Happy Thanksgiving 2011


I am so Thankful that all my children are here with me today.  That, despite the challenge it may be to gather, all my sisters were together last night. For those I love near and far. I am thankful that I have electricity, running water and heat.  So thankful I have a job, one I really enjoy.  I am thankful for my friends, those that make me smile and those that I share my daily woes with.  I am thankful for my runs, my hikes and my rest time too.  Most of all I am thankful for the happiness and health, even though I do have a cold/cough today.

Sometimes on the nicest of days we are forced to take a step back and rest. It is on days like this that opportunity to reflect exists. So here, I shall attempt to use a blog. Not even being sure what I want to, or need to, say I am here. Not even aware of who my audience will be.

Embracing the technology in our world as an opportunity to communicate is invaluable. We are forced to hear each other's voices when we read each others words. When I first started running, I learned how and why to listen better, mostly because I was so out of breathe.

Technology. like all else in life, needs to be used in moderation. The texting world, which many put down, allows those who do not thrive in a written world an equal playing field to communicate,"Just not while driving".

Now being able to use cell phones in our classroom, I can reach a parent in a moment and naturally create a inclusive classroom as needed. A student can use their apps to access that 150.00 graphing calculator, or just simply look up a word on dictionary.com. The time is here.

Remembering one of my dad's last words to be<, "I am certainly going to miss the future, What will come of these DVD's, CD's etc...?" At 79 years old (ten plus years ago)my dad embraced technology and its positives. I want to do the same. I want to be part of the future. I think of two friends I made this soccer season. Tim's grandmother and her friend; Patty and Pauline. We talked a lot about the changing world we live in. We laughed as they shared the apprehension of their teachers to use a "ballpoint pen". One can think back to people seeing the ability to past down stories by the horrible invention (once thought) of the book. People say that we lost our ability to remember. When the book was past down we no longer need to remember the story, as the words were saved on paper. Cursive, who knows? Will it be a lost art? How important is it to preserve these things? We have to decide as a society. Society will always be changing. I notice a classroom full of students with shorter attention spans, but full of an energy we need to embrace. I certainly need to change how I teach.