22 at 7pm EDT. During this webinar, we’ll take a deeper look inside Pernille’s new book Passionate Learners: Giving Our Classrooms Back to Our Students.

Whether you are just beginning or well on your way in your teaching career, this webinar can inspire you to break rules, take risks, and eagerly pursue your journey toward a classroom filled with passionate learners. Register for the webinar and get entered in a prize drawing!

Get Webinar Ticket

being me, books

Win A Copy of My Book “Passionate Learners”

May 26, 2014May 29, 2014 Pernille Ripp

On May 14th, a dream of mine came true, I became an author with the publication of my first book “Passionate Learners – Giving Our Classrooms Back to Our Students.” Since then I have been excited to see readers respond to my book and how they will use it in their teaching lives. While I have loved this book and writing it has been a very personal journey for me, what matters now is whether it will help others avoid some of the pitfalls I fell into as a teacher. So to help spread the word and reward all the readers of my blog, we are giving away two copies of my book! Entering is simple, just leave a comment. I will pick two winners at random this Friday, May 30th at 10 PM.

Here are what a few people have said about the book after they read it.

“I knew even before I read it that Passionate Learners: Giving Our Classrooms Back to Our Students was going to become one of my favorite education resources and something I would recommend to every teacher I know.” – Angela Watson

“I strongly suggest that every educator read this book whether they agree or not because ultimately, we are all motivated by doing what is in the best interest of children, right?”

– Tony Sinanis

“I wish that I had read this book a year earlier as I struggled with being a change maker at my school. Although I have a broad PLN I can call on for support, somehow reading these words felt like an extended conversation with a wise friend. Thank you, Pernille, for your oh so honest story that affirms the gifts and challenges of our vital profession. “

– Joan Young

Print or digital? How wd you prefer to read my new book Passionate Learners? http://bit.ly/1kb9orz Quick survey: https://www.formstack.com/forms/?1734872-So4tMjtPvg

Now it is your chance to read my book. Enter below for a chance to win one of two copies by leaving a comment. (Please note there isn’t a print version of the book available at this time, but you can read the eBook on any computer or mobile device.) The contest ends at 10 PM EST on Friday, May 30th. Good luck!

Be the change, being a teacher, being me, books, Student-centered

Join Me for a Chat About Passionate Learners!

May 18, 2014 Pernille Ripp

What a fantastic few days it has been! From my book being released (gulp!) to people telling me they are loving it (even more gulp!) it has been incredible to finally get it out in the world. So tonight, Sunday May 18th at 7 PM EST, please join me, the CEO of Powerful Learning Press Sheryl Nussbaum Beach, and my editor John Norton for a chat about the book, how to give the classroom back to students and anything else you may like to discuss. There will even be prizes!

Here sis the official information, I hope to “speak” with you tonight!

Tweet about Passionate Learners!

Join Pernille, Powerful Learning Practice CEO Sheryl Nussbaum-Beach, and PLPress Managing Editor John Norton for a one-hour Twitter chat this Sunday, May 18 at 7pm EST. Use the hashtag #plpnetwork to follow along and participate! During the Twitter chat, get a deeper look inside Pernille’s book Passionate Learners and be entered to win a number of prizes!

Passionate Learners Live Webinar

On June 22, find out how even the smallest changes can make monumental differences. Pernille learned in her own classroom that trusting yourself and your students and sharing the power of the classroom with them can lead to great teaching and learning even within the boundaries of our confining standards, testing obsessions and mandatory curriculums.

Get Webinar Ticket

Be the change, being a teacher, being me, Student-centered

Passionate Learners – My First Book Released

May 14, 2014May 18, 2014 Pernille Ripp

Two years ago, prompted by a blog post asking for ideas, I submitted a proposal for a book to Powerful Learning Press. I remember thinking that I was way out of my league, that I had no right to submit anything, and who did I really think I was. Yet, I knew from writing this blog and having many conversations with incredible people that some of the stuff I had written about had helped others. I knew that there were many teachers out there wondering how they could change the way they taught, wondering if it was okay to break the rules? So I hit send and then promptly forgot all about it, after all I was a new mom to twins and barely getting any sleep. I took a leap of faith, hoped for the best, but resigned myself to the idea that no one would probably be interested.

Now, I see what taking a leap of faith can do for you. Two years later the book that I asked if I could write, is being released. “Passionate Learners – Giving Our Classrooms Back to Our Students” is out today! The story that I hoped to tell about breaking the rules from within without alienating your entire support team, about working within a standards obsessed curriculum and still having students like learning, about assessing students without giving them grades is here. That book that I thought I maybe could write has been written and is now ready to be judged by you.

So I hope you like it, or at least, I hope it makes you think. I hope it offers concrete ideas that you can implement or help someone implement in their own journey to change. I hope you will help me create more passionate learners around the world.

If you would like to connect with me, please reach out. I can be emailed through p (at) globalreadaloud (dot) com

I also get to do a Twitter chat Sunday, May 18th at 7 PM EST

And finally I will do a live event on June 22nd 7 PM EST. To sign up for this, go here

Be the change, being a teacher, being me, reflection

A Vow to Myself

May 11, 2014 Pernille Ripp

I look in the mirror, studying every flaw so that I can later point them out to my husband. To make sure he knows that I know that I don’t look like when we first met, 13 years ago.

I see the flab, the stretch, the things that gravity have not been kind to and I squint, and I wish, and I wonder what can be done other than never showing any of these parts to anyone every again. Because who wants to see this version of Pernille? Who will ever think that this body is any good? And then it hits me. This body bore 4 children, 2 of them at the same time. These arms that I am wondering whether I should show are the same ones that hold my children, that hug my husband, that allow me to do so many things. These legs and my giant feet are what takes me through the world, that allow me to run after the kids, to rush to help, to climb the stairs to soothe a child with nightmares. This face with its wrinkles, eyes that are tired, skin filled with imperfections is what I use to share my love, my laughter, my happiness with anyone who crosses my path. This body is what allows me to be a mother, a woman, a teacher trying to change the world.

We are our own worst enemies. We point out every flaw we can find and flaunt it to the world so that everyone will know that we know we are not perfect. That others will know that we do not think highly of ourselves either, that we know we are nothing special. We do it in front of our children so that they can learn that as grown ups we are riddled with flaws that mean we are not as good as we once were. We tear ourselves down so that others don’t have to. We tear ourselves down so that we will not threaten others in their hunt for perfection.

We do this as teachers too, we get quiet when someone compliments us, mumble thanks, pass it off as if what we do is just something that happens and not something that we work so hard at. We don’t point out our own greatness but will gladly share our flaws. We invite others to criticize yet hardly ever share our strengths, our talents, our moments of glory that keep us coming back. We reflect on our teaching and only see everything that we failed at, every mistake we made, every thing that we wish we could change, and don’t see all the good that we do every single day.

This is my vow to stop. This is my vow to allow myself to feel good. Not just about my body but also about what I do. I work hard at being a good mom, I work hard at being a good wife, I work hard at being a good person, I work hard at being a good teacher. I will not wait for others to point out my moments of greatness, I will look for them myself. I will not stand in front of a mirror and tear myself apart anymore. The negativity stops with me and it stops today. Who is with me?

I am a passionate (female) 5th grade teacher in Wisconsin, USA, proud techy geek, and mass consumer of incredible books. Creator of the Global Read Aloud Project, Co-founder of EdCamp MadWI, and believer in all children. I have no awards or accolades except for the lightbulbs that go off in my students’ heads every day. First book “Passionate Learners – Giving Our Classroom Back to Our Students Starting Today” can be pre-bought now from Powerful Learning Press. Follow me on Twitter @PernilleRipp.