The #youredustory blog topic for this week is to write about the top 5 things you love about teaching. There are many things I love about teaching, and I think my favorite parts evolve and change. So these are my "current" top 5 loves. 5. Makerspace: Our school recently re-launched our library as a combined library/Makerspace. All classes now have extended library time to allow students time to check out books and time to create. My students have truly loved this change. They ask me everyday if today is the day we go to library! Our librarian/media specialist has introduced them to Makey-Makey, Little Bits, circuits, insulated play dough, and more. Their vocabulary expands during each visit, truly amazing to see. Our Makerspace has a website, check it out! http://mvitmakerspace.weebly.com/ 4. Student Centered: As I have grown and evolved as an educator, I have learned that I spent many of my beginning years teaching relying on my ego. My reading, growth, and PLN have helped to soften that in myself. I have learned to let go of things that I once held fast to because it was in the best interest of my students. One of the student centered things that I started this year was Genius Hour. My students pick a topic each month that they want to learn about. They spend a week researching and reading, a week taking notes and thinking about how they want to teach, a week developing their presentation and then the last week they practice their presentation and then present! It has had its ups and downs and I realized they needed some more explicit direction due to their age, but overall it has been transformative to their speaking and listening. I had students who would barely talk above a whisper, now fully reading and presenting. Not only does it address CCSS, but it is a tremendous boost to their self-confidence. 3. Digital Portfolios: I have only recently started these, but am loving every second. I am working with students individually to set up their Blogger sites and so far it has gone well. My students especially love the comment feature and I am enjoying teaching them how to leave feedback. I love seeing how excited they look when they realize someone has left them a comment on their posts. Here is one example: http://andreslearning.blogspot.com/
2. My coworkers: I have been teaching at Mountain View for the last 7 years. Over the past year or so our staff has truly "owned" our school and has started a grassroots movement to evolve. We launched a Makerspace, teachers have moved to flexible seating classrooms, training for or passed the Google Certified Educator exam, and we aren't done. Our principal is working on a proposal for our school that would extend what our staff is already doing. I love watching our staff and our school evolve. You can expect future posts about that! 1. My students: They are why I teach. I love that I can help students to see school a different way when they arrive at my door. This is why I continue to learn, to read, to grow. I know I have not yet arrived and that I probably never will. My hope is that I continue to evolve as an educator to let go of things that are ritual or "just because" and to continue to move towards a classroom that puts students' needs first.
4 Comments
|
Ventura County Teacher of the Year 2016.
On a journey: Special Ed Teacher, Mentor, EdTech Advocate, Book Nerd, Knitter, Risk Taker, LA Kings Fan, #Whole30 lover, #SVTChat, GCE Level 1, Daring Greatly Categories
All
|