Treasure Chest of Thoughts

As this man planned his funeral last week, he requested that I play the piano for him.  And did I ever!  With more add-ins than probably needed (not sure of the proper piano jargon, for I have never had a formal piano lesson), but because Mr. Gene requested this of me, I did my best and enjoyed doing it…very much.

As I was driving home from the graveside service, I began to think about this honor and the energy I put into this day.  My thoughts transitioned from this day to Monday…the first day of school.

Our students’ parents are the Gene Floyd’s within our school systems.  They simply request that we do our best, and, thankfully, for most of us, teaching is very similar to what playing the piano is for me.  It’s a joy, a rewarding experience, and simply an honor, as in such requests by friends like my friend Mr. Gene.

My hope, my prayer is that on Monday, that we all return to play the pianos of education with the same joy, the same rewards, the same enjoyment that I was blessed with today…and hopefully?  Well, I like to think that I “played” just a small part in the huge smile that I can just see on Mr. Gene’s face as as he looked down upon us today, for he’s now such a happy and not-sick man.

So back to my hope, my prayer…may we make all our students and parents smile as we play this grand piano called teaching.

Thirteen reasons why everyone should read this novel:

1. This novel is written by Jay Asher at DiscoMermaids.
2. I purchased this novel because one of our school board members recommended it on his new blog…that within itself is very exciting!  Here are his words:  “This book should be a ‘must read’ for everyone in high school. It is a blending of Newton’s Third Law of Motion with Six Degrees of Separation. Only 288 pages, it is a quick read.”
3. This novel is told from two points of view, one of which is very unique and so memorable.
4. This novel is about bullying.
5. Probably written for young adults, this novel should be required of all high school counselors or student advisors.
6. All administrators should read this novel, especially those who care about the popular kids.
7. All teachers should read this novel.
8. Then all students should read this novel…but only after their teachers have read it.  Why?  You just have to read it to discover why.
9. This novel will make you a better, no, a more observant parent.
10. This novel will open your ears, your eyes, your mind.
11. As you read, you will replace the main characters with persons within your own life, situations through which you have lived.  Or maybe not…if you are lucky.
12. You will see through a different lens, maybe closer to 20-20.  Real life.
13. Read this novel for a life-altering perspective.  Just read it…please.

There…thirteen reasons why you…no, everyone…should read Th1irteen R3asons Why.

A unique day.  

The Summer Olympics began.

I worked on lesson plans for a new school year.

I had a “day-date” with my husband.

Yes, this was a good day.

Today, I decorated a bulletin board to use this fall as we elect a new President.  At that point, I was not sure what to put on the board, where to begin, or exactly what our focus would be.

Tonight, I read Ted Nullen’s post about Google Docs and the National Writing Project’s latest endeavor to assist in motivating our students to write even more.

For high school teachers and mentors who would like to capitalize on young people’s interest in the 2008 U.S. presidential campaign, Google and the National Writing Project have teamed up to create Letters to the Next President: Writing Our Future.

Now I am focused (also a very applicable way to teach letter-writing…check here for a Daily Writing Tip on “How to Format a US Business Letter“).

Interested in this project?  Please go here to register.

This is the question. 

A question that I have been debating since I read a post on this very topic.  (I would love to give credit where credit is due for this thought, but since I have subscribed to 70+ blogs and since that thought seemed to echo later on, I “lost” who commented on this.  Sorry!)

To read or to write what?  The answer?  Blogs.

I want to incorporate blogs more within my classes this fall, and until reading this blog, I had thought the focus should be posting to a blog. 

The above referenced blogger commented that bloggers spend more time reading blogs than posting to them.  I agree.  I do.

I spend much more time reading those 70+ blogs than I do posting to this one.  Not because I do not enjoy writing nor because I do not appreciate the reflective nature of such posts, but because 1) I do not always have something to say to such a venue and 2) I really like reading what others have to say!

Thus, my focus has changed.  Now to help my students find the blogs of merit that they will want to read because those bloggers have “good things” to say. 

Then they can write as inspiration strikes (okay, or as I prompt them to write on topics of class-merit!).

Lisa Huff has created a Ning entitled Literacy Lighthouse for English teachers.

A Ning is site that allows individuals to form social networks, place to discuss and collaborate.

Please join us!

Thanks to the seven teachers who attended a workshop I hosted for our educational co-op today during which we learned more about thematic literacy units.

From five school districts, these ladies shared ideas and allowed me to share my passion for this multi-genre approach to teaching our curriculum area.

I look forward to hearing from each one and to obtaining a newly developed unit to utilize within my own classes!

Again…thanks!  May your school year be grand as you  go forth as a “different type of reader”!

Other than the Bible, I have never read a book that has affected me so intensely.

Please consider purchasing this book…do not borrow one, for this is a book that you will want to keep so that you will have your very own personal copy and also so you can re-read it again and study what the author William P. Young has to say.

Young is gifted…both in story-telling and in the craft of writing.

Here’s a descriptor from Amazon.com:

The only regret I have?  I cannot use this book within the classroom because of the religious emphasis.

Please check out the novel’s website to read, if nothing else, an excerpt.

By the way, this novel is fiction….it’s just so hard to keep that in mind, though, as you turn page after page and are revived once again.

Who do you have to thank for helping you create your blog?  Who do you need to thank for even knowing the term “blog”?

I have been following an interesting discussion at The Academia Gap and the New Philosophers  and the author’s frustration with this very topic…his frustration with the arrogance of veteran bloggers.  Yes, arrogance.

This was my comment to his blog entry…the 33rd comment (by the way!):

After seventeen years of teaching, I have learned many things…one of which is that I have not, cannot, will not be able to read all the books that I want to…but I am trying!

Likewise, new to much of Web 2.0, I can only try out as many of these new Web tools  as my schedule and family and work responsibilities…or, in essence, as time allows for me to do so, but I am certainly enjoying learning!

Just as I really appreciate some authors/books more than others…so do I enjoy some of these new 21clc techniques also.

A year ago, I did not know what a blog was, but thanks to a peer (Lisa Huff at JustRead!), I now have two blogs, have our school newspaper online (using a blog there also), and have my students creating blogs and learning to express their ideas with this grand tool…and that’s just utilizing one tool that I have learned!

Yet I feel Joel’s concern, for if in education, we all know teachers who will continue to do what they have always done, for they are very comfortable getting what they have always gotten.

Thankfully…I am not one of those such teachers.

First, please read the referenced blog entry and thirty-plus comments.  Check out the names…many well-know bloggers got involved in what became a “hot” topic!

Then, send a thank you note…thanks, Lisa!…to the person(s) who opened your experiences to all the new relationships formed through blogging…even if it’s just a better one with yourself!

Next, share this knowledge and love with someone else.  Not everyone will jump on board…but one will…then two.  

When you look back at any revolution and evolution of any new idea…most great ones did not take place in a day, a week, a month, even a year.  Not everyone jumped on board and many fought the concept of change.  But where would we be today without all those who are now veterans in their fields of expertise?

So I say…thanks to all the verterans! 

A special thanks to those who do go in the schools, the teachers’ lounge, the classrooms, who keep sharing their love of technology.

Thanks, Joel at The Twain Blog and author of the above referenced blog entry/topic, for all the reminders…you, too, are a veteran!

Okay, I am impressed…can’t help it!

I stumbled upon the BHS 21st Century Learning Community wiki which also contained a list of the blogs for first team, a brain-child of Lisa Huff who should be grandly commended for the energy she brings to our building for implementing technology within the classroom.

Please check out these works in progress!

• Russell: Dirty Labcoats
• Hance: polliwog’s blog

Are you impressed yet?  Yes, me, too!