"Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude." Zig Ziglar

How far you go to achieve your goals in life depends on your perserverance, not your natural abilities. So no matter how smart or talented a person is, without dedication and enthusiasm, there is minimal, if any success.

As educators, we must believe in what we do for our students in order to be successful. When we do our best, we are able to make a difference in our student's lives.

We presented our Geo-narratives during our previous class session. I enjoyed seeing how different subject areas and grade levels can benefit by using Google earth. Being able explore Google earth and record a tour was awesome. I plan on further exploring or playing with the website during Christmas vacation.

Good luck to you all on your final presentations! See you in class!

Image by google

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Class on Thursday was great. I had the chance to watch my colleagues present their Geo Narrative. They all had excellent ideas on various lessons utilizing Google Earth. I was missing my standards for my lesson plan so given the option to present on Dec. 3 was the best date for me to present. Days are going by so quick that we only have one more class meeting to go. I can't believe we are so close to ending this semester. So have to buckle down and getting working on LIVETEXT uploads and Finalizing my Geo Narrative Lesson Plan N.E.T.S. Taking it day by day but it will all get done.

Before I leave I want to wish everyone and their family a Blessed Thanksgiving!

It was more than Turkey!

"A teacher who can arouse a feeling for one single good action, for one single good poem, accomplishes more than he who fills our memory with rows and rows of natural objects, classified with name and form." -- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Sorry, I missed class today and that I didn't get to see your presentations. But my students and I had a pre-arranged event. We hosted a Thanksgiving dinner for the manamko at Guma Trankilidat; this is our 5th year to do so.

This quote is quite fitting for this evening for me because after the function, as we were waiting for everyone to be picked up, my students expressed their experiences and thoughts of this evening. They all seemed to feel good about themselves hearing that the residents of the home praising them for a job well done and how the made them feel "alive" again with our presence. The kids finally understood why they were there and that the residents really appreciated them visiting.

One girl asked me if we could come back and do this kind of activity again, she asked me this and then started to cry. She told me that she felt guilty and that she regrets not spending time with her grandparents. Another student also declared to the group that they aren' t going to take people and the passing days for granted anymore.

All in all, the emotions that spilled out today made me feel that I accomplished something different, something more than a number grade; that I had reached a new teaching standard/ method. So if you ask me what content standards I used today, I wouldn't just have 3 to justify the lessons learned - I used ALL of them!

In this video, President Napoleon is giving his thanks to us for coming. I sure hope it plays.

We're almost done

"They may forget what you said but they will never forget how you made them feel." - Carol Buchner

Sometimes I wonder if I am wasting too much energy when I teach because it seems that my students aren't listening to me, however I think that the energy and enthusiasm I bring to my classroom make my students happy to be there.

Today was a short day in class and I enjoyed the presentations, I am a bit disappointed with myself because my place marks were not saved properly. Overall I think everyone who presented did a great job and I am looking forward to seeing the others present in our next class meeting. So we are almost done with the semester, lets not stress out too much with our portfolios everyone.

GEO NARRATIVE

Tonight we looked at different geo-narratives and lesson plans. It was nice to see the different creative styles we each have. Using google earth was fun and there is so much more to explore with it. It did take some time to learn but after a few trial and errors, and information given in class it turned out to be a success.

Have a Blessed Thanksgiving!

loads of fun

"It isn't the load that weighs us down - it's the way we carry it." - Anonymous

We tend to be bombarded with many things that go on in our life. Whether it's work, school, or extracurricular activities. How we react to it depends on how we carry it. It wasn't until I started teaching that I learned the value of patience. No matter what comes our way, we should try to find a positive side to it and not let it affect our emotions because we may just end up taking out on someone we care about.

Google Earth

Tonight's class was a learning experience for me. As I presented my lesson, I realized that I was missing the standards in my lesson plan. So I need to go back and make adjustments to each of my lessons. As I presented Google Earth, I wasn't confident that I was presenting it the right way, but with the help with everyone in class, I was able to correct what I was doing incorrectly. Thanks for the help. Everyone who presented tonight had really great topics that their lessons reflected upon. Kudos!

"Learning is finding out what we already know. Doing is demonstrating that you know it. Teaching is reminding others that they know just as much as you. You are all learners, doers and teachers." Richard Bach

This quote reflects my feelings of tonight's class and my presentation.

Celebrate your accomplishments!

Google image

"The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate."


-Oprah Winfrey

A goal is a dream with a deadline. Napoleon Hill

I believe in dreams. You can have many dreams which allow you to go above and beyond. We need to take hold of our dreams and make it a reality. By placing a goal, we are now able to reach our dreams and achieve success!

My goal is to successfully complete this class! After the Language Arts Conference, I felt one step closer to reaching my goal. However, there are still several huge steps left to take. I need all the time and energy left to make this happen.

image by: tarotuk.co.uk

You think,....

"Treat people as if they were what they ought to be and you help them become what they are capable of becoming." -- Goethe

This quote is exactly how I fell everyone should be to each other. Treat everyone as you would like to be treated. We should give our students the benefit of the doubt when it comes to respect because it is a two way street. Aside from respect when you address someone with the dignity they deserve they will eventually act more to the part they are perceived as (especially when its a positive perception).

For some odd reason this quote reminds me of a couple Disney movies and songs. Like Pocahontas' song color of the wind. This songs talks about people who think they know everything and those who think they own things. Her message is a reminder that everything belongs to itself and no other and that everyone is connected somehow so the treatment should be just so. And not to judge someone for who you think they are; find out more about them from that person; don't assume.

Who knows you could have a class full of potential doctors and lawyers who could be saving your life one day.

Awesome job on the presentation everyone! and thanks to Yollie and Dar for putting the slides together even at the very moment!!

Pressure

Okay, so I am trying my best to get everything completed for the upcoming class presentations and to finalize the remaining assignments that are due. I am currently completing my lesson plan for my geo-narrative presentation and touching up on my live text portfolio. I am not to sure about everyone else but I am starting to feel the pressure of the stress building up inside of my head! Great Job to everyone for a great group presentation @ the L.A. Conference.

"If a seed of lettuce will not grow, we do not blame the lettuce. Instead, the fault lies with us for not having nourished the seed properly" -Buddist proverb

I chose this quote but it reflects my current situation of procrastinating and not being on top of my work!

another blog

Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life's coming attractions.

Albert Einstein

This week was spend finalizing the blog and the the livetext portfolio. I haven't done too much work for either of them. I tend to wait until all the explorations are complete before I start compiling my portfolio. My blog is still a work in progress. As I went about the course requirements, I've been making notes has to how to put the technology portfolio together.

Lessons through story

"Thought flows in terms of stories -- stories about events, stories about people, and stories about intentions and achievements. The best teachers are the best storytellers. We learn in the form of stories." -- Frank Smith


This quote has much meaning to me as I tell my students many stories of my experiences as a student. Many of the stories I tell them deal with strategies I developed in becoming more competent learner as well as my experiences with peer pressure growing up as a teenager. I try to always encourage my students to stay on the path of learning and not to be distracted by unnecessary activities and inappropriate actions. I tell them many stories about my experiences because as a child I didn't have many adults share their experiences with me and I hope that my stories will help them someway as they grow older.

I have been thinking about what types of activities to do with for my Google Earth presentation. I am thinking about comparing landforms, exploring the infrastructure of a major city or taking a site seeing tour for my lessons.

storytelling

"Thought flows in terms of stories -- stories about events, stories about people, and stories about intentions and achievements. The best teachers are the best storytellers. We learn in the form of stories." -- Frank Smith

Not only are teachers the best storytellers, so are parents. I love to relate with the students. I feel that it makes them feel like we are human too. We make mistakes and learn from them. We are with students probably more than they are with their own family. During character when we talk about the weekend or experiences in life, it's really rewarding when they will come up to you later and ask you more or ask for advice.

Congratulations, ED638 Students!

Dear ED638 Students,

Congratulations! You did an awesome presentation at the Language Arts Conference! The participants walked away with a wealth of knowledge on effective Internet tools that they can use to enhance instruction! I'm so proud of all of you! Keep up the great work, and I'll see you online today!

All the best,
Dr. Rivera

Making a Difference!

"To me success means effectiveness in the world, that I am able to carry my ideas and values into the world--that I am able to change it in positive ways." Maxine Hong Kingston

As an educator, being successful is not only guiding students toward academic achievement but also in their social and emotional well-being. Inspiring and nurturing students to develop into good, productive citizens makes a world of difference! If I made an impact on at least one student, I was successful!


Last class we had an opportunity to practice our internet tools presentation for the Language Arts Conference. I was able to get a better feel and idea of what to expect during the presentation. It also helped me to build a little more confidence in myself as I prepared for my first conference presentation ever. I appreciate the opportunity to work with my colleagues.



image by: ecisd.us

Sorry Everyone Been Missing In Action!

Hi Everyone! Sorry, I've been out recovering and trying to get as much rest while on leave. I'll be seeing you all though next class meeting. Here's a picture of my adorable baby girl whom I can't take my eyes off. I gave birth October 24, 2009 at GMH. My baby girl came out weighing 6.5 pounds and 19.5 inches long. She's a blessing given to us from God above because my hubby and I been waiting for 4 years to have our bundle of joy. We're so thankful she came healthy and right in time for the holidays.

Hope all is great with everyone especially with the Language Arts Conference outcome.
I heard you all did a great job! KUDOS!

“To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children...to leave the world a better place...to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.” --Ralph Waldo Emerson

“If you're going to be able to look back on something and laugh about it, you might as well laugh about it now.”—Marie Osmond

There are times in the classroom and at home where a moment calls for a good laugh. I never pass up this opportunity (unless its at the expense of others) and encourage my students to do the same. I believe that its important to take advantage of these moments and make memories from them.

Clip art source: google.com

Learning by example

“We learn by example and by direct experience because there are real limits to the adequacy of verbal instruction.” -- Malcom Gladwell

This quote is very relevant to the importance of employing different approaches in instruction. In addition to catering to students who are more receptive to kinesthetic learning, teachers can also develop activities in which students learn through applying the lessons within the context of a personal experience.

Also, in more general terms, learning by example is one of the most powerful learning strategies. In many occupational fields, academic work merely provides a preliminary foundation upon which the actual experience—gained from on-the-job training—is built.

(Image from http://www.ecrater.com)

“Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.”-- Ralph Waldo Emerson

There are many times that I have taken the beaten path and followed the flock. In life, things would be so much easier if we just all did what we were supposed to do. But what would make life more extraordinary is to do something that everyone else did not do. Sing a song when you cry. Talk to the mirror. Put a funny sticker on your student's hand. Write your student a note on scrap paper that he/she threw away. Choosing to do something that is beyond typical is what defines the passion of a person.

Clip art source: google.com

googleimage.com

"Good teaching is more a giving of right questions than giving of right answers."-Josef Albers

With the right questions, you can encourage a student to share, and the learning begins.