Growing up in a house of readers, I knew early on that books would be an essential part of my life. At Calvin College with the teaching and mentorship of an amazing English Department, that passion was nurtured. Since 1986, I’ve had the pleasure of both teaching at Lexington Christian Academy, first in the Upper and now in the Middle School, andtaking a ten year break in between to raise my own household of readers.
In 2009 I earned my Masters Degree in Technology in Education at Lesley University which opened new approaches to teaching that go beyond lecture, leading discussions, and assigning essays. I want my students to be creators, not just consumers of language, beauty, and information. They create multi-genre portfolios that are filled with anything from poetry to Minecraft creations to multimedia of any kind. Students use their iPads to create art for projects, to explain a line of poetry, to annotate text, and to collaborate with each other. Technology gives us the opportunity to have real-world collaboration and interact with an authentic audience. Each year a number of us participate in NaNoWriMo and become novelists.
I use Twitter to follow bloggers, authors, teachers, and leaders in educational technology, keeping current with technology opportunities as well as current thinking on books and educational research. Social media has become the most significant portion of my professional development. Although I am passionate about technology and books, I am most passionate about nurturing the love of learning and creating in my children and my students.
Twitter name: @loribetch
Classroom Twitter: lca_206 (Mrs. J's class)