Walking into my 8th-grade science classroom each morning is a surreal experience. I am teaching in the exact room where I sat as a middle schooler. Coming full circle after 17 years across education has taught me that great teaching starts with staying a curious learner alongside my students.
Today, my students do not learn through static lectures. We run interactive simulations where they can discover scientific patterns firsthand. In my own planning, I lean on Gemini to review unit plans against standards and brainstorm new approaches. By openly modeling tools like Gemini and Gemini Notebook, my students have built real digital literacy.
Technology never replaces our heart in the classroom; it just gives us more room to connect and inspire.