The hump

Every school year after testing the children and teachers go into this malaise.  2+ Months to go in the year and we are worn out from the stress of testing.

How do we get over this hump?

I am doing it by fully reorganizing my lab and how I do things. I am using web 2.0 tools for grade books(engrade.com),  lesson planning(lesson planner advanced) and appointment books(Nirvanahq.com).  I am changing layout of room and all numbered tags to make everything neat and clean.

I am also trying to do more creative and interactive lessons.  The students are making trading cards of themselves and will work on either garageband or making some kind of video.

I know the change in room has helped me a bit and the students seem to be engaged with new vigor and excitement.  I hope that anyone who reads this can get over the hump like I am and have a great rest of the year.

A Kind Word

Sometimes in this hectic world a small thing can be a major deal.  Last weekend was Educon in my backyard of Philadelphia but I couldn't go becuase of too much going on with my life with family members in rehab (Physical) and commitments that couldn't be cancelled.  This to me seemed to be the final nail in my coffin of web2.0 and trying to be a part of it.  I figured I would still go on, look at info but would not be an active part.  Why should I?  Everytime I tweeted something no one would respond, I had no resources that the people who follow me haven't already read and I just and so overwhelmed with the real world that my virtual world was crumbling.

But then,

While checking twitter for URL's to help my school or myself personally I got retweeted by cybraryman1.  He had replied about a comment I had made about track and field and from there he looked at my blog, liked it and placed it on one of his many impressive pages.  I told him thanks that I felt it was a waste of bandwidth but he liked it and said my blog is important.

I have had self esteem problems for years and in this super tech world of 2.0 I really felt like I didn't belong but now I do.  I have some great members in my PLN, mbteach, web20classroom, etc...  and I need to just take chances, focus, and find my virtual voice.

Oh, and also to share good words.  I forgot how good a few words can make a person.  It really changed my day, and I hope I can remember to be nicer and change some other peoples days for the best.

BTW you look wonderful have you lost weight?