Welcome!

Welcome to my blog!  Its creation is my most recent endeavor in experimenting with how to best use technology in the classroom.  My goal is to use exciting, accessible ways to engage students meaningfully. I will use this blog to showcase student progress and work samples, as well as provide stories about my experiences.  My goal is two-fold; to enhance student learning and create a personal learning network where educators, parents, and students can share ideas and anecdotes.  Please feel free to join in on the conversations by leaving comments, suggestions, and/or ideas so we can learn from each other.

Let's start with a little background information.  I am a very fortunate Kindergarten teacher in Southwest Virginia with access to a variety of technology in my classroom because of my school district's participation in an exciting grant opportunity from Apple.  It is a partnership between Radford University and local schools in the area.  My students benefit because they have, at their fingertips, iPod touches, and macbook computers, as well as the standard technology that our district already had.   As the teacher, I am often excited yet overwhelmed by the idea of using these tools in the classroom.   I feel obligated to use them in a conscientious and appropriate manner.  Management and set up can also be an issue.  In the coming weeks, I will explore these issues in the classroom and post the results.  In the meantime, check out more information about this amazing opportunity at http://gameslab.radford.edu/iLearn/.