GAME Update

Not much has changed this week with reaching my goal. I feel like small changes over time will be what amount to me reaching my goal in the end.
I have defiantly learned that technology is a great way to draw students in and keep them engaged. I can put the same thing on my blog and on a piece of paper, and the work from the blog will be done more frequently and at a higher standard. Students use the computer on a daily basis at home and enjoy it. By allowing students to work on computers in my classroom, normal everyday lessons and assignments wind up feeling like games! It is amazing how much it is helping my student's grades.
I am still working towards the goal of have more community interaction using the Internet. When I get back from maternity leave, I think I will take my student blog live. I will send out letters letting parents know about the blog and update it regularly with what we are doing. It will no longer just be a blog for students to use, but also a great way for parents to keep up with what their students are doing. This is possible now through Homeworknow.com, but I find this site takes a lot of time to access and update, for both myself and the parents who follow along. I think I would also, somehow, like to use this blog to work with the community. I can take pictures of stellar student work and post it for our local community to see. The community could respond back to my students and help guide them and give them motivation. If students hear positive thoughts from more then just the normal people, they may be more motivated to work hard.
Based on what I have done so far, I do not feel ready to set new goals. I feel that at this point, that would be overwhelming. The goals I have are far reaching and need time to put into action. I feel that once I reach these goals, others will create themselves.
I believe in order to learn more, I need to be more open and take more time. I struggle to find the time needed in order to work on my GAME plan. Things are falling into place, but I feel we have so many other things asked of us as teachers. We must attend meetings, classes, staff developments...all in order to better ourselves. In order to improve my learning, I need to take all I learn in these classes and use them in my GAME plan...I really think they can all work together!