What if I fall? Why am I posting this? I know some people are popping onto my blog to see what a 21st Century Classroom looks like, and what a teacher needs to do to become a teacher of one. You must try! You cannot succeed at something unless you try! If you don't put yourself at a bit of risk, you will never know. Success comes from being brave enough to try new things. I am not a 20 year old teacher. My own children (ages 22 and 18) laugh when they think of me being in a 21st Century Classroom. You see, I'm 51 (or 49 plus tax). I have always been persistent. I want to learn new things, try new things, and figure out better ways of doing what I love - teach children. Children love technology, and they love to move. I needed to figure out how I could combine what they need with what I could do - LEARN! :) I spent the summer on the computer - Twitter was, and IS my best friend for learning. Facebook chat groups for first grade teachers has been wonderful, as well as Pinterest and Teachers Pay Teachers. But Twitter has taught me the most. Find people to follow, ask questions, and learn from them. Invite yourself to EdCamps, and learn, learn, learn. Most of all, do not be afraid of the technology. It's pretty hard to break most of it, and if you don't play around with it, you won't learn what it has to offer. Another piece of advice is to take on only a few new technologies at a time. It's overwhelming if you try to do too much, especially while you are setting routines with your students. Lastly, have fun with it! I'm not sure who is having more fun with some of the new discoveries we're making - me, the students, or the parents! We've created open communication with our families in almost all of our ventures, and yes, it's a risk! But, oh, the rewards are sweet!!!!
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