Blogging about Blogging

What I want to do: I love blogging.  The summer of 2011 I started this blog in hopes to share my art journaling ideas.  Here's my first post ever.  I hope I've gotten better at blogging?  I loved having a platform to share my work.  The fall of 2012 I studied abroad in Costa Rica.  I used my blog to share my travel stories and adventures with my family and friends at home.  Now, I have graduated from college, and I am pursing a teaching career.

I could have made a different blog separate for teaching, or my study abroad experience.  BUT I want this blog to show my evolution, not just as an art journaler, or traveler, or teacher.  I want people to see my growth as a 20-something trying to find my way in the world.

Blogging has really impacted my life, and I want my students to be able to blog.  It is a great way to practice writing skills, and it gives a real, live audience.

While scanning teacher blogs (which seems to be all I've been doing lately) I found THIS amazing video: Jujitsuing Reality.  I watched it in bed this morning and cried multiple times.  The power of writing is pretty freaking amazing.

This video from David Theriault talks about the importance of blogging.  He wants his kids to do amazing things NOW.  He wants the audience to be the world.  He wants his students to have a community no matter where they are.  He talks about using REFRAMING to have them connect their student passions with what's going on in the classroom.  One quote I loved from him: "You don't cry unless you are invested."  Here is a post about blogging from his own site.

I'm trying to figure out how to incorporate blogging into the curriculum for next year.  Theriault has his kids use whatever frame they want to view and connect what is going on in the classroom.  I've also been thinking about doing a Genius Hour or Passion Projects with the boys.  Blogging could be a neat way for them to set goals and reflect on the process.  So many neat ideas.  Now it's just figuring out how to incorporate the best practices for my students...

the DR

What's coming up around the corner:  I will be moving to the Dominican Republic on August 12th.  When I tell people about my plans, it's still difficult for me to believe that I am setting off on another adventure abroad.  Kind of jokingly in September I started praying that a job opportunity would fall in my lap.  I had no idea where I wanted to teach.  I was unsure if I should be with middle schoolers or high schoolers.  I didn't know if I wanted to be close to home and my family, or a little further away in Oregon, or abroad somewhere.

My old elementary school teacher Ms. McD sent me this Facebook message:

Hi Hillary! Joy is looking for a teacher for three 6th/7th grade boys (American children of missionaries). I think it would be for a year or more and they would pay a living stipend. Would you or any other young teachers you know be interested? It seems like a great opportunity...

It brought a smile to my face that my past teacher thought of me.  And little did I know that conversation in February would point me in the direction of the DR for the year.  After corresponding back and forth with Joy, we set up an interview over Facetime.  I talked to Joy and Rosa (the other mom) for an hour in the spring.  They seemed to like me enough, because they offered me the job of teaching their boys!  It was such an amazing opportunity.  I get to travel, see another country, use my Spanish, grow in my faith, and teach.  

Andrew, Isaac, and Joseph will be my three students this year.  Andrew and Joseph are brothers, and they belong to Rosa.  Isaac is Joy's son.  I will be teaching them in English.  I'll have to figure out how to teach math, science, the history of the Dominican Republic, English, and Spanish grammar.  I'm excited and nervous.  It will be nice to only have to grade three sets of papers/hw/essays in comparison to the 110 students I had last spring, but I am sure the year will offer other challenges that I can't see coming now.  

From: here

I will be living in Santiago, one of the largest cities in the country.  I'll be living in an apartment with a roommate.  Amanda is from Indiana and has been living in the DR for the past six years.  She teaches at the girls school that Joy runs.  I am extremely happy I will have a roommate who knows the ropes and can answer my questions about life in the DR.  The upper right apartment is ours!  Two bedroom, one bath, and it has the cutest patio.

I've been talking to Amanda, and Corinne, another girl from my city that spent 16 days in the DR this past spring.  They both have such a love for the people and the country.  My excitement is growing every day.

Joy works for New Hope, or Nueva Esperanza.  It's a pretty incredible school for girls with a pretty incredible story.  They are in the process of expanding.  DONATE HERE to help them raise the funds needed.  READ HERE for more information about the amazing school.  Hopefully I'll be able to spend some time in the barrio while I'm in the DR.

So please please be praying for me as I set off on another adventure of a lifetime.  Pray that I can teach those boys to the best of my ability.  Pray they like me.  Pray that I can make a positive impact on their lives and the lives of people around me.  Pray for New Hope.  Pray they will raise the funds needed.  Pray for the families that I will be working for.  Pray for my roommate and I, that we would connect, learn, and grow together.  Pray that I make friends.  Pray that I do not feel alone when I am there.  Pray that I will not miss home and my family too much.  Pray that my Spanish improves drastically so I can understand the DR accent.  :)  Pray that God would reveal His will for my future.  Pray that I would learn and love each day.  Mi versiculo para el año: "Mira que te mando que te esfuerces, y seas valiente; no temas ni desmayes, porque yo el SEÑOR tu Dios estoy contigo en donde quiera que vayas." Josué 1:9

From: here

Excited for the journey to continue.  Keep reading for more information about my travels, teaching and what God's doing in my life.

Con mucho amor.

Love Does

What I'm reading: I just finished reading Love Does by Bob Goff.  It took me one day to read.  I gobbled up his words, and I felt like Jesus was speaking right to me while I sat curled up in my blanket.  Lots of the quotes and stories resonated with me.  Some connected with my heart for teaching, while others made me think of my love and passion for traveling and language.  

One of the chapters is titled "Lose the cape."  Goff discusses how Jesus wants us to be secretly incredible people.  He doesn't want us to scream or announce when we do these amazing feats, He wants us to say nothing to anyone (Mark 1:44).  This made me think of teaching.  There were so many days I felt like a secret super hero, quietly saving the world, even when I was thinking I didn't make an impact.

God is a really incredible teacher.  And I am a really poor student.  How many times does He teach us the same lessons, over and over again?  I sometimes don't listen to Him, and I fill my life with distractions.  He still calls me His daughter, His princess, and His beloved.  How often do I still care about students who drive me insane?  The answer: not enough.  I had that revelation last spring during my student teaching.  I never really thought about the direct correlation between how I want to teach and how God teaches me, and the world.  Challenging jobs for the both of us.  

God loves answering our impossible prayers.  Sometimes it feels like when I pray, well, I don't think God is listening.  But I know He is.  I've gotten so much better at praying honestly.  I'll sometimes yell at Him.  Or cry.  Or just sit there.  Because sometimes I just feel like I don't have words for how many incredible things He is doing in my life.  Arranging and rearranging things in ways that only He can. 

The quote above reminds me of this blog post written by pastor Jarrid Wilson.  It's all about stepping out and how God uses change to help transform our lives.  This next phase of my life is all about change.

The epilogue of the book ties back to the title - LOVE DOES.  Goff asks the question "so what should I do?"  I just graduated from college.  I have my whole life ahead of me.  I'm trying to figure out where Jesus wants me to go.  Goff suggests trying to figure out what the next step is.  He writes, "For most of us, that next step is as easy as picking up the phone, sending an e-mail, writing a letter, BUYING A PLANE TICKET, or just showing up.  After that, things start happening.  Things that perhaps have God's fingerprints on them.  You'll know which ones do and which ones don't.  Pick the ones that do" (216).  What a powerful part in the book.  So here I am, God, with a plane ticket to the Dominican Republic for a year.  I think God has some pretty big things up His sleeves for me.  Someone recently told me that they hope I have the strength to do what God is asking of me.  That is going to be my word for the year.

From: here (really great blog post, btw)

God's plan for our lives is pretty simple Goff says.

<< your loves + your passions + your interests + what God said He wants us to be about = the answer >>

What I'm listening to: Suits has an exceptional selection of music each week.  Here are some of my favorites.

All I Want - Dawn Golden

Love Me Again - John Newman

For My Help - Hayden Calnin

Be What You Want - Epic Pop

What's inspiring me: 

From: me, here, and here
Con mucho amor.

New Technology

What I'm learning about: After the #tlap Twitter chat last night there were two resources I wanted to explore.  People passed along ideas and tips for using them.

@sapiascience suggested I look at Cybraryman for Padlet resources and ideas: here
@julnilsmith shared her Livebinder with me that has a plethora of websites and resources.  I might need to figure out how to make a Livebinder myself!

COGGLE: This blog post goes into detail about how to use it.  It is essentially a mind mapping website that is clear, modern and easy to use.  The blog post talks about how the teacher only graded the student's coggle, she didn't make her students write the full essay.  She connects using coggle in the classroom to CCSS.  It is a great tool to use when collaborating with others.  You can download the coggle to your computer and save it.  Coggles could be placed into powerpoints, word documents, or e-mails.

• Notetaking
• Mindmapping
• Brainstorming for projects/papers
• Reviewing concepts before a test 
• Group projects/brainstorming 

PADLET: I had NO idea how to even begin, so I watched this youtube video that broke down how to use Padlet, especially for a classroom setting.  There are so many neat ways to incorporate this in the classroom.  You can create a custom URL and allow other students to add to the website as well.  I can upload a file that students can access, and I can post pictures.  The files/comments/photos/docs can be organized in a timeline fashion or they can be randomly arranged.  

• Timelines
• Brainstorming
• Book reviews 
• Place to collect and list the books they have read during the year 
• Discussions 
• Sharing resources and embedding the Padlet into a blog (for a future post possibly?)
• Explaining assignments and including links and assignments sheets for projects 
• Notetaking 
• Collecting feedback 
• Practice quizzes 
• Map of the world-where have you been, mapping the different locations of characters from a specific book 
• Watching/sharing videos 
• Preassessment/KWL chart 
• Displaying student work and sharing with parents 
• Formative assessment tool or exit slip for the end of the day/class period
• Presentations in the classroom 

How are you using new resources in the classroom? 

English Teacher Blogs: Part II

What I'm reading:  I needed to find some more time to type up the rest of the English teacher blogs I love.  Basically, we were leaving for Trivia Tuesday and my mom yelled at me to get off the computer.  Even though I've graduated from college, still have to listen to my parents since I'm under their roof.  And everyone and their mother thinks I look like I am 16.  Here's the second part of the list.  Again, the sites are not in any particular order, but the ones that have many resources I love have a * next to them.  :)

• Confessions of a Middle School English Teacher: This blog is more about comical stories from a middle school teacher, not as many teaching ideas.  This funny post about how handwriting matters made me chuckle. And this post about his students trying to set him up.  Oh how I've been in his shoes.  
• So, will this be graded? What a perfect name for a blog.  If only I had a quarter for every time a student asked me this.  Another witty blog with ramblings and stories from the crazy mouths of middle schoolers.  
• Huffenglish: This website has a wealth of information and ideas about English education and technology.  Dana Huff has so many ideas and a long list of other bloggers she follows.  Such a great resource.  She has been blogging for 9 years...yes, you read that correctly.  NINE YEARS!  This article is about Project: Utopia that she did with her students. Interesting idea about using digital portfolios in class.  She has lots of resources for teaching Shakespeare.  Here is another article she wrote about teaching Shakespeare.  This is a link to her Frankenstein unit.  I could spend hours exploring her site. 
• *Accidental English Teacher: This website is written by Cheryl, a longtime teacher.  She has lots of current practices and ideas throughout her blog.  This article about readicide hit home with me after reading the same books: Readicide by Kelly Gallagher and Book Whisperer by Donalyn Miller.  This article about standards-based grading also resonated with me after discussing proficiency-based grading with my mentor teachers last semester.  In this article she talks about trying to find just the right balance between everything in an English class.  Each of her articles really resonates with struggles and ideas I have thought about in my own teaching. 
• *Teaching 365: This is a really great blog written by an 8th grade teacher at an urban prep school.  There are some really awesome ideas and links for blogging with students, ideas about teaching reading and writing, and funny stories woven throughout. 
• Mr. B-G's English Blog: This blog written by a high school English and journalism teacher has many ideas for teachers to use.  Go to the "English resources" page and you'll find many ideas for various novels and topics, including 1984, Brave New World, vocabulary, and poetry. 
• Shakespeare in the Classroom: A TON of resources for teaching Shakespeare.
• Evolving English Teacher:  This article about blackout poetry would be neat to incorporate into the classroom.  This  article about using poetry in the classroom, and this link to a book that inspires students.  
• Empathic Teacher: Jennifer teaches upper high school English.  
• The Real Deahl: This blog has lots of links and photos of worksheets from the classroom.  She has ideas about vocabulary, collaboration, AoW (article of the week), and LOTS of writing ideas. 
• *The Hard Core English Teacher:  This blog has SOO many ideas.  Here are some of my favorite posts.  This article about the world's greatest Shakespeare play was interesting.  Research paper bingo is a brilliant idea.  This chart helps students who use the word "very" in their writing too much.  Fav books to teach is another list that made me want to create a list of my own.  
• Learning from my mistakes: I discovered this blog when I read the post Preparing for the end, which gave various ideas for ending a novel.  She also included a hilarious rule guide for teaching Of Mice and Men that made me laugh and would cause students to tune in. 
• Cool Cat Teacher blog recently changed to THIS new site.  Here are some of the older posts that I loved on the blogspot.  This post about using music in the classroom was inspiring.  I love listening to music, and I really want to discover how to weave music into my lessons.  This post mentions my favorite educational book: Teach like a Pirate.  One last post I loved talked about the challenges of teaching: paddle on.
• Love, Teach: This blog is written by a four-year middle school teacher in an urban environment.  Her hilarious posts like, Things You Would Have Heard Me Say in my Classroom on Thursday and 7 Things You and I Both Need This Teacher Appreciation Week will leave you chuckling and nodding your head in agreement.  This post about what the students wrote to their African pen pals actually made me lol.  She also has good ideas like the raise the roof game and how to handle Valentines Day as a teacher.   
• AJ Juliani: Lots of articles and thoughts on education.  
• **Teach 4 Real:  This is one of my FAVORITE websites.  Matt Amaral is an English teacher in San Francisco.  I discovered his blog when I was looking up ideas and resources for Romeo and Juliet.  His site focuses on teaching in challenging urban schools, but there are SO MANY ideas and concepts that can be applied to all classrooms.  Take the time to explore his ideas, units and opinions.  Really good site.  

So there's a few resources to keep you all busy the next few months.  What are your favorite resources to use as an English teacher?  Any favorite people to follow on Twitter or Pinterest?  

English Teacher Blogs: Part I

What I'm reading:  Recently on Twitter someone asked me what English teacher blogs I read and follow for ideas.  I decided it would be a good idea to simply type up a list of some of my favorites.  These are in no particular order, but I did put a little * next to the ones you'll need extra time to scan through. :)

• Teaching Teens in the 21st: This blog is written by an 8th grade Language Arts teacher.  I came across this article about her interactions with Kelly Gallagher.  He is one of my favorite educational authors, so I knew I would love reading her ideas. 
• *The Creativity Core: This blog is written by AP Language and Creative Writing teacher.  He popped up on my Pinterest page, and I read some of his blogs about mind mapping that blew my mind.  I LOVE combining art and creativity in the classroom.
• Teachers in Tiaras: Tumbler full of ideas for the classroom. 
• *Secondary Solutions: This blog is written by a middle/high school English Language Arts teacher and has a TON of ideas and posts.  This post about low tech, high visual lessons is similar to the mind mapping idea that I love.  This post is a little inspiration for when teaching feels impossible.  This post that lists a few student apps that work well in education.  This post about how to take notes in your books without making the librarian mad.  This post with tips for new teachers.  Basically, save a few hours for diving into this website.  
• Teaching like it's 2999: This website is not written specifically by an English teacher, but she is a technology guru.  I am trying to learn how to incorporate technology in my classroom, so this blog has many ideas for teachers and schools.  
• The Middle School Mouth: This blogger teaches 7th grade LA and Science.  Although it has not been updated too recently, there is still a wealth of ideas to dig through. 
• *Laura Randazzo: The headline of her website reads "On a mission to prevent English teacher burnout."  She has a million ideas and resources for teachers to browse.  Here are some creative writing ideas.  Here are a couple fun and creative writing ideas to accompany a literature novel unit.  Here is a classroom management tool that she uses.  This post is all about adding music to the classroom, which I love.  :) 
• The Readiness is All : This blog is written by a high school English teacher.  Lots of thoughts, opinions, and ideas on all things education and English related.  He's been blogging since October 2012 so there is a lot to look at on his blog. 
• Teach it Write: Middle/high school English Language Arts blog ideas. She incorporates CCSS and interactive lessons to share with students. 
• The English Teacher Files: Another blog full of ideas.  This post about how 70-page spirals saved her life in teaching has a good system for the classroom.  Here is an in depth article about classroom procedures.  

Tomorrow I'll post some more of my favorite English teacher blogs.  Sometimes I wonder what teachers did before the world wide web.  

CR Round 3

What I've been doing: I just got back from another trip to Costa Rica.  I never get tired of going there and spending time with family and friends.  My sister decided to study abroad in CR for a month this summer.  We went down a week early before her program and showed her around parts of the country I love so much.

Wednesday: Spent time in San Ramon, got a maracuya milkshake, coffee at Lucy's, church that night.  I think sis was overwhelmed with the Spanish.  That night I was texting my friend in English and I could not remember how to structure the sentence in English!  It felt good to speak Spanish 24/7 again.

 
Thursday: Trip to Manuel Antonio.  We went to the crocodile bridge, my flip flop broke, sis and I parasailed, we saw monkeys, swam in the rain, body surfed, watched the sunset.

Friday: Walking around San Jose, bought a stuffed sloth, hot springs, sleeping at la finca.

Saturday: Started the day with ziplining, then stopped by the river, and then watched the CR vs Netherlands soccer game.  Devastating loss after double overtime and penalty kicks.  Movie night and looking at San Ramon from my favorite viewpoint.

Sunday: Church, family lunch, playing cards, movie night.

Monday: Coffee with a friend, dropped sis off at the airport to meet with her study abroad group, mall in Heredia, English class with my brother.

Tuesday: Spent all day in San Ramon with the people I love, making crafts, playing cards, eating dinner at a friend's house.  Heart to hearts with my host sister.

Wednesday: I always leave a piece of my heart there.  Until next time Costa Rica...

PS: Shout out to my Aunt Terry for reminding me that people actually do read my blog.  :)

Con mucho amor.

Twitter

What I'm learning: WOW.  I just finished my first Twitter chat with educators across the globe.  I've had a personal Twitter for several years now.  Last semester I used Twitter to connect with students and share homework assignments during my time student teaching.  We did class discussions and I had the students tweet their thoughts and opinions when they weren't sharing aloud in class.  This summer I have been learning how to use Twitter for professional development.  I got up bright and early to participate in the #nt2t (New Teachers 2 Twitter) chat.  It's Saturday mornings 9am EST, aka 6am in Oregon.  When people say that "teachers have summers off" they do not know the amount of time and energy teachers put in over the summer as well.  I have been working hard this summer to read, connect and grow professionally.

This morning I learned about Evernote.  One teacher sent me the link to THIS conference presentation about Evernote that I need to watch.  Someone else sent me the link to an e-book about Evernote: The Complete Guide to Evernote in Education.

People also shared their blogs.  Here are a few that I want to check out.
http://creatingsuperheroes.wordpress.com/
http://adolescential.blogspot.com/
http://btcostello05.wordpress.com/
http://tritonkory.wordpress.com/
http://principalhowell.blogspot.com/
http://thecompellededucator.blogspot.com/

Here is a spreadsheet with all the different Twitter chats about education.  One teacher asked me to join the #tlap chat on Mondays.  Teach like a Pirate by Dave Burgess is a book I am currently reading.  It's SO GOOD.  Lots of neat ways to improve as a teacher.

I only wish I would have had the courage to try out Twitter as a teacher earlier.  I can only imagine how much I would have grown and improved by now.  My first chat was exciting, fast-paced, and overwhelming.  Connecting with other teachers was incredibly fulfilling.  I am not working for a specific school district next year, so it is neat to start to form a community.