#beyouEDU

Hello blogging world! I have been MIA the last few months, but will try to be better this summer. I've spent most of my social media time on Twitter and I am addicted! I love growing my PLN and participating in Twitter chats. If you're on Twitter, you can find me @teacherbrandi. If you're not on Twitter, you should join. It's a great way to get personalized PD at your fingertips!

I've met some great educators on my Twitter journey and have found some great chats to participate in and some fabulous hashtags to follow. One great hashtag I found was #beyouEDU. This was started by Dr. Will of iamdrwill.com as a challenge for educators to find the best within themselves. Each month there is a different topic for you to reflect on via your blog, YouTube, or Twitter.

This month's topic is finding your niche. As of Thursday I will have taught for 11 years and I will be unemployed. I am currently teaching on a temporary contract and it doesn't look like we'll be brought back until the beginning of the school year. This means that I am on the hunt for a new job. I am hoping my district will open up positions, but I can't sit around and wait on them.

A few months ago, I was asked to be a part of my district's EdTech CoP and as a member I was able to attend the CUE conference in Palm Springs. This conference opened up a new world for me! I came back energized and ready to better integrate technology into my teaching. Tech wasn't going to be a toy or a distraction. It became a vehicle to facilitate more collaborative and interactive learning experiences for my students.

I also came back from the conference ready to lead. I began presenting at our district's Mashup Monday events which were small sessions where we presented on our learnings from CUE. I began presenting at staff meetings. This new found confidence, led me to submit proposals to present at the Fall CUE conference and the Arcadia Innovation Summit. I am happy to say that my 2 proposals were accepted for the Arcadia Innovation Summit!

All of this brings me back to my niche. I think my niche is every growing and changing. It involves finding ways to reach students where they are and pushing them to achieve. It also involves incorporating 21st century skills into the daily workings of the classroom and educational experience. This is where ed tech comes in. I love what ed tech has to offer teachers and students and I would love to find a position where I can share, lead, and grow in this field. I have an interview this week for an ed tech TOSA position and am prayerful that I will wind up in the best position for me.

What's your niche?