Thing #7 - Comments, please.

The comments people make on blogs just reveals the many sides of human nature. It's like sitting at the airport and people watching. We see the kind, patient person, the frustrated, unyielding person, the quiet, intelligent, person, and so on. Just like traveling can bring out the worst in us, anonymity can do the same. Once again, it goes back to so much of what we have discussed in our previous blogs -- some people are just mean and nasty and really don't care if they hurt or shame someone else. These ignorant, closed-minded, arrogant (I could list so many adjectives but I'll stop) people are so miserable in their own lives, they want to bring us all down. Perhaps, they value their own opinions so much that they actually believe no one else matters.

And then we have the other end of the spectrum in which people just say nice things. I can't stand that either. I guess I'm hard to please.

Well... after commenting on the blogs of some of my co-workers, I realized that it's actually pretty easy to talk to the ones I love. I know these gals, I know that they are accessible and kind, and I know that they are truly bright and will only offer useful advice and comments. So that part of the assignment was a piece of cake. I did realize something though, and maybe it's just me. It is as if the blogging world is separate from the real world. I see these gals everyday, and I never discuss the blogging issues or comments or this assignment with them in person. It's as if we are living in two parallel dimensions.

Okay...now back to the topic. Even though commenting on my co-bloggers blogs is easy and comfortable, when I had to comment on a complete stranger's blog, I was a little stunted. I just couldn't think of anything to say. And even though I had anonymity, I still felt a little insecure. Perhaps, this goes back to an earlier comment. When we have to comment for a grade, are our comments relevant and helpful or just fulfilling the obligation? I think they can be both, but I, also, believe that we have to be inspired or have an "ah-ha" moment or have some kind of personal reaction to someone's words in order to make a really sincere contribution.

Oh well...

Thing #6 - All these feeds: I'm getting stuffed!

I have to admit that it is pretty cool having all of this information delivered straight to me no matter where I'm at (as long as I have a connection). I've got the BBC, Al Jazeera English, and NPR news and information at my fingertips. It's interesting to compare how different news cites, with different affiliations, treat the same story differently. It has, also, occurred to me that technology and non-print media has its advantages to print media when it comes to news (I doubt I'll ever feel that way when it comes to books). I'm a born scanner, so it doesn't take me long to skim through the feeds to find what I'm actually interested in reading. It's like all of today's headlines on one page, and with a click of a button, I can read the ones I want.

Plus, it is amazing how much support and technology is out there, and it's all free. A Teacher Writes is a nice blog, which offers helpful hints, practical activities, and some personal reflection on the trials and tribulations of teaching. The English Blog has cartoons with analysis, links to free film clips, rhetorical speeches from movies, etc. Finally, Free Technology for Teachers has... free technology for teachers (links to film, movie clips, current news issues, games for learning, and much more). The list of useful blogs goes on and on, hence part of my being "stuffed."

I love this kind of thing; however, I'm on input overload at this point. Too much stuff. It's like walking into a candy store or the cereal aisle at the local grocer. I can't decide where to start, and if I want to use some of these resources, which I do, how can I get that ball rolling without losing sleep at night trying to fit everything in. It is something I'll have to work on.

Thing #5 - It's past my bedtime and I can't think of a catchy title

Okay... I started going through all of the feeds on my Google reader. First, I just had to look at the Obama Youtube kid's mom's pshyco-self-analysis (Cry Havoc got me curious). Then, I had to read some headlines from NPR (because of my job and this blog, I haven't really watched the news all week -- plus, I'm always skeptical of traditional American news channels -- that's another story). Finally, I gave up and said to myself, "I guess I can go and look at the students' stuff."

Here, I'm revealing some of my arrogance. I really didn't want to read what the kids had to say. I assumed that it would be like what I've read on my son's Facebook -- Kristy is sad :( -- Billy is having fun! -- Bitsy is with her best friend Mitsy. Whoopty-doo... Or worse yet, those whiteboard kids (their sad, little faces still irritate me) would be there whining again, and I'm really not in the mood to listen to them cry.

However, I was proven wrong by the postings of these young'uns at Students 2.0. On his blog Innovate, or die, Anthony writes, "In contrast to the consumer generations before us, my generation is growing up a generation of producers. We are the YouTube/LiveJournal/Facebook generation. Mass media which has long been a one-to-many institution, allowing only the big and wealthy to transmit their messages, is turning into the many-to-many world of the internet and cheep consumer devices." Wow!!! Pretty impressive. He's right! These kids are a generation of producers, and though some producers produce frivolous, fleeting, superficial thoughts (see previous paragraph), some young people actually have something worthwhile, insightful, and intelligent to say. This generation creates its own opportunities -- by-passing big business, and I just love that -- power to the people. Musicians no longer have to find an agent -- they just Youtube their music videos. How cool is that?

Then, I read Hannah's Don't Save the World, and I was impressed at the wisdom of this young person. She finds meaning in knitting, reading, relaxing, and spending time with her family as opposed to some teens who visit exotic places to help the helpless (all for the college resume). She focuses locally and perhaps more honestly. When she writes that her summer plans are to "conjugate some verbs, learn some fancy purls, and pick up some books from the library," I thought to myself, "What a cool chica."

So, I extend my humble apology for my resistance to read the students' blogs. I have kids like those at Students 2.0 in my classroom; I don't know why I thought that they couldn't exist out there in the digital world.

Thing #4 - Blogging about Blogging

One thing that I have discovered while reading several blogs is that I enjoy the voice of the writers (most of the time). It provides writers with a place to be a little sarcastic if necessary (or natural, which ever the case may be). It is rather nice to "listen" to others "talk" on their blogs. I, also, realized that I have a tendency to skim through so much of the information. Why? I really don't know, but it seems like this informal writing lends itself to skimming. I don't have to have my pen ready for annotation or my journal ready for my notes (yes, I am an English nerd). Do I miss some things? Perhaps. Does it matter? Probably not.

Once again, I don't want to sound anti-blogger or anti-blogging, but I feel compelled to share some of my observations. For example, when I read Mark's blog about SSR (his students read blogs silently instead of books), I was a little a frustrated with some of the comments he received from his peers. One lady complimented Mark on the beautiful snowflakes covering his walls. Now, that's relevant! After reading her comment and mumbling aloud, "You've gotta be kidding me," I had to scroll back to the top to see Mark's snowflakes, and yes, they are absolutely lovely. But really, what does that have to do with Mark's activity? How did that comment add to anyone's learning? Then, I started to read all of the comments, not only on Mark's blog but on several other blogs -- so much sweetness -- "Awesome!" "Great!" "Wonderful idea." -- so much sugar, I don't think I'll be able to sleep tonight.

This got me to thinkin' (poor English intentional). When we are required to comment on blogs, are we completely honest? Are the comments sincere, or are we just saying something because we have to? Furthermore, when we "force" (as if we had that much power) our students to blog or comment on someone else's blog, are they really learning something, or are they just fulfilling the requirements for a grade? And finally, what's the difference between "forcing" a student to read a blog or to read a book?

My husband once told our six-year-old son, "Medicine tastes nasty, but you still have to take it if you want to get well." Not everything can taste so sweet. Sometimes, we have to swallow that bitter pill and do things that we don't want to do.

Thing #1 - Lifelong learning

I have always considered myself a lifelong learner. I'm curious and determined and just hate being in the dark (well, most of the time). Beginning with the end in mind may be a challenge for me. Although I do see an end result, my journey to that end takes many detours. I'm always adjusting, changing, and sometimes, letting go of the end. More often than not, when I get to the end it is not the same end I envisioned in the beginning.

The habits which are the most resonant for me are viewing problems as challenges and teaching others. These habits pretty much sum me up. Even on a personal level, I try to see what I can learn from hardship. Struggles, complications, and problems make me stronger, smarter, and more capable. On a learning level, my brain requires a workout to stay healthy and fit. The bigger the challenge the better the workout. I like working out my brain (it gives me an excuse for not working out my thighs). My brain is one thing that I hope to hang onto into my old age (once again, I've given up on my thighs). Plus, I've never just accepted what others have told me. I have to know and discover for myself the answers. I just don't see the fun in having the answers or solutions handed to me.

The habit of teaching or mentoring has been a part of my life since lined up my bears and dolls on my bed and taught them their a, b, c's. It is something I've always loved. Like most teachers, I want to help, share, and inspire. Doing for others is my love language, and through teaching, I get to show love on a grand scale. In addition, I've learned more about literature, life, and learning through teaching.

Thing #2 - The Digital Student

I'm a little embarrassed to admit that I've never heard of the term Web 2.0 until now. The ability to create, share, communicate through the web is rather exciting. I do think it is important to give our students tools for the 21st century, one of the reasons I signed up for this course. It can be a part of the classroom, just not the main part, especially not the best part.

Our kids are bombarded with technology. In fact I think their brains are wired differently now because of all of the technology. Is this a good thing? I don't really know. It is rather sad that kids will have 8-12 jobs before they are 30. What ever happened to loyalty and sacrifice? Because of technology we've become an impatient society. We want everything immediately. We want answers to our text messages instantly, we want the score to not only one football game, but all football games, this second, and we want that special recipe for eggplant parmigiana for tonight's dinner. And if we don't get what we want fast enough, we walk away in search of some new way to find a little fulfillment. One of the best gifts we can give our students is patience. We have to read the novel through to the end to get the satisfaction of knowing the end. I love books. I love the feel of them, the smell of them (unless they've been locked in our moldy English book room all summer), and I love writing on them. I actually enjoy picking up a book, opening that first page, and creating a vision in my mind of the characters, the settings, the passions. This is another gift I hope to give my students. It will be a sad, sad day if we lose the ability to create mental images of the stories we read. We are already losing the ability to memorize, except for the letters on the keypad of our phones. Knowledge is a generous, life-long gift that we as educators give to our students. This gift still has value even if it is not wrapped in flashing paper with ribbons and bows that glow and talk.

Am I anti-technology? Of course not. For example, because of technology, I am able to "talk" to 76 of my peers. If I were in a room with all of you, I probably wouldn't say a word (I'm a little shy). However, because of technology, I can express my views (good or bad) and not feel quite so intimidated. I value technology, but like all things, I believe in balance. Technology should supplement our learning, not replace it.