MAC Week 4: Classmate Response #2

Here is Hunter's post for his Week for Leadership:

My Week 4 MAC Class Leadership Update n Links

'Keep An Eye On This Presentation!'

My month 11 Leadership project is well developed now and I have determined that I will submit a speaker application for the FETC conference in Orlando, Florida. I am a strong supporter of the Full Sail EMDT program and feel that the diverse activities we have completed have prepared me to present at any level: small room or a large-scale presentation. I would like to thank all of the EMDT instructors for their strong influence along my journey. My year of research has unveiled some very interesting outcomes and I will be synthesizing and collaborating with others for quite awhile. One intricacy from the research is that, certain cultures are much more highly engaged than others due to using a class response system. Why? You must comment below if you’d like to know the answer. It is significant and you will say, “Wow,” when you hear the possible reasoning. In fact, you may need to go to FETC to hear my presentation. Let me know and I’ll save front row seats for you – First Come First Serve. Seating is limited, so write soon. And while you are waiting for the conference you can check out some past background of my Leadership project developments, which are found at these previous three weekly blog links:

Week 1 Leadership Blog:

http://bloggedonphonics.blogspot.com/2012/03/leader-of-leaders.html

Week 2 Leadership Blog:

http://bloggedonphonics.blogspot.com/2012/03/leader-within-me.html

Week 3 Leadership Blog:

http://bloggedonphonics.blogspot.com/2012/03/my-week-3-class-leadership-quest.html

My Presentation:

And even better yet, click this "clickable link sentence" to go straight to my Leadership Presentation slides and speaker notes!

Well, thank you very much for stopping in to see the progress. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated. I look forward to hearing from you!

Below is my response:

Stephanie WaldnerMar 25, 2012 03:07 PM

Hunter you can save one of those first row seats for me...I would absolutely be at FETC to see you speak. It is an interesting concept to follow someone through beginning steps to the end like we have been able to do in this EMDT course. I've enjoyed watching all of our peers progress through with their projects.

MAC Week 4: Classmate Response #1

Below is Jonnie Williams' blog post on the reading assignment.

MAC Week 4: Reading Post; The Spark

The Spark

     The last four chapters of this book were wonderful, just as the whole book has been. It is important not to place the blame on everyone but rather understand what you can do to accept  responsibility and move forward. I loved learning about the thought of what is "off track" and what is "on track". This thought process allows me to be the driver of my track. I know that I get off track at times and it is important to take time to reflect and get back on track. Using the "We" method is something I like to do with my class. I use this method to include everyone as the class. This way we come up with solutions together. The solutions refer to the many opportunities happening in our classroom. 

     I do have to say though, my favorite reading was from "Lighting the Spark". The spark happens when everyone involved is enrolled in the activity. When people are not enrolled in the activity a downward spiral will unfortunately take affect.Enrolling people in the activity lights a spark of enthusiasm and phenomenal things will happen. No matter how big the result is, it is a lot bigger than what you would get from a downward spiral. For example, during the week of Read Across America we had a special guest read the story The Lorax. Afterwards, I needed to individually assess some students so I gave the class an open ended activity. I gave each student a large piece of construction paper. I asked them to show me what they predict will happen with the seed the little boy was given at the end of the story. I told the students they could use any materials in the classroom. A "spark"; the students were enrolled in the activity. Look at the pictures to see what happened next. 

Start with plain paper and
other materials.

A town is born and truffula trees are respected!

The Lorax comes back to take care of the truffula trees,
the fish, and the bears.

He was trying to figure out how to glue the stumps to the paper.
So, he filled the stumps with glue. 

She wanted everything to pop up. Do you see the pond with the fish?
Do you see the Lorax?

Tape is great for a lot of things. What fun we had!

    Lighting the spark in everyone is a wonderful gift to give to others. I hope this lights a spark in you.  As always...

Keep smiling!

Here is my response:

Stephanie WaldnerMar 25, 2012 02:29 PM

I love that activity. The Lorax is quite possibly my favorite Dr. Seuss book. I love...LOVE...reading it out loud to my students. The part where the last tree gets chopped, I read it in a way that ever student has their eyes trained on the book and on you can hear a pin drop. In my classroom, I've always asked them to pretend that they were the little boy and what would they do with the seed?

MAC Week 4: Leadership Post

For my leadership project, I chose to write a paper to submit to Edutopia.  My CBR project was on reducing paper in the classroom.  I began my paper with a review of my literature review touching on the points that actually revolved around the project.  From there, I began a narrative about the activities and both phases with their results which led into the challenges that I faced during the project.  The final portion of my paper was what I would like to include if I added a phase 3 or chose to continue the project next year, which I hope to do!

Leadership Post 1

Leadership Post 2

Leadership Post 3

My Paper for my Leadership Project

MAC Week 4: Reading Post

I thoroughly enjoyed this book from cover to cover with the exception of the chapter entitled...becoming the board.  This chapter made me feel so conflicted with accepting that you are a part of what happens in your life instead of being a victim.  I can see this being true or okay was somethings.  There is the phrase "people cause their own drama" but I don't believe that this applies to all situations.  Sometimes bad things can just happen.
In my continued reading, the story of the artist Alice Kahana really pulled at my heartstrings.  Anyone can think about what they have seen in movies and pictures about the situation she was in with her little brother, but when I had just graduated high school I went backpacking through Europe and my friend and I chose to visit both Auschwitz while in Poland.  I can only imagine how that last thing that she said to her brother changed her "vision" after going to that place.  It is a moment in my life that I would never forget.
At the end of that same chapter (11), the words Marianne Williamson wrote made me cry.  That is being printed and going not only in my classroom but in a frame in each of my children's rooms to remind them that they need to shine.

MAC Week 3: Classmate Respons #2

Here is my response to Kimberly Duran's Leadership blog post...

MAC Week 3 Leadership Post

I think my first choice of presentation venue that I would like to try and submit my work to would be ISTE. This is my number one choice because ISTE is focused on the use of technology in education. With the direction that education is going, and my school that I teach at is going, I would really love to be a part of a conference like this one. The experience alone and the information I'm sure I would get to see and hear would be absolutely priceless. The next place I would love to present my work would be AVID Summer Institute. I know this is not on the list, but my CBR project involved AVID students as my target audience. AVID strategies were involved, and we took so much to a new level with the use of technology, I would really love to share these things with other AVID teachers so that they could use all the amazing tools I learned about through this program, and share the information with them on a national level. People from all over the United States come to AVID Summer Institute, and one of the most loved aspects is idea sharing with other educators. I think the experience would be amazing.

Stephanie WaldnerMar 18, 2012 05:11 PM

Kimberly,
I think either choice would be an excellent one. I had never heard of AVID until coming to FULL Sail and listening to you talk about it. I think one of the best unseen outcomes of this program is the share-ability of everything we've learned. Especially when its something really exciting (like the Art of Possibility) I can't wait to tell everyone I work with about it. I'm looking forward to hearing your presentation this week. Good luck!

MAC Week 3: Reading Post

Imaged created by digitalart

Rule Number 6: Letting go and realizing that everything doesn't need to be so serious.  For me, this is the hardest thing to think about.  I immediately think of my many to do lists with school, family, kids' schedules...Then I think what if I didn't take everything so seriously?  Would everything fall apart?  I'm always told how I'm the one who has it together, and the one that everyone relies on.  So if I didn't take things as seriously would I still be that person?  My calculating self feels like the one in control most of the time and to answer the question; What would have to change for me to be completely fulfilled?  That is one that I think will need to be discovered on a quiet day when I can be by myself.
The other chapter that strikes home is The Way Things Are. One of my favorite phrases is Its All Good.  My husband has even told me that when he hears that phrase, he gets a sense of calm even at his most stressful situations.  Growing up, I always had anxiety issues.  My elementary guidance counselor was a great resource for me.  He taught me to look at what was in the "right now" not "what if."  That is still one of my most un-liked phrases---and is barred from my classroom!

MAC Week 3: Classmate Response #1

Below is Hunter Mennings post on his Leadership Quest

http://bloggedonphonics.blogspot.com/2012/03/my-week-3-class-leadership-quest.html?showComment=1331861247821#c3976843907701465485

My Week 3 Class Leadership Quest

'All Dressed Up And Some Convention Soon To Go!'

Hi. Thank you for checking in to see the steps in my Leadership Quest to speak at a national conference. My first choice is to speak at FETC, because it is the largest education convention in America and I have already been a speaker there. As an unknown speaker on the scene, the room was nearly full and these were serious educators. These people traveled a long way and were on a mission to find something new, something usable in their world. Good thing I took a survey and gleaned some incredible knowledge from my audience. Let me know if you are interested in the outcomes. The other conference I would like to submit my application for is ISTE, because is deals with the use of technology in education. My life is technology. I breathe capacitance and my veins are filled with electrons so it is my destiny to share technology so they can all be set free to see the glee of technology.

Below is my response:

Hunter Menning,
I can so see you standing in front of a crowd to speak. I could also see your audience hanging onto every word as I have over the past 11 months. I went to FETC a couple of years ago and really enjoyed myself. Always wishing to go back!! Good luck in your leadership quest!