Let's Salute the Week!!

Welcome!  Welcome!  The day is Sunday and it beginning of the week.  I know that a log of you will be reading this on Monday.

ISTE - International Society for Technology in Education 

I helped moderate Blackboard season during STE unplugged. It was interesting and something knew to put on my resume.  The subjects were interesting.  I encourage everyone to watch the videos on isteunplugged.live/attend.html before they pull them.  I need to spend more time  working on my skills. it was very interesting to find all of the links correctly and on time. 

Tutoring

In another week i will be beginning an online .  The blog will look a little different and a little more visual.  Thank you all for reading my blog!

Book Reviews

There will be at least one book review and some learning techniques for student’s disabilities.  Please respond to the blog with comments!!

Let's Salute the Week

This post is being written up in the mountains in Denver.  While we were up here this weekend it snowed, sleeted, rained and the sun would come out and smile for a while.  Then it would begin all over again.

As this is Memorial Weekend, (I cannot remember a Memorial weekend when it did not rain) I want to salute all of the sailors, soldiers, marines, coast guard, and air force.  In addition, I want to salute the families of these individuals, as a former Navy spouse I know what it is like to be in the military.  Although my son, an army airman, constantly tells me that I don’t understand what it is like to be in the military.

Teachers, I know some of you are biting at the bit to get out of the school.  Some of you are out!  Some are still in like me, which means I have lesson plans to write on Monday.  I have heard of some schools that will continue through June 27, UGH!!  I am so done!

Act 20:24:  However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me-the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.

2 Timothy: I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith

This is something that I have been thinking about for quite a while.  I have written about how I am tired of working in the classroom.   However, since Spring Break , I have been listening to Joyce Meyers, mainly because I wrote her ministry a letter and they responded by sending me an encouraging letter and some CDs to listen to as well.  

The main takeaway I have received is that I need to 

- Not be negative

- Not be judgmental

- Watch my words

In the last three years, I have been going through a difficult phase in my teaching career, my pay has become lower and while I haven’t been fired, I have been reassigned.  I have been doing a hard time.  It has bothered me to no end.  I am a good person.  I am a good teacher.  I know what I am doing.  I can do it! 

So what when wrong!

As I have listened to Joyce Meyer’s tape on Me and My Big Mouth.  She spoke about how we are not to judge those who have the same gifts as us.  We are to pretty much keep our mouth shut.  Not only our mouth, but we must watch our mind as well, so that we don’t exhibit our thoughts in our mannerism.

There were basically two comments that she brought forth that I know that I do all the time and because I have been doing it so long, it has become part of my mannerisms.  I can go back three and half years in my teaching career.  I did well, but I was not getting the praise that I thought I should have been, in addition, I realized I wasn’t young any more.

This year, 2013-14, I had written several grants and received them for my class.  As a result, my class had everything that it needed to promote individual work for the students.  They were able to use technology, they were able have the materials that they needed (play doh, play doh equipment, scissors, pencils, crayons, glue, etc.) and I was able to make all of the curriculum that they needed.  I received 6 our of 7 for my teaching from everyone who evaluated me.  That summer I went to a technology conference and .  However, towards the end of the school year, the principal wasn’t recognizing the work I had put in, rather she was be giving me the hardest students, in addition to the students I already had and the assistant principal had no knowledge of special education. I was angry.  I was also very judgmental. 

Each year since, I have not acknowledged how judgmental I have been to my colleagues.  What I have done is toot my own horn and criticized their own teaching.  I forgot myself, I forgot who gave me the gifts of technology, teaching and writing.  I became very prideful.  I mean, 2014-15, a teacher and I would go out drinking and complain about these people.  Since then I have been in different schools where they did no know me or my skills.  All they knew is that I had been released from my contract.  Now I was there and I did not want to prove myself again, nor did I want to start over.

This story is a cautionary tale to those of you who have had a rough year or who have been in a tough situation.  God does want to bless you, as long as you remember where the gifts came from, he who is our Father.  

This summer I will look for a new job.  God will provide me with one.  I hope it is not in the classroom.  I will also go through First Five, Ephesians and do a lot of reflecting.

As the end of the year comes to pass, remember the good, look at the lessons and thank our Father that a new school year will start next year.  

Who are in my Personal Learning Network? Why are they in my Personal Network?

This is a question that I find a lot in the posts, job hunting advice and in the Bible.  This post will explore that question and provide may answers to these questions:

Almost all of the blogs, books, and articles I read agree that everyone needs a personal learning network in order to be successful.  The individuals who are in your network can enhance and amplify your learning, success, creativity, happiness, joy and life.   

In order to develop and determine your personal learning network I propose that you list your responses and comments to the following five aspects of your personal network.  

1.  Personal Belief System

Some people call this a moral compass, but it is an answer to what do you believe in and who has the ultimate power in your life.  My personal belief system is the Bible. I pray a lot and communicate with God.  I want to be obedient to his word and commandments. I need people to hold me accountable.

2.  A Bucket List

In the movie “A Bucket List," the two hospital roommates make a list and set out to achieve those goals.  There are two components involved in the bucket list:  your mindset and your boundaries.  In order to make a bucket list, your mindset has to be open and your boundaries need to be limitless.

Several years ago, I made a bucket list and I thought I put it in my Bible, but when I went to find it I couldn’t, so after fruitlessly searching for it, I made a new one. 

The list is typed, in my handbook and after reviewing it for this post it lists:

-  primary goals as writing, teaching and traveling goals. 

-  secondary goals financial, relationship, health

- tertiary goals meeting people, habits, 

I have realized that in order to achieve those goals I need to make health and relationships a priority, followed by everything else so .… 

3. Develop your Personal Learning Network

a. Develop a type or characteristics of individuals that you want     to associate with and why.

       Remember there are people in your life who you have little choice but to accept them as part of your existence, but it is YOUR CHOICE what kind of influence they have in your life. The people include:

  -Co-Workers: (workplace individuals, supervisors, team members and all other staff members at your place of employ.”

You DO have to be professional and give them professional respect.  You DO NOT have to let them use you as target practice or tell you what your opinion is on ANY subject.

- A social media friend has the same interests (educational 

technology, education, writer, blogger, book reviewer, author, 

entrepreneurial and/or presentation skills) and shares them with 

me, as I share with them. 

These are not individuals you know personally

 

4.  Boundaries

It is important to establish a gate around your life, it doesn’t have to be a solid wall, more like a picket fence that you can see over but people need your person to come into your world.  The individuals outside this fence do not have the privilege to influence, direct or impact your life in any manner. 

5.  Council of Influencers

This council consists of you, you are the chairman of the board, and anyone in your council will help you meet your goals and positively influence you.  This is a group of people that you choose, some may be close friends, some may be celebrities that have achieved your goals and want to know how they did it, or they may be individuals in between.  You choose them, you accept or reject them and the council does not consist of more than 10, usually only 5 people. They are who you touch base with when you make an important decision.

Q is for quirky

is for QUIRKY

QUIRKY usually means differently unusually so!

According to my Flip dictionary it means aberration, band, caprice, crook, deviation, eccentricity, equivocation, groove, idiosyncrasy, kink, knack, mannerism, oddity, peculiarity, quibble, trait, turn, twist, vagary

GCW  ==  Have a great night!!!

First Full Week of 2015!!!!

How did you do this week?  It is the first full week of 2015!! Me?  Not so bad!  Instead of sliding into the New Year slowing, I did a cannonball! I’m still sore from the impact, but I did learn a few things.

Health:  

My exercise regime has not changed.  My goal for the second full week of 2015 is to sleep 6-7 hours each nigh and walk 5000 steps a day.

Graduate Studies:

I started a new class on Monday. It begins the week with a webinar and follows up with short homework assignments each day.

My Classroom:

On the evening of December 31, 2014, one of my DonorsChoose.org projects was fully funded. The play doh project, yeah!!

The classroom is doing well, but the instruction needs some revisions.  As a result, I am in the process of re-evaluating the instruction process and design in the classroom.  More later.

Writing:

I am now a member of two critique groups, my goals is to become an active member of those groups.

      

I am taking a nonfiction class and will be joining 12x12 in 2015.

      Again, I ask how was your week?  I have learned that tiny footsteps still mean that I have mad progress.  I need to continue in the same direction.  Also, take off the review mirror; the view from your past hasn’t changed.

This Year will be DIFFERENT!!!

My word for the year is INTEGRITY!

I am not a bad person, but I don’t follow through and I over commit myself to whatever I think will help me accomplish my gals.  However, because I over commit I don’t have the time to do a good job.

This year I will do all of the necessary things in order to straighten up.  In order to do this I will follow Fly lady’s golden rule.  Just do it for 15 minutes.

I have written out my SMART goals in my writer’s notebook.  The core of my resolutions is:

1.     Relationships

2.     Finances

3.     Maintain my health

a.     Exercise

b.     Eat healthy

4.     Keep my deadlines

5.     Schedule my writing time and keeping that appointment,

6.     Treat my writing as a job regardless as to whether or not I am getting paid.

7.     Find an agent

8.     Submit regularly

9.     Establish my blogs and stores

10. Stop saying and start doing

This year will be different because I need it to be different.  God will give me the strength to do what he has planned for me to complete and be successful!!

Let us ring out the old year!!

This end of the year has been a bit different.  I fully planned on doing some reflection with the year end and even prepared for the process.  THEN I received an email from Julie Hedlund's blog and she was going to do a end of the year reflection for writers.  We are on day 5, but if you want to join check out her blog.

Health

The middle of 2013 through the middle of 2014; I spent more time at the doctors.  As a result, I have to see 4 doctors every six months. In addition to that, I have had to go in for tests and now have a small pill container because I need to take vitamins and medication 4 times daily.  What I have not down is increase my water intake and continue my exercise.

Graduate School






2014 was the year I was to receive my PhD, 2015 I would attend a graduate ceremony to received the PhD.  It hasn't worked out that way time and money intervened.  I still have hopes though!

My Classroom

The class size is smaller, but the students have more behavioral issues so it has been a challenge.  Upon the use of reflection and reflective practices, I plan on changing a few things when I return in 2015.

Writing
The following topics illustrate the areas in which I plan on making some major adjustments in my writing. The main issue I realized is that I haven't treated this in the manner I should; which is that I should be treating it as a part time job and full time during holidays and vacations.  Finally, using it as leverage to get out of the classroom as a public school teacher.  To do that I need to make sure that I have six months income tucked away.
Business of Writing


Children's Books

Adult Mystery Story

Articles

Curriculum Development

Book Reviews

Blogs

                                                                                     
Resolutions:
Make your resolutions and start them ASAP (before January 1).  We will discuss them again in June to see how we are all doing!

Happy Thanksgiving

Despite the push to have a completely non working holiday.  I am grateful for the airlines and transportation people who are working, my son and daughter are safely home.

My meal is prepared and I diidn't have to really touch anything or cross contaminate my food.

Thank you everyone who is working so I can have Thanksgiving and may you stay safe.

Robin Williams has died!

   Today an actor that I really haven't paid a lot of attention to. . . . stop!  An actor that I didnt realize had a lot of affect on me has died.  I feel very much the same way that I felt when Princess Diana died.  Sad.  Very Sad.

It has to explain because niether person is someone I knew personally or even thought I would, and they are both older than I am.  They live lives I don't.   I am still sad.

I won't remember how they died, but what they accomplished or tried to while they were alive.  Most of all they bothe seemed to love their children.  Their children seem to love them. How special is that!

Training Camp

The past two weeks our administration has referred to our back to school as the training camp.  I have to admit that I really didn't pay any attention because they are always encouraging the general education teachers so that the scores will go up.  That is not a positive statement and I would hope that it is not true. In addition, I have been paying attention to my own problems, primarily how to pay for my last four classes and mourning the fact that I have run out of time to complete my PhD.

Training Camp is actually a book authored by Jon Gordon. I bought the book with money I don't have, but it is a worth while investment.  Our adminstrator must be a fan of Jon Gordon because last year she modelled our back to school development as the Energy Bus.  She constantly refers to us as riding a bus together.  I will have to go back and read with new eyes because after reading the Training Camp I realize why I feel the way I do and it not an Ah Ha moment for me, but the author does a great job in explaining why this is happening.

Pride is a great tool that Satan uses to make sure that when we reach a point of success we go no further.  By this I mean that we push ourselves, we work hard, we do ALL the things that we are supposed to do to be successful and WHAM!  All of our insecurities come to light and we don't reach out to the one who can do it for us. “That's because pride keeps you separate from the love of God. Pride causes the ripple of fear in your life, and all your fears big and small can be traced back to it. Instead of trying to be one with God, pride says ‘I can be my own God. I can do it alone (Gordon, 2013).”

I am constantly writing in my journal that money is an idol and do a degree it is, but it is based on the fact that I have a lot of pride.  Pride is what has caused the lack of promotion in my career.  Pride has caused me to stop dreaming and Pride has caused me not to have faith in God.

The author, Jon Gordon, has written several book and I have checked most of them out of the library. The only one I can't check out is the The Seed.  I will have to save up for it and purchase it.

Training Camp is a good book and I strongly reccomend it!!

Reference:
Excerpt From: Gordon, Jon. “Training Camp.” John Wiley & Sons, 2013-04-26. iBooks.
This material may be protected by copyright.

Check out this book on the iBooks Store: https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewBook?id=378759368

School is Back in Session

Today was the first day of public school for 2014-15 school year.  This year will be different because it will be better.  The students in the primary grades came today so they could become familiar with the rituals and routines of the school.  Always a good thing!!!

There are close to 600 books on my netgalley list and I have reviewed  48% of them.  This weekend I hope to raise that percentage by several points.  There are several good books on that list.  In adddition, I have 5 professional books that I intend to finish by the end of the month, plus a couple of bible studies.

Two of the books that I am really getting into, Daniel's Plan and The Seven Decisions, are my life books.  They are both making think about the decisions that I have made that have lend me to this point in my life.

Please help me pray for the backing I need to complete and pay for the last four classes of my post graduate degree in Educational Technology.  I really believe that technology is the key to having all children learn in the public schools.  One of these days, I intend to blog on that subject, acutally, I intend to blog on a varitey of subjects.  I hope to see a lot of comments.

Blogging helps to fulfill a goal in life.  I have always wanted to be a columnist in a paper who writes an open ed column on a variety of issues.  Some opinions I agree with and some I don't.  However, it doesn't say much about me or the columnist if I agree with everything.  Or simply agree because I like this columnist.

Hopefully you all a good day!

Take care and God Blees!!

How to afford a 21st Technology Classroom and Why

            Just for the record I have never received a grant for any type of hardware technology for my classroom.  I have received software based on a grant that I wrote from Donors.org.  I have not successfully written a grant that resulted in receiving any type of hardware technology.

            

            The title of this blog is to hopefully generate comments from people who have been more fortunate than myself in receiving equipment.  Currently, my classroom has a Promethean board, docu camera, Epson camera and iPads (iPad 1 & 2) that I have checked out from our school technology library.  This is more than some teachers have in their classroom and I am fortunate enough have what I have in my classroom.

           

             Everyday, the staff in my classroom tries to think o ways that we can get an iPad 2 for each student in our classroom.  I would like to have 15 iPad 2; this would result in letting each of my students have their own iPad.    In addition, I would like to have a MacBook computer that would have the software to coordinate the iPads and make sure that they stay where they should be and not going somewhere else. 

(POINT:  I do know about guided access that iPad 2 have in their settings and I use this on some iPads, however, iPad 1 do not have the same type of settings where I can lock the apps on the iPad 1 as I do on the iPad 2s)

            My dream is to have the ability to plan my lessons and develop a blended learning environment in my classroom.  Although, I do know that flipping the classroom is the current vogue for many teachers, I am not convinced that it is the best environment for all teachers and it is something that each teacher needs to think about for their classroom.

            In the meantime, I am continually searching for help in raising money from grants or donations in order to buy the 15 iPad 2 and MacBook.  In addition, I hope to learn to use the technology in efficient manner so that I work in directly with each of my students.  Eventually, I will transfer this knowledge to an online environment where I will instruct future teachers.