Sunday Sprinkles 03.30.14

Kentucky moves to the Elite Eight!  Great way to end the week!  I think Bitsy's outfit is the super secret lucky charm!  And yes, she is in it again because we play later this evening.  You will see her at the end of this post.  

My favs of this week:
1)  We have been busy at work in the Museum!  The Bamboo canvases were not quite turning out as we had hoped, so we brainstormed with teachers and students and decided to go a different route.  

2)  Diamond's Lab is still under way, ceiling tiles were measured, cut and most of them replaced.  Still waiting on two more boxes.

3)  We decided to paint a section of the Museum floor with chalkboard paint.  Very excited to see how this turns out.  

4)  Bradley got his report card this week.  2 B's and the rest A's!  Very proud of him!

5)  UK in the elite eight!  GO CATS!!

My Digital is Me: Part 4

Digital Media seems to be taking over our lives.  From Twitter, to Instagram, to Facebook, selfies, bullying, snapchat, texting and sexting..... just to name a few avenues.  In many ways, it can all work to your advantage; staying connected, communicating, showing others what you are up to.  But very quickly, it can take a turn for the worst.  Some don't realize the impact of words, whether they are verbally spoken to someone, or whether they are typed... they still effect the person on the other side of the conversation.

Please respond to these three questions, with complete sentences in the comments section below.

1)  Have you ever received any communication that you were hurt by?  Words, images, threats, something of the bullying nature.  Maybe it was just something rude someone said.

2)  Have you ever sent something hurtful to someone else?  Did you regret it?

3)  Has this changed the social structure of how your generation communicates? How?

Saturday Sprinkles 03.22.14

This week was not as productive as last week with all the crazy movement in the Museum; however, we have streamlined the to-do list/items, I know what needs to be done, who is able to do it and I am supporting students getting things completed.  Still a good week, just less stressful.  

Monday was a sick day.  ~~ 

Tuesday was a pairing day in the small research lab.  Students are turning this small room into a real research lab through a partnership with the University of Kentucky.  They are currently researching and studying the growth and development of bacteria.  The little petri dishes look pretty cool, kinda gross, but cool.  Students are continuing to paint and clean the room for set up.

Wednesday was FCPS Tom’s Squad where our students are wanting to transform the Menu options for our school and others with a focus on quantity and quality.  YUM!!  And then….more painting, the shelves this time.  Beige and blue - (yawn, but the Scientist/Doctor loves it! as long as your happy Dr. D, I’m happy!)

On Thursday, we worked on the Museum to-do item list and went to UK for the TLC-UK PASTR ceremony.  Some of science students were honored and celebrated in a coated ceremony and had the opportunity to showcase their work to UK Professionals!  They teared up!  Seriously, people, these kids are adorable!  I also really liked an artwork on the walls, so I took a picture for inspiration.  

Friday we painted, and painted…. and painted.  I loved it!  Completely my element!  I consulted with teachers and students, proposed several ideas, we came to a decision and moved!  The aquaponics system in the Museum needs some support, but I met with the Student Leaders and we have a game plan for that.  Painting, information posters and finishing up the Research Lab is my goal before we leave for Spring Break!  

Then Saturday my friend and I did the FCPS 5K at Keeneland!  We have been training for 4 weeks now with a Couch to 5K app, 2-3 days per week after school.  Today was the big day and we rocked it!  Had a blast, good laughs and then stuffed our faces at Joe Bologna’s to celebrate!  

My Digital is Me part 3

Do you support the objective to use blogs as our "iBinds".  What is your opinion or suggestion to use blogging as project documentation for students..... And teachers.

Respond in the comments section regarding this thought. Complete sentences. 

Also, next week we will be presenting our blogs to a panel of teachers and admin. Edit and tidy up your blogs for presentations. 

My Digital is Me Part 2

Last week, we did our own searches on ourselves to see what we could find on the internet that was connected to our name.  Some of our searches brought back some old, old memories.  Some didn't bring up anything at all.  Your next post assignment is to create a post about a recent school project/product that you are working on.  There also needs to be a picture or a video included in the post.  

Example:

In my 1st Hour class, we are making Graffiti tags that artistically express our opinions regarding certain social issues.  One social issue that we are learning about and that I am focusing my project on is bullying.  Bullying is usually observed at school, at the park or in other social settings.  I think that bullying occurs when one person feels the need to dominate a situation or someone in an unhealthy manner.  My Graffiti artistic expression is a large evil Pac-Man character dominating other characters.  This artwork expresses my opinions using proportion, juxtaposition and facial expressions of the characters.

(not my own artwork)

Your Post:

Title it the Unit you are covering in your class.  Give a brief description of the content you are learning and upload an image or video.

In the comments section below, please provide your URL and your name so that I can go and check it.  Better yet, Put your name and make it a hyperlink to your blog.  Please see me if you need assistance making your name a hyperlink.  

Example:   Mrs. Baker

Weekend Sprinkles 3.10.14

This past weekend was absolutely crazy!!  My Scottie got a bath and haircut, I stopped at Kroger and picked up the ingredients for Dirt Cup Cupcakes (and made them), Bradley had his big birthday party at Lasertag, oh yeah, I dropped my iPhone *just right* and shattered the screen.    Did I mention that ALL of this happened in one day!  Yep, that was just Saturday.  

Saturday
Most Valueable Pets
Kroger
Cupcakes
Lasertag birthday party
grad homework
shattered iphone
went to the mall/Apple store
fixed phone
brought home dinner, P.F. Cheng's - YUM!!!

Sunday
laundry
clean house
lesson planning
much less exciting!  I couldn't handle another full day like Saturday!  

Grad work is going well!  Work work - going well too.  When you love what you do, everyday is exciting!  

There is a ton of movement in the Museum!  Which I love!  There's just so much going on!  Much of the details will be posted on the Collaboration @ TLC Blog, more info coming soon.

My Digital is Me Part 1

Many of us don't realize that once you publish or upload an image onto the internet, it is there forver, and ever.  Whether you put it there, if someone else puts an image of you there, etc.  How do you feel about the fact that your digital life is not private, can be used against you and will "haunt you" the rest of your days....

Try this:  Google yourself and see what comes up.  Web, Images, everything.  Is there anything there?  What? 

If there are negative things, or nothing at all, what can you do to create a "positive digital representation" of yourself?

In the comments, write what you found and what you can/are going to do to make a positive interest representation of yourself.

Sunday Sprinkles March 2, 2014

1)  Bradley’s Concert
My son sings in his school choir and they had a concert this week at a local Methodist Church.  A few things I learned….. my daughter was not amused in the slightest (she played on his kindle the whole time) and Bradley desperately needs new pants!  That boy grows faster than weeds in spring!!!  I know what he is getting for his birthday!

2)  New Museum Plans
I met with our Admin Team and a few other teachers at school about growing and building the Museum.  It will be exciting to watch the Museum grow and develop into the "Hubs" of Real World Application with immediate College/Career Connections.

3)  Snow Days = Culturally Responsive Lesson Plan for Grad Class
My big paper due this week was an example of a culturally responsive lesson plan featuring a Unit that I am doing in my classes.  My Unit is still going, but the research and added features have really developed the project into something more substantial.  Thank goodness for Snow Days, otherwise I would be up until 3am reading articles and writing papers!!

Arden Snow Day pic

4)  Health Assessment/Oil Change
On Tuesday, I needed to take the day off and get my Health Assessment for my Insurance, and rack up some points!!  I went ahead and got an oil change while I was out, then worked on my paper.  We also received some news about our dog, so emotionally I was drained and just needed the day.  

5)  Book Club
I love the people I work with, and most of all, I love our little Book Club group.  It’s a small group of girls and we all get along so well!  I really look forward to our monthly book club meetings, with snacks, great company and good conversation.

This week is going to be fun!  and busy  My son turns 12!!!!  Very hard to believe!  We are having his party this weekend, so I will be making cupcakes for that, Charlie is getting groomed and fixed up and projects need to be finalized so our New Museum Plans can be figured out!  

Breathe, One week at a time!  :)