What I learned

I learned what a blog is. I learned how to embed things and post. I learned so many things I think I am still processing all of it. I could use this to post educational videos and my students could comment on what they learned. Also, the gadget feature was useful. The blog allows me to share ideas with my class and my peers in education and get feedback, to make what I do better. I might be able to use this in class on a limited basis at first, maybe one post every unit, then every chapter once I continue to get comfortable with it.

Reagan assassinaton attempt

classroom expectations

I want my students to come prepared. I understand they will forget their materials, I am more concerned about their minds. I want them to come ready to learn mentally. I want them to try to make my classroom a safe environment for all my students. For some of my 9th graders this is hard for them to do. I want them to respect their teachers, their classmates, and themselves. In the end if they can follow these simple steps all the other struggles I have had as a teacher seem to disappear.

10 picture tour

The start of my day, a welcoming sight, in a clean building.

Then I see the stairs, luckily I have on my Rockports.

My office desk where I eat lunch with my co-workers.

A spirit towel I bought and hung in my classroom to remind me of 2 of my former students who died in a car crash, they would of been seniors this year. The towel was sold as a fundraiser.

My daily reminder to start my day anew and let go the stresses of yesterday.

My wall where I hang my team pictures.

My media cart...I love it...

The weight room is where I go to melt the stress away...SERENITY NOW!!!

I coach hurdlers in track

I also coach football, what a great field.

Intro and Purpose

My name is Brent Litz. I teach American History at Bellevue West High School. I have been teaching in Bellevue for 9 years. At Bellevue West, I coach football and track. I have also been a class sponsor and coached basketball...before we were winning state titles. I really enjoy teaching high school students, and my content makes it a lot of fun. I attended Wayne State College where I played football. I spent my first year teaching in Rapid City, South Dakota, but wanted to come back to the cornhusker state.
I grew up in a small town, but like living in a suburb. I like the demographics in Bellevue, there are many people from all over the country who live here. To teach those students that have seen or been to different places is really cool. The military community also gives people a perspective that you would not get in small town rural Nebraska. Not that there is anything wrong with cows and pigs, I grew up raising them.
My experience with technology is some what limited. I have been signing up for classes to try to catch me up to most America. I have used a computer for most of my adult life, but learned how to type on a typewriter in high school. If I had to choose I would say I am a PC guy. I have used them the most. In my classroom I use power point notes, websites, and gaggletube to help with my lessons. The other day I used clickers to simulate a twitter activity that I got from my Twitter 101 class. I thought it went well and for the most part the students enjoyed it.

My son and I at Sea World