Webspiration

I was out checking some posts by Jim Gates at http://tipline.blogspot.com/ (he always has something neat to show, be sure to subscribe to his blog as well), and I found this post about Webspiration. It sparked my interests for a few reasons. First, my very first assignment for my very first real world job was to familiarize myself completely with Inspiration Software, because I was going to train on it. I remember taking my laptop with it installed and heading for a vacation with my Mom to Martha's Vineyard. I learned and played with Inspiration for two weeks before my first actual day on the job. The program is great and I really enjoyed training on it, and later using it with my students and for some of my own projects. Second, I'm currently taking an Educational Product and Program Evaluation Course, and I had to conduct a product evaluation. I evaluated Inspiration 8 Software for the course. '

I've been playing around in Webspiration, Inspiration but online, today and think you should give it a try. Jim states that this version allows kids to collaborate on the same document, which is nice because most schools are using Inspiration and are already familiar with its layout.

http://www.mywebspiration.com/index.php

Lifelong Learning

Every year my Mom buys me a "Page-A-Day" calendar. I really enjoy them. She's been buying them for years. My former co-workers LOVED it when I had the Spanish one! The one I have know is "The Purpose Driven Life." I really like it, and Wednesday thought is worth sharing. It fits so well into my current life situations. Here it is: Whatever gifts you have been given can be enlarged and developed through practice. For instance, no one gets the gift of teaching fully developed. But with study, feedback, and practice, a "good" teacher can become a better teacher, and with time, grows to be a master teacher. Don't settle for a half-developed gift. Stretch yourself and learn all you can.

Round 2 of DC Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee

I don't know if it is the determined approach she is taking to reforming the success of the children in Washington D.C. schools, her demeanor, or my own personal experience in working in and around urban school districts, but I'm a 100% supporter of Michelle Rhee. Obviously, something needs to happen. The current system is NOT working, and she was specifically brought to the district to create a positive change. LET HER DO IT! Give her plan, a different plan, "Plan B," a chance to be implemented and evaluated. If it does not show the measured results as compared to it's objectives, then dismiss it and come up with yet another plan. If you are unfamiliar with Michelle Rhee, read the previous blog and article I posted about her on August 18, 2008 titled: Fixing Washington D.C. Schools. When you are finished come back and read this follow-up article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/02/AR2008100201672.html published in The Washington Post. Many thanks to my NEA email thread for keeping me up-to-date.