Blackboard Notes

I liked the sound of the idea...but it brings me to another level in my life when my own kids are more involved, my wife just took on more duties (play director) and I am teaching 5 distinctively different classes. Now that I've vented, I do have a starter group of young minds who can't wait to get started. I also found a sponsor willing to give us the bare minimum essentials to get started. I still have to figure out how to get the challenge kit, but 1 step at a time. Til I chalk again, Mr. Shel

It seems that  students who do not value math, or perhaps do not fully understand the nature of how math is a vital part of their lives, do not take their learning seriously (or have doubts that such concepts they are studying ARE in the real world, despite all the "real-world" exercise problems they have been given.  (I say that sarcastically, but that will have to be expanded on in another issue). The problem lies in getting students to actually make connections to what they are learning.  Several times they practice the concept, but fail to make a translation of how it can be used in their own lives.  --Much like the monitor I took a picture of.  It can be useful, and by now it seems ridiculous to not use one almost every day.  Do you see a problem with it? IF you said, "Well duh, it's unplugged," then you are right.  It may have value, but if there's no connection to the wall, you can't turn it on.  So unless you are Infamous (Co...

It's been a long time since I put in a post; call it lack of what the students say they are doing when they want to listen to their music ("I'm multitasking").  For the last 3 months, I had the privilege of working for a special education teacher who cannot be replaced, and I had to "walk in [her] shoes." I can tell that this educator is a phenom; just by the way the students refer to her all the time!  I am not special education certified; I'd like to think I am exceptionally certified though (and because of my diverse background I think I have that covered from my previous blogs, though there are those that see that diversity as instability, but I won't go down that road again).  Understand that I did work only in the academic setting of her workload, not her CASELOAD which is so much more paperwork, time, and energy.  Working her schedule made me realize how much I am NOT differentiating to students who may have significant   deficiencies in th...

Happy Holidays!-from Sheldahls I was having so much fun teaching at Adrian School  on a long term substitute assignment (plus others since I started back up in September, including Windom ISD 177) I forgot to share my experiences as I went along.  A lot has happened since I last posted.... During this summer, I moved to southwestern Minnesota, because my wife got her first job teaching choir.  I love to remind her about Pascal's sentiment about music as "sound with math," but not too frequently.  I looked for further adjunct work, but all the colleges nearby had enough educators.  The area I now live in has a "nest" of communities, and I have yet to explore them all.  I may well do some site visits to get the attitudes of the surrounding district principals, and so far I'm pretty pumped.  It's refreshing to get new perspectives, and their staff are open to tell you just about everything that goes in on their districts. (which for the most part h...

I don't know who coined it, perhaps in the sports realm, it seems true in today's competitive 150 applicants per job market. (no that is not a researched number).  Schools tout for change (especially when listening to them in the interview), but ironically you are measured how well you make the status quo look good while trying to implement change.  I have temporarily dropped off the regular blog trail, so let me share why. These two concepts are in-congruent with each other, as I am certain Dr. Scott McCloud has indicated in his prior blogs.  As it stands, however, I forged ahead and went "back to school."  I took two concentrated classes over the Internet (since twin cities parking, traffic, and hotel stay were additional costs I could not arrange in my budget).  I took two classes, CompTIA(R)'s A+ training, and CompTIA(R)'s Network+.  The  difference between the two seems to be logic. Media Center, C. Sheldahl  (C) 2013 I expected to p...

I have noticed I haven't blogged in a LONG, long time.  The truth is, I have been caught up in being an adjunct a local college, subbing, and working as an online educational consultant (legal way of saying I'm a teacher, but I get a stipend). The communication part is something which I have lacked in maintaining; if only I could roll back the clock and share how much I have learned with the students at the college, public school, and online environments.  Each have their characteristics, in their own right. Let's start at the public school. I have been subbing for many assignments that span from kindergarten through senior high.  The elementary students require specific attention and guidance from teachers as leaders and adult figures.  I have found that each district I have subbed in (both in Iowa and Minnesota) have their own unique culture, norms, and routines.  Remembering each place's footprint is a real skill (and you do NOT want to confuse one clas...

Sheldahl, C. 2011. Media Center. Perhaps not every moment a teacher experiences a teachable moment is inside the classroom (or a media center.) In this case, I experienced very personally, right on the floor of the family room in my house. My kids, when decided that they are not  going outside to play, develop this ravenous cabin fever (or at least the older siblings love to stir up the younger ones like a top; sound familiar?).  But when they got some Legos(TM) out (that at least was their initiative, not mine, unless my wife prompted them to), I plopped down on the floor and started to make something with the "pretty" colored Legos(TM) y daughter was using. (My next older child had brought his own "boy" Legos(TM) to the play scene). I was wasn't sure what I was going to make, since I didn't have directions or a map of what I was going to make...but remembering a ride cart from Walt Disney world, I fashioned something of the same design with Pat...