Pinciples Guiding the Integration of Technology into Instruction

As an administrator, I will want to stay informed on new and changing technology and integrate it into instruction.  Several principles will have to guide my approach to integrating technology into instruction.  First, I will need to be knowledgeable about the new technology and determine if it would be effective for the age group of students at the school.  One way I could do this is to select a teacher to "pilot" the new technology and observe the effectiveness of it in the classroom.  I could also go to a school that may be using the new technology and talk with other school leaders about its effectiveness.  Next, I will need to determine the cost of getting it into classrooms and see if it is something that the school system has on a bid list.  I realize that I may have to start out small and make the technology available in a few classrooms at first.  As money becomes available, I would make sure the new technology is available to all teachers.  Finally, I will need to provide professional development for my teachers in order for them to effectively use it in the classroom.  If I provide teachers with technology and they don't know how to effectively use it, the technology may not affect student learning.  I look forward to seeing the new technology that will be available in the future and training teachers to use it in the classroom.

RES TV

I have had the privilege of being part of our school's television broadcast team.  My assistant principal, reading coach, and I help to monitor students as they run the cameras and sound boards each day.  I am amazed at how students can catch on so quickly to the different technology involved in running the broadcast.  Each student is learning each of the technology parts so that we will have several students that can run the whole system.  Here are a few pictures of our broadcast team.....

The girls running the sound board, picture board, and computer.

A student running the teleprompter.

A student doing the weather.

Students running the tv screen pictures.

Our anchors!!

How Can Technology Affect the Learning Process?

Technology is a very important tool in our schools today.  If teachers and students use it correctly, it can have a huge impact on the learning process.  Yesterday my student teacher and I did a learning styles inventory with my students.  This gave us pertinent information on how to best reach each student.  I believe that using technology when teaching a lesson provides visual, auditory, and kinesthetic experiences for all students.  After teaching the new information, my students can practice the skills in the computer lab three times a week and with iPads once a week.  Technology provides a fun and interactive way for students to practice various skills on their level of learning.

Although technology is a wonderful tool that can affect the learning process, I don't think it is a substitute for a teacher.  I still believe that teachers need to be a part of a student's learning process and provide technology as a tool for practice.

Open House

Tomorrow night our school is having (yet another) Open House.  It seems like we just had "Meet the Teacher Night" and then we had a "Curriculum Night" the last week in August.  I almost wish that we would wait and have an Open House toward the middle or end of the year because students don't have a whole lot of new stuff to share since the beginning of the year.  The PTO sponsors this Open House and it's intent is to get parents to sign up for PTO.  This year I'm going to have my students do a "Scavenger Hunt" with their parents around the classroom.  They will use the a list to guide their Scavenger Hunt.  I hope this will help students and parents to be engaged in the Open House tomorrow night.

How can technology innovations be sustained in schools?

Technology is constantly changing.  Each day new and improved technology is being developed for use in the classroom.  In order for schools to sustain technology innovations, they are going to have to come up with creative ways to gain money for changing technology.  Money for education has been consistently and steadily declining from year to year and the local school has had to come up with ways to pay for new technology within the schools. 

Our school uses the extra money from daycare as well as fundraising to purchase new technology.  We have also obtained grants that have allowed us to obtain new technology.  In the past five years that I have been at Riverton, we have purchased ActiveBoards, projectors, and laptops for every classroom.  We have also purchased a set of class Ipads for the school as well as Ipads for individual teachers.

Schools must continue to find ways to gain money in order to sustain technology in the schools.  I believe technology is going to continue to have a huge impact in schools.  I look forward to the future to see how  schools will continue to improve in the use of technology and how they will find ways to purchase new technology.

Classroom Pics

I'm stealing Sarah's idea and I'm going to share a few pictures of my classroom.

This is my hallway.  We are incorporating "The 7 Habits of Happy Kids" with the Leader in Me program this year.  I'm trying to incorporate that in my classroom and in activities I am doing with my students.

This is my Alabama Owl door.

I chose an owl theme for my classroom this year.  I make canvases with each fo the 7 habits on them.  I also made a tree out of foam board.  I got the idea for the tree from a teacher at New Market when our class toured New Market School.

Technology - Best Practices

I enjoy using technology in my classroom as much as possible.  In fact, I'm not sure what I would do without it.  As a teacher, it is easy for me to use technology as I'm teaching a lesson, but I realize that I need to involve students in technology use more.  One way that I've been able to do this is through the use of my Ipad.  I only have one Ipad in my classroom, but hope to get more.  Two cool apps that I've been using are a "Flashcards" app as well as an "AR" app. 

The "Flashcards" app allows me to download lists of sight words and other words that students need to read automatically and accurately.  For example, yesterday a student who is struggling in reading read the Kindergarten list of sight words in order for me to assess him on what words he knows and those that he is struggling with.  He is able to slide his finger through the list as he reads them to me.  Gone are the days of spending hours creating flashcards!  This app can be used in all grade levels to help study vocabulary and other concepts for tests.  You can even personalize it!!!

Another app that I've been using in my classroom is the "Accelerated Reader" app.  This app allows students to take AR tests on my Ipad.  This give me another "computer" in my classroom when I have a lot of students needing to take AR tests.  The app is really neat and interactive for the students.

I realize there are thousands of other apps "out there" for me to use in my classroom.  I look forward to learning more about apps that are beneficial to students.  Also, I look forward to the future and hope every child will have an Ipad!

Student Teacher Experience

I currently have a student teacher in my classroom.  She is doing a great job, but I'm trying to give her constructive criticism to help her grow.  She is very organized with her lessons; however, classroom management is an issue for her.  She wants to have fun with the class which is a good thing, but the students can't seem to gain control of their behavior after acting silly.  Also, she is somewhat monotone with the students and lacks enthusiasm.  I'm wondering if this is because she is nervous???

This has been a wonderful experience for me too for a couple of reasons.  First, this is giving me wonderful experience evaluating a teacher.  I'm trying my best to find positive feedback as well as constructive feedback.  Also, I realize that I will be interning this spring with a principal and will be very "green" and inexperienced.  I need to make sure that I help the principal and learn all I can without being in their way.  I look forward to my internship in the spring and all the things I will learn!!

Why I Want to Be An Administrator?

Being an administrator has never been something I have dreamed about for my future.  I knew when I was a young child and even more so as a high school student that I wanted to be a teacher.  I had no doubts through college that being a teacher was my calling for my future.  In my first year of teaching, those doubts crept in my mind due to the stress of the first year and a rough first grade class.  After making it through my first year and having a wonderful experience with my second class, I began really enjoying teaching and discovered those doubts were due to feelings of inadequacy.

After teaching for five years, I decided it was time to get my masters degree.  I decided to go back to my alma mater, the University of North Alabama, and get my degree in Elementary Education because I couldn't imagine doing anything besides being a teacher.  If life went according to my plan, I would continue to be a teacher, get married, and have a family.  Being a teacher seemed like the perfect wife and mommy job. 

Last school year (2011-2012), I felt like I was in a little bit of a rut.  I found myself wondering if I was really going to be a teacher the rest of my life and my plan of becoming a wife and mommy hadn't become a reality.  Although I love being in the classroom, I felt like it wasn't a challenge for me anymore.  On a Wednesday in November, I was talking with a friend who suggested I go back to school.  She had observed that I seemed to enjoy being in school (I know that sounds nerdy).  The very next day....out of the blue....my principal came up to me and told me that I should get my administration degree through the Samford cohort program.  Through these two series of events and much prayer, I entered into this Samford cohort program.

To be honest, I'm still very nervous about the possibility of becoming an administrator.  I still love teaching and interacting with students.  However, I truly believe that this is the path God has put me on and I know he will guide me to the place that He has for me.  I've really enjoyed the classes that I've had thus far in the Samford cohort program.  The classes and teachers have helped build confidence and enthusiam in me regarding becoming an administrator.  I look forward to the future and seeing God's plan (and maybe not mine) unfold. 

"'For I know the plans I have for you', declares the Lord, 'plans for good and not harm, to give you a hope and a future'".  Jeremiah 29:11

First Blog Post

I'm excited about starting a blog for my Samford cohort class.  I'm looking forward to reading other people's posts!!!  I have a classroom blog that a friend helped me create, but I still don't feel confident using it.  Hopefully with more practice....I'll get better at it!