Module 1 EDU 776 - Introduction Post

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 Greetings! My name is Kassandra Tsitsopoulos, and I go by Kassandra and prefer she/her pronouns. As you're reading my blog post, feel free to jam out to some Greek music by one of my favorite artists, Mixalis Hatzigiannis, he's guaranteed to get you in a good mood and give you some serotonin and dopamine hits! #PsychologyIsEverywhere

Image Source: Monica Selegea (Yearbook Editor)


For the past 15 years, I have been a high school social science teacher on the northwest side of the city for Chicago Public Schools. I have taught primarily World Studies (all levels) and both regular and A.P. Psychology. I am also the Chicago Teachers Union lead delegate and the teacher representative for my school’s Local School Council. I also coached the JV soccer team from 2007 to 2018. I am the daughter of two Greek immigrants and was raised bilingual in both Greek and English.


I completed the ESL/Bilingual endorsement at Dominican in February and have decided to complete the additional four classes for a Masters and earn the technology certificate. This course is a requirement for the certificate. I am looking forward to learning strategies related to technology that I can implement into my classroom to help all my students reach higher levels of academic success.  I have taken a class with Nicole Zumpano before and started my first professional blog in her course. When I first started I was a bit intimidated, but got the hang of it-- and for the first timers out there, you will too! 


       

Image Source

The gif I chose for my introduction blog is my favorite fictional character, Princess Leia, from "Star Wars: A New Hope" asking for assistance from Obi One Kenobi. I feel like I am asking Nicole for assistance as well! I'd like to learn more ways to incorporate technology into my instructional practices in efficient ways that actually help the students and myself. Often times technology can seem like more of a burden than a blessing, but I have 'hope' that I'll be able to take what I learn in this course and directly apply it to my everyday practice. Here's hoping we all do! 





          
 

Comments

  1. kjstanleyAugust 30, 2021 at 6:56 PM

    Hi Kassandra! My name is Kate. This is my first course in the educational technology endorsement. I'm glad you got the hang of blog posts. I've never had a professional blog post before, so this is my first time. I'm excited to read more posts from you and our other classmates. I'm sure this will be a great resource for us all to learn about implementing technology in the classroom. -Kate

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  2. Jill.ian.KayAugust 31, 2021 at 5:19 PM

    Hi Kassandra! I also have not had a professional blog before and am now rethinking my blog post approach. 15 years as a teacher, wow! I know you must have some great insights, teachings, tips and tricks for a future teacher here. I look forward to reading your blog and learning some things from you! - Jillian

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  3. UnknownSeptember 1, 2021 at 4:03 PM

    Hi Kassandra! I read your comment on my blog post, and wanted to connect back with you on yours :) Thanks for the Brentano/CPS love! I love connecting with other CPS people. In the Dominican courses I've taken, I find a lot of people teach in the suburbs, which is great too, but I just always feel a bit more of a connection with others in CPS. That's great to hear you are your school's CTU delegate. Big hats off to you because I KNOW that in the past two years, the delegate job alone has been a straight up full time (and very stressful) job. We are also doing the exact same Dominican pathway, I did the ESL first too, and this is my last technology course, and I will be done with the whole Master's portion veryyyy close to baby arrival! I read you'll be done in December, congrats! That is so exciting. I look forward to connecting with you even more.

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  4. Katherine SchulerSeptember 1, 2021 at 4:11 PM

    Hi again, Kassandra! Just commenting again because I realized I was signed into a different Gmail account before, so the "Unknown" comment is me! I apologize!

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  5. HeatherSeptember 1, 2021 at 7:32 PM

    Hi Kassandra,

    I loved reading your post and I was grateful for your encouragement! This is my fourth ed tech course and I am getting the hang of the set up of this one. I have found a few things that I do plan to steal and use with my own students/canvas courses though, so big win.

    I think it is fantastic you were raised speaking two languages. I have been working hard to learn another language as an adult. I teach our EL students, so knowing Spanish is really helpful. I teach in Dominican's ESL Endorsement Program, so I was excited to read that you went through it! Congratulations on finishing and continuing on to your endorsement. That is awesome.

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  6. Nataliya ZelenetskaSeptember 2, 2021 at 7:05 AM

    Hi Kassandra!

    I have always enjoyed reading your post when we were in one of the ESL endorsement program course. So I was glad to know that I will have this opportunity again!

    I have followed the same path, and after finishing my Bilingual endorsement program, I am taking 4 more course to get my second Master's Degree. I am already excited to learn about different tech features that I can use with my students, as this was my weak point.

    Thank you for amazing music! I did set me up for a good day in the morning)

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  7. NMZumpanoSeptember 5, 2021 at 9:58 AM

    Well hello again, Kassandra! I'm so excited to learn with you again this fall! Thanks for sending out positive vibes to our blogging newbies :)

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