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THIS WEEK AFTER READING THE ASSIGNED READINGS, PARTICULARLY ABOUT THINKING CREATIVELY, I FELT AN INSTANT CASE OF NERVES. I KNOW THAT CREATIVITY AND TEACHING GO HAND IN HAND, BUT BEGAN TO REALIZE THAT I SECRETLY FEARED THAT I HAVE LOST IT. I AM SLOWLY STARTING TO PANIC BECAUSE IN LESS THAN TWO WEEKS I WILL HAVE BRAND NEW SEVENTH AND EIGHTH GRADE STUDENTS SITTING AT DESKS, WAITING FOR ME TO ENGAGE THEM AND I REALLY THINK THAT I AM SCARED.
WHAT IF IN ALL THE HUSTLE AND BUSTLE OF TEST PREPPING, AND LEAVING NO CHILD BEHIND, I HAVE REALLY LOST MY CREATIVITY? WHAT IF I CAN NOT FROM MY LEFT OR RIGHT BRAIN GET A GRIP ON HOW TO GET THEM AS EXCITED AS I WANT THEM TO BE ABOUT LEARNING WHILE INFUSING TECHNOLOGY INTO MY INSTRUCTION. I READ ABOUT THE CREATIVE WAYS OTHER EDUCATORS ARE USING TECHNOLOGY AND ADMIRE THEIR INNOVATION. THEM SHARING THEIR EXPERIENCES INSPIRES ME AND TRIGGERS IDEAS OF MY OWN. I GET EXCITED AND ENTHUSED, BUT THEN THAT LITTLE VOICE IN THE BACK OF MY HEAD SAYS, “HOW CAN YOU DO THAT WHEN YOU HAVE TO COVER ALL OF THIS INFORMATION AND GET THEM READY FOR THE WKCE AND BENCHMARKS? HOW CAN YOU FOLLOW THE DISTRICT AND STATE’S MANDATES AND STILL HAVE YOUR STUDENTS BLOGGING, CREATING WIKIS? HOW DOES PODCASTING FIT INTO YOUR CURRICULUM? GET REAL, GIRLFRIEND! CAN YOU REALLY DO ALL OF THAT?”
MY ANSWER:
“YES I CAN! I DON’T KNOW EXACTLY HOW I’M GOING TO DO IT, BUT I AM GOING TO DO IT SO JUST STAY TUNED.”
MY PLAN:
• CREATE A CLASS BLOG THAT MY STUDENTS, THEIR PARENTS AND MY COLLEAGUES CAN FOLLOW AND COMMENT ON. I WILL POST MY SYLLABUS ON IT AND GIVE UPDATES ON WHAT WE ARE DOING AND EXPERIENCING AS A CLASS.
• SELECT STUDENTS WHO HAVE DEMONSTRATED THE ABILITY TO BEHAVE RESPONSIBLY ONLINE TO HELP MAINTAIN THE CLASS BLOG AND POSSIBLY CREATE THEIR OWN.
MY GOAL:
• HAVE STUDENTS CONTRIBUTING TO THE CLASS BLOG OR THEIR OWN INDIVIDUAL BLOG AND HAVE STUDENTS ADD TO A WIKI THAT I STARTED BY THE BEGINNING OF THE SECOND QUARTER OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.
• HAVE PARENTS GO TO MY BLOG TO STAY INFORMED ABOUT WHAT WE ARE DOING IN CLASS AND GIVE SUGGESTIONS FOR RESOURCES FOR STUDENTS, OTHER PARENTS AND TEACHERS.
SO I TELL THAT LITTLE VOICE IN THE BACK OF MY HEAD TO TAKE A HIKE AND WATCH ME HELP MY STUDENT SHINE USING AND INFUSING TECHNOLOGY WHEN I CAN.
Wow, Tracey. I can't begin to tell you how much I can identify with your fear that your creativity has been lost. I spend more time on mindless paperwork, discipline, and mandated activities that I have become dependent on the tried and true tricks of the past and call it being creative! As we get motivated and inspired by this program, we should remember that we can always borrow others' creativity until we feel more confident about our own again.
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