September 22 Session

I feel soooooooooooooooooooo much better after today's discussion. I have been doing a lot of thinking, making changes, talking to people, working with students but felt like I was letting you all down as a member of this group. I wasn't getting the blogging ("sharing") piece accomplished. Frustration was setting in big time!!!! I guess as educators, of course we would want to model responsible student behavior. I just could not keep up with it all. Thanks to all of you today for the feedback. Nice to know that others are feeling as I am - oops - WAS. I CAN do this and WILL continue the best that I can and try not to worry about what DOESN'T get done, but focus on what DOES get done. Our directive for today was a perfect example. As department chairs we were asked to turn in what our PLC meetings would involve. I had that all figured out and turned in. At 3:00 this morning I thought, no, we are going to spend one of the PLC sessions just working with the new projectors installed in our rooms. As a department we just went through the steps of using the projector and talked about various ways to make use of this fabulous tool. We're excited! We have been lacking the physical technology in our area and are ready to put all of this to good use. Being a "visual" as well as a "hands on" subject area, we will now be able to share visuals with our classes as we are talking in a very time efficient manner. How GREAT!!!! My mind is just racing with so many ideas that I need to slow down and sort all of this out. Take it a step at a time. I need to visit "my basement" now and then and find that balance in teaching and learning. I guess the most important part of this whole process is just trying new things and about growing. How can that not help but to be a better situation for my students. I know that I will not live long enough to be the ultimate teacher that I always strive to be...........maybe after all these years, that's what I've finally discovered. I feel so fortunate to be with such a wonderful group of educators at Arapahoe. I value you all so very much. Thanks for what you give me every day! On that note, I've said enough . . . . have a great weekend!