Useful Information In and Out of the Classroom 4/29/22

Here are some interesting sites that I’ve found this week, thanks to my PLN. As a teacher, I feel we have to keep up to date concerning research in our field and current issues in the education system. I hope some of these inspire you, inform you, and even have you asking questions. Thank you for coming by and visiting!

Note: Each resource is labeled with a level and subject area to make it easier to use.

Levels: E: Elementary; M: Middle; H: High; G: General, all levels; SN: Special Needs; T: Teachers

Subject Areas: LA: Language Arts, English, Reading, Writing; M: Math; S: Science; Health; SS: Social Studies, Current Events; FA: Fine Arts; Music, Art, Drama; FL: Foreign Language; PE: Physical Ed; C: Career; A: All

DewWool - “Dewwool is a free science education website for K-12 students. Dewwool offers interactive quizzes, research content, animations, videos, comics and much more.” (L:G; SA:S)

Phideo - “Choose your photos/images. Annotate your photos with text, shapes and images and save your slideshow as a video file (.mp4 or .webm) or animated GIF. Optionally, add background music. Free, online, safe and fast.” (L:G; SA:A)

How Do Worms Reproduce? - “The love life of an earthworm is more complex than you might expect. Dr Victoria Burton explains how worms can be picky when it comes to finding a mate.”(L:M,H; SA:S)

Post It App - “Stop spending hours transcribing notes after a brainstorm. When you download the free Post-it® App, you can instantly capture and share notes with the team without recaps or delays.” (L:G; SA:A)

Color Blindness - “Color blindness (or colour blindness — or more specific color vision deficiency (CVD)) is well known but hard to imagine if you are not suffering from it. So usually people are either looking for more information to learn about color blindness and all its details, would like to better understand the vision by simulating it or want to test themselves with some form of color blindness test. All this you can be found here on color-blindness.com — and much more.” (L:G; SA:S)

Original photo by Pat Hensley

Fast is Not Always Best

In “Not a heavy lift” from Seth Godin's Blog by Seth Godin states,

“Just because it’s fast doesn’t mean it’s worth doing.”

In Florida, we eat at a place where the servers wear interesting shirts. They say, “Fast food is not good. Good food is not fast. We serve good food. ”

In my classroom, many of my students with special needs are behind their peers in academics and they know they are behind. They want to learn but they want it to happen quickly. They want to be at the same level as their peers and they want to be there NOW! A lot of their behavior issues occur because they are frustrated and impatient. They want to be caught up and be like everyone else. Yet, their behavior issues put them even further behind and it is a vicious cycle.

Some teachers expect assignments done quickly and correctly. Yet, when a learner is just learning a new skill, they will be slow and make mistakes. It takes practice to be able to do things quickly.

When I first learned to drive, I drove slowly, even on the interstate. Now I have to make sure I go the speed limit and not too fast. That is because I have years of experience driving and I’m more confident. It didn’t happen instantly.

I spend a lot of time talking about this with my students. I help them accept the fact that they are behind and that it will take time to get to the level where their peers are at this moment. It doesn’t mean that they aren’t as important as their peers. For some reason, many students tie their self-worth to their academic level. Maybe as adults, we subconsciously put this pressure on students.

As adults, we can be aware of the students are putting in a lot of effort and they should be rewarded. I believe putting in the effort is more important than the completion of the project. Students should be praised for trying and not giving up even if they aren’t successful. Great inventors weren’t successful with their early attempts but no one says that they aren’t worthy people.

How do you explain to students that fast is not always best? Please share.

Photo by Veri Ivanova on Unsplash

Battle of Musgrove Mill State Historic Site

The Battle of Musgrove Mill State Historic Site is located on 397 acres in Clinton, SC. This site is where the Battle of Musgrove Mill took place during the Revolutionary War. It took place on August 19, 1870, near the Enoree River. It was an important fight won by the American militia. In 1975, this site was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

There is a visitor center with interactive exhibits. You can try on uniforms of both sides and take photos. In April, there is an annual Revolutionary War Encampment.

There are 2.5 miles of trail in the park. The Battlefield Trail is 1.5 miles and stands on both sides of the battlefield. It lets you see the area from the perspective of the British and the Patriots. The 1 mile British Camp trail takes you to the Mary Musgrove Monument. You can find out the true history behind the legend of Mary Musgrove. Horseshoe Falls overlook is accessible for the handicapped by a boardwalk.

The Battle:
200 Patriot militiamen thought they would attack an equal number of Loyalists camped near the Enoree River. But the Loyalists 300 more regulars join them from Ninety-Six, SC. Once the Patriots found this out they couldn’t retreat or go forward. So, they took position behind logs and brush. Then they lured the British into attacking them and the Patriots won the skirmish!

We have been here several times. It has been fun to see it grow and improve. It is a great way to learn about our local history. I would definitely recommend a visit here. 

The Rules of the Game

“The NVIV (Next Vista Inspiring Video) series of posts are written by Rushton Hurley and designed to provide students and teachers with fascinating discussion prompts.”

In The Rules of the Game, Rushton features Speedgate, which is played on a field with a rugby-type ball.

He gives the following prompts to accompany this video:

“Using only what you saw in the video, what strategies can you imagine for this game?

Can you come up with strategies that are different from other games you know? Are you even able to come up with rules and strategies that have no reference to existing games?

Try breaking into groups and coming up with something totally different as a game. What was the coolest idea you heard?”

This video overwhelmed me. I think the sound and the fast pace was overwhelming to me. I’m not sure I understood the rules enough to come up with strategies. I’m the type of person that would need to see the game played out a few times to really understand it. I think it would be good for students to get into small groups to come up with a new game. Then decide on the rules and present it to the class. The class could come up with questions to clarify the game better. 

Please check out the video and think of other prompts you might come up with. Please share.

Ask For Help

It seems the hardest thing for most people is to ask for help. We see this act as a sign of weakness. When we are very young, we want independence. Then as we are growing up, when we ask for help, we are encouraged to try to do it ourselves. So, when we get older and we really do need help, we don’t ask for it. Maybe we need to teach students when it is actually appropriate to ask for help and that asking for help is not a bad thing.

My husband will lift things that are too heavy for him even though he knows his back will pay for it later. I think he doesn’t want to admit that he is getting older and needs help.

I am at the end of two courses that I teach online. Every week I send an email, summarizing this coming week’s assignments and letting people know I’m available for help. I tell them to call, text, email, or set up a zoom meeting with me. I’m here to answer any questions or concerns they may have.

Since we have the final exam this week, I sent out a study guide and encouraged students to reach out to me. I really want my students to do well on the exam. Only one student contacted me and we went over things she needed to pay attention to for the exam.

I can’t make my students ask for help but I’m sure more than one student has questions or concerns. Have I given them some reason that they don’t feel they can reach out to me? Have I tried to keep the lines of communication open? Is this normal for online courses? What can I do differently to help students interact with me? These are some of the questions I have rattling around my head.

How can we break this cycle of students not asking for help when they need it? What do you think? Please share.

Photo by Brett Jordan on Unsplash

Useful Information In and Out of the Classroom 4/22/22

Here are some interesting sites that I’ve found this week, thanks to my PLN. As a teacher, I feel we have to keep up to date concerning research in our field and current issues in the education system. I hope some of these inspire you, inform you, and even have you asking questions. Thank you for coming by and visiting!

Note: Each resource is labeled with a level and subject area to make it easier to use.

Levels: E: Elementary; M: Middle; H: High; G: General, all levels; SN: Special Needs; T: Teachers

Subject Areas: LA: Language Arts, English, Reading, Writing; M: Math; S: Science; Health; SS: Social Studies, Current Events; FA: Fine Arts; Music, Art, Drama; FL: Foreign Language; PE: Physical Ed; C: Career; A: All

Canva Design Skills for Students - seven-part course to help students design presentations (L:H; SA:A)

Verse by Verse - “An experimental AI-powered muse that helps you compose poetry inspired by classic American poets” (L:G; SA:LA)

Creating Pysanky Ukrainian Eggs - “We will be creating several Pysanky eggs in class.” (L:M,H; SA:FA)

The Physics of Baseball - “Two scientists from San Francisco Bay Area institutions break down a few of the many different ways that baseball is a great way to learn about the physics of motion and energy, including aerodynamics and vibrations in this video adapted from QUEST. (L:H; SA:S)

Let’s Make Sound - projects on Instructables (L:G; SA:LA,S)

Original photo by Pat Hensley

Don’t Stop and Wait

In The power of TK from Seth Godin's Blog, Seth Godin shares

“It’s what you write when there’s a fact or addition you’re waiting on. Instead of stopping everything, simply type “TK” and you know you can come back and fix it later.”

When my students need help, many will raise their hands and stop working. I sometimes will acknowledge that I see they need help but ask them to skip that problem and go on to the next one until I can help them. Sometimes they get impatient and either figure it out themselves or ask a classmate for help.

Then after eating at a restaurant and seeing a neat strategy they use to help better service, I thought I could use the same strategy in my class.

I cut red and green foam boards into squares and glued the squares together. On the red side, I wrote HELP and on the green side, I wrote OK. Each student has this square on the corner of their desk. When they need help, they turn it over to the red and after I help them I turn it over to the green. When I’m done helping a student, I can glance around the room and see who else needs help. The students don’t waste time sitting there with their hands up and then give up or have to wait until I look up again to raise their hand. I could tell their frustration and impatience were much lower with this simple strategy. The students seemed to like this system also.

By using this strategy, students were completing more assignments and were more successful in the classroom.

What strategy do you use to help students get help? Please share.

Photo by Jorge Rojas on Unsplash

Attempts are Important

In The worst from Seth Godin's Blogby Seth Godin states

“The worst golfer doesn’t even play.”

I remember talking to a high school basketball player and asking him if he got nervous when he tried to make a basket. Wasn’t he afraid that he would miss? He just looked at me with surprise. Then he let me know that he would never make a basket if he never tried. Better to try and miss than to never try at all.

This is what I want my students to learn in my class. I want them to be willing to try even if they might make a mistake.

I have watched students paralyzed with fear in case they make a mistake. They are afraid people will laugh at them and ridicule them. This has happened to them before and they have learned to protect themselves.

I start out by explaining everyone makes mistakes all of the time throughout their life. This is part of life and learning. We learn from our mistakes.

When a basketball player shoots for a basket and misses, he learns that the spot he aimed for was not the right spot. He keeps practicing until he finds the right spot. The right spot for him may not be the same spot for me because we are at different heights and have different strengths. When a player is practicing shots, does his team laugh at him when he misses? No, they encourage him to do better.

I want my students to be teammates. I want them to encourage each other and help them to be brave enough to try. I want my class to be a safe place where it is okay to make mistakes as long as we learn from them. I want to teach the students to be compassionate and understanding so they can help each.

When the class acts as a team and helps each other, everyone will be more successful.

How do you encourage your students to be a team? Please share.

Photo by Tom Briskey on Unsplash

A Lego Arm

“The NVIV (Next Vista Inspiring Video) series of posts are written by Rushton Hurley and designed to provide students and teachers with fascinating discussion prompts.”

In A Lego Arm. Rushton features David Aguilar who builds his own prosthetic out of Legos.

He gives the following prompts to accompany this video:

“What makes you different? Is it something others can see? If it’s something you feel you need to deal with in some creative way, how do you do so?

Finally, is anyone completely normal? What does “normal” even mean?”

I loved this video because many students I know have special needs. Many have spent a lot of time trying to fit in and be “normal.” I spend a lot of time getting them to believe that it is okay to be special. This boy found a need to use his interests to better his quality of life. He didn’t whine or use his difference as a crutch. He knew what he needed and set out to find a way to make it happen. This video would be great to show students with special needs!

Please check out the video and think of other prompts you might come up with. Please share.

Carrick Creek Hike

For more pictures, click here.

Last week my family and I hiked along Carrick Creek at Table Rock State Park in South Carolina. I really wanted to see some wildflowers and I wasn’t disappointed. The weather was overcast while we hiked and it was a beautiful day!

I used 3 free apps on my phone that you might find useful and fun.

Gaia GPS - I use the free version that maps out our route as we hike. It would help if we got lost and it is fun to look at when we end our hike. I start the app and I hit record. Then at the end, I end the recording and it shows the outline on a topo map of where we hiked.

Seek - a free app that helps me identify what plants, amphibians, and insects I’m seeing. It doesn’t always work for every plant but most of them. I sometimes have to adjust where I’m aiming my phone camera to get a better angle for identification.

Merlin Bird ID - another free app. I can put in some info about the birds I see and it will give me some images to match which could help identify the birds. But what I like the most is that sound ID. I hit the record button and it hears the bird sounds and will list the different birds that I hear. I can then hit each selection and hear that bird’s call. When I listen to my recording and I can pick out all the birds that I hear.

We hiked about 3 miles I saw:

• A corn snake
• Violets
• Spotted wintergreen
• Dwarf crested irises
• Robin’s plantain
• Jack in the Pulpit
• Doghobble
• Sweetshrub
• Bloodroot
• Hooked buttercup
• Solomon’s plume
• Christmas fern
• Broadbeech fern
• New York fern
• Little Brown Jug
• Yellow Star Grass
• Rattlesnakeweed
• Bellwort
• Dogwood
• Cinquefoil
• Salamander
• Wild azalea
• Rhododendron
• Mountain Laurel
• Squawroot
• Buffalo nut

It is good to get outdoors and enjoy nature. Bringing students outside and showing them how to use these 3 apps would be a fun activity. I think students would be able to use them outside the classroom and learn more about what they are seeing in nature.

Do you use any of these apps? How do you like them? Please share.

Original photo by Pat Hensley

Useful Information In and Out of the Classroom 4/15/22

Here are some interesting sites that I’ve found this week, thanks to my PLN. As a teacher, I feel we have to keep up to date concerning research in our field and current issues in the education system. I hope some of these inspire you, inform you, and even have you asking questions. Thank you for coming by and visiting!

Note: Each resource is labeled with a level and subject area to make it easier to use.

Levels: E: Elementary; M: Middle; H: High; G: General, all levels; SN: Special Needs; T: Teachers

Subject Areas: LA: Language Arts, English, Reading, Writing; M: Math; S: Science; Health; SS: Social Studies, Current Events; FA: Fine Arts; Music, Art, Drama; FL: Foreign Language; PE: Physical Ed; C: Career; A: All

Global Pandemics - “​​The Global Pandemics prototype consists of over 50 uniquely designed, animated web pages featuring over 2 hours of engaging, rewarding learning material for students to explore. The product combines digital storytelling with interactive learning design to craft a rich, complex pedagogical experience that immerses students in the power of story—narrativizing the experiences of diverse people, around the globe, who lived through history’s worst pandemics—interwoven with rich, multimodal learning content.” (L:T; SA:A)

Name Picker Ninja - a random name picker site (L:T; SA:A)

Math Puzzles and Games - a wide variety of math games (L:T; SA:A)

Pulitzer Center Poetry Contest - “How can poetry be an effective response to current events and underreported stories? How can we use poetry to connect global issues to our local and personal contexts? Students are invited to explore these questions and make their voices heard in their entries to the Fighting Words Poetry Contest.” (L:G; SA:LA)

How Do Birds Learn To Sing? - a TED-ed lesson; “A brown thrasher knows a thousand songs. A wood thrush can sing two pitches at once. A mockingbird can match the sounds around it — including car alarms. These are just a few of the 4,000 species of songbirds. How do these birds learn songs? How do they know to mimic the songs of their own species? Are they born knowing how to sing? Partha P. Mitra illuminates the beautiful world of birdsong.” (L:G; SA:S)

Original photo by Pat Hensley

Boggs Rock

For more pictures, click here.

Recently a friend told me about Boggs Rock and I had never heard of it. There is a trail to it that isn’t marked and unless you know about it, you wouldn’t know it was there. My husband and I decided it would be a fun adventure to go hunt for it. I think that people learn about it only by word of mouth because no one wants people to go there and vandalize it.

Boggs Rock is a granitic outcrop in South Carolina.

We found the elf orpine (Diamorpha smallia) that I heard could be found here. It blooms from late March to mid-April. When in bloom, the rock is covered in these tiny red flowers. The flowers are about 1 to 3 inches tall. Each plant has a bunch of round leaves that hold up bright white flowers.

We also saw lichens and mosses. The Wooly Ragwort and Yellow Jessamine were blooming and looked beautiful.

We were also excited to see tadpoles swimming in the pools of water found in the small depressions in the rock.

It was a magical place and I just hope it stays in good condition!

Original photo by Pat Hensley

Expectations

In The surprising thing about expectations from Seth Godin's Blog, Seth Godin

“...if you relentlessly raise expectations, if you overpromise and add a bit of hype, you’re almost certain to fail to meet our dreams and hopes.”

Teaching has to deal with that fine line between high expectations and realistic dreams.

I think it is important to have high expectations so that students will do their best. They will give it their best effort.

When I first started teaching, I had many students tell me that they were too dumb to learn. Didn’t I know any better? It took many months for me to convince them that everyone can learn but people learn at different rates. This difference in the way we learn is normal for everyone. It depends on what we are learning, how we are learning, and why we are learning.

I confess that when I first started teaching students with down’s syndrome, I had low expectations. These students were so happy and filled with love that I didn’t want them to feel frustrated or unhappy. Thank goodness I had their parents who were willing to help me raise my expectations and have the students work harder at achieving more.

I learned if I don’t expect enough, all students will only work hard enough to meet my expectations. How can I expect my students to grow and work to better themselves if I don’t believe in them? And if I don’t believe in them, students knew it and acted accordingly.

Once I changed my mindset and believed in my students, it was amazing at the things they could do. I was amazed at the things they were willing to try and even face obstacles. Once they believed that I would be there with them facing these obstacles and willing to help them succeed, students tried harder. The more success they faced, the more they were willing to grow academically and even personally.

As a teacher, I needed to learn to change my own expectations before I could help students change their expectations.

Have you ever had to do this? Please share.

Photo by Yasin Yusuf on Unsplash

Weird Workouts

“The NVIV (Next Vista Inspiring Video) series of posts are written by Rushton Hurley and designed to provide students and teachers with fascinating discussion prompts.”

In Weird Workouts, Rushton features Joseph who adds to his workout routine by adding motivational techniques.

He gives the following prompts to accompany this video:

“Is there something you know you need to do, but you do something unusual in order to make sure you get the needed thing done?

What’s a need you see at your home or school that isn’t getting addressed? Can you and a buddy or two come up with a clever way to make sure that gets done?”

I don’t like working out any more than most people but I don’t think I’d go to the extreme that this guy did. One of the things I do is post a picture that I really like of how I used to look and can look at it as I work out. This reminds me why I am doing what I need to do to achieve that goal. I also tend to do the hardest task on my list first in order to get it out of the way. Then I know I can accomplish other things more easily.

Please check out the video and think of other prompts you might come up with. Please share.

Annapolis Tercentenary Stamp

On May 23, 1949, the Annapolis Tercentenary three-cent stamp (US #984) was issued in Annapolis Maryland. It was printed by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. The stamp was issued to commemorate the three hundredth anniversary of the founding of Annapolis.

The design features a map of the Annapolis area
showing the water route from the Chesapeake Bay to the Severn River. Also shown are the masted ship and longboat carrying Puritans ashore to the original settlement and natural resources such as trees, hills, crab, and rockfish. It was first called Providence and at first, the stamp’s design had the words “First Settlement - Providence” on it but since no one used Providence anymore, the words “Original settlement” were used instead. Also shown is the coat of arms of Lord Baltimore, the first proprietor of the Maryland colony.

Annapolis was founded by the Puritans who came from Virginia in 1649. The Puritans came to America from 1629 to 1640 to get away from the tyranny of King Charles I of England. The Puritans were great believers in education and after arriving, immediately set up schools.

Annapolis is the capital of Maryland. From 1783 to 1784, it was the temporary capital of the United States of America. The US Naval Academy is located in Annapolis and is the third oldest college in the United States.

Activities for children:

• Draw a map of the original thirteen colonies.
• Find out more about the Puritans. When did they arrive in North America? Why did they leave England?
• What other things are 300 years old? Pick one and draw a picture or give a report about it.
• Pretend you are a Puritan on the boat heading to Maryland. Write a letter back to a relative in England describing your trip.

Original photo by Pat Hensley

References:
https://www.mysticstamp.com/Products/United-States/984/USA/
https://postalmuseum.si.edu/exhibition/about-us-stamps-modern-period-1940-present-commemorative-issues-1940-1949-1948-1949-31

Useful Information In and Out of the Classroom 4/8/22

Here are some interesting sites that I’ve found this week, thanks to my PLN. As a teacher, I feel we have to keep up to date concerning research in our field and current issues in the education system. I hope some of these inspire you, inform you, and even have you asking questions. Thank you for coming by and visiting!

Note: Each resource is labeled with a level and subject area to make it easier to use.

Levels: E: Elementary; M: Middle; H: High; G: General, all levels; SN: Special Needs; T: Teachers

Subject Areas: LA: Language Arts, English, Reading, Writing; M: Math; S: Science; Health; SS: Social Studies, Current Events; FA: Fine Arts; Music, Art, Drama; FL: Foreign Language; PE: Physical Ed; C: Career; A: All

April Holidays - “​​Resources for teachers to use with students.”(L:T; SA:A)

Wall of Birds - “https://academy.allaboutbirds.org/features/wallofbirds/” (L:G; SA:S)

Spellie - a daily 4 letter word game. (L:G; SA:A)

Nature Makes You Happy - “A new study from BBC Earth and the University of California has revealed that watching nature documentaries can make you happier, so we're on a mission to bring real happiness to as many people as possible by improving their connection to nature. You can find out more here www.realhappinessproject.com” (L:G; SA:A)

Cool Infographics - “Cool Infographics® is the home for everything Data Visualization, Infographics, Presentations, Dashboards and Visual Communication.”(L:T; SA:A)

Original photo by Pat Hensley

Obstacles are Not Catastrophes

In ​​Catastrophization from Seth Godin's Blog, Seth Godin states

“A catastrophe is a shared emergency that overwhelms our interactions and narratives”

Too many times, the education systems react to challenges as if they are catastrophes rather than challenges.

When this happens, we react instead of act.

I recently watched a TV show where the leader of a team kept telling them to “work the problem.” This reminds everyone to stop reacting and start acting. Look at the possibilities instead of the impossibilities.

This is important to teach my students. I want them to stop seeing every obstacle as if it is a catastrophe. When they have this mindset, I think it causes them to shut down and want to curl in a ball to protect themselves. This keeps them from moving forward.

I want my students to see each other as a teammate. When an obstacle arises, I want them to trust everyone to help them work the problem if they are unable to do it themselves. Once we understand the problem, we have them brainstorm different solutions. No idea is laughed at and all ideas are thrown out for consideration. Once all the ideas are exhausted, we can look at each one and see what the limitations or possibilities are in order to narrow it down to a possible solution.

When I first start this process, I start with a few of my own obstacles so the students understand the process. Once I can model how we do this and my students understand how helpful this is, I encourage each one to share an obstacle. The more we do this process, the easier it gets for some students to open up. They like having the support of others when we do this and sometimes others share that they have faced the same obstacle before. Some share how they handled it and how they wish they handled it differently.

This process is a very powerful strategy and has helped my students be more successful in the classroom and out of the classroom.

How do you help students face obstacles? Please share.

Photo by Tim Collins on Unsplash

Autism Acceptance Month 2022

April is Autism Acceptance Month. It used to be called Autism Awareness Month but The Autism Society of America asked people to shift the terminology to this and I like it.

Awareness means that you just need to know it exists.

Acceptance means that you know people have autism and you accept them for who they are.

I watch a podcast hosted by a girl with autism and I like seeing the world from her perspective. She doesn’t see autism as a disability because that implies limitations. She sees autism as a different way of life just as people would see someone who is short or tall.

I’m glad to see movie theaters having time set aside for those with autism to see movies. It allows people to have options. I have friends who don’t have autism and like going at these times because it is easier for them to watch the movie.

We have learned that there are free closed-captioned glasses for people who have trouble hearing the movies. My husband is not deaf but sometimes the background music or special effects make it difficult for him to understand what the actors are saying. Again, this gives people options.

I like the idea of acceptance vs. awareness.

Do you do anything for Autism Acceptance Month? Please share.

Photo by Peter Burdon on Unsplash

Calling a Cave Home

“The NVIV (Next Vista Inspiring Video) series of posts are written by Rushton Hurley and designed to provide students and teachers with fascinating discussion prompts.”

In Calling a Cave Home, Rushton features Zhongdong Village, or Middle Cave, China’s last cave village. It was built by Miao ethnic minorities after 1949 in order to evade bandits. The villagers have lived off the land for seventy years but may be forced to relocate by Chinese authorities. 

 He gives the following prompts to accompany this video:

“Can you think of other ways that these people might be able to live better lives?

What do you think they would think of your idea? How would you ask them about it in a way that honors their perspectives?”

In 2000, my husband and I visited China for a month. This video brought a lot of back a lot of memories from when we did a seven-day cruise down the Yangtze River. They were building the Three Gorges Dam which would dam up the river and would displace almost two million people. We talked to a lot of people who were being relocated during that time and it was sad to think about their future. It destroyed beautiful scenery and so many rare architectural and archaeological sites. This video made my heart hurt for these cave people. I know that life is tough for them but I think moving them to a city would devastate them. I’m not sure their lives would be improved much. The sad part is that they may not even have a choice. 

Please check out the video and think of other prompts you might come up with. Please share.

 

 

 

2022 Goals Review for March

We had a busy month in March. We had a lot of rental house woes but we were able to get it all squared away.

1. Lose 5 lbs. - unfortunately my weight was up and down this month. We did not do as much walking because it was getting too hot even in the early mornings.

2. Finish my national park blanket. - will not get to work on this again until we go back to SC.

3. Year of the Gnome - knit at least one gnome a month. Completed 3 gnomes.

4. Knit a sweater. - I’m almost finished with my Nordic Nights sweater.

5. Yarn - more out than in (use more yardage than I buy)

-Yarn used - 3172 yds.

-Yarn bought - 5210 yds.

6. Design 3 new patterns. - thoughts are swirling through my head.

7. Learn something new. - I think this year I want to try mosaic crocheting

8. Read 12 nonfiction books - read 4 books so far.

-A Serial Killer's Daughter: My Story of Faith, Love, and Overcoming by Kerri Rawson

-Chinese Cinderella: The True Story of an Unwanted Daughter by Adeline Yen Mah

-Captive: A Mother's Crusade to Save Her Daughter from a Terrifying Cult by Catherine Oxenberg

-That Time of Year: A Minnesota Life by Garrison Keillor

How is your progress towards your goals? Please share.




Photo by Adam Winger on Unsplash

Useful Information In and Out of the Classroom 4/1/22

Here are some interesting sites that I’ve found this week, thanks to my PLN. As a teacher, I feel we have to keep up to date concerning research in our field and current issues in the education system. I hope some of these inspire you, inform you, and even have you asking questions. Thank you for coming by and visiting!

Note: Each resource is labeled with a level and subject area to make it easier to use.

Levels: E: Elementary; M: Middle; H: High; G: General, all levels; SN: Special Needs; T: Teachers

Subject Areas: LA: Language Arts, English, Reading, Writing; M: Math; S: Science; Health; SS: Social Studies, Current Events; FA: Fine Arts; Music, Art, Drama; FL: Foreign Language; PE: Physical Ed; C: Career; A: All

Wordle Variations: “Resources for teachers to use with students. Curated by Terri Eichholz.” (L:T; SA:A)

How Brass Instruments Work - “What gives the trumpet its clarion ring and the tuba its gut shaking oompah-pah? And what makes the trombone so jazzy? Al Cannon shows how these answers lie not in the brass the instruments are made of, but in the journey that air takes from the musician’s lungs to the instrument’s bell.” (L:G; SA:FA)

Exploring By the Seat of Your Pants - “Beaming Science, Exploration, Adventure and Conservation live into Classrooms Through Guest Speakers and Virtual Field Trips with Leading Experts from Around the World. Using Technology to Broadcast Live into Classrooms from the Most Remote Regions on the Planet. Since September 2015, We’ve Hosted 3,000+ Live Events Connecting Half a Million Students to Scientists and Explorers from 95 Countries.” (L:T; SA:S)

An A-Z of Creativity - “A collection of sites and ideas to encourage creativity.” (L:T; SA:A)

Postcards - “Explore the history and usage of postcards with a variety of Smithsonian collection items. This collection was created as a supporting resource for the online session: "Cultivating Learning: Enhancing Storytelling with Digital Museum Objects" hosted by the Smithsonian's Office of Educational Technology.” (L:T; SA:A)

Original photo by Pat Hensley