The days are getting longer and brighter. This Spring Break has been a nice taste of the summer to come. Longer days mean more opportunities to make things happen. I’ve got big plans!
@Professional
I’ve been using a contact management web tool , www.verticalresponse.com, to contact parents, students and facilitators via e-mail. Amongst its many great features, I particularly like the data on how many recipients not only opened the e-mail, but how many clicked on any of the embedded links. On average, only 4 out of 40 students are even opening up the e-mail. I would venture that this might have some correlation to the dismal grades this semester.
In my most recent e-mail, I used live binder (www.livebinders.com) to create a collection of websites as a resource for improving French students’ pronunciation. I provided details about how to use each site to listen to native speakers. To make things even easier and convenient, I create a QR. Students can take a picture of the QR with their phones. The phones will automatically take them to the livebinder (http://livebinders.com/play/present?id=88228) of pronunciation resources. They can then book mark the folder or send the URL to their e-mail address for later use.
Within the course itself, I used Google maps to help student make a virtual, street view of Notre Dame. As differentiation for the “My Visit to Paris Unit”, I invited student to tour Notre Dame using Google maps and poised several questions. Student can choose from three of the five following questions and post their thoughts in our discussion forum. I tried to create thought provoking, higher order questions and discussions.
- What three facts can you compile about the church just from your Google map tour?
- How would you change the design of this historic church?
- What judgments would you make about how and when this church was built?
- How would you prioritize your tour of the church? What would you look at and why?
- How would you evaluate the construction of this church from an artistic and architectural point of view?
On Tuesday 4/14, I attended a Google sponsored webinar on using Google maps for education purposes. They demonstrated how to create personal maps and to customize those maps. You can add points to the map and insert new descriptions, video, pictures, and maybe even audio. You can also create a virtual, street level walk. I was thinking of using this as an option and sample for the student's Paris blog project in Chapter 9 of my French 2 class at GAVS.
@Home
I am enjoying time with Trey. I am planning a back yard make over with patio, fire pit and play area for Trey. He needs to be able to go out back and play in the sunshine on slides and swings.
We are expecting dad in town this weekend. We are going to Braves-Phillies game. I love visits with Dad to renew bonds, but am sure to be the butt of much teasing.
I am going in for minor outpatient surgery in a few weeks so trying to make lots of freezer meals for the boys. While I love the warm weather, most of my freezer meals are cold weather food. I hope that we get one more cold blast.
@Athletics
I am playing way too much tennis. I should make other things, like housework, a priority. However, I get outside and burn some calories. I am definitely in good shape and loving it.
Ground strokes are coming along nicely. I am getting more pace, spin, and depth on both forehand and backhand. First serve is going long a lot. My second serve is a disaster. No one wants to play doubles with me because they are getting pegged at the net. I am working on the kick serve for the second. I hope it come along a little more quickly.
Davin and I are talking about doing the rock and roll marathon in Savannah on November 5. That means I’m going to have to start running again. It’s been almost a year since I was following a regular training plan. Think I can get Trey to ride his bike on the greenway while I run on most mornings this summer. We’ll need to get into a good pattern. I am going to be sore.
