So, the first obstacle to my tech ventures.
I got grilled by Mrs. Nix about using classroom money for the cameras. Okay, maybe not ‘grilled’, but at least ‘questioned with doubt in her tone’.
I told her that including their own photos would raise kids’ engagement with writing.
I told her that using cameras would heighten their observational skills.
I told her that using cameras and photos link to at least four Common Core standards. Not my favorite fallback, mind you, but sometimes you have to use the ‘language-du-jour’.
And that’s why I should have stopped there.
I mentioned ‘visual literacy’. Not good. Whenever Mrs. Nix is vaulted out of her own comfort zone, she stiffens up.
“Well, I’ll think about it.”
Uh-huh. That usually means ‘no’.
So, right then and there, I changed course.
Even if she miraculously changed her ‘no’ to a ‘yes’, I didn’t want her thinking she was doing me a favor.
My words: “You know…I understand your concerns. I think I’ll just use my own money.”
At that moment, the lunch bell rang. I’m not always a fan of the bells, but it gave me a seamless escape.
I checked my watch, did the ol’ eyeglasses adjustment, and thanked her for her time. Not huffy. Not exasperated. Just matter-of-fact.
And I was gone. With a few conclusions…
–I’m on my way out. From this school, at least.
–And since I am, why not keep stretching myself? [and a few of the ‘rules’].
This book’s excerpts will soon be also appearing in my 7 C’s Teacher Expo.