-> Principals and administrators may life off headlines, but teachers live off whether their students learn. (This is so true. It is for this very reason that there are more and more problems in the schools today.)
-> Teaching is a craft, and many great teachers instruct in totally different ways. Too many school systems are becoming device-driven--they're buying computer devices because they're there.
Here is a link of a full article on the ills of technology in the classroom at one school.
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Special note
To Kaycee...
I'm so proud of you. Know I'm always here for you and stand behind your choice 100%.
The next 19 weeks will be difficult; however, you can do it! Don't let the nay sayers discourage you. I will be keeping you in my thoughts and prayers.
hugs to you...
~tate
I'm so proud of you. Know I'm always here for you and stand behind your choice 100%.
The next 19 weeks will be difficult; however, you can do it! Don't let the nay sayers discourage you. I will be keeping you in my thoughts and prayers.
hugs to you...
~tate
Saturday, February 09, 2008
A timely word well spoken
Yes, once again, God has used Elizabeth Eliot to cut right though some things. I think in every life there are those times when misunderstandings occur. There are those in my life with whom I was close but now, for whatever the reason, things are discordant. In some cases God has restored that relationship, in others this is not true. i shall continue to commit to pray for those people and leave them at the feet of the Almighty. If He chooses to restore the relationship, so be it.
Thank you, Lord, for continuing to teach me. Thank you, also, for never giving up.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Leave "Him" to Me
When there is deep misunderstanding which has led to the erection of barriers between two who once were close, every day brings the strengthening of those barriers if they are not, by God's grace, breached. One prays and finds no way at all to break through. Love seems to "backfire" every time. Explanations become impossible. New accusations arise, it seems, from nowhere (though it is well to recall who is named the Accuser of the brethren). The situation becomes ever more complex and insoluble, and the mind goes round and round, seeking the place where things went wrong, brooding over the words which were like daggers, regretting the failures and mistakes, wondering (most painfully) how it could have been different. Much spiritual and emotional energy is drained in this way--but the Lord wants to teach us to commit, trust, and rest.
"Leave him to me this afternoon," is what his word is. "There is nothing else that I am asking of you this afternoon but that: leave him to Me. You cannot fathom all that is taking place. You don't need to. I am at work--in you, in him. Leave him to Me. Some day it will come clear--trust Me."
"Humble yourselves under God's mighty hand, and he will lift you up in due time. Cast all your cares on Him, for you [and the other] are his charge" (l Pt 5:7).
Thank you, Lord, for continuing to teach me. Thank you, also, for never giving up.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Leave "Him" to Me
When there is deep misunderstanding which has led to the erection of barriers between two who once were close, every day brings the strengthening of those barriers if they are not, by God's grace, breached. One prays and finds no way at all to break through. Love seems to "backfire" every time. Explanations become impossible. New accusations arise, it seems, from nowhere (though it is well to recall who is named the Accuser of the brethren). The situation becomes ever more complex and insoluble, and the mind goes round and round, seeking the place where things went wrong, brooding over the words which were like daggers, regretting the failures and mistakes, wondering (most painfully) how it could have been different. Much spiritual and emotional energy is drained in this way--but the Lord wants to teach us to commit, trust, and rest.
"Leave him to me this afternoon," is what his word is. "There is nothing else that I am asking of you this afternoon but that: leave him to Me. You cannot fathom all that is taking place. You don't need to. I am at work--in you, in him. Leave him to Me. Some day it will come clear--trust Me."
"Humble yourselves under God's mighty hand, and he will lift you up in due time. Cast all your cares on Him, for you [and the other] are his charge" (l Pt 5:7).
Sunday, February 03, 2008
Friday, January 25, 2008
for today (from my devotion)
Life is full of things we can't do anything about, but which we are supposed to do something with. "He himself endured a cross and thought nothing of its shame because of the joy." A very different story from the one which would have been written if Jesus had been prompted by the spirit of our own age: "Don't just endure the cross--think about it, talk about it, share it, express your gut-level feelings, get in touch with yourself, find out who you are, define the problem, analyze it, get counseling, get the experts' opinions, discuss solutions, work through it." Jesus endured. He thought nothing of the shame. The freedom, the freshness of that valiant selflessness is like a strong wind. How badly such a wind is needed to sweep away the pollution of our self-preoccupation!
Analysis can make you feel guilty for being human. To be human, of course, means to be sinful, and for our sinfulness we must certainly "feel" the guilt which is rightly ours--but not everything human is sinful. There is a man on the radio every afternoon from California whose consummate arrogance in making an instant analysis of every caller's difficulties is simply breathtaking. A woman called in to talk about her problems with her husband who happens to be an actor. "Oh," said the counselor, "of course the only reason anybody goes into acting is because they need approval." Bang. Husband's problem identified. Next question. I turned off the radio and asked myself, with rising guilt feelings, "Do I need approval?" Answer: yes. Does anybody not need approval? Is there anybody who is content to live his life without so much as a nod from anybody else? Wouldn't he be, of all men, the most devilishly self-centered? Wouldn't his supreme solitude be the most hellish? It's human to want to know that you please somebody.
Sometimes readers of things that I write tell me long afterward that they have thought of writing me a letter, or have written one and discarded it, thinking, "She doesn't need my approval." Well, they're mistaken--for wouldn't it be a lovely thing to know that a footprint you have left on the trail has, just by being there, heartened somebody else?
Analysis can make you feel guilty for being human. To be human, of course, means to be sinful, and for our sinfulness we must certainly "feel" the guilt which is rightly ours--but not everything human is sinful. There is a man on the radio every afternoon from California whose consummate arrogance in making an instant analysis of every caller's difficulties is simply breathtaking. A woman called in to talk about her problems with her husband who happens to be an actor. "Oh," said the counselor, "of course the only reason anybody goes into acting is because they need approval." Bang. Husband's problem identified. Next question. I turned off the radio and asked myself, with rising guilt feelings, "Do I need approval?" Answer: yes. Does anybody not need approval? Is there anybody who is content to live his life without so much as a nod from anybody else? Wouldn't he be, of all men, the most devilishly self-centered? Wouldn't his supreme solitude be the most hellish? It's human to want to know that you please somebody.
Sometimes readers of things that I write tell me long afterward that they have thought of writing me a letter, or have written one and discarded it, thinking, "She doesn't need my approval." Well, they're mistaken--for wouldn't it be a lovely thing to know that a footprint you have left on the trail has, just by being there, heartened somebody else?
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
A Reminder
God wants to work the impossible through me if I will allow Him to do so.
Christ said, "If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you" (John 15:7). God wants to perform the impossible by using believers as His human instruments.
God asked Abraham and Sarah, "Is any thing too hard for the Lord?" (Gen. 18:14). I, too, must respond to this question. As I face seeming impossibilities, do I think God is unable to perform what He has promised?
"For with God nothing shall be impossible" (Luke 1:37).
Christ said, "If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you" (John 15:7). God wants to perform the impossible by using believers as His human instruments.
God asked Abraham and Sarah, "Is any thing too hard for the Lord?" (Gen. 18:14). I, too, must respond to this question. As I face seeming impossibilities, do I think God is unable to perform what He has promised?
"For with God nothing shall be impossible" (Luke 1:37).
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
A thought for today
One of God's arrangements is that after winter there should come beautiful spring days. It happens every year and it happens in every life.
-Father Joseph
I know I must be in a "winter" of my life and of my walk. It is comforting to know this time will pass and there are brighter things on the horizon. God is in control. While I know this, this is still a time of coldness...hardship...difficulty. Please, Lord, HELP!
-Father Joseph
I know I must be in a "winter" of my life and of my walk. It is comforting to know this time will pass and there are brighter things on the horizon. God is in control. While I know this, this is still a time of coldness...hardship...difficulty. Please, Lord, HELP!
Saturday, January 19, 2008
musical morning
This morning Tommy was flipping through the the channels shortly after I got up and he discovered the video for 'One Night in Bangkok" from the musical Chess. I love that show and that song! Right after that video ended Howard Jones "What Is Love" video came on. One of my favorite artists and one of my favorite songs!!! Tommy also made me cinnamon rolls for breakfast. (he's really amazing)
It was quite a way to start the day!!!
It was quite a way to start the day!!!
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
An answer?
So, shortly after I posted last night I went to bed and slept soundly but not enough. This morning I am tired and fatigued. I opened my email, though, to discover this devotional from 'Back to the Bible.' Is this an answer from God about what to do about work for the next 2 years??? I will be praying about this and seeking His will. (humanly, I don't know how I can do 2 more years of this. The English situation is pushing me to my limit!)
PLEASE, Lord...HELP!!!!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Testing Follows Triumph
Genesis 16:1-6
Ten years had passed since God had first promised Abraham descendants, and now three years had gone by since God had reassured Abraham of this same thing.
Whereas in Genesis 15 Abraham is seen as a man of faith, in chapter 16 we see him as a man of unbelief. He could wait no longer for God to fulfill His promise.
A lack of patience tends to foster unbelief. In chapter 15 Abraham believed the Lord; in chapter 16 he hearkened unto the voice of his wife. In chapter 15 Abraham walked after the Spirit; in chapter 16 he walked after the energy of the flesh.
What a sad inconsistency in the life of this man of God. Only Jesus Christ could say, "I do always those things that please him" (John 8:29).
Abraham was tested by the suggestion of a well-meaning wife. Would he take matters out of the hand of God and act in the energy of the flesh?
This test was the trying of the patience of his faith. Would he wait on God to fulfill His word in His own time and way, or would Abraham's patience give out and the flesh take over? God wanted him to have a mature faith.
What would you have done in his situation?
"Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise" (Heb. 10:35,36).
PLEASE, Lord...HELP!!!!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Testing Follows Triumph
Genesis 16:1-6
Ten years had passed since God had first promised Abraham descendants, and now three years had gone by since God had reassured Abraham of this same thing.
Whereas in Genesis 15 Abraham is seen as a man of faith, in chapter 16 we see him as a man of unbelief. He could wait no longer for God to fulfill His promise.
A lack of patience tends to foster unbelief. In chapter 15 Abraham believed the Lord; in chapter 16 he hearkened unto the voice of his wife. In chapter 15 Abraham walked after the Spirit; in chapter 16 he walked after the energy of the flesh.
What a sad inconsistency in the life of this man of God. Only Jesus Christ could say, "I do always those things that please him" (John 8:29).
Abraham was tested by the suggestion of a well-meaning wife. Would he take matters out of the hand of God and act in the energy of the flesh?
This test was the trying of the patience of his faith. Would he wait on God to fulfill His word in His own time and way, or would Abraham's patience give out and the flesh take over? God wanted him to have a mature faith.
What would you have done in his situation?
"Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise" (Heb. 10:35,36).
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
holding on by the finger tips
"Life unwinds like a cheap sweater. Since I gave up hope I feel a lot better" ~Steve Taylor
These day's I wish I could just give up. This job is making me increasingly unhappy. Tommy isn't happy, either. His job isn't good and another door just closed.
Lord...could we PLEASE have new jobs??? (or winning lottery numbers) I just don't know if I can do 2 more years like this. I can't keep teaching English. It is draining every ounce of life and energy out of me.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
These day's I wish I could just give up. This job is making me increasingly unhappy. Tommy isn't happy, either. His job isn't good and another door just closed.
Lord...could we PLEASE have new jobs??? (or winning lottery numbers) I just don't know if I can do 2 more years like this. I can't keep teaching English. It is draining every ounce of life and energy out of me.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Monday, December 31, 2007
As 2007 comes to an end
It has taken me a good many years to realize that in the School of Faith, what I am required to do I am enabled to do. Provision has been made. I am not alone and there is nothing to fear, for "God can be trusted not to allow you to suffer any temptation beyond your powers of endurance. He will see to it that every temptation has a way out, so that it will never be impossible for you to bear it."
Sunday, December 30, 2007
From a "sister"
To my sisters in the Lord...
There comes a time in every woman's life when she has to take a close look at herself. Not at her circumstance, not at what she did, not how unfair life is, or at who made you do it. She has to just look at herself.
Have you ever admired a woman who has been through changes in her life? Or have you made up in your mind that she is just messed up. Before you make this mistake, take a closer look. A woman who has endured the most unusual life is someone of wisdom, someone who has been chosen by God to go through things that have made her stronger.
Think of all the great women in the Bible: Mary Magdalene, Ruth and Naomi, the woman with an issue of blood, and Esther, to name a few. Mary was a prostitute, a very uneasy woman. But by the time Jesus was done with her, she was His closest follower. Esther was unfortunate in marrying an abusive man, but by the time God was done with her, she had married one of the wealthiest men in the land!
Women are so quick to beat the next one down instead of trying to hold her up. Before you wonder, 'What's up with her?' ask yourself, 'What's up with me?' That woman could be my mother, sister, aunt, in-law, stepmother, niece, grandmother, great-grandmother, neighbor, friend, or co-worker, etc. That woman could be ME.
Women are the carriers of life, not the channels of death. Let's build and encourage each other, as did Ruth and Naomi. Pass this to all the women in your life.
Encourage and love, forgive and forget, and trust that the woman that receives this will be touched in some way
There comes a time in every woman's life when she has to take a close look at herself. Not at her circumstance, not at what she did, not how unfair life is, or at who made you do it. She has to just look at herself.
Have you ever admired a woman who has been through changes in her life? Or have you made up in your mind that she is just messed up. Before you make this mistake, take a closer look. A woman who has endured the most unusual life is someone of wisdom, someone who has been chosen by God to go through things that have made her stronger.
Think of all the great women in the Bible: Mary Magdalene, Ruth and Naomi, the woman with an issue of blood, and Esther, to name a few. Mary was a prostitute, a very uneasy woman. But by the time Jesus was done with her, she was His closest follower. Esther was unfortunate in marrying an abusive man, but by the time God was done with her, she had married one of the wealthiest men in the land!
Women are so quick to beat the next one down instead of trying to hold her up. Before you wonder, 'What's up with her?' ask yourself, 'What's up with me?' That woman could be my mother, sister, aunt, in-law, stepmother, niece, grandmother, great-grandmother, neighbor, friend, or co-worker, etc. That woman could be ME.
Women are the carriers of life, not the channels of death. Let's build and encourage each other, as did Ruth and Naomi. Pass this to all the women in your life.
Encourage and love, forgive and forget, and trust that the woman that receives this will be touched in some way
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
It is finished
evil FOR~PD is done!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm too tired to feel any relief, though. Now I get to look forward to CAR~PD academy and internship...great.
I'm still praying for a new job.
I'm too tired to feel any relief, though. Now I get to look forward to CAR~PD academy and internship...great.
I'm still praying for a new job.
Sunday, December 23, 2007
The meaning of giftedness...
For a long time the meaning of giftedness has been restricted to the rigid confines of achievement and accomplishment. Academic toppers are, and should be entitled to their share of glory, but in the process of lauding top scorers and scholarship winners we may be crowding out those who actually have advanced and complex patterns of development but just don’t fit the system’s definition of ‘top students’.
Characteristics of gifted individuals: If 75 per cent of the following 37 characteristics fit you, you are probably a gifted adult.
Are you a good problem solver?
Can you concentrate for long periods of time?
Are you a perfectionist?
Do you persevere with your interests?
Are you an avid reader?
Do you have a vivid imagination?
Do you enjoy doing jigsaw puzzles?
Often connect seemingly unrelated ideas?
Do you enjoy paradoxes?
Do you set high standards for yourself?
Do you have a good long-term memory?
Are you deeply compassionate?
Do you have persistent curiosity?
Do you have a good sense of humor?
Read
Are you a keen observer?
Do you love mathematics?
Do you need periods of contemplation?
Do you search for meaning in your life?
Are you aware of things that others are not?
Are you fascinated by words?
Are you highly sensitive?
Do you have strong moral convictions?
Do you often feel out-of-sync with others?
Are you perceptive or insightful?
Do you often question rules or authority?
Do you have organized collections?
Do you thrive on challenge?
Do you have extraordinary abilities and deficits?
Do you learn new things rapidly?
Feel overwhelmed by many interests/abilities?
Do you have a great deal of energy?
Often take a stand against injustice?
Do you feel driven by your creativity?
Love ideas and ardent discussion?
Did you have developmentally advanced childhood?
Have unusual ideas or perceptions?
Are you a complex person?
*Adapted from the Institute for the Study of Advanced Development.
One way to identify gifted individuals is their style of thinking. They usually employ divergent thinking. Their style is original and they tend to come up with crazy ideas, which other people find strange. But sometimes it is these crazy ideas that go on to become the most recognized ones of our time.
Gifted individuals face many challenges, with one of biggest being the inability to be correctly identified by the individuals who should be helping them realize their true potential.
As with any other student, it would be a shame if parents, teachers and peers did not recognize the strengths of gifted students and allow them to reach their true potential. But what must educators and parents do in order to make sure this does not happen?
However until more help is readily available, what are the gifted to do?
Sadly, not enough is known about giftedness. More time and energy need to be spent identifying traits among the gifted, especially since it is these students who go on to contribute much to improving the state of our world.
Acknowledge the possibilities, identify your capabilities and allow yourself to be different. You never know, you may be the next Einstein.
Characteristics of gifted individuals: If 75 per cent of the following 37 characteristics fit you, you are probably a gifted adult.
Are you a good problem solver?
Can you concentrate for long periods of time?
Are you a perfectionist?
Do you persevere with your interests?
Are you an avid reader?
Do you have a vivid imagination?
Do you enjoy doing jigsaw puzzles?
Often connect seemingly unrelated ideas?
Do you enjoy paradoxes?
Do you set high standards for yourself?
Do you have a good long-term memory?
Are you deeply compassionate?
Do you have persistent curiosity?
Do you have a good sense of humor?
Read
Are you a keen observer?
Do you love mathematics?
Do you need periods of contemplation?
Do you search for meaning in your life?
Are you aware of things that others are not?
Are you fascinated by words?
Are you highly sensitive?
Do you have strong moral convictions?
Do you often feel out-of-sync with others?
Are you perceptive or insightful?
Do you often question rules or authority?
Do you have organized collections?
Do you thrive on challenge?
Do you have extraordinary abilities and deficits?
Do you learn new things rapidly?
Feel overwhelmed by many interests/abilities?
Do you have a great deal of energy?
Often take a stand against injustice?
Do you feel driven by your creativity?
Love ideas and ardent discussion?
Did you have developmentally advanced childhood?
Have unusual ideas or perceptions?
Are you a complex person?
*Adapted from the Institute for the Study of Advanced Development.
One way to identify gifted individuals is their style of thinking. They usually employ divergent thinking. Their style is original and they tend to come up with crazy ideas, which other people find strange. But sometimes it is these crazy ideas that go on to become the most recognized ones of our time.
Gifted individuals face many challenges, with one of biggest being the inability to be correctly identified by the individuals who should be helping them realize their true potential.
As with any other student, it would be a shame if parents, teachers and peers did not recognize the strengths of gifted students and allow them to reach their true potential. But what must educators and parents do in order to make sure this does not happen?
However until more help is readily available, what are the gifted to do?
Sadly, not enough is known about giftedness. More time and energy need to be spent identifying traits among the gifted, especially since it is these students who go on to contribute much to improving the state of our world.
Acknowledge the possibilities, identify your capabilities and allow yourself to be different. You never know, you may be the next Einstein.
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Sunday, December 16, 2007
from Elizabeth Eliot...
I want to learn, too, that it is not an extraordinary spirituality that makes one refuse to do ordinary work, but a wish to prove that one is not ordinary--which is a dead giveaway of spiritual conceit. I want to respond in unhesitating obedience as Mary the mother of Jesus did: Anything You say, Lord.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
Friday, December 14, 2007
This was cute!
OK...this is totally do-able. I want to try it...maybe for me (only with a LONGER sweater to make a longer skirt!) This would be cute for a show, too!!!!!!!!!!!
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
Lucky Oedipus...
The show today was horrid. Why did they fall apart?????
I got a bit snappy and weepy with Tommy this morning. I have reached a point when I have simply given up. I'm exhausted and am tired of trying. I'm not going to bother Tommy with my job woe's any more. I am going to try to stop talking about my work woes, period. God, it's all yours. Do with the job what you will. I'm tired of it and can't do it anymore. Father, direct this situation as you will. I'm done.
On top of everything, I am having an awful allergy attack.
I got a bit snappy and weepy with Tommy this morning. I have reached a point when I have simply given up. I'm exhausted and am tired of trying. I'm not going to bother Tommy with my job woe's any more. I am going to try to stop talking about my work woes, period. God, it's all yours. Do with the job what you will. I'm tired of it and can't do it anymore. Father, direct this situation as you will. I'm done.
On top of everything, I am having an awful allergy attack.
Tuesday, December 04, 2007
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