My Life As I Know It!

I Love my CRAZY, Beautiful life. But that's exactly what it feels like at the moment... CRAZY and BEAUTIFUL!  The weather lately couldn't be more gorgeous, and anyone who knows me knows that I live to be in the sunshine! It seems that my crazy life and all the many things I have going on currently are either keeping me too busy to get out and enjoy it, or lingers over my head and makes me feel guilty for taking the time to say... lay in our sweet Guatemalan hammock and enjoy a few rays of sunshine!  That being said, I still do take a little time, I'm just not able to completely zone out like I wish I could some days.  

With all that said, the many things forming those new chapters in my life are primarily positive and are leading to some very exciting events to look forward to.  Unfortunately for you, I'm going to play hard to get and not give any further details as to what is going on.  Sorry! :)

What I do know and will share is that I just got back from a "vacation" (mission trip to Guatemala which turns out to be more like a working vacation) and had a wonderful time.  Those that know me know that I live to travel.  I had the opportunity to live in Guatemala 5 years ago and this was my first time back since. As you can imagine, it was fantastic to go back and see some of the people I lived and worked with.  It was also ready great to be able to share this part of my life with my husband.  

As far as my Master's is concerned, I think I've finally nailed down my area of focus which is very exciting. I'm going to be focusing on the increased number of English Language Learners in Public Schools over the recent years and look at the decreasing reading scores.  I will then link that with the use of technology and see whether or not the use of technology can increase those scores and benefit all students, but primarily ELLs.  I still have a ways to go specifically outlining and defining this, but I'm liking where it's headed.  I'm behind in every aspect of my Master's but I'll get it done one way or another.  

So, moral of the story... Give this girl some sunshine, let her travel the world, and motivate her to GSD! (Get S*!# Done!) I just learned that one and I like it! Cheers!

6 Weeks In...

Well here I am, 6 weeks into my Master's Program.  When asked, "How's it going so far?" I'm not even sure how to respond.  I truly am enjoying this process. I love to learn and enjoy education.  However, this is not a small undertaking.  With SO many other things happening in life at the moment, it's been difficult to make the Master's program a priority, however, I am determined. I always have worked better under pressure.  (Yes! I have always been a procrastinator, but I'm determined to change that.) Unfortunately, life gets away from us and days turn into weeks, and weeks into months.  Here I am... a month and a half in and I have very little idea as to what's going on.

There are a few things I've learned about myself over the years... I'm NOT a quitter!  I don't always finish projects that I start, but I NEVER drop out of anything.  Being under pressure makes me work harder, focus more intensely and finish tasks before me.  So... To the next 6 weeks of this first semester (or whatever units this program is measured in) I will win and and and I are going to get down over the next few weeks.  Cheers!

First Grade iPad Classroom

While this video is not the most exciting, it certainly gives a lot of information as to how an iPad can impact the educational experience for students and teachers.  The teacher in this video says a quote that I found to be very powerful... "Educating is about moving forward, not backwards." That's exactly where we are in the 21st century.  Technology is taking over in many, if not all areas of life and that includes the interests of students and how they learn.  The following list was taken from key points I pulled from watching this video of how iPads can and do influence education.  

• They are a HIGH impact tech tool which ENGAGES students in learning.
• Students are EXCITED, MOTIVATED & FOCUSED when using iPads.
• Students are EAGER to come to school and prove to have GREAT ATTENDANCE records.
• There are many different APPS which keep students INTERESTED IN LEARNING.
• These APPS play an ACTIVE ROLL in students LEARNING as they can choose which app to use and they can MASTER SKILLS and DEMONSTRATE PROFICIENCY.  
• iPads lead to CURIOSITY, CREATIVITY, COLLABORATION, COMMUNICATION, and CRITICAL THINKING which ultimately lead to HIGH ACHIEVING SCORE

These different points certainly lead to a new and exciting approach to education and gives food for thought. I'm excited to learn more and more excited to see what the future holds.     

Transforming the Classroom with iPads

What I love most about hearing this teachers perspective is the part about differentiated instruction.  Since my first day in the classroom, I've known the importance of differentiating instruction so that all students are able to succeed.  With that said, that has also been one of the most challenging aspects to teaching.  With 30 students in the classroom and 1 teacher, it certainly makes the process of targeting each student at their own ability level a challenge.  Seeing how iPads can make that goal more achievable is a huge bonus to incorporating them into the classroom.  Being able to use apps as supplemental activities for students would be incredible awesome!  I hope that one day this becomes a reality in my classroom and that my students are able to use iPads in order to enjoy learning in a hands on way.  

iPads in 2nd Grade

2nd Graders Learning with iPads

This is an inspirational video to watch for any teacher interested in incorporating iPads into the classroom.  What I enjoyed most about this video was watching the students teach how to use the iPad. They are not only showing those of us watching, but they are also teaching their peers.  Having partners share iPads is a nice way to enhance communication skills amongst students.   They are able to interact and learn together.  This can be very powerful and is a huge part of the CCSS (Common Core State Standards) approach.  Things can be figured out in different ways and having students share with each other how they figured out a problem is very beneficial.  I loved seeing how the iPads are used throughout the day and in the different settings.  I'm excited to move forward and hopefully get more iPads in my classroom.  

iPads in the Classroom

iPads in the Classroom

This video is RAD! 

After class #1 of my Masters program focusing on Educational Technology, I was given the assignment to find videos "loosely" related to technology and education.  I wasn't sure how excited I was to get a Masters focusing on technology, but I figured since that's the way education is headed, it couldn't hurt and I'd give it a chance.  After seeing this video, I'm stoked!  Part of my hesitation and lack of excitement was due to never seeing a classroom running off of technology.  I have limited access to technology and honestly, limited knowledge to everything an iPad can do.  This video just pumped me up.  IT IS POSSIBLE to have a paperless classroom... or very close to in the 2nd grade.  I don't have a smart board and hardly know how they work, but now... I want one of those too! :)  I also enjoyed seeing the small clip showing the usage of QR codes.  I know what a QR code looks like, but have no idea what they do.  This was very cool to see and get a sample of what they do.  There wasn't anything in this video that I wasn't impressed with, but the last comment that was shared from the teacher was especially powerful... "The challenge I have, is getting out of the way and letting them show me what they can do, because they can do so much more than what I ever thought they could do."