"...there are no RULES here - we're trying to accomplish something!" ~Thomas Edison

Found at: http://www.gocomics.com/peanuts

Today, I was personally tired.  My creative juices were not flowing.  They were stopped because my mother has been in the hospital all week and after awhile - no new ideas come.  Life happens.

I share that today to let you know that we ALL get to those points.  When we are SO busy, when others look at our technology and say "REALLY?!", when we are just tired.  We need to remember to continue on the path of good teaching and keep our chins up!

I have some ideas for you today that are essential to having a good handle on your one to one classroom or technology in your classroom of any type.

1.  Have friends you can share with and that build you up!

• I am lucky enough to be working very closely with two other 3rd grade teachers on the Project Launch team.  ALL of the team has been wonderful - sending messages about what works and what is great in their classroom.  You can follow all blogs at: Project Launch Blog Sites

• This morning I got an email that showed a video about Infuse Learning.  GREAT website!  It really takes less than five minutes to get signed up and going.  Teachers sign in and get a "classroom number."  Your classroom number stays the same.  The kids type in their name and your classroom number.  They don't have to sign up for anything OR remember a password.  Kids can reply to questions by drawing things out, multiple choice, open ended questions, etc.  Data is displayed on the teacher ipad or device.  This seems to work best with ipads, but can be used with computers, too.  Watch the video here: Infuse Learning Video

2.  Have colleges that will play with you at recess.

• I was SO excited about seeing the Infuse Learning website that over lunch I went to my room and signed up.  It was so easy - I thought I might have missed a step.  I wanted to practice with it before showing the class.  I took 3 ipads outside and the teachers and I tried it out.  IT WORKED!  I was excited! 

3.  Try NEW things no matter what!

This is how we felt when things didn't work.

• I told you I played with this before I showed it to my class.  BUT when I got to class - what worked outside with 3 ipads did not work inside with a classroom full of ipads.  The problem?  Connectivity.  Our WONDERFUL tech team is already alerted to the problem and they are brainstorming ways to make it work.  Unfortunately, this is how we felt when it didn't work....

4.  Always have a back up plan. (Be flexible.) 

• My kids were learning equivalent fractions and how to compare fractions.  We got out paper (yes, I know it is old school) and we drew.  We also did exercises with the punch-punch method.    I KNOW other ways to do this with technology.  I will use them tomorrow.  BUT - once my class was a bit distracted from the site not working - I needed to fall back on a tool they had used before.  We still laughed and learned.   I am blessed with flexible, good natured students! 

5.  NEVER give up.  (Best IF you have friends like the ones in #1 and #2 above.) 

• Best shown through this video: Swimming

Keep your chins up and "Just keep teaching, teaching, teaching....."