Hyper-quest in the making
Jul 22nd
Since my last post I have had some time to sit down and put some leg work into my Webquest (err, hyper-quest). First off I decided to use HyperStudio because I am so finicky about using fun fonts and graphics that were just not available through Questgarden. Though I have no doubt I will be happy with the result in the end, at this point I am having teensy regrets simply because its much more time consuming building each page with links from scratch. I also do not have some of the templates provided through Questgarden like the evaluation rubric. Luckily with so many sample projects being provided it should be fairly simple to create these missing elements on my own with a little extra time.
I am however excited to be exploring the Hyperstudio software itself. I feel like using it is such a positive experience and is already bringing about such a strong desire to use it with my future students. It is user friendly and very versatile. I also appreciated that when I hit a small stumbling block, Karen (my instructor) was available to help me resolve the issue quickly. At this point I still have many of my pages to assemble but feel as if I am more than 1/2 way done and especially glad to have the preliminary planning of it all out of the way.
WebQuest
Jul 20th
My current project for reflection is a webquest. For those of you reading who are not in my Instructional Applications & Software class, a webquest is an awesome tool for students (created by teachers) to lead them around the web to learn about specific content standards in a fun manner. Sort of like a choose your own adventure book only on the web.
For my project I am drawn to create a space expedition. I want to create something like a kid friendly Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy where the students have to decide literally what it would take to travel to different planets in our galaxy. Specifically survival tools like oxygen, water, protection from the sun, etc. The students will be supplied with links to sites which discuss what each planet’s environment is like, telling them essentially what would happen if we landed on the planet without certain essentials.
5th and 6th grade Earth Science standards will be specifically addressed in the completion of this project. The final assignment which will asses the students mastery will be a suitcase filled with the most essential elements needed to make a stop on five of our nine planets. Part of the project will force the students to think closely upon the simple yet complex elements that allow for life on Earth. I’ll post a link here in case anyone wants to see it when its completed.
Live for the Moment
May 23rd
I was stumbling today when I found a quote that read “the best things in life aren’t things”. I instantly thought of how true the statement was, since as I see it the best things in life are moments. Moments we spend with family, friends, and even strangers. So why do we focus so adamantly on obtaining “things”?
As a society we strive to have the best house on the block, drive the finest car, or show off our newest purchases. Yet year after year these items fade, get older, and stop being exciting to show off. So what do we do? We get more things to show off. It seems like such a silly practice when in the long run we hardly remember our loved ones for what they owned. We remember the times we spent with them and how happy we were when we were with them. We remember the moments.
Yet here I sit writing this thinking about how infrequently I invite others over because my lawn is all weeds, or because the furniture is worn and the pool is missing tiles. I certainly do not want to be remembered for the car I drove, nor for having the biggest television set, but for being friendly, and willing to adapt. Don’t most people want the same? We hear this message in sermons, in music and find it spliced into movie scripts. It really shouldn’t take much thought to put into practice, but it simply does not come naturally for most. When you think about it, it takes far less effort to put experiences before objects. So the challenge for myself and for you is to stop being concerned with surroundings and things, but to live for the moment.
My Valentine
Feb 13th
Valentine’s Day is only an hour away so I feel inclined to share three of the sweetest things my wonderful husband has ever done for me. In no particular order here they are:
Most thoughtful: As a few of you know I had lap-band surgery last March. Part of the process involves going on a pure liquid diet for three days pre-op, then another five days post surgery. There’s more, but in a nutshell the last real meal you eat before Weight loss surgery becomes known as “The Last Supper” because not only will you not eat anything semi normal for weeks to come, you will never eat the same again. This wasn’t something I whined about to my husband because I was still trying to keep him on board with the process and didn’t want to utter a teensy complaint about it given that it took me a year to get his support as it was. So, four days before my surgery he surprises me with a baby sitter and sweeps me off my feet for a long drive giving me no clues as to where we were going. Two hours later we arrived at the front door of Ruth’s Chris, the best steakhouse ever. He said he wanted my last meal to be the best.
Most creative: Damien has never really caught on to buying jaw dropping gifts. In fact in the early years he didn’t buy them at all. Not entirely his fault since we have almost always been on a mega tight budget and we share a bank account, but he has been in the dog house once or twice regardless. Last year however on my birthday (which also falls on or within days of Mother’s Day) Damien got super creative and took me to Big 5 to pick out my own gift. If you are confused, so was I… at first. But he soon explained that my gift was to spend time with me, in the form of playing tennis together. We picked out rackets and headed to a court for my birthday…it was awesome.
Most Spontaneous: Damien and I hit it off very early. In a matter of three weeks we had a huge list of dates we had been on, including dinners, movies, meeting parents, Disneyland and more. However in our fourth week we ended up on the road to San Diego heading out to Sea World. I had never been, so it was a very magical trip, however I would have never guessed what was to come next. On the drive home we had this mad idea to get married and have a baby. So sure enough, after an official proposal, four weeks later we met at the alter and began our wild adventure toward the Party of Five. I’m not sure he will ever top the spontaneity of proposing one month in and pushing for a wedding 30 days later, but the best may be still yet to come.
Thursday Thirteen: Favorite Sounds
Feb 10th
1. “Night-Night“: One of the most calming parts of my day is when these words are finally uttered by my kids.
2. “Lets go“: I love getting out of the house.
3. Lively music: Having waitressed for 11 years, I found myself driving to work with a scowl on my face way too often. Instead I would play my favortie tunes to lift my spirits. It still works! No matter what my mood, upbeat music always makes it better.
4. “Mommy!” (when said with enthusiasm) Mostly the girls call out for Daddy, but when I hear them call out for me I LOVE it!
5. Live Piano: When Damien first brought home his childhood piano I thought it would make a nice addition to our decor, but I never knew I would love hearing him play it so much. It is very relaxing.
6. “I Love You!” Who could get tired of hearing this?
7. Laughing: One of the best sounds ever, esp. when it is kids.
8. The final “schools out” bell of the day…awww sweet harmony!
9. Silence: This is actually quite the opposite of sound, but it tops the list anyways.
10. Running water (like rivers and streams)
11. Holiday Jingles: As soon as the time of year comes when they start playing Xmas music it starts to feel so magical.
12. Rustling Leaves: No explanation, just love it!
13. Anthony Hopkins & Morgan Freeman: These guys could turn the “books on tape” market in to a multi million dollar business with their calming voices.
"I get to play all by myself"
Jan 28th
The first four years of his life, my oldest was an only child. Luckily we lived right next door to two of his cousins so playmates were close by. Still though friends go home, and he was left all by himself. To this day we tease him about trying to bribe them with candy to stay and play, and when that didn’t work, throwing himself in front of the door screaming so that they couldn’t possibly get out. Oh the life of an only child in a single parent house can be a touch lonely.
Now, however, our home situation is very different. There are five of us, two adults for the entertaining, and three kids to keep each other busy. The youngest Riley doesn’t quite view this as a positive though. She never gets anything to herself, and has to share everything. Given that I was the youngest of three I feel like I can relate to her frustrations, but afterall she is only two so their isn’t much I can explain to her as of yet.
For all that, times are changing. See the big sister just started school this week. So now, when mom isn’t working, all attention is on her. The first day all by herself she was pampered with a manicure, pedicure, and haircut (thanks to a good friend). Now today is day two. She got to pick the cartoon, has all the toys to herself, doesn’t have to cut the banana in half (which I learned was apparently a very exciting thing), and is getting ready to go out to run errands with mom…all by herself. Out of the blue she said with more enthusiasm then I have seen in a while “I get to play all by myself” (to which I replied) “is that a good thing?”…”uh HUH!”
One thing for sure, her demeanor is very different, from the aggressive child who screams and shouts when big brother and sister are home to a reasonable one who is almost serene when they are gone. Poor thing just needed to get some time to herself.
When marketing forces you to improvise
Jan 25th
Companies spend a lot of time and energy marketing to kids. In fact I’d guess that kids may be one of the biggest audiences in their business. They grab them with commercials, magazine ad’s, and product placement in their favorite shows. But the real kicker is when they use their favorite cartoon characters to sell the product. Well my oldest daughter just turned five and got what would seem to be the new hot ticket item for her birthday. A Zhu Zhu pet. These things are a wonderful replacement for a real hamster, however they have about 20 accessories to be complete. Ranging from housing attachments. to toys, the price can go pretty high to get your Zhu Zhu pet complete. So the little one noticed right away on the side of the box that wonderful attention grabbing image of a Zhu Zhu in a carrier. I’m thinking, “oh that’s cute, can’t cost much just for a little carrier that’s smaller than my hand”…um, thats where I was wrong. When I looked it up, the cost was…prepare yourself…$20. For less than eighth of a yard of low quality fabric. Holy Moly, time to improvise. So we decided to make one. Let me give you my disclaimer: I am not a seamstress. I have a sewing machine I have used 4 times and not very well I might add, but what the heck…she’s five right, who will notice crooked stitches?
Here’s what I started with: the Zhu Zhu pet for sizing, two pieces of coordinating fabric, thread, scissors, and rick rack (would have used ribbon but this is what I had on hand).
I made a basic square with rounded corners, stitched it together inside out, turned it right side out and attached the rick rack sloppily around the edges.
Lastly I attached some handles and slipped the hamster into his new carrier. Not quite what the commercial advertises, but the five year old was happy.
(sorry for the fuzzy cell phone images)
Listen here, if I can put this thing together, anyone can. The best part is that instead of marketing forcing us parents to spend $20 for a piece of cloth that will be lost in the laundry in a week, I managed to make the little one extremely happy in less than an hour. Improvising rocks!
Good Samaritans
Jan 21st
As a kid I can tell you my dad helped just about anyone we crossed paths with. He was by profession an auto-mechanic, but really he was just handy with almost anything. If someone needed help, stranger or not he was the guy who stopped, and he would never accept anything in return other than a thank you. As I have grown I can’t say that I see many good samaritan acts like these, but times have changed so drastically its easy to understand why. For one, just about everyone has some sort of roadside assistance and a cell phone to get help out to them. For another it is hardly safe to stop and check on strangers, especially in remote areas or at night. I also think as a general rule we own newer cars (unlike the days where we drove a car for 20 years until it was on its last leg) so there are fewer break downs. Still though, even in modern times, gas runs out, tires go flat, and on the rare occasion that you either do not have your cell phone or happen to be in between roadside assistance plans, help is always desperately wanted. On with my story.
Yesterday wasn’t one of our luckiest days in the Riley house, a few flips and flops through the day (nothing major), but we didn’t manage to be driving home from work until it was dark, slushy, and pouring down rain. On the darker “short cut” home though, we got a flat tire. Since I was certain that I opted out of the roadside assistance to keep our insurance policy low, Damien started out in the cold to change it. This is where I should mention that trying to find where the factory jack is installed in your vehicle, is like playing Where’s Waldo. Then getting it out of the housing is another puzzle. Ten minutes in the rain and we haven’t even taken the spare of the back of the car. The kids and I got to stay tucked away for the grueling 40 minutes that followed while Damien knelt in soggy snow and was getting soaked with fresh rain, but the good ol’ factory jack still refused to get the car high enough to put the full sized spare on. So just as we are about to freeze to death, a car pulls up and a guy steps out offering to help. In less than 10 minutes he uses his (far superior) factory jack and has us on our way. It was unbelievable to both Damien and I that someone would stop on a pitch black road, in the slush, with rain pouring down, and help change a tire for strangers.
Oh and when I called later to add roadside assistance to our policy I learned we already had it…go figure.
Curb the Cravings
Jan 19th
One of the quickest ways to ruin a diet is to give into the cravings that inevitably show up right when you are trying to be at your best. Hasn’t this happened to all of us? You’ve worked for days to eat just the right meals, kept on task with an exercise plan, and been on your best behavior by not even indulging in the slightest treats. Then out of nowhere your mind sends you flying to the cupboards in a dire search for anything you shouldn’t be eating. Its most surprising when you have just finished a meal and can think of no good reason why you should want to eat again. This would be head hunger at its worst. Your stomach certainly isn’t calling you out, its your brain. So how in the world can you get beyond this calling? Here it is in a nutshell: dump the carbs, especially the white ones.
Even in moderation the bread, pasta, rice, and tortillas go to work on your blood sugar and when you least expect it, they leave you desperate for more. Cutting them out of your diet though won’t just help in reducing the late night frantic rushes to the fridge, you will probably also find an increase in energy, and possibly a better disposition. There isn’t a slow way to do away with these carbs though because if you look at your labels they are hiding in so many of the foods you would least expect. What I suggest is to go cold turkey. Try a carb busters diet like this one and let me know how it goes.
#1 – Do this for 10 days
#2 – Drink 2 quarts of water a day
#3 – You must have 45 grams of protein supplement and all your vitamins/minerals supplements each day
#4 – You may consume up to 3 oz of the following high protein foods, 5x a day
beef
pork
chicken
turkey
lamb
fish
eggs
low fat cheese
cottage cheese
plain yogurt or artificially sweetened (?)
peanut butter
beans/legumes
You may also have:
sugar free popsicles
tea or coffee
sugar free soda
sugar free jello
broths/bullion (sp?)
crystal light drinks
#5 – If it’s not on the list, you can’t have it for 10 days!!!!
#6 – Keep a food diary and try to get up to 30 mins of exercise daily
Space Cadets & Know It Alls
Nov 3rd
Haven’t we all heard at some point in parenting our toddlers that old adage, “just wait for the teen years”? It somewhat dimishes the troubles we are facing at the time, but it is usually coming from a mother who knows and has been through both stages of development. Well here I am parenting one child with a light case of the horrible threes, another bouncing eagerly towards the terrible twos, and finally the subject of todays post, the boy itching to be a preteen.
See my 10 year old has always been the adorable, delightful type that everyone has wanted to be around. This is not a mom bragging here, I am just saying he has been almost abnormally good his whole life. In fact the biggest complaint we have ever received is that he is too friendly (meaning he is super talkative).
Recently however, this sweet little boy of mine has been perfecting his new role as a “know it all”. Whenever he asks a question, he is compelled to spout out , “I knew that, I was just checking”, after I respond. Or if he is asked to do something, before the request can be completed he feels compelled to abrubtly stop me to sharply say “I KNOW”! Oddly enough you would think that knowing everything would be an advantage, oh like when I need him to find something he has lost, however this is when his career choice of “space cadet” shines through. See the child can find almost nothing! I mean it. If he was holding it seconds before or if it is directly in front of his face, he is oblivious. Also unless something is specifically asked of him, it rarely gets done. Like teeth brushing. Unless I say it, EVERY time, he does not brush his teeth, and when I say “do a good job” I get the inevitable “I KNOW”!
Now I am not saying that this previously angelic child of mine has turned completely over to the dark side of teens years as he is very much still in love with his sisters and can be super helpful, but I almost feel blindsided by the body language and attitude that I didn’t expect for a few years yet.