90 days left in 2018....

This post is a little professional and a little personal.  Right around this time of year, I think a lot of us begin to reflect on the resolutions that we made on January 1 and examine how much progress we've made towards accomplishing them so far, along with figuring out how much we can realistically get accomplished before the end of the year. I am no exception to this!

Rachel Hollis, author of "Girl, Wash Your Face" (which, if you haven't read, you need to) has started a 90 day challenge to pick people up for these last 90 days of the year, refocus their intention, and push them towards accomplishing those goals that they set out to accomplish at the beginning of the year!  I signed up for it, because, well,  I LOVE a challenge. It began today!!  She challenges members of this challenge to what she calls, "5 to thrive!" I already know that my challenges will be #1 and #2.  I'm going to work at it though!

Every week of the challenge for the rest of the year, she will be sending out an email to those that signed up for the challenge and each of these emails will contain a powerful quote to focus on for the week.  Here's what got us started today:

Reading Rachel's words in the email that I received this morning, really made me reflect on what I set out to do this year.  At the beginning of the year, I wrote a blog post about my goals for the new year.  Read all about it HERE!  Below are the goals that I wanted to accomplish both personally and professionally.  My responses to their progress are in red.

Professionally, I wanted to accomplish:

• Launching the first Google Bootcamp in our District!  Check!  I did this!  Since then, several of my colleagues have started Google Bootcamps are their schools, with their teachers!  We've see a LOT of success from this effort!
• Creating a district wide instructional technology podcast.  I totally forgot about this one!  I'll definitely be moving this goal to 2019!  It's been SUPER busy!
• Creating a cohort of edtech superhero educators!!!  This tells me that I need to be more specific with my goals!  While I definitely believe that I've had an impact on numerous educators this year, I don't know that I'd call them a "cohort."  I take this as a lesson learned to be more specific!
• Launching the next phase of Tablet2Read.  Our district is currently working on this as we speak.  We may be moving this to 2019 but we'll see!
• Launching the second year of our Central Office Tech and Talk Series.  This one is in the works!

Personally, I wanted to accomplish:

• Continue growing my PLN on Twitter, learning from amazing ed tech educators! Check!
• Continue blogging, more often.  Check!
• Spotlight Speak with EdTechTeam. Check!  This has been the highlight of my year!  The opportunities that have come as a result of this have been incredible!  I've been able to meet AMAZING educators from all across the world and make a true difference!  
• Deliver at least ONE keynote this year.  Check!  I've actually delivered several!  It gets better and better each and every time that I deliver it.  It's been a true pleasure to deliver my message of the importance of finding your why and living with intention to educators all across the nation!
• Sign up for and take Classy Videos by Tony Vincent.  Check!  I did indeed take Tony's course and would DEFINITELY recommend it to others!  I LOVE that the course is still available for me to access.  I've gone back to the videos numerous times to refresh my mind with the content that he shared.  
• Renew my Google Certified Trainer status.  Check!  
• Renew my Microsoft Innovative Educator and Surface Expert status.  Check!  
• Apply for the Google Innovator program.  Check!  I applied annnnnnnd....I got in!!!  CRAZY!!!  Little ole me got in!!  I spend time in Los Angeles with 37 other edtech educators from around the United States (and Canada) learning all about the Design Thinking Process as well as brainstorming a solution to my Google Innovator Project.  More about this in the next blog, but check out www.MentorMeEdu.org for more information in the meantime!
• Being active with the second cohort of Our Voice Academy.  In process!
• FINISH MY DISSERTATION and FINALLY become Dr. Natasha Rachell!!!!  ALMOST!!!
• Attend ISTE.  Check!  
• Get healthier: eat better, exercise, drink more water, meditate.  Hmmmm...eat better, yes.  Exercise, nope!  Drink more water, at times!  Meditate, not as much as I'd like.
• Continue on my spiritual journey.  Always a work in progress!
• More to come..... There has been a LOT more and I'll blog all about this at the end of the year!

I was really dreaming big at the beginning of the year!  It's refreshing to know that I've made progress on ALMOST all of the goals that I set for myself.  With only 90 days left in the year 2018, I will definitely continue to work hard so that when I recap at the end of the year and begin to set my intention for 2019, I can cross all (hopefully) these off of the list!  It's not too late to continue working on these goals and even making a few more that I'll be able to achieve before the end of the year!

How about you, where are you with your 2018 goals?  You've got 90 days to make magic happen!

Courageous Edventures Challenge - Day 6

Day 6's challenge asked that we create 3 goals for new things that we'd like to try and discuss them via blogging.  Let's see.....

1.  Sketchnoting
This has been on my "list of things to do" ever since I returned from ISTE this summer.  I just have not yet delved into it.  I need to go ahead and order Sylvia Duckworth's book (Sketchnotes for Educators) and just get started!  I've spent hours watching YouTube videos about it, but haven't started to implement it, which is surprising to me as I am very much so a visual learner! 

2.  Start creating YouTube content
This is another goal of mine that's been on my "things to do" list.  I spend sooooo much time on YouTube watching all kind of videos from inspirational videos, how to videos, daily vlogs, makeup videos (don't judge), cooking videos, etc...the list goes on and on!  I need to go on ahead and begin to add to what's out there!  Who knows....maybe the way that I present some content will be better received than someone else out there.  Won't know unless I try, right?

3.  Create a dynamic, inspirational keynote speech....and deliver it!
This is one thing that I know will get crossed off in the next couple of months and I am UBER excited about it!  I have started a list of topics to cover and ideas to speak about in my Google Keep app and have been adding to it like crazy!  I've also, no surprise, been watching a ton of YouTube videos about inspiration and how to deliver keynote speeches.  I used to work in customer service prior to teaching, was a high school teacher, taught teachers while working in the professional development department, so I've always been a people person.  I think it'll be interesting to put together a keynote that I not only create, but deliver as well!  Honestly, I don't think I'm any more special than the next person.  I put my pants and shoes on one at a time, just like everyone else.  I have been told in the past that I have a story to tell, that I'm inspirational and relatable.  I receive these compliments when they're given, however I'm just myself.  I treat others as I'd want to be treated.  With the things that I have been through, especially over the past year, people have asked me how I do it all, and how do I continue to be so positive.  Well, I know that I'm blessed.  I have a purpose to fulfill while I'm here on earth.  Although, I'm still trying to figure out what I'm going to be when I grow up...lol....I know that it involves helping others and being a positive, glass half full, inspirational, sunshiny person while I'm here.  I hope to be able to convey that through my developed keynote soon!

The scary thing about writing about goals, is that you make yourself vulnerable, transparent, and are putting them out there for others to read, maybe judge, and hold you accountable.  Not an easy thing to do.  I look forward to seeing how I develop and nurture these goals over the next year!

What are your top three goals that you'd like to accomplish?

Getting ready for the new school year...

It's the beginning of a new year...where should you begin?

The 2017-2018 school year is upon us!  Whether you are new to the field of education, dipping your toes in the #edtech water, or you've been teaching for years, it's time to set some goals to grow your current teaching practice as well as fill your professional toolbox with some new goodies!  I get asked a lot, "where should I start?"  There's not one "right" answer to this question, but I would recommend the following:

Be active on Twitter:

I spend a lot of time on Twitter!  Not going to lie, this is where I get most of my professional development!  If you don't already have an account, go ahead and create one, and post your first Tweet!  I love that if I'm curious about a certain topic, let's say educational technology, elementary science, or STEM, that I can search for #edtech or #elementaryscience, or #stem and I am automatically connected to tons of educators all over the world that have shared this same interest. They may have posted articles, blogs, or other resources that match my interest.  It's a great place to start and I find myself getting sucked into the Twitter-verse for hours on end just searching and searching!  Following other educators allows me to see what they post in my Twitter stream so I never miss what they share.  Having access to other educators opens up my reach and source for resources to a global level!

Find an accountability partner:

I firmly believe that ALL educators should have an accountability partner.  This goes for new educators as well as seasoned educators!  An accountability partner gives you someone to check in with, someone to push you towards your educational goals, and someone to bounce ideas off of.  The field of education and instructional technology are filled with different certifications, degrees, and badges just waiting for you to gain!  Consider working on these with a fellow colleague.  Perhaps there's another educator that you know of that has what you are working towards.  Ask them to guide you and help you get to where they are!  Check in with them consistently by setting a standing calendar appointment that protects that time.  If you don't see yourself and your growth as important and protect that time, it will pass you by.  You also want to make sure that you set SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and timely) goals with your accountability partner.  This will help to ensure that you meet the goals you set. Instead of saying, "I want to get my Google Trainer certification" or "I want to become a Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert," make the goal a SMART goal so it's bound by time and relevancy!

Grow your professional learning network (PLN):

I definitely use Twitter as a part of my PLN.  In addition, I continue to make those connections with other educational technology leaders that I know I can learn from.  It's all about relationships!  As cliche as it is, I definitely consider myself to be a life long learner.  I have pursued my bachelors, masters, specialists, and am finishing up my doctorate.  I have a ton of #edtech badges and certifications.  I don't want to get too comfortable or complacent!  I remember sending my first email during my senior year of college in 1998 and thinking, "WOW....as soon as I hit enter, my mom is going to get this email!"  You have to continue to learn and grow from other educators and leaders so you stay informed, inspired, creative, and innovative!  It's always a great feeling to meet people in my PLN face to face after conversing with them online for years and years!  There are a lot of people that I follow on Twitter as well as blogs that I follow, and YouTube channels that I follow that I consider all to be a part of my network.  I am continuously learning from this group of people and this network is constantly growing, so I, too can grow!

Learn one new tool a week:

In order to stay relevant in this ever changing world, I would encourage you to learn one new tool a week.  I'm not saying to become an expert in that tool, but rather research and seek out a new tool and scratch the surface of it, how it can be used, as well as when you might be able to incorporate it into your practice.  There is sooooo much out there to learn!  Follow blogs, stay active on Twitter, talk to other educators and technology leaders to find out what they are using.  Pick and choose what you like and don't be afraid to try!  I guarantee you that your students will be willing to try and will probably help you figure out how to use whatever it is!

Don't try to become an expert in EVERYTHING:

This is a BIG one!  You can do anything, but you can't do EVERYTHING!  Don't even try it!!  Find you a couple of good apps, tools, or web 2.0 resources and become an EXPERT in those!  Once you have those down packed, add to your toolbox and master a few more!  This goes back to number 4...learning about what's out there will allow you to determine and discover when to pull what from your professional toolbox!  Trust me, you will 100% totally overwhelm yourself attempting to do it all!  There are educators and technology leaders that publish weekly tech tips that will give you ideas. I remember having a pair of educators that I was working with that had a notebook and they would write down the tools that I shared with them every week.  They would refer back to that notebook throughout the school year and pull different resources to try and utilize as they determined where it would fit into their lesson plans.

So, go forth and Tweet, identify that accountability parter that's going to push you towards your goals and dreams, grow your network, learn a new tool, and don't try to do everything!  You have the power to make this year your BEST year yet!  As the educational leader in your classroom, you drive the instruction and the way it's delivered!  I challenge you to become a "Technology Teacher Extraordinaire" this year and take your teaching practice to the next level through the integration of technology!