Laugh in the face of FEAR

I Laugh in the Face of FEAR

Many teachers are afraid in their own classrooms. 

 

Handcuffed by policy, straight jacketed by leadership and parental opinions, held in restraints by resources and materials that MUST be used and marionetted by scores from standardized testing.

 I am very lucky to work in a building where teachers support each other daily. Our admin is open to try new and creative materials and ways to teach children. We try and look past our standardized test scores because we teach in an area, where we know the day to day can be a challenge just to get to school. We know that connecting with the students is number one. 

Am I afraid? 

NO. 

Only because I am very lucky to teach in a building that is so supportive. I have tried new teaching ideals, methodology and materials with open arms. I have the chance to try what I feel is best for the students, my classroom and my little community. 

Moi? Changed?

Moi? Changed?

Have I changed since I first started as an educator? 

Dear First Year Teaching Me:

Breathe. You did it. Your schooling is done and you are now one of the very few people who actually have a contract. ( merci French) 

Take a look around and enjoy the quiet moment before the students walk in. They will be your first faces that you will teach. Some will be on your mind for years to come, impacting many of your 

teaching ideals.  Enjoy every minute of every year because they always go by too fast. You have to say farewell to students sooner then you will ever want to. 

There is something that you were not taught in teachers college. There is a pendulum in education. The pendulum of practise is always swinging one direction and sometimes back again. Your learning is never complete. You will constantly be looking for ways to do things better, more effective and more efficient. You will continue to explore new methods to teach children, refine the ways you practise daily and employ new strategies that you would have never imagined.

Go ahead and look in the mirror.  Wrinkles will start to appear. I have heard grey hair will start to sprout(lucky for you seven years later not a one-yet). Your style of clothes will change. Enjoy those heels while you can, because you will soon discover teaching in flats is much more student (and back) friendly. 

The one thing that will change the most is your passion for teaching. You are going to fall in love with teaching in a way you can not expect nor can be described to you. Late nights, weekends and holidays are going to be filled and fuelled by your passion. 

Let it. 

Welcome it. 

Embrace it.

Be comfortable with change because change is coming every year and everyday. You will not be the same as you are today, nor should you be. Evolve with the students and with the times that will change around you. Being ready to do so, will continue to keep you connected with the students which in return will shape you into an educator you will be proud of. 

Get ready now! I hear the students coming and this moment will be the beginning of a new you.

Enjoy.

What is a Weekend?

What is a WEEKEND?

As I mentioned in this post, I LOVE my job. I am a full blown addict. I have a hard time turning work off.

What role does a weekend or a holiday play in my teaching? It is my time to plan. Sunday is lazy day. A day where the kids are doing what they would like, my husband is tinkering around the house with yard work or house work(I know I got a good one) and I am doing what I would like: 

School

It can be marking, planning or reporting. It doesn't matter but either way Sunday is the day that I prepare for the week. I like to have my whole week in advance planned out. This way I have the freedom to do something with the students during break. I get to have a little time in the evening with my family instead of doing school. 

I don't have a weekend. I have a day off. 

That is my choice and I am proud of it. Having my week this way makes me prepared and ready to be the best teacher I can be. 

Drum ROLL Please

Drum Roll Please

The top TWO sites that I go to when stumped:

1. Pinterest. It is a love hate relationship but there are times when I am in awe of the ideas out there!

2. Teachers Pay Teachers: When I am pressed for time, I check to see if my idea is already out there and created. If it is....sometimes I buy it just to save time. There is a lot of cute things out there that people are creating! I would rather my money go to another teacher then a corporation any how.

3. ?

I couldn't decide on a third. There are so many amazing blogs out there that I will check out, or websites but usually if I don't find what I am looking for on Pinterest or Teachers Pay Teachers, I create it myself.

I turn off the devices and close my eyes. I talk aloud to myself when driving to work. (Thank goodness for handsfree devices, then other drivers may think I am actually talking to someone on the phone. Little do they know!)In the shower pondering the problem.  Bounce the idea of my husband. It is hard at times to turn work off.

I will be checking out the other blogs for ideas for a third place I can go...besides my own mind. Where do you go when you are stumped?

Collaboration Dream

Collaboration Dream

Collaboration a fun word for teachers. It is a Fancy Nancy way of saying working together.  

What is the  ideal collaboration between students-what would it look like?

Look like:

It would look like students sitting together huddled over a project together.

It would look like a student chatting/tweeting/blogging with another student from another school/city/country.

It would look like a student reaching out to an expert advice.

It would look like sharing.

It would look like equal work load.

It would look fair and respectful.

It would look interesting-sparks are flying.

Sound like:

Whispering, talking, clicking of key board, giggling and exclamations! 

Feel like:

Togetherness, despite the distance between the students.

Respect for each other, despite the differences in beliefs, cultures and communities.

Excitement for new ideas, ah-ha moments and discoveries.

Hands on with manipulatives, materials and technology.

What does your collaboration dream look like? 

Genius Hour & PBL !

Genius Hour & PBL

Oh Oh Oh!

 Pick me!

 Pick ME!

Insert cute little smile here

Hand is raised

"Yes? Maria?"

I want to do a speech on Ghosts!

Teacher looking straight at me with a straight face.

"Ghosts are not real. Pick something real".

This conversation sent me on a whirl wind. So many thoughts running through my mind as a young ten year old girl.  Although this conversation was about a speech topic it really resounded with me. I had so many questions! I had to choose something else though because according to the teacher "Ghosts are not real". (Ten year old me wanted to shout out- How do you know?!)

In that moment a little spark was snuffed. She didn't mean to. She was trying to help me find an appropriate speech topic (according to ?). This is why Genius Hour is one of my favourite trends in education right now.

Two years ago I stumbled across the topic accidentally via twitter. There were no resources out there available. I didn't know anyone else who was doing it.  Yet, I was so intrigued. At the time I taught a classroom full of teenage boys who were interested in all sorts of topics that quite frankly I didn't know much about. If they were given the time to research these or other hidden interests would they learn or would it be a goof off period? Read about how I introduced it here.  Not only was it not a goof off period but became a desired part of class time. Here is the kicker....students were learning!

Benefits of Genius Hour?

1. Student engagement was high! They couldn't wait for their 20% time.
2. Students were critically examining the websites/resources they were using for their research
3. Students were genuinely interested in what other students were doing.
4. Students explored new ways to present their information
5. Students were learning at their own pace about topics that interested them.

Genius hour goes hand in hand with PBL. Exploring concepts & topics through problem based learning makes the learning more genuine, authentic and valid. I plan to do more PBL this year as well as continue to implement Genius Hour.
 I already am looking forward to our Genius Hour Expo that will occur in the spring! Read about that here.

If you want more resources for Genius Hour check out the live binder here by @JoyKirr

(Thanks Joy!) or check out the website by @iamkesler. (Thanks Chris).

What trend are you interested in right now in education? 

Community In My Classroom

Community In My Classroom

Getting the community involved?

Tough question.  Seriously. 

I teach in a community where many parents work shift work. Many parents themselves had a difficult experience with school so they are not always the most supportive of attending. I also teach the older students and somewhere between cute little primary and teenager intermediate the feeling of "needing" to be involved at the school is lost. I have been working hard to try and break down these barriers.

One way I have tried is a info night for my grade. At the time I was teaching grade six and in Ontario we have the EQAO ( a standardized test ). I hosted an info night for parents to come and learn about this test, how to help at home and how it is different from when we were in school. 

It was not school wide and only my grade came. My room was packed and it was a success. It was such a success that the parent council asked the school to do an info night the following year with other topics and other teachers. 

Now as a school we do an info night. Each teacher picks a topic they would like to present on. The sessions are advertised and parents sign up to which little 15minute session they would like. The community loved it. We have had topics such as:

Ten ways to exercise with your family

Math? Gulp!

Transitioning into HIGH school and how you can help

Internet Safety

We still had difficulty getting the intermediate families involved.  We provided a reward. If you attend the information night your child had a chance to win the end of the year class trip. Winners were announced at the end of the night.  Attendance went up!

I am still thinking about ways to get our local community involved. 

What are ways that you have gotten your local community involved?

PLN

PLN

I have a PLC in my school community. The Professional Learning Community changes each year depending on our school growth plan. We have been grouped with same grade or same goal for the year.  

I have learned. 

I have tried new things. 

I have grown.

My PLN is different.  My personal learning network is one that I am building on my own. I use twitter.  It took me a while to get connected with twitter but I have used it to build my PLN. It is vital and has formed connections that motivate me everyday.

(Shameless plug: Follow me to build your PLN @MariaVerwey1)

What is a PLN?

To me a personal learning network is a networked group of people who choose to connect to learn from each other. Connecting, challenging, questioning, inspiring, motivating and learning together.  Any day at anytime. Bonus: It's FREE.

How is my PLN different? 

Pushes Like Never before

Before I had my PLN, sometimes I walked away from a conversation, pd or PLC meeting with the feeling like it was a waste of my time. (Please take no offence to anyone I have shared these magical times with). 

My PLN always pushes me to think deeper, more critically and more creatively then before. This year I have reflected and thought about various subjects such as inquiry (thanks @avivaloca), classroom set up (thanks @classcollect), bringing in your own passion and motivation (blue sky thinking) into the classroom (@misspollock), attempt to blog and reflect everyday(thanks @teachthought and #comcon) and many more!

Do you have a PLN that pushes you every day?

How do you connect with your PLN?

Reflecting on Reflection

Reflecting on Reflection

Having students reflecting on their learning and reflect on their thinking was really brought to my attention several years ago when I attended a "Tribes" workshop.  That workshop was several years ago now and I still can remember the activities and the learning that happened that day.  

Why?

Why do I remember? I remember because we reflected on our learning! Reflection is not only powerful for student learning but for my own learning as well as an educator.

Reflecting on Reflection strategies

1. I have used exit cards/tickets

The exit cards have been on sticky notes, q-cards, slips of paper, in their journals, on chart paper, on the chalk board(yes I said chalk) etc.

The medium I find doesn't matter. It gives the students a chance to answer a question about the lesson. It is a quick way for them to think about what they have learned or show their learning.

This is an example out of my interactive notebook.

2. What stuck with you today?

The second is actually kind of an exit card. This occur at the end of the day. I had seen it via Pinterest and created a "what stuck with you today" on my door.  After filling in our agendas/devices we took a sticky note and filled it out.  It helped the students reflect over their entire day and not just the lesson.

This is not mine but I found the example here. This one is so much cuter:)

3. I have used reflection circles:

I really like this strategy as students have the questions ahead of time. They have the chance to think about what they are going to say prior to actually completing the activity. It holds students accountable for their reflections as they know they will be sharing. I have also found that most students actually want to share what they have learned. It eliminates the pressure of sharing in front of the whole class. 

Here is a video of reflection circles in action:

What have you used in your classroom to help students reflect on their learning?

A Teacher is the Captain of her own Ship

A Teacher is the Captain of her own Ship

Come aboard this vessel called the "Ol' Class". This sea worthy vessel may have been built some fifty or so years ago, but it still sea worthy.  Aboard you will find the captain: Teacher.

Captain Teacher sure has a difficult job. 

The captain must maintain:

1. That the vessel is safe and seaworthy.  The captain must investigate any damage done and personal injuries to the crew.This may included getting ice in a ziploc baggie for any crew member.

2. The captain is responsible for the crew members. The allocation of work and living quarters. On this particular vessel the quarters have a quaint name of "desk".

3. The captain must navigate the "Ol' Class" using maps(curriculum) that have been so generously provided by our province.

4. The captain must monitor the progress of the ship: observing speed, pressure, water depths etc. If there is a difficulty with anything on the ship, the captain can signal for help from the LRT COAST Guard or by other passing ships managed by other captain teachers.

5. The captain must also monitor the crew themselves in their daily tasks: monitoring the performance of each and individual member.

6. The captain must be brave to handle the stormy weather.  Such storms could include:

The Parental Hurricane

The Administrators Waves

The Political Squall

The Mental Health Typhoon

The Tempest of Paper work

7. The captain Teacher will feel sea sick from time to time and even in the illness, she is responsible for the ship.

8. The crew members look to the captain for daily advice and guidance.

To be a Teacher Captain is truly a remarkable experience. At the end of your ten month journey, weathering the storms, venturing into unknown waters and managing the "Ol' Class", you will experience a short break on land. 

At the end of your land time you will be eager to get back your sea legs as Sir Francis Drake said:

"It is not that life ashore is distasteful to me. But life at sea is better."

— Sir Francis Drake, Sea Captain

I hope you enjoy your voyage this year to all my fellow teacher captains.

Challenge in Education?

Challenge in Education?

Wait? You mean there are issues in education?  

I get summers off.

I get winter and spring break.

I have my evenings and weekends free and clear.

I have a room of twenty something students just sitting there, doe eyed ready to learn.  

All of my students have full tummies, warm homes and loving families.

All of my parents respond to letters and hold their children accountable.

Paperwork is nothing. 10 I.E.Ps in a classroom is really just what I was looking for.

All school budgets are fair and equal giving my students access to all the same resources and opportunities across our board and across our province.

My classroom is just bursting with resources and devices that are updated and intriguing to students.

My building has been renovated and is not older then a dinosaur. Air conditioning for student learning? Absolutely!

Standardized tests are the best way to evaluate how students are achieving and in no way do they impact teaching to a "test"

There are no wait lists for mental health, physical therapy, occasional therapy, counselling etc. Every student gets what they need just when they need it.

All of our teachers are appreciated for the extra curriculars that they voluntarily do. It is never expected of them from the community.

Pencils and pens never disappear in my room.

Image from here

Disclaimer: I really do have the best job in the world even with the issues. Ask me to pick the biggest one? That is tough because any issue impacting a student and student learning is a BIG issue to me!

It's a bird, it's a plane...it's Mrs. Verwey?

It's a bird....it's a plane...it's Mrs. Verwey?

Growing up reading the comic stashes laying around my house from my two brothers I found myself day dreaming of a super hero power for most of my childhood. The problem is that most of the lead females had super not fun powers!

Wonder Woman had the lasso of truth. Okay. Seriously? What fun is a lasso of truth? It could come in handy when you are on yard supervision and two students are bickering with each other. The lasso could help explore the truth of the situation. However, I have been around the block a few times and my interrogation skills with small children really leave the lasso unnecessary. I am also quite certain many parents would not want there child lassoed. 

Storm had an amazing power to control the weather. Love this! Imagine every track and field day is beautiful, Terry Fox runs are warm with a bit of crisp air, graduations have a gentle breeze and the rain on rainy days only occur during class time leaving students to go outside for a bit of the day. Yes, this could be beneficial to a teacher but not necessarily the most powerful of tools for a student.

The Phoenix/ Jean Grey was my absolute favourite as a child. Telepathic powers? What? She could tune into the mind she wanted to read. This would be such a handy tool for a teacher. Could you imagine the power to read minds? Not all the minds and when you choose? This would help us understand students and how they are learning. If you had a child with a learning disability or a learning obstacle you would get a chance to see how they are learning, how they are struggling and have the chance to creatively teach them. 

However....the Phoenix becomes consumed with the power. Would I? Would I loose touch with who I am? Would I loose the desire to help them so creatively because I could see into their minds? Truthfully do you want to see into the mind of a tween or teen anyway? Uh-NO!

The female superhero power that I would actually like to have is from Duplicate Girl. She is not as well known. She was created by the cowriter of Superman. Her ability was to Duplicate herself into three in the original writing. Later as her story line progresses she can duplicate into multiple copies of her self.  

Uh...Yes PLEASE! Could you imagine that?

One of you could be outside on duty, one could be running the quick errands around the school, another on the phone with a parent, another typing report card comments and another actually eating your snack at break! That is just break time super power use!

In the classroom you could be with multiple students and groups. Another one of you could be stapling student work to the wall. Another one of you could be completing paper work (I.E.P, ALP, PLC etc).  

Duplicate Girls is the one I would like to Duplicate if I had a superhero power in the classroom. 

Ketchup

I will take Ketchup with that

I need to "catch up" on my 30 blog challenge. Not apologizing for the late thoughts as that was a much needed weekend away with just my other half.

Day 13: Name the top edtech tools that you use on a consistent basis in the classroom, and rank them....

1) Educreations: I used this app a lot. I am a one iPad classroom (my own). I use it as a presentation tool, a document camera, video, slide show, etc. I use it every day for every lesson. (okay not every)

It makes it easier to see for all students in the classroom instead of me writing on the whiteboard. It helps build the connections. When reading the "Outsiders" for example I was able to have a the slides ready of the images that the students may not have connections too.

2)Google Drive: I hope to use it more this year!

3) Kidblog

Day 14: What is feedback for learning and how well do you give it to your students?

Feedback for learning is the ongoing feedback while the student is learning. I am a huge believer in small group learning and while sitting in those small groups you get the chance to give the feedback right there...in the moment. 

Sometimes the feedback is oral and sometimes the feedback is written.

I also am a believer in one on one conferences. I have the students bring their agenda/cell phone and make a point to put it in their calendar with me.  The date is reserved. I try to meet with at least two students a day. The students enjoy it and hold me accountable.

Image Source: Business Pipeline

I have a binder(hoping to switch to digital) with the students name on a tab.

What I write in the binder the students see. We set goals together and write them down to help us both to remember. 

This gives the freedom for each student to feel their learning is important to me. Their goals are are visual and in our face.  We could be working on something completely different then everyone else. Some students can be a math skill and some a language. Their goals are written in their words and they give ideas how they can practise the skill they are working on. It is a collaborative process between the teacher and student. This time is respected by other students as the meeting time is a precious moment that they crave-even as teens.

Setting goals become a collaborative process between teacher and student.

How do you give feedback? What do you use as a teacher to keep track of the progress as well?

Sweet Spot

Blog Challenge: Day 11

What is my favourite part of the school day and why?

There is a sweet moment......right before the bell rings for the day.  You know the moment. 

You are all ready for the students to enter your classroom.

Your day is planned out and there is something exciting in it for the students.

The materials are all ready.

You are set.

Here we go!-Bell Rings!

That is my favourite part. It is such a small moment. The sweet spot moment of the day. It only occurs if I get to work early or stayed a little later the night before and made sure all my plans were layed out.

This sweet spot is such a fleeting moment but one that gives me the feeling that I can conquer whatever the day is going to throw my way. 

What is your sweet spot of the day?

Day 10: Countdown

Day 10 Countdown

Five random facts about myself:

1. I enjoy taking a a good sniff of the fresh opened pencil box, chip bag and a library book.

2. I try and walk 2k a day.

3. I am usually bare foot. Who needs socks?

4. I have a sweet tooth: Cookies have a short life expectancy near me.

5. I binge on Pinterest. It is a cyclical relationship. I get bored then I am fascinated. 

Four things from my bucket list:

1. Travel to Europe

2. Learn to play an instrument well.

3. Attend a Broadway musical

4. I would like to see where my grandmother was born

5. I would like to get another tattoo that represent my three children. (undecided yet what that will be)

Three things that I hope for this year:

1. I hope to use more technology effectively.

2. I hope I make it through the first day of my son going to day care with out crying.

3. I hope to be able to feel at home in my current school. We have had a division change while I have not been in my classroom and I hope we connect.

Two things that have made me laugh or cry as an educator:

1. I laugh a lot. I seem to get the tween humour so being with the students every day results in some laughter.

2. I have cried over situations I have seen students in. I sometimes want to yell at parents, adopt children from my school and provide a better home.  LIFE is not fair and I see it time and time again. I like to believe that every parent loves their child. Their child is the most precious person in the world to them.  

That is not a reality for some. 

It is not all rainbow and sunshine for many students. 

One thing I wish more people knew about me:

I care more about you then you know or that I show at times.

One Big Accomplishment

Day 9: One Big Accomplishment

There are many accomplishments! As an educator I like to keep learning and keep reaching for that next goal.  

I think one of my biggest accomplishments is organization. 

If you met me five years ago teaching you would have seen a desk covered in piles of paper.

You would have found student marks/grades on sticky notes, duo tangs and binders. 

You would have opened up my cupboard to find my resources away, but not in any order.

An administrator that I had in the past challenged me on it.  I honestly thought...

"It's an organized mess. I can find what I want when I need it so it doesn't matter".

He challenged me on this. He told me that some students can not learn with mess around them. It is too distracting.  He said he is one of them.  When he came into my room he was often distracted by the piles on my desk and wanted to organize them. He often lost his train of thought while there because of it.

This stopped me in my tracks!  I had never thought that my mess could be impacting the way a student is learning.  I vowed to make organization my goal that year and every year since then. I have days where I fall off the waggon and you might find a binder or two on my guided reading table but overall my whole day to day has changed.

How?

1. I started using tools online to help me record my grades/anecdotal notes.  I have a new goal to use google docs more effectively.  

2. I tried a new system of storing my own papers. I used drop box. Instead of creating binders of units I started files on dropbox for my subjects. 

3. I have two sets of three drawers bins on my counter. Each drawer has a label for the day of the week. My plans, resources,materials or anything I need for the day goes in that bin. Extra bin for "other". The other usually houses extra materials, the following weeks materials or activities for our tribes. 

4. I did away with my desk. No desk means no spot to put my things.  

I am still working on it every day but I noticed a huge difference. One area especially different was report card writing. Everything in one spot! No more flipping between duo tangs, notebooks, sticky notes etc.  Ahhhhh!

Thanks to the admin who took the time to challenge me and pushed me forward in a way that might not be noticeable to others around me.

How do you organize in your classroom?

Mentor, Inspirations and No Desk!

Mentor, Inspirations and No Desk!

Oh no! I have fallen behind on the blog challenge.

The weekend just got away from me!

I will do a quick catch up.

Day 6: "What does a good mentor do?"

What exactly is a mentor?

 I know but I thought I would take a look at meanings to be clear.

"Mentoring is to support and encourage people to manage their own learning in order that they may maximise their potential, develop their skills, improve their performance and become the person they want to be."

Eric Parsloe, The Oxford School of Coaching & Mentoring

Image from: YMCA

I love this image with the road way signs. I believe a mentor is a relationship that does offer help, support, guidance, advice and assistance. It is not telling someone how to be...but being a support for the direction that they are traveling in to be the person that they are wanting to be.

I often have said to my students that I am not just your teacher, but your mentor. I am here to help you on your journey to success not tell you the way to go.

A mentor does just that: supports the mentored on the journey to learning, life, job etc.

Day 7: Who was or is your most inspirational colleague and why?

This question really hit home with me. I am sitting here looking at my blog post and am thinking....do I really need to choose one?

I have been so fortunate in my career to have people who have inspired me at every school I have taught. I will choose two:

The first person is @ @SotoWE1  (Wendy Soto).

Wendy inspired me when I first started on my career path. In my personal life a bomb exploded and I truly had a difficult time balancing all of my emotions as well as being present in the moment.  She really extended her friendship and mentoring skills. She gave quiet moments of support, lunch dates and cheered me on. Literally. (She cheered when I confessed how hard it was to get out of bed and she cheered that I was at school and present!) 

Wendy continues to learn on a professional level constantly. She is willing to try new teaching styles and techniques. She has a passion to teach students and it is evident on a day to day basis. She also has this way about her to be professional at all times. I don't think I saw her loose her cool even when there had been moments when many other educators would have had steam coming out of their ears.  She models how to speak positively of those around her. She will not speak ill of other colleagues, parents, or students.  She honestly is the most professional educator I have met.
She inspires me even now when we no longer are in the same building. Sometimes I think:
Would Wendy have said that?

The second person is Laura Keeping.

Laura and I team taught together for only a year. Laura's passion for students is unbelievable.  She cares so much for each student who enters her classroom. She inspired me on a day to day basis as she continually found ways to incorporate technology into her lessons. She was the first person I had met who had an effective classroom website and used it daily to communicate with parents. She was ahead of her time and was building world connections with the students. It may be the buzz now but Laura was bringing the world into the classroom years ago. She motivated the students themselves to explore world issues and inspired them to be active and to do something about them.  

Laura's technological influence sparked a curiosity in me to continue to use technology daily and find new ways to use less paper.

Thank you ladies for the impact you have both had professionally and personally!

Day 8: What is in your desk drawer and what can you infer from those contents?

I don't have a desk.

 I used to have a big old wood desk in my room. It became a junk pile. I made a goal for myself two years ago to be more organized in the classroom and the desk was holding me back. I was not sitting at it anyway. I was up with the students in small groups, conferencing and observing. Why have such a large piece of furniture that is not functional in a small space to begin with? 

Away it went!

I personally love not having a desk in my room. I will not go back. It forces me to be more organized as I have to put things away as there is no where to pile them. I will not go back.

So with no drawer, no desk...what does that say about me?

I would hope it would say I am present in the moment with students.

 Have you ever thought about giving up your desk?

What do you love about teaching?

 What do you love about teaching?

This question can not be answered in one sentence. You see, teaching and I have a very intimate love affair. I am so passionate about teaching that at times it is my obsession. Last night, I tweeted in the ONedchat: 

MariaVerwey1 (@MariaVerwey1) A6: BALANCE! Teaching is not only my profession sometimes it is my hobby and addiction. I need to know when to say "no" sometimes. #ONedchat 2014-09-03, 7:45 PM

I am so love with teaching it truly is hard to say no. 

What do I love about teaching?

 Let me count the ways

I love the the moment the light and excitement appears in students eyes.

The laughter, connection and stories from children honestly bring me joy.

The struggles, the "I can't"s and "I don't know how", push me to try harder.

The back talk, sweet talk, chit chat, reflective moments and silence.

Teaching is ever changing and never stays the same.

I am my own boss and I set my own timelines, expectations of myself and rise to the occasion.

I am able to be a creative as I want to be, try to be and need to be.

Guiding young people to continue to love learning and to find their passions.

The thrill and the rush of reaching and impacting that one student who doesn't like school, teachers and learning.

I can honestly say that I coulnd't imagine doing anything else that satisfies me the way teaching does. I feel so very lucky to have a JOB that I feel so passionate about. What do I love about teaching?

Maybe it can be summarized with one word after all: 

EVERYTHING

Day 3 Blog Challenge:

Day 3: Blog Challenge

An observation area that I would like to improve on for my teacher evaluation is my assessment. 

I have used Evernote and had a file for each student. There I record all of my marks/assessment/notes. At times I feel like Evernote is not quiet the right fit. Perhaps it is the way I have it set up. I couldn't get the checklist right, I could see the students across a subject and I had a difficult time seeing when an assignment was missing.

This year I am hoping to use Google more to help me. I hope it is the right fit. I still am in the process of checking out what Google forums/drive/apps have to offer. I am hoping it is more accessible and easier to use. 

Do any of you have any suggestions? 

A piece of Technology

30 Day Blog Challenge: Day 2: A Piece of Technology

A piece of technology that I would like to try is...... pause......

It is not so much what the technology piece is but HOW I plan to use it. In the past I have brought BYOD to my school. My principle and I were leading the way in our building by collaborating and creating a BYOD agreement. Here is a copy of it here if you would like (free).

The devices are in place. Students have brought iPods, phones and lap tops. It is not the technology device itself that I have discovered that is important, it is all how you use it. 

• 98% of Canadian youth (16 to 24 years old) use the internet
  
  N-Gen’ers—individuals born between 1982 and 2003 (+– 2 years) —are exposed to more than 10 hours of media content a day, without taking into account time spent using the computer for school work or time spent texting or talking on a cell phone
  
  Email and instant messaging (IM) is used daily by 57% and weekly by 97% of 12 to 17 year olds in Canada
  -Stepping stones 
  

With those statistics in mind I plan to use the internet more effectively.

This year I plan to use Twitter.

My hope to use twitter is keep connected with our classroom account so parents can connect instantly. I hope to use twitter to connect to other classrooms in our board, province and country. 

This year I plan to use Skype.

I would like learning to be real and authentic. Asking real questions to a real person or group of people will make that learning real. I am excited as I have not done this before and I look forward to seeing the results that it will have.

This year I plan to be less paper.

I am not sure that I can commit to no paper or paperless but I can say that I hope to use less paper. I want to expand with google forums, evernote, class website, twitter, iPad apps etc.

It is not what you have for technology.......but how you use it!

How are you using technology this year?