For Our Own Good

Recently on a cruise, the Captain had to make a major decision to skip 2 ports and change our itinerary. There was a massive storm heading our way and he wanted to outrun it so that we would have a better experience on our cruise. He explained this to the guest several times and updated us on our progress. Many people grumbled about the change because it was disappointing not to go to the ports you wanted to visit. But he made this decision for our own good. I would rather be safe than try to attempt something that might have disastrous results. I saw a post from someone on another ship that was 2 days behind us that they had to cancel their port because of 26-foot waves and hurricane-force winds so I’m glad that our Captain made this decision.

Sometimes we have to do the same thing in our classrooms. We have to make an informed decision that may not be popular but it is in the best interest of our students. I have seen too many teachers work harder on being the popular teacher who is friends with all the students than in making appropriate decisions that are for their students' own good. I know students will not be happy with some of my decisions but I know in the long run it is the best decision to make.

I have seen my principal make decisions for the good of the school but some departments are unhappy with this decision. Again, I can understand his position and while I may not always agree with the decision, I can understand it.

I think that sometimes we need to think beyond our own needs and think more about what is best for our own good. By putting ourselves in the shoes of the decision maker, we should try to understand why this decision was made. By doing this, it might make it easier to live with the decisions that are made.

This is something that our students also need to learn. I hope talking about why I made decisions will help students be more understanding. By being transparent, it helps others understand better.

How do you deal with decisions that you don’t always agree with? Please share.

Photo by Thomas Park on Unsplash

Exchanging Money

We do a lot of traveling in other countries and we try to use the local currency or our credit card. As we walk around the new town, it is interesting to hear people very confused about trying to figure out the cost of items in their own currency.

I think this would be fun to do with students. You never know when they might be in this situation.

First I would have students decide what country they would want to visit. Then find out what the local currency is. Once they know this, find out how much local currency is equivalent to a US dollar. For example, there are 125 Icelandic Krona to $1.

Then I would have them find out the price of some items they would like to buy in the country they are visiting. If the price is in US dollars, I would have them multiply that by the exchange rate. For example, a $5 magnet would be 625 Icelandic Krona.

If they were told, the magnet was 625 Icelandic Krona, how would they figure out how much it would cost in US dollars? They would have to divide 625 by 125 which would be $5.

I would give students index cards and they would glue pictures of items on each card. Then they would write the country and the price of the item in that country’s money. Then students could exchange cards and figure out how much it would cost in US dollars. After everyone has finished their card, they would share with the class how they figured out the amount. They would have to tell what country, the exchange rate, and how they calculated the amount.

I think students would enjoy this activity because it is something they might use in real life.

How would you teach students how to do this? Please share.

Photo by Jason Leung on Unsplash

A Time Capsule

Recently, in a sermon by Pastor Andrea, she talked about being in school and making a time capsule that would be opened in the future. She thought about the impact of what it could have on future students because it showed what students of today valued.

I thought that this would be a cool activity to do with students at the beginning of the year and then have them review it at the end of the year to see if they still agree with the contents.

First I would have students make a list of 5 of the most important things they would add to a time capsule that would be opened up 100 years from now. What would they want a student 100 years from now find in the time capsule? What would it say about students of today and our society?

Then I would put them in groups of 2 and have them discuss these things. Next, I would have these 2 groups come up with only 2 of the things from all the combined items. After they get that, I would combine them into groups of 4 so they could come up with the 2 items. Then they would present there 2 items to the class and explain why they think they are important.

I think they would find it interesting to see how much they valued the same things. They might learn of something they hadn’t thought about.

What else would you include in this activity? What would you do differently? Please share.

Photo by Ashin K Suresh on Unsplash

2023 Goals Review for August

August has been an interesting month. We left on August 6 for Europe and have been on a cruise ship for most of the month. I finally got to go to Iceland! 

1. Learn something new. - I learned Tunisian crochet to make a couple of dishcloths. I’m still practicing my watercolor painting and my ukulele.

2. Knit at least 1 sweater - I finished with my sweater. (Collins Tee)

3. Yarn - more out than in (use more yardage than I buy) – I hope I can achieve this goal but I need to get busy knitting! Not a lot of change since I’m still in the process of knitting a shawl and a pair of socks on the ship. As of August 31:

●              Yarn used - 7719 yds.

●              -Yarn bought - 9009

3. Complete a shawl - I finished my Shawlography shawl

4. Try 4 new recipes. - No cooking done this month. 

5. Stretch regularly (at least 20 days out of the month) - We are walking and exercising regularly

6. Create at least 2 scrapbook pages each month. - Made 2 pages in August (Total - 72)

7. Participate in the Photo a Day challenge – Completed through August 

8. Read the Bible every day. - yes

9. Read 100 books - Read 14 in January, 2 in February, 6 in March, 5 in April. 4 in May, 3 in June,  3 in July, 12 in August  (Total: 46)

10. Read 12 nonfiction books. – (total: 8).

-   Enough Already: Learning to Love the Way I Am Today by Valerie Bertinelli

-   Prince William: The Man Who Will Be King by Penny Junor

-   I Still Believe: A Memoir by Jeremy Camp

-   Call the Midwife by Jennifer Worth

-  I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy

-  Nowhere for Very Long by Brianna Madia

-  My Extraordinary Ordinary Life by Sissy Spacek

-  Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey

What are your goals for this year? Please share.

 

Useful Information In and Out of the Classroom 9/1/2023

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

Post It Notes - “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:T; SA:A)

OPEN - “Tools for Teaching Physical Education” (L:T; SA:A)

Journey to Mars - “Put on your spacesuits, because we’re off to explore Mars! We’ll learn all about how we could live there, and meet the robots that already do!” (L:E; SA:S)

Pairs Math Game - “Pairs Math Game is a free paper based math game designed using LibreOffice Calc spreadsheet for printing in landscape format on 11 x 17 (tabloid) paper --- or on legal size paper (8.5 x 14 inches.) This game was developed as a side project at the Takoma Park Maryland Library. It is mostly suitable for 8 to 12-year-olds, although older and younger students might well enjoy it, too.” (L:E,M; SA:M)

Catchy Words - “Meet a new word game made specifically with augmented reality in mind! Immersive experience without touching the screen. Just walk around, catch the letters with your device and solve the word!” (L:E,; SA:LA)

Original photo by Pat Hensley