Ten years in the Making!

The first couple of years after I graduated from Virginia Tech my lip would curl if someone mentioned going back to school. I was so happy not to have anymore homework, papers, or exams to take. I wanted that freedom of being able to travel at a moments notice, take art classes or go out with friends on a weeknight. Then something changed in me. I started dropping the grad school bomb. Now you have to know I talked about it but never really did anything towards going back to school for more education. There was still that little part in me that would snarl at the thought of writing papers. So for about six years I would talk the talk but never walk the walk.

Then 2008 happened, the switch flipped in October when I was leading a Halloween Safety program at a rec center. At that moment I knew I had to teach and I had to do it now. Thus, started the tedious process of getting into grad school. No wonder it took me so long, the process alone weeds out nonbelievers. But, I got in...stayed in and blew my own mind at how well I was doing. History in my case does not repeat itself. Thank goodness, otherwise I would not be in the program. While I am counting down the days until June 18th and no more papers, I love being in school and working with the students. This is not a job, it's a passion and I am happy. Bring on the job announcements!

Hmmmmm...

Off The Grid!

We are so connected to technology it blows my mind.  I have not really considered how much time we spend using electronics until now.  You can reach me 24/7/365.  It's overwhelming when you think about it.  My experience with wiki's have not been that great. I have always heard that Wikipedia is a site that you don't want to get information from because it can be changed by anyone. The Wiki I was invited to be a part of was so confusing and muddled together that I could not even begin get into the meat of the Wiki. Until recently I thought what is the point, unless you are actively involved it can be confusing. So I am going to give Wiki's another try. I get it now.

On a side note... This weekend I had the opportunity to go to Montreal to see my brother perform in Hansel und Gretel.  Great show by the way.

The opera director thought of a way to give back to the community.  He took the cast to 6 elementary schools and talked to them about opera.  He decided that instead of building a set based on an adult's idea of what a child would imagine, he would have the children at these schools create the set.  The stage is very sparse except for a large screen.  As the first act opens you see these amazing images that only children can come up with.  There are gingerbread houses, witches, angels.  Over 600 pictures were drawn by students in Montreal.  These pictures created by the kids really made the opera.  It takes one back to childhood and all the possibilities you had.

Back to going off the grid.  Back in Virginia I always have access to my phone which means I can check email, facebook etc anytime of the day.  One forgets that when you leave your home country you aren't as connected as you once were.  My phone does not work here.  Wow how am I going to check my status or if I got any important emails in the last 24 hours.  I guess I will have to wait.  It's kind of refreshing not being connected.  So I am about to unplug for my last few hours here in Montreal and go experience Poutine for the first time.  My brother raves about it, it better be good.

Classroom Blogs...are they worth it?

I have never even given Blogging a second thought for use as a teaching tool.  However, after reading the chapter on Blogging and New Literacies I can see the value in a classroom blog.   Besides having the students become responsible for the writing they are publishing, it is also an effective way to reduce your classroom’s carbon foot print.  I am still amazed at the amount of paper each student uses and receives from the teacher and administrators.   The Fresh AIRE page is a place to go for more information about becoming green.  Hopefully, at some point in my career all students will have computers to work on and not have to wait for the few in the classroom.

I like the point that Diane Penrod makes about reaching the students who are on the fringe.  Blogging allows the user to create what they want to say in a way that is uniquely them.  Just look at all of our class blogs and how uniquely different we all are.  In my search for a meaningful connection to add to this posting I came across Blog For Students.  This site could be used in classrooms for students to post blogs.  I think further research into it is important before a teacher allows students free range.  The site is limited but it does restrict who actually sees the blogs which is nice for added some internet safety.

What a change!!

Wow! What a difference a year makes.  Last year at this time I was working full time as a Park Ranger and going to school.  I thought I was tired then.  Ha! Going to school full time and student teaching is WAY more tiring!  I can't imagine what next year is going to be like when I am teaching full time on my own. One or two lessons a week is nothing compared to managing, grading and teaching everyday.  I have a healthy new respect for what my mentor teacher does everyday.  It's nap time!