Earn Skills, become a Maker.

Mr. Green, the IT guy, showed me this cool website.
I love it for many reasons. It targets every kind of learner  and a huge variety of interests.  Each "badge" must be earned by following a series of 10 or more challenges, and the challenges increase in difficulty.  As the learner accomplishes each task, he/she uploads a photo as proof. There must be a huge sense of accomplishment when one successfully completes each task to earn the badge. And what's more - it's very public. You know that thousands of other like-minded people will be looking at your photos and commenting. www.diy.org

See this clip from the PRANKSTER badge (and who wouldn't want a prankster badge??)

(video courtesy Alex Schmitt, youtube.com) 

Another cool aspect is that the process is self-initiated. You choose your badge, and work through the challenges on your own schedule. No teachers, no grades.  Just you being challenged to do something you love.  This skill of self motivation and inspiration will be essential to the 21st century learner. So what are you waiting for? Earn skills, become a maker - check out www.diy.org.

Why should I worry about reticulated pythons?

(article courtesy of the Singapore Zoo)

 The question is more like, "why SHOULDN'T I be worried about reticulated pythons? According to this article, we are removing snake habitat at an alarming rate, and the snakes have nowhere to go. Except my living room, for example, where we found a snake recently, stretched out casually along the top of our sofa.  $300 and two hours of pest control chaos later, the snake was returned to his disappearing habitat, and we were left with a new respect for nature (and for pest control workers!). We've had a similar problem with monkeys lately too, entering our home and stealing our bananas, and bread, and chips, and so on.  Neighbours are complaining to the management and want the cheeky monkeys caught and killed.   Although I'm not crazy about hosting impromtu National Geographic episodes in my living room or kitchen, a little perspective is needed:  we are the ones to blame here.  The animals did not ask to have their homes cut down and replaced with high rise condos or parking lots. They have no where to go, so they are coming to visit us. Here's a thought - why don't we try a little harder to let them KEEP their homes, so we can rest easy in ours? Is anyone with me on this??

Hannah's Realistic Fiction Stories (playlist)

Two things come to mind when I listen to my 3rd grade daughter's realistic fiction story (captured on youtube). One is how incredibly proud I am of her - she is a HIGHLY ADVANCED writer for sure! The concern which comes to mind is how similar the 3rd grade curriculum is to our 7th grade Realistic Fiction unit.  How do we keep our students challenged with so much of the curriculum repeats itself? Does it spiral enough to be helpful in building on previously learned skills, or are we boring our students to death? Death by writer's workshop??

Shane Koyczan: "To This Day" ... for the bullied and beautiful

A few minutes of kindness