Taking the Dive

A couple of weeks ago I signed a contract to teach grade 4/5 for the 2011-2012 school year!  I'm super excited about the full-time employment with this Christian School.  Now that my other jobs have come to a close, I can put my full efforts into preparing for the upcoming year.

I have decided to make a full-year theme for my class: Take the Dive.   It works well as a slogan not only for  rhyming with five, but also for the unlimited ways I can use this theme!  I keep writing down new ideas in my notebook about all of the things I can incorporate.  Stay tuned for pictures of all of the different ideas coming into play!  (I have to make them yet....)  I want the slogan to represent taking a challenge in learning.  The deeper you dive, the more you can explore and discover.

I am taking the dive by beginning this blog.  Blogging is in someways like an open journal for all to see.  It's a risk by sharing ideas, new thoughts, and creative outtakes on the life in education.  There is so many areas to explore and discuss, especially in the first year of teaching.  It can be scary, just like the thought of plunging into a deep ocean.  But once you are in, soaked with your surroundings, you swim deeper to find new thoughts and theories.  I don't want my first year to be the common "keep your head a float" saying.  I want to be diving deeper into new discoveries, just like I'm going to challenge my students.   

On this note, my diving technique will be as follows:
-try blogging about new experiences and challenges as a first year teacher
-discuss educational issues with fellow colleagues ( I hear there might be a teacher strike for the public schools in the fall...)
-have students present their work (with permission of course!)
-share new ideas and projects (great ways to use technology)
-share stories about the wonderful discoveries we have made

Well, I've taken up the challenge....now we will see what happens!  Hope you'll enjoy it too!