Wow, I am feeling very overwhelmed right now. I don't even know if I am doing this correctly. I am currently working on my master's in education and our assignment for next week is to browse a few blogs and post one, if we feel comfortable. This is kind of interesting. I may play around with it and then have my students do one in class, once I know what the heck I am doing that is. Coming from the generation before microsoft and computers in classrooms, this is all a learning experience.

Is anyone else feeling overwhelmed, yet excited at the same time?

Yes Shawn I am feeling overwhelmed also. I am a new Walden University Student and this is my first time blogging. I am not even sure if I am doing it right. I have posted two blogs but can't find them and don't even know where to look anymore. I like reading the different blogs but don't have time to reply if I am not sure I am doing it right. I guess I need a confermation number or something. At this time I am not sure what I need.

Hey if you figure this out please let me know what to do.
Thanks Kathy

Objectively, this "blogging" experience should be rather cut and dry. So, why am I feeling so overwhelmed and having such a hard time taking the first steps? Could it be the incredible amount of articles and replies to read or the fact that my comments and opinions will be available for others to read and evaluate? I realize that this is the latest way to communicate, and I hope that I will embrace its value, soon, but right now there is a lot to take it! However, this experience is giving me a renewed empathy for my students that are trying to learn a new skill. If renewed empathy and compassion is what I gain from blogging right now, then I have personally experienced a valuable lesson...learning something new is often hard and we may not see its value right away. Instead, I need to trust my teachers and as a teacher myself, I want to always be learning.

I'm overwhelmed as well! I graduated H.S in 1983, my first computer didn't even have a hard drive!

I am new to blogging also. I have grown up with technology, but honestly have never been to a blogging site. I am a Walden University student also, so I'm glad to see others on here. I don't know if I am doing this right either. I have posted a comment on a blog, but I guess I don't really understand our assignment. Do we have to simply reply to others' comments, or come up with our own topic? Or a little bit of both?

Good to know I'm not the only one confused!

Hi Shawn

I feel what your feeling with being overwhelmed, and not sure what I'm doing. I too am in the program and struggling to navigate my way through the thousands of pages, articles, and topics. I can see that blogging has a valid place in our profession, but at times I feel a little lost as to where I need to go. When I eventually figure it out, it would be fun to set up classes from across the country and allow them to blog to each other while working on their writing process. Good Luck

The unfortunate gap in education for children with learning difficulties is very frustrating for me. I use the word “difficulties” because I have a hard time using the word disabilities. I am a fourth grade teacher of twelve years. I pride myself in being able to teach to the diversity of learning abilities in my room. However, when saying this, I also have a hard time dealing with the discrepancy model our school uses to qualify students who struggle with learning difficulties. Over the years there have been students who are two and three grades below in reading or math but are still unable to qualify for special education services. I do what I can with what I have but when there is one teacher to twenty plus kids it becomes very hard to give the interventions needed to service these students who struggle. I am currently on the “Student Services Team” in our school and we are looking at convincing our district in getting away from the discrepancy model and going more toward the “Response to intervention” (RTI) model to help qualify students for special services. I am currently seeking information on the RTI model and would appreciate any information you might have. As you can see, I am frustrated with the constant passing of students from one grade to the next while still reading two and three grade levels below. Thank you in advance for any help you can give.

I too struggle with helping those students who do not qualify. I am on the intervention team at our school and we are working hard to help these kids. We are working on a pyramid of interventions for our school in order to help students who are falling behind. I just attended a great inservice through our Department of Education put on by Solution Tree. We looked at the RTI with our pyramid of interventions in mind. There is a book called "Pyramid Response to Intervention" by Austin Buffum, Mike Mattos, and Chris Weber (Solution Tree, 2009)that we will be using to guide us through. It might have some good information for you.

I too am a Walden Univrsity student. I also am new to this blogging activity. I have read some good comments on different topics. I think that after I get the hang of this, it could be a very valuable resource. I have responded to others as well, but I am not sure where to go from here. I am sure we will all figure this out.