RedCamp13 = Inspiring/Welcome back to Blogging Mme. W!

You ever get on an entry and just suddenly have nothing to say but just before you to to the entry on a blog, you have all these ideas?  Yup!  That is me!  I use to have a blog---well an online journal really.  I use to use it a whole lot when I was younger and now it hardly gets used...I think my twitter account is linked to it so I feel I do not have much to write because I use Twitter to say what is up.  I just lost the reason to write, but I am going to try as a professional growth---for me to reflect, discuss, ramble out some ideas of the day/topic.

So this is not my first rodeo on blogging, but it IS my first for making one as a professional outlook/reflection.  

To start off I just want to tell you a bit of my "story."  A condensed version of course!

• I am a University of Alberta student.  I am finishing up my Education Degree in Secondary Education with a major in French and a minor in Social Studies.  I will be done my last two courses in July and have my convocation in November!  Oh I can taste freedom....It is going to kill me to go back...But I may tough this topic later.
• I live on a 1/4 section of land south of Camrose, AB with my husband Dustin and our three dogs and a cat.  It's entertaining starting a yard site from scratch.  I can tell you I would never do it again!  It keeps me occupied anyways!
• I am a born and raised country girl.  I love my wide open spaces and my neighbour is a mile away.  Of course the perks of living in a urban area is great but like the saying it, "You can take the girl out of the country, but you can't take the country out of the girl."
• During my practicums I knew teaching was my calling.  I really loved my experiences and look forward to having my own classes one day real soon!  Hence why I am using Mme (Madame) Weinzierl as my name on this.  I am embracing my profession.

So why am I blogging when I already have an LiveJournal account? 
Well that is a good question....I was inspired today at RedCamp13 today and I think I could voice something even when I know not many people will read this.  My idea gets out there and helps me clear my mind.  Plus it can be a way of interacting!  Heck, maybe I might get some people who read this!  That would be kind of cool.

At RedCamp13 there were many great speakers that presented many topics.  I went to four sessions and I thought each one was good in their own way, and helped me add some "tools" to my "Education tool box" that I can take with me and use for later  one session was of storytelling and cultures and what I took away from that is that we still need storytelling to help connect and communicate with ourselves and everyone around us.  Each and every one of use has a story and that story can mold us.

My second session was on abolishing grades <insert gasps and ranting from possible audience here>.  I really understood what Joe Bower was saying!  This guy has done his research and almost practice what he is preaching! Right now he uses three ways of assessing his students:

1. Portfolios where EVERYTHING goes in it (like a museum not a hall of fame).
2. Through a classroom safe site that is LIKE Facebook (same idea)
3. Self-assessment.  All are great ways to have evidence of the students learning

All of these gives some sort of feedback which is key and has been proven that ONLY feedback increases the students work, not the grade or the combo of the two (Joe has a great blog post explaining Dr. Ruth Butler's study here).  Unfortunately, Joe does have to assign a number grade at his school so he actually has discussions with his students (one-on-one) on what the student's grade should be. Usually, the student is harder on themselves for giving a grade or right one par.  The key idea here is that Joe has all of this evidence of WHY the students should receive the grades they do. It's really cool to think that I could do the same thing!  

My third session was the advantages of being a "twerp"/someone who Twitters.  That was just a great conversation.  I learned some great hashtags to help me out (or anyone else who wishes to use this)

My final session was on trying to engage parents with the teacher which made me feel I was in my English 10 class!  I am not saying it was a bad thing, but it made me squirm and THINK.  The one man, I think he name is Paul, really asked questions to make me explain myself and it was hard to do it. 


Overall the day was really good.  I am happy that I got to go (and it was FREE!!) and I would totally go again next year! 

Well I am petering out.  I will try to blog at least once a week.  We will see how it goes....  Wish me luck!