Soleil's Smile

New Blog

2008-03-07T17:35:00.002-05:00

I have moved my blog from blogger to edublogs so if you want to follow me, find me at http://diannekrause.edublogs.org

Thanks for reading! :)

Post PETE & C

2008-02-22T14:45:00.003-05:00

I don't know about you, but I'm still in an overwhelming fog of WHOA that I got from PETE & C. It is absolutely a great place to be, but as always, it leaves me thinking about all there is out there to learn and wondering where I am going to find the time to learn it all. Not only that, but I know that my teachers are feeling the same exact way, but worse - they still have to teach full time, in a brand-new way. So not only do I have to wade through the notes, resources, links and cool things I learned, but I have to slowly disseminate them to the CFF teachers in my school. Although I would love them all to check out every great new resource I find, I also still have to understand that they have lesson plans to make, grading to do, and so forth. In an effort to consolidate information for the CFF team at my school I have decided to create both a weekly podcast and a weekly or bi-weekly newsletter. It is my hope that the CFF team begins to rely on these updates as they move forward this semester.

Catching Up

2008-01-28T17:32:00.000-05:00

Wow, it's been MONTHS since I posted. Needless to say to those who know me well, I've been extremely swamped (see earlier post on Time) and have not had a chance to reflect enough to blog. Well, the time has come! My life as a French teacher is over (for this year anyways) and now I embark on my new journey as a Classrooms For the Future Technology Integration Coach. WOOHOO! As I start this new chapter in my life, I hope to return here to post my reflections often. Well, more often than before anyways!

Here's to a whole new professional life for me!!

Seeing the changes already...

2007-10-14T07:18:00.000-05:00

So on Friday I had the opportunity to meet with the majority of the teachers who will be the first 1:1 Classrooms for the Future teachers at Wissahickon. As you know, I am now their coach, mentor, go-to person, etc. One of the teachers pulled me aside during our break and we had a discussion about how she feels she is coming into this at the beginners level and that she may need a lot more support than the others. I told her not to worry, that I would meet them all where they are and we will take it one small step at a time.

Since then, she and I have been communicating about a modified lesson plan she is working on. We had difficulties with video from United Streaming to Power Point, and with the help of my online network, we found several solutions to the problem and the problem is solved. I just received an email from her outlining the modified lesson, and how she will modify it even more once she receives the laptops. I am very impressed with her modified lesson and am amazed that she feels she is a beginner!

I hope each and every one of my teachers jumps into this with the same amount of enthusiasm. If that happens, we will see majorly awesome things happening!

And for the record, I'm feeling much better. Still overwhelmed, but better.

Time

2007-10-11T16:47:00.000-05:00

Ok, just a warning, this post is going to be just one majorly long vent, at least that's what I'm intending right now as I start it. It may just end up to be a bitch session but I need to get things OUT because I feel so overwhelmed that I need to just let something out and put it into writing before I explode!

So firstly, I'd like to vent about all the information overload I've been getting lately and the LACK OF TIME to process it all. It all started at KTI this summer, but it has gotten infinitely worse since CFF Boot Camp. I KNOW there is a LOT of information out there in the now flat world and I just don't see where people find the TIME to process it all and understand it all. I follow all the 'right' blogs for educational technology. I just don't have the TIME during the work week to read them. Currently my Bloglines to read is at 266 and I know I haven't read them since Sunday. k12online is going on right now and just today I went to the webpage. I went there, saw everything that is available for me to look at, added it to delicious, and left, knowing I have NO TIME to spend on it. WHERE DO YOU FIND THE TIME????

I'm teaching full time, 5 classes of French - 2 French 5s, 2 French 4s, and 1 French Forum. Although I taught the same courses last year, the 5s and 4s were brand new to me last year. This year I was given a Smartboard and a Macbook, and we now have Moodle in my district. So, inevitably, I'm pretty much re-doing all my courses to integrate the board and as much technology as possible. Just learning how to use the board and integrating it into my current plans is a lot of time. But of course, I'm trying to do other stuff with it so finding resources and tools and then integrating THEM is even more time. Also, I've decided to have a discussion board through the Moodle online for all my courses, with posts and responses in French. Imagine HOW MUCH TIME it is taking me to read all the posts and grade them with effective feedback! I need to think of a new way of assessing the boards... Also, my Forum kids are putting together a wikispace instead of doing the normal Power Point. Of course it is awesome and going well, but very TIME CONSUMING. I've also just assigned my first podcast project and have had to quick learn Audacity to teach the kids. All these tools are so cool, but no one else is trying them, so I have to do it all on my own and take the TIME to learn it all and implement it all! And don't even talk to me about grading papers....

On top of just teaching, I've been semi tech support and go-to person for technology in my high school. Although I really DO LOVE helping the teachers, it TAKES TIME. Every day at lunch people have questions for me. During my prep periods, people find me and ask me questions. After school people stop by. Even in passing in the hallways, people ask me questions about technology. I have stopped walking through the office so often because the receptionist almost always asks me questions about her computer! GRRRR

AND, I've been hired as the CFF Coach for Wissahickon, which is GREAT. But, I'm teaching full-time at least the whole first semester. Although I'm not supposed to really START until they get my substitute, I feel obligated to get the ball rolling with the teachers and I am. So, I spent most of this week (besides the time teaching) putting together my 3-hour workshop with my teachers tomorrow, setting up and finding links for Delicious, meeting with the prinicipals about CFF and talking with the librarian about the future of her job.

And then there's family. I'm married, I have a 4 year old son, an 18 year old step-son and a 14 year old stepdaughter. My 4 year old needs constant attention, and of course I love spending TIME with him, but sometimes I feel that work takes over and there is NO TIME for him. And that just plain makes me sad. And my husband, poor guy, he gets the least amount of my TIME. He is busy too with his work, but we only really see each other 2 or so hours a day. I'm usually working during that time and he is starting to get really angry that I'm not having quality FAMILY TIME.

And weekends? Well weekends are spent cleaning the house, running errands, visiting my other family. and trying to keep my head above water with lesson planning and grading. Sometimes I try to allow myself an hour here and there to read, whether it be fiction or blogs.

Ok, I'm starting to feel better about getting this out... I'm just wondering and really seriously asking all those working mothers out there like me, who love their jobs and love doing what they do... HOW DO YOU FIND THE TIME???

New Macbook Skin!

2007-09-08T17:18:00.000-05:00

I just received a new look for my macbook - MacStyles!
Check out my new skin ...

Transitions

2007-08-31T07:00:00.001-05:00

Over the past few weeks, especially the last 3 days, I am finding myself going through a professional transition. I am no longer just a French teacher who uses technology in her courses. I am now a French teacher who is quickly (too quickly!) becoming a leader in the area of technology in education and professional development. My colleagues are now coming to me with technology questions and not just the World Language department members. Teachers school-wide are approaching me and wanting me to help with their transition in becoming a proficient 21st century educator.

I just received word that my school district will receive double the funding expected through Pennsylvania's Classrooms for the Future Grant. I have already been identified as the person who will be the Coach for the district. That means that I will now be supporting double the teachers, students, and amount of equipment than expected. I will also be a full time teacher for the first semester. I'm beginning to feel overwhelmed.

Now I know how the teachers in my district feel! They are also going through transitions. Each educator in my district was just handed a beautiful new macbook 3 days ago. Then, they were introduced to our new district Moodle and instructed briefly on how to join and begin using it. Then, they were trained on a new Student Information System and grade book that they are expected to use right now. Then, they have me present an hour on Web 2.o and its importance in today's schools. Whether they want to or not, they are going to make transitions they don't yet even know about, and, I'm the one they will go to for help and guidance.

I worry about how much time I will have for my courses and my students, not to mention my family! I think this year will be chock-full of transitions for everyone in my life: colleagues, friends, family, students and especially me. But, I am so excited I can't wait!

New tool: VuVox.com!

2007-08-25T07:27:00.000-05:00

Check out the newest cool tool I am experimenting with... Vuvox! You can create a variety of slideshows/presentations with images, video and audio. It is a pretty cool way to present online. Here's one example that I created in about 10 minutes.

Next Steps

2007-08-23T18:22:00.000-05:00

I am heading for a career change, whether I'm ready or not! Yesterday, as I was walking down the hallway in school after a technology training session, my principal asked if I had a few minutes to talk. As we walked, we talked, and he broached the topic of a new job for me at the high school. Once we arrived in his office, he asked me if I would like to be the Classrooms for the Future Coach for my district, if we do indeed receive the grant money. A bit hesitant, and not sure what I was getting myself into, I accepted the offer. Then, he and I tried to figure out how it would work out and we came up with a plan that I would teach 3 classes and they would hire a long-term sub for my other 2 classes. Although this would work, It was not the best option for the district, the students, the CFF program, or me. After talking a bit with a fellow CFF Coach Kristin Hokanson (thank goodness she happened to be training in my classroom yesterday!) I found out how much time I would be expected to be out of the school and in training. I went home last night stressed out and totally overwhelmed.

I went back to school today and met with the principal. He proposed a new plan. I will teach full-time French first semester of the year and then second semester, after the computers get here, I will be a full-time coach. They will get a long-term sub for all my classes for the second semester. That seems like a MUCH better plan and I am very very much looking forward to it.

This is going to be such an exciting year!!!

*gulp*

Disco Fever!!

2007-08-18T09:06:00.001-05:00

Check out this new dance video starring Dianne & Benjamin! A cool new tool I found at jibjab.com, thanks to my friends on Twitter!

Star in Your Own JibJab! It's Free!

The New Year

2007-08-11T09:25:00.000-05:00

As the new school year rapidly approaches, I am constantly thinking about how this upcoming September will be quite different than the 10 previous ones. Here's why, and how I think I'm going to cope...

Firstly and most importantly to me, I will have new tools. My classroom now has a SmartBoard 680i and I now have a new macbook. I also have a new 30GB video ipod and a recorder for it. I can't wait to use my new tools! However, innovation takes much motivation, thought, time, and effort. This I have already discovered in my hours' worth of work for one day's lesson plan. I realize now that I will have to spend a LOT of time if I want to take the units and lessons that I have created over the years and change them into meaningful learning situations for my students. Luckily, I have already started this transition in the past few years, but now I have the tools to REALLY make the shift. I am ready, but are the 49 other teachers in my district who are also starting this new school year with the Smartboard? I hope that they realize that they are now responsible for changing the look and feel of education in my district. I hope that they are ready to embrace emerging technologies and work to integrate them into their curricula.

Another difference this year is that every single teacher in my district will have a macbook. This will absolutely change the way we communicate and operate on a daily basis in school. In-service presentations can now be hands-on workshops. Department meetings can now be collaboration sessions. Meetings can be held online and communication can be instant and constant. Again, I am skeptical that the general faculty populaton will be as motivated to use the tools as I am. Some people just hate change!

Yet another difference will be the impending decision on whether my school has received the Classrooms for the Future grant. If the grant is awarded, we will receive funding for 7 1:1 classrooms in the building. This change would be HUGE for the students and for the teachers. Although I could not receive one of the 7 classrooms from the grant, I cannot wait to collaborate with the teachers who are chosen!

What else will be different? Clear Backpacks! The students are already outraged and school hasn't even started yet. I just can't wait to see what they will be up to once school starts...

I got tagged! 8 Random Facts

2007-08-08T10:35:00.000-05:00

So a few days ago I was tagged by my new friend Kristin. As I was in the thralls of dealing with my first macbook falling down the steps and breaking, I was behind in my blog reading. I am just about caught up with everything now and after being tagged by Scott last night, I feel it is my duty to complete this post...

Here we go!

Post these rules before you give your facts
List 8 random facts about yourself
At the end of your post, choose (tag) 8 people and list their names, linking to them
Leave a comment on their blog, letting them know they’ve been tagged

My Facts:

I lived in Mulhouse, France during my sophomore year of college, 1992-1993. It was the most life-changing experience of my life.
I loved science and math in high school, especially Chemistry.
My dogs Dolittle and Deanne became proud parents of 8 puppies on my 9th birthday, under my parent's bed.
Besides my son Benjamin, I am the proud parent of many pets- Maggie: standard poodle, Sequoia: tabby cat, Bink (aka Bunny): mutt cat, Charles: Iguana, Jacob: African Sulcata tortoise, Lenny & Larry: Schneider's skinks (a type of lizard), Herbie: hamster and Tropical & Freshwater fish.
I started playing an online game called Medievia in 1995. Two months later I met my husband Mike on the game and now we run it together.
I absolutely love creating web pages and finding out new cool things to put on them.
I have one true sister, one half-sister, two step-sisters, a step-brother, and many step nieces and nephews.
The first concert I attended was the Jackson 5 Victory Tour. The second was Debbie Gibson. I'm not sure if I'm proud of that or not.

Ok, as for the tagging 8 people, this is the hard part. As I am brand new to blogging and the only bloggers I know are the people I met at KTI, you are already all tagged! I promise when I meet more bloggers I'll tag them to keep this going!

Que savez-vous? What do you know?

2007-08-07T17:49:00.000-05:00

Check out this new video I made! I made it as a practice of 2 new applications for me: Keynote and iMovie. Finding the images took the longest. It was a cinch to put together and figure out. I will play the video for my students as they enter the first day. I will also have it playing at Back-to-school night for the parents. I've already started working on an answer key, which I will post to my wikispace for anyone who would like it!

My Macbook

2007-08-03T14:41:00.000-05:00

I finally got it, my macbook! It is a nice little thing that is perfectly easy to use. I love the way it works and the way the files and programs are organized. Of course it took us a bit of time trying to find the WEP password for the wireless router, but once we did.. I was good to go! (Thanks again to Brandon for all his help).

How I got the mac was a pretty cool experience too. I was gathered in my classroom in the high school with many principals, administrators, fellow trainers (that's me) and even the superintendant. Our tech director took us through what the mac looks like, what all the ports mean, how to maneovre the operating sytem, set up email, set up internet and showed us cool programs we can use. It was 3 hours of pure learning and I loved it! I sucked it all in and suprisingly remembered most of what I was told. Now I have to teach the same 'meet your mac' workshop in a few weeks. I hope I remember it all!

I love fun new tools :)

Putting it all together

2007-08-02T05:46:00.000-05:00

So I've had loads of fun checking out all the new links, resources and tools that I learned about at the Keystone Summit. Now, it's time to get down to the nitty gritty and think about how I'm going to actually use what I have learned. How am I going to get my students to use the technology without even realize it? How am I going to teach them how to use the tools and learn the curriculum along the way? How am I going to seamlessly integrate all this great technology!?

Here are a few of my general ideas with questions and calls for help!

Wikis -
I've already created my own, and one for the students, but what about the students creating them? Where do they fit in? Taking inspiration from Kristin Hokanson's Learning Latin America project, I hope to guide my students in creating a wikispace for the Regions of France. I have an existing project that involves a webquest, a powerpoint, and a sample recipe. I plan to modify the project in such a way that the students will be creating a wikispace about the Regions, with each group creating the page for their region. Each group will have to present their page and create an activity to go along with their presentation. I still have a lot of thinking, organization, and planning to do, but I've created the wikispace for it already!...http://regionsdefrance.wikispaces.com/

Now, for French 5, I am thinking about using the wiki as the 'home base' of all online work. And as mentioned below, I'm considering using the wiki for the discussion board too. French 4... not much room in the curriculum for a wiki construction project but I'm still thinking on it...

Discussion Boards-
Last year I used eSchoolbuilder for my French 5 discussion board, and although it worked well with my students, could there be something better out there for me to use? I've considered using just the discussion tab on the French 5 wiki page, but that isn't as secure as eSchoolbuilder was. I have also created a Google groups account for French 5, and that's another way to go. I would really love to use the wiki though because then everything can be all in one place. I have to still decide on this one.. any suggestions?

I also have an issue with how to provide valuable feedback to my students with their discussion board entries. Last year they just got a grade and hardly any verbal or written feedback from me. The class surveys at the end of the year told me that they wanted and needed feedback from me. I'm struggling with how to give my students feedback in such a way that it is natural for me and not too time consuming. Any ideas?

Voki-
As you've seen if you visit my pages, I love Voki. I want my students to all make at least one this year. I'm trying to work out when is the best time in the curriculum for each of my courses to do this. I am absolutely going to get the French 5 students to create them as introductions of themselves for their epals. French 4 - probably during the unit in which they discuss relationships and getting along with people.. maybe as a 'video-dating' thing where they describe themselves. Forum - Probably during the Quebec unit where they discuss what sports and activities they like to do. It's just a really cool tool that I think the students will really get into. And if they are writing their scripts and speaking in French, they are learning along the way!

Comic Life-
I already have my Forum students create a comic strip during the Belgium unit in which we study the popularity of comics in Europe. The project currently involves Power Point. I have had students use Flash and other software in the past, but I would love it if this year's students used Comic Life. I could offer them a variety of tools to use and have them choose, but Comic Life is very cool and I think the students will love it. I just have to get them all to DL and install it... that may be an issue.

Podcasts-
I will absolutely be having my students all create at least one podcast this year. I have already begun to restructure a French 4 project to include a podcasted advertisement for a hotel. Last year they presented their advertisement to the class, but next year they will be scripting and recording a podcast advertisement along with a brochure made in publisher. The students told me they really liked the project last year so this year has one more added element that they will love! (I hope).

I think French 5 will have multiple opportunities to record podcasts but I need to figure out when they best fit into the curriculum. I think I will have them use podcasts a lot for their epals, instead of letters. We will still do both but I think that the addition of audio and maybe even video will create deeper exchanges for the students. The students last year really enjoyed their epals and having a connection with someone in the world who actually speaks this language they are learning. If we add pod and vodcasts to the exchange, I can see these feelings of connection only get stronger.

I have also found and subscribed to several French language learning podcasts through iTunes that I will share with the students on my wiki. I may even challenge the students to find more and post them to the wiki for extra credit!

Video-
For the past 8 years or so of my teaching, I've had my students create video skits in which they demonstrate communicating in French using vocabulary and grammar they learned in class. Over the years the final products have become better and many students now edit their videos on the computer and are really good at adding music, transitions, titles, etc. But, I still get some videos filmed on VHS with bloopers in the middle, missed lines of dialog, horrible shooting techniques and so forth. This year I want to REALLY teach the students how to make a video. Of course the French and the curricular value is important, but so is creating a great final product. So, instead of just assigning the project and telling the students it is due in 3 weeks, I plan on guiding the students to better resources about making videos and giving them at least a day's instruction on good techniques and tips on how to create a good video. I also plan on taking more class time to collaborate on the projects instead of just having them do it all outside of class. This way I can guide and help my students not only with the French aspect of their creations, but also the video-creation aspect and their pride in their final product.

Blogs-
Hrm, this one I'm still trying to tackle. I know it would be an awesome learning experience and opportunity for each of my French students to maintain a blog in French, but the thing that gets me is how I will keep up with it all. Currently I have epal letters and discussion board topics to read and assess. How would I do it with a blog for each student too? And where would they put their blogs? Google? Blogspot? Wordpress? Others? How to assess & give feedback?

I would also love to use tools like Slideshare, Flickr, Jing, Box, VoiceThread and so forth with my students. I figure the best way to teach these tools is to just use them and show how to get them as I go along. I learned about them by seeing them on wikis and blogs and clicking and researching. I will encourage my students to do the same. I know that I do not have enough time in the curriculum to TEACH the technology and teach French, but I can guide my students and give them plenty of resources to help them out.

But as I sit here, I know there are a lot more things out there that I don't know about yet. Anything I've missed?? :)

Voki fun

2007-07-31T18:54:00.000-05:00

So today I spent my time creating Vokis. You can check out the one for this blog to the right. The other 3 I created are on my wiki, teacher website and work blog:

I am now thinking about how I can use Voki with my students next year. I have already decided that my French 5 students will be making them to introduce themselves to their epals, and I may have the French 4 students do something similar.

How would you integrate Voki into your courses?

My first 'vodcast'?

2007-07-26T06:34:00.000-05:00

Yesterday was my son Benjamin's 4th birthday and as we set out for Chuck E. Cheese to celebrate I thought to myself, "wouldn't it be great if I used some of my new tech skills to make a video?". So, I snapped some photos, recorded him singing, and set out to play with some things I learned at KTI. I used my new ipod recorder, Photo Story, Windows Movie Maker, Audacity, and some music from freeplaymusic.com. I know I could have spent hours and hours more on it, but it's a quick first project. Here it is...

Web 2.0 Video: The Machine is Us/ing US

2007-07-23T20:38:00.000-05:00

This video was introduced to me by the new technology director of my school district and then was brought to my attention again today on The Connected Classroom. It is a great explanation of Web 2.0...

KTI Summit: Leadership. Voice. Advocacy.

2007-07-23T10:21:00.000-05:00

The motivation for the revival of this blog was the inspiring 4 days that I spent at the Keystone Technology Integrator's summit held at Shippensburg University. The summit, sponsored by the PA Dept. of Education, was my 'award' for being recognized as a Keystone, a teacher who has successfully implemented technology in my courses. To find out more about the summit itself, visit the KTI Wikispace created for the conference, complete with presentation information, videoconferences, keynote speeches, and more.

Although the summit was a whirlwind of new software, links, resources, tips, tools and gadgets, there was indeed personal interaction and collaboration. I have started to create a whole new network of people with whom I share the love of technology and education. It is this network of people, and the others at the summit who haven't made it into my network yet, who were given the charge of undergoing the tremendous challenge of transformation around these 3 words: Leadership, Voice, and Advocacy. I now believe that it is my obligation to take these 3 words and transform myself and start to tell a new story.

Leadership
Throughout my 10 years of teaching, I have often shied away from Leadership, thinking that I was too young and inexperienced for anyone to listen to what I have to say. Throughout this past year and the involvement in the Keystones program, I have realized that I do have something important to share with my colleagues. I have noticed people being more receptive to my advice and fellow teachers often come to me for assistance with a variety of things. Although my 'leadership' has been very informal in nature, I feel that I am ready to take on a more formal role within my district to help lead and guide us into the 21st century.

Voice
Before the summit I knew I was a teacher who was good with computers and the Internet. Now I believe that I am an teacher and technology integrator who has an educated voice about technology and its implementation as a tool within education. I have learned how to seamlessly integrate it into curricula to be used as a meaningful avenue with which to convey the knowledge and information we are teaching. Web 2.0 tools have endless possibilities within any curricular area and are motivating and interesting to the students because they use them in their lives outside of school. It us up to educators like me and like those at the summit to raise our voices to break the paradigm of 20th century education. 21st century, here we come!

Advocacy
Dictionary.com defines Advocacy as: "The act of pleading or arguing in favor of something, such as a cause, idea, or policy; active support." If that is the case, I am pleading for the school district boards and administrators to listen to our voices. I am arguing that embracing the tools available to us and our students will lead to meaningful, life-long learning. I am in active support of school reform to include use of the world's resources with our students. I am in active support of teacher professional development to share our knowledge with them and help them see the light. I am in active support of the continued conversation of becoming a better educator in the world of the digital natives. (Can you ever make the transition from 'digital immigrant' to 'digital native'?)

At the summit we were told to create a project in which "The task was to think about what a school would look like...SHOULD look like in order to produce 21st Century Learners." ( Kti Wiki) Here's my group's project:

Blogs and Wikis and Nings.... oh my!

2007-07-23T08:58:00.000-05:00

So as I dive into the world of social networking and all that it entails, I find myself bogged down in MORE and more sites. In a week's time I've joined and created... wikispace, twitter, skype, ning, flickr, slideshare, gtalk, del.icio.us, bloglines (and probably more I forget) to add to my previous network of myspace, facebook, and blogspot. WOW - that is a LOT of sites to be involved in, and I feel that I've only just hit the tip of the iceberg. How do I keep track of it all? How do I survive on all those sites and keep up? Bloglines helps, but I still see SOOOO much information in front of me that there just simply are not enough hours in the day to sort through it all and then digest and create with it. I'm sure I'll figure out a way to deal with it but right now I feel very overwhelmed, and very very small. Web 2.0, here I come!

Summer Photos

2007-07-22T15:01:00.000-05:00

Just trying out Picasa's web album embed feature. Here's a few pix of my family this summer...

I'm back!

2007-07-22T09:55:00.001-05:00

And I'm determined to blog like I've never blogged before! I just returned from the most enlightening 4 days of my life, as an educator but also as a person. The Keystones Technology Integrator's Summit was the inspiration for my new wikispace and for me to realize that what I'm doing is important and that I have an obligation to share my knowledge with the world. I will be adding my thoughts as an educator as well as personal stuff on a more regular basis, I hope!

Stay tuned later today as I put down my thoughts about the summit. I'll leave you with a video that has changed the way I think about teaching in the 21st century...

Video created by Kristin Hokanson.

It's Summer!

2006-06-25T06:37:00.000-05:00

Well, It's summer again now and I have more free time to basically sit around and do nothing! :) I've been catching up on my 'net' stuff. I also finally decided to give Sudoku a try and I haven't been able to put the book down. I dream about rows and boxes of numbers now :P Benjamin will be 3 soon and he is a super talker and super cute, of course.

Next year at work I will be teaching French 4 and 5 honors for the first time. I'm planning lots of cool things for the 5s, including epals. I have already found a class with which to correspond in France and am already sending emails with the teacher.. what fun! I have 4 French movies to watch this summer and teach as well as 2 new books. Yay!

Well, happy summer!

I'm Back!... ?.....

2005-10-16T14:06:00.000-05:00

Well, as expected, I haven't been keeping up with this blog.. but here's whats been going on with me...

I'm back to work of course and things are going well. It's been an ok year so far, not too hard. I really like my students this year and that is always a plus. I've had many college recommendations to write this year, more than ever. I really do like writing them but they take so long! I still feel flattered when students ask me to write one for them. Other school stuff is going ok too. I am going to be a co-presenter at a conference in a few weeks and that is a lot of work, but we're getting there. I created the Power Point for it but I have to get my act together on what exactly I will be talking about. I still have 3 more days... :)

I got contact lenses! That's the big news in my life right now. They are still new - I got them 4 days ago- but it's going ok. They are going to take some getting used to, thats for sure.

Benjamin is awesome. He is saying new words and phrases everyday. He is also gaining new perspective on things and starting to mentally put things together. He knows that he is "Ben" and now everything is Ben's... Ben's seat, Ben's shoes, Ben's food, etc. So cute! He can count up to 20 and puts together 4-5 words sentences all the time. His favorite thing to do is boss me around :P Mama sit! Mama get down and play! Mama juice! And of course, Dada is his favorite person in the whole world!

Well, that's me for now.. lets see if I get back within 3 months!

New Medievia Website!

2005-08-14T11:37:00.000-05:00

Well after many months of wishing for a new site, a website design contest, and about 3 weeks of hard work, Medievia has a NEW Website!!

Check out all our hard work! www.medievia.com/newsite.html

YAY!

Going Back to School

2005-08-09T06:20:00.000-05:00

So it's about 2 weeks now that I need to go back to work. It's strange because it's like something "clicked" in my brain and now I realise it so my brain is in teacher mode. I'm now thinking of a thousand things I could do differently this year. Part of being a teacher is adjusting and changing to make things better for the students. So, the start of the year is a great time to try somthing new and make changes to established routines.

One thing I know I do well for sure at my job is being organized. The main reason why I'm so organized is because I get really stressed out if I'm not. I just don't know how disorganized teachers get by :P There is so much paperwork, emails, phone calles, lesson plans, seating charts, etc etc that you have paper everywhere in addition to the files and emails on your computer. Oh, and voicemail too. Not to mention the 12o or so students I need to teach :) Anyways, as I tell my students, organization is the key to success.

That being said, of course I'm thinking about better ways to organize. I took my posters down off the walls in June which I hadn't done for 2 summers. I have a LOT of posters and stuff from France and Quebec that I hang up too. I need to rethink where it all should go! But, this is fun for me, so I'm not complaining. The start of the school year is a nice refreshing start every time. But then comes the rest of the year...

My goal for today is to go in for a few hours with Benjamin and get started. I only have 2 weeks left!!

New Hair!

2005-08-04T08:45:00.000-05:00

Well, I did it and it's done! I think it looks great, but I haven't done the styling myself yet :P The salon was VERY nice, of course. While I was driving there I thought to myself "Im sure I'll see one of my students/ex-students there". Well, sure enough, 2 girls that graduated last year worked there as receptionists! Anyways...

I got my smock on and sat down with a nice glass of lemon-water as I waited for my colorist. She came out and took me over to a line of chairs facing a wall with flat-screen tvs on it. The tvs were showing make-overs :) This was the coloring station. It was interesting to me that there were no mirrors here. I guess they don't want you to see yourself with a head full of foil and dye stuff.

Anyways, my colorist Monica came out and I told her I wanted highlights, but whatever she thought might look good. So we agreed on "warm" highlights and we also had to dye the rest of my hair brown to get rid of the yucky CVS color I put in 8 months ago. So, she began to foil...
"Do you live around here?", Monica asked. I explained that I lived about 2 minutes away and proceeded to explain where are street is. "What's the name of the street?" I told her. "I live on that street!" So, my colorist lives 3 houses up on the right! She lives with her parents and has lived here all her life. For the rest of the color treatment she gave me the scoop on all our neighbors. What a small world!

After drying under a dryer and perusing several magazines I received the best hairwashing I've ever had, done by Claire. It lasted about 15 minutes and was awesome. She even asked me if I wanted my feet reclined! (I said no)

Enter Brooke, hairstylist supreme. Tall, thin, short blond stylish hair, she could be a model. She was very excited about attacking my shoulder-length hair. I told her I wanted easy to manage, shape, and style. She cut it all one length shorter and then went to work on the layering.... amazing really... much different than SuperCuts. After cutting, she styled and styled and I paid close attention so I could try to replicate it here at home (won't happen). All she used was a round brush and a blowdryer, and voila! C'est fini...

http://www.medievia.com/soleil/hair.html

Hair

2005-08-02T14:07:00.000-05:00

Let me just tell you a little about the history of my hair. When I was little my hair was short and curly with a perm, given by my mom. As I got older, I had a little more say in my hair-do but still continued to get perms as per the advice of my mom. Middle school- awful 80s cuts, usually permed, trying to be Madonna. In high school I yearned to have long hair but did not have the patience. I tried many different cuts, colors, curliness, but never long. In college I continued with my experimentation with hair styles, dying, highlighting, cutting myself, etc. But again, never long. Finally, after graduation from college and as life got busier, my hair got longer. No more perms either. Well, I did get one perm with longer hair, but regretted it and hated waiting for it to grow out.

I have been growing my hair pretty much from that time until last year. Before I got my hair cut to my shoulders last fall, my hair was all one length, brown, to the middle of my back. When I cut it to my shoulders, I dyed it myself auburn, and that's the look I have now, except not so auburn since the dye has faded/grown out.

Every single time I've gotten my hair cut that I remember has been at a SuperCuts quality place- Hair Cuttery, Holiday, Super Cuts, etc. - all the same - cheap haircut place. So, today, I decided that I'm going to take my all one length brown shoulder-length hair to a fancy schmancy salon and see what they come up with. I just got off the phone and I'm going tomorrow at 5 for a color consultation and cut! Wish me luck!

A healthy baby boy at Burger King

2005-08-01T14:34:00.000-05:00

Today I took Benjamin for his 2 year medical checkup. Overall, he's healthy and growing great - Yay! He was a good boy in the office until the doctor came in the little room. He was ok at first but once he started touching him the volume rose a few notches. Overall he was great though, and no shots!

Afterwards I took him to Burger King for lunch - they have a huge indoor playground/climbing thing. We ate first - I got him a chicken nuggets kids meal. He ate the fries, I ate the chicken. Well, I should say, he ate the ketchup. He loves to dip the fries in the ketchup and then suck the ketchup off, over and over. The fry usually never gets eaten. Instead, it gets discarded into the container and a crunchier fry takes its place as ketchup utensil :P

After we ate, we checked out the playground/climbing Benjamintrap. It is designed so children can climb up and get stuck up there. It is also designed to be too small for parents to fit up inside it comfortably. Needless to say, but Benjamin happily climbed up the steps inside it, got scared, and "forgot" how to turn around and climb back down. He was inside it standing at the top looking at me through this small hole, holding his arms out to me. I tried to coax him down but no go. So up I go, climbing up inside this thing that's too small for me to climb in. But up I went and I got him. He was happy to see me but still too scared to go back down. It was a bit of a struggle but we made it! I think I'll skip Burger King next time :P

Clothes

2005-08-01T09:15:00.000-05:00

So, one of the jobs on my "Summer Todo List" was/is to organize my mess of clothes. I want to clean house and donate all the clothes I'm never going to wear anymore. Easier said than done...Since I've been many shapes and sizes over the past 5 years or so, I've accumulated quite a mass of clothes, also all shapes and sizes. I have pants - blue, black, olive green, khaki - in sizes 8-16. I have shirts and sweaters from M-XL. I have dresses and work clothes for all ranges too. So, my task was/is to go through the clothes, REALLY get rid of the things I haven't worn for the past 3 years (going to GoodWill), and organize things by size, in large storage containers.

But, why don't I just get rid of all the clothes that no longer fit me? Well, I aim to get back to that size 8, so don't want to give them away in case that happens anytime soon :P I don't want to dispose of the larger sizes either in case of pregnancy #2, if and when that may ever happen. So, organize I must.

I started with my pants. I have WAY too many pairs of pants. I have a large storage container now for each size: 16/pregnancy, 14, 12, 8 (I'm currently wearing the 10s, so they aren't in containers). The containers fit nicely at the top of my closet... nice and organized!

I'm 1/2 way done organizing my work clothes. Out of all the dresses hanging in my closet, I happily put about 1/3 of them in my GoodWill pile. I haven't gone through them in years and there were a lot of old things there! Yay!

Next I need to tackle my sweaters and sweatshirts. Many of them have "sentimental" value to them as I've had them since high school and college and can't bear to part with them. Most of the sentimental value items are things I will most likely not wear again. So, what to do? Do I put them in a storage box at the top of my closet for the sake of keeping them just to take out and look at every once and awhile, or do I give them to GoodWill? Hrm, since I'm a packrat, I'm sure I'll keep them.

Some days I wish life were like Star Trek when everyone wears the same uniform all the time. I wouldn't have to waste my time thinking and writing about clothes!

Summer Vacation

2005-07-31T08:12:00.000-05:00

So, since I decided to have this blog and if I want there to be stuff here, I actually have to post, here goes....

So, I'm a teacher and I get my summers, well 8 weeks, off. "Off" is such a peculiar word because yes, I'm not getting up every morning and going to a workplace. But, although I am not in my classroom teaching everyday, I am quite occupied with thinking about school, dreaming about school, contemplating new projects, planning new lessons, etc. I am a teacher 12 months out of the year for sure, and after 9 years now, I really do look forward to going back to school in August (remember when it was September??)

Another reason I am not "off" - Medievia. We are working very hard this summer to get some new life into the game. Dubbed "The Summer of Medievia V", we are in the throes of releasing new programming, new adventures, a new website, and a lot of new work! I have been busy all summer, hours a day, trying to market the game. I have no experience with PR or marketing, but I do pretty well. I also serve as the head cheerleader for the game, getting players motivated enough to vote for us and donate to the game they love.

Benjamin is a full time job himself :) He has just turned 2, so he is go go go go go all the time. He has decided not to nap more days this week than he has actually napped. Needless to say, it is difficult working, well, doing anything, with a 2 year old around. He plays very well by himself but he needs mommy lots! But, since he is my beloved cutie, he gets all the time he wants.

Summer vacation is more than half over now and although when Mike asked me the other day if I was looking forward to going back to work I said "no", I'm starting to get more motivated :) I redid my Madame Krause website the other day and although it's not wonderful, I like the new design lots. I've also started thinking about going back and getting units reoganized and new ideas for projects. Like it or not, the last week of August is almost here and I have to be ready!

Say Hi!

2005-07-30T13:31:00.000-05:00

Please use this entry to post comments and just say hi :)

Have fun!

It's all about the Links

2005-07-30T12:20:00.000-05:00

I've created this blog mainly as a place where I can post the links to websites I've created and also websites that belong to family members, friends, etc.

Here's what the links are:

Medievia ~ Medievia is the game that my husband Mike and I run. Medievia is a multiplayer online text based role-playing game that has been in development since 1991. Do you Dare Enter?

The Country Deli ~ The website for the restaurant that my dad & stepmom own and that my sister and bro-n-law help run. I used to work there! :)

Benjamin's Page ~ This is the site that I created for my 2 year old son Benjamin.

Madame Krause Site ~ This is the site that I use for my students and their parents at Wissahickon High School. I just redid the whole site a few days ago!

Soleil's Sun Spot ~ This is my personal website that has links to pictures of me, my husband Mike, our animals, our wedding, etc.

The Learning Potential of MUDs ~ This is the website of my Master's Thesis that I did on MUDs

Vote for Medievia ~ Click here to vote for Medievia :)

First Post

2005-07-30T11:50:00.000-05:00

Well, I've created a blog for myself.. let's see how it goes.. :P