FETC 2014

This journey started a year ago.  I was an intern at a somewhat local elementary school, in a 1st grade classroom.  My supervising teacher was, and is, amazing with technology usage in the classroom.  I feel very blessed to have been placed with her; I learned wonderful things about blending technology in school.  We were invited to attend the Florida Educational Technology Conference in Orlando last year as a guest of a vendor.  I had NO idea what to expect, but went along happily.  A trade show is a favorite thing of mine.  And we got some pretty sweet freebies :)

This year I am wiser, and more aware of what is available to me as a teacher.  I include technology into most of my lessons, and my students love being able to use new gadgets during math and reading.  Unsure of how to pull it off, I went to my principal with the question "Would I be able to get the day off for this conference?"  She was hesitant, but said she could not deny me the day off but she asked me to email some information regarding the conference to "sell" her on the idea.  Later that afternoon, my AP called me to say that I needed to fill out some forms for district to approve my learning credits.  I wasn't even looking for learning credits!  Bonus!!  Within a day, the entire trip was approved, including myself, another teacher, and my AP.  We would be allowed to attend one day of the conference, with breakout sessions/speakers, and get paid for it! I was thrilled to just be going, let along not losing a day of pay for missing school.

Today was the day.  We piled into the car and headed out to the Orange County Convention Center.  The expo floor was full of ed tech vendors looking to sell their product and make connections.  It really was a whirlwind experience.  The real fun began during the breakout sessions.  We sat in on four speakers, and only found one to be not as described in the title.  The session presenters were knowledgeable, excited about technology, and passionate about education.

I learned so much about the way that I can implement blended learning with my students and how I can use it to drive instruction, data collection, and assessment in the future.  I love a good gadget.  I don't think that I have downloaded so many apps to my iPad in one sitting as I did today!  Google Docs, Google Drive, TikiToki, Flipboard, Aurasma, ThingLink, and more...I can't even keep things straight anymore!  I need a day off from my day off!  I had a wonderful time learning with my peers and I hope to do it more often in the future!

Catching up....and the name change

Ok, so it has been FOREVER since I have blogged.  Really, I have been way to busy for my own good, but it has been great!  I neglected all of 2013.  As I look back at my blog posts, it seems that once things picked up at USF, my online life slipped away.  I guess that's a good thing, I really focused on school and my home life, but I am back in the swing of things.

So...where do we begin to catch up?  Hmmmmm....let's see.  I FINALLY finished school.  USF graduation was in May 2013.  I graduated with honors, as a member of Kappa Delta Pi (the Education Honor Society), and other academic honor societies.  The final semester at school was so fast, and so packed full of teaching that it was a blur.  I remember thinking it would never end, but it was suddenly April and my internship was over!  During that time, I met some incredible people and students, learned a lot about teaching in a diverse setting (thanks, BES!) and returned home to my Bobcats at Explorer.  :)  Once graduation rolled around, I felt exhausted and excited.

I began my LAST long-term substitute teaching position the day after graduation.  7th grade math.  Yes, math.  I loved it.  It was challenging and fun, but too short.  School ended about 7 weeks later.  I was off for the summer, but all I could think about was getting a "real" job.  It seemed like August was going to be here before I knew it, and I didn't have a set position yet.  I interviewed at EK8 for a 5th grade position and got hired.  I was ecstatic :)  A week later, it turned into 4th grade.  No biggie.  I could do that, I had before!  No dice.  It was then changed to a split position, 4th and 5th grade reading.  3 groups of 22 kids each day.  Easy as pie.  I was excited.  Started getting ideas and downloading resources for my new job.  Thinking about what my classroom would look like.  That's when it finally happened.  I got to actually MOVE IN TO MY CLASSROOM!!!  All of that stuff was out of my house, at last.  Moe sure was relieved, except that he had to carry it all to the car, and then to the school (Thanks, babe)!  It was the end of June and I was all set up in my classroom.  I could spend the rest of the summer relaxing and not stressing about that part.  Pre-school week could be spent focusing on orientations, training, meeting my new colleagues, and planning.  Ha!  That's what I thought.

It was a rainy, cool afternoon in mid July when I got the call.  It was urgent.  Come to school immediately to talk to KG.  UGH....what happened?  My new assistant principal was asking to meet with me, now.  I was a little scared.  I felt like something bad was about to happen.  So, off I went, to meet her in person...across the desk for the first time.  Then I got the news.  "We're moving you to third grade."  She looked at me with a serious face and waited for my response.  I was stunned...and terrified.  I wanted to just say no, but I didn't.  I heard her out.  I thought hard about my options.  I would just leave, go to another school and see what they could do for me.  NO WAY!  Third grade?!  What about FCAT?  I am only a first year teacher.  I'm not ready for that kind of pressure!!  I needed to run, but I couldn't do that.  I love this school and wanted to be there.  I worked so hard for three years to make a good name for myself there.  I had to stick it out and give it a try.  I told KG I wasn't thrilled, but that I would do it.  I needed to be in a good spot, next to someone that I could rely on and learn from and have support throughout this year, but I would do it.

And the rest is history.  I have been proving my own thoughts wrong since that day.  I love third grade.  My class is great; fun and energetic.  I love my office-mate :)  She totally rocks and gives me great ideas all the time.  I am happy with my school and coworkers and could not have asked for a better start to the year.  Thus the name change.  These will be my Thoughts on Third.  Indeed......