I have been a first grade teacher for 6 years now. I LOVE what I do and I'm pretty confident in my skills. However, throughout the past few years, my passion for using technology in the classroom has gotten pushed to the side...Life got in the way. I spent so much of my time being driven by what I had to teach and not thinking about how I could use MY passions (and my masters degree in instructional technology) to help with this. I was getting bored...and my perfectionist ways were getting in MY way. I have always been a perfectionist in the classroom, and have never wanted to try new things if I felt like I would fail. I would work on things "behind the scenes" until I felt they were perfect enough to share with others.
This summer, I accomplished one of my goals and made it to the ISTE conference in San, Antonio. It was the best conference I have EVER been too. I met so many amazing people and got to know people that I already knew even better! I learned SO much. ISTE re-light my passion for technology and inspired me to "MAKE MISTAKES". You learn from your mistakes. Mistakes make you stronger. We tell our students that it's okay to make mistakes all of the time, yet, I've been afraid to make mistakes. I've been afraid to ask for help, admit I'm not perfect at something and admit to trying to "figure it out".
So...starting here, I will make mistakes. I will try new things. I will push my students to do things that might not work. I will use technology in ways that will push my students (and myself). I will push my students to be more creative thinkers. Some things will work amazing-ly and something will fail...and that will be...okay.
This video really inspired me to change it up, make mistakes and DREAM BIG...
ISTE 2013 Closing Keynote
So, here's to trying new things, making mistakes, being inspired, and using all of this to make our students the best learners they can be!
