Category: Education

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Three good things

I found out that I have students who like to code. In fact one of my biggest challenges has been motivating a couple of youngsters who just couldn’t get enough of HTML programming today. The weather improved as the day went on and got to read the Pope’s homily for today. I’ve been pleasantly surprised by e early everything our new Pope has said and today he simply knocked it out of the park. If you haven’t read today’s homily I will provide lank here.

“The Lord has redeemed all of us, all of us, with the Blood of Christ: all of us, not just Catholics. Everyone! ‘Father, the atheists?’ Even the atheists. Everyone! And this Blood makes us children of God of the first class! We are created children in the likeness of God and the Blood of Christ has redeemed us all! And we all have a duty to do good. And this commandment for everyone to do good, I think, is a beautiful path towards peace. If we, each doing our own part, if we do good to others, if we meet there, doing good, and we go slowly, gently, little by little, we will make that culture of encounter: we need that so much. We must meet one another doing good. ‘But I don’t believe, Father, I am an atheist!’ But do good: we will meet one another there.

Text from page http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2013/05/22/pope_at_mass:_culture_of_encounter_is_the_foundation_of_peace/en1-694445
of the Vatican Radio website

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Three Good Things

Last summer I took a one day seminar on Positive Psychology at St. Bonaventure University. Since then I’ve been trying to implement some of what I learned along with what I continue to read about positive psychology in the classroom. I figured that anything I can do to make school less stressful would help everyone whether student or teacher.  One of the practices that I learned was to keep a journal or blog and to make note of three things that went well each day. I’ve been having students do this on their own blogs. Now, I’m practicing what I’ve been preaching and just open to where it leads me. So according to an article I just read, Positive Psychology in Practice, I’m going to try this for awhile to see where it leads.  I’m interested to note if anyone else is doing this too.

Three good things. Every evening, write down three good things that happened that day and think about why they happened.

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Yoga in Schools — an alternative that is worth your consideration.

In the past five months I have incorporated a daily practice of mindfulness. Along with this I’ve incorporated Yoga and I’ve been reading everything I can about both topics. K-12 schools are in chaos around the country due to a number of reasons that include high stakes testing, teacher & principal evaluations and shrinking budgets. I recently read Tim Ryan’s, Mindful Nation along with several other books and dozens of websites. I’m recommending that you listen to this Blog Talk Radio Program on Yoga and mindfulness in schools.

Yoga and Mindfulness in Schools 03/13 by Yoga In My School | Blog Talk Radio.

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Using Cell phones in a middle school classroom

I’ve been teaching middle school students how to use technology safely and effectively for three years now. It was a novel experience from the very start and it still continues to keep me on my toes looking for ways to help these young people how to learn all the while respecting each other but encouraging innovative information gathering. Recently I setup a blog for my students to “text” their pictures to. To encourage these young people I promised to pay $5 to each of two winners each week who submitted “winning” pictures. The children’s enthusiasm for the project has been quite encouraging and last week I actually paid out $25 to five winners. Their pictures are improving and this is proving to be a great way to encourage young mobile photographers. You can see their submissions here at our blog site, http://fcstech7.blogspot.com/. Enjoy!

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All creation is shouting for joy

Gosh, it’s been over 5 months since I last wrote! I’ve been busy. Had my first ever major surgery which scared the heck out of me. I made a mountain out of a molehill. I’m grateful to my surgeon who repaired an umbilical hernia. I’m good for another 100,000 miles now. While I was convalescing I read a book which challenged me to meditate at least three minutes twice a day. That challenge has borne great fruit as I’ve been meditating twice each day since January. My daughter suggested I take a Yoga class. I signed up for Hatha Yoga for men at Yogabetsy in nearby Olean, New York. the combination of yoga and mindfulness has been profoundly quieting and has lead me to read all that I can about how both yoga and mindfulness can help relieve our nation and world of stress.
I’ve even added a bell of mindfulness to my iPhone which chimes every fifteen minutes reminding me to “breathe.” It has invited conversation at my work place too and reduced overall stress. I just took a picture this morning which sums up how I feel today and it is inspired by the words of a song we frequently sing at Mt. Irenaeus. Namaste!

“The heavens are telling the glory of God, and all creation is shouting for joy! Come dance in the forest, come play in the fields. And sing, sing to the glory of the Lord!”

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Grateful

Tonight I’m spending an overnight with our son & lovely daughter-in-law. They’re taking good care of the older generation. It’s my first stay with them since their recent marriage. I’m in the area for the 2011 NYSCATE conference. I had a great day at the conference a great meal at Dinosaur BBQ with friends and fellow Ed techers

Tonight I’m sleeping in a lovely home owned in part by a son I once held in my arms. Life is like that isn’t it. God has been good to me. Thanks to Devin & Mandi for welcoming me into their home.

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Deo Gratias

That’s Latin for “Thanks be to God.” I learned that years ago as an altar boy in the pre-Vatican II Catholic Church. Two years ago I began a course of study at St. Bonaventure University in Educational Leadership. Two years ago about this time I was still quite uncertain of that direction and what I have come to regard as the “Good Journey” at St. Bonaventure. I graduated in May 2011 with a 4.0 and an MSED in Educational Leadership at the top of my class and then began the certification process to obtain official credentials as a School Building Leader and School District Leader. Today, shortly after 5 pm I received email that indicated that I had passed all tests for certification. I am very relieved that this part of the journey is over with. I found the certification tests difficult and a real test of what I had learned. The tests concentrated on skills found at the upper end of Bloom’s Taxonomy and they were designed by psychometricians who knew how to design difficult tests. That’s past and now I’ve passed one more hurdle on the road to school leadership at a crisis moment in American education. I have no idea what the future will bring. I’m listening with the ear of my heart. Thank you to everyone who prayed for my good test results. I’m grateful and hopeful. I’m grateful to my advisor, Dr. Greg Gibbs, my other professors at St. Bonaventure and to those in my cohort who encouraged me throughout our time together.

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Transformation

As I walked the woods today I am aware if my own transformation. I came to Mt. Irenaeus almost a dozen years ago. In that time I have slowly been transformed to a more loving person. I’m not even aware of it most of the time. That is not to say that I’m never irked or peeved, but I’m capable of more love than I was and that’s because I love myself more. I’ve forgiven and accepted myself which is so vital to transformation and it’s come about not due to my own striving or efforts. I have become still and let God do the work.

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Feast of the Assumption

Today I rose early for a trip to Erie, PA for another certification test. This one for School Building Leader credentials. I studied the preparation materials and committed some information to memory as best I could using some of the techniques I learned while reading, “Moonwalking with Einstein,” by Joshua Foer. I climbed in the RAV4 while it was still dark and drove the 100 plus miles to Erie. As I drove I thought of the Magnificat.

My soul doth magnify the Lord.
And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
Because he hath regarded the humility of his handmaid;
for behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
Because he that is mighty,
hath done great things to me;
and holy is his name. — Magnificat

I thought of Our Lady and the devotion I have for her. I thought of how often she has protected me and guided me with the gentle touch of a mother. Today, I prayed the Magnificat often as I made my way to Erie in the pre-dawn. I believe I did well on the examination today and I have renewed faith in myself and respect for the test creators and for the testing industry in general. Today was a transformational day for me. I’m grateful for tests as they have helped me to learn even though my frustration with the process had reached a fever pitch last week. Thank you to all who may have prayed for me and for an answer to my own prayers. When I finished the examination and made my way to Barnes & Noble near Millcreek Mall for a well deserved cup of coffee and a cookie I thought of the Latin version of the Magnificat and I recited it too in thanksgiving for my good fortune today.

Magnificat: anima mea Dominum.
Et exultavit spiritus meus: in Deo salutari meo.

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Keeping it green

Tomorrow I will be attending a conference on learning. The name of the conference is the “IT Conference.” It means the, “Innovative Teaching Conference.” I’m sure there will be lots of innovators there. I’m going there to listen and learn. That will be my focus to keep an open mind. Learning requires an open mind. Some say the mind works best when it is open like a parachute. Attending conferences is a way for me to keep it green. Keeping it green means being open. All the brainpower in the world is really useless without an open mind. I’m hoping to learn more about project based learning and about iPad integration in classrooms. It will be great too to see so many friends whom I follow on Twitter and Facebook too. I hope I’ll have some new insights by this time tomorrow night.