Spring Fever

Hello again! It's that time of year, which I must say is my most favorite time of the year! SPRING! There are so many things that I enjoy about this time of year. From the new smell of green grass, spring flowers, baseball games, to chatter about the end of the school year and TAKS Testing, as well as, the many end of the year activities in our school. All of these things just make this time spectacular. I believe that one main reason I enjoy this time of year is because everyone has a sense of accomplishment of having worked hard to prepare our students for the next grade level and we have (to quote my favorite saying) "fought the good fight and finished the race!" There is a sense of self-worth like no other, when you as a teacher send your class on to the next grade level, knowing that they have grown and are more prepared for life-long learning. I find myself thinking back to the first of the year remembering that the beginning of the year was full of the unknown and uncertainty. Now a person can really see how much the teachers, students, and all stakeholders have grown since those long-ago August days. I am proud of the teachers that I work with and I think we have had an exceptional year at Cameron Elementary. In fact, I am anxious for TAKS to hurry up and get here, I think our students are really going to achieve monumental success. You're probably thinking, "WHAT! TAKS hurry up????" HAHA! Well, it's just because I haven't ever been one of those teachers that panics during April because of TAKS Testing. My thoughts have always been that I worked hard all year long preparing my students for this standardized testing and this was their time to shine and show everyone what they know. I view being a teacher as a perfect opportunity to have a direct influence on our child's future. It is my job to teach them about all the aspects of life and learning, so that when they do leave my classroom they can achieve success by being life-long learners. Teachers are supposed to teach students how to help themselves and be sufficient in whatever aspect they approach. This is why I have always just "taught" my students well, instead of worrying if they new all the "tricks and strategies" of the TAKS Test. There is no replacement for good solid teaching and learning. It is also for this reason that I am a fan of differientiated learning and student-centered learning. Every student needs different levels of teaching and instruction to become a life-long learner. With that said, now you can see my real reason for this post.....to provide some insight on my personal "mission statement!" I beleive that education is changing, we can't teach any longer straight from the book, with zero "pizzazz!" We have to put the content and instruction into the language of our students. We have to put it into a new technological language, which may not necessarily be everyone's most comfortable language. Technology is a scary word for some people. But I am living proof, that it is possible. I really enjoy technology and it's endless opportunities in the classroom. Through completing my Master's I was able to embrace the 21st Century learning practices. Something I think all teachers should participate in. I want to be clear, I am not calling for an re-invention of the wheel, just a simple re-alignment or upgrade if you will. We want a 4-wheel drive Dodge 3500, instead of a 2-wheel 1988 Oldsmobile! :) While at the same time remaining faithful to the rigorous content we have always taught. We need to embrace that change as teachers and prepare our students in the best way that we know how to make sure they succeed in this 21st Century. I know I am up for the challenage and look forward to the challenage. When I think of this new challenage of education, I compare it to the feeling at the beginning of the school year, to that unfamiliar nervous feeling everyone has which is also at the same time intermingled with an excited adventorous feeling. So you see, that is why I wrote about the feeling of accomplishment a teacher possesses during the spring months today. Because, I believe that we as educators have had that "springy" feeling for a while now....it's time for some August feelings....new, unfamiliar, yet excited and adventurous! I know I am ready!