Higher Ed Vs. K-12

As a K-12 veteran teacher who left to spread her wings into the higher education arena, then returned to K-12 because she missed the kids, this Blog will chronicle my experiences while adjusting to a new environment 1700 miles away from my old one.

When I left Dublin Elementary in Street, MD, I didn't realize how true my prophecy to my parents would be. I told a parent that I would return to the classroom within five years, just in time to teach her youngest child in 5th grade. Here I am four years later, but little did I know that I would be 1700 miles away from that small school, in a similar school at the foot of the Rocky Mountains.

My prophecy was extremely close.... I lasted all of four years in the Higher Education arena. The urges every September to return to the hustle and bustle of the classroom would depress me every year. This year those urges started in the Spring as our student teachers were interviewing at a job fair for jobs in the fall, and continued to push me through the summer.

I tried to ward off those feelings by applying for a faculty position at the university, thinking that teaching at that level would ease the urge, however, not only was that position not meant to be, but any attempt I made to teach any course at all was hindered by my administrator, and university policies that prevented working "over-loads". I was facing another year of 40 hours behind a computer without interactions with any students, so therefore, when an opening at Rye Elementary became available, working with teachers and a principal I respect, I jumped at the chance.

One of the beauties of this position is that I teach technology to all three fifth grade classes, so I get to put into practice all my suggestions I was giving to student teachers. In other words, I get to put my "money where my mouth is".

This BLOG will be the chronicling of my experiences through this year as I readjust to teaching in a new town, with new faces, new standards, and deal with the mandates created by No Child Left Behind (NCLB). Hopefully, I'll be able to bring the wisdom gained by the four years spent in higher ed where I was able to find the research to back up teaching practices.

I'll still be doing my own research, as I'll be working on my dissertation toward my Ph.D., so these entries may not be as often as I'd like, but hopefully, I'll continue to grow as a lifelong learner. Keep checking back to see my growth!

Barb's Audio Message

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Granny and Kayla at the zoo during Summer 2004....
riding Mommy's favorite animal.. a dolphin..  

LearningByts Blog: Learning Online....

LearningByts Blog: Learning Online.... I need to do more research on Virtual Schools for my dissertation. I am looking specifically for info on Virtual Middle Schools or on collaboration in Middle Schools and why it is necessary to use that pedagogy at that level. If you have any resources in that area, please share with me.

Barb

Chipper the Prairie Dog Series..

Observed the prairie dogs yesterday as a storm was threatening over the mountains... They were more interested in watching me than worrying about the coming storm.  Eventually when the lightening over the mountains became more frequent, the smaller dogs disappeared but the "watch" dogs stayed out and ate their supper.  We never got more than a few sprinkles from the storm.
 
Noticed that their is more than one "red" coated prairie dog, and a few that look like they have a red tint to their coat. 

Learning Online....

Share your thoughts here about Virtual Schools....
 
Should K-12 students be learning online?  Why or Why not?