14 July, 2010

So last night I did all my homework for Summer Camp at Edutopia..and now I think I am good to go. We as a group of educators are learning how to incorporate Project Based Learning into the classroom. Our "topic" is the oil spill in the Gulf. I need to think about how I can bring this idea into a LOTE classroom. I think the best way to do this may be to do what we did in Spanish IV a few years back for our final project and make Public Service Announcements in the target language bringing "hot topics" to the world from your perspective.

So homework for next week...how can I teach what may be the worlds largest ecological disaster to the LOTE classroom.

Time to poll the mob!!! What is your opinion....we'd like to know!!!!

13 July, 2010

Talk about being on Jamaican Time...

SInce I decided to stop the world and get off for the Summer, I thought I should at least sharpen my saw while I get a mean tan. I was planning on taking 9 more credits of coursework but life overwhelmed me (as it can at times) and I thought it best to just take a break...blesssed be the opportunity to even have that luxury.

In a nutshell I am going to "Virtual Summer Camp" with the George Lucas Educational Foundation!! Yeah the Star Wars guy has this cool education community called EDUTOPIA! So I am joined by over 1000 other teachers from around the country learning how to integrate project based learning into the classroom.

The Harvard Business School model in High School...how cool is that. And I get to do it in foreign language!!

I can't wait. We meet on Mondays and it lasts a month.

I will create a wiki and link it here when it passes muster!! YAY!! I love my job.

So...just because it is Summer...never stop LEARNING!!

¡Os quiero bien mi gente!

11 July, 2010

Feliz Verano todos

Oh my...it has been too long since I posted here!!  I completed 21 Graduate credits at Utica so far.  I decided to take the summer off.  Well needed brain rest.  Officially laid off from S-E, I interviewed at my alma mater last week and am waiting to find out if I made the cut.  

I watched my kids graduate this year!!  My Spanish 4's from last year all went off to higher education....I am so proud of them!!  

As for me this summer I am attending the Summer Institute at Oneonta this August and enjoying reading for pleasure!!  Mario Vargas Llosa is my first.  A politically charged work of fiction based on historical fact...kinda cool!!

Oh yeah...and SPAIN WON THE WORLD CUP!!!  ¡Viva España!  

Hasta pronto mi gente...