Google for Education Certified Trainer I did it! I just got accepted as a Google for Education Certified Trainer! This journey started in April of 2016 when I decided to start the process to become a Level 1 Google Certified Teacher. I began the online tutorials through the Google Training Center thinking it would be really easy to get through those. I was wrong! Going through those training modules taught me so much more than I thought they would. Apparently, I wasn't nearly as good as I thought I was. 😉 Keep in mind... When Google gives you 3 hours to take a test, make sure you give yourself 3 hours of uninterrupted time to get it done. I actually had to take the Level 1 test twice because I tried to take it the first time on my couch with 2 kids and my husband watching TV... I didn't even get through all the content! Well, I learned my lesson and locked my family out of my office for 3 hours to take it a second time. It still took me 2.5 hours to get it done. I learned so much through that process, I jumped into the Level 2 Google Certified Teacher training. This time, I knew better and locked my family out of my office again for the test and passed it the first time. Google Teacher Tribe Inspiration! About this time, I started listening to the Google Teacher Tribe Podcast since I had been a long time follower of Kasey Bell through her Shake Up Learning Blog and Pinterest. I apparently met her at FETC and didn't even remember it because it was so long ago. You know, this was before we had selfies to prove we've met some of our #edurockstars in person! Kasey mentioned having a Google Certified Trainer Course during one of the episodes. I've always loved attending and providing PD, so I figured it was worth the time, money and effort to jump into the course and see what I could do. I joined at the end of the school year so I could work on it during the summer. I found it really helpful to create a Bullet Journal spread to keep me on track during the journey! I started in June 2017 and took the test before school started again. Luckily I passed that test and was ready for the hard part, the application process! This is where I would highly recommend taking Kasey's course! The videos, the Google + group, the support network... all of it was super helpful in the process. I'm not sure I would have been accepted if I didn't go through this process first. If you are interested, enrollment in her course starts again in May 2018. You'll be able to join here. Do What You Love!After going through this process, I had to sit back and reflect. My husband will often ask me what I'm working on late at night. I feel a little guilty when it's something I made myself do, not something I have to do for work. Then, I realize that I have to find a balance between what I have to do and what I love to do. I'm glad I went through this process, because it's really easy to get stuck in a rut and live a "Ground Hog Day" type of existence. I don't want to do the same thing everyday and never have something new to look forward to. I'm #superexcited to start a new adventure as a Google Certified Trainer and I can't wait to see what lies ahead. I hope this will inspire some of you to do the same. At least check out the resources and see if it will motivate you to do more. If you need help, don't hesitate to contact me. I love to connect with like minded educators!  Thanks for reading! ~Pam @specialtechie
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Social Media... A Love Hate Relationship
PLN = Personal Learning NetworkI'm not a fan of acronyms, but this is one that all educators should know! PLN means your Personal Learning Network. I've heard it called your Professional Learning Network as well, but it really is up to you personally who you follow. Personal Learning Network for Educators: 10 Tips Take charge of your own professional development!Motivation? Everyone is motivated by something... It finally feels like summer! This is the time of year that reminds me how awesome it is to have a job I love with some fabulous perks.
Summer isn't all fun and games though... now it's time to think about what worked and didn't work in 2013-2014. What worked... the addition of Edmodo in my classroom! Between using the communities to get ideas and using the apps to help my classroom work more efficiently, it is a wonderful resource that I will continue to use! Vocabulary practice with cram.com also worked very well, so I will continue with that next year. I will be using this summer to update some of my vocab lists (if I can get my hands on our new unit plans). What I want to change: More Close Reading and making my kids accountable for their own progress on weekly assessments. That being said, the 2014-2015 school year will include more Close Reading strategies and Self Monitoring strategies for our weekly assessments. If you would like to do the same, read more and click on the links below for ideas! |
AuthorI'm an Innovative Learning Coordinator in Berkeley County South Carolina and a Google Certified Trainer. Archives
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