Professional Theory and Philosophy – 2008

This year in computer lab, I changed how computer labs for teacher prep periods have been run at my school site.

I have communicated with and sought input from the regular classroom teachers to align what I am teaching with their goals and themes. Below is the front page of the wiki I use for online planning (you can click on it to go to that page).

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I have studied both the Technology Standards –NETs– and grade-level content standards and made both a priority.
Because I’m at a Program Improvement school (PI), I have made sure that I am supporting the focus standards that each grade level set (as you can see in the image from my planning wiki below).

wiki2.jpg

I have focused on language development for ELLs.
I have created activities that develop higher order thinking skills and have students working on inquiry based activities.

To sum up, it’s not about the technology, it’s about the thinking. I plan for that, I scaffold for it, and I make sure that it takes place:[slideshare id=87011&doc=pp-about-me1100&w=425]

Professional Experience – 2008

I am a computer lab teacher at elementary level in Sacramento, CA. I teach students from Kindergarten to sixth grade. I see most classes in 45-minute periods two-times a week. The curriculum in my lab is directly tied to the grade level standards, and the inquiry themes they are studying in their regular classroom.

Prior to my current position, I taught fifth grade, and five/six split classes. Every school I have taught has been a Title One school, on whole-school free lunch, and in program improvement (the last school I was at exited program improvement status).

For examples of my work, the links section at the right will take you to my current class website/blog, and the previous blogs and website I used for my classes.

My professional and community experience prior to becoming a teacher includes seven years as an Analyst at Wells Fargo Bank, in San Francisco, CA, and one year as president and 4 years on the Board of Directors at Friends of the Oakland Public Library, Oakland, CA.

Here is a copy of my current resume:
resume.jpg

Professional Development

I participate in a number of professional development communities. In some, I’m a participant, in some I’m a facilitator, in most I play both roles.

I participate in a semi-monthly Webcast (online radio show) at Ed Tech Talk, called It’s Elementary. The show features four elementary educators discussing a topic on education technology with experts in the field, and sharing our own experience in the classroom.

I’ve participated in locally based online and in person with CTAP Region 3 (my local area technology assistance project).

At my school, I am site technology leader, letting peers and administrators know about best practices and new developments in technology and pedagogy.