Aside from realizing my body is getting older, I remembered how important it is to have arts at school. My kiddos were having fun, interacting with each other, and building relationships. My students were exercising a part of the brain that I often ignore.

Of course I had to incorporate some of the cool tech things that I have learned along the way. First of all I used this website to share the routines with parents. Talk about flipped learning, students could go home and watch their little hearts out. I know it was easier in Casa Rivera. My two boys took my class and as much as I wanted to keep teaching them at home (Just kidding, I was too tired to teach) it was nice to put on a video that they can watch over and over. I was also reminded of the different levels, even within the same age group. Teaching requires differentiation and tons of patience. I was able to take a page out of Catlin Tucker's playbook and had me some station rotation. We learned choreography together and as I identified sticking points in the routine those became the stations.

I'll leave you with a little bit of the showcase from my kiddos, enoy! I know I did. 

ISTE 2017 was a blast. There were a lot of first for me and some things have moved me emotionally and professionally. Let us begin with the not so sappy stuff. 

I have never been to San Antonio. I have never eaten brisket... I ate a lot of brisket. I have never heard teachers sing their hearts out. #ETK Seriously though, what librarian has lungs like that... 

What was so emotional? Jennie and George. I now realize that any stories relating to parents and their children will always make me cry or, if you are in San Antonio, you can say "the humidity is making my eyes sweat." George Couros' session was great. When I heard him speak at CUE I was also inspired this time around he spoke about creating Digital Leaders. I love that idea, I submitted to Google Innovator around Conscientious Cyber Citizens, but Digital Leaders sounds awesome. George is a great reminder that technology needs to be harnessed by our students. Teachers need to be the movement that shapes that future, or I mean shapes the now. Technology integration needs to be done today. Students are not waiting for teachers to get on board, they are already zooming past us in a speedboat. Let's teach them to swim, just in case. 

Jennie Magiera . I have wanted to begin this blog so many times, pretty sure I have written my first post about 10 times since CUE 17' but here we are, I am ready to contribute to the community. Jennie reminded me to tell my story, or someone else will. Her passion for education is astonishing. As I watched and listened to her on that stage I am reminded of how my teachers impacted my life, that will be another post, but it goes without saying that we need to keep building those relationships students, they matter so much.

So aside from those amazing speakers and all the other sessions, I thoroughly enjoyed the expo this year. I barely fit all the swag back in my bags but I realized how many relationships I have formed being in this position as Tech TOSA. It was great putting a face to the name and connecting with companies that are now our partners. Shout out to ClassCraft for getting us some Karaoke tickets, Librarian rock, literally.

Final thoughts. Keep creating things that help change lives, keep inspiring, keep.google.com, keep telling your story, and keep learning.