I don’t know where to even begin confessing…About a month ago I started a new job as a Technology Integration Specialist and I’m just beginning to figure out what on earth that means! I’m planning to continue sharing resources and ideas, but they might look a little different because I’m not just teaching 4th grade anymore!
Confession: I really miss being a classroom teacher! I hear from other specialists that I’ll get over this, but right now I miss having my own students and classroom and I miss knowing what I’m doing! Ok, so it’s kind of nice not having grading and the million+ other things that a classroom teacher has to do, but it’s also very weird. We’ll see, maybe by the end of the year I’ll never want to go back to the classroom…Speaking of here is one of the things that I get to do in my new job:
1:1 iPads in the classroom:
I am SUPER lucky to be working with an amazing second grade teacher to facilitate a 1:1 iPad pilot. Yes, you read that correctly, 1 iPad for every student. Swoon! (I’d go back to the classroom in a second for 1:1 iPads!!!) Not only was I given an iPad to use, but I have spent many hours working on plans and ideas for iPad integration in the second grade classroom. Check out my Diigo resource list here: iPad Resources
If you are lucky enough to have any iPads in your classroom you should check this out…I will continue to add to the list as I find more ideas and resources!
One that we are really excited about is ePud Bud and this could be used in any classroom, not just the iPad blessed ones!
You can use this website to make your own eBooks! You can scan pages in or have kids create them, but they can be loaded on any device or viewed on the website. Cool, cool, cool!
>> hear from other specialists that I’ll get over this
May be, but may be not. Some ex-teachers return to their passion (teaching) after they try some another work because missing too much. But it’s very individual. Time will tell. Cheer up!
I thought I was the only person in the world to feel this way! I have started a new position this year which has me out of the classroom…its only been a few days but I really don’t think I am going to like it. I MISS my kids (whodathunk anyone would say that?). I keep hearing how much I am going to love it. Right now, not so much!
Shannon, I was just thinking about this, going into my second year as a specialist, I still miss the classroom, but I taught summer school this summer to get my classroom “fix” and it has gotten better. I think I will eventually want to go back to the regular classroom, but for now I’m really glad to be where I am! Keep going, it will get better, it’s just weird at first!