Teaching: Old School + Technology

When all of the students own iphones, how does an educator compete? There are a multitude of innovations that have made it easier than ever to communicate, but how do we utilize this technology to help educate the next generation, without distracting from our real point?

I sometimes find myself having a hard time concentrating on a novel, or a long article, because I am so used to reading 150 character tweets and statuses which are coming at me every time I refresh my browser. Because those statements are short, punchy, and to the point, it's hard to not get comfortable with the instant gratification. It really makes you think, are there really so many students being diagnosed with ADHD because the internet has ruined all of our attention spans?

When it comes to technology, I am an avid promoter. I think that when one knows how to use technology in the classroom, it is a force to be reckoned with. However, there is something to be said for the more conventional ways of teaching as well. You still need to probe and prompt students to scaffold the information themselves, otherwise they may not ever really understand it. But you can do this while still utilizing visuals and connections.

I for one love pop-culture references, as most of our society does. I think that it doesn't really matter if a student is learning to apply their new knowledge in a way that means something to them, as long as it works. Then they can also apply it to the curriculum.

But what happens when we have all of this technology and no one to train us on it? It's true that smart boards are a wonderful tool, but I have observed too many technological issues that happen in the middle of lessons. Yes, we should have a back up plan for any lesson, but technology issues also affect productivity in a large way. If the technology fails in a 45 minute period, you in no way are able to make up that time.

There has to be a balance. I'm striving to find it, and as I become more technology savvy, I hope to improve my lessons and help students become stronger writers and readers. I'm in it for the kids, and I'll never forget that.

Busy Lifestyles

Hello internet, how are you today?

I’m aware that it’s been some time since I’ve written a truly significant post here, so I decided throw down an attempt. I’ve recently been drastically busy. School has started up again, I’m in the process of completing my student teaching requirements, and I have a brand new part-time job.

What I’ve come to realize though, is this, I really prefer being busy over anything else. I like having an active & hectic lifestyle. I like feeling the rush of having to get things done, because it makes me feel a level of importance. It makes me feel motivated, and driven. To be honest, it probably truly makes me more motivated and driven.

I’m not saying that there is no benefit to taking a break and decompressing, but it’s been my experience that when my vacations occur, I am pretty excited initially, and then I just become bored. There’s only so much I can find on stumbleupon, or so many people I can friend on Facebook.

It just gets to the point where I need to get busy again in order to be genuinely happy. So this is going to be another “turning a seemingly negative into a positive” statement, but here goes. Embrace the busy. Take it all with your chin up and smile wide. There may come a time, when you’re not so young, and you wish you were able to be as busy as you can be today.

Be as busy as you can right now, because the busiest people know how to prioritize and take control of their lives. The busiest people know how to get what they need, and also express what they have to in order to get what they want.

You can let fate lead you, but only so far. At some point you need to take control, whether you’re fully confident or you’re just faking it for now. 

Boorito 2011

I'm actually genuinely excited about this Halloween promotion from Chipotle. Apparently the famous burrito chain is partnering with the not-for-profit organization Farm Aid, and their own not-for-profit org, Chipotle Cultivate. If you dress in a costume on Halloween, they'll sell you a burrito for $2, regularly around $10. 


But this is the coolest part, they're donating the proceeds up to $1,000,000 to the two foundations, which work "to keep farmers on the land and nurture a better agricultural system."


Halloween promotions are not a new thing, as McDonalds has been offering free happy meals to costumed rugrats for as long as I can remember. However, it's a really cool thing that they are donating this money to a good cause. 


I haven't much else to say on the subject, other than small steps cause big change, and it's nice to see some companies recognizing this. 


Check it out: here. Or pick up a flyer at the register in any of their chains. 

The joys of laughing at yourself.

It's no secret that I like to enjoy a glass of white wine or two when I socialize with friends. And it's not that uncommon for others as well. Not only do I actually enjoy the taste, but it causes me to loosen up a bit and not really care what people are thinking. Either way, I love to talk and laugh with people, but something I've realized is when you are able to laugh at yourself and your own antics, people WANT to be around you. By laughing at yourself, you exude a carefree type of confidence that some people rarely have when they do not drink. That's why alcohol and other substances are so addictive in the first place.

I think if we all took the time to laugh at ourselves instead of feeling uncomfortable and overcritical, we'd all be a lot happier and more comfortable in our own skins.


But that's just a small thought.
I will definitely be updating soon and hopefully writing something with a little more substance, so stay tuned.

Just checking in!

Hello avid readers, new readers, and curious people who don’t care all that much about what I write but ultimately respect me for doing my own thang. I was on this really productive trend of writing a couple of times a week for the course of . . . well a week! Then grad school started up again and I was reminded that I don’t truly have a social life, it was just a big fat myth I allowed myself to live out during the entirely too short (and kind of oddly placed) spring break. Spring break in March? Yes.

That’s all in the past now (unfortunately) and now I’m hitting my nose back to the grindstone academically, which leaves significantly less time for me to ponder about the inner/outerworkings of life and be inspirational and all that. But for you, my dears, I’ll make my best attempt.

So what’s new . . .hmm. HMM.

Well I’m thinking quite seriously about sponsoring a child through Children International, which is a charity that is not only extremely credible, but an inexpensive option for those who wish to commit to a sponsorship, but also have to worry about paying their own bills. It’s a mandatory $22 bucks a month, but you can send extra money during holidays, your child’s birthday, or anytime you feel like tossing a little more in.

In my opinion, it doesn’t really matter whether you believe in karma, or are spiritual in the least bit, it’s just important to realize that there are people who live and survive their lives in extreme poverty. It’s a significant reminder because I for one find myself worrying a bit too much about buying nice clothes, or looking the way I want to look and there are people, children who do not have that luxury. Instead, they’re wondering where their next meal is coming from, or whether or not they’ll ever have an actual bed to sleep on.

I apologize if this sounds cheesy ( I know it will to some), but I feel that it is our human responsibility to take care of one another. Yes, there is an abundance of ignorance in this world, and there are days when I wonder what the point is of being a giving and generous person when there are clearly plenty of people willing to cut you down on a daily basis.

You can’t fall into that trap. You have to fill your head with all of the cheesy clichés you know and just pummel through it all, because in the end, only kindness matters (shamelessly ripped off from Jewel, sing it girlfriend!)

And that goes for most things.

Let your freak flag fly and all that!

Do a little dance, make a little love, get down to----no…that one doesn’t really work. . .

But anyway . . . do what you can for whoever you can, because you never know when you’re going to need some help yourself.

:)

Out of the box, but into a Tupperware: Something for all of the teachers out there.

I've been doing some thinking about the state of our economy and job market, more specifically my job market . . . which is education.


It's a hot topic these days and nobody seems too sure what the real outcome is going to be for our American education system.  I have some fully formed thoughts on the subject, and other free half-baked ideas floating around as well, but the biggest question I have is this: why can't we view education like we view all of the other really important jobs in our country? 

Education is so important because it literally shapes how our society will run as our country grows and changes with time. Yet there is more bullshit in the education system than half of the other industries I know of. 


We need teachers that will utilize tools like the internet, and also get down on the same level as their students in order to get them to think for themselves and really be phenomenal problem solvers. Because, lets face it, this country has got problems. And I'm not insulting America, every nation has major issues that need to be worked out. It's in the history books, it's humanity. It comes with being alive. Life has issues.

But we'll never get anywhere if we can't teach children how to think outside of the box in order to solve issues. 


Standardized tests will NOT teach children how to problem solve, cooperate and work together in a crisis situation. These aren't just skills one needs in order to run a country properly, they're skills one needs in your everyday office job, where the work keeps piling and you have an inexperienced team and a deadline looming in the future. 


Students who graduate from  communication, law, and journalism programs are required to complete several full internships, but most education students only need to student teach twice in an environment where there is a lot of hand holding. 


So how do you fake it to make it, if you aren't sure what faking it even feels like? 

Why do we preach out of the box teaching, then criticize it when it's not done to a certain standard. 


I understand that tenure was put into effect to protect teachers but I disagree with making it impossible to fire an incompetent teacher just because they have some level of seniority.


If we are going to preach about teachers being creative and confident in their jobs, then we really need to take a stand and push for that quality of teaching in our schools and in life. 


It is so important that we teach children how to think for themselves because I feel like politics right now is bogged down by too many opinions. 

You can't please everyone, you need to just do what works. Hands on teaching WORKS. I've seen it work. You can't put observable and measurable terms on a spark you find in a child's eye when something clicks. Or when a child runs home to tell their mother what they did in school.

Hands on teaching is not an approach to be stowed away as a last resort, you need to keep trying new things, every day and when you find something that works, not just stick with it, keep trying new things. Like a writer trying new techniques and styles, a teacher needs to be down with the newest exercises and trends. A teacher needs to be informed, and when they're not they need to be actively searching for information. ALL THE TIME. A teacher needs to throw themselves into working with the hardest kids and not give up until they GET THROUGH, even if it's in one little way. A good teacher never gives up on being a phenomenal at what he/or she does. It does not work like that.

Teaching is not just an occupation, it's a burning passion, just like any job within the arts. It takes creativity and focus. It takes control, and having the ability to make an executive decision. It takes knowing when something isn't working. 

It's like painting a picture, realizing it doesn't work, but then starting over again. 

Artists do it. Writers do it. Teachers, REAL teachers do that too. Their children are their masterpieces. 

Real and true teachers, also like those starving artists, do not really care that much for getting credit. Yes, it's nice, but it's also realized that a job well not will not always come with two pats on the back and a pay raise. 

Sometimes it comes with knowing your students will be able to confidently speak in public . . . 

or . . . be able to speak at all. 

Sometimes it's enough to know that your students will be intelligent enough to accept other people's opinions even though they don't always agree with them. 

Sometimes it's enough. But should it be? 

The system NEEDS to change because our nation, our world changes. Every day it changes but there are still so many schools that are years behind. 

It's not enough to just acknowledge we need to do something, we need to use our voice, we need to not be afraid to take risks and do what we need to in order to fulfill the duty as a good teacher. 

So please, even if you aren't a news reader, just try to read one article about what's going on with our education system, just be the least bit informed, because when it's time to vote, when it's time to actually say what we want for the education of our nation's children, we need to know what the ask for. 

Thanks :)

Body Image (and my new obsession)

Let me tell you a really awful habit I have. Every day, when I get dressed, I always look in the mirror at my bare stomach.  My gaze always falls on my little nub of a tummy that sits in the middle of my body. Then I look down at my thighs and search for extra flab and cellulite, finally my eyes travel upward, towards my upper arms, where I observe to see if I've lost or gained any flab there. While I've tried helplessly NOT to do this, it's a completely subconscious behavior.

Why do I do this to myself? I actually think it's a mixture of reasons. First of all, when looking in a mirror, one usually will find their flaws first, before focusing on the positive. The stuff we like is already the way we want it, so it doesn't need to be improved upon or fixed. If we like the way our hair looks, we aren't going to mess with it, so we don't stare at it for too long. It's just a normal human reaction in some ways.

However, the other reason, I believe,  is owed purely to the fashion photography that beauty magazines keep pushing down our throats. In order to be considered "thin" we need to not have an ounce of body fat, when in reality, some body fat is essential to our survival. Also as women, we naturally will always have a little more fat on our hips, thighs and stomachs, because we carry the babies. We're kind of made to be like sexy pillows. 

There is one thing to be said about taking care of yourself and eating healthy, but obsession is another issue entirely, and it can be a scary one. We don't just obsess with our own bodies, we become obsessed with everyone else as well. It's almost as if we are searching for physical flaws that reflect our own, so that we know it's okay.

 And it is ok because as long as we're healthy and doing what's right for our own special body type, 5 or 10 pounds is not going to make or break us. 

Over this previous weekend my friend Heather and I were in American Eagle and I pointed out a poster hanging over a display of tanks and camis. You can see the poster here: http://www.ae.com/web/magalogue.jsp?catId=cat4440008

on page 17 of the catalog.

The image features girls and guys dressed in beach wear laying down. There are several super skinny models, but the one model in the middle is a tiny bit curvier. At the time I told Heather "Wow that's really refreshing to see someone who's not completely emaciated on an American Eagle Ad, front and center." But now that I think about it, it's sad that I defined this beautiful young woman as being a "bit curvier" because she's not AS stick thin as the rest of the models. She's still really skinny!! If I saw her on the street, I wouldn't think twice about calling her skinny either, but because of her placement on this particular ad, I recognized her as a plus sized model, which is ridiculous. 

Yes, it's refreshing that not all of the models look half-starved to death, but I also think it's really sad that the most normal body type displayed is this one girl. 

Just tonight the singer/song writer Lenka tweeted that countless people on Youtube posted comments on her new video telling her that her nose is weird. She then wrote "Um, I am aware of it, thanks to." 

Once again, this woman posted an adorable video of her latest song and is very successful in the music industry, but instead of people noticing whether the song is any good, they're criticizing her nose being weird. Which she says she is aware of, so this is probably something that has bothered her in the past. 

No one is perfect. Everyone has their weird noses, chubby thighs, and in my case a high pitched voice and a crooked mouth that makes me look like I snarl slightly when I sing sometimes. 

Who cares!? 

We're all different, that's what makes us beautiful. And what we find, ugly, weird, or downright awful about ourselves, others will sometimes find endearing and special. 

We can't keep playing this game with ourselves. Occasionally we come across a great ad campaign, but we can't depend on the media to apologize and make amends for the damage it's done over the years. They're out to make money, they want us to be obsessed. 

Instead let's be obsessed with helping people, and making others feel good about themselves, and putting some positive vibes out into our own communties. 

That's my new obsession. Maybe you could make it yours. 

I leave you with this old, but beautiful video that the Dove Campaign for Real Beauty did a while back: Evolution

What it means to be a hipster.

I'm particularly influenced to write this because of a short blurb I read today on 

Gawker.com: What a hipster isn't.

Basically yelp.com has a feature where people can identify if a bar has too many hipsters. And the problem with that, of course, is that if there are too many hipsters, you'll obviously be surrounded by the most pretentious people you've ever met.

Right?

What is with us and our obsession with creating names or yes, I'm gonna say it, labels for people that we think dress, eat, or act a certain way?

The comment in Gawker made it a point to mention how ridiculous it is to apply the term to every skinny guy wearing thick glasses. Ok, true, but that's neither here nor there. Why apply the term to anyone? Some of the most amazing people I know are considered in one way or another to be a "hipster." 

Like any group of people, you're going to find the few that embrace the label and go out of their way to act out the actions of the stereotype, which makes it harder to not label them in the first place. But come on. 

The urban dictionary definition of a hipster is really " a state of mind,it is also often intertwined with distinct fashion sensibilities. Hipsters reject the culturally-ignorant attitudes of mainstream consumers" is that really such a bad thing? 

I know this, I love to read about fashion, but sometimes the photos of thinner than life models make me feel fat, when I'm far from it. And sometimes I feel like I won't truly be cool unless I own whatever type of bag is being advertised not-so-subtly as the Spring 2011 trend. 

I won't pretend that I don't follow fashion, I find it endlessly intriguing, especially it's psychological effects, but I wear what I like, whether it's "in" or not. 

Maybe it's not such a bad idea to be a little "hipster" and stop letting other opinions affect our own. Some people are really good at this from the get-go, but me, not so much. It takes practice. 

It takes being insulted, coming home and crying about it, but then going out wearing the same thing anyway because YOU like it. 

I guess it's kind of fitting that the ones doing the labeling, the "anti-hipsters", are the people who are  judging these bars. The hipsters probably don't really care and will continue to go where they like anyway.

Hello. I am Me.

I can't be anyone else, because I've never known otherwise. Yes, I have my flaws, well I'm human in that sense. We all say or do stupid things to try and impress the people that we are impressed by. It's a game for some people, schmoozing their way to the top just to feel . . . what? Important? Maybe.


I'm not the smartest girl, but I'm proud of what I know. I'm proud that I read at least one article about the world a day, and I'm proud that I remember most of the books I read in high school. I don't know everything, but there are some things I know a lot about. I might be ditzy, but some people would say that makes me fun. 


I'm not the prettiest girl, but I love how I look. I love how my eyes are huge and that they are blue and match most of my favorite clothes. I love that I can wear my hair long and look romantic, or wear it short and look sophisticated. I love my legs, which are thin at the calf but attached to strong thighs from dance and soccer. 


I may not have the best singing voice, but I love that i can carry a tune. I love that I LOVE to sing and that music can calm and relax me or bring energy into my veins. 


I may not be a fashion expert, but I love that I know how to look put together. I love making outfits and getting complimented on them, but I really love giving advice to other people and helping them make outfits and helping them get complimented. It feels really good when someone notices that you look nice, because you tried so hard to look nice. It's not fake to give a compliment, it's just recognizing that someone took some time on their appearance and they care about themselves.


Some people may have a distaste for my personality, but you can't please everyone and you meet a lot of people in life. When the majority of these people think you're awesome, a lot of them will think you're annoying. But distaste sometimes comes from jealousy, something I try to overcome, because jealously is a wasted emotion. Instead of wishing you were someone else, or could be like someone else, try improving yourself into your own best friend. Drop jealously when you feel it and realize that the person you're jealous of most likely doesn't know it and isn't trying to make you feel that way, they are just living their life and not caring, something we should all strive to do.


I'm like everyone around me. On most days, I love who I am, but on some days I'm disappointed in myself. Sometimes this can feel like I don't really like me, but it's just a result of negative feelings running rampant. 


I listen to a fun or cheesy song to make myself feel better. Or sometimes I treat myself to dessert since i usually pass it up. 


Let's try to banish the "I'm so fat," talk because that doesn't make us feel better, and it makes  the people around us think we are self-absorbed. I do it all the time, and it's just not a nice thing to say to the body that grew up with me and the body that takes me to work, and class. This is the body that allows me to dance when I want to, to jump, to sing. This is the only body I'll ever have, so I better get used to it. I can improve it, but it will always have the same build. In my life I will gain weight, and I will lose weight. I will be pregnant, and then I won't again. I will get old. I will get wrinkles. But aging is inevitable and there are ways to stay beautiful when our youth isn't our primary aspect of ourselves anymore. 


I am Me. You are you. And I think it's really amazing how different we all are, but that we can  find things about ourselves that are almost identical.


I believe in telling people when they influence you. I believe a compliment is genuine if you really just want it to make someone feel good about themselves. And I believe that most people are too preoccupied in what's going on in their own lives than to criticize what you do in yours. 


I love fashion, but the clothes in my closet cost money. And money is something I am not in an abundance of. So I shop my closet. And I try to create with what I've got. 


I've realized that maybe we really would all be better off making the same amount of money, or not using money at all. We should care about the well fare of all people. Maybe the native american tribes had it right. Or maybe it's human nature to want more and more. I know I find myself wanting more sometimes, and I don't like it. I don't want to be that way. 


You need to be grateful of what you have before you can really appreciate anything more you might achieve. 

Trend Alert: Animal Jewelry

I recently got this little guy with a gift card @ GiltGroup, but there are tons of options when searching for the perfect animal piece for your jewelry box. 

I particularly like this crystal owl ring

and 

this snake fashion necklace.

So as you see, there are plenty of ways we can show admiration for animals without slaughtering them for their fur, leather or ivory. <3

Facebook Causes: Autism Speaks . . . a birthday wish.

So I spent my lovely snow day drinking an endless cup of coffee, shoveling my car out of a mountain of snow and . ..  creating My Birthday Cause.



I joined the causes application on Facebook about a year or so ago, and occasionally poked around to locate new and interesting charities, but this morning I received an email telling me I could create a fund for the cause of my choice and ask people to donate to it instead of receiving birthday gifts. 


First of all let me praise this amazing idea. We should always be trying to contribute to humanitarian efforts, but on our birthday, the anniversary of our LIFE, we SHOULD be thinking about others as well. 


I am so lucky to have been born without any disorders or disabilities, but also I believe I was born with several gifts. I only realized my gift of working with children in recent years, but I would never go back to being ignorant about it. When I graduated college, I promised myself I wouldn't get caught working for some corporation day after day without making some kind of difference in this world. I wasn't sure what I wanted to do, but I discovered Autism. I say that I discovered it, because really, that is what happened. It's scary to think how little I really knew about the disorder before I started working with these amazing kids. 


It makes me realize though, how little most people know about Autism. For something that affects SO MANY people know little to nothing about the disorder itself. 


So please, if you have nothing to give, that is fine, but just take the time to visit this website: Autism Speaks, and read the passage that I wrote on my birthday wish. 

Want to own a piece of Jack Johnson?

How about Avril Lavigne, Anna Nalick or Bryan Adams? 

All of these artists, plus several more participate in one of the coolest charities I've ever heard of. Wear Your Music (wearyourmusic.org) is an organization which use recycled guitar strings to make collectible bracelets you can use to make any outfit a bit more hipper. The guitar strings donated by specific artists are pricier, but the entire proceeds of the purchase go to charity. All of the artist designs are silver plated guitarstrings. The fashion bracelets, which are much cheaper ($9.99) come in an array of different colors and can be customized with sterling silver charms that have the option of being stamped with an initial. A percentage of the proceeds goes to charity with the purchase of a fashion bracelet. This is such a cool, creative way to give back, and when people ask about your awesome new bracelet you have something to talk about as well.

Officially obsessed with: TOM Shoes

TOMs have been around since about 2006, yet I just recently heard about them through co-workers this past summer. I bought my first pair of red canvas classics in November which quietly started my love affair with the shoes. Now I own a second pair in navy (Love is the new black colorways) and have a pair of black glitters on the way. 

It is not just the trendy style of the shoe itself that grabs my attention. TOM's "One for one," mission is a beautiful idea in which for every pair of shoes you buy, the company donates a second pair to a child who is without shoes. 

TOMs are available for purchase at their official store, but also at high end department stores such as Bloomingdales, Nordstrom and Bergdorf Goodman's where you can score a pair that was made exclusively for that store. 

I've found they make amazing gifts because are trendy, yet versatile, plus it's pretty cool to say that your gift is helping out some cool kids having a rough time.

Sweet little bag.

I am in love with this pretty birdy bag. And this is coming from someone who doesn't particularly like the actual animals. However, I do tend to buy a lot of jewelry and accessories showcasing birds. I suppose I agree with the basic symbolism despite my fear of them attacking my hair on a windy city day.

Although I usually opt for leather bags, I've been becoming increasingly aware of more eco-friendly materials and looking for more hipster-esque items to add to my wardrobe.