30 Goals Challenge- Goal 1

I found, through some of my PLN, this great challenge. Shelly Sanchez Terrell is the creator of this teacher/educator driven community. Below is her post on Goal 1. Here is my 321 Introduction.


Goal 1: Prepare for the Journey

Originally posted by Shelly Sanchez Terrell at TeacherRebootCamp.com

“All glory comes from daring to begin.” ~ Eugene F. Ware

Welcome! This year the 30 Goals Challenge for Educators, Cycle 5: Make a Difference, is on a world tour and visiting participant blogs from all over the globe. They are acting as our Inspire Leaders and helping us become better educators by challenging us to accomplish short-term goals. Choose 1 to 30 of the goals to accomplish by December 31st, 2014. Read more about the world trip here. If you’d like to be one of our stops, please fill out this form.

Goal 1: Prepare for the Journey

The first goal is to Prepare for the Journey. To accomplish this goal-

• reflect on your teaching in 2013 and share at least one accomplishment
• introduce yourself to the 30 Goals community
• make a connection with at least one person in the 30 Goals community

Some ideas on how to accomplish this goal: Try doing a 321 introduction, in which you list:

• 3 things we should know about you
• 2 goals you’d like to accomplish this year
• 1 achievement you are proud of from 2013

You can do this as a short video, poster, slideshow, comic, or podcast. You choose the tool. Here are 50 tools listed in a word cloud by Janet Bianchini. You can find many in my Symbaloo of digital storytelling tools. A few recommendations include Animoto, Smore, Buncee, Pic-Collage, MakeBeliefsComix, Tellagami,Fotobabble, and Powtoons. Here are many 321s from the participants of the Crafting Your Ebook EVO session. This activity is an idea I learned from Nicky Hockly. Feel free to post your 321 in the 30 Goals community or on this map,30goals.com/participantmap 

Post of the Month- January- Feedback

Feedback is the topic for January for the #blogamonth challenge. As a New Teacher (NT)/ Pre-Service Teacher (PST) and Substitute Teacher, I don't always receive constant feedback from my administrators. Very rarely, when I have been on an interview, do I receive feedback from those who have interviewed me. Feedback, as a NT, PST, and sub, is SO important. How am I going to land my first job, if I do not know where I "went wrong" in my last interview, or where my true weakness is when I am teaching? 

As a teacher, our students also need to receive feedback on their learning. This feedback comes, most easily, when we return assignments-homework that was collected, a project, a quiz or test. It can also come in our daily interactions with our students. If I saw one of the students I subbed for start to slip in their grades, I confronted the student. I would ask if they felt they needed extra help in that particular lesson, or if there were things going on at home. I would also send one grade reports, prior to progress reports or report cards. Not every family is going to have a computer with internet access, or they will not always sign up for the "parent portal", so sending the grades home is my way of trying to convey to parents, and students, how they are doing in my class. Emails, phone calls, and notes home are also good ways to give feedback to students. 

Feedback does not always have to be "negative". Positive feedback is more effective. I loved, during student teaching, when my 2nd graders would be able to move their clip up, especially if it was a student who rarely showed a specific behavior. As a teacher, I respond better to positive feedback than negative, however, I have gotten a lot better at accepting and listening to constructive criticism. 

During the rest of this academic school year, I am going to try my hardest to reflect more on my own practice to see if I can help myself improve. I will also not be afraid to ask others for guidance. My PLN grows more every day, and I know they are ready to help me when I need it. 

Blog Challenge Part 2

I was nominated, again, for the blog challenge. I have decided to just answer the questions, since they are interesting.

1. Who is your hero and why?
   I do not have one hero. I have many people I look up to for various reasons--people I learn from, people who inspire me, etc.
   
2. What impact do you want to have on the world?
   If I can be remembered by my students and my friends and family as being positive, happy, and helpful, then I will consider that I have left an impact on the world.
   
3. What do you do to clear your mind?
   Read, watch TV, take a nap.
   
4. Why did you become a teacher?
   Because I couldn't see myself doing anything else. I love working with kids and seeing them get their "Ah ha!" moments. I want to be a part of that process.
   
5. If you could choose anyone from history to be your mentor who would you choose?
   I guess I would choose Mark Twain-he seems like a chill guy.
   
6. What do you do to develop yourself as a professional?
   I partake in Twitter chats, I attend conferences (Edcamps and TeachMeet NJ), and learn from other professionals.
   
7. What are you reading right now?
   The Longest Ride by Nicholas Sparks and Teach Like Your Hair is on Fire!
   
8. Who is your favorite super hero?
   I like Batman. =)
   
9. What is your favorite food?
   Chicken parm.
   
10. Where is your favorite place?
    My shore house in Tuckerton, NJ.
    
11. What is one new thing you have tried in the last year?
    Working out regularly--it does wonders!

What do I post where?

Sometimes, as a "new" blogger, I get confused on where to post various things, or what content I should post on my blog. I found this great infographic from someone in one of my Google+ circles. Check that site out for yourself!
http://www.educatorstechnology.com/2013/03/a-great-poster-on-how-to-use-blogs-as.html

New Year's Resolutions and Goals for 2014

Everyone makes resolutions at the new year. Most of the time we make goals that are great in theory, and hard to follow through on. I am going to give it my best shot to accomplish all of my resolutions, even if it takes me an extra 30 minutes to get to bed at night. 

Here are just some of my professional goals.

1. Attend at least 3 Edcamps in 2014.

2. Gather the resources needed to present on a good topic and actually present at a conference of some sort. 

3. Reach out to new members of my PLN for advice and networking. 

4. Get involved in a professional organization in some way.

5. Write at least one blog post a month (aiming for 1 a week, though) 

I hope these goals will be met, and if they are not, then I hope I can realize the steps I'll need to take in 2015 to achieve these goals. 

Best of luck in your own goals for 2014. 

PLN Blogging Challenge-1

One night while I was participating in the #njed Twitter chat, I came upon some other educators discussing blogging, and the challenges of getting into a regular blogging routine. Somehow someone decided to make it a challenge to blog once a month. They created a Google doc to keep track of all of the names and links to the blogs, so we can keep each other accountable. I signed up and now here I am, blogging. 

I was nominated, by Drew, for this wonderful idea of blogging along with other educators who want to share their ideas and collaborate with each other. Here are the rules of the challenge:

The PLN blogging Challenge:

1. Acknowledge the nominating blogger.
2. Share 11 random facts about yourself.
3. Answer the 11 questions the nominating blogger has created for you.
4. List 11 bloggers. They should be bloggers you believe deserve some recognition and a little blogging love!
5. Post 11 questions for the bloggers you nominate to answer and let all the bloggers know they have been nominated. (You cannot nominate the blogger who nominated you.)

11 Random Facts About Me

1. I have been to China twice to teach English to students at a Martial Arts School. I went in June-July of 2006 and 2007. It was a WONDERFUL experience. I hope that the "little brother" I had there has had a wonderful time growing into a young adult and that he has a good life.
   
2. I am certified with my CEAS in NJ for Elementary Education AND all 4 core Middle School subject areas. I only had to retake one praxis.
   
3. I love attending Professional Development workshops. It helps me see where I want to be in my career, and helps me understand the challenges and great things going on in the education field.
   
4. I am addicted to Vera Bradley bags and Alex and Ani bracelets. I have too many bags to count, and currently have 7 different bangles that I wear.
   
5. I love reading, preferably fiction books. I still enjoy reading "teeny bop" books, as they are quick reads.
   
6. I have started a good collection of books on anything education related- pedagogy, techniques, etc.
   
7. I love taking pictures and one day hope to be able to take good quality portraits.
   
8. I started teach Sunday School at my church and love the munchkins that come.
   
9. I am attempting to plan an education conference for New Teachers and one for Pre-Service Teachers with an awesome organization (NJASCD).
   
10. Within 2013 I not only got more involved with Twitter, but I started participating in Twitter chats to grow my PLN.
    
11. My favorite holiday is Christmas. 

Questions from Drew

1. What is your favorite movie of all time?
   I enjoy watching  A LOT of movies, but I guess my all time favorite is The Wizard of Oz.
   
2. If you could go to have attended any concert anytime in history, what would it have been?
   I guess it would have been cool to attend the concert that support Sandy relief in 2012.
   
3. What do you do for fun?  Hobby?
   I enjoy reading fiction books. I enjoy looking up different ways to help improve my teaching skills. I enjoy PD events. Those are all fun for me. I also enjoy watching movies. A hobby I have is doing various arts and crafts projects.
4. What two guests would make the best comedic pair as co-hosts for the Oscars?
   I am always bad at this part because I feel like I never know any comedians. I guess maybe Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy might be a nice duo because they did well in their movie together. 
5. Cat, Dog or Goldfish? Why…
   I have never had a cat or a dog because we thought I was allergic to them when I was little. My brother did have a fish. I want a dog though, in the next 10 years. 
6. How do you caffeinate?
   Depends on the coffee shop. Mostly its a Caramel latte (hot or iced) or a Caramel macchiatto. 
7. Favorite twitter chat?
   #njed, #ntchat, #satchat (I couldn't pick just one)
8. Best place you ever vacationed?
   Disney World. 
9. Best book you’ve read in 2013?
   I read several books in 2013 but I guess my favorite was Teach Like a Champion. 
10. Favorite television shows?
    So many!! Some are still on the air and others aren't. Grey's Anatomy, Tomorrow People, Arrow, How I Met Your Mother, FRIENDS, Teen Wolf, The Walking Dead, NCIS, Once Upon a Time in Wonderland, That 70's Show, etc.
11. What is one thing you never/rarely share that you are exceptionally proud of?
    I guess it is the fact that I went to China to teach English. I speak of it from time to time, but I am extremely proud of it. I am also extremely proud that I was able to pass the middle school praxis tests for 4 different subject areas. 

Now it is my turn to nominate some bloggers:
I will put some of the fellow bloggers from the #blogamonth challenge. Feel free to join the challenge here http://blogamonth.weebly.com/.

Finally, according to the rules, it’s my turn to ask 11 questions of my nominees:

1. What is your favorite ice cream flavor? 

2. What made you decide to go into education?

3. Who was your favorite teacher and why?

4. What drew you to the school you work in now? 

5. Why do you blog? 

6. What is your favorite Twitter chat?

7. What is your favorite holiday? 

8. Where would you like to go, if you could go anywhere in the world?

9. What is biggest challenge you've ever overcome? 

10. What is one goal you have for 2014?

11. What is your favorite color?

2013 recap

I haven't posted a blog post in a LONG time. 2013 got a little crazy. In August I received a phone call for an interview, which I happily took. It was for a long, per diem substitute job in Edison Township. I interviewed with the science supervisor and she, right away, recommended me to the Principal of the middle school where the opening was. I interviewed with the principal and accepted the position. I was ECSTATIC! I finally had my own classroom, even if it was only for 2 months. I was so happy to set up the room and start the school year off with these students. They really touched my heart, and made my 1st real "LTS" job a success! I may have been a little hesitant to go too far out of the box, but it was a learning experience.

Once that job was over, I just subbed per diem for random teachers in the district. I have been on about 3 other interviews since and am waiting to hear back from them all. It is all a learning experience, which I am happy to take.

2014 will be a better year for blogging. Enjoy the last 2 days of 2013!!