What are blogs saying?

1. http://www.womansdivorce.com/parenting-styles.html This site deals with balancing parenting skills after a divorce. In education one may feel that he/she is just hear to teach not be a mother, father, counselor, mentor, etc...but sometmes those roles are played in order to help students concentrate on the lessons of the day. It is very difficult to work on school/homework when one's home do not work. This information is good to help talk to students and parents since divorce rates and absent parent is more prevelant in our society. This information is truly information that will help others with a variety of issues.



2. http://educationalissues.suite101/article/cfm/is-education-reform-working This article deals with educational reform. It is always interesting what people have to say about education in regards to reform. Often times No Child Left Behind comes up in the conversation. It is beneficial to know how things are going to determine if it is effective or not. No Child Left Behind is a program with good intentions although I feel that more is needed to make this plan workable and realistic. I hope that instead of arguing and continous bad mouthing that some creative people will help to bring about a productive change to help students, schools, and communities.



3. http://educationalissues.suite101.com/article.cfm/corportal_punishment_returning Education issues are always coming up and it is good to know what is going in the arena of education. One of the topics I found interesting was concerning corporal punishment. This is always and interesting topic to discuss. Many southern states and lower Midwest states still use corporal punishment as means of discipline. Although corporal punishment is banned in half of the states, I have no problem with corporal punishment.Therefore, I believe in "spare the rod and spoin the child," but I also believe some people can abuse this privilege and scar children for life instead of use it as a means of correction to the betterment of productive citizens.



4. http://parenting.families.com/blog/teens-are-not-hopeless This is another site that deals with educating parents. It caught my eye because teenagers and parents are the populations that I deal with on a regular and many believe teenagers are hopeless. I disagree that teen are hopeless, but I agree that they need us more during these years than years before. The teenage years are surely one that are challenging, transforming, and interesting. Keeping a positive image is an outlook that will make a difference. More knowledge about what teens are experiences, commuicating with our children, and making time for them even wi th the 1000 daily things we have have to do are vital to their growth. No one is exempt from making mistakes so allow those learning experiences to mold your teens to a hopeful future.



5. http://childdevelopmentinfo.com/parenting/sibling-rivalry-for-patents.shtml The child development institute provides information for parents to help with everyday issues to help children develop

infographics

Infographics is a new term for me although pictures, symbols, nd more things have been used for years to take a complex situation or a lot of information and reduce to that one still gets the needed information in a clear, organized, and interested mannet. With this method, more people's attention can be gathered so you give the information desired. Infographics is a more simple way to help get facts, figures, and statistics across to one's audience.

In the pictures with the computers, it shows the top 5 computer companies by consumers. It was very interesting to learn that apple and gateway were in the lead. Most surprising to see that Dell was second to last with a big margin between apple and dell. As much advertising as dell does, I thought it would have been in the lead. This infographic made me more cursious to find out why so many consumers were investing the the other brand name computers.

The picture asking the question are you happy is straight to the point. There are many things in our life that we have control over and several things we do not. At the end of the day, we either will choose to deal with what is going on and change it or live with it. It truly up the individual to search within oneself and choose to leave things the way they are or say no I do not like and decide whether you will change it or not.

Culture Diversity

Our schools are becoming more and more diverse everyday. Do we expect those from other cultures to learn English and our culture? Most of the time, the answer is yes. How many times to we break down the walls with learning another culture. Never imagine that I would need the years of Spanish 15 years ago, and I am truly not reaping the benefits that it could bring. I chose this site so hopefully it would motivate me to learn more and more about others culture especially since several diverse students are coming into our school system. This site allowed those ESL and EFL students to use their English with today's technology while informing others about their culture. I think this is an awesome win-win situation. This is surely a site that I would want to stay connected with and a good way to build a relationship with students. If you are interested in breaking down the barriers or giving you opinion, check out this site, http://bb.uwa.edu/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_id=_2_1&url=%2Fwebapps%2Fblackboard%2Fexecute%2Flauncher%3Ftype%3DCourse%26id%3D_22113_1%26url%3D.

biology on the move

All I can say was where were these sites when I was taking Biology and Advanced Biology. I remember trying to get tutoring lessons from others who had limited knowledge and trying to maintain the standards of making A's and B's on the homefront. I chose this site becasue of the catchy name of Scattergood Biology. This site has the sloggin of studying the world around while given valuable addition to the classroom experience. This is site describe class assignments, class resources, links, calendar of events, and other features that can assist students and parents from being informed about what is taken place with what is going on the the class, review to help, challenges to go beyond. I think this is a good site to pattern one's lessons online with. Especially since all information and resources are available at one's finger tips and it seems as if no one gets left behind. This blog is communication between students, teachers, and others who are not affliated with the class. This is surely a site that I would recommend fellow educators to take a look at. The address is http://bb.uwa.edu/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_id=_2_1&url=%2Fwebapps%2Fblackboard%2Fexecute%2Flauncher%3Ftype%3DCourse%26id%3D_22113_1%26url%3D.

Young Writer Program

Blogging is surely a form of writing and expressing your thoughts and feelings about a particular subject of interest or dislike. As I pondered on a list of ideas to choose from, I came across a young writers program who sets aside a month so anyone interested in writing or enjoyes it can be challenged. The National Novel Writing Month has been shortened to NaNoWriMo which gives the opportunity for writers to see who can write the best book to inspire and motivate the readers with no grand prize but the satisfaction of accomplishing a common goal with others around the world. This site is not one that I would continue to blog since I am not interested in writing or continuing to reading a vareity of stories in the near future. Nonetheless, I do believe it would be benefical to someone who is. The website gave several resources to help with those who are interested, but at the present time this is not a site that I would like to pursue. Please take a look at the site and tell me what you think. The address to the site is http://bb.uwa.edu/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_id=_2_1&url=%2Fwebapps%2Fblackboard%2Fexecute%2Flauncher%3Ftype%3DCourse%26id%3D_22113_1%26url%3D

Visual Timer

I chose the teacher space since it had to deal with homeschool issues. To my surprise, this link deals with special education and the main stream world and it goes hand and hand with what I am pursuing another degree in. This website gave several ideas for early year teachers and those who work with children with special needs, especeailly ASD. One the particular videos that I looked at dealt with a visual timer. It focused on having support for students with autism. This video was awesome. This video gave some good suggestion for working with special education students especially when I am always looking for new ways to be educated so if needed I will have knowledge on how to reach the children and people I am serving. I never thought about using the symbols, shapes, & numbers in that manner to time and finish an assignment. This is certainly a idea to keep in mind. This is a good site and I would recommend that you view and give your feed back. The address is http://bb.uwa.edu/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_id=_2_1&url=%2Fwebapps%2Fblackboard%2Fexecute%2Flauncher%3Ftype%3DCourse%26id%3D_22113_1%26url%3D

What's Todays Vision for Education?

As you watch this short video that was created by Michael Wesch in collaboration with 200 Kansas State University students, it summarizes some imporrant charactersitics of what is happening today with how some are still learning, what needs to be taught, student's goals, hopes, dreams, what their lives will be like, and what kinds of changes they will experience in their lifetime.

Please answer the following questions after you watch this video:
1. What do you see as a vision of students today?
2. What statistics can you compare with that was presented in the video.
3. Can technology save our students and society? Support your answer.
4. How would you evaluate your experience at the University of West Alabama/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGCJ46vyR9o

All About Me by Tikisha Brooks Graham

Hello everyone! I am excited that you took a few minutes to learn about me. I am currently the School Social Social Worker in a rural school district in Alabama. Have been doing this job for 8 years. I enjoy that everyday presents a new challenge and an opportunity to help others help themselves as well as a chance for me to grow and mature.

I am also a current student at the University of West Alabama pursuing a master's degree in Special Education. I have chosen this route because I want to be of better service to the special education department in my profession as well as this will allow me the opportunity to continue to help others and accomplish other goals I have in my life. I have a Masters of Science degree in Continuing Education, Bachelor Degree in Social Worker, and Associate Arts Degree.

I am also the mother of two boys who are active in sports, school activities, and anything that seems interesting to them. I enjoy helping and being around family and friends, traveling, and making the best of every situation.

Theres more, but I do not want to bore you so stay tuned and you will here more from me!!!

Free Stuff

Wow! I do not know anyone who would not want somethings that they desire in the classroom for learning or elsewhere that is free. Many times we here people say there are resources available but people need to tap into them. Well during an assignment for a college class, I had to explore one of thetop ten tips for teaching with new media. Well, the tip I decided to explore was find what you need. This information was very useful since teachers, coaches, and others are always trying to gather needed materials to help with supplies and furnishing without going into their pockets all the time. There was several suggested sites that offered a variety of ways to get donors and sponsors for several free items. Several of the sites that were viewed are www.donorschoose.org, www.scrapaction.org, www.freecycle.org, www.supplyyourschools.org, www.iloveschools.com, and more. If this information is beneficial, please use it and let me know.

Trust Who?

Often times we wonder why we go through things in life. How long will this season of trouble last? How much can I endure? And many many more questions.

Often times we are given the answer to our questions although we may not like the answer. Sometimes the answer is yes. Sometimes, it is no. Sometimes it is wait for a minute. Sometimes it is one of the above with specifics. Do you take that answer and accept it when given or do you continue to ponder and justified to arrive at the answer you want.

Often times we have short patience with others and never want to forgive them and make them pay for mistakes and miscommunications for life. But on the other hand, do you expect them to forgive you quickly when you have done wrong towards them. Moreover, do you expect God to grant grace and mercy daily, and forgive you instantly everytime you do wrong.

Life does offer trials and tribulations that do not last forever but at times it seems like it. God answers everyone of our questions and prayers in ways that will help us to grow if we heed to lessons in the sunshine and rain. Yes, He does want us to be patience and loving to one and other as He is ever so loving and patient with us unconditionally. Therefore, when others let you down and you let others down, remember God always keeps his promises and you should not strive to please people, but please him daily and you will not fail.