EEND 713 Course Reflection - Module 8

The journey to obtaining our Technology Specialist Endorsement began March of 2017.  As a cohort we have learned new and exciting platforms to implement with our students, we have learned about legalities, and we analyzed our own district and why the district has to follow particular regulations and restrictions.  To say the least it has been quite the journey, there have been moments where I just thought to stop.  I made the pay scale jump and was feeling burnt out with the other million responsibilities I have as a teacher, on top of life being a task all on its own.  I am happy that the majority of our cohort persevered and saw this entire course to completion. I have grown as an educator because of it, and really have brought a lot more current technology into the classroom.

This particular course we needed to focus on a Unit Plan and Genius Hour. Both projects were very different but very insightful and useful in its own right.  

I decided to design my Unit Plan off of a current unit I was teaching in Reading (Ready Gen).  I figured if I was going to design something, I might as well make it practical and useful.  The students at the time were learning about explorers and typically I would have just followed the Teachers Guide and the district's essential standards and skills.  However with the Unit Plan we needed to think of ways we could incorporate technology into the unit.  I am so happy I did.  Not ONLY did my students enjoy exploring FlipGrid but I was able to share this project with two other 5th grade classrooms in the building.  The kids loved being able to interact with other students in other rooms about the exact same thing they were learning in the classroom.  They made very thoughtful posts and took the time to respond to one another with equally thoughtful responses.  The current pedagogy of education is to create free and deep thinkers.  This activity definitely displayed that! I have the SPED and ESL cluster and I was SO PROUD of the insight they shared, and the responses they came up with, on their own without my assistance.  Collaborating across classrooms is definitely something I plan to continue to do. Especially because the students are GENUINELY engaged in the learning, and it is no longer a "sit and get", or "chalk and talk" (chalk? what's chalk?).  Moving forward, I hope to collaborate with my colleagues on how we can continue to implement cross classroom learning and utilizing online platforms effectively.

The second project that this course focused on was called Genius Hour.  This was a fantastic way to force everyone out of the monotonous life we easily get stuck living.  We are professionals that spend so much of our life outside of work, working, that we just keep moving along and forget about diving into new and exciting entities that we find interesting.  So for this project we were instructed to do so.  I chose Brazilian Jujitsu (BJJ).  While I have been boxing for 10 year, BJJ is a completely DIFFERENT martial art.  As I stated in earlier blogs, I always WANTED to try but was always too intimidated.  After being assigned this project, I figured it was a sign from the universe to step outside my comfort zone.  I could drone on and on about it, but if you are that interested in my journey just read Module 1-7 for the 713 Course.  I really hope that I can organize my instructional schedule this year to find some time to pilot Genius Hour with my students.  I think it is a great way for students to begin to explore their own interests and help pave the way into the people they eventually become later in life.  Obviously, due to the fact they are children and do not have limitless funds or freedom to do what they want, when they want, I can at least provide them an opportunity to research topics they are interested in. Not every child finds the debate about if Christopher Columbus was a hero or a villain interesting, just as some students could care less that plants make their own food, or some could care less about building an effective bridge.  This is something that allows a child or an adult an opportunity to really explore and investigate their own curiosities.  Helping foster a curious child, will only prove to be beneficial for the future of our society. So while I have a laundry list of "to-dos", I truly see the benefit in allowing this for our young learners. Create a passion for curiosity now, and who knows who they will grow to be?  Maybe the next NASA Astronaut, the next teacher, the next engineer that helps create a cleaner and safer environment for man kind....or maybe, they also become a Jujitsu Master one day :)

 

EEND 713 Genius Hour - Module 7

Workouts before rolling on the mat

Above is a link that shows you the other type of exercise you are required to do when warming up and getting ready to roll on the mats.  Which is where I am headed in about 30 minutes.  I wish I made the workouts look as glamorous and motivational as the chick in the video does.  I am more like a sweaty, grunting, dying, sloth trying to make it through 60 minutes of torture.

Through this process, I haven't really become any stronger than I am today.  Most likely because I have been conditioning for boxing for the past ten years, and unless I aim to start lifting weights... there won't be much change in my strength.  HOWEVER, what I have noticed over the past couple of weeks that my flexibility and agility have definitely increased.  Before, I could barely touch my toes.  I am one of those "athletes" that shows up, works out, does their thing, and then leaves without stretching. 

In BJJ you need to stretch, and even if you do not, half of the warm ups force you to stretch, and then when grappling on the mat you are DEFINITELY forced to stretch your body in ways you aren't always used to.

This has been such a wonderful experience thus far.  My coach wants me to join the camp, that will inevitably train me for competitions.  I am not sure I am quite there yet, and even if I was, I don't have the time to commit to the sport right now.  Not enough that I'd need if I was entering a comp, and I won't enter a competition unless I know there is a good chance I will win.  I don't need to win, but I need to know that I am prepared enough...and currently, I most certainly am not.  Stay tuned friends, as time unravels, and I am gifted the opportunity, I will move forward...but that is until further notice :)

EEND 713 Genius Hour - Module 6

"Victory is reserved for those who are willing to pay it's price" - Sun Tzu

I have been attempting both gi and no gi in jiu jitsu these past few weeks.  One would think that natural evolution would occur and that I would become better at the sport... and while yes, I have... Not to the speed I had anticipated.

I have been able to submit mildly more than I did a few weeks ago but I am still tapping out more than I am able to tap others out.  It has been frustrating to say the least.  Especially because athletically, I haven't really had many challenges (unless it is swimming lol).  I have showed up not training a day, and run a marathon in 4.5 hours.  I have done 13 mile mud runs without training for it either.  I am a firm believer that the largest challenge is in your head, and no matter how in shape or out of shape I am, my mental prowess always prevails.

Jiu Jitsu has been humbling to say the least, but humbling in a good way.  While I have "gotten better", I am a far cry from being anything close to proficient in the sport.  My coaches have been nothing but encouraging and remind me that it takes YEARS to truly master the sport.

Regardless to my current trials and tribulations, it has definitely been a journey worth embracing, and if I ever have children, especially a daughter, I am having her start BJJ as soon as she can walk.  Her mother may not have it in her to master the sport, but my daughter sure will... and it will make me more comfortable about her safety if I know she can tap someone out in 15 seconds!

EEND 713 Genius Hour - Module 5

Well, the gi came in the mail the other day.  Holy moly those things are expensive! Thank goodness my coach is sponsored by so many different MMA and UFC academies, that he gets promotional codes and discounts on our gis. He saved us all $25!

Not to mention it is like wearing a furnace when you are working out. Just standing and doing nothing I sweat.

The warm ups and drills in gi, are just as brutal as the warm ups and drills in no-gi Jiu Jitsu (JJ). The difference are the rules in no gi vs gi JJ.  With a gi on, you are able to grab your opponents clothing and use that to choke them out or get them in submission or tap out.  It is actually more complicated than it sounds because if you do not have grip or forearm strength it is pretty difficult to hold onto the gi tight enough.

I am not very good at JJ, but that is to be expected, as it take decades to perfect... if ever.
However, I have gotten better. I had my first submission, and I was able to block a girl from getting me into her guard and prevent her from mounting (aka I win).  That was only two blips on the radar though, the remaining time I was definitely the one submitted and tapping out lol.   I also recognized I tap out much sooner than I should because of year I will get injured.

I already had a broken rib and black eye this summer from boxing, I am not ready for another injury that makes me sit out of exercise for weeks.

I have also noticed, I take the defensive when a match starts and we need to grapple.  I am not good at take down (getting someone from standing position to laying down).  I am also not good at being on the offensive.  I wait for my opponent to come to me before I respond.
Learning how to flip people has been so fun! It is amazing how the body works, and how certain positions can truly render people harmless.  Men that are twice my size I can learn how to submit.

This is certainly a GREAT martial art that teaches women self-defense. I highly recommend it!