What Do You Sound Like?

Funny thing...I just got done recording a You Tube Live Event with a few teachers that I work with. Before getting started, you know, there's some chit chat and prepping, etc.  So the teacher, Brock - yup I'm calling you out! - says, "I read your blog post.  And it, the way you write, it sounds like you."

My initial reaction is somewhat bashful that he would have taken the time to read my rambling.  My next reaction is seriously appreciative.  Not only that he would take the time to read what I thought was important enough to write down, but to also note that he can "hear" my voice in my writing.  So thanks Brock.  It kind of means a lot to me that you read it and that you would say something like that.

That being said, those of you that don't know me...maybe can't hear that voice.  So, here's a short PD that Scott, one of my team mates, and I put together.  Appropriately enough, on blogging!  HA!

PS I am the female voice, Scott is the male voice.  

Why Do You?

Why do you teach?

Why do you cook with mushrooms?

Why do you read a book even if you know you'll cry?

Why....why....why?

I'm working on a version of PD for some of the teachers I work with and the objective is ways they can provide PD to their staff.  I have a couple of approaches, but the one that has me really thinking is blogging.  Why does this have me thinking?  Because I started reading some blogs.

For this particular PD I'm sharing the blogs of some "real" teachers.  Teachers that I know and have worked with.  Teachers who are not looked to in the ed tech world but who are looked to in their classroom.

I just finished reading a post from a friend of mine about having a student observer in her class.  Why did she agree to have that student in her class?  I then reflected back to when I had a student teacher in my class.  Why did I agree to that?  Because I wanted to be a teacher...not just to the kids, but to a future teacher.  I wanted to have an impact.  My friend wanted to give back because she felt like she didn't have a mentor.

Then I continued to think back to when I took that course in my undergrad.  I was NOT a fan of my teacher.  She wasn't warm and she wasn't welcoming.  In fact, she said I didn't take any initiative.  I don't think she knew it was because I was worried I was stepping on her toes.  Why was she selected to have me in her class?  Why did she agree?  Why did I decide to continue on the path to teaching when my experience had been so negative?

Why am I where I am today?  Why am I working with teachers now more than kids?  Why am I out of the classroom?  Why is it so hard in a classroom?  Why would you want to stay in a classroom?  Why would you want to leave the classroom?  What makes you love teaching...regardless of who you teach?  Why are you a teacher?

Why.

Because of You

Kelly Clarkson said it best in her song "Because of You"..."Because of you, I find it hard to trust".

So I recently came up with my own little theory as to why so many people are so adamantly against the use of technology, specifically in the classroom.

Humans are programmed to lose trust when they are disappointed or let down.  Unfortunately, we are often times disappointed and/or let down by technology.  Not just classroom tech, but everything! How many times has your phone broke, or you A/C quit working (in the summer), or the copy machine ate your copies?!  All of these instances lead to a mistrust of technology.  Especially when the molding of young minds is what is "at risk".

I then think, how do we go about trusting again, once we've been disappointed.  We either completely reject someone/something or we protect ourselves.  Since technology is not going anywhere, I highly recommend protecting ourselves.  What does this mean?  It means understanding that technology is man made.  It's not doing anything on purpose to try and cause you problems.  But it's also not perfect.  So have a back up plan.  

How are you going to teach this lesson with technology? 

How you would teach it without technology?

Preparation is the key when it comes to protecting yourself.  Don't let yourself be afraid to trust.