Jennifer Barnett's Blog: Reflect to Redirect » English

Picking Wiki: Would you chose such a name?

Jennifer Barnett — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 03:36:34 +0000

Like most expectant moms, I put a lot of thought into naming my two boys. Names are very important labels, offering insight and credibility to a child if carefully chosen. And, in my line of thinking, the name is important because my child’s name would be something I would say every day for the rest of my life. So, I really need to like it. Luckily, I like saying Jackson and John David. And even if I tire of the names, I shouldn’t mind saying them since they are two pretty cool kids.

When I first heard the word wiki I laughed. It rhymes with icky, sticky, picky, tricky, and Vicky (my sister). I laugh when I say most of those words. And wiki is the silliest of the group. When I learned more about wikis by creating one and exploring on my own, I was still laughing. I wasn’t laughing at the word, now I was laughing at how much fun this would be. I was raising an adopted Wiki! I didn’t name him or really give birth to him, but Wiki was mine and if he was going to grow up, I had to feed him, clothe him, and make him do his homework. God knows if I was passing out names, I would choose anything but Wiki.

Since I take parenting seriously, I decided to help Wiki adjust to life as a school teacher’s child. Of course, I filled him full of important information. And if his little brain couldn’t hold all of the lessons I had for him, I made a note for him of where to find it. I taught him to make friends easily and initiate conversations with his new friends. We spent lots of late nights looking around the world for the most stylish clothes and popular possessions. (It’s important for kids to feel like they fit in. They need to know that others think they are cool. Wiki’s friends think he is pretty cool.) Somehow, Wiki and I have successfully made it through adolescence. He was completely unorganized, lacked focus and direction, and seemed to be in a permanent state of rebellion. Miraculously, he has grown into a fairly mature young man. Don’t get me wrong, Wiki looks like a strapping young lad on the outside, but has lots of growing up left to do!

Wiki is growing up so fast and has changed so much since I adopted him. He’s so popular with his friends that I’m seeing some changes in him. He doesn’t stick so close to mom anymore; he wants to go out on his own. Wiki is always bugging me to get him the most flashy videos, the newest music, and the coolest gadgets (he calls them widgets…kids!) He tells me that his friends have actually started expecting him to have the best stuff. I guess Wiki doesn’t want to disappoint his friends. And I don’t want to see Wiki fail to realize his potential. Just like with Jackson and John David, I am willing to make some sacrifices to make sure Wiki is raised with plenty of attention, genuine affection, and thoughtful guidance.

This parenting adventure has been such an unexpected pleasure. It’s a real rush that my husband and I are parents to two great kids and that I’m a single parent to a precious adopted child. I have a serious desire to raise my actual children with a desire to impact this world. I hope I am raising my virtual child with the same hopes. When I agreed to adopt Wiki I didn’t think I could get used to his name. Since he’s a pretty cool kid, it turns out that I don’t mind saying his name every day at all!

Visit my adopted child at FHS Wolves Den

To See or Not to See

Jennifer Barnett — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 13:04:45 +0000

Years ago an eye doctor told me I was near-sighted. After wearing the eyewear he prescribed, I had to agree. If I want to know what’s going on ten yards away, I better wear them. I’m not sure why this has bothered me all these years. I don’t like being labeled with a “vision” problem. Last night, while grading my junior English class’ essays online, I realized that I have the kind of vision that really matters.
High school juniors are a unique breed. They are full of eagerness for their future. They are also full of questions, complaints, worries, conflict, and obsessions. All of this gives me so much to work with. I love to help them iron out a path for themselves. These youngsters are like my own children. I want them to achieve more they they dream. I want to plant ideas in their heads about their capabilities that even they can’t see. I want to show them that the questions, complaints, worries, conflict and obsessions serve great purposes in life and help us find our way. I want these high school juniors to see what I see. They are truly unique individuals with special gifts designed to make our world better.
21st Century teachers are a unique breed. They are full of eagerness for their student’s futures. They work hard to provide them with the skill base necessary to compete in our global environment. They realize the importance of students mastering new technologies and creating purposeful work products. A 21st Century teacher understands why today’s students need opportunities for collaboration, investigation, and analysis. They are truly unique individuals with special gifts designed to make our world better.
Mix high school juniors with a 21st Century teacher and you might just have something amazing. It’s not enough to care for your students. It’s not enough to push them toward their potential. We must have a destination in mind for them. I know where my students must go. I’m working on doing the best job I can to get them there. And who knows? One day I might get a new diagnosis and learn I’m not near-sighted after all.

Getting From Here to There

Jennifer Barnett — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 01:07:15 +0000

Today in English class I listened to the teacher. Even though the teacher was me, I heard her say, “It’s not about the product right now, it’s about the process.” We were writing essays focusing on personal conflict – with all of the fun of analyzing and picking apart the dramatic issues of today’s teens. But that “process” comment seemed to become glued inside my head all day long.

I am techno-toddler trying to grow up too fast. My serious efforts to use technology in my classroom began under a year ago. Yet, I want so much to be a grown-up blogger, podcaster, wiki wizard, and web tool handyman. I find so many inspiring examples of teachers doing all sorts of amazing things that I figure I should be among them. That passionate urge to be the “best in show” settled deep within me such a long time ago. But that urge to be patient with myself never took root in me. So, I find myself more frustrated than anything – just like my students writing essays about conflict.

So, I must take my own words to heart. The process of discovery and understanding takes time. It is essential that I grow through techno-adolescence and beyond at a slow, reflective pace. With a clearer perspective of tech methods, I can better serve my students and other teachers. The process of becoming “best in show” is much more important than the final product presented in the show itself.

Sometimes the teacher actually says something worth remembering.