Turkey Run State Park

Well, I just got back from a five day trip to Turkey Run State Park and Indianapolis. If you've never been there, I recommend you going. It was great! We went hiking on some adventurous trails and went on an eleven mile canoe trip. I spent one evening reading a book while sitting in a rocking chair on the porch drinking wine. It doesn't get any better than that! Then, we spent two days in Indy at the Zoo and the Children's Museum. The zoo was okay, but the museum was really great! Many of the exhibits had change since I had been there a few years back. My favorites were an exhibit on Comics (including the Batmobile) and Animation featuring Cartoon Network. I learned a lot! Indiana does have some great trips to offer. Laura

Inspiring Story

As I sat waiting for my car to be serviced, I watched the Today show. One segment was on the Olympic swimmer, Dara Torres. If you don't know her story, here is a little snippet: She is a 41 year old women competing in the Beijing Olympics. Right now, she swims five times a week and spends several hours on weights and stretching (not the usual nine times like other swimmers). There is some controversy over if she is using illegal substances. She decided to be proactive and has random drug testing every two to three weeks. This is not her first Olympics; she started at the age of 17. She already has nine medals. Her goal is to motivate girls to know that there is no age limit on dreams.

This statement is very true. You should never stop dreaming. This is something we need to teach in our classrooms. Laura

Having a Bad Day

Yesterday was a bad day! I worked on my lesson plans until I was seeing cross eyed! I finally gave up and went to the pool. Once I arrived there, my daughter was cold and wanted to go home. So, I came home to clean up the house and work on my lesson plans some more. Again, I didn't get very far with my lesson plans or house work. I went to cycling class. When I arrived home, my husband said that my one class I do for myself was not working. Right now, I don't want to address why it is not working. Then, I get a call from the director of vacation bible school addressing an incident with my son last week. I really couldn't wait to go to bed. Then, I read this. http://www.anvari.org/fun/Truth/Having_a_Bad_Day.html
I guess it could be worse.

As a society, I think that when one or two things go wrong, we then start to focus on all the wrong things. I started a list. Remember, I didn't tell you any good things that happened yesterday, like my cycling class was great, or we had a fun picnic at the pool. Too many people, myself included, focus on the negative and forget the positive. As educators, we must focus on the positive and address the negative, but not dwell on them. The students get enough negative without us adding to them. Sometimes it just takes one person to say one kind thing for our day to turn around. Laura

Keep Dreaming

Well, today in the Journal Gazette was an awesome and inspiring story:

A boy in Michigan with multiple disabilities dreamed of becoming a fireman, police officer, and ambulance driver. His adoptive mother knew this would never be a possibility, but she refused to not let him dream. Before his 5th birthday, he was very ill , so he had an early birthday party. A fireman came to the party and gave him some patches. Because of this, he started asking other departments for patches. He now has collected over 15,000 patches. His collection is on display in Salt Lake City, being used as part of a fundraiser to help raise money for a burn camp for children.

This boy's dream has led him to collect patches and has given him a purpose. Because of his collection, he is able to help others. I think this is a great story! If you would like to read it in its entirety, click here: http://www.journalgazette.net/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080724/LOCAL0201/807240314

Never stop dreaming...Laura

Do we need to know it all?

I read an article in the Journal Gazette this week entitled, Unlike McCain, many seniors go online. Basically, it referred to John McCain admitting that he relies on his wife to help him. The article goes on to say, "Only 35 percent of Americans older than 65 are online" and "about three-quarters of white, college-educated men age over 65 use the Internet”. So, the author eludes that John McCain should be online. The author also stated, "McCain’s frank admissions of his offline state have led to discussion of whether being wired is a qualification for leading the free world".

This article made me think about technology today. Should people over 65 be online? Should John McCain be online? How is that a qualification. I didn't mention that the article does state McCain does know how to browse the Internet and check Web sites.

Here's my opinion, I don't think my 84 year-old grandmother has any interest in the Internet and shouldn't be made to learn it. When she visits my house, I will show her things on the Internet (one time I looked up a shirt she wanted at Kohls online), and she thought it was great, but she doesn't want to learn. Why make her?

As for John McCain, I think he is probably just like you or I (at least before this class), he can use the Internet and e-mail, search the Web, etc., but not create podcasts and YouTube videos. I have no problem if he needs assistance from his aides to do this. Isn't that what they are for anyway? Laura

Back to School

In a recent discussion with the president of the school board at my children's school, I found out they were considering putting together a packet of back-to-school supplies. I said I would be first in line to buy one (or two since I have two children). Every year, I spend countless hours running from one store to the next to get the best deal on school supplies. I waste my time and gas, to buy pencils and rulers. I think it would be easier for the stores (ie Target) or for the schools themselves to provide "packet's" with the school supplies in them. If the schools supplied them, they could get a deal on bulk items. This would also be great for students who are unable to buy their school supplies due to financial reasons. The schools could write grants for the money to supply low income families with school supplies or the Parent-Teacher League could raise the money. I think this would be a great solution as I find myself going out the night before schools starts to get the last two or three items on the list. Laura

Websites from the Text

Has anyone checked out the websites in the boxes of the text? There are some great resources there. Today, I checked out a document on how to make a Teacher's Web Page. I think this is a great way to connect with students and parents about what is taking place in the classroom.

For grades k-5, this would be a great resource to tell parents about what their child is learning and how the parents can use this information to supplement learning. It can also be helpful to remind parents of upcoming events in the classroom and school.

For grades 6-12, the Web Page can be a tool for the students as well as the parents. The students can check to see when assignments are due and what the projects are. This will also be helpful for the parents. How many times do your own children come home and say they have a project due tomorrow? After working on the project all night, you find out they have had two weeks to prepare. As a parent, I would find this information helpful. The Web Page could also tell what is going on in the classroom. Again, as a parent, I frequently ask my children, "What did you do today in school?" The answer is always, "Nothing". I would then have the resources to say, "Well, it says right here you read about the solar system."

But, the drawbacks to having a Teacher Web Page is you must update it for it to be a resource. Especially the way in which I said it would be helpful. But, at least in the upper grades, the students could be in charge of updating the Web Page daily. Do you have a Teacher's Web Page? Do you think it would be helpful or too much work? Laura