Season 2 Bonus Episode - What's next?!
On this episode of Blending In, I share some insights about what's next for me in my journey with the production of this podcast as I transition from EdTech Specialist back to the classroom! I recorded this episode in the Spring of 2024, but because I needed to prepare myself to teach a brand new curriculum for a grade level I've never taught before, I had to put production of this final episode on hold. It's now January of 2025 and I'm just now getting time to produce and publish this special bonus episode.
If you've listened to the episode already, you know now that I'm back in the classroom teaching high school - 11th grade actually - at our Continuation High School in Hemet, CA. I spent most of the spring and summer familiarizing myself with the ERWC 3 curriculum and planning lessons and activities for my at-risk students. This photo is my first day back on campus back in August of 2024 for our teacher prep days.
My first semester back in the classroom was so great! I got a lot of support from friends and family who helped me restock and decorate my classroom (thanks to my middle daughter Camryn for being the best classroom helper). I went with a Ted Lasso theme and had so much fun using Canva to design some new posters for my classroom. I taught two quarters, reflected often about what was working well and what I should change for next semester, and solicited a lot of feedback from my students on what they thought I could improve for my next group of kids.
I had never taught at a Continuation high school before this school year, so I've been learning a lot about how we operate on a quarter system, how we help students recover the credits that they need to graduate, and how I can truly engage and motivate students to do the hard work of learning - specifically learning rhetorical reading, writing, and speaking.
Truth be told - I'm absolutely loving being back in the classroom with these kids, and although I miss some aspects of my role as an EdTech Specialist, I recognize that I was only meant to be in that role for a season of my life. I know that I'm meant to be right where I'm at for this next season in my life. I love each and every one of my students. They all have a story of "why" they ended up there and it's anything and everything you could imagine. I know my role is not only to help them develop some important reading, writing, and speaking skills, but also to foster a drive in them to achieve the "graduation milestone" so they can thrive as a positively contributing member of our community and truly live the lives they were meant to live. As Ted Lasso reminds us, "It may not work out how think it will or how you hope it does, but believe me, it will all work out."
My transition back to the classroom has been successful and rewarding. Recently, I was recognized along with my new ELA team as "Employees of Excellence" in our district. I am serving as an ELA Lead teacher at my school site, providing technology PD to our staff and designing a Creative Writing and Graphic Design after school elective course for our students, while also mentoring and coaching 9 teachers throughout Riverside County who are either clearing their credentials through the CTI program or who are enrolled in University programs to become teachers. I am working really hard to support my students and teachers I'm coaching, so I'm at full capacity in my new role while also trying to be an involved and supportive mom to my 3 daughters.
So, for now, it appears the Blending In season may be coming to an end, or at least a pause. As I mentioned in this final recording, if I end up having the capacity to return to this passion project, I absolutely will. But for now, I'm not hesitating to innovate and integrate in my own classroom! Please continue to share the previous 20 episodes with your educator friends! Blending In has been selected by Feedspot as one of the top 100 EdTech podcasts to listen to in our country, which is pretty exciting! Please continue to follow the podcast on social media platforms for updates on a possible Season 3!
PS - If you will be at Spring CUE in Palm Springs in March 2025, I'd love to see you at my session "What signals are you sending? Student Engagement & Motivation: At-Risk Learner Edition"
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