Wk4 Show Me What You’ve Learned Project

Picture: Joe Bustillos and Benjamin Zander used by permission of Joe Bustillos

Music: Jazzy Downtempo by GarageBand

Mrs. Nichols’ TeacherWeb Site

Wk 4 Where the Wild Things Are

I have loved this book since the moment I bought it for my seven-year-old son back in 1988. That’s right—1988. Back then the paperback version cost $4.95; the sticker is still on it. (It is $8.95 now.) I bought the book because Max and my son were one and the same—little wild things. And now my son has a little wild thing of his own. It is time to introduce my grandson Maddox to this book. How appropriate that Maddox’s cousin on his mother’s side calls him “Mad Max” because he cannot say “Maddox.”

After forty-nine years (original copyright date for the book is 1963) Warner Brothers has released a movie version of Maurice Sendak’s  Caldecott Medal winning book. From all that I have read (and much of that via the movie’s Facebook page), the movie is phenomenal. I think a family movie date is in the near future. I want to see the reactions of both of my own wild things. And yes, Mad Max is lapping up water from his DogDog’s dish.

Wk 4 Stickam to Me: My Headset Does it Often

Ah, Stickam—the live community for video chats. That is when all are in the room visible. I admit it: I was the last to have her video up and running. I had sound (through Skype) which was my foremost worry. My headset has a mind of its own.

Wk 4 Reading: Zander and The Art of Possibility (Part 2)

The Zander story continues; the man is incredible in his insight, inspiring in his words, and engaging in his presentations. Simply put Ben Zander is an humanitarian.

Wk 4 Comment on Amy White’s Blog

Week 4: Reading chapters 7-9

I did not find these chapters as engaging as the previous ones. I agree with the “The Way Things Are,” but I’m more apt to say, “It is what it is.” I’m not really a glass half-full kinda gal, but I do believe that “how we define things sets a framework for life to unfold” (p. 110).

Wk 3 Comments on Brandi’s Post

“How to legally share remix and reuse, and let others do the same!”

Collapse comment

Creative Commons doesn’t replace copyright- it works in addition to copyright to ‘pre-approve’ some re uses of one’s creative work, while retaining ultimate ownership.

Wk 3 Reading: Zander and The Art of Possibility

To paraphrase Benjamin Zander in his TED Talks video: Who am I being that my students’ eyes are not shining? While the reading for this week encompassed the first six chapters of Rosamund and Benjamin Zander’s The Art of Possibility (2000), I was particularly entranced with Chapter 2: Stepping into a Universe of Possibility.

What are Friends For?

What are friend for except to talk you into staying with World of Warcraft at the end of your ten day trial period? What are friend for except to keep you up late? What are friend for except to cause you to stay up later than that to try to up your level in an attempt to catch up with them because they play more often?

I have to take some ownership in this. I ignored the “omens” not to keep WOW–there were several. I didn’t have to stay up until 4:48 this morning–I wanted to reach level 15. Blast you, J and J! If we weren’t such good friends, I would challenge you to a duel! No I wouldn’t; you would definitely beat me. And that’s what friends are for!

Patience is a Virtue?

No she isn’t! I taught all those Virtue kids and not one of them was named Patience. They were all boys. Seriously, I did teach a batch of boys whose last name was Virtue.

Since I have hooked your attention (I am an English teacher after all), I will be brief. It occurred to me recently that I have become impatient–impatient with websites and programs and downloads and all things computer-related. Not that my computer itself or my internet access is slow, they are not. I want everything faster. Now I know how my students–the digital natives–feel.

Wk3 Ron Smith Interview Interactive Q&As

Here are the questions and their answers.