On my way to the GTA!

It’s hard to believe that after a year of waiting and trying to get into the Google Teacher Academy, that I am now sitting on my a flight with the final destination being San Jose, California.

I’ve learned through the defeat of not getting into #gtachi last summer that it’s sometimes good to experience disappointment. Sometimes we need the push to make ourselves better. This last year has been a year of self-improvement in many ways.

Twitter honestly became a lifeline anytime I got stuck or discouraged this last year. My PLN grew from 50 online educators to nearly 900 in 12 months. When I have a problem at work or am not sure how to begin a global project, I now look to Twitter and the amazing people I’ve connected with online.

#MexEdChat was just a dream a year ago today. It started as an idea that has now changed lives around Latin America and the world. Being a part of something so much bigger than my little self has given me meaning to keep striving towards excellence. To collaborate and grow with educators in Spanish and English around the world is exciting.

Our classrooms are no longer just 25 kids with 4 walls, we are talking with kids all over the globe as we Skype, Hangout, write letters, send videos and blog about what is happening in our lives. When I think of the potential we have as teachers today, it blows my mind. Studying Rome or South Africa becomes alive today as we don’t base our studies on outdated textbooks and can actually talk to kids living in those places.

Pushing myself to use Spanish and give bilingual trainings around Mexico has not always been easy, I still make mistakes in the language and doubt my abilities with the topics on hand. Just as I encourage my students to step out of their comfort zones, I’ve done the same this last year and am amazed at how much I’ve grown.

Going to conferences alone and not having anyone to lean on has been hard at times yet amazing as I find myself surrounded by educators who are changing the world one day at a time by building relationships that will never die out. It’s funny as I think about this since as a kindergartner I was that “quiet student” who always got seated with the loud, obnoxious boys to balance out the table. I’ve learned that speaking up and putting myself out there is worth it.

Applying for new tech jobs and being denied was tough, yet I can now see in retrospective that it all worked out for the best. I have learned more about what I need to improve and how I can grow to be the best educator I can be. Though doors were shut, new ones opened and I am excited to see where my new position in Middle School will take me.

Education today has changed dramatically since I was a student and I’m so happy to be a part of an intense global online community. The people I’m about to meet in Mountain View, California have so much experience and expertise in the field of education today and I can’t wait to learn from/with the best of the best!

So as my Mom always says, “Make some memories and enjoy every day.” Here goes nothing, #gtamtv let’s make some memories and enjoy this incredible experience together!

Curiosity doesn't have to kill the Cat

How many questions are teachers asked everyday?

Seriously, how many answers are you throwing back at students all day long? 

Some of our answers are nonverbal, a single nod of the head will work. Or if you're in Guadalajara, you move your index finger up and down, which means "yes". 

Sometimes our heads are so full that we stop listening. Nobody likes to admit that, but c'mon, how many times has the 3 o'clock bell rung and you've said "Thank God, my brain can breathe now."

In the busy days of a teacher, many students' questions are lost in the turmoil or in the textbooks or in the curriculum standards. Kids are curious. Kids ask us questions that we don't have the answer to. 

Kids ponder the existance of diseases, the difference between countries, adult's obsessions with color of skin and so much more. 

Yet, as teachers, are we listening? Or are we simply "moving on" and trying to get through the day's lesson?

I want to challenge myself this year. I want kids to ask questions. I don't care if it takes extra time or if it's not in my "plans". 

I want to hear what kids want to know.

Let's get this year rolling and the questions coming. 

Let's see where curiosty leads us this year. 

"Curiosity is the wick in the candle of learning." William Arthur Ward

Ponderings: Remember that time?

High School English class. Mrs. E was teaching us quotes from age old fables. I loved hearing the play on words, but didn't really understand why we needed to know them. Yet, ten years later, as I look at my attempted educational blog, I can't help but think: 

"The best laid plans of mice and men often go astray."

So it goes, remember that time 3 months ago I was ready to make a difference? I wanted to stamp my name on the world of education. Ha, I had so many good intentions, yet here I am drowning in a to-do list and waking up an hour earlier every morning trying to catch up.

Yet, 

"The first step towards getting somewhere is to decide that you are not going to stay where you are."

So here we are again, the first week of February.

My students will be skyping with their Folklorama countries - any other classes want to talk to us from Brazil, Costa Rica, Kenya or South Africa?

My students are tweeting! Follow us @MsDomsClass to see the awesome things we are learning in math and social studies.

I am figuring out the world of twitter as well @DominiqueDynes.

Let's see what else comes about this month. 

"Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going."

Enough is Enough

I’m not going to lie in my first post (what kind of promising start would that be?) and say that I've never made excuses. 

It's easy to find something that gets in the way of a job well done. I can be quick to throw the blame and complain about this or that. I'm good at filling my days with things that don't last. 

I've heard myself say "I just don't have enough time. They don't pay me enough. I don't have time for waiting for others, it's easier to just get things done." 

I can only imagine that teachers around the globe may say such things. And in my case, even if I'm not complaining, I can be complacent. 

Don't get me wrong. 

I love life. I enjoy my days. I can't get enough of this Mexican weather (has it already been 5 years since I left Minnesota?!?). I have a great job, but...

...I want to challenge myself.

Challenge myself to stop sitting on the sidelines, start new things, stop seeing the problems and start making the solutions. 

Sometimes it takes something big to change the comfortable patterns you've created in life.

Call me crazy, but I want to pick up the pace and make a change. Call me lucky, because 3 months ago I went to a Google Apps Conference in Mexico City. Call me cursi (cheesy), but I think everything happens for a reason. Call me hopeful, because I am ready to start over. 

It’s time to make goals, time to start collaborating with fellow colleagues – be it in Mexico or around the world, time to start connecting and time to stop letting life pass me by.

Enough is Enough.

Let’s do this, one day at a time.

Let’s talk.

Let’s learn.

Let's connect.

Let's teach.

Let’s love the adventure.

Join me, no promises for brilliance, but follow the day to day (or week to week) journey as we grow, help each other and have some fun along the way.