FDE updates

I found a tentative list of dates for the 2009 summer and thought I'd post it here.
http://etc.usf.edu/fde/

New SmartBoard Arrives

My school has a SmartBoard and I am doing the happy dance. I attended a training given by Patti Palancia the day after the board arrived. I plan on introducing it to my staff and using it for an upcoming Thinkfinity training. I believe the interactive activities I selected from Thinkfinity will be a great demo use of the board. Later I will get Smart Notebook installed on teacher machines. More training will be needed. It was recommended that the board be used by one teacher for three weeks. This would give adequate time to get used to it and to think of ways it can be used for class instruction. We hope to get more in the future.

What Do Teachers Make?

A grandmother of one of our students sent this to me. I'd seen it before, but felt it was worth posting.


The dinner guests were sitting around the table discussing life.  One man, a CEO, decided to explain the problem with education. 

He argued, 'What's a kid going to learn from someone who decided his best=2 0option in life was to become a teacher?'


He reminded the other dinner guests what they say about teachers: 'Those who can, do. Those who can't, teach.'


To emphasize his point he said to another guest; 'You're a teacher, Bonnie.  Be honest. What do you make?'

Bonnie, who had a reputation for honesty and frankness replied, 'You want to know what I make?

(She paused for a second, then began...)

·         'Well, I make kids work harder than they ever thought they could.

·         I make a C+ feel like the Congressional Medal of Honor.

·         I make kids sit through 40 minutes of class time when their parents can't make them sit for 5 without an I Pod, Game Cube or movie rental.

You want to know what I make?' (She paused again and looked at each and every person at the table.)

·         ''I make kids wonder.

·         I make them question.

·         I make them apologize and mean it.

·         I make them have respect and take responsibility for their actions.

·         I teach them to write and then I make them write.

·         Keyboarding isn't everything.

·         I make them read, read, read.

·         I make them sho w all their work in math. They use their God-given brain, not the man-made calculator.

·         I make my students from other countries learn everything they need to know in English while preserving their unique cultural identity.

·         I make my classroom a place where all my students feel safe.

·         I make my students stand, placing their hand over their heart to say the
Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag, One Nation Under God, because we live in the United States of America .


I make them understand that if they use the gifts they were given, work hard, and follow their hearts, they can succeed in life.'

(Bonnie paused one last time and then continued.) 

'Then, when people try to judge me by what I make, with me knowing money isn't everything, I can hold my head up high and pay no attention because they are ignorant... You want to know what I make?
 
I MAKE A DIFFERENCE. What do you make Mr. CEO?'
 
His jaw dropped, he went silent.

Do you believe?

If you haven't had a chance to view this awesome keynote address by a fifth grader in Dallas, you need to take a few moments now!

Family

I miss my MDE family members! After spending so many hours together over the summer, I look forward to checking email, twitter, iChat and FaceBook to see what people are doing.
Hope to get a group together in October in Tampa-Clearwater area for dinner. Interested?

Having fun with kitten, Mister Snickers.

Summer's End

The last of the summer institutes was held in Orlando at the University of Central Florida. What a campus! What a facility! Gordon took this photo of a sculpture at the entrance to the Teaching Academy building.

The participants were so enthusiastic and motivated. Many commented that it was the best professional development experience.

It was with a bit of sadness that we packed up the vans for the final time. All of us were anxious to get home, for sure, but we also had to bid farewell to colleagues and friends we shared the summer with. MDE's et al are an extension of our family.

With that said we can look ahead to a good school year. We'll share our lives through blogs, twitter, facebook, and ichats.

CyberBee

CyberBee

Great site for elementary students. Not only is there a great interactive question and answer activity for students on the basics of copyright, but there are currently posted 2008 election lessons.