Traci Renee Fry

The major components and navigation of my portfolio are presented on the left, at the top under the banner and at the bottom of the page. The following components comprise my navigation and portfolio framework:

• TATC Portfolio Home - An introduction of myself including my Resume and my technology life history.
• Goals - A brief statement of the goals I have set for myself concerning technology and teaching.
• Observation - A reflective statement concerning my overall thoughts about my Observation experiences.
• Reflection - A reflective statement concerning my thoughts about the overall program of study.
• Standards I-XI - All of the Technology Applications (8-12) Standards and their artifacts are listed on one page with a link provided to each individual standard. Each standard has one or more captioned artifacts linked to it. Note that when you view an artifact representing any standard, a separate window will open for the artifact. When you finish viewing the artifact you can close the window.
  • I, II, III, IV, V, VII, VIII, IX, X, XI - Links to direct access of each individual standard and its captioned artifacts.
• Standard's Matrix - A matrix diagramming the relationship between the TA Standards and each of the associated indicators with my portfolio artifacts.
  

Personal background / Significant events / Reasons / Preparing / Resume

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Personal background

When it comes to my background, I think I'm very lucky. Friends I attended college with and people I've worked with, always comment on growing up in the "sticks." Rochester, Texas (70 miles North of Abilene) was really like a little piece of heaven. Rochester High School. I never lived within one mile of anyone else. It was only my sister and I (she's younger) so we did everything a boy would have done.

I drove a tractor, changed water pipes, worked cattle (yes, I can provide calf fries to anyone interested) and anything else that came up on the farm. Peanuts were the main crop and it is a hard life. It is, however, an invaluable experience. If there's anything I learned on a farm it's that you have to get some "horse sense" really quick. Problems never seem too overwhelming when you approached things logically. After my classmates and I graduated (there were 6 of us) in 1986, I completed a Journalism/English degree from Abilene Christian University. I  met lots of cool friends there and then started my teaching career. I was at Odessa Permian for four years, then Henrietta, now I'm at Iowa Park HS.

I have always been known as the "annual lady." I prefer the term yearbook, but most parents like the former. I love being a yearbook/newspaper adviser and this is my 12th year to teach. I have taught freshman English, senior English and Journalism. Now I teach desktop publishing and do both the newspaper and yearbook at Iowa Park HS near Wichita Falls, where I live.

Here is a picture of my house. I love to do construction, etc.

Interests, Etc.

I am an avid cyclist and love to ride my road bike. Two years ago I traveled across Montana and Glacier National Park in Canada. It was quite nice. Every year some friends and I do the Oklahoma Freewheel. Seven days and 450 miles later, we wonder why we did it!

I also love all kinds of music, especially blues. Here is a little sample of a couple of artists that few people get to hear. Kenny Wayne Sheppard and Ian Moore are excellent musicians.

I also Really Like the Dixie Chicks--Especially the Goodbye Earl song!!

Significant personal and technology events in your life

I really like my job. It is not something that I dread doing everyday. Each year it gets easier and each year I learn new things. An added bonus is having a summer off. While I would LOVE to teach year round (yes, this is sarcastic), it's sure nice to have time to do other things. Have a machine (AKA IMac) for every student in my room sure makes life easier. Let's face it, kids don't learn the same way that they use to learn. We can bombard them with information, but if we give it to them the wrong way, retention is shaky at best. Computer and the internet have changed us all forever. There is no going back. We need to jump on or we'll be back there asking where to plug the mouse in. I love what I do and I do what I love. It's enough for me and mine.

Reasons for wanting to be a technology applications teacher

Both my parents were teachers. I never really thought of doing anything else. Computer and yearbooks just go hand in hand. I taught the English stuff for 6 years along with the computer stuff, but I never really enjoyed Shakespeare the way that I enjoyed graphic design. It was a little stale for me. I am blessed.

Preparing to teach

When I first started teaching 12 years ago my approach was completely different. I was the general, they were the troops. I was very authoritarian and that was probably because my grasp of the subject matter was weak at best. Over the years things have mellowed and I have found that when I am prepared with a lesson and know my stuff for that day everything goes smoothly. It's also best not to "fight" them. One day I had an epiphany. There are 30 of them and one of me. I can't watch them all at the same time and I can't deal with every little thing. Step one, avoid having any little things by being nice AND prepared for what you're doing. When they're idle, you're in trouble! Keep the pace moving and BE NICE!. They won't even remember that they're supposed to dislike you because you're their teacher. It works. Trust me

You Can Access My Resume HERE!