Seeing her comment has made my day. It is not everyday that I get comments on my blog, much less from a young reader. Not a bad way to continue my day. Not bad at all.
Showing posts with label technology. Show all posts
Showing posts with label technology. Show all posts
Saturday, October 10, 2015
Inspired by a Comment
Yesterday, after a day of teaching and a long nap, I looked at my phone for any notifications. Unexpectedly, I saw that someone had left a comment for this blog Just Write Baby 1, 2,3...Go! I have received comments de vez en cuando (from time to time), so that wasn't so surprising. I noticed that the comment originated from one of my students. She had commented on one of my poems. It wasn't any of my poems that I had shared previously in class. It was a poem that I had written for my daughter on her 18th birthday. A few minutes ago, I read the comment. It was very exciting to see that one of my students is reading my blog at home and took the time to make a comment. Wow! It may not seem much to some people, but it means the world to me. I have been sharing my blog since school started. My students are exploring and using it with Edmodo in class and now I see at home.
Wednesday, September 2, 2015
Rainy Days and Mondays...Not Bad At All!
When I was driving to work this morning, these lyrics kept sounding in my head Rainy Days and Mondays always get be down. This Carpenter song would leave me alone. I wondered what type of day would I have. I left my house at my normal time. I hoped that there would be no blinking lights, car accidents or high water along the way. I expected some delays...I just didn't know how much. Surprisingly, I arrived at work 5 minutes than I usually do. There was only one car in the parking lot. So far, so good. Things were going well.
I had about an hour or so to prepare for my day. I put on some calm music and forgot about my active board. The evening before, someone had replaced a rather murky bulb with a bright one. Now I could actually use the active board and the students could actually see the board from the back of the classroom. Previously, they could see it only if both lights were off. The students also had to be within 3 feet of the screen. I am sure they felt myopic. When I turned it on today, I was wowed by the amplification and clarity. My day was definitely upbeat, despite the rainy forecast.
Today I was able to show my students my blog. They kept asking to see it, along with my YouTube channels. I only had time to show them this blog. As I scrolled down, it was evident how much I love to write, and in particular, poetry. I read to them my poem about Making Lemons. It was nice to share my love of blogging and poetry with them. One day soon, I will show them some of the educational videos that I previously made for the Elementary Digital Reading Project. (I feel the spirit movin' me to create a Google Site this year for and with my class. I have been thinking about doing something like this for quite sometime. Now I have the class and the platform to do so. Karen Justl and Angelique Moulton are you listening?)
This may sound rather elementary to some people, but I must confess that today I used Active Inspire without another person's help. In the past, I had always worked with teachers who would assist me as I worked with their classes. Today, all by my lonesome and with nineteen experts, I used Active Inspire. It went great. I used it mostly for Math In Focus-the online version. I think, the more I use it, the more comfortable I will feel. With Active Inspire, it is easier to use. I kept forgetting to "turn my mouse on" as the students kept telling me. Tomorrow, I will talk to them about using the cursor and pen. I asked them, "How could I have a mouse? I don't have a mouse! I have three cats!" "Huh?" one said and then with a short pause, he smiled. "Oh, I get it now!" Tomorrow we will refer to the mouse as the cursor.
To end the day, I finished the book Flora and Ulysses by Kate DiCamillo. What a charming book! I have been speaking to the students about how much I liked the book. One girl asked me, "Do you have two copies of that book?" I said, "Nope, but when I finish it today, would you like to read it?" That is the second student who has asked to read it. One of my students went to a colleagues Ludic Reading Library and checked out the book last week. When I gave the interested student the book today, her face lit up. She was so excited to read it. I brought in three new books to school that I received yesterday in the mail. I previewed Kate DiCamillo's new book with the class. Sure enough, just before Ludic Reading, one of my students asked to read it and took it home to read. I just love it! Love teaching! These moments are priceless. When you can put a book into a child's hands and make their day, it is so exhilarating. When I was their age, I hated reading. I don't want anyone to feel that way.
Now I love reading. Someone along the way introduced me to a good book. It was the librarian at little hole in the wall library in New Boston, Ohio. I remember going there in the Summer on my way home from baseball practice. The walk home was hot and the library had the best air conditioning in town, the coldest water fountain, and books that awaited me. I remember finally digging into biographies. The librarian always had kinds words to say to me and gave me lots of fun book marks. I hope to be that person who inspires others to read and write extensively this year.
Yes, I know, we have Math, Science and Social Studies too! We read and write in all of them!
Rainy days? Getting me down? I will leave that to The Carpenters and take my classroom any day. Four consecutive days posting! Not bad...not bad at all!
I had about an hour or so to prepare for my day. I put on some calm music and forgot about my active board. The evening before, someone had replaced a rather murky bulb with a bright one. Now I could actually use the active board and the students could actually see the board from the back of the classroom. Previously, they could see it only if both lights were off. The students also had to be within 3 feet of the screen. I am sure they felt myopic. When I turned it on today, I was wowed by the amplification and clarity. My day was definitely upbeat, despite the rainy forecast.
Today I was able to show my students my blog. They kept asking to see it, along with my YouTube channels. I only had time to show them this blog. As I scrolled down, it was evident how much I love to write, and in particular, poetry. I read to them my poem about Making Lemons. It was nice to share my love of blogging and poetry with them. One day soon, I will show them some of the educational videos that I previously made for the Elementary Digital Reading Project. (I feel the spirit movin' me to create a Google Site this year for and with my class. I have been thinking about doing something like this for quite sometime. Now I have the class and the platform to do so. Karen Justl and Angelique Moulton are you listening?)
This may sound rather elementary to some people, but I must confess that today I used Active Inspire without another person's help. In the past, I had always worked with teachers who would assist me as I worked with their classes. Today, all by my lonesome and with nineteen experts, I used Active Inspire. It went great. I used it mostly for Math In Focus-the online version. I think, the more I use it, the more comfortable I will feel. With Active Inspire, it is easier to use. I kept forgetting to "turn my mouse on" as the students kept telling me. Tomorrow, I will talk to them about using the cursor and pen. I asked them, "How could I have a mouse? I don't have a mouse! I have three cats!" "Huh?" one said and then with a short pause, he smiled. "Oh, I get it now!" Tomorrow we will refer to the mouse as the cursor.
To end the day, I finished the book Flora and Ulysses by Kate DiCamillo. What a charming book! I have been speaking to the students about how much I liked the book. One girl asked me, "Do you have two copies of that book?" I said, "Nope, but when I finish it today, would you like to read it?" That is the second student who has asked to read it. One of my students went to a colleagues Ludic Reading Library and checked out the book last week. When I gave the interested student the book today, her face lit up. She was so excited to read it. I brought in three new books to school that I received yesterday in the mail. I previewed Kate DiCamillo's new book with the class. Sure enough, just before Ludic Reading, one of my students asked to read it and took it home to read. I just love it! Love teaching! These moments are priceless. When you can put a book into a child's hands and make their day, it is so exhilarating. When I was their age, I hated reading. I don't want anyone to feel that way.
Now I love reading. Someone along the way introduced me to a good book. It was the librarian at little hole in the wall library in New Boston, Ohio. I remember going there in the Summer on my way home from baseball practice. The walk home was hot and the library had the best air conditioning in town, the coldest water fountain, and books that awaited me. I remember finally digging into biographies. The librarian always had kinds words to say to me and gave me lots of fun book marks. I hope to be that person who inspires others to read and write extensively this year.
Yes, I know, we have Math, Science and Social Studies too! We read and write in all of them!
Rainy days? Getting me down? I will leave that to The Carpenters and take my classroom any day. Four consecutive days posting! Not bad...not bad at all!
Wednesday, June 24, 2015
Reading Is Thinking 2.0 with Stephanie Harvey
Today I attended the first day of the Stephanie Harvey Reading Is Thinking 2.0 Conference. As I walked into the hotel I wondered about all that I would learn. I was excited to learn different ways to use the technology tools to enhance my literacy and cross curricular instruction. I have always been inspired by the work of Stephanie Harvey, so I knew that being here would be beneficial for me and my future students.
I am leaving a very satisfying position in my district as a former district instructional specialist and as a Lead iCoach (similar to a district literacy specialist) where I worked with curriculum, teachers and schools to share the latest strategies that enhance instruction. I have worked on the district level for seven wonderful years. I have decided to leave that position and join a great 4th grade team at Westwood Elementary to teach. It is refreshing and totally exhilarating to return to my first love, teaching elementary students. Because of this, being at this conference is truly inspiring. I really enjoyed a refresher on comprehension, but have learned a lot about how group collaboration must be taught and how it goes hand in hand in teaching all subjects. It will work especially well with project based learning and blended learning. The videos were very informative to watch and debrief.
Stephanie Harvey is no technological pushover either. I loved how Stephanie encouraged us to tweet using the hashtag #RITX2015. She is into Twitter like I am. It is nice to see that!
I had the great opportunity to talk to Sara Holbrook while waiting for coffee. We had a great discussion about writing and teaching poetry. It was nice to speak to a fellow poet. High Impact Writing Clinics. She also blogs too. We have much in common.
Maybe tomorrow I will have another opportunity. Last year I bought her book and have used it some with students and teachers. It is called
As if my day could not get any better, I looked at my Twitter notification and read that Katie Muhtraris coauthor of Connecting Comprehension and Technology is following me on Twitter! Is that cool or what? Please don't say what. We watched a video of Katie in her 5th grade classroom. She uses technology seamlessly in her classroom. I cannot wait until tomorrow's breakout session. Katie will be presenting to my group. I will learn from someone who does this everyday. I will take copious notes. There is so much to learn and it is right in front of me. I expect to walk away with so many ideas of how to blend technology with comprehension study. This upcoming school year, I won't be watching teachers get to do what I love anymore. I will be able to get first hand, extended opportunities and you can bet you bottom dollar that I will take the plunge and do it. I know it won't be perfect, but a great work in progress. Like Stephanie Harvey said today, " I am going to go slow to go fast."
What is my reflection on today? I am still taking it in and processing. I need to sleep on it and let the brain process all of this into my working memory and hopefully arrive at long term memory. It was certainly meaningful. Chances are, as David Sousa stated from How the Brain Learns, if learning is to have a high likelihood to be retained and stored in long term memory, it has to be meaningful (relevant) and make sense. This training is definitely relevant and makes total sense.
 |
| Stephanie Harvey |
I am leaving a very satisfying position in my district as a former district instructional specialist and as a Lead iCoach (similar to a district literacy specialist) where I worked with curriculum, teachers and schools to share the latest strategies that enhance instruction. I have worked on the district level for seven wonderful years. I have decided to leave that position and join a great 4th grade team at Westwood Elementary to teach. It is refreshing and totally exhilarating to return to my first love, teaching elementary students. Because of this, being at this conference is truly inspiring. I really enjoyed a refresher on comprehension, but have learned a lot about how group collaboration must be taught and how it goes hand in hand in teaching all subjects. It will work especially well with project based learning and blended learning. The videos were very informative to watch and debrief.
Stephanie Harvey is no technological pushover either. I loved how Stephanie encouraged us to tweet using the hashtag #RITX2015. She is into Twitter like I am. It is nice to see that!
I had the great opportunity to talk to Sara Holbrook while waiting for coffee. We had a great discussion about writing and teaching poetry. It was nice to speak to a fellow poet. High Impact Writing Clinics. She also blogs too. We have much in common.
 |
As if my day could not get any better, I looked at my Twitter notification and read that Katie Muhtraris coauthor of Connecting Comprehension and Technology is following me on Twitter! Is that cool or what? Please don't say what. We watched a video of Katie in her 5th grade classroom. She uses technology seamlessly in her classroom. I cannot wait until tomorrow's breakout session. Katie will be presenting to my group. I will learn from someone who does this everyday. I will take copious notes. There is so much to learn and it is right in front of me. I expect to walk away with so many ideas of how to blend technology with comprehension study. This upcoming school year, I won't be watching teachers get to do what I love anymore. I will be able to get first hand, extended opportunities and you can bet you bottom dollar that I will take the plunge and do it. I know it won't be perfect, but a great work in progress. Like Stephanie Harvey said today, " I am going to go slow to go fast."
What is my reflection on today? I am still taking it in and processing. I need to sleep on it and let the brain process all of this into my working memory and hopefully arrive at long term memory. It was certainly meaningful. Chances are, as David Sousa stated from How the Brain Learns, if learning is to have a high likelihood to be retained and stored in long term memory, it has to be meaningful (relevant) and make sense. This training is definitely relevant and makes total sense.
Thursday, May 7, 2015
Ready to Roll
Ready To Roll
By Maureen Ucles
Ready to roll
down the road
shake the dust
off my feet
to languish
in some other
place
place
Ready to roll
wipe the cobwebs free
bring creativity back
to me--
where it belongs
More than ready
seeing things clearer
deeper hues
sparking lights
more than ever before
ready,
simply ready
Ready...
set...
go!
Ready...
set...
go!
Wednesday, April 15, 2015
The Shallows-If I Only Had a Brain!
I am reading a very intriguing book called The Shallows by Nicolas Carr. I have been reading it since Sunday and I cannot put it down. When I get home from work, I plop myself down and continue my learning journey about my brain and the effects of prolonged internet use. It has definitely got me thinking about neuroplasticity, the memory, and the distracted nature of the internet.
Nicholas Carr shares much historical and scientific research about the distracted nature of the internet and the effects on our brains. Basically, because our brain changes when we learn something. Synaptic pathways are formed. If we have prolonged exposure to something that stimulates the brain, our brain will create pathways and crave more of that stimulus. Our brain mirrors or mimics what we see and experience. We are a product of our environment.
The internet is very busy with hyperlinks, ads, visual stimulants, and little text. When one reads information on the internet, they read differently than reading from a book in hand. Because of all the excess stimuli, the brain has to problem solve multiple stimuli, decide what to focus on and then be distracted again from clicking on hyperlinks while sifting through other distracting stimuli. We cannot think deeply about what we are learning because our brain is taking on too much information. It is working overtime. Thus working memory cannot hold more than 2 to 4 things at a time. When bombarded with an very active environment, our working memory is overloaded. When this occurs we call is it cognitive overload. Much of what we have read is considered shallow reading and the information gained has fallen through the cracks, down the drain. Thus our memory will not take hold and move to long term memory. We cannot remember what we did for hours and hours. We are driven to distraction.
Because of the neuroplasticity of our brain is ever changing. My brain today, will be different tomorrow,. The neurons are growing dendrite trees and creating synaptic pathways. Thus when we have prolonged internet use, we are training our brains to love and live in distraction. We cannot sit and delve into deeper reading, as we did before or write our thoughts in a coherent ways thanks to our distracted brain. Our brain, once literate and linear has become distracted, like the internet. Our brain is comparable to the activity of the internet. If you go to any meeting, people have their cell phones out constantly. Every second there is a notification from Face Book, Twitter, Instagram, a blog site, text or email. Everybody has been trained by their cell phones to check those notifications. We cannot put them down. We need them and must stay connected at all costs. The information that we gather is irrelevant. Who needs to know what Kim Kardashian is doing today on Twitter? But hey, it is trending. Did you know that former New England Patriot tight end Aaron Hernandez has been found guilty of first degree murder and will go to prison? It is on the tickers of ESPN and blowing up on Face Book. We have to have the latest information, even if it isn't important. Can we decipher what is important from all the garbage? But we must be connected and in the know! We cannot turn it off!
The internet and computers were supposed to make our lives easier with the calender notifications, notes and reminders, but this medium has now become our master. Think about it. I have become addicted to my smart phone. I cannot remember what I do daily. The day goes by so fast and it is a total blur. I look at my cell phone when I wake up, as I get ready for work, during work several times at lunch, during breaks and in meetings, When I get home, I hear the buzz and have to look down. I am on constant alert. Notifications, notifications, notifications. I have to know what is going on Facebook, Twitter and my emails. Texting is so much fun and is easier too. I don't like to talk to people on the phone, except my friends. It is easier to connect that way and become less human and more like...you got it... the internet, my computer and smart phone.
Carr raises lots of red flags that are very serious. Are we becoming, due to our brains plasticity, our computers? Are we becoming the technology that we created? Many questions need to be answered. But... I love technology! I have to pause and ask myself: What has the internet done and is currently doing to my brain?
My brain has changed for sure. I need to seek solitude, connect to the linear and literate part of me. I need to become more human. No wonder my memory has faded. My working memory can only take in so much. I want to get back to my pre-internet self with my books and writing. I think that my use of the internet will change now. I want a healthy brain, a more quiet brain where I have time to ponder and think deeply. This will allow the connections and learning to happen at a greater rate. I will have a sharper mind.
Reading The Shallows has given me pause. For that, I am grateful. It has opened up my eyes. Maybe you too will see the things in a new light. I certainly hadn't given it much thought before. I was too distracted, like our society. The effects on my brain scares me. How long have I lived here and how long will it take to reverse these ill effects? When I was driving home from work today, I turned my cell phone off, but I kept wanting to check at it at stop lights. It seems that I have to always be doing something. I am not okay with silence. My phone is there begging me to engage. I wasn't that way five years ago, not that I can remember. My mind has to always be busy, busy, busy. When will my thoughts and new learnings take hold, if I am always busy? They won't. I seek to find a greater balance. I need to get back to me. It will take time, but it will be worth the effort.
Nicholas Carr shares much historical and scientific research about the distracted nature of the internet and the effects on our brains. Basically, because our brain changes when we learn something. Synaptic pathways are formed. If we have prolonged exposure to something that stimulates the brain, our brain will create pathways and crave more of that stimulus. Our brain mirrors or mimics what we see and experience. We are a product of our environment.
The internet is very busy with hyperlinks, ads, visual stimulants, and little text. When one reads information on the internet, they read differently than reading from a book in hand. Because of all the excess stimuli, the brain has to problem solve multiple stimuli, decide what to focus on and then be distracted again from clicking on hyperlinks while sifting through other distracting stimuli. We cannot think deeply about what we are learning because our brain is taking on too much information. It is working overtime. Thus working memory cannot hold more than 2 to 4 things at a time. When bombarded with an very active environment, our working memory is overloaded. When this occurs we call is it cognitive overload. Much of what we have read is considered shallow reading and the information gained has fallen through the cracks, down the drain. Thus our memory will not take hold and move to long term memory. We cannot remember what we did for hours and hours. We are driven to distraction.
Because of the neuroplasticity of our brain is ever changing. My brain today, will be different tomorrow,. The neurons are growing dendrite trees and creating synaptic pathways. Thus when we have prolonged internet use, we are training our brains to love and live in distraction. We cannot sit and delve into deeper reading, as we did before or write our thoughts in a coherent ways thanks to our distracted brain. Our brain, once literate and linear has become distracted, like the internet. Our brain is comparable to the activity of the internet. If you go to any meeting, people have their cell phones out constantly. Every second there is a notification from Face Book, Twitter, Instagram, a blog site, text or email. Everybody has been trained by their cell phones to check those notifications. We cannot put them down. We need them and must stay connected at all costs. The information that we gather is irrelevant. Who needs to know what Kim Kardashian is doing today on Twitter? But hey, it is trending. Did you know that former New England Patriot tight end Aaron Hernandez has been found guilty of first degree murder and will go to prison? It is on the tickers of ESPN and blowing up on Face Book. We have to have the latest information, even if it isn't important. Can we decipher what is important from all the garbage? But we must be connected and in the know! We cannot turn it off!
The internet and computers were supposed to make our lives easier with the calender notifications, notes and reminders, but this medium has now become our master. Think about it. I have become addicted to my smart phone. I cannot remember what I do daily. The day goes by so fast and it is a total blur. I look at my cell phone when I wake up, as I get ready for work, during work several times at lunch, during breaks and in meetings, When I get home, I hear the buzz and have to look down. I am on constant alert. Notifications, notifications, notifications. I have to know what is going on Facebook, Twitter and my emails. Texting is so much fun and is easier too. I don't like to talk to people on the phone, except my friends. It is easier to connect that way and become less human and more like...you got it... the internet, my computer and smart phone.
Carr raises lots of red flags that are very serious. Are we becoming, due to our brains plasticity, our computers? Are we becoming the technology that we created? Many questions need to be answered. But... I love technology! I have to pause and ask myself: What has the internet done and is currently doing to my brain?
My brain has changed for sure. I need to seek solitude, connect to the linear and literate part of me. I need to become more human. No wonder my memory has faded. My working memory can only take in so much. I want to get back to my pre-internet self with my books and writing. I think that my use of the internet will change now. I want a healthy brain, a more quiet brain where I have time to ponder and think deeply. This will allow the connections and learning to happen at a greater rate. I will have a sharper mind.
Reading The Shallows has given me pause. For that, I am grateful. It has opened up my eyes. Maybe you too will see the things in a new light. I certainly hadn't given it much thought before. I was too distracted, like our society. The effects on my brain scares me. How long have I lived here and how long will it take to reverse these ill effects? When I was driving home from work today, I turned my cell phone off, but I kept wanting to check at it at stop lights. It seems that I have to always be doing something. I am not okay with silence. My phone is there begging me to engage. I wasn't that way five years ago, not that I can remember. My mind has to always be busy, busy, busy. When will my thoughts and new learnings take hold, if I am always busy? They won't. I seek to find a greater balance. I need to get back to me. It will take time, but it will be worth the effort.
Monday, April 13, 2015
Abydos Summaries
I have been working overtime on reading several books and writing summaries for Abydos. I am doing fine, but sometimes, when I finish a summary, something crazy overtakes me. I begin to create memes. I do this to let off the stress and celebrate. Here are some of my latest memes.
Saturday, March 21, 2015
Me and My Memes!
I just found a new toy. This toy cannot be bought on line with Amazon or at Toys R Us! No, this toy is meme making! I find it such fun! I recently went back to my site for making memes https://imgflip.com/memegenerator and I found out that other people on this site actually look at my memes. One person responded to two of my memes. They were really funny! I never thought or considered that a meme could answer another meme. I leave you with the original meme that I created and the response meme. Then I left you with a few of the memes that I created today. Fun!
 |
| My Original Meme |
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| Response to my meme (see photo above) |
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| My original meme |
 |
| Response to my meme (see koala meme above) |
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| My new meme |
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| My new meme |
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| My new meme |
Friday, March 13, 2015
Memes and Writing
As I worked with some young writers the other day, I shared a writer's secret with them. I shared the use of thoughts shots. The idea of thought shots comes from Barry Lane. You can look him up on YouTube and go to Discover Writing to find out more. He has a wide variety of books about teaching writing and writer's craft.Thought Shots PDF http://www.discover-writing.com/
I showed these young writers how I can add thought shots to my writing to make it better. By adding thought shots readers are allowed into the mind of the writer or character. What was I thinking? What was going on in my mind or the character's mind? I gave them a few examples from other student produced writing and asked them to listen for it as I read my first draft the second time. I highlighted it each time that they said that they heard a thought shot. I also added a few more thought shots as I plodded along. I then invited the students to add some thought shots of their own. It was quite amazing to see them in deep thought. You could hear a pin drop in the room as revised their writing.
What does this have to do with memes? I thought about memes the previous day. What if I began a lesson on thought shots and I started it out with memes? The memes are a kind of thought shot. You have to read the character's face and read the thoughts of the character. It is a kind of thought shot. Then I thought I would bridge it over to my writing by asking, "How can I show what I am thinking in my personal narrative?" Then I would show them the use of thought shots.
Last night, I googled memes and how to make them. I found a website where you could upload a photo and then add captions to the photo. https://imgflip.com/memegenerator This website also had some examples of what people has previously created. I played around with a few. Here is what I came up with: (please keep in mind that I am an amateur at this):
Wednesday, March 11, 2015
Very Young Author
A teacher from my staff development shared with me a video created by one of her students. This young boy created a book, took photos and made a digital book. He added his voice to narrate. I thought it was so cute. What about you? Just goes to show you what our kids can do when given the opportunity. The teacher shared with me that he did this all on his own! She said he was super motivated.
Tuesday, March 10, 2015
My Experience with Blogging
All day long I kept thinking about my blog Just Write, Baby! 1, 2, 3...Go! For the past week, I have been transferring my posts from my previous blog to this one.
Going through the process of copying and pasting, brought back memories of posts past. I would stop, read, and reflect on my journey. What I am learning, through this post relocation process, is that I do love to write.
Why did I start a blog in the first place? I wanted to have a place to hold some of my ideas and thoughts. I also wanted to invite other contributors to join me. Many of these people were friends
Through blogging, I discovered that I had a lot to say. The more I posted, the more ideas would come. Writing became a welcome friend that helped me explore ideas. I may not have explored these ideas, if not for the blog. Blogging also gave me a voice and more motivation to write.
E. M. Forster was purported to say, "How do I know what want to think, until I see what I say?" I really connect with this. It makes perfect sense to me. Through blogging, I have been able to explore so much in my writing. I can see what I want to say by crafting my many posts. My posts start out this way and end up that way. Sometimes, the end result is a polar opposite of where I started. I love that when this happens. Oh, the places you'll go! Blogging daily has helped me realize something important about myself: I was born to write. (This is my epiphany. You may not agree. For me, it is true.) I am more motivated than ever to let the words fly. I am happy to continue this journey with Just Write, Baby! 1...2...3...Go! I hope you will join me.
Going through the process of copying and pasting, brought back memories of posts past. I would stop, read, and reflect on my journey. What I am learning, through this post relocation process, is that I do love to write.
Why did I start a blog in the first place? I wanted to have a place to hold some of my ideas and thoughts. I also wanted to invite other contributors to join me. Many of these people were friends
Through blogging, I discovered that I had a lot to say. The more I posted, the more ideas would come. Writing became a welcome friend that helped me explore ideas. I may not have explored these ideas, if not for the blog. Blogging also gave me a voice and more motivation to write.
E. M. Forster was purported to say, "How do I know what want to think, until I see what I say?" I really connect with this. It makes perfect sense to me. Through blogging, I have been able to explore so much in my writing. I can see what I want to say by crafting my many posts. My posts start out this way and end up that way. Sometimes, the end result is a polar opposite of where I started. I love that when this happens. Oh, the places you'll go! Blogging daily has helped me realize something important about myself: I was born to write. (This is my epiphany. You may not agree. For me, it is true.) I am more motivated than ever to let the words fly. I am happy to continue this journey with Just Write, Baby! 1...2...3...Go! I hope you will join me.
Monday, March 9, 2015
Mean Girls Lyrics and Video Rachel Crow-Poetry, Personal Narrative, Expository Writing-Bullying
I have returned to this post from my previous blog. Returning to it after three years brings new ideas to my mind. Definitely this could be used as a trigger or stimulus for writing. It definitely could be trigger for the personal narrative or expository writing. I could use it to write poetry as well. It would depend on the reader's and writer's stance.
I do know that showing this video has produced great conversation and writing.
Cause the moment you arrive they all leave the table
Calling me everything but my name
Need I remind you again just call me Rachel
How would you feel if you running home crying
Lock yourself in your room, don't want anyone to see ya
While everyone's having fun outside, and you're telling yourself
I won't let it get to me no more
I don't wanna feel this way
I can't believe I let it go so far
No no, it's not okay
What do you know about me?
Do you wanna know what I think?
Mean girls, mean girls
I'm a just comb you outta my curls
Mean girls, mean girls
You no longer run my world
Mean girls, mean girls
I'm a just comb you outta my curls
How would you feel every time you go to school
Someone's looking at you weird calling you a loser
All these girls wearing bubble-gum pink
Guess I didn't get the memo
Cause they're laughing at my blue shirt
Well I hope you feeling good about you treating someone you know like a perfect stranger
Cause it's easier than standing by my side
Ohhh
I won't let it get to me no more
I don't wanna feel this way
I can't believe I let it go so far
No no, it's not okay
What do you know about me?
Do you wanna know what I think?
Mean girls, mean girls
I'm a just comb you outta my curls
Mean girls, mean girls
You no longer run my world
Who do you think you are
Loud mouth, cafeteria star
Maybe somebody was cruel to you
So you think that's what you're supposed to do
One day, it might be you
When you need a friend, but you no longer cool
When everyone leaves when you walk in the room
I just hope they forgive you
I won't let it get to me no more
I don't wanna feel this way
I can't believe I let it go so far
No no, it's not okay
What do you know about me?
Do you wanna know what I think?
Mean girls, mean girls
I'm a just comb you outta my curls
Mean girls, mean girls
You no longer run my world
Mean girls, mean girls
I'm a just comb you outta my curls
Mean girls, mean girls
You no longer run my world
Triggers for Reading and Writing-One Direction-What Makes You Beautiful
The very popular boy band called One Direction produced a song that could be used for my different purposes in the classroom. This song could be used to further explore lyrical poetry, be a trigger for writing poetry or expository writing. There are many ways this song could be used in the classroom. What is your reading and writing stance?
What Makes You Beautiful-One Direction
"What Makes You Beautiful"
What Makes You Beautiful-One Direction
"What Makes You Beautiful"
[Verse 1]
[Liam]
You're insecure,
Don't know what for,
You're turning heads when you walk through the door,
Don't need make-up,
To cover up,
Being the way that you are is enough,
[Bridge]
[Harry]
Everyone else in the room can see it,
Everyone else but you,
[Chorus]
[All]
Baby you light up my world like nobody else,
The way that you flip your hair gets me overwhelmed,
But when you smile at the ground it ain't hard to tell,
You don't know,
Oh oh,
You don't know you're beautiful,
If only you saw what I can see,
You'll understand why I want you so desperately,
Right now I'm looking at you and I can't believe,
You don't know,
Oh oh,
You don't know you're beautiful,
Oh oh,
That's what makes you beautiful
[Verse 2]
[Zayn]
So c-come on,
You got it wrong,
To prove I'm right,
I put it in a song,
I don't know why,
You're being shy,
And turn away when I look into your eye eye eyes,
[Bridge]
[Harry]
Everyone else in the room can see it,
Everyone else but you,
[Chorus]
[All]
Baby you light up my world like nobody else,
The way that you flip your hair gets me overwhelmed,
But when you smile at the ground it ain't hard to tell,
You don't know,
Oh oh,
You don't know you're beautiful,
If only you saw what I can see,
You'll understand why I want you so desperately,
Right now I'm looking at you and I can't believe,
You don't know,
Oh oh,
You don't know you're beautiful,
Oh oh,
[Harry]
That's what makes you beautiful
Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na
Na Na Na Na Na Na [x2]
[Middle 8]
[Harry]
Baby you light up my world like nobody else,
The way that you flip your hair gets me overwhelmed,
But when you smile at the ground it ain't hard to tell,
[All]
You don't know,
Oh oh,
You don't know you're beautiful,
[Chorus]
[All]
Baby you light up my world like nobody else,
The way that you flip your hair gets me overwhelmed,
But when you smile at the ground it ain't hard to tell,
You don't know,
Oh oh,
You don't know you're beautiful ([Zayn:] Oh),
If only you saw what I can see,
You'll understand why I want you so desperately ([Harry:] desperately),
Right now I'm looking at you and I can't believe,
You don't know,
Oh oh,
You don't know you're beautiful,
Oh oh,
You don't know you're beautiful,
Oh oh,
[Harry]
That's what makes you beautiful
[Liam]
You're insecure,
Don't know what for,
You're turning heads when you walk through the door,
Don't need make-up,
To cover up,
Being the way that you are is enough,
[Bridge]
[Harry]
Everyone else in the room can see it,
Everyone else but you,
[Chorus]
[All]
Baby you light up my world like nobody else,
The way that you flip your hair gets me overwhelmed,
But when you smile at the ground it ain't hard to tell,
You don't know,
Oh oh,
You don't know you're beautiful,
If only you saw what I can see,
You'll understand why I want you so desperately,
Right now I'm looking at you and I can't believe,
You don't know,
Oh oh,
You don't know you're beautiful,
Oh oh,
That's what makes you beautiful
[Verse 2]
[Zayn]
So c-come on,
You got it wrong,
To prove I'm right,
I put it in a song,
I don't know why,
You're being shy,
And turn away when I look into your eye eye eyes,
[Bridge]
[Harry]
Everyone else in the room can see it,
Everyone else but you,
[Chorus]
[All]
Baby you light up my world like nobody else,
The way that you flip your hair gets me overwhelmed,
But when you smile at the ground it ain't hard to tell,
You don't know,
Oh oh,
You don't know you're beautiful,
If only you saw what I can see,
You'll understand why I want you so desperately,
Right now I'm looking at you and I can't believe,
You don't know,
Oh oh,
You don't know you're beautiful,
Oh oh,
[Harry]
That's what makes you beautiful
Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na
Na Na Na Na Na Na [x2]
[Middle 8]
[Harry]
Baby you light up my world like nobody else,
The way that you flip your hair gets me overwhelmed,
But when you smile at the ground it ain't hard to tell,
[All]
You don't know,
Oh oh,
You don't know you're beautiful,
[Chorus]
[All]
Baby you light up my world like nobody else,
The way that you flip your hair gets me overwhelmed,
But when you smile at the ground it ain't hard to tell,
You don't know,
Oh oh,
You don't know you're beautiful ([Zayn:] Oh),
If only you saw what I can see,
You'll understand why I want you so desperately ([Harry:] desperately),
Right now I'm looking at you and I can't believe,
You don't know,
Oh oh,
You don't know you're beautiful,
Oh oh,
You don't know you're beautiful,
Oh oh,
[Harry]
That's what makes you beautiful
Sunday, March 8, 2015
Bunny GIF...TOO Cute!
I just cannot resist this. You may think me crazy and you might just be right! The bunny is so very cute! I added it to a Cadbury Bunny earlier and I just had to bring this back from a post made in 2013 in Just Write Baby! I hope you find it adorable too. Bunnies are so sweet!
So I was thinking. Yes, I was thinking about eating my lunch. My daughter sent me this Gif link from her Tumbler Blog. Isn't the bunny so cute! The bunny reminds me that I need to eat more greens. CUTE!
Saturday, March 7, 2015
Xtranormal Crazy-Bantering Buds
Xtranormal Crazy
Check out my new Xtranormal video-Bantering at Work. I will use the idea of Xtranormal in other ways too. It's been far too long since I created my first ones. Click on the link below.
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