Inspired to Link

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I was going to tell you about the book I am reading and how it is very timely with all that has been going on in Egypt right now.

And then I read this.

I have to say that I am not surprised. I have heard people, as they sat across the table from me, share worse experiences. I know more than a few people who will only cross by land to avoid the nastiness that can go on at this airport.

Many times I have stated my surprise that they weren't Googling people. (Guess that finally occurred to them as well.) I know this new tactic could put an end to my visits as I don't keep my opinion to myself on these matters. I am not going as far as starting a new category called "To Deny Me Entry Look Here", but neither am I going to keep my mouth shut either.

Inspired to Link

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Just two links this week…

This is an interesting study about the correlation between obesity and C-sections.

TED Talks to Inspire Conversation
"Especially the Talks In Under 6 Minutes series. These are great, snapshots of what could be longer conversations in short bursts. They come in loads of topics that could start a class discussion or kick off a meeting."

Inspired to Link

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You really should watch this…

 

This was published in the U.K.
The American Press and the Middle East by James Abourezk

Inspired to Link

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Can't imagine seeing this out our window, but from the looks of things we would have seen it from our first house in Amman.
(Al Rai photo)
Lost In Amman

 

One more resource for teachers with built in ways to edit, add lessons, and assessments.

 

Romans 10:9 and my love/hate relationship with Christianity by my friend Stephanie at Pausing to Reflect. (I love her blog! It often gets me thinking.)

I love Jesus.

I hate that…

And she continues with her rant, going back and forth, until she stops to reflect on her own journey.

 

Susie of Arabia posts this video…

She recaps her life journey in Saudi Arabia since her birth in 1979 looking at the historical happenings of the country and how they have impacted her.

 

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My friend, Kimberlee, is blogging on a tough topic. This week's post is titled "Home"

We continue our series looking at the dark reality of sexual slavery and exploitation, with the intention of raising awareness—and money.

She has taken Serey's story and written it as a poem. It is very moving as it tells a human story of sex slavery. Please visit. Every comment is generating donations to help.

Inspired to Link

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'We've gone way beyond Apartheid' Frank Barat's interview with Jeff Halper.

We have to try to match the political process, the political reality, because it is unprecedented in the world. Another term is "warehousing" because I think that captures what's going on better than apartheid. Warehousing is permanent. Apartheid recognizes that there is another side. With warehousing it's like prisons. There is no other side. There is us, and then there are these people that we control, they have no rights, they have no identity, they're inmates. It's not political, it's permanent, static. Apartheid you can resist. The whole brilliance of warehousing is that you can't resist because you're a prisoner. It's like prisons. Prisoners can rise in the prison yards but prison guards have all the rights in the world to put them down. That's what Israel has come to.

 

My daughter won't need this for many years to come, but I still found them interesting to read…
A Third Culture Kid’s Guide to College
So, here are our words of advice, the things we would’ve told our freshman year selves, if we could. It’s not dressed up, it’s not loaded with research. Honest thoughts, in our own words, from real Third Culture Kids.

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Prior to college will come graduation. Michael Smith at Principal's Page shares,
My Graduation Speech, which I loved.

Adults in your life don’t tell you the whole truth, especially when you are graduating from high school or college.  They are just happy you are not in jail.

Plus, they love you.  They have to.  It’s the law.

They also don’t want to tell you the truth because they don’t want to watch you cry like a junior high boy.

So I’m going to.

I’m not here to completely crush your hopes and dreams, but it’s probably going to happen so you might as well sit back and take it.

Inspired to Link

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What’s your parenting Achilles’ heel?
"I think moms often have our own versions of the Achilles’ heel. Those little issues that get under your skin, even if they don’t seem to bother anyone else.The things we’re most sensitive about, worry the most about, spend the most time defending to ourselves or justifying to others."

 

I’m Christian, unless you’re gay.
"Before I go on, I feel I must say something one time. Today’s post is not about homosexuality. It’s not about Christians. It’s not about religion. It’s not about politics. It’s about something else altogether. Something greater. Something simpler.

It’s about love.

It’s about kindness.

It’s about friendship

“Oh, but you’re not gay? You’re clean, and well dressed, and you have a job? You look the way I think you should look? You act the way I think you should act? You believe the things I think you should believe? Then I’m definitely a Christian. To you, today, I’m a Christian. You’ve earned it.”

 

A Teen’s Brave Response to “I’m Christian, Unless You’re Gay”
NOTE: Yes, I bet you can guess where this is going, but definitely worth a read.

 

Want to understand today's kids? Read this…
We, the Web Kids

Inspired to Link

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Connected, but alone?

"If we are not able to be alone we are going to be more lonely. If we don't teach our children how to be alone they are only going to be lonely." Sherry Turkle goes on to call for reflection and conversation. I will have to watch this another time or two in order to be able to fully reflect on it. What do you think?


Still trying to figure out Arab Spring? My friend Matt posted about it here.

My Reader dropped this blog post in front of me this week. Interesting food for thought and included a video I will remember for a long time. If you haven't seen it yet you really need to take a look. If only we all kept a positive outlook and were willing to redesign 'the box'. Thanks, Caine, for the inspiration.

Inspired to Link

 

Saudi princess: What I'd change about my country a BBC Magazine article.

 

"I don't take my kids outside to play. I SEND them outside to play" where Meagan Francis talks about how kids can still play, outside, without structure.

 

Use Google Forms to collect important data? Perhaps contact info? Vicki Davis tells her tail of warning in her post "Why Schools Shouldn't Use Google Forms For Anything Private (Lesson Learned)".

 

Want to do something good in the world? Check out Free Wheelchair Mission. (Thanks to Kristen at RageAgainstTheMiniVan)

 

Links photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/intherough/3470183543/">...-Wink-... viahttp://photopin.com">photopin http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/">cc

Closed for Easter

Inspired to Link - Belfast edition

This is a bit different then a typical 'Inspired to Link". Rather then tidbits I have come across and want to pass along these are sites linking you to places we have been to, or are about to go to, in Belfast.

On our drive through the Republic of Ireland we stopped at Monasterboice to see the high tower and the large Celtic crosses.

Our outing the next day involved walking through Queen's University, the Belfast Botanic Gardens and Palm House, and the Ulster Museum.

The following day involved a fabulous local park, a 4 year old's birthday party, and a visit to Castle Espie.

We celebrated Palm Sunday at Lowe Memorial Presbyterian Church (with an Irish worship leader, Scottish music leader, English lecturer, and American preacher). Later one of our walks was at The Giant's Ring.

Tomorrow we will head to the brand new Titanic Belfast building and see the play "The Boat Factory".

I will eventually get my photos up, but not having Windows Live Writer or Picasa, two programs I use regularly to blog, cramps my style a bit. I will get everything up when I get home. This is to tide you over.

Links photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/intherough/3470183543/">...-Wink-... via http://photopin.com">photopin http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/">cc

Inspired to Link - Palestine edition

Every so often I can't contain it any longer and I have to get on my soap box. This is one of those weeks. I am only sharing a few links - those that I find to be most worth passing along.

Yes, I've been inspired to link. You've been warned!

Map courtesy of the University of Texas Libraries, The University of Texas at Austin

Kairos Palestine Responds to Michael Oren

We'll start out with the longest and meatiest of the links. If you don't want too much substance, skip to the next one.

Kairos denounces Michael Oren’s recent op-ed published in the Wall Street Journal (9 March 2012). In this inaccurate and manipulative text, Oren, Israel’s ambassador to the US, blames the plight of Palestinian Christians on oppression at the hands of Palestinian Muslims -- rather than at the hands of the illegal Israeli occupation itself, as is our reality.

Palestinians prepare to lose the solar panels that provide a lifeline by Phoebe Greenwood

This is a human interest story. It would be no matter where it took place. People who are cut off from all sources of electricity, except the expensive and stinky (oh, loud too) oil powered generators are given clean, green, silent solar panels, but now they can't keep them.

Imneizil's solar system was built in 2009 by the Spanish NGO Seba at a cost of €30,000 to the Spanish government. According to the Israeli authorities, it was built without a permit.

Somebody needs to tell Newt, so I will. No, they are not an invented people. Don't take my word for it…

I am a Palestinian Christian! from Christ at the Checkpoint on Vimeo.

UN human rights body to probe Israel's settlement activities in West Bank

Netanyahu added that out of 91 decisions made by the UN body to date, 39 dealt with Israel. "Only three of the decisions dealt with Syria".

Hmm, perhaps the large number of decisions focused on Israel should tell you something about the state of human rights within their borders. And, Netanyahu, please notice that the recent atrocities in Syria have been going on for just over a year, not over 60 years.

And finally, a tiny ray of hope…

US lawmakers release $88.6m in Palestinian aid

But, of course, there are strings attached. At least the funds are allowed to help with some basic human needs; health, water projects and food.

And that's a Slice of Life, from my soap box.

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Inspired to Slice about COETAIL

This post is going multi-purpose.

It is Sunday, so this is my "Inspired to Link" day. Right now all I am inspired to do is go to bed as it is way past my bed time. I could have you follow the link over to my course site, but for simplicity I will repost it here. (Does it still count as a link? I know I am stretching it.)

Slice of Life? Right now I have thrilled to say I have completed my COETAIL Course 1. For a slice of my life, here is my final project…

I chose a unit that is yet to come this year. I suspect as I mull this over between now and May I will probably make some adjustments, but for the mean time this is what I know…

After Spring Break we launch into an American Revolution unit. I actually have to start with some Colonial Times background knowledge lessons in order for aspects of the American Revolution to make sense. This all culminates at the end of May with a Living Museum.

In order to prepare for the Living Museum students will research about a person for the American Revolution. (They are given a list of figures - anyone that they would be able to find enough information to do an acceptable job - and get to tell me their first, second, and third choices. No promises are made, but I try very hard to give each student someone they have selected.) Students use both print resources and online information to gather the needed materials. They practice their note taking skills, paraphrasing and summarizing as they go. The next step is to prepare a speech. This is written in Google Docs, which allows for comments from both myself and their peers during the writing process. Costumes are created and the speech is memorized in preparation for the actual Living Museum.

The presentation of their speeches happens in two different settings. Each student receives a note taking booklet as we have an in class session. This is where each speech is given while the rest of the students take notes I am filling out the rubric. Finally we move to a larger space and setup our actual 'museum' where the rest of the fifth graders and parents are invited to come and hear speeches as the historical figures come alive.

The other aspect of this project is a Prezi. This allows students to incorporate visual elements about their American Revolution figure. It serves as a preview or teaser before a figure 'comes to life' in the Living Museum. They are also available to share with a wider audience.

Those are my thoughts thus far.

Inspired to Link

This week brings a very random smattering of things to ponder.

From Google Chrome extensions 
by Corina Mackay. (I use 4/5 of these.)

 

to tips for preventing eating disorders in children 
on Rage Against the Minivan with a smile acronym S.M.I.L.E.

and finally pondering technology in
Is ‘gaming’ the new reading? on Pyburn's Ponderings

 

photo credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/intherough/3470183543/">...-Wink-...</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/">cc</a>

Inspired to Link

We, the Web Kids by Piotr Czerski
We do not use the Internet, we live on the Internet and along it.

Why Does Writing Make Us Smarter?
The different brain processes used for writing by hand and typing [have] found that there are cognitive benefits to putting a pen to paper. These findings give support to the continued teaching of penmanship and handwriting in schools.

Functional bathtub made from books by Cory Doctorow
The idea is of immersing oneself in knowledge, books, truths…

And Dr. Seuss for the Digital Age…

Inspired to Link

5 things I have learned from students about education technology…
Are we taking these five things into account as we are plotting a course and planning our lessons? Allowing essays to be texted instead of typed - that is one I hadn't thought of. How about you?

 

Beware: the Internet could own your future
This article is not new, but I just stumbled across it this past week. Lots of things to think about regarding being 'out there'. Even when you think you are being careful things you don't expect can show up.

"Imagine coming across a random Web site that features one of your photographs without your approval…"

I was looking through Wonderopolis for the next wonder I would use with my students when I came across a Wonder of the Day that started off with a video of teacher friends of mine and their son. I quickly emailed them to find out the backstory. Turns out, they had never even heard of Wonderopolis. So you never know. Things that make you go hmmm.

Inspired to Link - The Failure Edition

If you are trying to build your PLN, Dr. Mark Wagner wrote an article entitled Personal Learning Networks for Educators: 10 Tips, which is a good overview of a variety of tools and strategies. I read most of the article thinking 'ya, ya, OK, ya' (not that I do all of the things he listed, but I know about all of the things he listed). And then I got to a quote by Will Richardson.

 “If your school system hasn’t changed a year from now, I get it… but if you haven’t changed a year from now, you’re a failure.”

That stopped me in my tracks. I went back and re-read it. And then again.

What a true statement. We are only as good at our jobs as we are willing to reflect, try, fail, and try something different.

 

Which leads me to, Why I Hire People Who Fail by Jeff Stibel. I have ideas percolating for a "failure wall" in my room incorporating writing and reading into the unit. (Adding math would be easy, too.)

 

Successful scientists fail over and over and over. Kenneth Boehr was not expecting success when his 5th grader asked about a chemical she had just 'created', but Susana Polo's article, 5th Grader Accidentally Makes Explosive in Class, Gets Co-Authorship on Subsequent Paper explains the true outcome.

 

A thought to ponder. When Students “Fail” Should They be Allowed Do-overs? Robert Ryshke wrote the article and I would agree with him. Do you?

Tonight, one of the assignments my fifth graders are tackling is their "Math Test Corrections". They can earn back missed points by telling me what they did wrong, what they should do to fix it, and then showing me the correct work and answer for the math problem. To me that furthers the learning process, which is what I ultimately care about.

Inspired to Link

University Study Shows People With Lower IQ's Are Political Conservatives

More intelligent children may be more likely to grow up to be liberals, a researcher at the London School of Economics and Political Science suggests.

Does helping Palestinians beautify the occupation?

There is a thorn in the side of the Israeli prohibitions industry, in the guise of several stubborn and persistent women of retirement age. In a word: nudniks. They are the MachsomWatch volunteers, who during the past seven years have been offering their persistence in order to appeal the travel ban…


Kristin @ Rage Against the MiniVan posted
should kids be punished at home for bad behavior at school?
Recently, we were talking about this with a friend who is a teacher, and she suggested that it wasn’t a good idea to give a consequence at home for something that happened at school. She felt like we were undermining the classroom consequence and the student-teacher trust, and that whatever punishment was received at school should be sufficient.


Layla @ Images of Saudi posted The Saudi IKEA Experience.
Though she is speaking of the IKEA in Riyadh, our experiences at the Jeddah IKEA are very similar (and I don't have a cool phone to be able to sneak pictures).

Inspired to Link

SOPA and PIPA Explained in Plain English [Infographic]
By Jeffrey Thomas at Tech The Plunge

It’s hard to believe that anyone in the educational technology world is not aware of the proposed SOPA andPIPA laws. However, sometimes it is difficult to understand exactly what is going on.

Yup, only two links this week

A well written article about the non Palestinians living in the West Bank, illegally. Unlawful, Unresolved: Israeli Settlers in Foreign Land by Graham Peebles

 

When I first saw a picture of the Concordia my stomach lurched. I have been taking it all in ever since. The captain of the Costa Condordia, Francesco Schettino, unfortunately turned out to not be a great captain. Which article to share with you about that? How about this one. The story that we are not hearing much of is the work the crew did to safely evacuate over 4,000 people, in less than two hours, on an extremely listing ship, in the dark. In a previous life I worked for a cruise company including a chunk of months on board. I look forward to the time when the stories of those crew members, doing their jobs and saving lives, are told.

First Links of 2012 including My Top Ten Books of All Time (as of right now)

Everything I know about God I learned  in my laundry pile, posted by Elizabeth Ester, is so spot on I can't keep it to myself. This is how she starts…
The first lesson you learn in motherhood is that when you create a human, you also spend a lot of time cleaning up after it. Which, if you think about it, is pretty much what God has been doing since the day He created humans. Cleaning up after us, I mean.

 

I do quite a bit of figuring out flights. Often I am trying to figure out the best routing, timing, and/or who we could get miles on that actually helps our current mile situation. I have a website I have been using for years, but the URL is ridiculous so I am always having to find find the link and go from there. (I just realized I should have turned this into an itty bitty url years ago, but now I have this…) This week I came across a new website with an easy to remember URL. http://www.hipmunk.com/ This site does virtually the same thing as my previous 'go-to', but with visual bar graphs for flight times and an option to list searches by 'agony'. Give it a try!

 

Katherine Sokolowski was the author on The Nerdy Book Club with a post entitled "My Top Ten Most Important Books". As I told her, I am a sucker for a Top Ten list and an even bigger sucker for books. I immediately opened my notebook and jotted down my list…
In no particular order - My Top Ten Books of All Time (as of right now)
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S. Lewis

The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell

Everywhere Babies by Susan Meyers and Illustrated by Marla Frazee

Kneeling in Jerusalem by Ann Weems

14,000 Things To Be Happy About by Barbara Ann Kipfer

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

Mister God, This is Anna by Fynn

My Beautiful Child by Lisa Desimini and Illustrated by Matt Muhurin

Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell

 

and The Bible
My favorite two versions are here and here

 

Join the conversation and leave a comment. Learn anything from a laundry pile? Favorite airlines? Top Ten Book List? Anything else?