I am more ready to teach this year than I have been in the past three years - and it is exciting. The classes I teach and the students I have already stand out among the most interesting and engaged that I've had. One case in point is the willingness of students to embrace the learning community we are trying to develop. While setting up our Weebly websites the atmosphere became one of students helping students and I am reminded of my NWP training. Teachers helping teachers is the main calling card of any writing project teacher consultant. How lucky am I to have students who have already clung to this vital learning practice?
It doesn't always work out that way, but I have been intentional about creating a positive learning environment.
For the past three years I have conducted all of my classes in the Media Center. I love the flexibility of learning environments the Media Center provides because I don't have soft seating and large tables in my classroom. That said, I really didn't like checking out computer lab space every single week. Not to mention the disdain I felt from colleagues who didn't plan ahead.
This year we will be in room 202. I was surprised how much I missed my classroom - it feels like home. And it is nice not feeling like a vagabond scrounging for learning space.
Hopefully, my classes can maintain the delicate balance of fun in learning and intellectual stimulation.
I intend to make it so.
It doesn't always work out that way, but I have been intentional about creating a positive learning environment.
For the past three years I have conducted all of my classes in the Media Center. I love the flexibility of learning environments the Media Center provides because I don't have soft seating and large tables in my classroom. That said, I really didn't like checking out computer lab space every single week. Not to mention the disdain I felt from colleagues who didn't plan ahead.
This year we will be in room 202. I was surprised how much I missed my classroom - it feels like home. And it is nice not feeling like a vagabond scrounging for learning space.
Hopefully, my classes can maintain the delicate balance of fun in learning and intellectual stimulation.
I intend to make it so.