Teach.com' s SXSW Teach of the Day

     I had a great opportunity to go to SXSWedu this year. Attending was one of my goals for the year, so I am on track for doing great things in education this year. You can view the article here. 

     Thank you to everyone who has supported me and given me cool ideas to incorporate in my classroom!

Q: Who Run The World? A:Tech Grrrls

Fun fact about me that also makes me cringe at times--

      I have never been good at tech stuff. I have had males in my life that were excellent at all things related to technology, but they never included me in learning these skills. Being young, it never occurred to me to advocate for myself. It was a boy's club and I wasn't invited.

     Something changed during the last two years. My lead IT was a woman. Not just that, she was a knowledgeable, open minded, and friendly IT. I had never met such a lovely unicorn in my life! I started looking into what she wrote about in her emails, PD sessions, and general information about technology as it related to the classroom. I pick her brain WAY too much and am sure at this point I am coming across as annoying. But I know she is always there for me to learn from or bounce ideas off of.

     Last year, I was overwhelmed with my program. It is all paper! Pictures, data sheets, graphs, lesson instruction, visuals....ALL PAPER BASED. It was a lot to keep track of and I often found myself stuck taking home cartloads of data to analyze. My thoughts were "new program, new school, new district; I am not ready to take risks!"

     In August, I decided to incorporate as much technology into my lessons and data collections as possible. I started by making blank copies of all data sheets organized in my drive. Followed that by taking at least 3 technology PDs a week. This was a lot of commitment because I am a mom, I teach, and I am working on my doctoral dissertation. Somehow I made it work! Now I see other grrrls I work with asking me questions or for help in general. I am glad they have a desire to learn. This tech journey allowed me to see I am not great at it all, and that is okay! Practice makes perfect, so I just keep making interactive lessons my students can enjoy. Without the support of Lisa, Shannon, or Amy I would not have a desire to know about technological skills and various ways to increase efficiency in my classroom.

Topic: How did a "bad" student who lived a punk lifestyle become a teacher?

     In true punk fashion, society looks at my tattoos or hears my music for the first time and negatively paints a portrait of what they think my value is. I like that this is done. I am highly educated and often underestimated  by peers. 

   I never thought applying myself in the classroom was rewarding. Why do the extra work when I could procrastinate and get it done within seconds of a due date? My teachers mainly had only poor comments about my work, citizenship, and demeanor towards them. They were the people forcing the system down my throat via lectures and reciting the same key concepts for the last twenty years. I did not want to be apart of that lifestyle. I wanted to foster a desire to do something greater than acceptance of those same lectures. In my early twenties, I decided that I wanted to teach and light a fire within each graduating class; let them see a different face for education; be the standard of independence and substance; teach them to be both a successful bookworm and a nurturing individual in society simultaneously. 

     When I was in school I remember how difficult I found STEAM. On the most basic level I understood any STEAM class concept, but beyond that I felt lost. It wasn't until I was older that I realized I did not lack the ability to be successful in STEAM because I was stupid, I lacked the confidence. Girls often lack confidence in the more analytical subjects. I wanted this way of thinking to ed with me. 

    I decided if I was going to teach, I was going to have to stay in school the rest of my life. I couldn't be a standard to the next generation of educated women if I planned on peaking at any point. I had to constantly be on the incline. Currently, I am continuing on my path to earning my PhD in Behavioral Psychology in spite of massive health setbacks, relationships, and moving cross-country a handful of times. I am proud to be earning something to advance my own opportunities, as well as opportunities for girls growing up now. 

     So, that is how I chose teaching. It allows me to ensure that the future, the one I want to live in, is empowered, confident, compassionate, and educated.