Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Private Life Really?
I read this article today from www.stuff.co.nz.
This is a very interesting article with some equally intriguing comments.
Are teachers allowed to have private lives? Are we bad teachers if we do? Are we a special class of people? Are we solely responsible for the country's future as some believe we are?
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Good Teaching and ICT
I have learned a lot in the past few months. It is hard to believe that I didn't even know what blogging was 6 months ago! Now I wouldn't be without it.
The most significant revelation is that I am a much better teacher because of it. I am invigorated and inspired on a daily basis. My passion has been rekindled and I am reminded of why I became a teacher to begin with.
I often ask myself why I teach (usually in those moments when you are overwhelmed with the sense of responsibility) and I always come back to the fact that I have a chance, an opportunity to assist in and facilitate in shaping the lives of my students. I care a lot about my kids and I have yet to teach a child that I couldn't imagine making a difference to their world (Yes it's a cheesy and romantic notion but totally possible!). Check out my new class blogs (which are still under development) that are all about making a difference.
I believe one of the reasons that the ICT experience has brought a fundamental change to my teaching is the opportunity to network and share with like-minded professionals, teachers who are inspirational and talented.
I am again excited about my classroom practice and challenging my students.
The most significant revelation is that I am a much better teacher because of it. I am invigorated and inspired on a daily basis. My passion has been rekindled and I am reminded of why I became a teacher to begin with.
I often ask myself why I teach (usually in those moments when you are overwhelmed with the sense of responsibility) and I always come back to the fact that I have a chance, an opportunity to assist in and facilitate in shaping the lives of my students. I care a lot about my kids and I have yet to teach a child that I couldn't imagine making a difference to their world (Yes it's a cheesy and romantic notion but totally possible!). Check out my new class blogs (which are still under development) that are all about making a difference.
I believe one of the reasons that the ICT experience has brought a fundamental change to my teaching is the opportunity to network and share with like-minded professionals, teachers who are inspirational and talented.
I am again excited about my classroom practice and challenging my students.
Sunday, May 11, 2008
My reaction to losing the internet!
This is a 'copy and pasted' post that I wrote when I discovered I had no internet connection in my room for the 4th day running. I really wanted to post on the blog immediately but couldn't so I figured I could write it in Word and post it later! As you will see -- I was pretty upset!
I have just been informed that my classroom will have no internet for the next two weeks. I can’t believe how depressed I feel at this outcome. I am so affected by it that I have had to write this in a Word document to cut and paste later!
Another thing that has thrown me is how other teachers have responded to this news. They have said, ‘You shouldn’t rely on technology so much’ and ‘You will just have to teach the old fashioned way’. But mostly they just could not believe that it was an issue.
My day and unit plans revolve around the use of the internet:
• First thing we check our blog for comments and hits and review any interesting posts.
• During numeracy we use a fantastic site called Mathletics.
• Reading and Written language we use to take turns to blog about our learning or publish work on our wikis and blogs
• Finally, during topic we use the net for online educational games and activities on our Activboard as well as heavily for research.
We truly are a connected classroom that is unconnected!! Arrgh! I am so frustrated!
Fortunately, later that day I was told they were coming in first thing the next morning. There was a problem with the cabling. (An aside-- I am sure that the company responsible for installing our cabling and network did a half-pie job of it because we are a school and not a company that is likely to give 'repeat business'). So anyway, it was back for Friday and I can finally get back to routine -- and starting our topic for the term!
I have just been informed that my classroom will have no internet for the next two weeks. I can’t believe how depressed I feel at this outcome. I am so affected by it that I have had to write this in a Word document to cut and paste later!
Another thing that has thrown me is how other teachers have responded to this news. They have said, ‘You shouldn’t rely on technology so much’ and ‘You will just have to teach the old fashioned way’. But mostly they just could not believe that it was an issue.
My day and unit plans revolve around the use of the internet:
• First thing we check our blog for comments and hits and review any interesting posts.
• During numeracy we use a fantastic site called Mathletics.
• Reading and Written language we use to take turns to blog about our learning or publish work on our wikis and blogs
• Finally, during topic we use the net for online educational games and activities on our Activboard as well as heavily for research.
We truly are a connected classroom that is unconnected!! Arrgh! I am so frustrated!
Fortunately, later that day I was told they were coming in first thing the next morning. There was a problem with the cabling. (An aside-- I am sure that the company responsible for installing our cabling and network did a half-pie job of it because we are a school and not a company that is likely to give 'repeat business'). So anyway, it was back for Friday and I can finally get back to routine -- and starting our topic for the term!
Saturday, May 3, 2008
Comment Challenge
I am participating in the 31 Day Comment Challenge. The first activity is to answer a series of questions as I ahve done below:
1. How often do you comment on other blogs during a typical week?
There isn't really a typical week for me. Sometimes I comment because I feel strongly about something and sometimes it is to help someone out. Generally, though, I tend to read and not comment that often. Particularly because I think when you are new to the edublogosphere you seem to have walked in on the middle of a conversation and it takes some time before you feel comfortable sharing your ideas (just in case you are way off track!)
2.Do you track your blog comments? How? What do you do with your tracking?
Not until about ten minutes ago when I read Sue Water's post on using cocomment and have since joined up! I have also linked it by RSS to my Google Reader and will monitor it through that.
3. Do you tend to comment at the same blogs or do you try to comment on at least one new blog per week?
I randomly comment. Some people I tend to 'get' more than others in which case I am more inclined to comment. I love reading new blogs and already have about 50 connected to my reader! I am hoping this challenge will encourage me to comment more often!
1. How often do you comment on other blogs during a typical week?
There isn't really a typical week for me. Sometimes I comment because I feel strongly about something and sometimes it is to help someone out. Generally, though, I tend to read and not comment that often. Particularly because I think when you are new to the edublogosphere you seem to have walked in on the middle of a conversation and it takes some time before you feel comfortable sharing your ideas (just in case you are way off track!)
2.Do you track your blog comments? How? What do you do with your tracking?
Not until about ten minutes ago when I read Sue Water's post on using cocomment and have since joined up! I have also linked it by RSS to my Google Reader and will monitor it through that.
3. Do you tend to comment at the same blogs or do you try to comment on at least one new blog per week?
I randomly comment. Some people I tend to 'get' more than others in which case I am more inclined to comment. I love reading new blogs and already have about 50 connected to my reader! I am hoping this challenge will encourage me to comment more often!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
.JPG)