As I look ahead to the new school year and reflect back on
the last 23 years of teaching, I’ve realized that I am still that same 21 year
old teacher who thinks she can change the world! This coming year will bring a
lot of changes and many NEW opportunities…new school, new curriculum, new
colleagues, new age group, new administration, but as I spend this summer
preparing…I’ve realized one thing will stay the same. I will find ways to reach
the students and share my joy of learning with them. I will find ways to get
them excited about coming to school, and provide opportunities for them to be
in control of their learning.
Many people have asked why I am making the transition from
Elementary School Teacher to Middle School Teacher. I knew it was time for a change. I grew up a
military brat and had lived in 10 different states/countries before I turned
18. In my 23 years of teaching I have taught 4 different grade levels in two
different schools and at least 10 different classrooms over the years. I like
change and I thrive on the excitement and the challenge of doing something
different. Blame it on my parents, but if I am not provided opportunities for
change, I create my own!
The biggest changes I have made in my classroom over the
past 3 years have been with the use of technology. I’ve been thinking about my first classroom
23 years ago, and started thinking about how much the use of technology has
changed in just 23 years. I remember back to September of 1990 when I got
hired, and how, even then I was finding ways to be innovative with technology.
I was hired after school had already started, as an extra class to ease
overcrowding. My classroom had no school computer (one was coming) and when I
did get that computer…it was on a cart and could be wheeled around the room. I
wasn’t satisfied with that, so I brought in an OLD computer from home that had
a few math games on it and a simple word processing program. I even brought in
an old printer to hook up to it. My
students needed more technology and I was going to find a way to get it for
them.
The school system eventually upgraded to the 4 computers in
the classroom model, and a computer lab. That was an exciting time – we didn’t
know what to do with a 4 computer model. About that time teachers were being
encouraged to communicate through email and my principal was trying to figure
out a way to send emails to teachers instead of paper memos…and make sure they
got read. We had a paper list of all the teachers email addresses, and I loved
the idea of being able to send another teacher a message without leaving my
classroom. I loved the availability of
taking my whole class to the computer lab and having them all complete the same
activity (at the same time) on the computers. I thought I was in heaven.
We then progressed to getting Alphasmarts – the kids could
word process on a device, then hook it up to one of the computers in the back
of the room and upload their document into Word. Now…more kids could be
composing on the computer at one time. I
took full advantage of those, and we were all creating and collaborating at our
desks with our version of “laptops.” Each student was making choices and not
relying on the one single activity. They were beginning to be in charge of
their learning.
We then moved into the 21st century and the
schools received carts full of true laptops. The laptops were networked and
fully functioned in Wireless mode. This is when my eyes opened with what kids
are capable when given the chance. Change is good and I began to dream big!
I then had the professional development opportunity that
changed my teaching life forever. I traveled outside of my district, across
the country and found out what other teachers were doing. I discovered what was
available and came back changed. I’ve talked about Microsoft Partners in
Learning before, and could talk about it forever if given the opportunity, but
the Microsoft Corporation cares about education and encourages teachers to
dream big and make changes in the way they teach.
That was right up my alley; I am a dreamer and will fight
for what I believe is best for my students. I also can’t teach the same way two
years in a row. I need to change what I do every year. I was very lucky, and able
to work with Microsoft during the 2012-13 school year to pilot a 1:1 computing
program for my students. My students beamed with pride as they created and
collaborated on projects throughout the year that many of their parents wouldn’t
be able to complete without extensive directions. I was able to witness once
again what can happen if you dream big and work to make those dreams a reality.
Walt Disney says, “If
you can dream it, you can do it.” I’ve lived by that motto for the past 23
years of teaching. If I believe in
something, I will do my best to make it happen. As I move to middle school I am creating a
whole new list of dreams for my students. I will leave behind my 1:1 computing
classroom, and go back to the laptop carts and computer labs, but I will not
stop asking questions and helping my students to achieve in ways that they didn’t
think possible. I will continue to find ways to innovate in the classroom and
help develop those 21st century skills. I will continue to push
myself outside of my comfort zone to explore different ways to bring technology
into the middle school classroom.
I’m excited about what lays ahead, and can’t wait to see
what new dreams can be achieved for me and my students!
