Today is one of those days. You know, the kind with good AND bad? The kind where you want to bang your head on the wall and then smile when you are through. Here's the thing, I know it can be a whole lot worse...
In a nutshell, today was the first day to get into my classroom (someone made the decision to rip the carpet up and tile the floor--last week--and I didn't make that call) and next week is packed with all things Professional Development. So, I am left scrambling to have a room ready for Open House Thursday night. Okay. I think I can deal. <<<see BAD
On my way to school to work in my classroom, the eldest calls and said the dryer isn't working. When I got home (she needed to take the driving test to get her permit) I checked the dryer. Ugh. Sensor light wouldn't come on. I did a troubleshoot and nothing. Eh...let's go! <<<see double BAD
Eldest and I waited for about 45 minutes for her to take the driving part (they literally had a packed house of teens) and then we went to get her hard copy permit (yay-gulp-yay). <<<see GOOD
Got home and started cruising the web to see if I could find out what was wrong with my dang dryer. Needless to say, this is what has me wanting to knock a hole in the wall with my head. But, things could be worse, SO...
Remember when I said I had something else I would keep in the classroom? Well, I am saving that one for another post. I felt like a little clarification needed to be made from my first and original post. As mentioned, I did say I felt the need to start blogging (for technology reasons associated with teaching). Well, the reason why I decided to start with blogging is for a very simple reason.
For starters, I read blogs. I mean...I really love to read and, therefore, READ BLOGS. Book bloggers are the best, especially when you find some really GREAT blog writing with really GREAT book reviews. I adore these people. I do have several fave author blogs I consistently read...because they have great writing! And do you know what one of my goals (and every teacher out there) for my students would be? To be a GREAT WRITER.
Teaching writing is not simple. It is a fact. It can be excruciating. Now, I know what you may be thinking...it can't be that bad. Why yes, it really can be. Writing does not come naturally to everyone. While writing can be a painful ordeal for children, it can be most especially for English Language Learners. If the teacher isn't comfortable with teaching writing (maybe he/she doesn't like writing, or may be confused about aspects of writing) then the learner will struggle with learning writing. It's true. I like to write, did quite a bit of it in my school days. Yet, I used to NOT be comfortable teaching writing because it was something I never had to break down into precise bites. Precise bites is what a teacher needs to know in order to deliver CLEAR instruction. At least, that's my opinion. Which could TOTALLY be wrong.
Back to the blog. I have had some moments of inspiration over the summer. Book bloggers have given me that inspiration and I am hoping to translate that into my classroom. By promoting a blogging atmosphere where my students can really open up, have an opinion, talk (aka, read) about ideas and opinions with their peers--well, it kicks things up a notch. Don't you agree? What more to get a student excited about having a say? Did you like such-and-such book? What did you think about this and that character? Would you recommend this to a friend? Etc, etc, etc.
What gets me psyched are the many FUN things we can do with a blog. Post pics, videos, polls, contests...name it and the blog world is yours! You see, this is what happens when you are a dreamer. You envision all the fantastic things that will happen in your classroom, where unicorns gladly give rides to the children, everyone plays in candyland, and we all go home happy from the fantasy. Ha! But you know what? Without the vision, that dream of everyone having all smiles--without the fantastical dream of all the things you are going to do and how it will work--well, there is no excitement for actually doing it...and it doesn't get done. I. AM. EXCITED. And I really hope it works out well for my students.
Blogging will help my students with reading, DEFINITELY WRITING, technology, but something so much more. Being a Thinker. Yes, a THINKER. Shouldn't students want to have an opinion? Shouldn't they be urged to think beyond what is normal for them? Why, absolutely! I want to challenge my students to be Thinkers. To know that what they THINK is a valuable thing to their classroom, community, and society. I really believe blogging will be that challenge, that next step, into shaping some real Thinkers for the world.
I hope you 'JOIN' me in that adventure. Who knows. It may just change what YOU think.
'Til next time, keep on seeking for some normalcy :)
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