I spent yesterday afternoon on the EdTech Connect Webinar series, presented by discoveryschool.com. Last night’s offering was Kay Teehan. Most readers will know that I used to work with her, so because of that I’m pretty spoiled. My wife was standing next to the computer here in the kitchen while I was listening to her talk via the webinar and laughing at me. And this is nothing against Kay because I respect her as a colleague and love her as a valued friend, but I’ve seen her powerpoint and presentation probably at least 20ish times already. I was there as support, and dangit, it’s been 2 1/2 weeks since I left my old school and I miss being able to just sit down in her office and say, “Hey Kay! What do you think about this?” I guess what I’m saying is, when you change jobs, certain things you will definitely miss. And that is one of them. Ok Ok, enough feeling sorry for myself.

Kay will be presenting this spring at the Technology & Learning Tech Forum in Orlando.  I’m trying to get my new principal to spring for the fee on it, but if need be I’m sure I can scrum up the funds for it. (Time to work some OT at the golf course where I moonlight at eh?) There’s a pretty nice line up with the keynote being given by David Warlick himself. Again, well worth the fee to go to it.

I had a VERY nice conversation with a 1st Grade Teacher yesterday afternoon. One that I’d been starving to have since I started. He noticed all of my Discovery Education/unitedstreaming  posters in my office. He then asked if I’ve ever heard of unitedstreaming. After stifling a chuckle, I of course started preaching the praises on the uses of classroom video on demand and how it helped change my teaching methods. Once we got through all of the obligatory head nods between each other it seemed like I was looking in the mirror, or listening to a broken record. Because the same things I was saying, he was repeating almost verbatim. There is hope for this school, next week is FCAT, then the gloves come off. Time to commence training. I know I keep saying the same thing…but this test has to hurry up and get here so we can be done with it already!

Seeking the Wisdom of the Ages…

Tom.