Why Would You Want to Teach? America has lost It's Perspective!

Being here at Duke has been a real eye opener and a confirmation of the value of education!

It’s been an eye opener because I’ve had the opportunity to spend time with middle and high public school teachers this week.  I am shocked and dismayed with the pressures and lack of support these teachers receive while trying to educate America’s youth.

One wonderful lady I have met is expected to teach several computing courses with very little resources.  They are providing no textbooks, no training and yet she is expected to walk into the high school this year and teach concepts like programming using Flash and design in Photoshop. 

Another was telling me about the thirty-five students she will have in her classroom.  Thirty-five!  If a teacher is absent, classes are combined and students sit on the floor. 

I am especially appalled by the amount of negative parental influence allowed.  Parents of lackadaisical students complain to administration and teachers have been told not to fail them or to change their grades.  In some cases, teachers have seen changes to their grade books.  Accountability and consequences are out the window.

Finally, the budget cuts are really hurting the teachers personally.  One lost his job days before the workshop started.  Others say they are dealing with furlough days and major budgetary cuts for supplies and resources.  Some districts have implemented health plans now that require teachers to demonstrate health through weight and activity or pay high premiums. 

I feel so blessed to have the opportunity to homeschool my boys, and, yet, I am frightened by the trends in America’s education.  Our schools are filled with kids needing a strong education, and teachers are being crippled by the administration and the government.

Why would people choose teaching these days when they have no support, low incomes, and ridiculous expectations set for them?  America is at a crossroads, and if we don’t invest in teachers and our youth – the America we know and love will be a thing of the past as we watch the rest of the world pass us right by.  

Alice Days Two and Three - More Complexity

It's day three of ten at the Alice Workshop.

Homework last night was challenging.  Learning to make characters do certain motions and trying to remember the commands were a stretch.  Here’s the video result.

Today, we’re into more fun stuff:

• Making objects move like the dragon flapping his wings
• Adding small animations and sounds like the fire he breathes
• Including backgrounds to make the view more rich

I’m really loving this because of the levels of creativity, critical thinking, and logic that are required.  Can’t wait until we can make a game!

At the Alice Conference

This two weeks is very exciting for me!  I love technology and believe we need more of it in the homeschool community.  Sure, there are lots of online classes, but what I am referring to is computer science, not simply using the computer as a tool.

A friend of mine works in technology for the local school district and often sends me links to new tools the district gets access to.  I’m so happy she thinks of me and does that!  About six months ago, she sent me a link to a program called Alice.

Alice was developed by Carnegie Melon as a free tool to teach students 3D programming in a visual platform.  What is exciting about this is that Alice creates an environment where students can move code and see the results quickly and easily.  Much more inviting than the old text-based programming.

So, long story long, I got on an email list to learn more about Alice.  Instructors from around the world post to this list.  It so happens Duke University has a prof that not only teaches Alice to college students, but holds summer conferences for teachers at the middle and high school level.  She encouraged me to apply, and I was picked to go.  Thus, here I am!  So, what did we learn Day 1? 

Here’s the video of the outcome of our first program:

Here’s what the code looks like:

Very exciting!  Yes – you can teach your kids to do this too!

My plan is to bring this information back and teach homeschooled students Alice at our local co-op.  In addition, I’m going to post the lessons I develop to this blog so that all homeschooled parents have the opportunity to include Alice in their homeschool.

Interested?  Stay tuned!  I’ve got nine more days of classes and am excited to see and share the results!

Slim Down Sunday Meme

Whether you want to lose 10 pounds, 20 pounds or 100 pounds – it always helps to have support from those around you.  This meme is an opportunity for you to share your successes and setbacks with others hoping to slim down as well.   I wanted to start each week reviewing my goals and fixing any setbacks, thus “Slim Down Sunday”. 

I’ll post each Sunday.  Come on by to link up any time during the week, grab the button on the lefthand sidebar, and then visit and encourage the other ladies who link up.  Also, feel free to follow and post comments rather than linking up if you want the encouragement but prefer not to share your weight loss journey.

Goal – lose 20 pounds

Pounds lost – none to date, I just started

Approach to losing weight:

I have found that the best way for me to lose weight is to watch my fat and calories.  My goal is to drastically cut back on fats while also trying to watch my calories.

I’m fortunate to be at a workshop for the next two weeks.  That means I can eat healthy all I want without having to have my kids on board.  No – “Mom!  Yuck!  Vegetables…”  J

I know that physical fitness needs to play a role as well.  However, I hate to run!  So jogging is NOT in my future.  I’m thinking walking more.  There will be a lot of walking at this workshop.  Once it’s over, our neighborhood is a 1/2 mile circle, so one extra mile a day for starters in addition to TKD I already do twice a week will be the goal.

Successes:

This is really day one, but I would say there have been a couple of successes already. 

1.  The hubby is on board and supportive.

2.  My BFF has agreed to be the angel on my shoulder guiding me towards success

3.  This blog.  Several of you wanted to join in.  A community makes a big difference in weight loss.

Drawbacks:

Obviously, none so far.  My sweet tooth will be a challenge.  I love me some sweets! 

I’m SO excited to have you all joining me.  It’s easy to give up when you’re the only one who knows the plan.  Much harder to do when others are keeping an eye on you and encouraging. 

I created a button located on the left sidebar if you want to add it to your blog.

Link up and then visit each other so we can all encourage and slim down.

I'm Losing 20 Pounds - Want to Join Me?

I’ve decided to lose twenty pounds.  My weight has always been a roller coaster.  In high school and through college, I was always on the high end of a good weight for my height.  (5’8”)  After my third child, I really got in shape.  Then, I got pregnant.   About five years ago, I went on a massive diet and managed to get down to skin and bones. I wanted to see what I looked like really skinny – not so great.

Once we started homeschooling, about three years ago, my life became more still.  We run a lot of places, but much of my time is spent sitting on my bum.  Between schooling, working online, blogging and my penchant for web surfing – I sit A LOT.

So, the hubby and I have decided to get in better shape. 

I LOVE to eat.  My kids and hubby love to eat.  The problem is the kids like kids food, and, for the most part, so does the hubby.  Add to that our hectic lifestyle, and we eat a lot of unhealthy foods.  Besides that – eating healthy is expensive!  We'll have to figure this part out.

But, that isn’t the total motivation – I am always tired and achy.  I wanna see if losing weight and getting more active changes that.

Anyone care to join me?  I thought about a blog hop.  Not a competition mind you, just a way to support each other as we get to our goal weight.  Leave me a comment if you're interested and we'll kick it off next week.

Thoughts?

Youngest Turns 12!

Youngest turns 12 on Wednesday.  We celebrated today because I’ll be going out of town for a two week workshop.  I hate to miss his birthday, but he knows it is a big opportunity (more on that soon), so he’s graciously celebrated early.

After having a sleepover with friends (yawn!), we took him to his favorite restaurant – Sticky Fingers.  A big plate of cheese fries and chicken later we returned home for gifting.

Yes, the trashbag is a gift.  Some things just don't fit in a bag or are conducive to wrapping paper.

One of his requests for this birthday was a body pillow.  :-)  He got a cover for it as well.  Given his lack of sleepover sleep and a big day, that pillow is going to feel really good tonight!

His dad got him a gift card to the Apple Apps Store.  Youngest has been saving up since November to buy himself an IPod Touch.  He's wanted one badly for about three years.  He has saved about $120 dollars to date.  So, Dad got him the App card so he'd be ready to fill it with his favorites (Pocket God) when the purchase was made.

His last gift was fun for all of us.  Knowing how hard he'd saved, we thought the best thing to do was to reward his efforts by making up the difference.

Yep, the IPod Touch he'd been saving for.  I did use his money and let him know how proud we were of his saving.  That face is priceless!  Sissy is smiling for him in the background.  She's the one that showed him how it works and how to download from the Apps store.  A fun bonding time for both of them.  I may have to pry it out of his hands tonight.

I can't believe my "baby" is twelve.  He's been a blessing each and every day, I can't wait to see what the future holds for this amazingly creative young man.  :-)

High Green Belts! Woot!

The boys and I take Taekwondo together.  It's a great activity to keep us in shape, meet lots of amazing people, and learn discipline all while striving to become good at Taekwondo. 

Today, Middle and the Demo Team performed and then we tested for our high green belts.  This is our sixth belt!  Very exciting.  We've been so blessed with TKD - not only because of the physical aspects, but also the moral aspects taught daily.  At the end of each lesson, we recite the 10 Committments. 

1.  I will be loyal to my country
2.  I will honor my parents
3.  I will love my family and cooperate with them
4.  I will be faithful to my friends
5.  I will respect my elders and care for my juniors
6.  I will establish a positive relationship with my teachers
7.  I will treat all living things with care
8.  I will never seek advantage of those who are weaker
9.  I will only use Taekwondo to benefit myself and others
10.  I will always finish what I start

You can't get much better lessons than that!  What I love is that the instructors all embody these committments making it easy for the kids, and adults, to want to live up to them as well.

Middle Performing with the Demo Team

Middle Performing Self Defense

Three of us high blocking for testing

Middle and Youngest Testing

Middle and Youngest with Instructor O and their new belts.