Wow, has k/1 every changed! I remember kindergarten as a half day where we played, sang, rested, had a recess, snacked and heard a story all before they loaded us into the back end of a suburban without seats and drove us home for lunch. Now our kiddo's spend a full day that really focuses on academics with little play and high expectations. In first grade my teacher was amazing. She had a big walk in play house in our room where we could play and explore. She took us on lots of walking field trips. We went to the grocery store and bought everything to make tacos. (I still love tacos.) We went to the dime store with a dime and all left with a treasure we bought by our self. We even walked to her house, where her husband, an artist told us stories as he drew pictures for it. Traditional academics were not a strong part of school for me. I struggled to learn to read and write. I did not even start to read until the end of first grade. I struggled with academics all through the primary grades. I attended special classes and really started to dislike school. My third grade teacher told my parents right in front of me that I would never go to college. A light turned on somewhere between 4th and 6th grade. I no longer needed special classes and was working at grade level. I graduated high school in the top fourth of my class and graduated with honors from college. What happened? I don't really know, but it has been obvious to me that we can all learn but maybe not at the same rate or in the same way. My love for children and my strong belief that everyone can learn is the reason I went into education.
Technology and the use of computers is all very new to me. We only had 6 computer in high school and only a chosen few were allowed to take a class with them. In college my only computer class had me take a book with computer games and plug in all the numbers to program the game into the computer. If the game ran at the end of the semester you got an "A". Gus (my boyfriend at the time, my husband now) taught me how to use the computer in the dorm. I used the computer for years as a glorified typewriter. As computer use became more and more important in school and teaching I became more anxious and stressed. I relied heavily on my good friend and job partner, Kristina, to help me manage. Watching all the amazing things Kristina could do inspired me to overcome my fear and learn how to really use the computer. Hey! If my 4 kids can be computer wiz's why couldn't I. A few years ago I decided to do a PDP plan and learn new computer skills. I have learned to send emails, surf the web, order materials, create templates, use Excel, create labels and business cards, find clip-art and many other skills. Using the new skills I have created a lot of materials I use in my K/1 classroom. When this technology class was offered I jumped at the chance to take it. I left the first class feeling very overwhelmed and frightened that I was in over my head. Look at me now, I've created this blog with only a little help from Kristina. Maybe there is hope for me yet!
Yes we can! Ok, so that was Obama's motto but it is all really a mind set more than a skill set. Remember the "Little Train That Could?" I think all of us are stretching ourselves here and reading the other blogs you will see that you are not alone by any means. Funny to read that your husband coached you along the way. Mine did too. He introduced me to email a couple months after we met as I was going to move to MN for graduate school (1993). I think there are many important people that influenced us and educated us along the way but the moments that we learn and listen are those moments when we have a need to learn. If there is a need we will meet the challenge. Your experiential learning in grade school helped really shape who you are and I suspect as you look back on the many students whose lives you have touched, you will see the light bulb moments they had. Those moments occurred when there was a need and their mind was set to gain a new skill.
ReplyDeleteI'm so proud at how far you've come in the past couple years with the computer! I remember the days when I had to check your email for you :) The materials you have made, especially this past year for all the replacement curricula we are creating for our students, have been great. Just like when you were a kid, you overcame your struggles and are doing great!
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