Fidgit Spinners

WOW!!  I have never seen anything storm a classroom quite like the Fidget Spinner!  If you are one of the 13 people in the United States who doesn't know what a Fidget Spinner is...here is an excerpt from Wikipedia (I know....I know...just read about the Fidget Spinner will 'ya! HAHA!)

Double Trouble! A red Fidget Spinner and a white one,
Spinning in the same direction at different speeds.

"A fidget spinner is a type of stress-relieving toy. A basic fidget spinner consists of a bearing in the center of a design made from any of a variety of materials including brass, stainless steel, titanium, copper and plastic. The toy has been advertised as helping people who have trouble focusing or fidgeting (such as those with ADHD, autism, or anxiety) by acting as a release mechanism for nervous energy or stress. Experts were divided on this claim, with some supporting it while others refuted its scientific basis and argued the toy may actually be more distracting."

I am on the side that says it's distracting. In fact, probably the most distracting thing I have ever seen enter my classroom. I'm not saying they aren't fun, because I have fun with every one I take! As a matter of fact, I have to put it on my desk after I take it otherwise I find myself playing with it. So simple, yet so fun! 

I have a friend who wanted to be the, "Cool progressive" teacher and let his students play with them. One day he had his students in groups working on a project. Four of the groups did not have Fidget Spinners and were busy producing Power Points to go along with their YouTube videos. The group with Fidget Spinners accomplished nothing. The next day they were out!

Being a Theme teacher, I see all of the students at Woodland. I haven't seen Fidget Spinners in grades lower than third, but I'm sure they are around. My policy is to take them if I see them, and hand them back to the classroom teacher. Some teachers allow them, some do not. I don't see the students long enough (I only see them 42 min. a week) to find a constructive way to allow them while keeping students on task. 

IF they are still around in the fall (It will be interesting to see if this is a fad or if it sticks) I will try and figure out a cool lesson to do with them for STEM class.

For more Fidget Spinner Awesomeness....Check out my Twitter posts: @Mr_JVD #FidgetSpinner

U.P. Michigan Association of Computer Users in Learning (MACUL)

UP MACUL was pretty great!  I got to catch up with a few friends I haven't seen in a while, listened to a great keynote speaker, Leslie Fisher, and was able to present on Twitter.

Two of my friends were Kingsford Alumni and we taught together at L'Anse.  Another friend taught with me at L'Anse before moving back to his hometown of Crystal Falls.  It was nice to see them again.  Too much time passes between meetings like that.




Leslie Fisher is from California and travels the country speaking to educators about technology. She took us through a, "Technology Time Machine" which was educational and funny.  I tweeted her a picture of my ORIGINAL Nintendo Entertainment System after the conference.  Favorite games: Super Mario Brothers (Obviously), Silent Service (It's a submarine game), and Top Gun.  I have it hooked up to my big TV right now....I just wish my Zapper gun worked....
Follow her on Twitter.

I presented on Twitter in a session called, "Twitter for Non-Tweeters."  I feel like twitter is one of those tools that is continually thrown at teachers as a, "YOU MUST USE THIS!!" but then it turns out to be "one more thing" that gets forgotten about. My biggest points were that it's  a quick and easy way to share what's going on in the classroom and a GREAT way to get some professional development, 140 characters at a time.  Educational chats are pretty fun to take part in. #TOSAChat is one that I have participated in.

As an added bonus....some of my Kingsford teacher friends photobombed my house during lunch.
Crazy kids...