Technology Contracts

I'm working on creating a Technology Use Contract for my classroom.  Last year, we had some problems with not having the same rules throughout the school or consistently enforcing rules and procedures that our school had in place regarding technology - this led to damage and loss of equipment.  This year, our school is rolling out a 1:1 technology program, in order for this to be a success I feel it is it important that we hold our students to high standards, but this starts with holding our teachers to high standards.  I'm a 2nd grade teacher and last I heard, our students will be using Macbook Airs, so I created our contracts based on our experiences last year and with a little help from Google.  Many of the contracts that came up when I searched were for middle and high schools, so I had to do a lot of modification.  I'm hoping to share this with my administration and tech team.  Ideally, the whole school would use it, so that we are all functioning under the same set of rules and expectations.

So, now I need your help.  Check out what we've created and give us some feedback.  What would you add, take out, or change.  Feedback is needed and welcomed.  Thanks!!  If you'd like to use it, I'll be adding it to my TpT store when it's completed in the next week or so.  Anyone who leaves a comment can have it for free.  I'll be making it "pretty" with fun fonts and clipart.

PS.  If you read my first  draft of this, some of which made no sense - my apologies! This is why I should not be posting at 12 am.

And the Blogging Continues

I have a secret to admit, I love the end of summer and the beginning of a new school year.

Okay, that might not exactly be a complete truth.  No teacher LOVES the end of summer, but I do like a fresh start.

I like to go into a clean classroom with freshly washed carpets and waxed floors (SHOUT OUT to all the awesome school custodians who work hard in the summers to get the schools spotless for us) and arranged my furniture for the new year.  I like to think about how I am going to be a better teacher for my students in the upcoming year.

Usually, I don't go to school until August, but this year, I've been working as a counselor at our school sponsored NASA camp, so I've been at school already and my wheels are turning.

I've already started working on things for Open House.  This year, I'm going to have Stations set up to direct students and their parents around the room.  I'm hoping this will help keep families busy and engaged while I'm talking to families.  I'm sure you've all experienced that family that corners you and you can't escape!  Eeek!!  I'm including my station signs below.  If you'd like to use them, I'll be adding  an editable version of them to my TpT store in the upcoming weeks, so keep an eye out.

I'm a Blogger!

For me, being a blogger is like making a new year's resolution.  Every time I start a new blog, I have great intentions, but am lousy with the follow through.  I'll write for 2-3 days, not even weeks and then I'll forget about it, or get busy, or just give up,  but this time it is going to be different.

Okay, I know what you are thinking. You're thinking that's what I say every year on January 1st and you're right.  So, how is this blog going to be different from the ten other blogs I've tried to start over the years.

First step, I've made my blog look fun!  I called my sister Liz and asked her how to make it look awesome because let's be honest, we all know, if it doesn't grab our eye, we're on to the next thing.  I also bought some clipart from Krista Wallden over at TeachersPayTeachers to jazz up my webpage.

I'm not going to lie it took me a few hours to get my blog exactly how I wanted it to look, but now I'm pretty happy with it.  So now I just have to figure out how to stay motivated and keep writing.  Got any suggestions??

PS.  You should check out my sister Liz's Blog too!