My First Day-Again!

It is a rare thing that you get to have TWO first days of school in the same school year, but here we are, my second first day.

At least there is no hurricane approaching this time. At least I hope not. I think the hurricane might be figurative instead of literal this time.

It was a little chaotic. I don't think the teachers I will be working with had much notice I was coming today. One of them found out I got the job by reading my blog! They were all great sports, though. I didn't have any students today. Thursday is block day; 3 long class periods and an extra period first thing for meetings and such. Don't have any keys. Don't have a parking permit. Don't have a login ID for the computer. Don't even have a classroom--I will be floating and co-teaching 3 periods in the morning and in another classroom for two periods in the afternoon. Is this sounding like a repeat? PATIENCE!

Also-a little, no a lot awkward. For the two class periods in the afternoon I am replacing a teacher who is not leaving, just giving up these two periods for some personal reasons. The students don't know. The circumstances are a little strange; she does not want to be there tomorrow to let the students know why she is leaving. Although she asked for this change, she is understandably very emotional about leaving these students mid year. I can't blame her. But still a strange thing. Might be a difficult afternoon tomorrow.

So TOMORROW day two--day two LAST TIME was the day before the storm. I hope that isn't foreshadowing.

Facebook is not the Enemy

I was at a "gathering" of parents last night; the conversation turned to Facebook. Now, I am a recent Facebook convert. I love it--I see so much communication potential there and besides, it is fun! Parents who have never been on Facebook think it is a cult. They were talking about getting requests from people inviting them to join Facebook and deleting them; then deleting those friends from their e-mail lists! One had the impression that if you joined Facebook, it would immediately contact your entire e-mail list and "start harrassing them". Not true, I explained, you have to physically do this, and people aren't invited to become your friends unless YOU invite them. And even then-they have to then AGREE to be your friends before you can see their profile and Wall. Untrue, they politely informed me, looking at me like I was crazy . Don't you know? You can get on Facebook and SPY on other people without them knowing! It is an invasion of privacy. FACEBOOK IS EVIL!!

Sigh. Now, what I will say is that through one of the lectures I heard given via the Flat Classroom Conference, Facebook is now taking over from MySpace as the most popular social networking site; predicted to happen by March. Texting and social networking messages are now taking over from e-mail; the 18-25 set doesn't e-mail anymore. More and more adults are getting Facebook accounts; once this happens in large numbers the youth will find some other form of communication! Facebook isn't evil. Facebook is just the new form of mass communication. Boy, is it ever effective. Much easier than typing everyone's e-mail address in if you are sending an e-mail to 25 people. Just set up a group! This isn't the future--this is the now.

Remember when we all thought--why in the world do we need an e-mail address? Now, do you know anybody that does NOT have e-mail? And do you look at them weird if they don't?

Facebook is NOT the enemy.

I got the job!

I got a teaching job! I really, really, did! Well, I am almost there. I just have to get cleared through Human Resources before it is official. Westside High School, here I come! I will be teaching in the Westside Engineering and GeoSciences Academy; two classes of Freshman Technology; three Business Electives yet to be determined.

Flat Classroom Project got me this job. It has gotten me so enthused about emerging technologies in the classroom and how to use them. The team that interviewed me hired me based on my energy level and enthusiasm. I hope I don't let them down! Thank you, Julie Lindsay, Vicki Davis, and Estie, of course, for letting me be involved. Next year, one of these projects will hopefully be a part of my curriculum.

I spent 3 days at Spring Woods this week on sub jobs; I am really going to miss those kids. But it is time to step out on my own and start putting everything I have learned into practice.