A big hello to everyone

Hi,

I just joined the class on Tuesday and now I can post on the weblog! This is the first time I am taking an ETEC course and the first time I am using a weblog as part of the course. I am excited to give this a try because I can see that there is a great deal of good conversations and dialogues taking place!

I am a M.Ed TESL student, and this is my third semester of the program. I have done LLED courses so far and thought it would be interesting to take some courses outside of LLED. Currently, I am working in the New Westminster school district as a secondary ELL/English teacher. I also do learning support and ELL resource; yes, it seems like I got many roles to juggle on a daily basis, but it is also very rewarding because there are many learning opportunities and I feel like I am learning something new every day. New Westminster school district is a Google district, and with the upcoming changes to the curriculum, I have always thought about how I can integrate technology in the classroom in a meaningful and relevant way. Like many teachers, I have had my students prepare for presentations and use either PowerPoint, Prezi, or Google Slides. Some of my students have been interested in video editing, and we have done assignments such as making movie trailers or having interviews. Although my students were engaged and did well, I felt like there was more I could do with the use of technology in my classroom. Therefore, I recently started Google classroom, and I am really starting to like it, especially as I could see how much work my students have done and give more instantaneous feedback. There is still a great deal to learn in order to make the most of out using Google Classroom.

When I have leisure time (which has now become a once in a blue moon situation because of work and school), I enjoy taking my puppy out on long walks and feeling the closeness of nature. We are fortunate to live in Vancouver with the wealth of nature that sometimes we take for granted. I am an avid reader and try my best to read different genres of books in order to encourage my students to read. I enjoy outdoor activities, including kayaking and hiking but I also enjoy going to the gym on a regular basis. I believe it is important to stay healthy and have a balance in life; a healthy teacher means healthy students! 🙂