I started by taking baby steps using my growth mindset and investing completely in the COVA model. Instead of keeping my iPads locked up in fear I started with a rotation to allow students to sign up to use the iPads. I made sure to clear each one before I turned it over to the student and I allowed them to choose whether or not they wanted to use the iPad when their name came up on the list. To my surprise, there were a fourth of my students that just wanted to read their chapter book during advisory instead. For the students that chose to use the iPads we discussed appropriate websites and uses for the technology when they checked it out.
As the iPads were returned I checked the opened windows and browser history and I noticed something very different than my fears. Many students chose to work on the Think Through Math website in order to get through more lessons and contribute their points to the class goal of a party. I posted stats and each of my periods were in competition so many students wanted to beat the other classes even if their own class wasn’t close to winning the website administered contest party prize. Fear was slowly fading and I began to release more of my control.
teaching chose me 
One thought on “Wildly Important Goal”