Barriers

I have been fighting to tear down barriers between teachers now for quite a few years where I teach and in other schools.  Case in point: I received an email from a colleague at our rival school asking if he could borrow some materials.  I worked at our rival school when I first started teaching and built many connections there.  Apparently the teacher asking for help has not received any from those he works with and emailed me for help (and I am across town mind you).  Now I am not trying to pat myself on the back because I answered and gave him the materials he needed but how is it that we have come into a new century and our idea of education and collaboration have not caught up?  We spend countless hours working on 'our' curriculum and ideas and store them like they are state secrets.  A few years ago I tried to get some professional learning communities started in our building and it was met with a chorus of 'NO'.

I joined twitter to pass information and ideas along because there are a lot of people out there that think the way I do. There are a lot of educators with some pretty revolutionary ideas and lessons and I realize that I don't have all the answers.  Good curriculum comes from trying new ideas and from the collaboration that creates these ideas.  Helping, collaborating and sharing is not a revolutionary thing, it's a human thing.  Our very nature prompts us to help those that need it and to be giving.  Why can't we do this as professionals for our fellow teachers?  We share the same trenches, fighting the same bureaucracy and apathy towards our profession.  Until we can let go of old practices and behaviors within our schools, the change we seek will be hard to come by.

Connections

Last few weeks of the school year and this one is the hardest yet.  I am saying my goodbyes to my students as I get ready to assume a new post at a different school.  It's been strange to think that next year I will be teaching in a whole new environment.  The student's have been strongly supportive but surprisingly do not want me to go.  Had I stayed, I would've had most of them next year again as I would be teaching their next level history class.  It's a nice feeling to make those connections with the kiddos and to see them move on and into the next chapter of their lives.  It's especially nice when they come back to visit when they are in college, or have finished it and to see where their life takes them.

The exciting part is seeing how this new school blossoms with life.  I am meeting some of the other staff this weekend as we tour the school (still under construction).  This school is going to be built around the idea of connections: professional learning communities.  I have been a big proponent for them over the years and am excited to work in a building where that is the norm.  Teaming is the future of teaching.  We cannot keep trudging ahead the way we have in the past.  I mean come on; Frodo could not have destroyed the one Ring by himself.  Very exciting indeed!

Over the Hills and Far Away...

Greetings!

Going to try to get back in the habit of updating this thing more regularly!  Big news on this end; going to be transferring to a new school this coming Fall.  Been here a long time at my current post and am looking to forge new curriculum and relationships.  I currently teach high school and am going to be teaching junior high next year.  Will be teaching World History to 8th graders!  definitely a change.  It is exciting and scary; change always is.  However I am looking forward to challenging myself and my students.  The school is still under construction and I actually went to the construction site the other day; there is a lot to do.  The road to the school is not even paved yet!  The neat thing is that I will be teaching with some wonderful people who will be great influences on myself as a teacher.  Ready to walk through a new door and start a new chapter.

This Chapter is Done!

Today is my last day of teaching for the year.  I have thought a lot about this past year and all it was.  This was a tough year professionally and personally.  Professionally speaking there was a lot on my plate (what teacher doesn't?) and I branched out with new ideas and projects.  Through all the insomnia and sweat, I am prepared to finish this year on a good note.  August sits just before me and I am truly excited about everything that I am working on for next year.  That's the funny part of teaching for me; I am so extremely exhausted at the end of the year but there is this small flame inside of me that is ready to start the next school year.  It is excitement mixed with ambivalence and uncertainty.  Last days are interesting.  I am ready to kick my shoes off, work in my garden and sip some cold beverages (of the adult variety) and just relax.  However there is a lot to tackle this summer in terms of lesson planning,  and writing my world history e-text.  That aside, I'm one happy person.

Fear Not...

I have always been scared of failure.  It is because of this that many of the wonderful things I want to do in life were never done because of that fear.  Here is a wonderful video that shows us that even with our continued string of failures, can come our most beautiful successes.  Never stop trying people!

TED Talks: Why we should never fear failure

A Master Juggler!

This time of year is always crazy; trying to get seniors graduated, keeping the learning with the juniors going till finals and working on ideas for next year.  Lately, I have been working on a ton of stuff for next year.  Twitter has been great in meeting other educators and getting ideas from them.  Trouble is, I only have so many hours during the day.  I am writing a world history e-text for my students to use for next year and this has been taking a lot of my time.  The possibilities I can create with this (if done correctly) can be endless.  Standard textbooks are typically a snooze-fest and really not helpful to students in connections to the real world or in just relaying the story to them.  Texts tend to talk down to students and not energize or excite them.  For me, I want it to be entertaining and yet, make it to where they get those "a-ha" moments.

Creating projects for next year has already begun as well.  My World History classes just finished an Xtranormal and Livebinder project in our classes and are presenting them.  They are no where near perfect (in terms of rubric and design) but the students did a great job in presenting content in their own unique style.  There was so much that I learned, that I did not know about.  When I learn from the kiddos, it makes it worth while for me.  Another thing I want to do with the kiddos next year are digital portfolios.  Students should have a sense of pride in what they create and have a place where they can not only demonstrate their learning, but show off what they did.

Starting this blog and keeping up with Google+ is something else I am spending time on to keep growing as an educator.  It's strange putting my thoughts down on this page, but I have always believed that reflection equals growth.  Hopefully other teachers will read this and maybe collaborate and share ideas with me.  I want to keep moving forward as a person and a teacher.  Can't go forward standing still!  Have a great day!

Cristina SkyBox

This is the blog from a lifelong learner (Ana Cristina) who truly cares about education.  Be prepared to be overwhelmed (in a good way) with tons of resources and posts!  I found out about her on Twitter and have been enjoying her posts every day since.  Spread the word!!

http://cristinaskybox.blogspot.com/p/for-educators.html