glogging

what a great time I have had learning to Glog. It puts the poster board concept in the shadows. I am glad that I will be able to take more away from this class other than identifying reading concerns--I have learned how to Glog and Blog--both are far easier for  students to be able to communicate their knowledge of an artist or a concept we are exploring.

more motivation

I am not a Country Music fan, however I am a Dolly Parton fan. In 1996 my family took a trip to Pigeon Forge. There I saw and heard about the Imagination Library Miss Dolly had started to ensure every child under the age of 5 was mailed an age appropriate book. Other counties and states have started the Imagination Libraries for their cities and towns. I know it took a huge amount of money to begin this, but more than anything it took the  foresight of a woman who knew there was a problem in her home community. I think that is what we are here for not for the funding of books but for the insight that our communities are in risk of becoming illiterate if we do not intervene.

motivation

What motivates people who do not want to be motivated?  Taking things away or setting higher standards... I'm not sure. I have a mental list of what I want to attempt or to possibly conquer, but what I desire for myself is probably not the desires of others. All I can do is share my aspirations and show I am not afraid to stretch , hope or possibly fail. I am supposed to be a positive role model not a hands off do nothing to improve myself poor example. I think that the best motivator for my students is to be involved and communicate the fact that my future lies with them.  I have found that with even my "troubled" students, if they knew they were disappointing me they at least tried to be better - behaviorally if nothing else. In the high school  ( it seems to me that) once you gain trust and the individual has a sense of place- motivation soon follows.

reading and understanding

my human family is gone for the evening so I have found myself reading aloud to my four legged family- hoping that reading aloud will help me to comprehend everything I have read. The dogs seem to have enjoyed the reading.... the cats, not so much.  There is so much to take in especially for one who has never taught reading  to a class of students. The premise seems easy, on the surface. It's the facets, like that of a cut diamond, that I concern myself with not being able to convey to students.  Like everything else I have encountered in my 21 years of teaching-- I will survive and be stronger for having gone through it.

wow it makes sense

word station to word wall  -when the reasoning behind the concept is explained it is easier to utilize the concept the correct way. I can now explain what I am doing not just have obligatory words on the wall.