After a few days of adjusting to new teachers and new routines, 8th Grade is off and running. The “newness” is not just something the students are experiencing. I have a new Promethean board in my classroom (way cool!), a new class (Resource Math), a new curriculum in Foundations in Algebra 2 (which means a great new textbook and upgraded software to accompany it), a new electronic grade book, and a fancy new calculator that operates more like a computer than a calculator. After 13 years at Marie Murphy, I feel a bit like a new teacher again. Which is to say I have a lot to learn.

But, you know what? That’s okay. It’s good to be a learner. It reminds me of how much I enjoy learning new things. And it reminds me that while learning can be fun, it can also be challenging, difficult, and frustrating. When learning isn’t easy and I have to struggle to learn something new, I find myself looking for the strategies I need to insure my success. That’s something I can teach and model for my students.

Educational technology guru Will Richardson likes to say that his job title is “Learner-in-Chief.” There is no doubt that I will be learner-in-chief in my classes this year.