Pushing the Wheel

At every start of the year, I envision the same picture in my head.  A big heavy rubber wheel (maybe steel, wood, changes with the years!) at the top of a hill.  However to get that wheel rolling, I have to push it about 100 yards (this year may be more like 400 yards) on rocky terrain before that wheel begins to roll down the hill.

Being as it is my third year, I trained for the pushing of the wheel this year.  I found more resources and did more research.  I also reflected.  Reflection is often the one thing that gets lost in life.  We forget to reflect because we are always battling the demon of time.  I had rarely even presented the opportunity for my students to reflect on the learning they had done since time was always of the essence, and the looming April test date was always in the back of our mind.  This reflection will allow for us to stop, and figure out if our "pushing method" is really the most effective.  Or if maybe, there are other options.

This year, pushing the wheel is looking a little bit different.  Shocking, right?  Instead of just me pushing it, I am surrounded by a great team of teachers who are collaborating to push this wheel through unknown terrain.  Also, we are learning that there are much more detours to the hill this year.  Detours that in the end, I believe, will get this wheel moving to a new destination.  Not just the bottom of the hill to fall flat.  And who's to say once that wheel is pushed over the edge of the hill, there won't be surprise hills popping up along the downhill slide.

Even though we had to utilize some problem solving and patience already with the unknown terrain, we have started out producing some great things.  We started to set up our blogs today, and with some refinement through Google Drive drafts, all students will be public, blogging about their passions and curiosities.  We also introduced ourselves with some pretty cool technology such as QR code scavenger hunts and Pinterest boards.

Scanning a QR code to learn more about our peers.

Presenting QR codes to teach peers about our interests.

Testing our geography skills using GeoGuessr in Social Studies

As we continue on this first full week of school, I will continue to reflect to find ways to get this wheel moving.  And as I made my agenda for tomorrow, I came across this quote.  At this moment, this is the truth we need to hear.

Twas the Night Before School Started...

Well, it's here.  The night before.  The last night.  The time.  It's here.

As my iPad and macbook are charging for showtime, I am beginning to reflect on this school year. This year is going to be different.  Different than I ever remember school being as a student and as a teacher.  Actually, I'm not even quite sure my role will be a "teacher" this year.  And let me tell you, I am excited.  I would be lying if I didn't mention my anxiousness for this year as well.

Blended learning is a new concept to me.  I am a learner by nature (Hard-Dwyered to learn...hehe).  I research.  I read.  I research more.  I watch a video.  I am GREAT at remembering information.  I was excellent at what school was.  However "school" is changing.  For the better.  The MUCH better.  Which means, my methods will be changing.  So long worksheets, hello real world problems! Luckily, being a learner is the key component to this new classroom that we are about to experience.

In the world of education, we have been programmed to learn for THE TEST.  Those are the scariest words for both teachers and students.  At what other point in your life have you been motivated to learn because of THE TEST?  It's not realistic.

We should be learning for our own good.
We should learn what we want.
We should use this learning to make a difference.
A real difference.
A difference than can cause a chain reaction.
A difference that can end in failure.
But a difference that can spark another learning journey.
Learning should be lifelong.  And school should inspire that.

Curiosity and imagination will be the norm in our classroom.  This will be a challenge for all because we have become accustomed to memorizing facts that can simply be answered with the click of a mouse on Google nowadays.  It's time for a change.  We must harness that innate curiosity and desire to learn to become true 21st century learners.

I will be going on this journey along with my students.  I am ready to learn new things, fail at some things, try different approaches, and overall inspire my students to learn and contribute their passions to society.

Anything is possible...

New Beginnings

Beginnings have always been hard for me.  Beginnings mark a change, and change is often hard and scary.  However, I am learning a new connotation to the word "beginning".  This summer has marked many new beginnings for me.  New husband, new name, new home, new car.  Of course, a beginning wouldn't truly be a beginning without some photo documentation.

Me and my husband! 

New name! Officially married.

The new ride :-)

I had told friends and family that I was ready for things to settle down after the big wedding, but the planets aligned in a certain way this year to throw even more change my way!  As the dog days of summer near their end, I am preparing to start a new year at Ridge Middle School in a brand NEW classroom with a brand NEW instructional model.  More new beginnings!  

My summer "classroom set-up" has looked a lot different this year.  Instead of heading to Target to buy the newest bulletin board borders, I find myself reading and tweeting and pinning and reading some more and...now blogging to prepare for this new change in my classroom.

In my three short years as a teacher, I have come to the conclusion that I need to make learning much more meaningful for my students.  This blog will serve as my journal throughout this new beginning with hopes of creating more new beginnings for each of my students.  Be on the look out, they will be blogging too!