Year 1 Review

I haven't posted on my blog in over a year. I lost track of my Twitter chats, did not see my friends as much, and obsessively checked my email. What happened?!?!?!? I finished my first year of teaching!

It was an AMAZING year! While every year has its ups and downs, the first year of any teacher is always rough. I had to learn, not only who my students were and what they would need to succeed, but I also needed to learn a whole new curriculum, a new school, faculty, and procedures. It was rough.

I am so thankful for the teacher friends I have made at my school. They were so great and helpful during my first year. I am also so thankful that I started my journey at the school with a few other "new" teachers. We have formed a little family, and know that we can rely on each other for anything.

Even though this year was tough, I am super excited to be going back for my second year. =) Hopefully I will be able to blog more often.

-Meg

Classroom Set Up-part 1

It's that time of year again....setting up the classroom! This is my first official time setting up a classroom that is MINE!! YES! IT'S ALLLL MINE!! I finally got a permanent job. I'll be teaching 4th and 5th grade science along with 5th grade language arts to my homeroom students at a Catholic school near to home. I've been going in at least 2 times a week since the end of July to figure things out. The room I inherited has LOTS of things in it, so I've spent most of my time in the room trying to organize it, and see exactly what I have.  Here are just a few pictures from my set up. My video and more pictures will be up by the beginning of September when it is FINALLY done!

EduBlogging 101

This is the sample post from my session of EduBlogging 101 from Edcamp Steam 2014.

Post of the Month-April-Professional Development

My most powerful source of ongoing PD is TWITTER! I know it seems like EVERYONE says Twitter is their go to PD place, but it really is an AWESOME resource for educators. Through Twitter I have grown in AWESOME ways within the past year and a half. I have met many new educators whom I've added into my PLN, I've found new conference opportunities, and I've become an executive board member of an AWESOME professional organization.

I will continue to promote Twitter to other educators until I am blue in the face. I can only imagine what Twitter will help me accomplish in the future.

Post of the Month-March-Educational Videos

The easiest way I've incorporated videos into my teaching, is through song. Huh? Well, let me explain.

During my 2 months as a "long term sub" for 6th grade science this school year, I found a youtube channel that produces educational songs--parodies of popular songs which include science related information. Mr.Parr's songs got my students engaged. By the end of a week, we ALL knew the words to the Moon Phases song, and understood why the lyrics were what they were. Check out that song below.

When we, as teachers, can find interesting and engaging videos for our students, they can enhance our learning experience. If only I could find some good songs on Ancient China....

Post of the Month-February-Creating a School Culture

       As a new teacher/substitute teacher, it's hard to create your own classroom culture, when your classroom changes every day. Most schools that I have been in portray a positive culture. Most classrooms are also positive. The one thing that has bothered me as a substitute teacher, is seeing teachers in the teacher's lounge, and seeing negative energy. Sometimes they are not welcoming to the new subs, and sometimes it is just hard to fit in. Other times, teachers are wonderful in making sure substitutes are welcomed into the culture of the school. 

       As a new teacher, I help contribute to the culture of the school by displaying a positive attitude in everything I do. From saying hello to janitorial staff to being enthusiastic about the learning the students are doing, every little thing helps. We change the culture by continuing to be positive and work towards the mission of the school. 

       I help foster a community of growth and learning in any classroom I am in by showing students that I am continuously learning too. I am always reading, writing, or looking into furthering my education. I help promote learning by being a learner. This is one of the few things I hope to bring into my own classroom. 

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