The students of my community are major factors in what I do and how I do things.   I am from this community, a produce of it and I want the students to be able to have the same opportunities that were available to me.  I want them to be understood and to be understanding.  This is why I chose to make my final project about new/beginning teachers.  I want these teachers to be able to have some background understanding of where the students come from and to be able to connect with the community.  In setting up a mentor ship program, there is the beginnings of the connection to the school and community. 

For my final project, I set up a wikispace.  It is my hope that the new/beginning teachers will explore the wiki to discover what we are about, what we are made of and be interested in working to provide an education that is inclusive of the community.   In creating this wiki, I collaborated with first and second year teachers in our school.  They were instrumental in the pages that were created.  Through this collaboration,  I discovered that I would have to add more information.  It was a painstaking project because it takes time to get things just right.

I included history pages of our community and school as my first pages to give some background to our community.  There are pages which are about the resources we use so the teachers can have the opportunity to become familiar with the instructional aids.  There are pictures, addresses, and contact numbers for services available in the community.  The importing of the pictures was time consuming but beneficial.  Some pages would look different when I formatted them with the edit on, but once saved the layout changed.  Some of this I was able to change by editing again but others I had to leave.  I also included the housing that was available because the teachers expressed this is important to a new/beginning teacher.  I added photos of events that occur at the school to give to show that there are some fun times in teaching. 

I am reminded of the quote by Ghandi, ” Be the change that you want to see.”  I want to see team effort in the teaching of our students.  This wikispace was a team effort because which included other teachers in creating it.  The three of us: Jackie, Brandy and myself are working to open up the image of our community and school.  We are working to open up the learning opportunities of students in our school.  We are working to providing the support needed to teach in a Northern community.  The knowledge and gained skills from the EC&I 831 course have given me the tools to continue to do this.

This got me thinking about change and how things are ending due to advances in technology.  One thing that was discussed the other night in our EC&I class is the newspaper.  The idea that there are newspaper companies that have had to close.  I enjoy reading the local papers and never thought that would happen.  Being in my bubble of a world, I never would have thought that would have been possible.  One of my parents favorite pass times, and one of my things to do will not be available for my children???  Seems unthinkable,but yet here we are faced with it. 

Then, the students in my class are looking at technology and the advances that are happening with everything.  One student showed me their project which was about the ipod.  I didn’t even know that it was around since 2001.  to me it is a new technology.  I was probably still using a walkman or discman ( I hope I am hip to the terms, lol).  Technology is advancing so quickly, items are obsolete within one year.  ( I may be exaggerating a bit).  And then I started reflecting on teaching.  Much of the literature and information is pointing to the fact that if we as educators do not get with the times, we are in danger of become obsolete.  Could that be?  No need for me to be?  That to would have been unthinkable not only last year but even a few months ago.  Then I got to thinking,  what can I do to make sure that I am not going to be obsolete and face the end of an era.  I think that taking a course in technology was a huge, giant step in the right direction.  No matter how much I would like to continue living with my head in the sand, it is no longer reasonable to continue living like that.  I will soon be completed this class and (I hope and pray) my masters course but I will not finished learning.  If anything this course has showed me that my world no longer has to be a bubble.  I can travel even if it is on the internet highway and I am not restricted to nor do I have to face being  the end of an era.

This is a quote I took out of one of the web pages that is related to a presentation he does. 

“Effective instruction is as fulfilling for educators as it is for students. Sharpen your skills in clear communication, motivational leadership, curriculum development, and standards and assessments. These expert practitioners utilize research-based instructional practices to ensure quality education for all their students. They share their strategies with you through customized professional development.” 

He is definitly someone to get in as a presenter.  I enjoyed the presentation but felt that there should have been one more day so he could explain more of the effective practices in dealing with students. 

I know that these are for the students and that is why I have a career and job.  But, I do have concerns with the amount that is placed onto the classroom teacher.  There needs to a balance between what is expected from the teacher and from the others in the partnership.  I as a teacher do go the extra mile for my students, and will work hard to increase their capabilities as learners.  I just want there to be a balance so that we do not overwork teacher more than they already are.

One video that I came across on you tube was “Why we need to teach technology in schools”   It relates to what we are experiencing in society and how even if we dig our feet in (as I have been) technology will continue to develop with or without our permission.