Christmas 2007 has come early for me this year. Last September, I applied for a Best Buy Teach Award.  They were to announce the winners on Monday, February 19^th, but they announced them on Friday! I happen to be checking on Bloglines, when I read my friend, Jennifer Wagner, had found out that the list had been posted early! Well, I quickly checked, not expecting to see my name and WOW! My name was there! I couldn’t believe it! The grant, in the form of a $2500.00 Best Buy card will be used to support the newest endeavor that I began last fall.

I wrote the grant with starting a weekly kids news broadcast in mind. The group of students that I began this adventure with last fall couldn’t wait to get started, so we started with what we already had. my district-issued laptop, a camcorder from another grant, and Movie Maker 2 software, which is a free program.

With this $2500.00 grant I will purchase a new, more powerful laptop that is geared for movie editing, a new camcorder, and movie editing software. My broadcast kids, MIB ~ Mustangs In Broadcasting do not know the fantastic news yet. I will let then know on Tuesday during our planning meeting.

This is an awesome group of kids to work with. They have presented at our state capitol building, school board meetings, and will present at MACUL in March at the Student Technology Conference.

When reviewing the winners list, I see that I am in impressive company, which makes this all the sweeter! Not only did Jen win, but Bob Sprankle from Wells,
Maine won as well. I am honored to share the list with these fine people.

Ok, I admit it! I bought it because it’s cute. Verizon’s Mint Chocolate has become part of my family of techno gadgets. I really like it and I already have a few songs on it and my contact list transferred. Ok so I splurged, but sometimes you just need to do it!

This article appeared in the local newspaper, Toledo Blade. It seems a local high school student was doing a little bit of research on his own.As many of you may know, an iPod can be used as a file storage device, as well as listening to music and podcasts.  

By enabling an iPod in disk mode, a person can use the device like a flash drive. This seems to be how this student was using his iPod that day.  

The student from Clay High School in
Oregon,
Ohio is accused of hacking into the school personnel and student files and transferring private and sensitive information to his iPod. According to the Toledo Blade, the high school junior was charged with unauthorized use of a computer. He was also charged with possessing a criminal tool, his iPod, since it was used in the crime.

Last week, school was closed for two days due to sub-zero temperatures. This week, we have been closed for two days again due to the blizzard that has hit our area. Now, don’t get me wrong. I love an extra day off just as much as the next teacher. I have to admit, I am going a little stir crazy. I spent most of today trying to figure out a way to do an enhanced podcast using Windows.  The first few people that I approached about this subject had the same answer. “Get a Mac!” I do all of the school’s podcasts on the district-issued laptop (Gateway) so getting a Mac right now is not the solution.I think I may have found a way around this issue but it will be more like a slide show with audio. I’m going to have the kids use Microsoft PhotoStory, (http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/digitalphotography/photostory/default.mspx).

I won’t be able to insert chapters and it probably won’t be viewable on an iPod but until I find out how to make those changes, this may have to do. If any of you can lend a hand to my problem, I’d appreciate it greatly.

Until then, enjoy a couple of pictures that I took from my deck. Yes, that is a giant frog in my backyard! (Don’t ask!)

Have you ever had one of those days that you didn’t think you’d be able to utter another word to your students? Have you ever felt as though every word that has come out of your mouth actually was repeated over and over? Ever you left at the end of a school day and found you couldn’t drive home fast enough, get into some comfy clothes, get a hot cup of tea and curl up under the covers in hopes of making it all go away? We’ve all had those days! Sometimes they seem to drag on for a few days in a row! 

Have you ever had a student that made you think to yourself, “Yes. This is why I’m teaching!”  A student that makes you believe that what you’ve chosen to do with your life was the correct path. A student that you not only inspire but they’ve inspired you. A student that you’ve not only taught but has taught you. I’m betting that most of us have had at least one.  

Vicki Davis from http://coolcatteacher.blogspot.com/index.html  has led me to a phenomenal video that all educators must see. It puts things into perspective, especially when we’ve had one of those weeks. 

Check out the movie at: http://www.teachermovie.com/ Think about all of the children that have reached out and touched your life some how.