Tell Me, What Did You Learn?

Super proud that another master's course in nearly under my belt.  I learned about new technology tools to use in my classroom.  I learned about myself and my own fears.  But most importantly, I learned to try and share!  My favorite tool as of late are the Prezi.com presentations.  I look forward to using those in my classroom more often.  I love to see the student's responses as I click along and then we view a video from You Tube.  It resonates with them and thus they are engaged.  There is nothing better than when the whole class is focused and excited about learning.  So far, technology has been the one tool in my back pocket that always draws them in! 

My teaching practice has already changed as a result of being urged to incorporate technology into my daily lessons.  It is becoming increasingly easy to find opportunities to use technology in my lessons whereas before it was almost painful.  I look forward to math now because of all of the eTools that our curriculum provide.  The students love it, too!  I can tell because hands are shooting up with the answers.  Nothing makes a teacher more proud than that. 

I expect that my ease with technology will only become more evident in my instruction the more I explore on my own and with my planning.  I now find myself asking, "How can technology be used with this lesson?"; when before I would think, "How can I get around having to use technology for this lesson?"  I am proud of my growth and eager to explore this less-scary world of technology.

Technology Integration

For some reason, all of the teachers in my building say they "hate technology". It cracks me up because they all either have a Blackberry linked to their emails, an Android phone, or the iPhone. They all have Face Book accounts, which I know because I am their "friend". Some like to Twitter while others prefer to text or IM. All of the teachers "talk" to each other on email during the day for relevant or irrelevant questions about our teaching day. I walk around the school and see so called "haters of technology" using their tablets, projectors, and a few lucky girls are using the ELMO. Hmmmm, "hate" technology? I think not.

• One way that I have been able to inspire others in my building is with blogs. I have turned on my team to the amazing world of faithful bloggers who share lessons, pictures of their projects, and even give links for free printables. It's pretty neat because I have talked my colleagues into using Google Docs. so that they won't loose their information. We also use Google Docs for the presentation feature to show clips from You Tube without all of the comments, which are often inappropriate for students or a distraction.
• I am serving as a teacher leader simply by using the technology, showing my peers how to use different programs or websites, and talking about how much I love it and how much my students love it. In my actions and conversations are where I have influence.
• I chose to learn about Excel and I shared my results with my principal. She loved that I showed the students the real-world application of graphs. She actually spoke about it at a staff meeting and the 5th grade teacher spoke up how he loves to use Excel to show his class their results-anonymously to create a little competition. I happen to know that one of the third grade teachers tried it and found it easy after I gave him the websites that I used for the tutorials. As a newer teacher, it feels good to contribute to a seasoned staff of teachers and to be noticed by the principal.

So, all in all, the teachers are not haters-they just say they are because that is the common response. I believe that they would have a very rude awakening if they were told to not use technology at all for an entire day. Then we would see how much they "hate it".

Use It or Lose It

It's so easy to choose not to use all of the amazing technology that is at our disposal in the classroom.  It's easy to say that students learn best the same way that we did; drill and kill, memorization, dry old basals, and on and on.   

Another obstacle is having our technology work for us.  I love to use technology when it works with no clitches. I will sometimes opt to not use my projector or tablet because of the time it takes to pull up the materials on my computer. 

But the fact of the matter is, is that we are teaching the new generation and we owe it to them to choose the best method of instruction.  So I am making the use of technology in my lessons intentional.  I try to think about what my own children would find interesting and go from there.  I am fortunate because I have a Kindergartener and a Second grader.  I teach the first grade so I am bound to find something someone is interested in. 

My BIGGEST concern is time.  We are required to meet standards, collect data, manage behavior, and foster relationships.  With all of the lesson planning, I hate to incorporate technology that I am not always confident will work.  I need to change my attitude because the reality of teaching is that it is all uncertain.  How many times have I prepared an amazing lesson that was differenciated for all students and then 3 children were absent?  Or a great lesson was planned and then we ran out of time because of a convocation or just ran out of time.  Soooooo, I just need to get over my issue and realize that teachers always need to have backup plan regardless of technology or not.

I am proud to say that in my classroom, I am making a conscience effort everyday to use the technology provided to me from our district and I also am allowing the children to use the tablet and the responders.  Funny thing, the children are quick learners and I can't let it intimate me, instead I need to praise them and be open to learning from them. 

Everyday Software Skills

Teaching 1st grade is challenging enough in the 21st century before I even think about all of the technology that I use and plan to use.  The thing is, I use a lot more software that I give myself credit for.  When some one asks me about my experience with technology, I quickly say that I am fearful and that if I didn't have to use it then I wouldn't.  But in reality, I use quite a bit of software and I am getting ready to use A LOT more. 

Regular use of software applications:

• Microsoft word for communication with parents, creating behavior charts, newsletters, creating worksheets, and creating tables for scheduling/organization.
• Harmony program for grade book, attendance, and behavior/communication documentation
• Outlook for emailing
• My projector and tablet to model and do lessons along with the students and to view videos
• Power Point for beginning of the year Back to School Night
• Laptops for Compass Learning Odyssey and other educational websites

Recently I have had the privilege of attending in-services about Google Apps. (Google Docs.) and a brain exercise program called Fast ForWord.  I will be using Fast ForWord daily for 30minutes beginning next week with our laptops.  I am interested in using Google Apps. to create collaborative stories and view You Tube through the presentation mode because it will just show the video with out the comments visible to the students.  To me, this is important because of the appropriateness of the the comments found on the Internet.  I also will be using Microsoft Excel to help create graphs to prove student growth and to identify struggling students.

My action plan is simple: use Fast ForWord 30 minutes a day each day, continue to build the Excel templates and view the growth with my students on their tests and their reading benchmarks, and to use Google Apps. whenever I am viewing a video from You Tube (which is about weekly).  I am eager to show the students what I have learned to excite them that no matter how old or educated you are, you can always learn new things.  I also love to show the students things I have learned regarding technology because they love it so much and are engaged with the lessons that focus on technology.  It is their native language, after all. 

21st Century Teaching and Learning

This week I am deliberately thinking in the box of the 21st century.  I am surrounded by blogging, Facebook, Moodle, Google Apps., uploading, downloading, digital everything, You Tube and so much more.  What does this mean to me as a teacher in the 21st Century?  Well, I am responsible for teaching the next generation of children knowing in the back of my mind that the jobs that they may possibly have are so far beyond my imagination it is crazy!  I am confident that the technology that they are taught will be thought of as primitive by the time they reach college. 

I feel that I am ill-equip to handle this responsibility.  I am not a master with all of the tech tools available so how can I instruct these children to be 21st century explorers?  Well, I don't have as much knowledge of the workings of these tools, but I possess the basic skills and I am learning.  I want to model that no matter what the tool or program, having courage to try to learn the concept and an open mind to being taught is important. 

In my first grade classroom the children are learning to use the laptops for educational purposes.  They are exposed to the tablet and the responders for lessons.   Nearly all of the children play some kind of video gaming system in their house, which is helpful because they "catch on" quickly.  Most importantly I am teaching the behaviors that are essential for the 21st century learner.  Skills such as problem solving, innovation, curiosity, leadership, collaboration, and flexibility are included in this list. 

I feel that my strengths are founded on my positive attitude and willingness to try new ways of incorporating technology into my classroom.  I understand the necessity for learning, developing, and practicing skills that will help my learners succeed in the 21st century.  I believe that my weaknesses rest in the lack of desire or patience to instruct my class of 6 year olds on the media available.  It is a very tedious job and takes time to instruct 26 first graders how to log-on and open programs.  Because it takes away from classroom instruction, I tend to be hesitant.  I know that if I don't teach it, they won't become efficient with the technology, so I guess I just need to "bite the bullet" and follow through in doing what's best for kids.  Learning the technology and having practice daily will only enhance their learning experience and better equip them for life.

Technology and the Teacher

I am intrigued by all of the teacher blogs out there and have become followers of several...I suppose I should say, learning to become a follower.  I feel like I was a little left out of the whole technology boom because I was working in the hospitals and starting a family as all of this technology began to break loose.  As I changed professions, I was exposed to a whole new world of resources and programs-exciting and daunting at the same time.

In my first grade classroom, I feel like I fail daily with incorporating technology.  It is very easy to take out my favorite smelly markers and writing on my big chart paper.  It is so fun-yes, I'm a nerd.  So the question is, how will I transition from teacher nerd to teacher geek?  (Geek meaning technology savy for those who may be unclear.)

This is my first year teaching first grade, so I am eager to see how I will be able to meet the NETS standards for teachers.  As a second grade teacher, it seemed easier because my students entered my room as readers.  They were able to create their own Power Point presentations that they presented to their peers.  We did centers activities on the laptops daily, and I was using my notepad daily with the projector to teach my lessons. 

I suppose I am choosing to believe that I am limited because I don't have a Smart Board or the Elmo, but really I am putting limitations on my thinking because it is easier to put the blame on what I don't have versus on myself.  All of us have our own limitations, but I am going make the effort to truly go beyond the expectations and seek new ways to teach the lessons using the technology available.

Being truly reflective, I suppose I can say that my own insecurities are holding me back when it comes to using technology in my classroom.  I am reminded of 1 Peter 5:7 "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you".  It is OK if I make mistakes, because that is how one learns.  I need to trust God and not be filled with fear or anxiety with new technology.  I will choose to embrace it and do my best to learn the new programs and tools in order to be a more effective teacher and provide more engaging lessons for my students. 

Even though I was not planning on working on my master's degree quite this soon after becoming a teacher, I feel that it is God's timing for my life and I am learning so much more as a result.  I love to learn, thus the title of this blog, and I know that as I trust God to guide my life, I will also trust him to