Facebook Rules

We recently attended in-service for the Ouachita School District. An AR attorney spoke to us about social media, ways to protect our students, and ways to protect ourselves. These are his Facebook "rules". He was  very entertaining, but also extremely informative and I think these are good practices to adopt even if you are not a teacher. He reminded us that Facebook or any other social media becomes a permanent record of who you are (or were :/), what you are thinking, or doing. He's seen people's Facebook posts used against them in court as well as grounds for termination of their job. So here they are...

1. Post happy! <Don't be critical of anyone or anything, ESPECIALLY your job.>
2. Not at work... <Don't post while you're at work! The world doesn't understand that you have a lunch break or a free period. They only see that you're online posting instead of supervising/teaching their kid.>
3. Do NOT post about your ex.
4. NO threats! <To anyone or about anything! Even if you're "joking," it doesn't look that way in print.>
5. Not about work. <Do not post about students, school-related incidents, etc. Winning a sports game or something that would be publicized in the newspaper would be exceptions to this rule.>
6. No more than four! <Do not post more than four times a day.>
7. No check-in or four-square... <Hello, stalkers and burglars!>
8. N.W.K.A. <Not with kids around! Parents often do not spend enough time with their kids in the first place. Don't waste your few opportunities by being on Facebook.>

PD, In-service, and Little Children

Professional Development (PD) and in-service come with the territory of being a teacher. Professional Development consists mainly of conferences and workshops designed to help us be better teachers through learning different strategies, new research, etc. In-service happens within a teacher's school and communicates state guidelines/requirements as well as information that is relevant for that district and specific school.

These meetings and workshops can be very boring and sometimes repetitive. I imagine the repetitiveness will be particularly frustrating after one has been teaching for several years. However, as a first year teacher, I have the advantage of feeling "fresh" and "curious" and "excited" about everything! I take notes, I try to be attentive, and (dare I say it?) I enjoy learning these things! I'm very open to suggestions and advice from others. (Granted, I don't always follow them, but I'll gladly listen :)) Wouldn't it be awesome if I were always like this? Certainly I don't want to always be a first-year... I'll be very thankful when my big "firsts" of teaching are over for a little while! But I want to keep this freshness and curiosity. I want to listen well and to be open to new ideas.

As I was thinking about this post, God reminded me of the verse in Matthew 18:3 that reads "And he said: I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." Jesus loves little children! He encouraged them to come near to him and to spend time with them. One characteristic of little children is that they are always curious, always asking questions, always AMAZED by something... even the simplest things. Perhaps this is one of the characteristics He was thinking of when He said we all need to become like them. What if we were always curious about Jesus? Always asking questions to learn more? Always AMAZED by His greatness?!

Oh Father, teach me to be continually amazed... Help me to become like a little child.

My First Classroom and Professional Development

Last week, I saw my classroom for the first time - MY classroom?! They're going to give me students? To teach by myself?! Haha. It's a little overwhelming to say the least, but I am so excited! God has been so good to give me this job and I know that He will continue to empower and equip me.

Adam was sweet enough to help me clean and arrange my classroom one afternoon last week. I've gone through lots and lots of binders and files! I'm a fairly OCD person and I don't like clutter, so honestly, many things have just gone in the trash. I've been able to keep many things though and I am so thankful to have the resources! The school is going to paint my classroom this Summer! I think I've decided on a mint green... It should help brighten the room without being too distracting. That's the goal anyways.

We have spent this week creating "Learning Maps" during Professional Development. I feel like I've gotten the hang of making them, but I'm still not sure how to implement them in the classroom. It's hard to think through all the concepts that I'll need to cover. We're growing tired of creating so many maps, but tomorrow we will be given time to find resources online to aid this process. I'm looking forward to that!

The people at Ouachita High have been very sweet and gracious to me. It is still strange to be the "newby." Some of the teachers already call me Mrs. Gosnell, because that will be my name the next time they see me! I enjoy hearing it :)

So that's my life lately... lots of firsts!