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I've noticed as we've gone along that with all the requirements of the everyday grind that there comes the feeling that we haven't done enough with our new found tools and knowledge. It will all come together with time. The important fact is that we've started to think about connections and actually make them. We've started to think about integrating technology and we actually have. We've started thinking globally about how our students can create and be engaged by what they're creating.
STUDENTS LEARN WITH THIS PROCESS because they have to think critically about what they are creating. Our last Teach21 meet was a sharing process of what we found at NCTIES, where we put it for teachers to access, and how (using effective digital tools) we captured it all.
To regain perspective on where we are and where we're going we shared a post from Vicki Davis' blog "The Cool Cat Teacher Blog." The post was entitled Do What You Can. Share What You Can http://coolcatteacher.blogspot.com/. It's message was simple - when you feel like you not doing enough you probably really are. Davis says when it's your students time with you give them 100 percent. When that time is over, let it really be over. "Share what you can, when you can and that is enough."
There are many times in teachers' lives that they feel overwhelmed by the enormity of the job and the lists of things to do. I think it's good to remember that when we started Teach21 it wasn't designed to be something else on the plate, but a different entree' that was already on the plate. Davis was the opening keynote speaker at the NCTIES Annual Conference held in Raleigh, NC the first week of March. In that keynote she said that we should all leave the conference with three new things to take back and try or implement. Applied to the Teach21 model I think she means three new ways of doing things we already do - and that will be enough.
Great reflections! Thank you for sharing your take on this. As teachers, we struggle with fitting it all in. Teachers at my school always say, "But I don't have time."
ReplyDeleteWho does?
But we can do something although we cannot do everything.
Thank you to all the leaders of Teach 21. I appreciate the lack of pressure to "do it all" Everyone learns at a different pace. This is how we try to approach teaching but when it comes to teachers learning something new, the pressure is on and that is when the "stress" really begins. I am enjoying learning and using technology at my own "pace.
ReplyDeleteThanks for all the support and understanding. It is hard to learn new things sometimes. But I have felt no pressure to achieve a goal; only support and help when I ask for it. Thanks guys.
ReplyDeleteOne of these days I'll actually know what I'm doing!!!