It's been a long first week of school. Happy...yes! Excited...yes! Busy...yes! Frazzled...yes! The week flew by at first, but as forms returned, books came back and classes started coming in one after the other - the week became long and I became behind! Thank goodness for Labor Day Weekend!
Although last week was the first week of school, it really seemed like we were only back from a long break. Already the students have checked out books, visited with passes and our morning broadcast has the regularity of a mid year segment. One of the biggest changes this year is thinking about packing in April and May. Every student has been given yellow dots to put on books that they want to see taken to the transition library next year. At first, I figured the kids would just go stick yellow dots on all kinds of strange titles, but when I actually walked the shelves, I found that they have done an excellent job in selecting titles. The boys especially went to sport and military titles that they adore. I was most impressed by how seriously the students have accomplished this task. Now to make the list of titles so we can actually get them packed up in April!
This year as I reflect on 34 years of teaching and look forward to the rebuilding of Rummel Creek, I can't help but look at the major changes over the years. I am really reflecting on the 24 years at Rummel Creek - When I first arrived at RCE there were only 12 Macintosh computers. And these were just the old green screen all in one piece computers. They were all connected to one as the server. Students sat and worked through "worksheets on-line" and that was about it. 2 Apple IIe's were on carts that enabled the teachers to show LOGO and to use Print Shop. And we thought we were "high tech!" Now you look into a Rummel Creek classroom and you see iPads, iTouches, MiniDells, and more. Every teacher has an "ActiveBoard" that enables their lessons to be interactive. Document cameras, sound boxes and rockstars enable teaching to move forward integrating technology. But no matter how many gadgets you have, you still know deep in your heart - it is the teachers standing in front of the room that is the most important asset. But my how the teachers have changed over the past 24 years as well. The classrooms are full of stations and small group learning. Teachers meet with students one on one or small groups to help them meet personal goals. Teaching and learning has evolved over the past 24 years. How I wish I was a student today ....
Time to get back to marking those books and getting the Lunch Bunch groups ready to go!
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