February 7, 2008
today is my dad’s birthday so i went to dinner with the birthday boy and my mom. he’s not one to celebrate or make a big deal out of it anymore. love ya pops! i hope i never lose that birthday excitement. however the big 3-0 is staring me straight in the face in less than a month.
i wanted to wish my friend steve a very happy birthday! i first met him about 10 years ago when we met playing quake online and i ended up taking a train 23 hours to visit him and play together in a tournament in washington d.c. we had lost touch soon after that, but somehow our paths crossed again.
you have made a huge impact on me and i am forever grateful to have you in my life. people like you only are made every so often. you are a true friend and an amazing person who deserves nothing but the best.
today we were dumped with about 10 inches of snow throughout last night and all today. i ventured out twice and both times it felt like i was in a bad movie. our city has decided not to put salt down until the snow is completely done because they are running low on supply. now our streets are so packed with snow that it feels like you’re driving over rocks starring in a ford f-150 commercial. because of this latest storm, school was cancelled this morning, and i found out from a 6am automated phone call. so much for sleeping in!
February 6, 2008
The Rock Island-Milan School Board and Superintendent Rick Loy were pleased when all 40 precincts voted to support a recent school referendum. This will let the district issue bonds that will build a new elementary school and make substantial changes to 8 elementary schools and 2 junior high schools. Within this new school restructuring, there will be much choice built in for families. There will be an academy and a school which specializes in math and science. Another elementary school will specialize in liberal arts. Many meetings were held throughout the community and Superintendent Loy said he tried to be as honest as possible with the voters on this referendum. Hopefully by August of 2009 these new buildings will be ready for students.
The real surprise to me was that every precinct voted for this. Senior citizens often talk about their cost of living and how living on a fixed income is so difficult and yet they voted for good schools. It’s really heartwarming for a potential teacher to see a community come together with a common goal. The bottom line is that communities with good schools attract industry, jobs, and tax payers. I think Rock Island is a district to be admired for this radical step forward. The chance to begin teaching in an elementary school with a liberal arts focus would be wonderful. I think that having specialized school such as the math and science academies are something that been needed for a very long time. Most inner city schools have made steps towards revamping into academies long before this area. This will not only help our economy in the future, but also allow children to become more excited to go to school when they have the choice to decide what they want to study. Rock Island-Milan is trying to maintain a neighborhood school concept but is realistic enough to know that that pattern is antiquated. Many people opposed the new school because it happened to sit on what had been previously a historic landmark which was ruined by fire. I agree with those who felt that sacrificing the history of the area had to come second to this bold new use of such a large piece of ground in central Rock Island.
February 5, 2008
Every year I make a blog post with my favorite love songs to create a Valentines Day Mix Tape for the one you love. This Valentines Day, my previous post about making the really adorable labels goes really well with this. I’m truly a hopeless romantic and I think little suggestions of love make someone realize how much you mean to them.
My favorite love songs:
“Like You’ll Never See Me Again” - by Alicia Keys
“At Last” by Etta James
“Sparks” by Coldplay
“Magic” - by Colbie Caillat
“Better Together” - by Jack Johnson
“Your Guardian Angel” - by The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus
“Under You” - by Better Than Ezra
“Here In Your Arms” - by Hello Goodbye
“Stay Now” - by Jem
“Don’t Change” by Musiq Soulchild
“Suffocate” - by J. Holiday
“Look After You” - by The Fray
“Can’t Help But Wait” - by Trey Songs
Read the rest of this entry »
February 1, 2008
for this month’s project i have also combined it with my (now 4th annual) “mix tape valentine’s day gift.” last year i received SO much positive feedback from people who made this for their significant others. for those of you who don’t know…every year i make a “suggested” list of love songs to put on a mix cd to give as a valentine’s day gift. last year i asked my fellow seo/internet marketers what their favorite loves songs were. you can also just put on the cd songs that remind you of that person or “your songs” as your relationship has grown.
so as the project of the month, i found SUCH a cool thing on hp called cd/dvd tattoos! there are so many templates already created for you and all you have to do is insert cute photos of the two of you together and put a sweet quote or poem on the cd cover itself. how awesome are those?! if you feel like going the extra mile with this, you can also make a matching cd/dvd sleeve to put the cd inside. he/she is bound to love you forever just for the thought let alone the amazing cd cover! (good thing is it’s a fast and simple give that will make a huge impact!)
January 31, 2008
yes, i heart jt. best. concert. ever.
January 30, 2008
“Analytical Overview of”
Teaching about Local History Using Customized Photographs
By Andrea Schoemaker
Joseph Kirman’s article, Teaching about Local History Using Customized Photographs, explains how modern cameras have expanded teacher’s abilities to create and customize any image, scenery, atmosphere or environment for students in an elementary or secondary school. The use of a photo can create critical thinking units to compare past landscapes and society with today. By implementing five important objectives such as; the evolution of a location, viewing advancements during the computer age, creating urban infrastructure, understanding effects of pollution, and exploring land options, Kirman indicates re-photographing will enhance lessons. Old photographs can be obtained through a variety of sources. To re-photograph a location, the photographer needs to consider if the locations itself is still accessible. Angles, format, lens manipulation, editing and perspective are all equally important. Regardless of problems encountered, the photograph taken must stay on task for the teacher’s lesson. A group of photographs may have multiple educational applications which include art, writing, and guest lecturers that are familiar with the photographed area. Finally, Kirman lists a number of questions which may be helpful for a beginning photographer. He also includes an example highlighting a comparison of past and present educational systems through photography.
The author spends time examining all of the various things that need to be considered. He lists different locations where old photographs may be found to use as a basis. He further suggests exploring old collections of newspapers and magazines in museums and local libraries or even purchasing sets from available sources. Kirman spends a great deal of time explaining how a novice photographer goes about the process of re-photographing. Several important ideas include finding the original location of the photo, locating where the original photographer actual stood, and if the previous location is now unavailable, focus of the new picture should try to match the center of the old photo. He feels a re-photographer needs to be creative enough to find a similar perspective even if it means going higher or farther away. Every effort should be made to match the original perspective if possible. Using various lenses or manipulating a lens by zooming in or out will help a new re-photographer get the right angle. If neither of these options seems to help, the re-photographer needs to change his or her position and become closer or further away from the object. Consideration has to be given to the shape as format is equally important. One problem that may arise is that by following the shape, some of the area may be lost. Another problem that can occur is when the photo needs to be enlarged it might need to be cropped and further edited. However, sometimes the best efforts cannot get you an exact duplicate because locations and positioning are unavailable. Kirman suggests some re-photographers want the picture to look remarkably different because that fulfills a teaching objective. Comparisons can then be made between the two photos and used in many ways. Class projects vary greatly and these sets of photographs are unique teaching tools. They can be used by students and teachers for multiple lessons and community involvement.
An additional part of Kirman’s article centers on his many general suggestions for questions that the modern photographer should ask himself before beginning. Questions included whether scenery changes have affected the area photographed in a positive or negative way, or what might be viewed today that could never have been included in older photos. Additional questions deal with comparing lifestyles and environmental issues seen in the photos. Finally, Kirman suggests that a camera should always be included in any teachers’ trip. Opportunities for thematic units are available no matter where a teacher travels whether it is seasonal pictures or landscapes. This personal record is invaluable anytime a comparison wants to be made between eras. Kirman’s inclusion of an old school photograph is his example of how to create a unit dealing with school functions and behaviors of the past. Furthermore, discussion questions are included which would help a teacher guide students to talk about their observations in these pictures. Unit activities are also listed which broaden the usefulness of the photographs even further. The use of reflective questions help students pull together their ideas and share those ideas with one another. In conclusion n, this inexpensive and very personal classroom tool is a great aide for any teacher now or in the future.
Generally, I think Kirman’s article was inventive. Children are familiar with digital cameras and their uses. Implementing technology with visual images would be much more engaging than asking a class to read a selection about a local historic place or event. The inclusion of entire units and questions is so helpful to the beginner. Editing, formatting, and customizing photographs help create a learning experience for the teacher and the students if they become involved in the process. One drawback could be that a student could get lost in the creativity and lose focus by veering away from the educational objectives. The teacher would have to be quite specific about expectations and requirements to help the students stay on task. I am excited to visualize locations in this area which could be photographed for comparison or become the basis for field trips. I am an avid photographer and I look forward to incorporating these units, questions, and ideas into my classroom in the future. I enjoyed Kirman’s article and I think his suggestions are right on target for so many applications.
January 29, 2008
we’re supposed to be getting this crazy ass blizzard today so i just looked on weather dot com and typed in my zip code….wow, to my amazement we’re going to have “scat snow”
i had to take a screenshot immediately due to my horrifically perverted mind
January 28, 2008
Dawn Neuses wrote this article about the Rock Island-Milan School District getting a grant for $2 million dollars from the Illinois State Board of Education to develop a computer program called Classroom Cubed. The program is being developed by a local Rock Island company called JTM Concepts. The grant is funding the project to help kindergarten through 12th grade students learn math and science. JTM Concepts has agreed to offer the program free of charge to all educational institutions throughout the state. The lessons made from this program by Rock Island teachers will also be shared.
I understand the purpose of writing grants and that they are very detailed and focused on a specific topic. However, if I were to receive a grant for $2 million dollars, I would not use it in this same manner. I know that there are many classrooms in this school district that are in need of new books, desks, and teaching resources. I applaud the district for the contribution to the state in helping raise test scores in math and science, but what about the other subjects that continues to get left behind over and over. Okay so they have this money, and the company willing to make this product, why not integrate social studies, art, reading, and music while they are at it? Having some computer programming background myself, I know that each subject can model each other and the only thing that would be different is the content. I know there would be teachers willing to put time into this if it will truly help their curriculum.
January 24, 2008
Recently the state of Illinois put into place a new law which required “silent reflection” at the start of each school day. It actually dictated in Senate Bill 1463 that each teacher had to observe this silence but it could not be connected to a specific religious exercise. The legislature just called it an opportunity for the students to reflect. Many citizens did not agree and the law is being contested now.
My thought on this is what the legislators thought the students would be during at this time? Were they supposed to be thinking about lunch or worrying about a spelling test? Obviously these legislatures were making a not-so-subtle inference that prayer would be an option in public schools. I have observed this recently in an elementary classroom and noticed that it was nothing but an awkward silence. Children are unsure where to look, what to do, or what to think during this unusual silent moment in their classrooms and some even nervously laugh because they don’t really know how to respond. I do believe that there are social norms that children need to be taught, however this awkward moment of silence has never really been explained to most children because teachers didn’t ask for it and don’t seem to want it themselves. I feel that this time lost is a silly waste of precious school time to appease some legislator’s constituents. Perhaps they need to come to the schools and explain what this time is to be for exactly.
The only thing that comes close to this in my high school experience was the requirement to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. Some students chose not to say anything but did stand. I’m not really sure what would have happened if a teacher demanded that it was said because I never saw it go that far. I wonder what would happen if a student refused to be silent during this new time in an elementary classroom. I also think that there are teachers who aren’t even doing this because they are not seeing a value to their students. One possible solution to this would be if each classroom voted whether or not they wanted to observe this silence, or if a national tragedy or death of family member of a student occurred, then a moment of silence would be given out of respect.
January 22, 2008
Hi
It`s mariah again. Will you ever contact me?
I made those nude pictures especially for you and I wont write to you again!
If you wanna see them just drop me a line at: bmariah4@***.info