Basically, this all started because I wanted to be a bigger role in the classroom. I enjoy my support role, but after a few years out of the classroom, I started to miss the opportunity to work long-term with students. So the motivation is partly selfish.
Bring in my good friends and former colleagues Susan and Leanna. They are third grade teachers who have both been through our district's EnTICE technology integration program. But they were looking to try some new things. It was the perfect combination.
I approached them about my idea of an "immersion classroom": a partnership of a technology integration guy (me) and classroom teachers (them). The idea would be that I would spend a significant amount of time team-teaching in their rooms, planning activities, and helping them change their instruction by embedding more technology. Nothing crazy (at first), just subtle changes to what they've already mastered as teachers. Keeping it simple.
We met last week to work through the big ideas. Check out the top tab labeled "project goals". I knew we needed to get a foundation laid during the summer, so we decided to meet periodically to get things going.
And now you're up to date. I hope that you check in often to see how we're doing. I think you'll be able to get quite a few ideas to use in your instruction.
