Week 4 Publishing - Leadership Project

There are so many wonderful and interesting conferences available for presentation of our projects. The two that I have chosen to apply to are:

 My first choice would be the conference. Being a Kindergarten teacher, I would love to present for this conference. It is known as one of the most sought out conferences to attend and it would be a worthwhile opportunity. In order to present, I must do the following:fill out the presenter application and send them the requested materials. Once these are received, they will notify me if they are interested. Once notified, I will have to do a dry run of my presentation for them to observe. If they are interested then I will be able to present. They normally inform you of their decision within 2 months after receiving all information and materials.

My second choice would be CEC | CEC Convention & Expo
This is the Council for Exceptional Children. This would be a worthwhile experience because you will be presenting to educators of all students and from all over the United States. I have presented with my school in 2002 and it was a worthwhile experience! In order to present, I must do the following: Submit a 300- 500 word proposal online.

Here is a link to my keynote presentation:HOPE- Helping Our Parents Educate Keynote Presentation

Week 4-Wimba Archive

The CBR project has been like a maze but the end is in sight!

I watched Wimba this week and wow, a lot of awesome projects were presented!!! Great job everyone!!! I wish I could have been there as planned but thanks to the weather, I am in Delaware and on Tuesday, we had an earthquake and now we are bracing for Hurricane Irene, our Welcome to School night was changed to Thursday night! Now, our first day of school has been cancelled for Monday already, thanks to Irene!

I sent my presentation to two of my classmates. Here are their comments:

from Heidi Faber dali25ster@gmail.com to cindy price <cprice408@gmail.com> date Sat, Aug 27, 2011 at 1:12 AM subject Re: powerpoint mailed-by gmail.com signed-by gmail.com Important mainly because of the people in the conversation.

hide details 1:12 AM (14 hours ago)

Wow! good job. You blow my 8 little slides away :)

I like the slide theme and pictures. I liked the cartoon.

I didn't see any speaker notes so come of the bullets and material in your slides didn't make sense because I didn't know what you wanted to say about them. For example, the graphs...I saw there were increases, but I don't know those assessments so I wasn't getting the full effect of your achievements. 

A couple of the slides had ALOT of information on them. It would more well received to have less on the slide (highlights) and give the full information verbally, using speaker notes. (example: slides 10 and 14)

Also, with slide 10 and 14, the font is noticeably different. It is best to keep it consistent.

Also, instead of having the whole URL on your slides, use a key word in the text and create a hyperlink that you can just click on and that way the gobbledy-gook or those long URLs won't distract your audience.

Good Luck and thanks for the comments on my presentation.

Heidi Faber

from Cheryl McGovern mcgoverc@gmail.com to cindy price <cprice408@gmail.com> date Fri, Aug 26, 2011 at 9:32 PM subject Re: powerpoint mailed-by gmail.com signed-by gmail.com Important mainly because of your interaction with messages in the conversation.

hide details 9:32 PM (18 hours ago)

Cindy: Here is the feedback for your keynote.  I don't know if the teacher will need a copy or not, but if you think so, you can send this to him also if you want.

Your theme choice and colors are really nice.
Your opening slide has a nice touch that parents will really like.
Slide #3 needs a capital letter on one of the bullets.  Your cartoon is really awesome.
Slide #6 needs a capital letter on one of the bullets.  Your parent picture is a cute touch.
Slide #7 needs a check on the youtube spelling.
Slide #9 needs a capital letter on one of the bullets.
Slides #10 & #14 you might want to consider using the blue font like the rest of the presentation instead of the black.

Hope this helps.  Please be sure to send me your feedback on my presentation.  You can access it through my blog. Thanks. Cheryl

I have some work to do on my presentation, but thanks to their imput, I have a clear view of what I need to do before the hurricane hits and I have no power!

For those of my classmates who are in Irene's path, Be Safe!!!!

Week 4- Reading Comment #2- Cheryl's Blog

Week 4-Free Post-PLP

my leadership keynote

Let me start by saying that anyone in our emdt cohort at this time in our program knows that I strive to be "Johnny On The Spot" with my assignments.  Being late or running the wire is just not my style.  I usually have had my blogs done by Monday.  Today is Thursday, and I am still working, so it tells you how my week has gone! Besides having an absolutely CRAZY week at work, I have also been having panic attacks over this leadership project! I really couldn't decide which route to take.  I am very uncomfortable standing up in front of a bunch of strangers, but I also feel like my writing is not of a publishing caliber.  Big dilemma.  After agonizing over all of this for quite some time, I decided to go with the presentation and really stretch myself.  I am going to apply to present at the FAME (Florida Association of Media in Education) conference. I have been a FAME member in the past, but due to budget cuts, that was taken away from me, as well as the opportunity to attend the conference, so I thought this would be my best chance.  I have at this point gotten the keynote done, and now I need to add my speaker notes.  Getting the keynote together I am positive took much longer than my speaker notes will.  For this I am thankful.  I will see you all tonight, and share my ideas with you.  Until then, know that you can do it! I am rooting for all of you! Cheryl

Week 4- Reading comment #1 Tiffany's post

Week 4 reading: It's Just Better That Way
Our society today has changed drastically from what it was before. So many people use cell phones as a means of communication and even to handle business. I had to learn the hard way that some things just really need to be done in person. I love the story that he told about his father and how he father taught him a valuable lesson: "Some things are just better to handle in person". When texting no one knows your true emotion or how you said it so in the long run it can lead to more trouble when you could have just met up with the person to have the conversation.

I love this fact he stated in this book which says "I am the framework for everything that happens in my life". I work at an Elementary school and we all know that these grade level students are always quick to blame someone else when caught doing something wrong. In actuality, we as adults still have this problem sometimes. We blame someone else so that we can feel right!! I wish that he would have took the story from a different standpoint like this when talking about the car wreck issue. So here is my way of describing this story: A drunken, young girl immediately slams on her brakes to stop for a car in front of her and the person riding behind this young girl runs into the back of her car. In North Carolina if you hit someone from behind you are at fault regardless. If you look at the story, the person that would automatically be blamed in a line up is the drunken, young girl because she is drunk. So we must remember that we are the framework for everything that happens in our lives. We control ourselves!

Last but not least, Love is neither about self-determination nor sacrifice. It is a context in which two people build the life they want together. In a marriage, we may have to sacrifice some but the most important part is that we are building a life together and the more you build the happier you are as a unit.
Posted by Tiffany Tyndall at 5:34 AM
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1 comments:
 Cindy Price said...
Tiffany,

Being a Kindergarten teacher, I experience the blaming of others on a minute by minute basis. it is amazing how they go from telling on themselves at the toddler stage to transferring the blame onto others at the Kindergarten age.

We must remember that all of our actions have an opposite and equal reaction. Think before you act!! There are always consequences, good or bad!!!!

Great post!!!!!
August 26, 2011 2:09 PM 

Week 4- Reading The Art of Possibility

We must make our activities desirable to others, as desirable as a banana is to a monkey!

I have to say that I absolutely loved this book. At first I was skeptical but the further into the bok I got, the more I enjoyed it!!! This book could be related to all of our lives in one way or another, especially if you are in education.

The authors made a great point about using we instead of I. This is something we all need to learn to do. We are all in it together, good or bad. In order to be successful, collaboration and teamwork is needed.

Enrolling or sparking others is a must. Educators should create a spark in their students. To get anyone to do anything, we must create a desire in them. Make it endearing and intriguing. Our students must be provided with an anticipatory strategy to hook them in. As with any activity, the participants must be reeled in hook line and sinker. They must want to participate.

This is a must read for any educator! I firmly believe that this book will be beneficial for all of those in the world of education from administrators to educators to paraprofessionals.

Week 4 Think aloud!

Overcoming the hurdle of presenting! Can I do it??

I am so stressed and worried about this leadership project and whether or not to present or be published! There are pros and cons to both. The major con to presenting is that I am scared to death of speaking in front of adults. I can talk to kids all day but stand in front of adults and I stutter and perspire immensely! What to do? What to do? I should present to overcome my fear of crowds, so I am leaning towards presenting!

Week 3 Wimba Archive

This is how I feel when I think about presenting my project. I feel like I am diving into the deep end of a pool!!!!!!!




I have to admit the way I was feeling when I entered the week 3 Wimba archive was fear and confused. The leadership project seems to be quite intimidating. I am glad that there was time allotted to explain what is expected of us and how we will be sharing these in week 4. The explanation as well as the questions from Richard and Cheryl cleared up many of my misconceptions and misunderstandings.

The abstract explanation and directions were well received. I needed this as well. I was having a difficult time starting this abstract. I have a hard time keeping things short, sweet and to the point. But after hearing what is expected and how to format the abstract, I believe that it is not as difficult as I feared it will be!

The discussion of the book was interesting. I was surprised to see that there were some who liked the chapter about giving everyone an A. I have to admit that that was my least favorite chapter. I thoroughly enjoyed the chapter about being a contribution. Overall, I have enjoyed the entire book!!!

Once again, this week was informative and helpful. It has alleviated many of my fears. I have to admit though, that my fear of presenting or getting my project published probably will never lessen or go away!

Week 3 Response #2 to Marco's Blog

Week 3 Free Choice: Being a teacher

After being out of a job for a little over six years due to illness I recently started working again. Last Tuesday I began working as a sixth grade teacher in a private school here in Puerto Rico. This is my first experience as a teacher so I am learning as I go. Lesson number one is that the hours are very long. This is no regular 9 to 5 where you clock in and out and that’s the end of the workday. Here you have to take work home with you. Lesson number two is that patience is a virtue. Kids will try to see what they can get away with and keep pushing until they realize what they can and cannot get away with. Lesson number three is that rest is a luxury. The hours are very long and the rest is very short. After all, once you get out of school you have to start preparing for the next day. The reason why being a teacher is not a job most people would even consider is because it is not a mere job; it is a vocation. It is something you do because you love it.

Picture by Thomas Barwick

Obtained at http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/sb10066020k-001/Digital-Vision

Week 3 Response #1 to Richard's Blog

Free Choice Blog, Week 3, The Importance of a Good First Day of School

Free Choice Blog

                                                   Photo By Rick Stemple

The Importance of a Good First Day of School

The first day of school is very important for teacher as well as their students, it sets the tone sometimes for the week to come and sometimes the entire school year. With everyone getting ready for school I thought it would be great to talk about, what is your favorite “first day” activity?  Here’s some activities that I have done or have borrowed from other teachers that have been fun for the first day and sometimes continue to use as an icebreaker or as an introduction activity for my classes for the following weeks. For my kindergarten classes I would sometimes have the students learn the song “If your name is (insert name) stand up straight, and take a bow.” Every student gets to hear their name some other class and get to have a cool motion which is sometimes a great way to loosen up pre-K and kindergarten students are very nervous on the first day of school.  Kindergarten through second grade could also use the song “That’s a Mighty Pretty Motion” which older students can sing their name and create their own motions.

For my middle school students I would usually do a name game.  There are many variations of this game that can be used, which usually depends on the class. 

Variation #1:  This game is recommended for grades two through four. Students say their full name and their favorite fruit. Then they have to say their name and their favorite fruit in order as fast as they can and time them. You will need to have a stopwatch for this game. This not only gets students to learn each other’s names but is also a teambuilding exercise. The students have to find a way to beat the top score of 30 seconds. Hint: the directions said in order it didn’t say they could not say their names and fruit all the same time but do not tell them that, let the students figure it out for themselves. If they cannot figure it out the first class, let them try it the next time you meet.

Variation #2:  You also need a stopwatch and a soft Nerf like ball for this variation. I recommend  using this game for grades five through six.  Students should stand up and push their desks aside so they can sit in a circle. The directions are simple say your name and your favorite fruit and pass the ball, but remember the name and the fruit of the person you pass the ball to. They can passs the ball to anyone they want. You may want everyone to stand in as they pass the ball to someone they can sit down. That way they know who they can pass to next. The next round you have to only say the persons name and fruit you pass the ball to before you pass the ball to them.  If they forget who they pass to or the name of the person they can ask the class or that person, remember this is also a teambuilding exercise. Remember to time them each time they go through the entire class and remind them they should be getting faster and faster. Once they’ve tried several times you can remind them that the record is 40 seconds and that their only directions was to pass the ball, say the name and the fruit of the person they’re passing the ball to, and pass the ball in same order. Hint; students can arrange their order so it’s easier to pass the ball, or they can put the ball in the middle and touch it in order while saying each other’s name and fruit. Do not under any circumstances give them the hints. Just remind them of the rules or of the record and let them figure out their own solutions. It is always amazing to watch students group dynamic development and see your class work as a team for a common goal. There is no correct answer to this game however there are many variations. For teachers that have done this name game in the past try it with all the students sitting on the floor saying the name of their peer and peers favor fruit while passing the ball with their feet.

Variation #3: Create a bingo chart with questions in each square about students summer or about students. The students then have to go around the classroom and get signatures in each box to get bingo. The game is recommended for students in seventh and eighth grade. Students can only sign their name once and they cannot sign their own bingo card. This is a great way to get students out of their seats and to get to know each other a little better. Here are some sample questions you can use in the bingo card;

Someone who went to the beach.

Someone who visited another country.

Someone who visited another state.

Someone who has brown eyes. 

Someone who has green eyes.

Someone who has blue eyes.

Someone who is rode on a boat.

Someone who it  flown on a plane.

My favorite the free space.

Someone was seen a live concert.

Someone who is wearing green.

Someone who has or had braces.

Someone who has a pet.

Etc.etc

 Please share any first-day activities that you may have. Have a great school year.

Week 3- Reading The Art of Possibility Chapters 5-8

As I read further into this book, I am amazed at how the authors are describing the world of education in such a manner that all readers can relate. Being a great leader is a focus of chapter 5. I wish my principal could read this chapter. This chapter discusses how it is important for a leader to worry about doing great things to improve the world around them, not worry about how great they are. A leader listens to all of those around them and collaborating with others to create a positive, productive working environment.  This is a chapter that all principals and aspiring administration should read and take to heart!

As a single mom, I have a hard time following the advice in Chapter 6. Not taking myself seriously all the time is difficult. I still expect to do things correctly right from the beginning. I do not like to make mistakes but I know that we learn from our mistakes and we need to embrace them and turn them into teachable moments. it is funny! I am hard on myself yet i preach this to my students! I tell them it is ok to make mistakes. We learn from them and everybody makes them. It is ironic! I am afraid to let my guard down a little because I have so much responsibility that I can not let myself wander off the beaten path. I know when I do wander I enjoy it but the guilt comes in and I get back on the path quickly.

Eighteen years of teaching and I always think, ok the next year will be better. These fools will figure out what works and let us do our jobs but no year in and year out all we experience is a downward spiral. Negativity from staff, administration, community and the government. All this downward spiral does is frustrate and prohibit awesome educators from doing their job!

Finally, passion!!!!!! I am passionate about my job!!! I LOVE being an educator. I look at each year as a new beginning. I try to learn all the new techniques so I can provide my students with as many tools possible to help them succeed. I have used everything I have learned throughout the EMDT program in my classroom. But not only am I passionate about my job, I am passionate about my daughter! I am a single mom and I strive to provide her with as many experiences that will shape her into the person I hope she will become. Books, museums, trips, and one on one time are just a few of the things that I provide her. A stable loving home and my passion for life in general are those things she gets on a daily basis. Hopefully, the saying Monkey see Monkey do is correct and she puts in as much passion and perseverance into everything she does just like her Mommy!!!!

This book is an awesome read for all educators and administrators. This will aid in the development of a positive and productive work environment with a high level of staff morale!!!!!!!!

Week #2 Wimba Archive

                                           Here is my child enjoying music that I legally downloaded!
                                           No copyright violations here!

This week was a very informational and useful Wimba Session. The topic was copyright!!! This is so important especially for educators to understand. Educators' are known as thieves. We will "steal" the ideas of anything that will work in our classroom. But unfortunately, many of us do not fully understand the copyright laws and will innocently violate them. we must remember if it is created then it is protected.

I was very surprised and enlightened when I heard that Youtube actually helps to prevent us from violating copyright laws by the addition of the info regarding itunes. This is an awesome idea and wonderful way to make money! :)

I thought the multiple choice questions were very thought provoking and are ones that I would like to share with my colleagues to see how many actually understand copyright. I really would like to share the entire Wimba session with them because this is such an important topic!!!!

Once again, Richard was asking some very important questions. I am glad he asked about graduation. Thanks Richard!!!

Week #2 Comment on Bruce's Blog

Week 2 Reading – Art of Possibility Chap 1-4

This book is dangerous! Why? Because, it does an excellent job of defining and inspiring the uses of creative practices. So why is that so dangerous? Well the focus is so much on the practice of creativity and how to do it and do it better that the purpose of creativity is put aside or takes a back seat to just the practice of it. So the danger of this book is its potential to be taken out of context of the bigger picture of life. Let me clarify with an example we EMDT students can understand. We are learning great techniques at Full Sail on how to use state of the art media to improve our delivery of education. The danger of focusing so much on the techniques is that we can miss out of the purpose of why we are educating in the first place and what is it that we want our students to learn. So it is with this book, when the practices of creativity become more of the priority then the purposes, the proper order of approach gets turned around.

For instance, the first chapter “It’s all invented” is a great way to examine your presuppositions to your outlook on life and prepare yourself to change, that which is only your ideas or your culture’s. The danger is that believing “ALL” is invented and treating it as such will undermine the truth of that which is created and the reason for which it was created. Of course the solution to this dilemma is quite simple. Just remember to place the context of this book’s teaching in it proper place as a tool for learning the process of examining our concept of the truth instead of elevating the process as the truth itself. It is in that way we can work with the idea that “It’s all Invented” and protect the truth that some things are created for a purpose.

With this approach it become beneficial to examine the measurement systems we use and determine which are healthy and which need to be removed. That choice can be made having the understanding that some measurement systems are in place for a reason. So when we have the grace to give ourselves and others an A, we can see it is something to live up to and live into, instead of saying I am an A now… I don’t have to do anything since I already have it. From this line of reasoning, we can now make it possible to become contributors to the life we live around us.

Cindy Price said...

Bruce I agree with you when you made the comment about not only how to do things but why we do them. I too believe that it is the educators responsibility to teach the students not only how to do and use the techniques but also why we are having them use the techniques.

August 14, 2011 2:44 PM

Week #2 Comment on Heidi's Blogs

 

 

 

 

 

My three year thinking outside of the box! her own way to travel!

Wk 2: Art of Possibilities Ch 1-4

Chapter 1. It's All Invented: How can we think outside the box we live in? What assumptions are we making that we're not aware that we are making? What might we invent that would give us other choices?

Chapter 1 seems to be talking about perspectives and how those perspectives vary from person to person. To answer the question how we can think outside the box we live in, I think a person must first leave their box. To think outside the box calls for a person to look at a situation from different perspectives. You can look at something and get an initial opinion, but to think outside the box you have to but yourself in the place of other people. But in order to look at a situation from another’s perspective, you need to have empathy and understanding of other people, opinions, situations, beliefs, etc… This opinion is demonstrated by the example in the text about the Me’en People who did not understand the purpose of a photograph. They did not have enough experience to understand the purpose from other’s perspectives. When it comes to assumptions, the books example of how even in science we sometimes have to look beyond the current “truth” and look at it from a different perspective to arrive at an all new truth.

When I read the practice questions, my thoughts ran to the people in my apartment complex. The assumptions I am making right now about these people revolve around how uneducated, unrefined, and selfish these people are for how little they care about their neighbors, their complex, and their own apartments. Yet, if I look beyond the fact they were particularly loud tonight, they are probably the same as anyone one else in any other neighborhood. Their habits main just seem worse because we leave so much closer than, say people who have their own homes.

Chapter 2. Stepping into a Universe of Possibility: We live in a world of measurements. The Zanders recommend that when we look at how different things appear we can see them as possibilities. How are your thoughts and actions a reflection of the measurement world?

My thoughts and actions, lately, seem to resemble a choose-your-own-adventure book. This past year, I had to measure my life and my career. I hated my job and where I lived; I wanted out. But, I had to measure the possible outcomes if I quit my job and moved away. I had limited money and no job lined up and no health insurance. The other addition to this equation was that I was single with 2 young kids. So I had to weight the positive and negative impacts of staying or going. Staying meant security with misery and more limited possibilities and leaving meant a whole world of possibilities. A bigger city with more art, culture, and career options, as well as a community with quite different perspectives than my old town could mean more success than I was finding back in Florida or it could wind up being an epic failure. Since choosing to move, and losing my security and giving up the life I hated (but was fairly set and predictable) I don’t know what the future holds, whether it be a year from now or even a week from now. Every new development forces me to measure the good verses the bad. I try to hypothesis possible outcomes of what would happen if I chose this way or that. For me, right now, all my options seem to be like Robert Frost’s less taken road.

Chapter 3. Giving an A: Giving Yourself an A.

The concept of giving student an A right from the start is intriguing and makes sense in certain circumstances, however, in reality the average student in an average public school would do absolutely nothing when told they had already received an A. The students in the example in the text wanted to be in that class and wanted to improve.

I can see how taking the anxiety out of assignments by giving A’s could increase student thought, but what about those that don’t care?

Chapter 4. Being a Contribution: Over the years, I’ve observed how people handle various situations in their lives. People who succeed do not have fewer problems than people who fail. It is how they perceive issues and how they react to situations that makes a difference. The purpose of this chapter was to help us look at how we can contribute in order to make a difference in the lives of others even if it’s only one person. How will I be a contribution today?

I loved this chapter! I have never been one who was on the competitive ladder of success and failure. As I have embarked on my new personal journey across the country in search of a new start, I am not looking for success in money or material possessions. I want to make a difference, a contribution, to my community. That is all I have ever wanted to do. That was why I got into this program. That is why I focus on the passions I do. I want to contribute by enhancing local communities and help bring the together. I loved this chapter because it put a name to what I have been doing most of my life. It is hard to be contributor in a success/failure world.

Labels: Art of Possibilities, EMDT, Full Sail, MAC

 

At August 14, 2011 2:40 PM ,  Cindy Price said...

Heidi I thoroughly enjoyed your post. I applaud you for your bravery and your move. I like how you really used the chapters of the book to events in your life, this made the reading more authentic. I give you an A for thinking outside the box and being a contributor not only to your life but your daughters life as well.