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Happy New Year!

I’m sure you’re wondering why my post says “Happy New Year” when it’s the month of August. Well, for you and I, it is a new year-a new school year. So why not celebrate. I know we all dread that our summer is coming to end but I bet that each of you are a little excited about the upcoming year. Come on, just a little bit? Whether it is seeing your friends, meeting your new teachers, starting your final year or just getting away from your younger brother or sister, I bet there is a little bit of anticipation.

I know that I am excited for the new year. The reason I come to school day after day, week after week is for you-each and every one of you! I love my job because of you, the students that I have the privilege of educating. If I were to talk to you about my philosophy of teaching, one thing I would talk to you about is how important it is to me that I not only teach you content but that I teach you the skills you will need to succeed no matter what the content. You’ll learn more about those skills in my upcoming blogs.

I’m excited to have all of you in class this year. All I ask is that you try and follow the three guidelines I try and follow as a teacher:

Be Present
Be Respectful
Be aware of your attitude
Happy New Year!

Importance of Blogging

Short video emphasizing the importance of digital writing like blogging.

Introducing......Me

My name is Jeanette Carlson and I am a business teacher at Bellevue West finishing up my 13th year of teaching. My schedule changes yearly but I typically teach personal finance, entrepreneurship, business management, and computer applications. I attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and graduated from there in 1996. I received my master's in educational technology from Peru State College in 2004. I'd have to say the highlight of my college years was not my trip to Europe or graduation day, but the year I spent working in the Husker football office. I worked as a student assistant and never missed a day. By the way, that was the year they won the Fiesta Bowl for the national title! :-)

Being a business teacher I have had a lot of experience with technology but I know that I can always improve my existing skills and learn new ones. I just finished the Twitter 201 class and my PLN continues to grow daily. Although we are at the end of the year, I have implemented new lessons based on what I have learned from my colleagues on Twitter. I try and incorporate a lot of technology into my classroom. Last week my students used their smart phones to research taxes (no lab was available) and posted their findings on www.todaysmeet.com. The students loved it and they were all engaged---for once!

Wow-am I a Mac or PC-tough question. I know both platforms because at home we are an all Mac house but at school we have PC's. I feel I can work with either but I would definitely prefer using a Mac if I had the choice.