teacher tube

You Tube Video

I thought a fun video might be a nice change of pace!

iMovie

Here is my iMovie.  It's a book talk on a story called Jackie and Me by Dan Gutman.  Hope you like it!

My family and I have just returned from Chicago and New York.  What a busy, crazy couple of days!  It was our first trip to New York and it did NOT disappoint!  We saw many of the the "must sees" from the 9/11 Memorial to The Statue of Liberty to the Naked Cowboy to Times Square.  Did you know the ball and "2013" stay there all year?  I did not.  It was a thrill to see so many iconic places!

We spent a day in Brooklyn with a cousin and her family.  It was so interesting to how differently they live.  Most people live in brownstones or apartments.  There is no sending the kids out to the back to play!  I wonder how you ever get things done when you always have to take the kids to the playground?   We read many stories set in big cities in our anthology.  While I could always talk about how their lives were different, I really never understood until I saw it and lived it, even for a day.  It really made me appreciate the simple things like GRASS!

The Big City gave me lots of new ideas to bring our stories and lessons to life this upcoming year.  Not only will I have memories to last a lifetime, I have memories that I can share with my students this year.

My family and I are off to Chicago later today.  We will be celebrating my father-in-law's 90th birthday.   He has led such a rich life.  I love hearing his stories (occasionally he even has a new one!) and seeing some of his mementos.  One of my favorites is an actual arm band he removed from a Nazi soldier during WWII.  He does not want much, just his family all together.  Chicago is known for great restaurants.  Hopefully we will get to one this time!  

After that, we will make the short flight to The Big Apple.  Our son picked this trip.  He has never been there.  I have been there twice--each visit was one day.  The last time was nearly 20 years ago.  So in reality, I've never really been there either. We will do all of the tourist stuff.  Should be fun.  So I don't think I will be able to keep up with all of you for the next week.  Hey, maybe I can actually figure out how to Tweet!

Have a good week, classmates.

Podcast

Here is a podcast book review of The Kingdom Keepers by Ridley Pearson.

Andrea's Thoughts

Well, I am on technology overload today.  I have created a Facebook page, Twitter account and blog in the last hour.  My head is swimming with passwords and sign ons.  I find it funny that I have created all of these accounts because I really am not a social media person.  I really don't think the world is interested in my daily life.  But I have them all, at least for now. 

I can see how having some of these things could be good for publicity for a library or business.  I will keep an open mind and I weave my way through all of my new technological outlets!