Get It? Got It! Good!!

I love the Internet. I love Web2.0. I love the opportunity to connect with other people, in other places. Most of all I love learning from people (who are obviously smarter than the average bear).

Strolling through my Google Reader this evening I came accross a post on Doug Johnson's "Blue Skunk Blog." In his latest post, he references a post from Seth Godin's blog regarding the "Get To vs. The Have To."

Great stuff. Read my response on Doug's blog...and yes...it's REALLY how I 'feel' about teaching!

Response posted here for your reading pleasure:

OMG...I love this post! Let's see...I 'get to' teach kiddos (well, they're high school, but still kiddo in my book). I get to learn new technologies that I in turn get to teach the kiddos. I get to sponsor a Junior Achievement Company Program that prepares students for both college and career (The kiddos in this extracurricular activity are just incredible...). I get to teach Sports Marketing...well...it' just rocks! I get to teach
computer applications and other tekkie stuff...

I get to do a lot of 'things' as a high school teacher that I NEVER got to do when I was in business/industry. I get to make a difference in the lives of young people...my [rayer is that the difference I make is a positive one and prepares them adequately for a VERY compeititve marketplace.

Probably the only thing I HAVE to do is a bunch of seemingly needless paperwork. So, if I won the lottery, I would teach for free and hire someone to do the 'seemingly needless paperwork' for me so I could continue to do the 'get to' stuff.

Thanks for a great post!!
September 30, 2008 Estie Cuellar

And Heeeeere's Estie!!

This year some of my students and I are privileged to be a part of the Flat Classroom Project. One of our first assignments is to record an audio introduction.

Here's my audio introduction to this year's Flat Classroom Project. Enjoy!!!

Can You Say 'Mentor?' I Knew You Could...

This semester I have been awarded the privilege of mentoring a wonderful colleague as she completes her student teaching. It's a daunting, yet invigorating venture.

Kim is wonderful. She has her undergrad in Marketing, an MBA, and spent a number of years in banking. She left business/industry because she feels a calling to teach high school (read my bio, sounds a lot like me, huh?) and make a real difference in the lives of young people.

I'm really enjoying working with Kim. She's bright, witty, thinks creatively, and interacts well with the students. She's also very detailed...more so than me. I'm more of a big picture person and sometimes I miss little details (like misspelled words on my lesson plans for example). I have to really concentrate and recheck things to be sure I don't embarrass myself whenever I post my lesson plans or update my teacher website. Kim seems to be a natural at catching those things...kudos, Kim!!

This semester my Business Education Independent Study class is participating in the Flat Classroom 2008 Project. I just began learning Web2.0 this past summer, so I'm really 'stoked' about participating in this...I feel a little inadequate, but nonetheless very excited. It's also given my an opportunity to teach Kim about Web2.0, thus strengthening my own skills. I know that Kim has joined Twitter (sure wish I could access Twitter at school--makes it hard to keep up with people since I can't!!) I'm hoping that she'll start blogging soon, too.

In any case, Kim sees the immense benefits to incorporating Web2.0 into her curriculum, so I have no doubt that when she begins teaching full time, she'll utilize blogs, wikis, nings...all kinds of great stuff that will create those relevant connections students need to make meaning and internalize the material.

Oh, and we've already had our talk about Wong...read Tom's awesome post on this for more information. She had an entire class on the "Wong Way" of 'doing things.'

I digress. I'm hoping to help Kim connect with some of the educators I've been introduced to since beginning my journey into Web2.0 this summer. If you have the chance, look her up on Twitter (her user name is kaclayton) and introduce yourself...welcome her to teaching!

On With the Show...

The last three weeks have been a tornado of activity. When I saw the date of my last post I could hardly believe that almost a month has gone by since I blogged.

I hadn't planned on Ike...I hadn't planned on my father being ill. It's weird how life can hit you so hard, so fast, and so furious. Just when you think you've hit a groove...BAM!...life throws you a curve.

I have felt SO guilty about not posting...with everything going so crazy around me these past few weeks, I kept telling myself that I would get caught up with my blog, with reading others blogs and newsfeeds 'tomorrow.' The problem is...if I'm not careful, tomorrow will never come.

Yes, 'things' have been absolutely nuts. To tell you the truth, I'm not sure if or when 'normal' will return...but, I do know this: life is too short to feel guilty about this (not blogging). I'm back and I'm ready to carve out the time I want to make my blog rich, meaningful, and worthy.

It's good to be back...