Off and Running

Hello to those of you who have chosen to visit my blog. It seems a bit egotistical to think that anyone would be interested in my thoughts; yet, I find myself interested in those of others, so we'll see what happens. I am both curious and fearful as I begin this journey. I cannot deny that I am intrigued by technology. As a teacher, I even feel an obligation to try out the various tools available. The fearful side of me gets paranoid and wonders if it's wise. How much of myself do I want to put out there? But excitement wins over caution. (I've always been such a reckless person. Not!)

This week our new school superintendent spoke to our faculty and told us we need to learn to teach in ways that are relevant to our students. I admit, I had a momentary reaction that said, "Yeah, let's add that to our already full plates." Fortunately, that didn't last long. The creative part of me, the part that gets bored almost as easily as the students said, "What if . . . What if I created a blog? What if students could get involved in discussions about the things they are learning? And with that thought, I am off and running. Unknowingly, that tiny thought, that bit of enthusiasm for something new in the classroom, has unwittingly committed me to another year of teaching when thoughts of retirement loomed large.

And so, this blog is where I will begin. I will learn to navigate the tools and perfect my layout. I will share many things with my visitors, but my goal will be to master this forum and be ready to use it in the classroom.