Not much to say...
I know a huge suprise, but I haven't had a lot to share and blog about lately. Maybe it is because I am pondering too much information right now and am constantly reading other blogs and responding to them. I agree with what many of the others have been blogging wondering if my students are motivated, engaged and honestly somewhat having an enjoyable time in my classroom.
I try to constantly ask my students, "why, explain it back to me, explain your thinking, is this lack of understanding or lack of effort". I am really trying to give prompt specific feedback and take notes when I am grading on mistakes that the students (as a whole) are making. Doing this helps me see my holes in teaching and where to step back and review or practice more. I am trying to get to the core of who doesn't understand what and how I can really work on what I am doing if a student doesn't know what I consider to be essential. However I guess I am constantly struggling with how to ensure that all 110 year 2 Spanish students master the essential learnings and are truly ready to succeed and tackle Spanish 3.
Hopefully next time I can be a bit more thought provoking. Sorry :)

Reality Check
I recently found this quote about the future of technology that really got me thinking (the entire article got me thinking).

"Education will become organically linked again into everyday life, not forced into schools and colleges where young people sink into an alienated youth culture, into compulsory idleness and irresponsibility." http://prayatna.typepad.com/education/2005/10/new_ideas_for_e.html

This quote got me thinking about the frustration I am feeling about the slowness of change. I would guess that the majority of people think of high school as it is stated in the second part of the satement. Many students would still probably describe a typical high school as an array cliques, long hours of homework (that is done, just to get it done), sitting through hours of teachers talking/lecturing, students fighting for the proclaimed "good teacher" or "easy teacher", and parents reminicing of, for the most part, the exact same experiences.
I know that here at Arapahoe we are diligently working toward active, engaged and autonomous learning. Where students are learning how to learn, analyze, and disect information for logic and valitity. However, I guess I am feeling frustrated about how to get more educators on board with what our students will need to be successful in today's world. A world where it is essential to be self motiviated, innovative and a critical thinker. Where facts can be found in the blink of an eye, but valitity and truth must be found through critical thinking and inquiry.
It is frustrating how difficult change can be. Even I have a hard time realizing the urgency of change. In the past 5 years computers have truly become our world (5 years). Everything I learned in my technology masters in 2002 is not old, and almost obsolete. So in this digital age how can we make vital structural changes to allow for this type of learning. And how do we integrate the technologies necessary to create 21st century learners with no money?

I guess I am just gearing up for what I see as an amazing uphill, bumpy, and winding road. I am just hoping that I find an expensive and durable mountain bike to help get me to the top where I can reach true constructivist teaching and create the type of engaged learning my students will need to be tomorrow's problem solvers.
I know that our thinking, discussions, PLCs, and our new mission and vision statements are definitely going in the right direction. I just hope that some of the implementation and changes start taking off. I'm ready!