Testing, 1, 2, 3....

So...my first blog post.  I'm typically very talkative, but right now I'm feeling scared speechless.

I'm sure I'll loosen up soon enough. :)

Why am I beginning a blog?  Well...I've decided to "flip" my eighth grade Pre-AP Algebra 1 classes this year.  For many of our lessons students will watch a 5-15 minutes direct instruction video at home, and class time will be used for practice and application of concepts.

My goal is to make better use of the time I have with students in class.  I want students to be able to practice concepts when I am available to help them.  I want to be able to have more one-on-one time with students and their particular issues with material.

I have been reading books, watching videos, listening to podcasts, and following other "flippers" on Twitter.

And I have been convinced to go for it.

I will be using the app Explain Everything to make videos.  So far, I have created guided notes in Smart Notebook, exported them as PDFs, and uploaded them to Explain Everything.

I begin making videos tomorrow.

I am a bit hesitant to try to blog about my experiences.  The process of flipping my Algebra 1 classes is going to be very time intensive, and I really don't see how I'm going to make all the videos I want to make AND keep up with a blog.  But Crystal Kirch's blog (http://flippingwithkirch.blogspot.com) convinced me to record my experiences, so I have something to go back and read and remind myself of what worked and what didn't.

So here I am.  No pressure, though.  I'm not going to make a schedule or tell myself I have to blog so many days a week.  My goal will be once a week, but if I miss a week I won't stress about it too much.

Thanks for reading!