Points to Ponder

I just watched the following video: http://www.teachertube.com/viewVideo.php?video_id=47293

It raises some interesting points.  This is what it made me think of:

This video is scary and enlightening.  It makes me think that I am not doing my best to provide my students with the skills to become 21^st century learners.  I have not used wikis, podcasts, or other multi-media materials in my classroom.  I have barely scratched the surface when it comes to technology.  I have recently outfitted my classroom with 7 Nooks for reading, 5 interactive whiteboard games, a mimio, 2 ipods, and an ipod listening center.  This is just the first step.  My students should be actively engaged with these and many more on a daily basis.  They need to be creating and developing technologic responses to classroom discussions.  They need to learn how to navigate the world wide web with ease by the end of third grade. 

What frustrates me most about this video is not that I am not currently providing these things to my students, because I could.  What frustrates me the most is that I feel that I have a lack of training in this area and I do not feel confident enough to communicate these skills to my students.  Without proper training, anyone can fail.  Unfortunately, with budget cuts, technology spending is lacking.  Not only is training not provided, but the supplies are not there either.  I am forced to either spend my own money on such things or to find alternate resources to fund my classroom.

Although I am frustrated, I still want to make a difference.  I will become proficient in new technology so that I can use them in my classroom.  I will provide technology resources within the classroom so that my students can learn by doing and not just seeing. This video motivates me to go to great lengths to better prepare my students for the future.

Student Germs and the Teacher

Yep, it is that time of the year when my immune system says "too much!!".  I have caught the kid crud, but I am not letting it stop me.  This time of the year always reminds me of several things:
1-Hand sanitizer is my friend!
2- Use the disinfectant spray daily (twice if you can) on all hard surfaces
3 - Take a multivitamin - it only helps in the long run
4- You can never have too much vitamin c
5-Don't forget to take time for yourself and relax!

Sometimes I seem to forget these simple things. Take this week for example.  I got run down with a whopper of a cold, half of my team was out at the middle school field trip, so there were no subs available.  I was asked to come and speak at the substitute training event at my school.  I attended testing training for the standardized testing that is next week.  I was writing my lesson plans for my substitute for the following wee because I am attending  an NCCAT (North Carolina Center for Advancement in Teaching) three day conference. And somehow, I thought signing up for an online class on the newly revised teacher evaluation process sounded like a great idea! 

It is so easy to overwhelm yourself with all of the little things that are required in teaching.  Remember one important thing, take time for yourself and your family.  If you don't, you will burn out and/or get sick!

My advise: drink some vitamin c and get some good rest - your students deserve it!

Parent Rush

I always feel like I am going through sorority rush this time every year.  I am smiling and putting my best foot forward.  I have found that I can please many parents with one quick and easy thing . . .
tell them what their child is great at doing in my classroom!  I know, it sounds too simple.  Parents love to hear great things about their kids.  Why not tell them this early on? This allows you the opportunity to give the "growth" comments down the road.  You have already begun to build a relationship with the parents.  They know you are "tuned in" to their children. It is also nice to tell the parents how your day was made better by their child or how you made their child smile today.  These simple acts of kindness will help make your school year go so much more smoothly!
Happy Teaching!