Resources

A key to being a successful teacher is organization.  Why spend all those hours collecting and curating resources for units to never use them again?  Right now I have everything organized for my units in my file cabinets.  However, since we began using Google in our building, I am working on collecting digital formats to organize in my Google Drive.  I have created folders for units and add to them when I discover a new link or document that I think I may want to utilize.  I have already created a Symbaloo Webmix to bookmark all the links I use daily.  Next, I want to create more Webmixes to use with particular units.  The teachers in third grade are working together to create links to useful webpages through Symbaloo for units we all use.  For example, we all do a unit on Stone Fox.  One teacher is creating a Symbaloo Webmix to share links to lessons for Stone Fox with us.  

When I find something that works, I keep it and add to it each year.  When it doesn’t work, I put it to the back because what may not work for one group of students may work for another.  So I’m always adding to my units.  Technology is making this process easier because I can locate information, save it for later use, pull it out quickly to use in my lessons, and store it away to use again later.  The only complaint I have is there is too much information available and it takes a lot of time to go through it all to locate useful lessons.

Authentic Assessments

I certainly believe authentic assessments are possible in every content area and in every grade level.  Given developmentally appropriate assessments, I feel like all students have the potential to show mastery through authentic assessments.  The only thing that concerns me about this is the situation teachers currently find themselves in.  We are giving students assessments that are not developmentally appropriate nor are they fair or consistent.  With these types of things happening it hinders my ability to truly assess my students in this manner.  I have to spend so much time getting students familiar with the format of the state assessments, then time covering all the standards so they are as prepared as they can possibly be.  I feel like I have no time left to create authentic assessments, let alone the extra time required for students to complete these during class.  Being a teacher is a 24/7 job.  I am spending my Sunday afternoon working on an online class, when I could be spending it researching types of subjects like creating authentic assessments that I can actually use in my classroom.  My time spent in the classroom is never long enough.  The expectations placed on teachers is beyond what is actually possible in an 8 hour work day.  With all this being said, I reread this post and think I sound a bit negative.  This is something I fight daily.  I LOVE teaching and I LOVE interacting with my students (they become part of my family).  However, the politics can become a bit frustrating and overwhelming.  Keeping a positive mind is essential for me to be successful in the classroom.  So, I will persevere and find time to integrate authentic assessments in my curriculum.  Slow and steady!