What Ninth Grader Should Know

Recently, someone asked me for suggestions about what eighth graders should know as they prepare for high school. Here's what I came up with:
1. Everything counts - grades, attendance, disciplinary action is now on your "permanent record."
2. Get involved - Extra curricular activities are a great way to meet new people and prepare for college entrance. There are many choices for involvement at AHS.
3. Start on the right foot - High school is an opportunity for a fresh start, but your reputation follows you, so come in with the mind set that you will do and be your best from the beginning.

Post a comment about something you think they need to know too.

Personal Learning What?

When I began professional development about personal learning networks (PLNs), I had no idea  what I was in for. I was so clueless that actually chose this course because I thought it focused less on technology than previous on-line PLU courses. In retrospect, that assumption is quite laughable, but now six weeks later, I have grown from someone who visited her Facebook page once a month to a tweep, a blogger, and a podcaster, and I am growing more comfortable with it every day. My absolute favorite PLN tool is the reader. I feel more connected to the education world and less like I am stranded on the deserted isle that is my classroom. I look forward to finding new blogs to follow so I can remain in the educational loop.  My second favorite tool is Blogger. I have found my voice and I foresee myself sharing news and insights with anyone who is willing to read. I also look forward to collaborating with peers to develop a blog to share the great lessons that take place in our school building.

I can look back and see tremendous personal growth in the technological arena, and as one blogger put it, personal growth often translates into profession growth. I am a practitioner and a soon-to-be evangelist of PLNs and connecting to the global community of learners. It's truly a brave new world.

Purposeful Blogging

In my exploration of the bloggosphere, I've come across blogs that inform other professionals, connect with parents, or simply express opinions about life. Personally, I prefer blogs that address relevant concerns while offering a personal, reflective touch. Having a clear audience is also key. With the permanance of blogs in conjunction with our highly litigious society, educators must choose their words carefully.

Learning New Things

Blogging is a new experrience for me, and I am not sure how I feel about it. I've had friends tell me that if I wrote a blog, they would read it (I suppose they apreciate my witty insightfulness) but I've always wondered if I really have any thing to say that others will consider worth reading. This week provided me with the opportunity to explore the idea of blogging, and I can see the value of sharing via blogs and the personal satisfaction of writing. I don't know if I am ready to launch out on my own into the great wide ocean of internet blogging, but I'm trying. I am proof that an old dog can learn new tricks. My people at AHS would be proud. Check us out at www.athenshighschool.org/

The Value of Flexibility

While on summer vacation this year, I discovered that I was expecting a baby in March. My other child is nine, and one can only imagine what was going through my mind. Let me just say that I was certainly not thrilled about having to start over after tasting the freedom of sleeping in and having a somewhat independent child. After the panic wore off and rational thinking re-established itself, I considered not only the changes that would take place in my very near future but also the benefits to such changes and the blessing of having a new addition to the family. This unexpected baby is not a curse; rather,  it is an opportunity for growth and new and precious memories.

How often have we as educators had unexpected and sometimes unwanted change thrust upon us. With new legislation, financial shortages, and job worries to add to the day-to-day issues of unruly children and just getting the technology to work, it is easy to slip into panic about the future. Early in my teaching career, I learned the value of flexibility, and any expert teacher will confirm that one cannot survive this careeer without it. I encourage all the teachers and expectant parents out there to stay flexible, roll with the punches, hang in there, and all those other cliches. The storm will pass eventually, and we all will be better individuals because we endured.