Today, we're revisiting our resolutions as part of the #kinderblog challenge. I originally missed the resolution post, so I first wrote about my "resolution" here. My resolution is to abandon my insecurities and be myself even if that means I make a mistake from time to time.
So, how is that going? This week, although very short (stupid winter that won't stop), has been really good in terms of my resolution. Last week, I came up with my big plan to hand the learning over to the kiddos to complete a project. I didn't know if it would be successful and I didn't really know how I would carry it all out, so I didn't do anything with it until this week.
I spent my weekend thinking about and planning this "big plan." I blogged about my plans here. Here's the gist: my students will use PebbleGo to research sea animals. Together, we will use Popplet to create a Popplet with all of the information. Then, the students will become experts on one sea animal and use their information to write their own book. I found my courage, signed up for the computer lab, and went to town.
Let me tell you, yesterday was the greatest day of school so far! The students were so engaged in learning about the sea animals and so excited about the facts they were learning. I can't even count the number of times I heard, "Mrs. Hansen, did you know .........!" They were literally running across the room to share their information with me. For a much more detailed account of this, check out my classroom blog here.
I was blown away. About halfway through, I looked at my assistant and said, "This is awesome!" She smiled and said, "Yes, it is!"
After school, I pushed aside my insecurities again, and I shared this process with my mentor teacher. She asked all kinds of questions and was generally excited about the project as well. When I left her room, she was in the process of brainstorming a way to fit something similar into her lesson plans.
Today is a snow day (again...). I was terribly disappointed when I found out we were canceled. I want to continue this process with my kiddos. Hopefully, they'll be just as excited tomorrow as they were yesterday.
So, in general, am I forgetting my insecurities and being myself even if that means I make a mistake? I think so. I have certainly failed a time or two during this research project, but it is turning out to be a truly engaging experience for my students.
So, how is that going? This week, although very short (stupid winter that won't stop), has been really good in terms of my resolution. Last week, I came up with my big plan to hand the learning over to the kiddos to complete a project. I didn't know if it would be successful and I didn't really know how I would carry it all out, so I didn't do anything with it until this week.
I spent my weekend thinking about and planning this "big plan." I blogged about my plans here. Here's the gist: my students will use PebbleGo to research sea animals. Together, we will use Popplet to create a Popplet with all of the information. Then, the students will become experts on one sea animal and use their information to write their own book. I found my courage, signed up for the computer lab, and went to town.
Let me tell you, yesterday was the greatest day of school so far! The students were so engaged in learning about the sea animals and so excited about the facts they were learning. I can't even count the number of times I heard, "Mrs. Hansen, did you know .........!" They were literally running across the room to share their information with me. For a much more detailed account of this, check out my classroom blog here.
I was blown away. About halfway through, I looked at my assistant and said, "This is awesome!" She smiled and said, "Yes, it is!"
After school, I pushed aside my insecurities again, and I shared this process with my mentor teacher. She asked all kinds of questions and was generally excited about the project as well. When I left her room, she was in the process of brainstorming a way to fit something similar into her lesson plans.
Today is a snow day (again...). I was terribly disappointed when I found out we were canceled. I want to continue this process with my kiddos. Hopefully, they'll be just as excited tomorrow as they were yesterday.
So, in general, am I forgetting my insecurities and being myself even if that means I make a mistake? I think so. I have certainly failed a time or two during this research project, but it is turning out to be a truly engaging experience for my students.