When is my time, Mom?

We've been in school for a month and it seems like I'm already getting farther and farther behind.  With my after-school time taken up with New Teacher meetings, administrator meetings, and technology trainings, my time to work on projects and activities or meet with individual teachers is non-existent.  When I get home, I jump back on my computer and continue working, only to hear the justified whine of my daughter, "Mom, when are we going to go to the park?  When are you going to have time for me, Mom?"  It's a knife in my heart, that's for sure!  I'm so wrapped up in all the work things I "have" to get done, that I've been neglecting my own family, my own daughter.  My resolve to only do school work after she went to bed---well, it went out the window after the first few days of school.  The weekends have been spent cramming a few minutes of work in here and there-----ok, more like a couple of hours here and there.

This week I heard a great quote from a fellow teacher when we were discussing my time management difficulties, "My heart tells me YES, my schedule tells me No."  I have such a hard time telling teachers that I'm not able to help them, meet with them, research something for them etc... but now I have a great come-back without the guilt.  Classroom teachers have a much more difficult and stressful job then I have, and I want to ensure that I am doing everything I can to help them, in any way possible.  Yet, I also have to realize that I do the best I can every day, and even with that, there are some things I just cannot do.

When will I make time for my daughter? From the time I pick her up until she goes to bed---at least most days (I have to be realistic)!

Google Summit Overload

OVERLOAD!  That is what my brain was telling me as I experienced two days of Google Summit workshops.  Although I thought I already knew the basics of what I could do with Google, these workshops were packed with many more, more, more and more "things" that can be done with Google!  Sitting through an hour and a half session felt like I was going through boot camp.  Ideas and activities were presented so quickly that my brain was just spinning.  I jumped from one idea to another and back again... I eventually skipped a session just to explore more deeply some of the awesome ideas.

Attending this workshop with one of my principals was very beneficial.  She was able to learn how she could use Google with her staff, and we developed a PD plan that would be effective and efficient throughout the year.  I hope I am able to convince others from my buildings to attend the next Google Summit---it would be great to have others experience everything Google has to offer.

In addition, I was able to meet up with a friend I hadn't seen in ages.  I call that networking!  The ability to talk tech, talk experiences, talk life....... that's what it was all about!

Now I'm ready for my two week vacation!

NETA 2012

It's been a LONG time since I've posted on this blog, but the activities of this past week are more than worthy of their own post!  I will try my best to convey just how wonderful the past three days were for me personally and professionally.

NETA '12 was the best yet!  The colleagues that attended NETA with me pushed me to view all the sessions and information I gleaned, in a new light!  We laughed and joked and shared and laughed and collaborated and laughed..... Did I mention we laughed?  All the ideas and information that each of us learned, was shared in some form.  We have already started planning for the rest of the year, how we're going to "spread the wealth" of knowledge to the rest of the District, and also how we're going to begin next year with an iPad/iPod band using our own elementary students!

Attending such a great conference with a team of teachers who have the passion and thirst for trying new ideas/techniques accentuates the experience!  Back at home, I have others who will remind me, when I've had "one of those days", just how exciting my job is/can be!  As a team, all of us can reinforce one another and share the vast knowledge we gained with others throughout the District!

To those who attended NETA with me:  Woman Who Wheezes, Woman Who Takes Ranch Shots, Woman Who Shakes Finger, and Woman With Random Thoughts---thanks for all you do to support me and others at KPS!

Woman Who Cries on Khakis

EdCampOmaha Success!

I attended my first EdCamp in Omaha this past weekend.  It happened to be during my Spring Break and I wasn't sure I wanted to devote an entire day to something other than lazing around and Kandi, my friend/colleague, wasn't sure she was going to be able to attend.

Am I glad I went!  The only thing I knew I wanted to learn more about was iBooks Author.  Unfortunately there wasn't a session for that, and being a newbie to EdCamp I didn't want to write it on the board in case I was the only one who wanted to learn about it.  Well, Kandi just asked another participant if they knew anyone who knew anything about iBooks Author.  Of course they did, and we were hooked up with him immediately!  We sat in a room of our own with him for about 20 minutes while he answered questions and quickly demonstrated what was available with iBooks Author!

From this short session, I now have iBooks Author downloaded and have started my very first book for publication---ok, publication for my own personal use, but still....!  Kandi is starting her book and another teacher has said that she'd like to learn this for next year.  YEAH!!!!  Enthusiasm is brimming and I'm not sure I'm going to be able to sleep tonight due to my excitement!  It's always great to learn something new, but it's even better when you have someone to share the learning with.

Thanks to the organizers of EdCampOmaha and thanks to Kandi for supporting my learning of iBooks Author!

Keeping positive......

As the end of the quarter nears a lot of use are looking forward to report cards being completed so we can take a much-needed short break and regroup for the next quarter.  We start to feel overwhelmed and get bogged down by everything that is expected of us.  I have been deliberately seeking out those who are positive, who lift my spirits and who focus on the positives in their day!  These people are not necessarily my good friends, but are people I have met and/or work with that definitely spread good cheer---year 'round!  Am I one of those people?  Some times, I think.  Other times I certainly need their positive outlook to rub off on me.  It's a choice.  I can choose to let the stress of my job etc.. pull me down, or I can choose to do the best I can, with what I have, on a particular day!  I think that sounds like something I wrote about earlier this year......guess I need to take my own advice!

Born to be........... a great teacher!

Today I fortunate enough to be able to spend time in the classroom of a first-year teacher.  In talking with this teacher before school started I could hear the enthusiasm and excitement for the beginning of the year.  Confidence was there as well as an equal dose of humility.
As I sat there today I was amazed!  If I did not know that this was a first year teacher---I would not have been able to tell.  In everything this person said and did, there was a purpose, a passion and enthusiasm for it!  Every student was engaged and on-task at all times.  This is not an exaggeration.  As I looked around the room, I continuously saw students writing, drawing, discussing etc... performing tasks the teacher asked.  Not one student off-task, out of their seat, gazing around....  The teacher constantly roamed the room, checking for understanding, re-instructing when necessary, asking questions, giving praise, patting a shoulder, etc.. Transition times were timely enough to keep the students engaged and still allowed time for those who needed a few extra moments to complete a task.  The enthusiasm in the voice of the teacher was enough to draw you in---IF you weren't paying attention.  You wanted to pay attention because the teacher made it seem so FUN!  Passion and enthusiasm for the most mundane of tasks oozed out, and was evident in facial expressions and body movements--not only in the teacher, but the students also.  This is what all classes should be like!
I walked out of the classroom with a smile on my face and envy in my heart!  I am so glad this teacher is in the classroom and I am so envious that I am unable to co-teach with this person on a daily basis.
Once in a while you run across a new teacher or even a college education major who has the innate skills and abilities that are needed to be a great teacher---this person has them!  This person was born to be a great teacher!

Doing the best I can.....

Goals are something we all should have.  I have many, many goals in life, whether personally or professionally, and of course some of them I've reached and others I haven't.  As I think of my goal for this school year I wonder if I should make short-term and long-term goals, monthly vs weekly goals etc...  I work best with the "big picture" in mind so I've decided that my over-arching goal is going to be:  Do the best I can every day with what I have and not stress about the rest.

That may seem simplistic, but for me I need to realize that I can only do, what I can do, with what I have (say that 3X really fast).  My goal is to do my job to the best of my ability each day, and not get so worked up when technology doesn't work, when I can't solve problems right away, and when staff members are short on patience with me.  Stressing over all this stuff doesn't make things better, in fact, I feel a lot worse and consequently get less done.

Simplistic goal?  I don't think so.  Realistic goal?  I think so.  I guess I'll know after I start stressing, right?  I plan to share my goal with others so hopefully when I'm stressing out they can remind me---that I'm doing the best I can with what I have---and maybe, just maybe, I can help them likewise.

....and we're off!

It's the first day of teacher inservice today.  Who wants to start getting up early again? But, at the same time there is a sense of anticipation.  Seeing all your colleagues.  Listening to what everyone has done over the summer.  Discussing what types of lessons and activities everyone is hoping to try in their classroom.
I had the opportunity to sit in on a staff meeting with a new principal.  I loved his positivity!  Is that even a word?  That's what kept coming to mind as he was discussing his expectations etc with the staff.  Every word that came out of his mouth was about being positive, belonging to the school family and being a team with each other and the students.  WOW!  It's was inspiring to hear his enthusiasm, his vision for the staff, students and parents as a school family.  I hope that as the year continues I can remember this feeling of, "I want to work here!"  I am excited to see how students respond to this positive atmosphere.
I was also able to take time to collaborate with a colleague on possible activities for her classroom.  I LOVED IT!  Really, who has (or takes) the time to sit down with colleagues to talk about potential activities for the classroom without worrying about grading papers, recess duties, the next class coming in etc.....?  Three hours later we had a lot of possibilities written down, a lot of possibilities rejected and a whole lot of enthusiasm running through our veins! If this type of collaboration could be done on a consistent basis,  just think of all the great activities/lessons that could be generated!  Think of the rejuvenating effects this could have on a person during those "tough times" throughout the year!  Imagine all the possibilities......
Well it might be a week or two, or a month or two until I can participate in this type of collaboration again, but until then.....I'll relish the friendship, the ideas generated, and of course the laughter had today!  Let the year commence!

A Captive Audience-----Run, Run, Run!

I'm attending a conference, which shall remain nameless.  After the initial opening ceremony speeches I was once again motivated on doing what is best for kids---putting aside my ego and my wants and needs and putting my energy and effort into making instruction and lessons better for kids.  And then....... the first session I went to was AWFUL!  I've only left 3 professional sessions/workshop early in my entire career and this was number 4!  Not at all what it was advertised as and only promoted a specific website.  Unfortunately, I was seated at a front table and there was no way I could sneak out gracefully.  After enduring for the first hour, I looked behind me and saw that others had the same idea as me.  Half the room was now empty.  I took a deep breath, packed up my stuff, stood up and turned around to find the presenter standing right behind me!  She asked, "Are you leaving?"  I softly said, "Yeah." and walked out.  I didn't explain why I was leaving and that may have been rude, but......
This is the way some of our students feel some of the time they are in our classrooms!  Unfortunately for them, they are a captive audience---they can't pick up and leave!  How much do we engage them? Are our lessons relevant to them?  Do we differentiate for them?
I reflect on a lot of my lessons where I was frustrated with the students lack of attention, their lack of enthusiasm, their....... I take ownership for being the reason why!

Gotta love my parents!

I went to my parents house--the wonderful farm where I grew up---to help my dad with some "tech" issues he was having.  I walk into the house with my Macbook computer, my iPad, my iPod Touch, and my new iPhone.  My parents have a Macbook laptop and desktop---that I purchased for them---but they barely know how to use.  I'm not criticizing by any means, but it does remind me that there are many people out there, including my family, who could really care less about all this "computer stuff" as my mom calls it.  I spend an hour with dad working on his spreadsheet issues and another hour showing mom how to import photos from her digital camera and then how to attach photos in an email.  We had at least three pages of written step-by-step instructions on how they "should" be able to do it on their own.  I have to smile when mom says she doesn't need to learn this because if she wants it done, it can wait until the next time I come home.  She says she has lived 67 years without this stuff and hopefully she'll live another 67 without it also.  Their life revolves around each other and all the farm work, while mom says that my life is revolving more and more around my tech "things."  I have to agree with her.  I'm always excited to see what is new on Facebook or Twitter or on all the RSS feeds that I receive-----and then I spend even more time exploring all the things I've been introduced to while reading everything.  It's a vicious cycle.  So, at least while I'm at the farm, I'll disengage myself from all these tech things and just enjoy the simple life, the non-digital life, that my parents enjoy every single day.  I'm sure I'll spend hours and hours when I get home catching up on everything!