Beam Me Up, Scotty!

I've been working on an online Professional Development course through my district. It's called "11 Tools for the 21st Century."

There are so many of those tools that I already use in the classroom...hooray for me, right? Wrong! I've been using so many of these tools, seeing some terrific results from student in my classes...but...I haven't been sharing!

What's wrong with me!

I could be sending out cool stuff and receiving back valuable insights from people lots smarter than me...people that could help me become a better teacher.

To get me started (again), I want to share by "11 Tools" blog with you. It's called, "Beam Me Up, Scotty!" Please read the posts and for heaven's sake, don't hold back the feedback!!

Ready, Set...Go!

The school year has begun here in the great state of Texas. The first week back went well, I think. I have 4 preps this year, but thankfully, only 3 per semester. Last year I had 4 preps per semester--that was an experience.

I'm really excited about teaching Global Business this semester. I had the privilege of attending the Institute on the Environment and the Economy this summer sponsored by The Foundation for Teaching Economics and the Texas Council on Economic Education. Participating in this course gave me some awesome tools to help teach economics to my Global Business students and make it relevant. If you ever have the opportunity to attend any training sponsored by either of these organizations, seize it! It's worth the time, I assure you.

During the first week of school I introduced my students to me, their courses, class/course expectations, Google accounts, Wikispaces, and Blogs. This week as we begin our curriculum, the students will learn how to create a blog post, create links in the post, upload pictures to their post, and tag it. As the semester progresses they will learn a host of other Web2.0 applications integrated throughout the curriculum that I truly hope will help prepare them for success in both college and career.

It's going to be a great year!

Wordle picture found on Joan Vinall-Cox' blog.

What? No Way! It's Been That Long?

Waaaaaaaay back in the year 2001 (haha), I went through a metamorphisis; I became a teacher. I left the corporate rat race because I wanted to make a difference. Still, it's hard to believe that I am beginning my 10th year in teaching. Where has the time gone?

As I reflect over the past nine years, I realize that I've "grown." I have a thirst for knowledge and that thirst keeps me learning, and pushing, and driving for new and creative ways to teach my students. I've always embraced project-based learning, but rather than create on paper, I now utilize Web2.0 tools and Flat Classroom style techniques to open students to a whole new world of possibilities. My goal? I want my students will become productive citizens as they finish their high school careers and begin writing new chapters in their book of life.

I have the priviledge of "keeping up" with a number of my former students on Facebook. It's exciting to see the paths they choose--

I'm energized to begin this school year...and...I wonder what the next ten years will bring?

Another Awesome Trade Fair!

The 2010 Trade Fair has come and gone...once again my students did a great job! They were professional and just did great during the competition. We were perplexed that we didn't win best booth, but they did win 3rd place for highest sales!!

The students have started a Facebook Page to help promote WINC and sell the remainder of their inventory. Stop by our page...like us...order some products (credit cards accepted!)...we'll ship them to you!! All the ordering information is on our Info Page!!

See you on FaceBook!!!

2010 JA Trade Fair...Almost Here!

It's hard to believe that the 2010 Junior Achievement Trade Fair is just a couple of weeks away! Seems like just yesterday WINC (that's the name of our JA Company Program here at Spring Woods HS) was in the very beginning stages of planning our premier product for this school year.

Members of the production team have the products ready (well mostly), the marketing team has begun advertising and building the booth, the sales team is busy honing its skills, the public relations team is busily sending out press releases...whew! So much to do in such a short period of time!

While I'm not ready to tell the world exactly what our product is...I can post a picture of one of our advertisements here. Right after our Thanksgiving Holiday I will post about this again and strongly encourage all my friends and colleagues to order this awesome product...it'll make a great Christmas present for someone you love!! :)

Glogster (Student Example)

Teaching Glogster to my students...here's one I really liked. The assignment was to illustrate examples of Property (for Business Law). I think this student did a great job!

The Return

Over the past year, I've allowed just about everything to interfere with my blogging. I'd like to see that trend end.

The start to this year has been a wild one--filled with more than just a little stress. It's November now and 'things' are beginning to settle in a bit. I find that now, more than ever I want to begin blogging again. So much is happening with my classes--how I'm implementing new technologies, finding different ways to deliver instruction--I want to share those experiences with others.

For example--one of the courses I am teaching this year is Business Law. If I'm not careful, it could become a very dry subject. Well, the students are studying about classifications of property right now. To help 'liven up' the topic, I created a mini-project for them. I chose to have them use Glogster to create their posters. Here's an example of how one student made this project just POP!

Here's another example that I liked as well (view this post)