My One Year Anniversary

Who knew a year ago, that I would be where I am today in my teaching.  I certainly didn't. After 23 years of teaching, you're just supposed to pull out last year's plans and go forward, right?  That was DEFINITELY not the case this year.

A year ago I had just gotten accepted to participate in the 20ll Microsoft Innovative Education Forum (now being called the Microsoft Partners In Learning Forum)- I didn't really know what it was and I had no idea what would come from it. As my husband stated to me just yesterday, "Who knew that one project would change your life this way?!"

Here is a link to a blog post that I did about my adventures at the 20ll Microsoft IEF (Microsoft PIL Forum):  How To Make A Teacher Feel Like A Rock Star

Upon returning from Seattle and the incredible experience that I had, my head was spinning and I wanted to do it all.  Thanks to Microsoft I felt like I could...so my next journey began......

I started a Twitter account and began to develop my own Professional Learning Network to learn more and get more ideas. The wealth of knowledge was tremendous and the ideas were pouring in from all parts of the world. I was SO excited to start the new school year and see where this path would take me.

The year started and I realized that my 24 fourth graders wouldn't be taught in the same way that I had taught fourth grade for the past 8 years.  But could I make it work? Would it be too much work for me? Could the students handle the new ideas? Could I handle the new ideas? Would my building administrators let me try out some of these things that I was finding and learning about? How would my colleagues and peers react to the craziness that I was bringing into my classroom with added technology? All of these questions were swirling in my head as the year started in September.

Through the year, I had ups and downs.  I had successes with technology and failures.  Some ideas were shot down and my ego was definitely deflated a time or two, but I persevered and continued to find new ideas and try out new things.

The one constant through this whole year was the enthusiasm of the students and the parents in my classroom. The kids never questioned a new idea or a new opportunity.  The only problem they had is that they couldn't have enough time on our 4 computers or in our computer lab to do all that they wanted.  The students were my visionaries. They questioned what I was doing and couldn't wait to try it out.  The kids took it to the next level and discovered things about these programs or "toys" that I hadn't found out yet. We learned together. When I announced that I had a new program or idea to share with them, they couldn't wait.....my traditional way of teaching was slowly changing and moving into the 21st century.  I was finding ways to integrate technology into all that we did. 

Some of my "new to me" discoveries this year include:

• Creating a class KidBlog page - the students in my class are blogging and communicating with each other in an online venue.  They LOVE it! Over 2/3 of my class have blogged from home!
• Using VOKI as a fluency tool.  The kids have recorded poetry - created personal VOKIs to introduce themselves to the class and have worked with their first grade buddies to create first grade VOKIs for the first graders to practice their reading fluency.
• Using WallWisher to record comments about tools and things we are doing in the classroom
• Using Wordle and Tagxedo to create word clouds about different instructional topics
• Using Superlame.com to add speech bubbles to regular JPEG images - who knew parallel lines could talk to each other?
• using Photostory 3 to create movies demonstrating their knowledge of Geometry with photos taken from around their homes and school
• becoming experts at Powerpoint and creating beautiful, professional looking presentations on a multitude of topics
• using Microsoft SmartArt graphics to organize their learning and share what they have learned with others
• Using TenMarks as a math review site
•  the list could go on, and I am amazed on a daily basis at what the students can do

The parents in my class have been very supportive.  Some were repeat parents (I had taught an older sibling) and were surprised at the changes that they were observing. The others have been fully on board from day one with my ideas to help their children become 21st century students.

It's now almost May and we are getting ready for our state tests - the high stakes testing that the country is abuzz with right now.  I feel like my kids are ready and actually excited about the tests.  They aren't burnt out and/or nervous from all of the test prep....because there hasn't been a lot of test prep this year.  The kids have been applying and learning the information all year and it hasn't been with a pile of worksheets or the 200 pages in a textbook.  Am I nervous? Yes! I have approached the curriculum in a different way this year. I have covered all of the material, but not in the same traditional way as in years past.  My colleagues tell me it will all be fine, but only time will tell if this year has been as successful as I feel it has been.

I honestly have to say that my "transformation" is all due to my TRT (technology teacher) in my building who got me involved with the IEF a year ago, and Microsoft Partners in Learning for accepting me into the forum a year ago and providing the support that they have for this past year.

I felt like there was an invisible "big brother or sister" watching me and cheering me on as I tried to keep my head up and go forward with this self-directed mission of improving my teaching and becoming a teacher of 21st Century Skills.  The contacts that I made through Microsoft PIL have reached out to me and have been there when I have reached out to them over the past year. It's not often that a public school teacher can say that they know there is someone there who will always help them and support them. The Microsoft PIL team has done just that.

As I finish out the year and get ready for "the tests," I am already excited about next year and what the future may hold. I am crossing my fingers and hoping for as much success and learning as I have had this year, and the opportunity to do more innovative and creative things with technology in my classroom next year!

Thank you Microsoft PIL and Happy Anniversary to me!