Notice a pattern?

Well, now it's been more than 18 months this time. Apparently I have found other things to do and have not defined purpose for writing in this blog. It's almost 9:30 on a Monday and I am apparently also out of words...whatever my quota for the day is, it's been reached.

Not a Natural OR More Likely NO TIME

So...despite my desire to write and the number of places that I have to write from blogs to empty journals, I am not writing. I know the reason and I am doing everything that I can to rectify it. The problem is that I keep committing to things that take up my time and take me away from my passions, teaching and writing. Thus, I am sincerely trying to learn the word "no" and to apply that word whenver an opportunity comes along that will take me away from my classroom and/or cut drastically in to my free time.

This is the first entry in this blog in over 18 months. When I recently found time to write in my personal journal, I found that it had been 9 months (or maybe it was more). This is not accpectable to me. Writing is an outlet and a way to clarify my thoughts. Perhaps this lack of wrting is part of why I am feeling scattered.

Well...I hope you learned a little about blogs. I am hoping to use them more and more as I free up time to actually organize them (and myself). There are benefits that I recognize and that is why despite my limited successes that I continue to explore blogs and encourage others to do the same.

Yeah--Edublogs is back up

Hello! Edublogs is back up and appears very healthy. So, if you still want more information check it out. Also, you can review the Power Point presentation by going to my Edublog blog and clicking onthe presentation link. Thanks for attending my presentation (and or attending to it in the Summer Institute). I hope you give blogging a try.

Presentations

It was ironic that we began our Technology Day with discussion of an article about the glitches we all experience when teaching with technology. It was ironic because I was experiencing one of them that very day. Edublogs, which was the blog host I intended to plug the most, was down for 12-24 hours. The very hours that I needed it. So...lesson definitely learned about glitches. I intend to post the handout and the power point to my Eudblog site once they complete the work they are doing. I just checked on that site and it is still "experienceing technical difficulties." It appears that it is worse than before---aargh!

Blogs and Wikis Presentation

The presentation on June 20th about Blogs and about Wikis given at Ferris is available by clicking on the highlighted portions above. If you are interested in the article read and referenced links to those are available, also. I hope you found our Technology Day helpful and that you will keep your eyes open for more inservice by Crossroads Writing Project teacher consultants.

If you have questions, please email me. I'd love to help (if I can) and/or pass on your questions to someone who is better qualified to answer.

Error??

Well, I believed the error message that said I didn't post and rewrote the previous post. So...that is why there are two blogs (well...now there are three) from today.

Not a Natural Blog(ger)

Well, to prove the title correct my first attempt today to post an update failed. This is round two.

So, in the last year I have not blogged. Writing and reading for pleasure are luxuries that unfortunately I limit when I am busy. This past school year was the busiest I have yet encountered. Every year it seems that life gets more hectic both in and out of the classroom. That is my excuse and I am sticking with it.

This summer I will be presenting several workshops about blogging and the use of this tool (and other online communication tools) in the classroom. Despite my lack of use in the last year (which by the way was a backslide from the previous year) I know the power and importance of utilizing the web.

I am resolving to work this summer to make sure that I walk the talk and use the technology that is available to best serve my students. To that end I am spending a portion of my summer planning and organizing to use Blogs and Wikis in several of my classes. Wish me luck.

Not a Natural Blog(ger)

Wow! I have thought that I was busy before, but this year definitely topped them all. It is impossible to describe what all went on without boring us all, but I am certainly glad to be down to just one job and some school for a few months. So, that is my excuse (and I'm sticking to it) for not blogging since last July.

However, I did want to have a few new entries to show that I do still know how to blog and that I actually want to do it. Blogging like reading is one of those luxuries that I need to find time for even when I am busy. That will have to be one of my new goals for the upcoming year. Using blogs in the classroom is a valuable tool and worth the time it takes to set up and maintain. Despite my best intentions the year passed without me writing or using blogs. That was a backslide from the previous year and I regret the slip.

So, this summer I plan to start setting the framework so that Blogging becomes part of my routine and my students. To that end I am posting today and revising all the information I have for the workshops that I will present this summer about blogging, wikis and other online tools for writing in the classroom.

Day 2 -- Blogs, NASBAS, etc.

We continute to learn from each other in our ADVANCED Summer Insitute. Today we had a Writing Workshop Demonstration, lunch, NASBAS and a quick presentation on using graphics, fonts and white space to enhance our handouts. It is all so hard to describe for those who aren't here.

We, the nine people who chose to spend these three days at FSU, are working toward improving our presentation and teaching skills. We are writing, talking, and demonstrating. We are learning from each other and developing professiona and personal relationships. It is a great experiene and a good continutation of our previous summer experience. Twelve hours of thinking...wow what a way to end July.