Feldman's World

ISTE 11 Presentation Plans

2011-06-23T02:21:00.001-05:00

It's that time again, time for my yearly trek to the ISTE convention. For those who do not know what ISTE is...the initials stand for International Society of Technology in Education.
ISTE represents more than 100,000 education leaders and emerging leaders throughout the world and informs its members regarding educational issues of national and global scope.

This year over 18,000 will attend this conference. Quite amazing!

I am so excited to once again meet with like minded educators and technology specialists to network and socialize. This year I am honored to be leading two presentations.
Both on Monday June 27. My first will be a poster session at 8:00 a.m. to share my research project. I have been a part of the Renaissance Computing Initiative for the past two years.
During this time I have created online learning objects to use with middle school students. The overall goal was to infuse computational thinking into classroom activities.
I look forward to sharing my experiences during this time.

The second presentation is at 2:30 p.m. It is a BYOL (Bring Your Own Laptop) session.
I cannot tell you how very excited I am. And honored to boot! Out of 200 submissions, only 65 were accepted.

The hardest part of preparing for the BYOL session is figuring out how to share all of the material within 1 hour. Yikes. Luckily I have an amazing co-presenter, Kimberly Wright.
I know she will make everything go smoothly. We are hoping to broadcast our session on Ustream. Ustream is a video streaming website which hosts broadcasts. The web address for the session is: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/feldman-professional-development. Hopefully we will have someone to either use their iPhone or webcam to help us broadcast! Hope you can join us for the session.

Hopefully, I will be updating my activities during my week in Philly. I will be hanging out in the Blogger's Cafe often.

Until then!

PLN Problems Part 2

2011-06-12T22:56:00.002-05:00

A little over a month ago, I wrote a post about PLN problems. The gist of the post was about how some on Twitter (and other social networks) may feel invisible at times. Many of us pose questions or share resources that may go unnoticed. So, I decided to create a Google Form to survey social networkers regarding their experiences online. When I published my blog post I had low expectations. Call my cynical, but I did not think I would have much of a response. At first, my suspicions were right. Not much activity. Even with retweeting. At that point I was going to write about my findings, and then other members of my PLN began to retweet my call for input. 100+ responses later, it is time to put it all together.

Question #1: Which social networks do you currently use?
73% said Twitter was their main social network. Plurk came in second with 34%.
Question #2: How often do you log on to a social network?
88% log on multiple times per day, 6 % once per day, and 6% check a couple times per week.
Questions #3: How often do you reply to a social post? 71% said as much as possible, 22% said rarely, and 5% said they only reply to those they have met face to face.
Question #4: Have you ever felt invisible on a social network?
88% felt they had in some form been invisible or ignored, 15% said they had not felt that way.

Looking at timestamps on the Google Spreadsheet there was a difference between Plurkers and Tweeters (definitely a separate blog post). Initially when I posted on Plurk and Twitter for help with writing a blog post my impression was that I was getting feedback only from my Plurk PLN. I could tell because Plurk was mentioned exclusively or in addition to Twitter. The Twitter responses came in much more slowly, even with multiple retweets. I have to say, the action picked up once my friend, and ISTE roomate, Beth Still retweeted my post. My Twitter PLN came through!

How do you feel about such an overwhelming response of people feeling that they are not noticed when they post links or questions? I think we have all felt that way at one point or another. But I did not expect that the response would be so high. I was helped by direct blog post comments such as the sheer size of social networks making it very hard to comment on each post read. Advice was given to send direct messages (DMs) and @ messages. I see the merit, yet, I think this limits responses since they are person specific. Others felt that there are cliques reminiscent of high school. Paul Bogush commented: "Twitter is high school all over again. The popular kids stay with the popular kids, and deny they are only staying with the popular kids, and deny that they are the "cool kids".
It is hard to dispute this when you see the frequency of interactions between certain groups. This inner circle as some have called it, may not be able to reply as much as you think. Consider that some of the most prevalent networkers may only follow 1/10 of those that follow them. Great point! Lisa Parisi said:" I think the ignoring just comes from having too many people talking at once. It is hard to hear. Be louder (tweet more) and be more secure in your voice (give opinions, retweet and share links, etc.). It's harder to ignore the squeaky wheel.". Paul Shircliff however follows and is followed by fewer than most (on Twitter) and still feels that he receives few responses. On Plurk he has a higher level of responses. I must admit, I feel the same. Maybe it is the format, or the types of conversations that take place. But I will continue to use both.

I have learned much from writing this post. I was reminded that just because I see certain names on my screen does not mean that they will see mine. Just because I follow someone, doesn't mean they follow me back. I learned that some will not follow those who do not follow them. I learned that there is not enough time in the day to respond to every post read. The time of day you post, may impact responses. And finally, I learned that my mission to find the answer is not complete.

I look forward to all of the potential responses on this blog and on social networks. Feel free to contact me for individual conversations.

PLN Problems Part 1

2011-04-30T23:19:00.006-05:00

Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/people/jamelah

Something that has been weighing heavy on my mind lately is how my views on my PLN has changed. I am not saying that my network of educators and technology cohorts are not trustworthy and of course invaluable. I do believe I am the professional that I am today because of my wide-ranging network.

My concern is in regard to the increasing frequency that questions and/or posted resources go without comment. There are times in which I would like to have opinions, links, support, etc. and get no response. I gather from reading posts by others, it is not an uncommon for posts to go unnoticed.

With your help, I may have some answers. Please take time to fill out my Google Form so I can gather data for a second blog post.

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Cold morning drive

2011-02-08T19:35:00.001-06:00

Nothing Gold Can Stay

2010-12-30T16:30:00.000-06:00

Nothing Gold Can Stay
by Robert Frost

Nature's first green is gold, Her hardest hue to hold. Her early leaf's a flower; But only so an hour. Then leaf subsides to leaf. So Eden sank to grief, So dawn goes down to day. Nothing gold can stay. Recently our English 7 class read The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton. When Ponyboy and Johnny are hiding out at the church, and looking out over a sunset, Ponyboy recites this poem by Robert Frost. This made me think about how life is ever changing. What is there in our lives that we can depend on to be there forever? People? Jobs? Technology? For the sake of narrowing my scope, I will focus on technology. One thing I have learned through the years is not to depend too much on any type of technology. Just ask anyone who has ever lead professional development seminars related to web resources and you will see how quickly session materials become obsolete. Websites come and go without notice. Right now there is an uproar regarding the impending doom of the web bookmarking site Delicious. Many of us have used Delicious for many years to house our bookmarks. And now Diigo has become the destination. What will come and go this year? Reading through commentary regarding the poem's connection to The Outsiders also suggested that to be gold is to stay innocent and not grow up too fast. We try to teach our students digital citizenship and safety. We want them to avoid misusing or abusing technology with a goal of using it appropriately. (http://www.digitalcitizenship.net). The vast offering of the internet may tarnish the “gold” quickly. I am not saying that we should remain stagnant with technology. Every day there are new sites, programs, etc. that can be adopted in our lives. What we used 5 years ago is not necessarily the most efficient way to complete tasks. Keeping up to date enables many to be at the forefront of their career. I would like to hear from you. What is your gold?

QR Cards

2010-07-19T15:28:00.004-05:00

By chance, I came across a QR image during my visit to the doctor. I was "patiently" waiting to be seen and I saw a rack with a variety of medical pamphlets. On the side was this strange bar code that asked me to take a picture of it to find out more information. I was intrigued! As usual, "I thought to myself, how can I use this?"

I have spent the last hour surfing Google for background information and how to create them. I read Cool Cat Teacher and Thumann Resources blogs as well as a plethora of how-to entries.
Now I am getting excited!

How could I use this? Would people "get it?" I know there a millions of cell phones out there, but I have a feeling it would take a bit of education for effective use.

I will be playing around with this for a while...I will keep posting my thoughts!

Podstock 2010

2010-07-14T22:42:00.002-05:00

Tomorrow I will be heading to Wichita to attend Podstock 2010.
I'm quite excited for 2 days of networking and learning about technology integration. I would imagine that the environment will be much more casual compared to ISTE in Denver. That is one thing I look forward to...smaller size. I really don't know how many people will be attending; but, I am sure it won't be 18,000! I have looked over the schedule and am impressed with the diversity of topics. Yes, podcasting is an overall theme, but it is not the only offering.
I am excited also to have the opportunity to meet up with some of the educators which I have had online discussions. Cynthia Garrety, Dean Mantz, and Ginger Lewman to name a few.
Of course, hanging with Kevin, Michele, Kim, and Mitch will make the weekend perfect!
I will try make Podstock updates as the day permits.

ISTE 2010 Reflections - The Sequel

2010-07-02T10:33:00.005-05:00

My last blog post was more of an over all day by day account of my ISTE 2010 experience.
That really helped me to document the non-stop action of this amazing week.
However, as I reread the post I don't think I was able to accentuate the lighter side of my days in Denver. I am sure I will come back and make revisions as the ISTE fog lifts. So, here is a collection of quotes and anecdotes from Denver:

"Kim, Stairs!" - watching out for the safety of KimberlyW
"I know where I'm going, the streets are just crooked" - my comment about driving on the oddly laid out streets of downtown Denver
"I want to be a mohel (person who does circumcisions)" - said by KevinH after being given a Hebrew name (Chaim)
"Mohel's work for tips" - bad joke told by LFeld52
"I'm your first groupie" - said by SDSherry after carrying my poster
"Hi Phil!" - Half of our PLN accidentally thought Shirky17's name was Phil! It's Paul...
"I lost my..." - Unfortunately, I misplaced just about everything this week
Kevin's computer bag...35 pounds of disorganization. SDSherry to the rescue!

ISTE 2010 Reflections

2010-07-01T20:56:00.016-05:00

What an amazing week in Denver for the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE). Since the action was non-stop, I am going to try to map it out by day.

Thursday:
No sleep...to excited! I kept waking up to add something to my suitcase, check for cords, or write down something that I might want to remember in the morning.

Friday:
Travel day. Flew from Omaha to Denver. So lucky to be picked up by Sherry. We checked into Comfort Inn Downtown Denver. Unfortunately, it was a fairly small room and there would be 3 of us by the net day. So, we made the executive decision to upgrade to a suite. Much more space, but tiny bathroom. Oh well...shower schedules made.

Saturday:
Spent the day at the Denver Zoo learning from the leaders of the Discovery Educator Network (DEN). We had a full program to keep members up to date with the latest and greatest from the Discovery Network. First I learned how to make paper slide videos with Dr. Lodge McCammon. We also attempted to make a video from one of his teaching songs
I have to say, this was not easy. We had too large of a group and we could not get ourselves in and out of the shots fast enough. I guess that is how students feel when they don't quite "get it".
Later in the day we were lucky enough to have presentations from DEN Gurus. DEN gurus are experts in specific areas of Discovery Education. Traci Blazosky demonstrated how she intertwines Discovery Education materials with Glogster. If you haven't tried Glogster, what are you waiting for? We also were told to get our goggles on by Justin Karkow. This was supposed to be a science preso by Patti Duncan, but unfortunately she became ill. I hope she feels better soon! Finally, we were set loose in the zoo to complete a scavenger hunt. Our teams set out to find animals based on clues and take their pictures. Imagine 100+ educators running through the zoo trying to be first! Unfortunately, my team did not win. We found all of the clues (almost, one of the animals dies before our adventure) but were not picked from all of the teams who successfully completed their hunt. But...I did win a life-size cut out of the Mythbusters! Luckily, it will be shipped to me!
Saturday evening Kim, needed to be picked up from the airport. Sherry could not drive to pick her up. So, it was up to me to do it. I was a nervous wreck. Luckily Karen volunteered to drive. I promised to navigate. Before Kim's arrival we ended up switching places. Soon after we saw an amazing double rainbow. I am hoping that there are no roadside police cameras...I pulled off the road next to a no stopping sign! Sorry Sherry!

Sunday:
Most of the day I spent in the Bloggers' Cafe meeting up with friends from Plurk, Facebook, and Twitter. It was so funny trying to match screen names to real people! This may sound like a waste of time to some. But to me, it was an opportunity to learn from others and possibly expand my professional career path. You never know whom you will meet!
The end of the ISTE convention day included the keynote speaker. Jean-Francois Rischard. His speech was titled: Global Problem Solving and the Critical Role of Educators and Technology for Education. The audience response to his speech was not as expected. Actually it was awful. Rischard's basically read his PowerPoint slides (which were horrible) directly from his teleprompter. Social networking sites were bombarded with negative comments. I myself reported that a man behind me literally crawled under his chair in the back row to escape! Some in the room actually took pictures of his screens to use as examples of what NOT to do in presentations. I have never seen anything like it. So many (including me) left the room. Reflecting back, I do feel badly. I could have kept my thoughts to myself and not broadcast them out to the world. Lesson learned. The evening ended with a brainstorm by Kevin Honeycutt.
The big idea was to put together a Digital Jam Session using iPods, iPads, iTouches, laptops, etc.
We Skyped late into the evening making preparations and sent out Plurks and Tweets to ISTE members to stop by.

Monday:
ISTE formally begins! Ironically my first session was with Ken Shelton. What great timing to lead a session titled Developing, Designing, and Delivering: The Case for Powerful and Productive Presentations! I do believe that Ken is the only person who uses 90% of his own photos in his presentations. Beat that! Other session that day included visiting the Promethean ActiveBus, and learning how to use Google's Sketchup program (another Ken Shelton preso). I was able to create a 3D dog house by the end of the session! My day finished with a Plurkup (meeting of friends from the social network) at Earl's Restaurant. It was so fun meeting friends from all over the world. At 8:00 pm we kicked off the First Annual Digital Jam Session. Such a wide variety of people streamed in to sing or play along with songs projected onto the wall. I cannot believe how great the Comfort Inn staff was! They had no problem letting us Jam the evening away. You would think I would have slept well after this...but, no. I started worrying about my poster session which was scheduled for 10 am. in the morning.

Tuesday:
Destination poster session! I woke up so nervous because I have never presented beyond the state level. Lucky for me, a poster session is a more casual environment compared to formal session which have larger seating capacities. What I didn't realize, is that people started coming up to my table 30 minutes before the start time. When I looked at the clock and it only said 10:20 I was so confused. I wasn't sure I would make it to noon. But, once I got on a roll, I was unstoppable. You would never have known how nervous I was. Friends who came by said I did well. Whew! By the time I was done I could barely speak. I recovered during an amazing lunch at Maggiano's Little Italy. The food and company was amazing! After lunch a headed over to a session titled Computational Learning: Create Interactive Learning Modules for Your students.
I was wowed by how hard the leaders had worked to put together an online repository for teaching students using sequential thinking skills. I am sad to say the day did not end as well. I had signed up for the Haunted Denver tour thinking I would be able to walk around in old houses and/or grave yards. I was prepared to be frightened. Needless to say, I was not. For 2 hours we drove around on a motor coach listening to a tour guide tell local ghost stories. The driver slowed down while we passed haunted spaces, but we did not tour. Occasionally the bus would pull over (illegally) so the guide could continue story telling. What a disappointment. I found myself trading between snoozing and downloading ringtones on my cellphone. The only positive outcome from the evening was meeting up with friends at the Rock Bottom Brewery. The food was so good! Not to mention the company.

Wednesday:
The day was started at the Corner Bakery. I met up with many of my Plurk friends. We talked about how it was such a great week and how hard it would be to leave. I teasingly equated it to going to summer camp and having to leave all of the new found friends. (Hmmm...sounds like a possible 2nd blog post) There were only 2 things on my ISTE schedule. The first was a session on on using MIT's Scratch program. Scratch is an animation program which enables you to create interactive stories and games. I think it will be hard to stop messing around with it once I get started! And my last ISTE event was the closing keynote. I was hesitant to go to this keynote after the debacle of the opening...But I had promised myself to be positive. So, I went. I am glad I did! Jeff Piontek's speech Today's Global Learners = Tomorrow's Global Leaders was good. He talked about how every student has potential. Including special needs students. His videos were powerful to say the least. We were amazed that his students produced his video clips. They used Blue Mars online editor to create them. He also proposed the change of STEM to STEAM: Science Technology Engineering Arts and Math. He made many valid points for all to ponder. I hope to challenge students in a way which creates the learners he highlighted.
Well, now the conference was over, and it was time to fly home. My flight was scheduled for 7:10 pm. Plenty of time to get to the airport after the keynote. NOT. We were stuck in rush hour traffic! It was gridlock. My blood pressure must have been normal (I have low blood pressure!). It made me so nervous as each minute passed. When I got in the terminal I was faced with a long line to get checked in. It took 10 minutes or so to get to the kiosk, and when I entered my confirmation number it said there was no record. Holy cow. Luckily the Frontier attendant found it but said I had to get my boarding pass at the gate. Next challenge: security. The line for security stretched beyond 2 moving sidewalks and then out around another hallway. I could not believe it. Finally, after another 20 minutes I got through security. I ran as fast as I could (carrying my computer bag and poster tube) to the gate to get my boarding pass. It was now 10 minutes before boarding. At about that time I realized I had not eaten lunch or dinner. But, the lines were so long at the fast food places I would not be able to eat. Just before giving up, I found a popcorn place with no line. I bought it and then boarded. You would think I would have just shut my eyes and gone to sleep. But instead I talked to 2 educators in front of me who had also attended ISTE. They were so much fun! Even the flight attendant joined in the conversation. It was a great end to a great week in Denver.

Thursday:
I wanted to sleep in. But I had to take my husband to the airport for a business trip. I had not planned on waking up at 6:30 am on my first day back! When I came home I went back to bed. Unfortunately, I slept through my noon dentist appointment. Oops. The rest of the day I took it easy. I admit that I have not unpacked my suitcase and carry on bag. Not quite motivated to do it. I will get to it.

So, that is it. I am sure I left out many details. If you are a part of my PLN that was with me at ISTE please feel free to add details or clear up mistakes. I can honestly say I am in a post ISTE fog! Of course, it is early morning and I need some sleep. I guess I just couldn't leave this incomplete!

ISTE is coming!

2010-06-19T17:19:00.005-05:00

Next Friday I will be leaving for ISTE 2010. For those who do not know what this is, the acronym stands for International Society for Technology in Education. I will be joining 14,000+ technology enthusiasts in Denver for learning and networking. Looking through the thousands of options for sessions I am overwhelmed to make choices. I am planning on attending a diverse offering of sessions in the areas of math, literacy, computational thinking, etc. Tuesday, I will be presenting my research during a poster session. This is a result of a National Science Foundation grant called Research Experience for Teachers (RET). I am a bit nervous, but excited! Somewhere in the mix I am sure I will be able to feed my nerd side as well. I have also signed up for a tour of "Haunted Denver"! Yikes.
Of course, seeing friends made at other conferences is a major benefit. It is amazing how quickly you can form bonds at these meetings. I will also have a chance to meet members of my professional learning network (PLN). There are so many that I have "met" by reading their blogs and wikis or searched their links posted on Plurk or Twitter.
My plan is to try and blog at least a few times during the week. Especially after my poster session. So, check back soon!

Livescribe Pulse Smartpen

2010-03-13T22:04:00.004-06:00

Recently I have reacquainted myself with my Livescribe Smartpen. I purchased it last year and have used it sparingly for a few meetings. Played with some of the built in applications such as the calculator and piano, and have allowed students to use it as well for basic writing activities.

For those who do not know what a Livescribe Smartpen is, I will give a short explanation. The pen is basically a combination video camera/voice recorder. The pen must be used on specialized paper which has embedded time stamp dots on it. When the pen is activated, each time the pen passes a dot it creates a timestamp for each image/sound. All recordings can then be downloaded to a computer and also uploaded as a screen cast. Just in case this makes no sense, I am including a link to a demonstration.
Livescribe Demo
What do you think?

Now that I have begun using the Smartpen again I have thought of so many uses. Aside from having student talk out loud as they are writing, I have many new ideas to consider:

-"Reading" tests to students
-Fluency sample with immediate feedback to students
-Creating "pencasts" for posting to blog or for absent students
-Alternative to flashcards
-Interactive study guide

So many ideas! I am hoping that the Livescribe Smartpen will become a part of assistive technology options for our schools. The price point is definitely reasonable compared to many other technologies. It is definitely portable and user friendly.

I look forward to finding many uses for my Smartpen.

Image Credit: http://www.squidoo.com/Livescribe-Smart-Pen-Best-Gadget-of-The-Year

Permission to vent...

2010-01-24T14:10:00.004-06:00

Before I begin my venting session I would just like to say this is MY opinion. My opinion does not reflect my district or administration. I realize that many factors go in to the operation of a large school district and that there are instances in which concerns may arise.

Okay, with that said...We are coming upon a time of many formal assessments. Both state and district. Assessments are essential to highlight student's academic accomplishments. We need to know if they have met curriculum objectives. So far, so good.

Now the venting begins...I am a resource teacher. This means my job is to work with students who are identified for special education. The students I work with have been identified as learning disabled, mild/moderate mental handicapped, other health impaired, and autistic. I, and all other resource teachers, work very hard to keep students involved in general education classrooms. This is an ideal situation; keeping them in with non-identified peers.

This is not always possible. Our district has established curriculum for reading and math which is considered "life skills" level. Students are able to work with curriculum which is essential to the goal of independence in the community. Essential knowledge for survival (for lack of a better term). I applaud my superiors for their forward thinking. I have seen student have many "light bulb" moments when material is provided at a level which is not at a frustration level.

At this point, you may be asking, "so what is her problem?". The problem is when it is time fore the formal assessments mentioned above. Students who are in the life skills classes are required to take the SAME formal assessments as students in the general education classrooms. The SAME assessments that differentiated students take. My blood pressure rises each time these tests near. How can I expect students in life skills classes to be proficient on assessments for which they have not been taught?

An example of this problem is highlighted with semester CRTs (criterion referenced tests). All students in all grade levels have two of these each year. They are base upon material presented in their math classes. Well, students in life skills math class are not in these classes. Some of the concepts are not a part of their curriculum. However, ALL students must take these test. The only exception is if a student participates in alternate assessment which is used for moderate/severe students.

My heart breaks each time I see my students taking these test. I think to myself "I am helping them see one more thing that they cannot do". Students with disabilities may have had many failures in the past; this certainly does not help. How many times must special educators hear a student say "I don't know what to do" and we must reply "try your best" or "use your best test taking strategy".

Do these assessments truly represent my student's abilities? Don't get me wrong. Assessments are essential to show summative growth. But it is not a summary of my students' growth. I think a more appropriate approach would be to take the same objectives for the topic and have tests which are written for the ability level. This may mean changing the wording, reducing objective tests from 4 choices to 3 choices to omit a possible distractor.

If we are going to continue to have life skills classes, why don't we have life skills CRTs? The criteria would be based upon the material in which the students were taught. To me this is such a basic concept. Tests should reflect material presented. I have no problem if students do not pass assessments which are based on their material. At least it is accurate to their learning opportunities.

I have confidence that I am not the only educator who has had this problem. In fact, I bet that people at the district level have also had this conversation, many times. I would like to think of my district as being progressive and always evaluating practices.

I would really appreciate feedback from readers regarding my opinion. I would like to have an open dialogue of viewpoints. Feel free to leave your comments, links, etc. to keep the conversation going.

Photo Credit: http://www.good-grades-made-easy.com/test-taking-strategies.html via Google Image Search

Cleaning out my RSS feeds (aka Cleaning House)

2010-01-17T13:40:00.005-06:00

This morning I cleaned house. I swept the floor, wiped the counter tops, vacuumed and started laundry. But, that's not all of the cleaning I accomplished. I decided it was time to clean out my Google Reader page. I use RSS subscription to keep up on the latest educational and technology trends. It is amazing how much I have learned from reading blogs and following updates by my favorite vendors.

I go through times where I subscribe to so many feeds that my inbox becomes unmanageable. It can be overwhelming to see unread items topping 200. However, much is valuable. I frequently bookmark ideas with my delicious or diigo accounts.

This morning, after reading through current posts, I realized I had a long list of feeds that I could not even remember why I had subscribed. This is what brought me to the next phase of "house cleaning". One by one I clicked on the feed and looked to see when the last post was made. Surprisingly, I found some from 2007! Needless to say, I decided to unsubscribe. I then decided that if someone hadn't posted in 6+ months I would unsubscribe.

Well, now I have hindsight and wonder if I should have changed my criteria. I am lax at posting myself. Does that make my thoughts unworthy of subscription? This is a thought to ponder. My resolution to this problems is as follows. I will continue to visit links posted on Twitter, Plurk, and other venues of my Professional Learning Network (PLN). Many of these sites I will subscribe to. Some will have great value, some will not. That is how it works.

My hope is that I might inspire someone who has not used RSS subscriptions to give it a try. I can honestly say that my teaching and learning as well have been greatly changed by the content I have gleaned from my subscriptions.

Snow Day #4

2010-01-06T15:32:00.002-06:00

Snow Day #4

Cannot believe we have another snow day...when will it end?

What Teachers Make

2010-01-03T13:59:00.003-06:00

This is an edited version of Taylor Mali's poem. I muted one cuss word. I am not much on cussing!
I did not blur the finger though...I guess I am more of a novice than I thought.
Enjoy!

I'm back...

2009-12-29T12:58:00.002-06:00

I cannot believe I have not posted since summer.

I guess it is kind of like exercise...You think about it, but don't act on it.
Since my last post I have considered a job change, didn't do it, and wonder if it was a mistake!
An opportunity created by government stimulus funds became available.
Unfortunately, it was at the end of the summer and I decided not to pursue it.
One of my main reasons was that I felt it would put the principal in a rough spot since 2 other members of my team had already taken other positions.
That is where the problem lies. Where does loyalty end and personal interests begin?
I wish I could have seen into the future and known if I made the right choice.
Maybe it was not the right time to make a change? Maybe there is some other opportunity that may come along?
I do believe in fate and that what comes my way was meant to be.
So, I am open to options. I love what I do, but I am willing to explore what else is out there!

NECC - Sunday

2009-06-28T21:44:00.002-05:00

Today I was a part of a panel discussion for technology coordinators. They wanted a variety of viewpoints from people in the classrooms or administrators.
The picture shows my laptop with a Google Doc I used to keep track of my thoughts and comments.
Budget cuts, inventory, and lack of interest by teachers were high on the list of topics. I was surprised that there was somewhat of an upbeat attitude, dare I say "can do attitude"? Most were willing to do whatever it takes to keep technology in the schools. That might look like reusing existing equipment but trying to find a new use. Ideas also included auditing usage to see if subscriptions or reorders for equipment is necessary. Quite interesting. However, one technology leader suggested that technology not be the first thing to be cut. Demand that another area take the hit...Guess that may not quite go over well with some! Anyway, it was interesting being chosen to represent special education teachers.

Day of Discovery

2009-06-27T23:29:00.000-05:00

Today I was thrilled to spend the whole day at the Discovery Education Network. With the help of my friend Jennifer, I rode the "Metro" train to Silver Springs, Maryland. It took some time to figure out the whole farecard process. I may get the hang of it by the end of the week!
The learning opportunities were abundant. Presentations were given by educators who use Discovery products and are able to demonstrate many uses. I am in awe of the capabilities of each product. It is a pleasure to watch presenters show their passion for teaching with the right tools.
Which student would not benefit from a teacher who is excited to share new knowledge?
My only regret today is that I did not win the big door prize...I so wanted the Mimio system. This is an interactive whiteboard system which does not require a dedicated whiteboard such as a Smartboard or Promethean board. This system uses a magnetic backed "capture bar". It attaches to any whiteboard and uses a specialized infrared pen. Wow. It packs away in a small case and can be carried from room to room!
I think this would be a great option for many because there would be no need to bring in another board. Maybe I will win one during the main NECC conference?!? One can dream, can't they?

Arrived at NECC

2009-06-26T09:56:00.003-05:00

The B&B room is not ready for a while...so, I am in Starbucks people watching. This is a view from my table by the window. I will probably explore in a bit...thinking falafel for lunch is high on my list!

Going to NECC

2009-06-14T20:56:00.006-05:00

Soon I will fly off to my first technology conference. I have the honor of going to Washington DC (also a first...) for a week of priceless learning and connections.

There are so many choices for sessions to sign up for. I have to say I have lost some sleep trying to figure out a direction. Since I am a special education teacher I am involved in every curricular area. I would like to find sessions to meet each area. Of course, the techie side of me would like to have some enrichment! I have tried to make every minute count. I have a feeling I will be dead on my feet. I am looking forward to a capitol hill visit with many other educators. I am scheduled to visit the office of U.S. Senator Mike Johanns. Unfortunately, he will be back here in Nebraska on business...I am sure his staff will be just as informative. At the end of the week I would like to tour other sites. The Holocaust Museum is tops on my list.

I have to mention that one of the best things happening during my week in DC will be meeting members of my PLN (Professional Learning Network) from Twitter and Plurk. I have officially registered for a "Tweetup" on Monday night. I am pretty sure there is a "Plurkup" planned as well...How amazing to meet many of the people who have become colleagues via the internet!

Here is my tentative itinerary for the conference:
Saturday
-Edublogger Seminar
-DEN (Discovery Educator Network) Preconference Event

Sunday
-21st Century Technology Leader Forum (sitting on panel)
-Opening Reception

Monday
-Capitol Hill visit prep. session
-Chalk House: 3D game for Building Literacy in Middle School
-Spreadsheets for Math
-Wonderful World of Wikis
-Leslie Fisher's Gadget Class
-Strategies for Using Blogs and Wikids with SPED students
-Video Podcasting
-Comic Life
-iTouch and iPhones for teaching and learning
-Technology in Afterschool Programs

Wednesday
-Essential Technology Tools for Struggling Learners
-Personal Learning Networks in Second Life
-Technology Velcro-Tools that make education stick
-Beyond Blogging - WordPress
-Promethean Board Teacher Tips
-Integrating Technology into Science
-After-School Technology Enrichment Program
-Moving Mainstream Technologies into the Classroom
-LOL @ NECC
-Do so Much with an iPod Touch
-Closing Keynote

I will most likely be blogging, Tweeting, and Plurking along the way. Wish me luck!

Do-Overs

2009-06-02T22:38:00.003-05:00

I have been somewhat forced to ponder the thought of "do-overs". By this I mean having a second chance. Seems like this has been something I have taken many hours to work through lately.
I have learned that I am so accustomed to email contact that I forget the power of face to face interactions. For this, I have shed tears. I regret my instinct for quick thoughts which would best be handled in a more personal way.
I have also thought about starting over because of computer issues. As carefully as I tried to think through backing up my computer, I have lost information.
When my computer was re-imaged I tried to restore files. Well...needless to say I am ready to use my laptop as a doorstop! I have wasted many hours trying to make everything the way it was and then some.
All of this has made me want to step back and think what else I might need to start fresh with. Are there other aspects of my life which I am either oblivious to, or just about to make my next tragic move? Hmmm...guess time will tell.
So, there you have it. I need some extra "do-overs"!

They said he wouldn't make it...

2009-05-09T16:10:00.000-05:00

Today my nephew Noah graduated from UNL. His teachers in elementary school said he would never make it because of being autistic. Well, they were wrong! Noah graduated with many honors and will be going to graduate school at Northwestern. He will be on track to get his PhD in neuro-mathematics. So, those who had doubt....I have some choice words to share with you privately!

Thank You Discovery Educator's Network!

2009-05-05T21:37:00.005-05:00

Today, as a part of national teacher appreciation week DEN members were given a free trial of Discovery Education Science. Needless to say. It took me all of 5 minutes to start using it! So, I fired up the Wiimote Whiteboard and the lesson was on...

Twitter Followers

2009-05-02T23:45:00.002-05:00

I am amazed how many educators and technology experts I have "met" on Twitter this year! Hopefully I will have the opportunity to meet some face to face at the National Educational Computing Conference in Washington DC this summer!

Get your twitter mosaic here.

Oh What's In Store For Me!

2009-04-29T21:18:00.002-05:00

© 2003-2009 ImageShack Corp. All rights reserved.

I am close to counting the days until my FIRST NECC experience. I am a relative newbie to all of this. In the last year I have been introduced to social networking via a district technology seminar. Since that time I have had my eyes opened to more ideas, links, and connections to experts who have similar interests as I. I do believe it has been somewhat of a metamorphasis. I thing differently, I teach differently, I AM different. I have at my fingertips (literally) the ability to network with professionals around the world. Before this, I might have wondered to myself how I could add to a lesson plan…now, I send my message within 140 characters or turn on my iSight camera and have input instantly coming throughout the globe. How amazing is that? I have gathered so many resources during this time that I had to start a Wiki to keep track of my new bag of tricks. The end result of my Wiki endeavor was to teach my first district staff development class. After this, I had the confidence to join the Discovery Educator Network (DEN). Do you see a pattern? Inspire and more will come! How does this lead my path to NECC in DC? I feel a common bond to many of the people in my PLN (Professional Learning Network) and have a desire to meet as many as possible. I want to personally thank them for making me a new and improved educator. So there you have it (more than 140 characters!)

See you at NECC!

Some of my favorite things

2009-04-26T20:40:00.003-05:00

After a great visit to Omaha today I started to think about what make me happy. I am actually fairly easy to please!
So, I thought I would start making a list of my favorite things. Some are tangible, some not...definitely no particular order either!

Fast internet connections - duh!
Hot popcorn
"Drive-by" kisses by one of my dogs passing by
Quiet weekend mornings with the windows open and a nice breeze coming through
Free educational websites/downloads
My PLN (if you don't know what this is you are probably not in it!)
Cookie dough
Large family dinners with lots of laughing and random singing
Husker sports
Hot Tamale candies
Control of the remote when everyone is gone
Most any show on HGTV
Short and concise emails
Excitement of an experiment that works
Fully charged electronics

These are but a few of my favorite things. I would imagine I will add to the list in the future.

The Grammies

2009-04-26T19:55:00.003-05:00

Today we went to Omaha to visit family. We had a great visit with my mother-in-law (left) and her sister (right). What a great day!

NETA Reflections

2009-04-25T23:59:00.005-05:00

I have just come back from NETA 2009. The Nebraska Educational Technology Association convention. Over 2000 educators met just outside of Omaha to increase our personal learning and networking.

One of my main impressions is that it does not matter the size of your school or district to be innovative in the classroom. One of the presenters was from a one room school house! Yet, she was an innovator with technology.
I think it is amazing that people are so unselfish that they would basically give away their plans to perfect strangers. I know how much time it takes to prepare lessons.
It was great to meet keynote presenters such as Hall Davidson, Tammy Worcestor, and Stephanie Hamilton.
I also met many of my Twitter friends. It was nice see the faces behind the posts!
Now I am sifting through all of my session websites and literature.
I came away with so many ideas that I can't sleep!

My tangled life

2009-04-13T20:19:00.003-05:00

Life these days has become a tangle of commitments and obligations. I am having to temporarily make changes to cover all bases. Am I okay with this? Yes. Why you might ask? Because a very good friend of mine once said: "If you are going to put your name to something, then do it so your name is not tarnished".
When something is important or feels that it will have impact in the end there is more of a chance you can squeeze it into your busy life.
My activities include committees at school, synagogue, and in the community. I am also in the infancy of a federal grant program in the area of science.
As I review my list I have begun to wonder what others do beyond their scheduled work day. Do you volunteer? Have second (or third) jobs? Do you care for a family member in need?
What is it that makes you, you?
Help me to know I am not an island unto my self of having trouble saying no to worthy endeavors!

You know YOU are getting old when...

2009-03-19T17:05:00.002-05:00

Thanks to Kevin Honeycutt I am continuing my blog posts relating to age...

You know YOU are getting older when...
Your job is to reply and add your examples!

Top 10 reasons I know my parents are getting older

2009-03-18T21:34:00.005-05:00

Since my last post was melancholy I decided to lighten it up a bit...

Top 10 reasons I know my parents are getting older
10. Comfortable shoes
9. Gel-based chair cushion in front seat of car
8. Television can be heard at bottom of driveway
7. Call people to ask what message was left on cell phone
6. 2-for-1 meals
5. No blow dryers anywhere to be found in house
4. Plugging ears at sporting events
3. Increased cussing
2. Clothing in closet has been in style multiple times (or not!)
1. Towels covering the armrests of chairs

Suggestions for additions to the list are welcome!

When did my parents change so much?

2009-03-13T21:43:00.002-05:00

While visiting my parents last week I came to the realization that my parents are aging more than I had noticed in the past. Maybe I am just ignoring it...

My parents have always identified themselves with Fiddler on the Roof. They had 5 daughters just like they did. But, the movie stops with the daughters growing up. What happens to Tevye and Golde? I guess I will never know.
But what I do know is that I have begun to talk to my daughters about cherishing every moment with my parents. They need to also keep the memories both good and bad of their time together.
I realize I am sounding melancholy; but there are times it is necessary. One must be realistic when it comes to aging. I need to make a concentrated effort to learn as much as I can, listen as much as possible, and love them until the end of time. This is the least I can do for the people responsible for making me who I am today.

Oh come on!

2009-02-28T12:46:00.002-06:00

If you have ever been on Facebook and clicked on some of the links you may be surprised that they chose my video to block! Actually the message is that I do not have to rights to load it. So you are saying when someone posts a video that is taken with a video camera facing a TV is ligit? Oh come on!

Social Networking

2009-02-15T17:10:00.003-06:00

I have blogged in the past about social networking and its vast possibilities. Today I am sitting back and thinking how did I get here! I am going beyond basic networking and implementing ideas from my Professional Learning Network (PLN). Today I am attempting to make a home made Interactive Whiteboard. All I need is a software download, a Wiimote and an infrared pen!
I sit here shaking my head at the prospect of moving from simple chit-chat with other teachers to making a home-made version of a board which costs in the 4 figure range...Holy cow!
I cannot thank my PLN enough for broadening my horizons and challenging me to step further into how technology can be ever changing and impact all learners!

Matt Hamm image from blog.kyanmedia.com post

Staff Development - demo of ease of use!

2009-02-02T16:34:00.002-06:00

Flat Stanley update

2009-01-27T22:22:00.002-06:00

Flat Stanley is on the move! If you would like to follow his travels from Lux Middle School in Lincoln Nebraska check out and subscribe to his travel page:
http://web.me.com/lfeld52/Stanley

If you would like to participate click on the mail icon at the bottom of the Stanley web page!

Lori from A-Z

2009-01-20T22:54:00.007-06:00

Join the meme. What can we find out about you?

Lori Feldman

Accent: Midwest twang

Breakfast or no breakfast: If a can of Diet Pepsi counts, then yes!

Chore I don’t care for: Cleaning toilets

Dog or cat: Dogs. I am allergic to cats

Essential electronics: Laptop stuck to side like Velcro

Favorite cologne: Don't wear it normally...too many others with major scents conflicting. Especially boys with Axe on!

Gold or silver: Silver

Handbag I carry most often: Disney bag which looks like a doctor's bag

Insomnia: Did I mention I am a teacher?

Job Title: Resource teacher

Kids: 2 daughters, 19 and 16

Living arrangements: Married to Howard. He travels upwards of 3 weeks per month

Most admirable trait: Cup is always half full or more...haven't lost my cup yet!

Naughtiest childhood behavior: Had an appetite for raw hamburger. Ewwww!

Overnight hospital stay: When I became a "Hyster Sister"

Phobias: Dark hallways

Quote: "It is what it is"

Reason to smile: Waking up

Siblings: 4 older sisters...yes, I AM the baby and proud of it!

Time I wake up: 6:30 Monday-Friday, whenever my body feels like it on the weekends

Unusual skill or talent: Knew how to ride a unicycle (not sure I still can, or want to!)

Vegetable I refuse to eat: Mushrooms

Worst habit: Too much time on the computer

X-rays: Ankle after missing a step in the garage

Yummy stuff: Nachos

Zoo animal I like most: Definitely penguins

I tag the following:

Teryl Magee, Selena Ward, Kevin Honeycutt and Michele Honeycutt

YOSHITOMO NARA + graf "A to Z"
July 29 - October 22, 2006
@Yoshii Brick Brew House, Hirosaki, Aomori, Japan

Go Big Red!

2009-01-17T20:48:00.002-06:00

One of the things I was thinking about today was what makes me, me.
There are so many things that mold people into who they are.
Of course, your family members, spirituality, and education are the main influences. But, in my family a very big influence is Husker sports. You may think this is odd, but let me explain.
Both of my parents attended UNL in the late 40s to early 50s. During that time my father purchased season tickets for many sports. These were in the lean years of sports. At one time legend tells that he even brought a portable grill into the stands to cook during football games!
I started attending sporting events around the age of 5. I probably went to more than most of my 4 other sisters because of being the baby of the family and a major "tom-boy"!
I have so many memories of my father's tailgate parties on the loading dock of the welding supply firm he worked for.
I can still find the seats we sat in for basketball games in the old coliseum (now venue for volleyball).
In our family all events are planned around the Husker schedule. No Bar/Bat Mitzvah, wedding, or anything should be remotely near the date of a Husker game!
I truly think I am who I am is a result of the Huskers.
Now, I ask you...can you pinpoint something that made you who you are? Something that would not be the run of the mill story? Go for it. You may find you may find out something new about yourself!

Hunt for laser locks!

2009-01-13T12:50:00.003-06:00

I am feverishly hunting to replace broken laser locks. My students who use these locks range from physically disabled to severe/profound.
Looks like the KidPower company which originally manufactured them has gone out of business. The back of the laser has the initials KPI 2001.
Any help you can send my way would be great!

If students took after ants...

2009-01-11T17:30:00.002-06:00

Watch this video and then consider what work was accomplished by an ant colony. The colony moved 80 tons of soil and in human terms carried the dirt a kilometer.
What if our students worked to their potential...even near, what they could accomplish.
I am planning on showing this at school to see student reactions.
I thank Clif Mims for his blogpost. He is the person who led me in this direction.
http://clifmims.com/blog/archives/1634

2009-01-10T21:40:00.001-06:00

Backing up Time Machine on MacBook

7 Things You Don't Know About Me...

2009-01-03T20:16:00.003-06:00

It seems that in the last week there has been a trend (meme) on many social networking sites of tagging people to share "7 Things You Don't Need To Know About Me". I am now tagged and feel the need to keep it going. Kind of like a non-chain letter...

So...here are 7 things your really don't need to know about me, but now you will

1. I am a self-taught unicycle rider

2. I can juggle (only 3 items)

3. My father things he is Tevye (Fiddler On The Roof) because he has 5 daughters. I am the 5th...the movie never says what happens to the last daughter!

4. My husband and father are both Shrine Clowns

5. I am on the board for the State of Nebraska Holocaust Commemoration

6. I have lost 50 pounds in the last year

7. I have a serious addiction to Diet Pepsi

Okay. That's just a bit of T.M.I. for you. Now I throw down the challenge to a few others:

Beth Still
Jennifer Kraft
Nedra Isenberg
Amy Cordova
Meg Griffin
Teri Rossman

2nd Semester is coming!

2009-01-02T22:10:00.003-06:00

How has this happened so fast? Seems like just a few weeks ago we had shortened days due to heat...Now, we shiver with the north wind!

I have high hopes for the new semester. These hopes include change. During the winter break I have had time to look back at the school year and see that I could do some things better. Some related to students, some with teachers.

On the student side I would like to take more time to individually conference and chart/graph progress. This is something my SPED team is using for goals and objective tracking; but, I would like to expand that for areas not covered by IEPs. This could be assignment completion, blurting out, etc. This requires extra work on my part but the benefit is worth it.

As far as the teacher side, I can not communicate enough. The students I serve have multiple needs which require many accommodations and modifications. My downfall is with non-core class teachers. We call them academic connections. I am not in any of these classes as a co-teacher and therefore may not be as quick to pick up on needs of both teacher and student. Since we do not have common plan time I need to find other times such as before/after school to check in. Maybe weekly email? Not sure, just know I need to make it work!

So there you have it...I am a work in progress. I am most certainly NOT perfect.

Shall we Wii?

2008-12-14T00:03:00.004-06:00

Okay, now that I have your attention...
What does a teacher do when she is sick and not at school? After heading to the doctor and getting a prescription, she heads to the drug store. While waiting for the prescription to be filled there is ample opportunity to see what's new.

Pictured is my latest find. I bought a wireless game. Yes, it is similar to a Wii...but the price does not have as many spaces on the place value chart (very teacher-like comment, huh?).

My plan for this system you ask? Um, well, at the time I did not really think past the cool factor. I base out of the "resource room" at our school which is like a study hall for students with various academic, physical, or emotional disabilities. Kids were VERY excited to see what it could do. As soon as the first game loaded I knew I would need a plan for use. At this point I am thinking of having sticker charts for positive reinforcement. I give daily grades on a 1-4 point basis for work effort. Maybe this would help?

No matter how they earn time I know it will be fun. I have already tested the system out on 2 students. They didn't want to leave school!
Here is a quick clip of one of the students bowling:

Let me know if you have any ideas for use. I am always open for new suggestions!

Social Networking Possibilities

2008-12-03T23:19:00.007-06:00

Recently I have had conversations at school and within my Professional Learning Network (PLN) regarding the use of social networking services such as Skype and iChat. I have tried to carefully listen to both sides of the discussion...

Pro: Imagine the possibilities for students to connect to peers across the country and world to learn from each other. Personally, I would like to have students practice fluency, interviewing skills, and just plain structured socialization practice. I am sure there are many more in which people could name...

Con: How is this technology secure? How can it be filtered to protect our students? Is the bandwidth adequate for such an endeavor? Will students abuse the technology when they are at home by chatting without parent permission or knowledge that they have set up their own accounts? Many things to consider and quite valid...

So, what am I to do? That is where this post comes in to play. I would like to hear what you think about using video chat with students. Chime in!

First Staff Development

2008-11-18T21:41:00.003-06:00

I made it through my first district staff development!
This comes after a couple of rough days with students. Those kinds of days when one questions their reason to show up in the morning.
But, I showed up today, continued my "cup is half full" attitude, and prepared for the class.
I had my wiki ready for links of all of the software, hardware, and websites reviewed. I presented each topic in a way similar to which I would my 75 year old mother.
I tried to look around and see if people were engaged or looked like a "deer in the headlights". I would say, generally there were smiles. The kind of smile you might have when you find something new or cool. The kind in which you have when you find something that could help others be successful.
All went well except for one part...The custodians locked all of the school doors except one. The one which is the farthest away from the computer lab! This will now come to the top of my list when preparing for new classes.
So, I guess I will do this again in the future. I had fun. I felt like I made a connection to some who may not have considered computer technology.

I would like to hear about your first experience with presenting to peers. What was the highs and lows of your seminar?

Thanks to all,
Your Pal,
Lori

Flat Stanley

2008-11-05T20:06:00.003-06:00

Stanley's travels are now beginning. Our special eduction class at Lux Middle School in Lincoln Nebraska, which consists mostly of moderate to severe students, have been hearing about the book Flat Stanley by Jeff Brown.

Stanley is flattened when a bulletin board falls on him. This does not stop him from having adventures. He is just the right shape to be put in an envelope and be mailed around the world! Imagine what he will see when he arrives at his destinations. Who will he meet? What activities will he join in to?

This is where you can help out...If you are willing to have Stanley mailed to you (snail or email) we would be more than happy to share him with you. This adventure will last throughout the entire school year. This gives plenty of time to invite Stanley to hang out with you.

I have started a "glog" to track some of the adventures. Stop by often!
http://lfeld52.glogster.com/flatstanley/

What we should learn from the story of Noah's Ark!

2008-11-01T14:05:00.002-05:00

I just came back from services and this week's story was that of Noah's Ark.
The lay-leader shared this bit of humor prior to the reading:

Everything I Really Need to Know
I Learned From Noah's Ark

Plan ahead. It wasn't raining when Noah built the ark.
Stay fit. When you're 600 years old, someone might ask you to do something Really big.
Don't listen to critics. Do what has to be done.
Build on the high ground.
For safety's sake, travel in pairs.
Two heads are better than one.
Speed isn't always an advantage. The cheetahs were on board, but so were the snails.
If you can't fight or flee--float.
Take care of your animals as if they were the last ones on earth.
Don't forget that we're all in the same boat.
When the doo-doo gets really deep, don't sit there and complain--shovel!
Stay below deck during the storm.
Remember that the ark was built by amateurs & the Titanic was built by professionals.
If you have to start over, have a friend by your side.
Remember that the woodpeckers INSIDE are often a bigger threat than the storm outside.
No matter how bleak it looks, there's always a rainbow on the other side.
DON'T MISS THE BOAT !!!!

The Value of Time

2008-10-05T17:06:00.005-05:00

Our lay-leader read this to the congregation during Rosh Hashanah. I thought it was worthy of passing on

The Value of Time

Imagine there is a bank that credits your account each morning with $86,400.
It carries over no balance from day to day.
Every evening deletes whatever part of the balance you failed to use during the day.
What would you do? Draw out every cent, of course!
Each of us has such a bank. Its name is TIME.
Every morning, it credits you with 86,400 seconds.
Every night it writes off, as lost, whatever of this you have failed to invest to good purpose.
It carries over no balance.
It allows no overdraft.
Each day it opens a new account for you.
Each night it burns the remains of the day.
If you fail to use the day's deposits, the loss is yours.
There is no going back. There is no drawing against the "tomorrow".
You must live in the present on today's deposits.
Invest it so as to get from it the utmost in health, happiness and success!
The clock is running. Make the most of today.
To realize the value of ONE YEAR, ask a student who failed a grade.
To realize the value of ONE MONTH, ask a mother who gave birth to a pre-mature baby.
To realize the value of ONE WEEK, ask the editor of a weekly newspaper.
To realize the value of ONE DAY, ask a daily wage laborer with kids to feed.
To realize the value of ONE HOUR, ask the lovers who are waiting to meet.
To realize the value of ONE MINUTE, ask a person who missed the train.
To realize the value of ONE SECOND, ask a person who just avoided an accident.
To realize the value of ONE MILLI-SECOND, ask the person who won a silver medal in the Olympics.
Treasure every moment that you have! And treasure it more because you shared it with someone special, special enough to spend your time.
And remember that time waits for no one.
Yesterday is history.
Tomorrow a mystery.
Today is a gift.
That's why it's called the present!

Where i've been...

2008-09-18T21:57:00.002-05:00

What am I doing tonight? Since the bell rang at 3 this afternoon I have taken my daughter to PT, weighed in at WW (down 46 lbs!), went to conferences at the high school, and am in the midst of sifting through IEP information and test adaptations. Sounds like the the school year!
I am back to 6 hours of sleep averaged per night. It is hard to fit everything into one day. By the time you switch your "hat" from teacher to parent and back to teacher in the evening the day stretches to its limits.
Mind you I am not whining. I have chosen this path. I LOVE what I do. My students make me smile each day. Watching their progress makes the hours worth while. And my family? Of course, my life would be nothing without them! Granted, having a husband that travels out of town almost 3 out of every 4 weeks makes life a bit more challenging, I would not change a thing. I will survive. At least if I have a steady stream of Diet Pepsi!
So, I sit here at my kitchen table at 10:08 pm "taking a break".
I would like to hear from you...what is your typical day like? What makes it worth while?

Your Pal,
Lori

Flip Video Offer

2008-08-27T06:37:00.003-05:00

I love my Flip Video camera. I take it everywhere I go. I get excited thinking where I might use it. My best example was on the last day of school. We were completing field day and I thought it would be fun for my student in a power wheel chair to show what it is like cruising down the hallway. The result was a view of students who may not realize the need for a handicap ramp to be clear. Also the tendency to not listen to someone saying "excuse me". What I learned from this is the power of spontaneous. I captured a moment in time that may impact future decisions. Or, at the least I have a moment in time of a very brave young man.

What is the reason for this post? It is actually an offer I found online for a $50 Flip Video Ultra. The price is normally over $125. So, if this is ligit...join in the fun!

1/100th of a second

2008-08-16T21:22:00.004-05:00

After watching 2 swim races at the Beijing Olympics I cannot get past the thought how the technology we have today has impacted daily life.

Just 4 years ago I am sure there would have been some head scratching trying to figure out if the races were a tie or declare a winner with the chance of protest. Even the speed at which replays occur most likely have improved.

Now to my point. What part of our daily lives could be changed if we were aware of each 1/100th second. Would that be a good or bad thing? Would 1/100th of a second make us feel that we have made the most of the time we have with our loved ones? Hmmm....

So there you have it. My thought for today.

Tradition

2008-07-29T00:22:00.003-05:00

It is 12:19 am on July 29, 2008. What the heck am I doing up? That's a great question. Could it be my husband is out of town which means he is not hear to remind me to go to bed? Is it because my 19 year old daughter was sent a platinum Visa card with a massive credit limit? Maybe because it is because I just spoke to my father in Las Vegas?

That is it! I talked to my dad. So, why does this keep me up? I think it is because talking to him made me think about "tradition". Still wondering about the connection? I will tell you. It is because my father brags that he has 5 daughters just like Tevye in Fiddler On The Roof! How many can say that?

The whole tradition thought process led me down the path of thinking what kind of traditions am I passing down to my children (and possibly others as well). Wow, that is heavy stuff. No wonder it is so late.

I know I have instilled a sense of faith, right and wrong, fair play, acceptance of differences, etc. But is that enough? What am I missing? Is there ever enough? That is what keeps me up tonight...

Now I sit here and listen to the Broadway soundtrack of Fiddler (really!) and wonder if I will get any sleep in the next few hours.

So for now, think about what traditions you may pass down...are they the ones you want?

Random thoughts for today

2008-07-21T12:37:00.002-05:00

It is Monday, July 21, 2008. Holy crud, where is the summer going? What have I accomplished since school ended in June? Why do I even care?
Hmmmm, that is a good question. Is my self worth based upon concrete products of work? If I am not thinking about school on my time off am a less of a teacher? One would think the answer is simple. But, it isn't. To me top educators are always looking/listening/searching for ideas that may benefit their students. It may not be a purposeful strategy, may just be a passing thought of "this is cool" or "I could use this".
So, what comes of this pondering? I will try and keep a journal of what catches my eye during the day. A running log of "stuff I might use"...
In the mean time I will continue to help my youngest daughter after knee reconstruction, and support my firstborn with her new career path. Of course I will enjoy every moment my husband is home (travels up to 3 weeks each month).
Ahhh, I feel better!

At the hospital

2008-07-12T05:51:00.002-05:00

My youngest daughter had her knee operated on yesterday. All went extremely well! So far the drugs have kept her with little or no pain. Whew! Possibly going home today.

Social Networking

2008-07-02T16:39:00.004-05:00

I have been spending much time networking with people who have similar interests. Of course I mean technology!

Currently I am using Plurk and Twitter.
My screen name for both are: lfeld52.

befunky.com sketch

2008-06-17T12:48:00.001-05:00

Happy Father's Day!

2008-06-15T09:13:00.002-05:00

How many of you can say your dad is a REAL clown? Well, my dad and husband are both Shrine Clowns! I am proud of their mission to use their talents to raise money
to provide free health care for children. The greatest gift one can give is their time. The value far outweighs money.

Happy Father's Day!

2008-06-15T08:57:00.002-05:00

There is no one like my dad. At least in my opinion. How many of you out there can claim your dad is a REAL clown? My dad is "Buttons" the clown. He has had this altar ego for 30 or so years. I am proud of his mission to provide free health care for children. By the way...my husband is the clown on the left with my daughter in between

Going to Persia

2008-06-13T23:46:00.004-05:00

Okay, not quite as exciting when I say it is in Iowa!
I will be heading to a family get together in Persia. When I was loading the map photo I realized that the tornado that hit the Boy Scout camp is very close. Yikes.

Storms, storms, and more storms

2008-06-12T00:08:00.002-05:00

First video upload

2008-06-10T20:26:00.002-05:00

Random thoughts June 10, 2008

2008-06-10T16:18:00.000-05:00

Here are some things I am thinking about (random of course)

-Why does heat rise? my upstairs is so hot compared to the main level
-Will the high winds bring more storms?
-Will I remember all of the Twitter ideas I find each day?
-Will my brisket be done in time for dinner?