Time for Renewal

A few folks have asked about my progress into the field of education, so I decided to post an update.

I have not changed careers,  I am still employed at a steel mill on the shore of Lake Michigan.  Even though I know I'm born to be a teacher (and have been told this by countless others), reality has won this battle.  The simple facts are that I can't afford the pay cut.  There is no way I could support my family, send my kids to college, and have any sort of retirement if I started teaching in the public school system.  The low starting pay  and poor benefits just can't support where I am in my life's journey.

When I first received my teaching license I applied to many positions and received MANY job offers.  I accepted one position and was well on my way to changing careers, but as the time to make the switch came closer I just couldn't do it.  I resigned my position and remained at the steel mill.

That was almost two years ago.

This January I had to renew my license (along with the CPR certification).  The renewal process  brought back all of the memories of receiving my initial license and the tough decision to turn down job offers.  Although I can not foresee any way I will be able to change careers soon, I did renew my certification.

Maybe someday.......

(I'll keep buying lottery tickets)

The Future of Learning: Don't get caught with your paradigm down

I stumbled across this today on LinkedIn. Enjoy
The Future of Learning: Don't get caught with your paradigm down

View more PowerPoint from Anne Whaits @ Varsity College

The Myths and Opportunities of Technology in the Classroom

Alan November on technology and learning.




"...and when we discover that schools are blocking almost every powerful social tool we've got..."

I agree with Alan's basic philosophy.  The best filter is the one between our ears.  Students need to develop the skills to effectively navigate the web safely.   How can they learn these skills if we block access to the powerful tools they need to use?  Just this week I visited a school that blocked Flickr for both the teachers and the students. It mad me sad to hear how the staff had to fight just to get YouTube access for the teacher accounts.

This is not my first time addressing this issue.  As in my previous post, I think we are doing a disservice to children if we attempt to childproof the internet.  There is no possible way to remove all of the sharp corners and wrap the rest in bubble wrap.

Where is the balance between safety and creative freedom?  Do you think your school has found thd balance?  I'd love to hear your story.

You Never Know Who Might Read Your Blog...

I found an unusual entry on my visitor log:

Hmmmmmm........

A SMART post about SMART coaches (written by a SMART guy)

A few weeks ago I recommended a book to fellow Indiana educator Byron Ernest.  The book inspired him to write a blog post.   Enjoy!

http://byronernest.wordpress.com/2012/03/18/learning-from-smart-coaches/

Stop - Reset? Nope.... Off to the Fair!

It has been a while since my last post. In my defense, I've been a bit busy. I completed 16 weeks of student teaching, finished one more class I needed for my degree, and took 2 Praxis exams.

The past few months have been a challenge. After 5 years of working full time, going to school, moving to a new house, and losing a parent... I finally finished my degree. I'm happy to report I have earned my B.S. degree in elementary education with a final GPA of 3.86/4.0. (you can view my portfolio here)

I thought I'd have a little time to rest, but I was mistaken.  I was looking forward to a time of rest and reset, but it wasn't meant to be.  Soon after the end of the semester it was time to apply for my teaching license and start searching for a job. The job hunting experience led me to a web site for an out-of-state job fair. It took some work to obtain an admission ticket, but I'm scheduled to attend a job fair in Tennessee in the near future.

 I've never been to a job fair, so I'm not sure what to expect. I've printed a stack of resumes, dusted off my suit, and polished my shoes. Wish me luck - I'll report back soon.

Photo Credit Mike Bitzenhofer

Date Countdown - Student Teaching

The summer semester is complete and all of my course work has been submitted.
3 classes (7 credit hours) in 8 weeks was a challenge, but I met the deadline with a few days to spare.

It finally hit me today that I am finished with the formal coursework required for my undergrad degree.  Other than a few on-campus meetings, my journey to a degree and teaching certification is almost complete. All that remains is 16 weeks of student teaching and a few standardized tests.

As of today (29 days to go and counting)I'm not nervous. I imagine I will get more anxious as the big day approaches.

Do you have any last minute words of wisdom before I enter the domain of the 3rd graders?