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Carla Massie Home Learn More Inspiration About the Author |
Who is Carla Massie?
Teaching has always been my passion. I knew that I wanted to teach since I was in the 5th grade. I had some pretty influential teachers during those early years who left their teaching imprint upon me. My family supported me as I attended The Ohio State University to pursue my teaching career at eighteen. I was fortunate to enroll in an innovative teaching program that had just begun at the University which put me in the classroom in the first week of my freshman year. I loved it! That program had excellent mentor teachers from a local school that encouraged me to work to my full potential. When I graduated, I moved to California and began teaching in a private school. I was able to gain experience in curriculum design. Three years later, I began my public school career in the Sacramento Unified School District. Fueled with my knowledge of curriculum design, I was an eager 25 year old ready to shape the minds of the youth of the 20th century. After 9 years of teaching and with the support of my husband, Kevin, I took time off to raise our 3 children, Jessica, Kevin II, and Jennifer. By far, I had some of my greatest and most satisfying teaching moments over the 8 years with my children. In 2005, I returned to full time teaching in the Napa Valley Unified School District at Canyon Oaks Elementary School. Over the last twelve years, I have found a teaching home and shaped the minds of many of the 21st century youth. Canyon Oaks has provided me with many opportunities to expand my professional development. In 2015, I was honored to be chosen as the Napa County Teacher of the Year.
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TPACK Reflection
Click on the image to read my reflection on TPACK.
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Reflections on your Journey
When I asked the question- Who is my audience?, I knew that my original Driving Question needed to change. Although originally I wanted my students to be more engaged during math, I realized that I wanted them to be engaged in English Language Arts as well. Further more, I realized that I wanted this same engagement for our entire 4th grade level. With this in mind, I decided that my audience should be my 4th grade team. I wanted to share the information on how a Blended Learning Approach, helped my students stay engaged.
Lasting Learning from the Innovative Learning Program
Throughout this journey, I have learned that change definitely is not easy. Becoming innovative is not easy and can be very uncomfortable. As a teacher, I have spent many years perfecting my skills only to be thrown into the 21st century way of teaching. I have always taken pride at being flexible and open to change, but during these learning moments with technology I have felt myself resisting somewhat. Wouldn't it be much easier to keep everything as it always has been, to stay in my comfort zone? I have learned that the answer is a resounding NO!
Jump right in, the water's fine!
Jump right in, the water's fine!