Flying High!

"High achievement always takes place in the framework of high expectations."-Jack and Garry Kinder

In the field of education, if the school community has high expectations for student learning there will be high achievement. Everyone involved in the students education is held accountable for the student's level of success. Although it may take some students longer to reach their goal, with encouragement and perseverence, they will eventually get there. Because there are high expectations in place for us in our ED638 class, I must make the necessary effort to attain that high level of achievement. If we aim high, we can fly high!

Image: artabundanceproject.com

Late Post

I apologize for posting my blog so late. I'm trying my best to catch up with all my work load that is currently piling up. I was able to complete my Mid-Term Reflection on time though, it's a matter of blogging and moodling ontime that I need to work on improving for the remainder of the semester. Does anyone else have the same issues as me? Personal Technology Blog is coming along, I have already selected the 3 sites that I want to post in my blog. So as a class have we decided what we are doing for the Language Arts Conference? Let me know, so I can contribute.

"It is not what is poured into a student that counts but what is planted." -Linda Conway

Teaching can be a complex thing, you must ensure that what you are teaching your students stays rooted in their minds rather than poured in.

Why Dream?

"To accomplish great things, we must not only act, we must also dream; not only plan, but also believe." Anatolie France

Image: eso-garden.com

My interpretation of this quote is that our plans for success in life can be accomplished if we have faith in ourselves and our ability to carry out our plans. Not only do we live day by day, but we need to look above and beyond, dream big! Having a goal to reach leads to a sense of achievement in life.

"Life is no brief candle for me. It is a sort of splendid torch which I have got hold of for the moment and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations." -- George Bernard Shaw

There are many lessons to learn in life. We must select the lessons that must keep the light burning.

The lesson on reflection is a light burner.

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I'm still learning

"Ideal teachers are those who use themselves as bridges over which they invite their students to cross, then having facilitated their crossing, joyfully collapse, encouraging them to create bridges of their own." -- Nikos Kazantzakis

As an educator it is a great feeling to see my students grow academically and hopefully down the road I see my students in the future continuing to pursue a higher education and become successfully independent individuals.

As I was writing my midterm self reflection it allowed me to reflect on what I had learned in this class so far. I have noticed that since I have enrolled in this class, I have grown as an educator and I plan on using much of the tools I have explored into my classroom within the next year. I hope that our schools' internet connection improves within the year so all of us can really incorporate all these wonderful tools in our classrooms.

Image: http://teachers.thelanguagemenu.com/data/uploaded/tools.jpg

Man's (or Woman's) Best Friend

I just came home from the vet. My dog Chica got hit by a car tonight. The doctor's diagnosis is a crushed pelvis and shock. She had to stay at the vet's tonight so that he can keep an eye on her in case there is any internal bleeding. If surgery is necessary, they will perform it as soon as possible. The good news is that the pelvis will start healing itself quite rapidly but Chica won't be in any shape to walk much for a few weeks. It's pretty miraculous considering her bones are crushed beyond recognition. The bad news is that it will cost a pretty penny. There goes all your gifts from Greece!
Aside from my dog crisis, I am working on finishing up my mid term reflection. So far, I think I am keeping up with all the assignments but I am a little bit concerned about the Language Arts Conference. I really want to be there but cancelling Greece is just not possible since I've already paid for everything in full. I need to know what I can do to help before I go in a couple of weeks. Whoever is coordinating the presentation, please let me know. (image by google images. but this is what Chica looks like.)

My quote for the day:

Every student can learn, just not on the same day, or the same way.

-- George Evans

This quote is as straight as it comes. I don't think we can add to this to make it better understood. We just need to remember it.

"Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement, nothing can be done without hope and confidence." -- Helen Keller

I believe that you must always have faith and optimisim in whatever it is that you, doing so, allows you to become an openminded confident person.

This week Mid Term Self Reflection is due, it allowed me to assess my strengths and weaknesses so far into the class. Hopefully I can continue to strive to complete all my assignments on time and improve on the areas that I am not excelling in.