Useful Information In and Out of the Classroom 6/6/14

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

Hughes History – Youtube videos; “United States History lectures brought to you by Mr. Hughes. These lectures are designed for broad based conceptual review for studying for eager middle school students, worried high school students and lost college Freshmen.” (L: M, H; SA:SS)

Physics 4 Kids – basic physics information for everyone (L:G; SA:S)

Blubbr – create interactive study quizzes (L:G; SA:S)

Educanon – “a tool for teachers to build lessons with interactive timed questions and engaging video content. Already, we've been amazed by the creative and inspirational uses of eduCanon by teachers--for flipped and blended learning environments.: (L:T; SA:A)

Purpose Games – “Create your own games, host your own groups / classes, study for a test, or just dazzle us with your knowledge. PurposeGames is a completely FREE service!” (L:G; SA:A)

Original Image: Tools by Pat Hensley

How We Treat Ourselves

Recently I was listening to a Jillian Michaels Podcast episode and she talked about how we should treat ourselves like we should treat our children. This really struck home to me. As good parents, we treat our children like precious cargo (which we should) but we don’t do the same to ourselves (which we should!).

When we fly in airplanes, part of the emergency drill is talking about how we should put the oxygen masks over our own faces before we put it on our children’s faces. This gives both of us a better chance of survival because if we put it on the child’s face first and we die, the child may not live either. But we don’t do this in real life and maybe we should.

We make sure our children eat properly and when they should. We don’t want them to miss meals or eat ice cream and junk food all of the time. But I know many teachers (me included) who have missed meals and just ate junk food to get through the day. We encourage students to eat right before tests because it helps them think better, but we don’t treat our bodies the same way!

We expect our children to get enough sleep so they are rested enough to do the things they want to and need to do. Yet, teachers sometimes are burning the candle at both ends and get by on little sleep. Children who don’t get enough sleep can become lethargic, irritable, and have little interest in doing things that need to be done. In fact, lack of sleep can kill. We should be making sure that we get enough rest too!

Exercise and fresh air is important for our children. The same goes for our bodies! Too many adults talk about how slim and energetic they were when they were younger. Why do we not take care of our bodies when they are older?

It seems like we don’t value ourselves as much as we get older and think everything else is more important!

Now as summer vacation approaches, I urge everyone who reads this to take stock of their lives. Think about ways that you can take care of yourself the way you would your own child. Maybe stop and ask yourself, as you do things, would you let your child do this? If the answer is no, maybe it is time to rethink your decision.

We all have worth! I truly believe that God wouldn’t have put us on this earth if we didn’t. I’m not about to question God’s decision! Since I believe this, I need to start taking better care of myself physically and emotionally. By doing this, I will be able to help others more effectively, just like putting the oxygen mask over me first.

How will you take better care of yourself? Please share.

Image: 'Food of Love'
http://www.flickr.com/photos/28165389@N05/2981543442
Found on flickrcc.net

Spartan Up - Book Review

I recently was sent the book by Spartan Up! By Joe De Sena. This is the review that I posted on Amazon (and I am not being paid to give this review):

At first I thought this was just another exercise book until I started reading it. While I may not be totally into his gung-ho regime, I think the author is extremely motivating. There are so many great ideas that inspirational and motivational that I could not begin to give you a sample. I started underlining all the great things so I can come back to them again. I may not be ready to go to the extremes of his exercise program, it did motivate me to exercise more.

I think this would also be a good book for teachers to read. I think they would find it motivational in getting things done in their own career. Plus, I believe they would find a lot of statements would be motivational for their students. As a special ed teacher, I can see my students relating to many of the obstacles that were mentioned and how hard they struggle to overcome these obstacles. Like many of the contestants in the races, my students that succeed are the ones who never give up. Over years they have had to build up their own stamina and strength to face their fears, struggles, and defeats in their educational growth.

I liked the way that this book could be used in a variety of situations and not just in physical fitness. It can be used in a fitness class and other classes. Teachers could use this as a reference for some class lessons. I would definitely recommend this book to others that want that push to improve their lives.

Monthly Review of Goals from May

May has involved a lot of traveling. We left the Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage in Gatlinburg at the middle of April to head north until the first week of May. We spent time in the Shenandoah National Park, Washington DC, and Dolly Sods in WV. The best part of May was going to the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival at the beginning of May! In the middle of May we went camping for a week at Oconee State Park. All of my goals can be found here.

Yearly goals:

1. Try at least 12 new recipes (one per month).
1. January – Quinoa Meatballs
2. February – Mushroom Lasagna
3. March – Chicken Quesadilla
4. April – Grilled Asian Chicken
5. May – Simple Green Smoothie
2. Reach my target weight by the end of the year. – My weight stayed the same this month
3. Knit a Fair Isle vest. (not started yet)
4. Learn to chain ply some handspun yarn. (not started yet)
5. Dye yarn and fiber. (not started yet)
6. Spin my camel, yak, and cashmere fiber. Amended to add: or try different techniques
1. January - spun camel/merino/silk blend fiber in
2. March – tried drafting back when spinning instead of my usual short forward draft. This made my yarn turn out much loftier.
3. April – Spun my yak/merino fiber

Daily/Weekly/Monthly goals:

1. Daily - Read the bible and keep a log so I can tell how I am doing. – I’ve read it every day in January, February, March, April, and May.
2. Daily - Do strength exercises for 30 minutes each day. – I have done this every day.
3. Weekly - Walk at least 10,000 steps for 4 days every week. (4.3 miles per day for 4 days/120.4 miles per month)
1. a. January – 159.01 miles (avg. 5.1 miles per day)
2. February – 130.27 miles (avg. 4.7 miles per day)
3. March – 161.13 miles (avg.5.2 miles per day)
4. April – 166.86 (avg. 5.5 miles per day)
5. May -144.34 miles (avg. 4.7 miles per day)
4. Weekly - Keep a journal and write down 5 things that I’m thankful for. – Every Sunday I take time to jot down the 5 things. – I missed a few weeks in May. I need to do better.
5. Monthly - Read one non-fiction book every month.
1. January - Life in Stitches by Rachel Herron.
2. February – The Spinners Book of Yarn Design by Sarah Anderson
3. March – To Sell is Human by Daniel Pink
4. April – David and Goliath by Malcolm Gladwell
5. May – The Biography of Shirley Jones

I think I had a pretty good month considering all of the traveling I did. It was really hard to get my exercise in when we were traveling but I did pretty well with my eating.

Image: 'Goals'
http://www.flickr.com/photos/68131855@N00/739519564
Found on flickrcc.net

Leadership Traits Part 5

In Welcoming New Leaders in Education from Actualization, Walter McKenzie talks about some leadership traits. He asks,

“How do these leadership traits resonate with you?”


Here is part 5 of 5 where I will share my thoughts of specific traits that he listed.

“Ecological – serving as good stewards of the environments in which they thrive
Voracious – hungry to engage, to learn, to lead, to make a difference
Trailblazing – clearing new pathways to personal and professional efficacy”


Ecological:
When I look at leaders, I like to see that they care about the natural environment as well as the work environment. I liked when they put motion sensor lights in classrooms that turn off the lights if they are left on and no one is in the room. I like for leaders to be watching out for taxpayer’s monies and making sure they are not being wasted on unnecessary or frivolous things.

Voracious:
I believe the desire to learn is extremely important. This desire means that I need to be open to new ideas, new strategies, and doing things differently. I need to be willing to learn in order to find a way to make a difference. If things stay status quo, I may not necessarily make a difference. Instead I’m just letting things continue the way they are. But by learning more, I might find a new and better way or I might find out that the way it is will be the best way. Either way, this learning will make a difference.

Trailblazing:
It takes courage and strength to be the first one out there. I can only imagine how Lewis and Clark felt as they embarked on their new adventure. It can be a scary time but someone needs to be the one to clear the way. Someone needs to be willing to take a risk and face possible failure. This person will pave the way for future success.


How do you feel about these traits? Do you agree or disagree? Please share.

Image: 'Transformational Leadership'
http://www.flickr.com/photos/49053756@N03/8052329146
Found on flickrcc.net