Stuff

This year of Globaloria has had many ups and downs.  We started off with a bang full of inspiration, great attitudes, and many students.  We went through a period of terrible attitudes, student loss, and a general sense of doom and gloom.  This was followed with a resurgence of energy and excitement for our game, Why Should I Vote.  The Globaloria Girls (our team name) were excited once they read about the history of voting rights in this country.  They, especially as women, wanted everyone to understand what voting means and why people should exercise this right.  Our paper prototype started us off on our journey to discover why it is important to vote.

We then began drawing our game scenes...it was a learning experience; fun, yet, frustrating at times.  I would have to say once the girls had the opportunity to work with Flash for a time they really enjoyed drawing.  They drew game scenes, their names, trees, dogs, ugly pictures of Melonie....

Our classroom population was just as transient as ever.  We started with 13 girls and we are now ended with two neither of which are original class members.  Everyone learned something.  Everyone enjoyed something.  I believe they are better students for having participated in Globaloria.  I am saddened to think this will be my last school term at Crittenton and my last school term teaching Globaloria there.  I truly enjoyed both experiences. 

Woolly Mammoth

This post is a little out of the ordinary for our class blogs, but today we are all blogging about Woolly Mammoths.  Why would we be blogging about them?  We are blogging about them because there are scientists in Japan, Russia, and the United States that believe they can clone a Woolly Mammoth. Yes, they want to make an actual living breathing mammoth to study. 

Scientists have been able to find Woolly Mammoths that are essentially mummified by snow and ice.  Most of these specimens have been found in Siberia.  Siberia encompasses almost all of northern Asia.  The area of Siberia where the specimens have been found is in the tundra part of Siberia.  The tundra is a cold and icy region.  They Mammoths they have found have been complete with hair, tusks, skin, etc.  Here is a photo of a baby Woolly Mammoth they found:

So the question at hand is should we clone Woolly Mammoths?  Some scientists say, yes, for the research information and others say no, we do not know the ramifications of doing it.   I have issues with cloning period.  I am for cloning body parts for transplant, but when it comes to cloning a living breathing being I am not sure we should be doing it.  I tell my students frequently, "just because you can do something doesn't mean you should".  I could go home tonight and decide to burn my trampoline down; should I?  No, I shouldn't my children love the trampoline and burning it down would serve no positive purpose.  I understand the argument cloning a Woolly Mammoth would provide us with information we would never be able to get without actually having a Mammoth to study; it is a good argument.  I support the argument cloning a Mammoth could have ramifications we cannot even imagine.  Woolly Mammoths are not part of the ecosystem anywhere on this planet; what would happen if we introduced this species?  In West Virginia alone we have had big issues with invasive species such as the Japanese Knotweed and the Zebra Mussel.  Initially, both were introduced for a positive purpose, but have now caused harm. 

 Zebra Mussel:

Japanese Knotweed:









Woolly Mammoths were vegetarians, how would they impact our food supply?  I know one is not going to make that big of a difference, but would we really stop with one?  What if the Woolly Mammoth genes carried some type of agent harmful to humans?  What if the Mammoth got loose?  What if the Mammoth kept breeding with Elephants what kind of animal would it produce?  Would there be birth defects?  Would there be any mental illness that would make the animal rage and cause injury to people or property?  There are so many what ifs I cannot in good conscience support the idea of cloning an animal that has been extinct for thousands of years.

Women's Suffrage in the United States

     Today, I found this entry in Wikipedia about Women's Suffrage in the United States.  Women's Suffrage is the "right of women to vote in elections" according to Encarta at MSN.com  As I read this article, I discussed it with some of the girls in my classroom (sorry girls it is going to be mandatory reading this week).  I was amazed at how cavalier some of them were about having the right to vote.  A few of them said they do not ever plan to vote.

     Not wanting to vote seems like choosing not to have a say in one's life.  I wonder if  these girls or anyone else for that matter that chooses not to vote realizes how choosing not to vote is essentially giving up control.  You may argue you have control over your daily life; where you eat, what you eat, where you work, how many children you have, etc., but in reality any of those things could change if our government would change.  You have a voice, use it to make choices beneficial for you, your family, your town, your county, your state, your country.
     In my mind, the right to vote is a right to not be taken lightly.  I try to instill this in my six daughters.  I take them with me when I vote.  I have and continue to explain how women did not always have the right to vote, for example, my great grandmother was not initially allowed to vote.
     My father spent his life in the U.S. Army, fought in Vietnam, served overseas, died while in service to this country--all to protect our rights including the right to vote.  My grandfather also protected our rights during World War II and my uncle during Vietnam.  I am sure all of you know or are related to someone that served in the military for this country. 
     Why do I vote?  I vote because I feel lucky to live in a country that allows me as a citizen as a woman to vote and gives me all the other freedoms I have just by being a citizen.  I vote out of respect for all that fought for my right to vote.  I vote to make changes I feel will be better for my family, friends, state, and country.  I vote because I love to express my opinion. I vote because it matters.  .

   

Photoshop Lessons

Today the Globaloria Girls had a lesson in Photoshop.  I want to take this time to thank James Coster for coming in on a Saturday and teaching all of us.  I also want to take this opportunity to thank my class for giving up free time on a Saturday to come in and learn a new skill.

James Coster

I am getting more and more excited every day at their progress as a team.  They have come up with an amazing game concept and are working together very well.  Look out here come the Globaloria Girls.

Where is my classroom?

I am a teacher without a classroom.

No, they did not fire me!

The week before Christmas the ceiling in my classroom fell due to a roof leak.  The week after Christmas break due to construction difficulties my classes were held in a dining room.  Last week we made it to our classroom, but experienced technical (read our computers were not hooked up) difficulties.  This week the computers were ready and the ceiling was complete, but Monday was a holiday and today was a snow day.

We really want to work on our game.  We really want to work on our GED curriculum.  We really want to see our classroom in one working piece.  Please have patience with us as we try to have patience with all the challenges we have been experiencing lately.

Really, December 1st already?

Where does the time go?  I swear it was just August 1st yesterday!

We have been having difficulties with completing many Globaloria activities, but I believe we are getting a handle on all of our issues and soon will be making progress again.  Yesterday and today, for example, Katelyn has been working on her mini game.  You can see her progress here.  As you can see we are working on getting her mini game files on her project page.  Katelyn has been working very hard at getting her mini game complete so please go wish her luck.

Aaliyah has completed her mini game and it is posted on her projects page.  Kelly has also completed her mini game and you can see it on here.  Mercedez, Kayla, and Pam are all starting their mini-games tomorrow. 

We may be slow, but we are steadily gaining ground.  In the whole scheme of life, I believe the process teaches us the most. 

What Worries Me Most

I come from a long long line of worriers.  Yes, I am the product of a Warrior Worrier Family.  I would spend the day at my grandmother's when I was sick.  She would literally stare at me when she wasn't covering me up because I looked too cold, uncovering me because I looked to hot, feeding me because I looked weak, giving me a drink so I would not dehydrate, making sure I wasn't too close to the television so my eyes would not go bad, and so on.  My mom worried about everything as well.  If  I went to the bathroom in the middle of the night the questions would ensue:  Did you wash your hands?  Did you flush?  Is the toilet still running?  Are you sick?  Did you drink too much before you went to bed?  Are you sure you washed your hands?  My point being I was inundated with constant worry and anxiety I never really worried ever.

I think when you grow up with so much worry you either become just as bad or you do not worry at all; neither are good.  I believe to function you need to worry about the important not the improbable. A good healthy dose of worry about  paying bills, getting to work on time, your children being healthy, etc seems okay to me. 

I worry more as I grow older.  My sources of worry are not the color of the sky, December 27, 2012, whether or not the toilet is running, or worry of worries what if....  My worries are more about my children.  Are they getting enough sleep, are they doing well in school, am I being a good parent, can I make it to work on time so I can stay employed and take care of my children, how do I schedule all of their activities, will they go to college, will they be productive adults, etc.  I also worry about the girls I teach.  I worry if I am doing all I can for them, if they are learning, will they go on to college, will they be productive adults,etc. 

My advice, worry just do not let it take over your ever waking moment.  Don't worry about what you cannot change and if you worry about something you can change do what you have to do to change it.

Okay, I am done preaching today! 





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Happy Teacher!!!!

Most of you are ready to move on to Choosing a Topic if you haven't started it already.   Please make sure you complete all sections under Choosing a Topic including the blog assignment.  Here is an example of someone who is well on their way to completing their Choosing a Topic assignment.  Please follow her lead and get your assignment finished as well.

I have also noticed many of you did not complete your "What is Civics" and "Game Genre" blog assignments.  Here is an example of someone that completed both blog assignments.  I know I have not been blogging very much and I plan to rectify that immediately starting with this blog post.  If I expect you to be responsible I must model good behavior.   

Our biggest bumble, and yes, I said our, is the neglect of our learning logs.  This is mostly my fault, but we all will be remedying this immediately as well.  Okay, let's make me a happy teacher and all of you happy students. 

Our 39th President

James Earl Carter, Jr. was our country's 39th President.  Many people my age remember when he was president.  We remember a fuel crisis where gas went up to almost $1.00 a gallon, American hostages being taken and held in Iraq, Three Mile Island, the $200 Sony Walkman (which played cassette tapes),  Bungee jumping beginning, peanut farming,  Trivial Pursuit, The first Alien movie, Mork and Mindy,  and Amy Carter living in the White House(some of us were very jealous).  President Carter was the leader of our country in a tumultuous time in our nation's history. During his tenure as president he encountered the disaster of Three Mile Island, Iraqi Hostage Crisis, stagflation and the gas/energy crisis.  President Carter a supporter of negotiation not violence aided in the Camp David Accords, SALT, and The Panama Canal Treaties.  As long supporters of human rights, President and Mrs. Carter opened the Carter Center to aid in bolstering human rights across the planet.  President and Mrs. Carter still volunteer for Habitat for Humanity.





I could go on and on; only President to receive the Nobel Peace Prize after leaving office, a Naval Officer, a two term Georgia State Senator, a peanut farmer, a family man, a proponent of civil rights, created the law making life in prison a substitute for the no longer available death penalty in Georgia, writer, public speaker, and negotiator.

President Carter has been involved in great acts for many decades, so why am I blogging about him today?  I am blogging about him today because even at almost 86 years old he flew to North Korea this week and negotiated the release of American School teacher, Aijalon Gomes.  Mr. Gomes was sentenced to 8 years hard labor for crossing the border from China to North Korea and committing a "hostile act".  Not only did President Carter bring Mr. Gomes home to the United States on Friday, August 27, 2010 he discussed North Korea's nuclear program with Kim Yong Nam.  This is a man I feel we can and should all learn from.  Long story short, after talking with my students and researching President Carter I felt compelled to invite him to speak to my students.  My theory is if you want to change what is wrong in the world start with the children.  My students may not be young children, but they are young and they are or will be having children.  Violence does not have to be the answer to every conflict


See my letter to President Carter below:



August 27, 2010

President James E. Carter
Carter Foundation
453Freedom Parkway NE
Atlanta, GA 30307

Dear President Carter:

I would like to invite you to speak to my students at Crittenton Services in Wheeling, West Virginia. Crittenton Services is a gender specific treatment facility, and our students range in age from 13-18. Many of our girls have experienced great turmoil in their lives and have suffered many hardships. We try to help them get emotionally healthy, educate them, prepare them for adulthood and all of its responsibilities, and give them skills to handle anything that may come their way. I want to instill upon them violence is not the answer to their problems, and I could think of no person better than you to discuss this with them.
We participate in Globaloria, a five year pilot program focused on teaching 21st century skills utilizing wikis, blogs, and Adobe Flash programming. Our focus in this pilot is civics. Today, the students read the article about you securing the pardon for Aijalon Gomes and bringing him home from North Korea. They then researched you and blogged about your missions of peace.
Please let me know if you are ever available to speak to our girls any time in the future. You can contact me at 304-242-7525 or mmilliken@crittentonservices.com. If you would like to know more about our organization, please visit our Web site at http://www.florencecrittenton.net/.
Sincerely,
Melonie Milliken
GED Instructor

Welcome Back

Welcome back!  Okay, I realize most of you just were in class last week, but still welcome back.

Tuesday

Hello Everyone!

Paul McCartney

I guess I would have to say Paul McCartney is my favorite Beatle. I know impressions of artists, musicians, singers, actors, etc are skewed because they generally let us see what they want us to see and their managers construct their images, but I find Sir Paul to be a classy man. Paul, comes from England is a singer songwriter, is an active member PETA, plays many different instruments, is a composer, entrepreneur, producer, painter and a poet. Plus, my mom says he was the "cute Beatle". One of my favorite Beatle songs featuring Paul is

The Jury 's Out

Whew! Lori and I just created our team...The Jury's Out. I am not sure if that refers to our game or our gaming skills! We have our topic....Juveniles in placement. Obviously, this a topic near and dear to our hearts. I will keep you updated with our progress.

Sirdeaner Walker

I am sure most of you have no idea who Sirdeaner Walker is or what how her life is forever changed. She is a single working parent whom within the last year lost her 11 year old son to suicide. Yes, I said suicide. Her son, Carl, was speaking with his mother one day as she cooked dinner when he said he was going to his room. Sirdeaner assumed he was completing homework or playing video games as he did frequently after school. Imagine her horror when she found him hanging by the neck from an extension cord.

Why would an 11 year old honor roll student, athlete, and active member in his church want to kill himself? I know the answer is only known by Carl, but the fact is Carl was being bullied at school. Children in his school were calling him gay, faggot, and harassing him. Carl was devastated and told his mother. Sirdeaner called the school. The school said it was a part of normal social interaction. Carl continued to endure the bullying.

After Carl's death, Sirdeaner chose not to lie down and let grief consume her. Sirdeaner focused on making schools safe for all children. She met with representatives of GLSEN (Gay Lesbian Straight Education Network) which helped her understand how widespread bullying is in this nation's schools. Sirdeaner is encouraging everyone to sign this petition to get the Safe Schools Improvement Act (H.R. 2262) passed. Please hear Carl's and Sirdeaner's story here. Children are still committing suicide due to harassment and bullying, recently Phoebe Prince committed suicide due to being bullied. This is a national crisis.

This Friday, GLSEN is having a National Day of Silence to raise awareness of Anit-LGBT bullying in schools. If you want to join in raising awareness you can sign up here. GLSEN's National Day of Silence in 2009 fell on what would have been Carl's 12th birthday. Click here to read their support of Carl and his family.

Please for the sake of all our nation's children take the time to read and consider signing this petition.

Spring has Sprung!!

I am not sure what it is about spring, but it seems to inspire and trigger all sorts of things for us humans. I can attest to the fact in my classroom alone I have seen hair color changes, attitude changes (for the better), an increased work ethic, a desire to clean, and smiling (yes, smiling). Is it the sun makes you feel sunny? Or that the warm weather warms your soul? Or is it we are biologically programmed to change in the spring? Whatever it is we are definitely feeling the effects of spring.

Here are our big plans based on our current attitude:

• Complete our team pages
• post our game demo
• complete two games
• demonstrate our games to staff, clients, and Globaloria staff
• blog on a regular basis related to our game and current civics issues
  

So, please do everything you can to keep the sun shining and our progress up!

The LittleEngine That Could...

Just like the engine in this story sometimes my students need to be motivated. It is not that they are incapable of great things, it is the fact no one told them enough or believed they were capable of great things. I strive to build my students' self esteem because I believe it is the key to motivation. Extrinsic rewards will initially work, but long term motivation has to come from within.

Initially I use extrinsic motivators to get my students to start working. I have baked cookies, made pepperoni bread, let them listen to music, let them color, etc as a reward for starting an assignment. Once students complete an assignment successfully their self esteem grows and in turn motivation grows. Other motivating factors for my students are having the opportunity to mentor each other in Globaloria , calls and comments from other schools, instructors, David, and Rachel are highly motivating to my students, and webex sessions. This semester they will be required to read other student blogs and wiki pages and comment on both.

I struggle every day to find good motivators for my girls. What motivates one student does not motivate another. I have to agree with Dionne the most important tool in motivation is knowing your students. Take time every day to get to know who they are, what they find important, what their concerns are, etc. You need to take a real interest in your students. If you really care and show you care about them it motivates them.

I look forward to more motivating ideas from my fellow Globaloria instructors. I will be reading your blogs and listening to your ideas. Thank you in advance.

My Resolutions

Mr. Dorsey has challenged the Globaloria instructors to post our resolutions for this semester and I have accepted!

My resolutions for my Globaloria classroom for this semester are:

• To encourage my students to find the answers on their own.
  
  
• To be aware that I will need to step in sometimes and help them find the answer.
  
  
• To challenge my students to do their best, not just what will get the assignment completed.
  
  
• To ask for help when I need it (which at times can be a lot).
  
  
• To update my learning log on a regular basis.
  
  
• To have my students update their learning logs on a regular basis.
  
  
• To challenge myself to learn more about flash, the wiki, and blogging.
  
  
• To challenge my students to learn more about flash, the wiki, and blogging.
  
  
• To blog on a regular basis.
  
  
  

FINALLY!!!

FINALLY!

I say finally because:

• I am BACK to work
• We HAVE school!
• My students are working!!!

It has been a long 4 weeks. It is amazing how time flies by when you are busy. During the past month these events have occured in my life:

• One of my daughter's had a birthday
• numerous doctor/dentist appointments for my children and myself
• two sick children
• I had surgery
• Christmas
• New Year's
• School break
• Return to school

On paper it does not seem like a lot, but in reality these four weeks have flown by me. Birthday was wonderful, appointments went well, children are better, surgery was a big success, Christmas was wonderful, New Year's was just as wonderful, school break was restful, and my return to school is exciting. I know my students have experienced just as many events as I have the past few weeks and are feeling the stress of returning to school after such a long break.

The consequence of all of this activity is our minds are foggy. We have trouble remembering our routine, the rules, and little things on the wiki and on Flash. We are all working on our wiki assignment, drawing in Flash today. Some of us are experiencing a great deal of frustration, but give us time we will finish with flying colors.

Are any of you having trouble getting back into the hang of things? How are you wiki assignments going? Are you having frustrations with Flash? If so, what are they? How did you solve them?

I have neglected my blog

....and I am going to do it again today.

Stay tuned

New post tomorrow

World HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

Do you use facebook, myspace, or twitter? I think today many of us belong to social networking sites. Today is World HIV/AIDS Awareness Day and http://www.aids.gov/ is recommending we all bring awareness to the crisis that is the spread of HIV/AIDS by posting the following as our status:

[your name] is facing AIDS for World AIDS day. To find a HIV test site, text your ZIP "KNOWIT" (566948) or visit http://www.hivtest.org/ . Join me and post this to your status today.

It is hard to believe we have been knowingly faced with this epidemic since the early 1980s in this country. Science has gone on to show that AIDS/HIV has been around since at least the early 1940s. 33 million people worldwide are living with HIV. Approximately 56,300 new HIV cases are diagnosed every year in this county. While HIV is not AIDS, it can develop into full blown AIDS over time. There is no cure for either HIV or AIDS. AIDS is fatal.

We as a nation, as a world need to do everything we can to prevent the spread of this disease and to find a cure for those millions and millions already affected. We should be compelled to end the suffering of others and to prevent the suffering of the millions that will follow.

We all know the basics of AIDS/HIV transmission prevention:
1. Do not come into contact with body fluids of another person (blood, semen, vaginal fluids)
2. Do not share "dirty" or "used" needles.
3. Practice universal precautions.
4. Practice safe sex and use a condom EVERY time.
5. Know your HIV status and get tested.
6. Ask your partner to be tested prior to engaging in sexual activity.

While these are just a few guidelines there is so much more information you need to be aware of when it comes to the spread of HIV/AIDS. Please take the time to go to http://www.aids.gov/ and learn the facts. There are several links on the site and it provides a great deal of information.

Each and everyone of us should be concerned about the spread of this disease. How do you think each of us should respond or what could we do?