Heather Westlund Reflects

General education background

My name is Heather Westlund.  I am a wife, mother, and daughter.  In 1999, I graduated from SUNY Fredoina with a BS in Elementary Education, a certification in Early Childhood, and a minor in English.  I studied poetry and creative writing at Oxford University, England. At Canisius College, I completed a Masters in Reading K-12. The majority of my career, I’ve been a classroom teacher.  I have taught PK, K, 4th, 5th, multiage classrooms, writing labs, AIS, and 8th). 

My muse - I was out of the technology loop! 

Four years ago, my own children came home from school with IPads.  Their school was going paperless?! Classwork and homework was to be done on their IPads.  The problem is we had no internet or cell service because we lived in the rural area of Villenova, NY.  I nicknamed it the “cell hole”. 

As farmers, I really hadn’t thought much about cell phones or the internet.  We just didn’t need it. As a parent, I was frustrated that my children couldn’t do their homework without going to a library (30 minutes away).  As a teacher without technology in her classroom, I became concerned about my own students. Obviously, this country girl needed to get into the technology loop so my children and students would be college and career ready.

Through the Chinese Bridge Program, I traveled to Beijing and Tianjian to meet with educators and tour schools.  I started to realize that the rest of the world was using new technology, and I needed to also.

My first adult technology lesson

I started watching over my children’s shoulders to learn more about this foreign device, IPad.  I focused on Noteability. I knew I had much learning to do. Next, I started meeting with administration and told them about my concerns.  My fourth grade students were not using IPads or laptops at all. Teachers could sign out times at the computer lab, but most teachers had not been trained in how to use the programs we had access to.  Meanwhile, my own children (who were in fourth and sixth grade) had well surpassed me and my students with their technology skills. 

Administration gives me some technology

I had a teacher laptop and now IT installed a Smartboard, gave me two desktops, a teacher IPad, and four student IPads.  The teacher across the hall, Craig Lameraux, had endless patience with me. A few times a day, I ran next door to fix some type of digital “emergency”, like orient the Smartboard or insert an interactive tool.  At our team meetings, he would record our work and his computer would be displayed on the Smartboard. I would watch carefully.

I started using my IPad in meetings and at home.  Making my children show me how to use Noteability.  Eventually, I made the leap and handed the IPad to the student.  I told them it was an all or nothing thing. If it distracted my lesson, I would shut it down. I was still not sure where all this was going.

Student Teachers

My students were more comfortable using the IPad than me.  I observed them, and started questioning them. I asked my children and my students how I could use technology in my classroom.  In my opinion, children have more creative ideas than adults. 

This new role was very empowering to my children and my students.  I went with it. At times, I even played dumb because the kids were so excited to teach me!  We were learning partners. We celebrated new accomplishments. The feeling of respect and community grew and grew.  I was honest about my frustrations and transparent with my coping strategies. My yoga training creept into my room and we became more mindful.  I used music to signal types of work time and transitions. I wrote a quote on my wall (from Fred Jones) , “There is strength in being calm and weakness in being upset.”  My home screen on my phone said, “Concentrate on what you can do, not on what you cannot.”  (J.Woodrow) When I felt frustration, I repeated these quotes (daily).

Transformative Teaching

By the end of that year, my classroom had done a three-sixty.  My fourth grade class went from no technology in the room to using technology daily.  I wanted more. My students wanted more. I took pictures and more pictures. My students and I stapled Power Points together to make books to take home, publish in our school library, and hung them up on the wall.  I asked for laptops (which brought new challenges). Getting technology and support required extra effort on my part, but I felt like I owed it to our future. I needed to catch up with the times.

The next year, I was reassigned to the computer lab and was the Technology Teacher.  I was included in our students’ special rotation for Pre-K through 5th grade. The following year, I moved houses.  My new house had cell service, so I bought an IPhone. Having an IPhone really transformed my life.

Computer Lab Teacher

I still had so much to learn.  The computer lab’s teaching assistant knew how to get student logins, and all I knew in 2015 was the Microsoft basics.  I used ABC Ya! for Pre-kindergarten.  

Each student had very long unusual passwords.  This was extremely challenging because many of my students didn’t know letter names or the how to match uppercase and lowercase letters.  Each student needed help to log in, PK-2.

The class periods were 40 minutes each, back to back.  There were two connecting labs with forty kids (two classes) at the same time, and a teaching assistant.  It was a lot to manage. Laptop carts were hoarded by teachers. When you found the laptop carts, often they were not charged or updated.

I reached out to other teachers, our IT,  and did much research online. I learned more about the Microsoft programs and taught my primary students to use these programs to publish work.  

Then I became concerned about students searching the internet, so I started researching copyright laws and teaching them about plagiarism.  As I researched and reached out to other educators, I discovered new opportunities for learning. I asked my administrators to send me for training.

I was at the substitution level of the SAMR Model.  I still felt like I needed more training. I discovered that our school had a part time technology integrator from BOCES, Elizabeth Schaunbacher.  I asked her for help. 

Kicking it up a Notch

Elizabeth took me to a whole new level.  She taught me how to create a Gmail, use Google Chrome, make a Weebly website, and use ABC Mouse.  Meanwhile, I was teaching myself Excel to record grades and develop a curriculum map. I learned Typing.com and set up free accounts for students.  I used Brainpop. I started sending parent letters home to show what the students were doing.

Everything I did, I journaled.  This new door to a world of technology was exciting!  Elizabeth suggested going to New York State Computers and Technology in Education (NYSCATE) National Conference.  In 2017, I attended the NYSCATE National Conference in Rochester and it blew my mind!

Now

I write lessons using all levels of SAMR and the TPACK model.  I have unpacked the ISTE standards. I authentically integrate technology across PK-5th.  I teach all content areas with a super charge. The EL Curriculum has provided several models of excellence to provide guidance and inspiration.  I train our staff with technology courses. I push into classrooms to problem solve or model instruction. I create websites like my Silver Creek Central School (SCCS) Website for Technology Special and my SCCS Teacher Page.  I created my own Google Site which includes My Blog.  I actively practice the ISTE Standards in my life.

I’m on a committee that is developing our STEAM program.  I am collecting materials to develop my Makerspace. I am educating teachers and parents to recruit support.  I am on my way to being ISTE Certified!

My Vision

Continue modeling lifelong learning for my children and students.  Support all ages to exercise a growth mindset. To pass this love of education on, so all my students will be empowered.  For that is something no one can take away from you. Knowledge is power! 

Contact Me:     Email:  hwestlund@silvercreekschools.org     Face Book:  Knights Rule     Twitter:  KnightsRule1@Rule1Knights