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"I need a short Bio and a photo..."

3/28/2017

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So I got talked into leading a couple of sessions at a district PD next week. Easy-peasy.  Make a couple of screencasts, make a slide presentation and put it on a new Google Site, maybe.  No problem.  Then I get an email from our tech guy who is in charge of organizing this PD and the email says "I need a short bio -- 4 to 8 sentences AND a photo to put on a poster". 

4 to 8 sentences about me? 

So what exactly do I write about myself?  I hate this!  "I have been teaching for 20-something years. Some years in this district and some in that one.  I enjoy teaching because I am passionate about waking up little minds.  I have led many workshops and I love teaching teachers. Blah blah blah blah."       Seriously?!
That bio could be for any teacher anywhere.  

Here's the bio I WANT to write...

"Most days I love teaching.  I feed off the energy of those little human beings that run around my room.  I can get almost all of those little people to do what I want at any given moment.  Every once in a while, I still have nightmares of children standing on their desks screaming and throwing paper airplanes.  (Come on...you KNOW you've had that dream too!) I love challenging my students and then seeing the pride on their faces when they make it to the end of the challenge!  I love struggling all school year long and then all of a sudden, I notice that my classroom seems to run itself.  The kids start looking up stuff on their own, they start taking ownership of their learning and spend their "Fun Netbook Time" researching and creating things that show what they have learned.
I have fully embraced my inner nerd! I love Star Wars, Big Bang Theory, ElfQuest and making my computer do what I want it to!  My taste in music ranges from Led Zeppelin to Oingo Boingo to Desert Dwellers.  I am a mom, so I have no hobbies unless you count doing dishes and chauffeuring my kids to and from their various activities and doctor/dental appointments.
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Then there are THOSE days...you know what I  mean.  Those days when THAT student tells me "at my other school we did it THIS way," and I look at that kid and say "Well, AFTER you go to college and get YOUR teaching degree; you can come back and tell me what to do.  For now, go do your work!"  THOSE days when I have to say "We don't lick our desks!" And yes, I really DID say that once!

THOSE days when I can barely get my teenager out of the bathroom, into the car, deliver him to his school and make it to my school before MY bell rings. THOSE days when there are 1,000 other things to do that don't have anything at all to do with teaching my students to write, read or solve problems. THOSE days when the kids seem to ask every bizarre question under the sun--none of which have ANYTHING to do with what we are learning!  THOSE days when I really, REALLY want to quit my job and drive that Zamboni floor cleaning machine at Lowes!"
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But MOST days, I love teaching.

So how's THAT for a 4 to 8 sentence bio?
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Making Stars Out of SPIFFY Students 

3/24/2017

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Every school year I proclaim myself to be the "Spiffy Google Queen"...secretly I know the kids love it when I do this, as I do it with much flourish and hand waving-around. But recently, I was "owned" my one of my 2nd graders.  

Jake...the True Google King

Every year, I seem to have one or two students who shine with "googliness" and this year that student is Jake.  Jake VERY quickly became a Tech-X-Pert in my 2nd/3rd grade class.  He would go home and make all kinds of Googly stuff and share it with me.  I would get emails at 9:00pm and it would be him sharing something with  me.  A Google Drawing, Google doc and many, many Google slide presentations. 
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 In the beginning, he loved to make Google forms for his friends.  I was thoroughly impressed with that!  Then one evening, he shared a Google Site with me.  Yes, a Google SITE!  I thought to myself, "no way!".  
​Have you ever tried to make a Google Site before?  Holy cow! Even I (the self-proclaimed "Google Queen") found Google Sites tedious, difficult and confusing to say the least! 
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New Google Sites

As it turns out, Google completely re-vamped sites!  It is SO simple to use now! Here is a video of Jake talking us through how to get started with Google Sites. It's a bit blurry, but since he's a 2nd grader showing off his "Googliness", I think you all will forgive me. 
I LOVE making Google Sites now and I owe it all to Jake! So, thanks Jake...you truly are the "Google King" in my book! ​
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    Author

    I'm a nerdy 3rd grade teacher who has a passion for tech, Google, and coffee.  
    ​The rants you find here are my own and do not reflect anything other than the thoughts that are swirling around in my head at that very moment! 

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