How to write better
Are you re-working your September curriculum letter for the 10th time? Lost in the maze of writing PTA Open House notes, field trip permission slips, and such?
Happens often, to many of us. Here's a brief article full of good writing tips (from Copyblogger) which may help:
http://www.copyblogger.com/brilliant-writing-tips/
Hahaha....guess we'll see if it helps improve the writing here! (hmmm...hope so!)
9/1/10
8/31/10
Learning Link, 11
Looking to add interesting material to the classroom section of your school's website?
Check this out: Copyblogger Brian Clark Interview on Content Planning for Blogs.
Clear advice with a focus on building 'robust, engaging content'....here's the link:
http://www.toprankblog.com/2010/08/brian-clark-video-interview/
Check this out: Copyblogger Brian Clark Interview on Content Planning for Blogs.
Clear advice with a focus on building 'robust, engaging content'....here's the link:
http://www.toprankblog.com/2010/08/brian-clark-video-interview/
8/30/10
Music and Art take to the streets
Are you interested in street art?
How about pianos, out on the street, for any passerby to play?
As part of an art experiment?
How cool is that?
Check it out:
http://boingboing.net/2010/05/21/street-pianos-head-t.html#previouspost
....uh, and no: I'm not going to draw any of the obvious references or wisecracks about public school music education and this event...you can do that one on your own.
How about pianos, out on the street, for any passerby to play?
As part of an art experiment?
How cool is that?
Check it out:
http://boingboing.net/2010/05/21/street-pianos-head-t.html#previouspost
....uh, and no: I'm not going to draw any of the obvious references or wisecracks about public school music education and this event...you can do that one on your own.
8/29/10
Learning Link, 10
Getting started with plans for the school year?
How about this idea, from the classroom wall of a great teacher I know?
She kept a list on the wall of words & phrases to let people know they're doing a great job.
I tried this last year, changing the focus a bit. It worked well for me.
Here's my working list for this year:
Things I want to think about, every day:
Dignity. Calmness. Centered. Kindness. Listening. Energy.
Autonomy. Mastery. Meaning. Play. Story. Design. Empathy. Symphony. Purpose.
That second line, in case you didn't recognize it, is from Daniel Pink's book, A Whole New Mind. (If you haven't read it...well, let's just say it can deepen awareness of what the fundamental abilities are for success...)
How about you? Any words you find important to remind yourself about, each day?
How about this idea, from the classroom wall of a great teacher I know?
She kept a list on the wall of words & phrases to let people know they're doing a great job.
I tried this last year, changing the focus a bit. It worked well for me.
Here's my working list for this year:
Things I want to think about, every day:
Dignity. Calmness. Centered. Kindness. Listening. Energy.
Autonomy. Mastery. Meaning. Play. Story. Design. Empathy. Symphony. Purpose.
That second line, in case you didn't recognize it, is from Daniel Pink's book, A Whole New Mind. (If you haven't read it...well, let's just say it can deepen awareness of what the fundamental abilities are for success...)
How about you? Any words you find important to remind yourself about, each day?
8/28/10
Books....
Looking for some good reading for the school year?
Have you ever noticed that there are certain books which become worn from re-reading?
Books which make some things more clear?
Here's some I find helpful:
Letters to a Young Poet, Rilke
Linchpin, Seth Godin
Tribes , also by Godin
If you want to write , Brenda Ueland
The War of Art, Steven Pressfield
Shop Class as Soul Craft, Matthew Crawford
A Whole New Mind, Daniel Pink
The Old Way of Seeing, Hale
And blog posts from Seth Godin (www.sethgodin.typepad.com and Leo Babuta(zenhabits.net).
Plus, nearly any TED talk by Ken Robinson.
Current reading?
Robert Francis (Collected Poems), and The Talent Code by Daniel Coyle.
And, as always, looking for good (non-fiction) suggestions. What are you reading these days?
Have you ever noticed that there are certain books which become worn from re-reading?
Books which make some things more clear?
Here's some I find helpful:
Letters to a Young Poet, Rilke
Linchpin, Seth Godin
Tribes , also by Godin
If you want to write , Brenda Ueland
The War of Art, Steven Pressfield
Shop Class as Soul Craft, Matthew Crawford
A Whole New Mind, Daniel Pink
The Old Way of Seeing, Hale
And blog posts from Seth Godin (www.sethgodin.typepad.com and Leo Babuta(zenhabits.net).
Plus, nearly any TED talk by Ken Robinson.
Current reading?
Robert Francis (Collected Poems), and The Talent Code by Daniel Coyle.
And, as always, looking for good (non-fiction) suggestions. What are you reading these days?
8/26/10
Learning Link, 9
Are you drowning in details right about now?
http://mnmlist.com/stop-making-it-complicated
Working on that one...
http://mnmlist.com/stop-making-it-complicated
Working on that one...
8/25/10
Learning Links, 8
Amazing presentation-- a headset which controls the human-machine interface.
Apparently our thoughts can change the world.
http://www.ted.com/talks/tan_le_a_headset_that_reads_your_brainwaves.html
Apparently our thoughts can change the world.
http://www.ted.com/talks/tan_le_a_headset_that_reads_your_brainwaves.html
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