This week has been really interesting in so many ways. First and foremost, I was able to create a technology-enhanced lesson plan that I know my students and I are going to enjoy. When I think about teaching and planning, I think about my students. My students' needs and wants drive me to provide them with opportunities which they can find both beneficial and useful. However, one of the most difficult things to plan for, at least in my country is for teaching reading and writing. It is just my opinion, but I believe that my Costa Rican culture does not really nurture the desire to read. Therefore, students find it difficult and even exhausting at times. So, when it comes to reading and writing, I look for ways in which my students can feel engaged and motivated. Just like the lessons plans we were able to share this week, I look for exciting ways to help my students enjoy reading. For instance, I like to write poems sometimes, and even though I don't consider myself a brilliant one, I do like the reaction I get from my students.  This week, the topic of this course inspired me to write once again because I wanted my students to enjoy poetry. That made me write about them. Here is what I came up with:

IN THE MORNING OF MY LIFE

By Roxana Chévez

Today, I woke up and thought,

“What am I here for?”

I believe I’m here to inspire

The bitter to smile or the small one to shine.

I’m here to be the best,

Even though sometimes life is a test.

I was born to shine,

And give the best I can

To show my students what’s to stand for and fight in the quest.

I was born to come every day,

To this holy place I call home

Where I can hear an Arianna complain,

Or see a Joyce misbehave.

And an Edgar say “Let’s go out to play”

Or a Huge ask “Did I do a good task?”

I know I am here to open my arms

And feel that I exist because of you.

YOU, whatever name you have.

I’m here to be with you

At this time of my life.

As you have already figured out

Today, in the morning of my life, I have found

That I´m here for you.

It does not matter the hard and difficult times.

I’m here to wake up everyday

And be able to see your pretty face.

To be with you, that´s all I care;

In the good and in the bad days.

Like the blood in my veins

You come everyday

To form the cells of my teacher’s organism and keep me alive.

Sometimes the cells wouldn’t behave,

And that´s when I get sick or a headache or a pain.

But soon the medicine comes,

And the sickness, headache or pain is gone.

Then, I can enjoy myself again

From the blessing that every taken seat creates.

In the morning of my life today I can say,

That there’s a road ahead, road blocks to jump and quests to face.

I cannot assure whether we will be safe at the end,

But I can assure that I´ll be there.

With open arms, maybe bruises and some scars,

But happy to have completed my task.

I can assure you that I’ll never give up

Because I know what I love and what I´m here for.

I’m here for you, I DO LOVE YOU!!!

After sharing that poem with students, I found that since it was about them, they were engaged since the very beginning and then were motivated to talk about poetry more than ever before. Even though that lesson plan wasn't exactly technology-enhanced, it proves a point I strongly believe in . I consider that when students are taken into account, when they become important individuals in the classroom and they become the "cells of my teacher's organism," it doesn't matter whether it is technology, a fly-swatter or a simple board what you use in the classroom. What really matters is that we can add passion to our teaching and make that contagious.  

This week, I have also cherished the fact that we have a chance to share our knowledge with peers, and the opportunity to not only learn from each-other's process, but also get feedback and put what we read into practice. I know that after this course ends, valuable friendships will remain, knowledge and thoughts like those shared by colleagues like Luisa, for instance, will also be part of my learning process. We teachers also need to be nurtured and appreciated. Courses like this one, friends like the ones we make, the knowledge we share, are aspects that will make that possible. 

Thanks for reading!