Beginning the EdTech Journey

As a public high school English teacher in Manassas, Virginia, adjunct professor at UVA, and reading specialist, this blog is a record of my day-to-day journey through the wilds of education technology, as I try to negotiate and integrate electronic devices in the secondary classroom. Videos, apps, and blogs, oh my!



For 2012-13, I teach two sections of pre-IBMYP English 9 (students take MYP classes before formal acceptance into the IB program at the 11th grade), one section of integrated English 10 with special educations students, one section of general education English 10, and two sections of English 11.

With my educational background, expertise, and experience, I feel that I have a great opportunity to develop different models of best practices for other teachers. The social demographics (increasing ESOL population, high percentage of free and reduced lunch) and academic diversity (integrated special education/ESOL and IB programs) of my high school also provide an excellent proving ground to develop and support these practices, as well.

Hopefully, as I outline what does and does not work in my classrooms - both at the high school and college level - I can reflect on my ongoing curriculum design and development using best practices that I have learned and taught over the years.

It has been a great year so far, and I’m excited about the journey on which my students and I are about to embark!