summer learning

The most challenging habit will be #7 –to teach or mentor others.  The biggest challenge in teaching is not simply to prepare the material for the students–but to figure out what approach or technique would be the best one to use to convey the subject and have the students be able to master the material.  I will have to learn this technology concretely enough to teach it to other adults in my department (although most will be ahead of me) and to my students.  I want to be an encouraging mentor to both groups and not be perceived as someone who cannot or will not move forward in my personal instruction.

The habit most important at the present time is #2.  I need to accept responsibility for my own learning as I tend to expect this of my own students.  I will use the time this summer to actively seek out what I need to achieve my goals for my new academic 7th grade class as well as ideas for my Honors groups.  I will also have to stretch and not just focus on those things that suit my own learning style–but will be ones I can “apply” to/for different learning styles.

Finally, the habit the will be the easiest is Play–7 1/2.  I have already “played” with different options–lots of “lets click on this and see what happens.”  I will have to try to remain focused and not get frustrated when things don’t actually work the first time or two.  I really plan to use the collaborative elements of this course–as I expect my own students to do so.  It makes life soooo much easier!