Sharing a quarter century of teaching, the Smarter Teacher blog will focus upon the Three C's: Think Critically - Communicate Clearly - Work Collaboratively.
The Three C's of education are the most important skills necessary for teachers to develop in the students entrusted to their care.
"The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn and relearn." - Alvin Toffler -
While at the CSTA Conference in San Jose in October, I was encouraged to put my SMART Notebook Lessons, Study Guides and Graphic Organizers, that I have developed over the years, on the Teachers Pay Teachers and website.
In November I opened my Store and now have 30 items available for teachers to access.
One of the most amazing aspects of my using the SMART Board and SMART Notebook software in my classroom, is how far my classroom now extends. The SMART Board has extended the reach of my classroom both for my students and for me.
Utilizing the SMART Notebook software I can take my students on field trips without leaving my classroom. We have travelled to Mono Lake using Google earth to measure shoreline changes of the lake. We have followed the path of the LA River from the Arroyo Seco and San Gabriel River watersheds to the ocean. I have visited Arlington National Cemetery on Veteran's Day and New Orleans to see the effect of Katrina. Through the use of SMART recordings and You Tube, I have taught my students in their home when they are sick or when they are travelling with their family.
My classroom has travelled all over the world by posting SMART recordings and FLIP cams to post You Tube videos that have been used by students throughout the country and around the world. I have taught students Dalton's Law in Virginia and medical students in Saudi Arabia the skeletal structures of the Ulna and Radius.
The expansion of my of my classroom is only limited to the breadth of my imagination and my willingness to share the lessons I wish to provide. While there is a greater workload in the beginning, once the materials have been created they can be used again and again in the future. Once posted on You Tube or my online classroom (Moodle) they become available for my own students or anyone else around the world who can put them to use.
The technology is only limited to my willingness to embrace it.
