I really liked the format for today. It was nice to discuss the topics with my peers and hear their opinions. I enjoyed the time I was able to spend on exploring Google Drive. I have been using Google Drive for the past three years and didn't even realize all the tools that were available. Now I am filtering my email, organizing my documents in folders, creating surveys, making presentations, and I know that there is so much more.
I am still thinking about the question about compartmentalizing work. Working in kindergarten I found I could finish most of my planning before I left school for the day and walk away but often I am unable to shut off the emotional pull. I worry about "my kids" when I go home at night. It is usually just one or two kids that I am truly concerned about and wonder how their night is going (did they have dinner?, is someone home to tuck them in?). I struggle with how to separate my personal and professional life. Any tips? I sometimes think about how nice it would be to have a job where I can clock out at the end of the day and not have to think about anything related to my job while I am off the clock.
So many choices to explore this evening. I think I could watch TED talks all night. There are so many inspirational people on there. I watched the two by Richard St. John on success, which I connected with the JK Rowling commencement speech about the benefits of failure. Both hit rock bottom and had to climb their way back up. They both spoke about focus and determination/persistence. They were both passionate about what they were doing. Rowling mentions "stripping away the inessential" to find her focus. It gave me time to think about how we measure success in school and again about shifting our thinking as a society about what success really means and how it could (and should) vary. How do we guide students to their passions? How do we teach them that failure is beneficial and not something to be feared?
Google Lit Trips:
Incredible! I didn't even know this existed. What a great way to make literature more meaningful and relevant for the students. It would be such a useful tool in the classroom and help students (and teachers) visualize places they may have never been before or see these places in a new way.
FYI - Something I found while exploring Twitter, from Edutopia:
10 Traits of an Encouraging Classroom
right there with you re: concern(s) about students... sometimes you just can't shut it off - especially if a student has confided in you and you're aware of the crap they're experiencing on a day-to-day basis... i've had kids hike up to my house and stay over bc parents were suddenly "gone" and the house was locked.. :-(
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