Introduce Yourself

[Cyndi Danner-Kuhn]

Teachers from the Trenches, please tell us about where you teach, what you teach and how long you have taught. What inspired you to become a teacher and if you have a piece of advice or pearl of wisdom for my "future teachers" (education majors), please share.

I would like to thank you in advance for helping to teach this class of future teachers by sharing your expertise. Cyndi

[samccoy]

Welcome to our PLN (Professional Learning Network). I loved listening to your story. I too have enjoyed 6th grade teaching. You have an opportunity to encourage students in a positive way for their future. You are busy, yet it will be worth it when you are finished. Glad to meet you.

[Brittany Kratzer]

Hello, I'm Brittany Kratzer. I'm currently a senior at FHSU. I am an Elementary Education major hope to be student teaching next fall. I'm from a small town called Geneseo, Kansas. I went to school in my hometown until 5th grade when our school was closed, and I've seen first-hand what a school means to its students and community.

Teaching has always been the best career for me. I have had several excellent teachers that have influenced me throughout my life. I also come from a very large and wonderful family, and I have rarely gone more than a week or two in my life where I have not found myself surrounded by my sister and brothers and at least a few of my dozens of cousins. Having such a close-knit family has been one of the most important factors in my deciding to teach.

In my first couple of years of college I found my love for science. It was only then that I thought of changing direction and pursuing a degree in chemistry and proceeding into pharmacy. It took me a year and a lot of time thinking to decide that I liked working with children too much to sit behind a counter every day! I do plan on using my many hours of science classes though. I plan to teach middle school science in a small school in central Kansas. Because I enjoy several other subject areas, I also plan to get endorsements in math and social studies. I think it is best for me to keep my options open so I can find the perfect classroom setting for me!

[samccoy]

Welcome Brittany! My Biology major really helped when I switched to Elementary Ed. I think you are on the right track trying to keep your options open and get as many licensure areas as you can. I hope you enjoy Cyndi Danner-Kuhn's class. I know I have enjoyed meeting each new cohort of pre-service teachers.

[John McCullough]

Hi. I joined the Kansas Future Teachers network mainly to lurk and watch Cyndi Danner-Kuhn and her students interact in the Web 2.0 world. I guess you should consider me as a "Teacher from the Trenches."

I'm a Professor in the Education Department at Clarion University of PA. I've taught for 15 years as a college professor, preceded by 4 years as a high school math and computer science teacher. The first half of my career in higher education focused on teaching elementary mathematics methods. Since then, my teaching has dealt more with educational technology, but also with some graduate instructional technology courses.

I most often teach a class for undergraduate students called Microcomputers in Education. Over the years, this course has changed dramatically, but has also stayed the same. My focus has always been on how to appropriately and effectively integrate technology into the classroom, but the tools have changed.

What brings me here? Well, I'm beginning to get frustrated with my undergraduate students' love of social networking for personal reasons but lack of interest or understanding of social networking for educational purposes. Through a discussion in the Classroom 2.0 network, Cyndi suggested that I take a look at this Kansas Future Teachers Network. I'm very impressed with what I've seen so far.

Here's a short bio of my career. Both my parents were teachers, but I tried to head down a different career path. During my graduate studies however, I began working with kids, giving presentations and teaching lessons in my college's planetarium. It became obvious quickly that not only was I good at teaching, I loved it. I've been teaching in one form or another ever since then.

The only "pearl of wisdom" I can think to contribute at this time is a quote I found while working on my doctorate:
          If you always do what you always did, you'll always get what you always got.

I've enjoyed looking through the many discussions here about social bookmarking, twitter, toondoo, and voicethread. I've learned a great deal in a short period of time and hope that you will continue to teach me more about how to integrate Web 2.0 into my classes.

Thanks for sharing and for permitting me to join you,
     John McCullough

[Karen Lee Loudon]

I am getting ready to student teach in the Spring and cannot wait. It has been a long journey, but a great one!
I have wanted to be a teacher since I can't remember when. I love children and have been substitute teaching for the last three years. I have enjoyed every minute of it.