So Proud!

Our most recent issue of The Clarion is amazing! Check it out by clicking here.

Flickr Photostream

Week 3: Photos and Images

I hesitate to share this, but I just squealed with glee because of Flickr. I clicked on a link for Spell with Flickr and typed in my name and voila! Krystle spelled in a beautifully quirky way. You should try it with your own name, or another fun word. I promise, it will bring you joy!



Also, a little fun phrase just because I can:



In case you cannot tell, I strongly encourage any and all to play with Spell With Flickr. If I figure out how to change the size of my letters, I will pass that knowledge on. I also started a Flickr account using my Yahoo ID. It couldn't be any better OR simpler!

Yep. That's Me.

Week 2: Blogging as Therapy

When my older sister moved to England, she set up a blog to help her keep in touch with the rest of us while she was across the pond. It has been a great way for us to get to know her little boy because she posts pictures and video of him. When they came to visit over Christmas, I felt like I already knew him because her blog has given such a good record of his young life. My other sisters jumped on the band wagon and finally, not so long ago, I joined the blog craze as well. My personal blog can be found by clicking here. That said, I really like blogging, but I think there is a certain amount of hubris one must have to become a blogger. For me, it is not about other people reading my blog, but it gives me a chance to express most of what I feel in a very modern, effective way; my blog acts as a sort of therapy, I suppose. I enjoy changing my backgrounds, playing with fonts, and just being a blog-geek in general. There are many things that I do not know how to do, but I am still learning. :) 

This week's lesson asked that I pay attention to the 7 1/2 Habits of Highly Successful Lifelong Learners.

Lifelong learning is a belief that learners can and should be open to learning new skills and ideas at all ages. I would like to think that I am a lifelong learner.

Habit 1: Begin with the end in mind
Habit 2: Accept responsibility for your own learning
Habit 3: View problems as challenges
Habit 4: Have confidence in yourself as a competent, effective learner
Habit 5: Create your own learning toolbox
Habit 6: Use technology to your advantage
Habit 7: Teach/mentor others
Habit 7 ½: Play

Of the habits listed, I am best at is Habit 6 (use technology to your advantage). Almost on a daily basis I find myself learning and using new technologies. The habit that I seem to struggle with the most is habit 7 1/2, the habit of play. I do not plan enough playing time into my schedule.  Advice to you and to me: play, be curious, and read! 

The Importance of Correct Punctuation

Dear Charles:
I want a man who knows what love is all about. You are generous, kind, thoughtful. People who are not like you admit to being useless and inferior. You have ruined me for other men. I yearn for you. I have no feelings whatsoever when we're apart. I can be forever happy--will you let me be yours?
Gloria

Dear Charles:
I want a man who knows what love is. All about you are generous, kind, thoughtful people, who are not like you.
Admit to being useless and inferior. You have ruined me. For other men, I yearn. For you, I have no feelings whatsoever.
When we're apart, I can be forever happy. Will you let me be?
Yours,
Gloria

Week 1: Welcome to my Blog!

This semester I am taking a course for my Masters Degree that is called "Information Access and Technology." I took the first half of the course last fall and am now adding to my information knowledge. At the risk of sounding like a total geek, I am somewhat excited to take part in the blog component of this course; I am required to post blogs as a result of my learning, but it is a mode I feel increasingly comfortable with.

This semester, I will be tracking things learned in 2.0, a component of my INST course through Utah State. Please feel free to join me, and enjoy the journey!

Can I get a "Woot?"

Hurrah! It is a new year with new adventures. For the past two days I have been a teacher once again and both days, as I have written the date on the board, I have had to erase the "8" with my fingers and rewrite a lovely little "9" in its place. The result is a blackish hand, but I have not had a student see me miswrite the year so I feel proud about that.

2nd quarter is almost over and the struggle for grades begins! Can I get a "woot?" Next week my student teacher will be in my classroom watching me teach; I am completely doubting my awesomeness as a teacher now that I think of another person seeing me in action...but she only observes for a few weeks, so I think it will be just fine. My greatest student-teacher fear is that my students will love her more than they love me. That, of course, will make me sad. My second greatest fear is that my students will not love her more than they love me and life will be difficult for her. Sigh.

I basically love my job. I love my students. I love my school. I am grateful for moments of clarity when I understand acutely how I can teach a new concept. I am glad for my brain and the insight it offers in moments of frustration. Today, I talked to my 6th hour class to let them know that they were completing their group work in a less than stellar way. I loved that the words came to me and I sounded like a teacher and I meant every word that I said. I may or may not have used the word "suck" (which I regret, even though it was offered in the context of, "if you cannot complete this simple assignment for me, 11th grade will basically suck for you because it will be impossible for you to be successful) but other than the brief lapse into teen language, I completely sounded like a teacher.

Once more, can I get a "woot?"