I made a change...and I'm loving it!

As many of you know, I've made a change this school year.  I'm back in the classroom.  After 4 years being our school's teacher-librarian, I am back teaching a wonderful class of grade 7 students.  I am also fortunate enough to be able to continue my work as a Special Education Resource Teacher when my class is on rotary. 

I loved being a teacher-librarian and feel very fortunate to have had that experience.  Without that time, I do not believe I would have made the connections that have helped me develop into a teacher who now feels comfortable incorporating technology into my classroom.   I have gotten past the idea that technology is the learning and progressed to using it as a conduit for learning.

I am having so much fun using technology to connect my students with the world around them.  I am having so much fun trying new things and learning from my successes but also my frequent failures.  

I truly believe that you must be excited and adventurous in your teaching practice.  If you are excited, students feel that excitement.  If you are trying something new, students will also take risks.  My students know that I often try new things and sometimes they fail but sometimes they are amazing learning opportunities.  

So far, we are loving the online connections we are making through Student Vote and soon, the Global Read Aloud.  We are looking forward to some Mystery Skype/Google Hangouts in the near future with new found friends in Alberta, B.C., California, New Hampshire and Illinois.  

My class is tweeting about our adventures: @7ATweets

Please follow along & be sure to connect with me if you wish to try some online collaboration with my gang.  

More pictures & updates to come soon!