The end of the beginning...

I found that blogging was not as easy for me as I thought it would be. The free format of it had me wondering if I was on the right track or not. My tech savvy students would tell me just to go with it and not stress out. None of them blog, but they are significantly attached to Facebook and would be "lost" without it. When I brought up the idea of using blogs as a manner of writing for class they were interested, as well as disappointed because it wouldn't be their class that got to start the process. I told them they should try it out anyways. With that being said I have been back and forth about maintaining this blog after the course ends. I am still trying to decide. Maybe by the time I finish this blog I will be able to give an honest answer.

I am extremely excited to say that I registered to attend a workshop being presented by Kyle Beers and Robert Probst!!! I got the email notification last week and contacted my supervisor immediately. It is in October but I already got my spot reserved!!! I have never been so excited and I have been to several workshops in the last year. I just had to share that with you.

As I have completed this course and blog I have found myself transforming from a Hirsch disguised as
a Delpit, to a true Delpit/Gatto/Gee mix. I have become excited about teaching history with literacy as a foundation in it. I have learned both new and obvious ways to give my students more of a voice in their learning as well as our classroom. I think the real theme of my blog as been my growth and understanding of who I am as a teacher. Howard Moskowitz is also now one of my new inspirations, and I have taken to keeping a Pepsi label on my desk as a reminder that nothing and no one is perfect.


 Students and educators come in a variety too!


I have found myself carrying my journal again, writing while my students are just as I read when they have DEAR time. I have talked with my students about the difference between the typical old school
writing because the teacher says you have to for the test and writing to communicate so that they can express their thoughts,  persuade someone to hear their opinion and so much more. I have enjoyed knowing that there are ways to teach the standards without having to teach to the test.

I have learned that as a teacher I don't have all the answers, and it is okay not to. That I can learn along with my students. I have become comfortable with that. I can't wait to see what my students want to learn and to discover it with them.

I think that I will maintain my blog to help me with my discoveries. To assist me in my being open to learning and to remind me that even "old dogs" can learn new tricks. Maybe I will create an Edublog and link the two so that I share my learning from this class with my students. I am thankful for that ability.