FOCUS: Control the Chatter

Bishop T.D. Jakes recently aired a podcast titled "Don't Let the Chatter Stop You, Parts 1 & 2". I really needed to hear this message, because at the time I felt completely overwhelmed with everything that is going on in my life. I have an excessive number of books to review, a dissertation to write, course work to complete, IEPs to write, conduct and complete, lesson plans to write, services I agreed to provide in exchange for other services, responsible toward other writing obligations and relationships. You should really see the list of things that I want to accomplish this year!!!! My word for the year is STEWARDSHIP. The skills of stewardship are important to learn and will help me maintain balance in my life. Bishop Jakes made several good points, but the one I remember the most concerns Solomon. King Solomon asked for wisdom, not money, fame, material items or anything else, but wisdom. I realised that stewardship is similar to wisdom. If I don't exert good stewardship skills over the various areas of my life nothing will get done. It doesn't matter how huge my debt is, materials I have or anything else, if I do not exert some stewardship skills over these things than it doesn't matter and it will get out of control. I need to focus on what a good steward needs to do to maintain balance. In the mist of all the things that I want to accomplish, the main goal is to maintain balance. Several Facebook friends have written some very good blogs about balance and one put an excellent wheel on her blog. The point is that I have not been good about citing these people and giving them due credit because I have been feeling overwhelmed. Upon which, I pray and ask God, are you sure my word this year should be STEWARDSHIP? God responded by pointing me into the direction of my podcast app and reminded me that good STEWARDSHIP is maintaining balance. The message: do not to let the "chatter", the outside unnecessary influences get in my way. As I learn to do that with my angels guiding me and God's help, I will accomplish and fulfil my dreams; writer, Ph.D., and teacher, while I maintain good relationships with my family and friends.

First week in February

I have finished my January thoughts, but  I need to reflect on my journal and see what I learned last month, besides I need to care for myself before I can help others.  The world is such a funky place.

This week I will definitely finish my articles matrix and my course project.  I better it is due this week.  I don't have much time to get my proposal approved and I want to have it completed this month.  I guess it is a good thing it will snow so I won't be able to go up to the cabin.  

My matrix is coming together, it just needs to be typed up and I need to go through the proposal followed by submitting it to some friends/classmate who will critique it.'

IN addition, I will be posting some book reviews tomorrow (I hope)

Book Review: Little Dinos Don't Bite

               by Michael Dahl

                Capstone Young Reader

                Pub Date:  Feb 1 2013

Outlet:   Capstone Young Readers

Synopsis:

                Don’t bite!  This book gives the young person several reasons not to bite. The author also provides specific examples of what not to bite.  The examples include both people and objects. Once this has been established, Mr. Dahl provides specific examples of what to bite.

Reflection:

                This is a good book to read to youngsters when their teeth are coming in, in order to show why they should not bite. In addition, the book provides a good book to use as a teaching point for preschool and primary age children.

                This book provides an excellent format for a teacher to use to introduce backward counting. The colors are beautiful, the dinosaurs are well drawn and the text is can be easily explained.  The theme of dinosaurs is excellent because children love dinosaurs.

Would I purchase this Book?

                I  would purchase this book to help children learn why they should not bite. In addition to providing a great point, the book is visually appealing. The text captures the illustration and keeps the child's attention.

Book Review: Dinosaur Countdown

                by Nicholas Oldland

                Kids Can Press

                Pub Date:  Aug 1 2012

Outlet:   Capstone Young Readers

Synopsis:

                This book counts down various types of dinosaurs beginning at 10. The book provides an adjective to describe each dinosaur and illustrates each dinosaur.  At the end of the book Mr. Oldland provides a phonetic example of the name of each dinosaur. 

Reflection:

                This book provides an excellent format for a teacher to use to introduce backward counting. The colors are beautiful, the dinosaurs are well drawn and the text is can be easily explained.  The theme of dinosaurs is excellent because children love dinosaurs.

Would I purchase this Book?

                I would purchase this book to use as a teacher.

Friday's Reflection

It is Friday!  As I look back on this week, I realize that I need to make sure that I follow my schedule.  One person did ask to guest blog for me and I appreciate that very much.

This week has one more day to it, Saturday.  On Saturday, after I have had coffee with my friend and shop thrift stores with my daughter, I will complete my article review.

The book I am reading is about the brain by David Sousa.  It is very interesting.  He has written several books and I plan on reading all of them.  He writes them directly with the teacher in mind.  Anyway I will write a review on the book and really tell you about the book.

It is Friday!  How is your year coming along!!

First Week in January

This Week’s Goal(s)

One of my goals this week is to complete the written portion literature review section of my research proposal. 

“Describe briefly the history of the topic identifying key landmark studies which indicate the methodologies used and arguments made; show the major issues or practical problems to identify the gap you intend to look at in your research, and then indicate what will be some likely research questions (for qualitative research) or hypothesis (for quantitative research). If necessary, show how key terms have been defined and used. Aim to show what contribution your research will make to the literature (Hart, 2007, p. 207).”

                I have the concept map of various ideas completed, I know that they are related to technology, but how?

 I have also produced a concept map that indicates how I want to put it together, but again how?

 

 

 

 

Stay tuned to see how I put this all together!

Second Goal:

The course project that is due for my educational technology class, EDUC 8847: Instructional Design & Multimedia, will also be used as a query for a workshop in the SimpleK12 Technology. They are asking for workshops or courses from special educators for special educators.

Final Goal:

EDUC 8847 Course Discussion Questions

Reference:

Hart, C. (2007). Doing a literature review: releasing the social science research imagination. Sage Publications



               

The Goal for this Week!

Progress!

This week I want to finish