Change... scary or exciting?

This new school year brings some new and exciting adventures my way. I've moved schools (again) this year. This will be my 8th classroom to set up in 7 years of teaching. The downfall of being an LTO means I need to pack up and leave at the end of each year. I've gained HUGE experience by getting to be a part of so many different schools and meeting so many fantastic teachers on the way, so I really can't complain about moving so much! This year after getting a full time contract, I didn't think I would go anywhere... then my dream job came up. I couldn't pass it up just because I was "lazy" of moving again. So here I am, moving into my 8th classroom. The excitement this brings is beyond words! I'm in my dream school, teaching grade 1with so much technology available. I'll have a SMARTboard, document camera, wifi and 5 classroom ipod touches (a class set if I want to sign them out). There may be possibly more, but that's what I know of right now. My goal is to get an iPad or two in there by the end of the year as well!

All this can really be summed into one word... CHANGE.

But change can be a good thing, even if starting something new is scary. I'm going to have to change to how I teach - I was in a portable last year with very limited technology teaching grade 3. I'm jumping into a tech school teaching grade 1.

But change is good - it makes me look at how I taught things before and evaluate what worked and what didn't. I've been reading other teachers' blogs and have been so impressed on what they've been doing. (If you want to build up your own PLN check out this website: http://henriksenlearning.wordpress.com/2012/07/23/pln-starter-for-elementary-teachers/ it has classroom and teacher blogs organized by grades. AMAZING!)

Really, the point for me is this: I want to be the best teacher I can be.

The technology I'll have in my classroom is going to be wonderful; however, it is only a tool in the classroom for learning. Just like hundreds charts and 2-sided counters are tools for math. I need to remind myself that as I get excited about all the possibilities. I need to do what works best in my classroom for my specific students. I want to use the technology to help gain understanding and learning from the curriculum I need to address. Teaching the fundamentals are essential, using technology to help is only a bonus.

How have you integrated technology into your classroom to help teach the curriculum?

First Blog!

Today is the start of something new.

I've just set up my own personal blog. 

Quite honestly, this scares me. A LOT. However, I've been told many times that blogging can be so important for my own personal growth as a teacher, that I just can't ignore it anymore.

This blog is going to be my space to write out my thoughts and try and organize my thinking of teaching. I love teaching and being in a classroom. As we head midway through the summer, I know I still have time to enjoy and relax but I also know I need to get back into my classroom and start getting ready for September. I have a lot of new experiences this year. I'm changing schools, changing grades and jumping head first into technology. My new school is a technology school. I want to embrace this tool as something for my students that will help and encourage them in their learning journey. I hope that this blog will help me get through my crazy new year as I embark on something new and exciting!

Will my blog be successful? Who knows... but does it matter? This is really just for me. It still scares me... but I'm going to press on anyway. Here are my reasons for why I haven't started blogging yet...

1. time consuming - I already spend too much time on school stuff... will this be another thing to take time away from my husband and other interests?

2. what will I say? - do I really have something important to say that needs to be posted on the Internet for anyone to read?

3. being a perfectionist - I like things done well... this is new, this might be messy, I might make mistakes. I need to be okay with that.

I'm not sure those really qualify for being great reasons NOT to blog, so here I am. Trying it out. Next step: Pressing Publish.

I would love your thoughts on how you felt when you first started your blog. Are there any tips you can share with me, that I can get the most out of blogging?

Thanks for reading and for your encouragement!