Life is full – (but short on technology)

A friend of mine ends every email with the following quote: "My hands are full, my days are full, but most of all, my heart is full."

She’s referencing motherhood; of which I can most certainly agree.  These days, I too am feeling very full –my life is absolutely insane, and I love every moment.

After nearly a seven-year hiatus with higher education I have returned to the classroom to teach art again.  I’ve been busy preparing a room for over 800 little ones, sorting supplies, and writing and researching lessons.  It has been a lot of work but I’ve been thrilled through all of it… just thinking about sharing creativity and a passion for the arts brings out the giddiness.

Last week, all of my new children arrived on the doorstep of a brand new school.  While I still don’t have everything I need for the year, we had a great time. The kids are so excited about art… & so am I!

I received high fives and hugs, danced the Cha-cha and dried at least two sets of tears.  Make that three sets of tears… my youngest began kindergarten (my tears, not hers).

In the midst of getting my family ready for school each morning, car pool duty, setting up art supplies and planning projects, I continue to think about ways to integrate technology in my classroom.  Right now, my classroom does not have a computer and my own Mac Book will not even connect to the school’s Internet.  While frustrating, I am a firm believer that “Where there is a will, there is a way.”

So until I figure out the WAY… I will do what I can to incorporate the concepts that I find most important in the newest Internet technologies: collaboration, experimentation and choice.  In addition, each time I use a technology at home to prepare for a lesson, I will also take a screen cast as I work. It may be a lot of fun to show DVDs to my classes of how I create digital stories, movies, and graphics.  Who knows, maybe my students will become my biggest technology advocates…