Texas Canyonland

This is a picture of a section of Palo Duro Canyon outside Canyon, Texas. It could be used to teach landforms.

Chapter 1 Reflection

After reading Chapter One I think about technology and how incredibly far it has come just in the past 20 years. I think I get a little overwhelmed and even nervous about the responsibility to teach computers to students. I have often thought this would be on someone else's shoulders, but now wonder if perhaps that is a cop out? I wonder at times how I will use technology effectively in my classroom. My comfort level is limited in this area but I feel I will be doing my students a great disservice by not using computers in the classroom. My worry is that I will try and the effort will be ridiculous. I would like to use computers to enhance students learning in all areas of curriculum but depending on the level I teach I like the idea of using them to teach map reading and making. Certainly reguardless of the age level I could use them to help with spatial skills, but I don't want to use some boring program. I want to grab the students attention, I want to challenge and keep them. I guess because I am not very comfortable with computers I worry how am I going to use them in my class?

Summer

What a wonderful summer. We went to Northern Ireland. I got to meet the rest of my husband's family. I got to walk the same streets that he walked as a child, see the houses he grew up in and the schools where he learned. There is something wonderful about that, something quite spectacular. I have been to other places over seas but this was so different. This had such importance placed on it. I loved walking these streets. Listening to all the people talk the same as Keith. I don't just mean the accent, I mean the phrases and the gestures. There was an ease that came over him almost the moment we walked off the plane. It was as if a weight had been lifted. He chose me and America, my kids and our home. But as he entered Belfast city limits he was home and he became a person I had waited all this time to really know, and oh what a person. He became just a bit funnier, just a little happier, more, well I don't know just himself I guess. He was not a quiet man in Belfast. He spoke freely and laughed openly and I will be ever thankful of the 3 weeks we spent there!

First day

Today is the first day of class. I will start intern tomorrow so will write more later.