Monday, July 31, 2017

Back of the Book Blurb #69 Challenge

From Sioux's PageSioux offers this challenge.

She posts a picture and you need to imagine it as a graphic for a book. You choose the genre and book title, and then write a blurb that might appear on the back of the book.

The blurb should be 150 words or less (not including the title). The genre is wide-open.
Each blogger should include their blurb on their own blog, and link back to this post. Have fun with it. Go to the other posts and comment on the other blurbs.  You can do fancy techy things with the photo.

(Join in if you dare...! It sounds like fun! I think this would be a lot of fun to do with students especially since they would be expected to write 150 words or less!)

The Big Adventure

Barry was so excited. He had just quit his job and he was going to hike in the Grand Canyon. He was tired of listening to his boss blame him for everything. Now he was going to be his own boss. He had enough money in his savings to be able to travel for 2 years without having to find another job. With all this fresh air and exercise, he would be exactly where he wanted to be.

This past week he gathered all his backpacking gear he needed, jumped in his car, and headed to Arizona. His friends and family all thought he was crazy. They thought he was irresponsible and running away from his responsibilities. They didn’t realize that he had to be true to himself. He had to go on this adventure while he was still young enough and healthy enough to do this. (147 words)

Friday, July 28, 2017

Useful Information In and Out of the Classroom 7/28/17

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

Front Row – “Front Row has over 30,000+ math questions and 500+ ELA articles each at 5 different reading levels, covering all K-8 standards. Students start off with a diagnostic, and our algorithms show them problems exactly at their skill level. This ensures students are always engaged and challenged, never facing material that is too difficult or too easy for them.” (L:E, M; SA: LA, M)

A Race of Discovery – “Explore the journeys of 13 famous explorers using the past and present maps.” (L:G ; SA: SS)

Turtle Art – “TurtleArt lets you make images with your computer. The Turtle follows a sequence of commands. You specify the sequence by snapping together puzzle like blocks. The blocks can tell the turtle to draw lines and arcs, draw in different colors, go to a specific place on the screen, etc. There are also blocks that let you repeat or name sequences. Other blocks perform logical operations. The sequence of blocks as a program that describes an image. This kind of programming is inspired by the LOGO programming language. It was designed to be easy enough for children and yet powerful enough for people of all ages. TurtleArt is focused on making images while allowing you to explore geometry and programming.” (L:M,H ; SA: C)

Simple Card Projector – DIY projector to see the solar eclipse

In Pieces – “in pieces is an interactive exhibition turned study into 30 of the world’s most interesting but unfortunately endangered species — their survivals laying literally, in pieces.” (L:G ; SA: S)

Original photo by Pat Hensley

Thursday, July 27, 2017

Bucket List

In Sunrise... Sunset from Sioux's Page, Sioux Roslawski asks

“Going to the Grand Canyon was on my "bucket list." What is on yours?”

I have been lucky enough to accomplish a lot of things in my life and been able to cross off things from my bucket list. I have a wonderful husband who has worked hard to help me achieve things off my bucket list.

Here are some things I have already crossed off my bucket list:
1.     Become a teacher.
2.     Learn to play a guitar.
3.     Get a degree from Furman University.
4.     Learn to knit.
5.     Visit Paris.
6.     Go up the Eiffel Tower.
7.     Visit London.
8.     See the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace.
9.     Visit China.
10.  Walk the Great Wall of China.
11.  Visit Thailand
12.  Visit the Grand Canyon.
13.  Visit Devil’s Tower
14.  Visit Yellowstone National Park
15.  Visit Yosemite National Park
16.  Visit Alcatraz.
17.  Visit San Diego
18.  Visit Disney Land in California
19.  Ride up the coast of California
20.  Ride down the coast of Oregon

Here are some things that are still on my bucket list:
1.     Visit Macchu Picchu in Peru
2.     Travel to all 50 states. (I’m only missing Hawaii).
3.     Visit Ireland.
4.     Visit Scotland.
5.     Visit Greece
6.     Visit Germany
7.     Visit Austria
8.     Visit Budapest
9.     Visit the Norwegian Fjords.
10.  Take a river cruise in Europe.

What’s on your bucket list? Please share.