Jumping in!

     You know how it feels when you're at the end of a dock or a diving board, and you are about to leave the comfort of the sun's warmth on your dry skin and jump into the water below? You want to do it, and get to the fun part of swimming, but the thought of that sudden chill of the water is holding you back? And then after what seems like hours you take a deep breath and GO. The shock of the water's cool temperature encompasses your body but then leaves after a split second. You kick up to the surface and smile thinking, that wasn't bad at all, why did I take so long?

     Well, this is usually my experience. Maybe this isn't what you go through at all. Maybe you're one of those brave people who just dive right into the water no matter what the temperature. For me, the fun of the swim after the jump is such joyful moment! And this is how I am feeling now, after seeing George Couros in person at the Limestone District School Board on September 22nd, and subsequently diving into the Innovator's Mindset #IMMOOC.

     Like so many teachers, I've been doing my best to keep learning how to use available technology and bring it into my classroom. I have a class website, Twitter, ClassDojo, etc. However, I still felt that I was lagging behind in creating more opportunities for my students to use tech in creative ways. When I saw George speak, I was so inspired and motivated, I couldn't think of much else. I ordered the book, followed him on Twitter and joined the IMMOOC and it's Facebook group. Serendipitously I was free to watch the Live Event on YouTube for Chapter 2, and that's when I really started to feel ready to reach out and connect with other educators and start up some new digital projects for my students.

     So here I am, with a new blog, my mind racing with ideas and my heart beating with excitement and love. By mind racing, I mean that I am so filled with thoughts, reflections, and inspiration that I've had insomnia! This is an unfortunate side effect when I am super stoked about a project. Luckily I have yoga and mindfulness to support me! Also, thank goodness it's Saturday and I could sleep in. The love that I'm filled with right now is love for my students, love for this profession and love for colleagues all over the world who are sharing their reflections and positivity.

In the 10 days since seeing George speak, I have ...

• gone back to watch Week 1 of the IMMOOC podcast and caught up on the reading
• read IMMOOC blogs
• connected with so many educators on Twitter and Facebook
• taken my Grade 1's outside to photograph trees and had them choose their favourites
• set up a blog for their photos that we will add to throughout the year, with their observations
• Tweeted asking schools for photos of their own trees, and seen the excitement in ally students' faces as they saw each response
• made a great new connection with Annick Rauch (@AnnickRauch ),  another Grade 1 French Immersion teacher, from Winnipeg, Manitoba 

Now for my responses to Week 2's blog questions:

Examples of innovation within constraints

     In terms of innovation that I have seen within constraints, in schools, I have seen teachers Skype with each other in their classrooms, with the students taking turns as host/interviewer/guest for their class. In my own school we do a Junior musical each year, which the majority of Junior students participate in. For the kids who aren't interested in performing, building or running lights and sound, their teachers have given them the assignment of making a video of "The making of" the production, using IPads. Not only did they love making this project, they were proud to show their work to the whole school at an assembly, and had just as much opportunity to showcase their work and the cast and crew of the show. 

     Here's some awesome innovation I saw in Vancouver, B. C. this summer. My family and I were entering the CP Pacific Centre when we saw some funky murals for the Me to We, #WhoWillYouBe Campaign, a nation wide back to school initiative through the partnership of Me to We and Cadillac Fairview. Shoppers were asked to make a pledge to make a difference in education, health, environment, shelter and hunger, and then take a selfie in front of the corresponding mural. Selfies could them be shared on Instagram to #WhoWillYouBe. We chose education, of course, and the facilitator who greeted us was about to start her first year in Con. Ed. at U.B.C. We had a great conversation about teaching and kids.  

Questions that are vital to understanding those we serve in education

• What do they love to do?
• What is their personal history so far?
• How are they most comfortable communicating?
• How are they physically most comfortable working in class? Standing, sitting, lots of personal  space, moving, etc.

Here's my school from scratch mind map

Have a great day! See you around the Interweb!