What are you doing right now? What's on your list?

[Connie Weber]

Hi, Everyone. Busy enough?

This is a community check-in forum: please sketch out a list of your projects, activities, happenings (and mishaps!) of this current time, maybe what's going on from now until June. Come on--it'll be fun to see what everyone's doing.

What items are on your list right now? What fills your days? Is each day different from another, or are they the same? What's coming up shortly? What do you have to be done with by June? What are you really into? What are you dreading? What events are going on or upcoming?

[Laura Gibbs]

Not to gloat, because I know K-12 runs on a different calendar, but this is MY LAST WEEK OF SCHOOL.

So I am inundated with school, but soon to be inundated with summer and VERY happy about that...!!!!

Most of my students are graduating seniors, so I also get to thrive vicariously on their about-to-graduate energy!

:-)

[Connie Weber]

Laura,
You are a magnificent model of a new breed of teachers: online, independent, personal, far-reaching, deep. Your students are so lucky to have you.
And we at Fireside are also extremely lucky to have you--and in fact would not be anywhere near where we are without you. :-)
Thanks for everything you do.

[Nathan Lowell]

Here, here! And i'm loving the latin tweets :)

[Fred Haas]

I just wrapped up working on the Net Gen Education Project/Challenge with Vicky Davis and Julie Lyndsay, among other spectacular educators from the world over, with pretty good results.

Now, I am beginning to see the flood of final screenplay projects for an online course I teach, Screenwriting Fundamentals. The project is the first of a three act feature length screenplay.

Apart from that, I have three grade 9 I-Search (research project) papers due in about two weeks time, which should prove interesting reading on many levels. Plus, still have to manage one more unit on a novel with this lot.

In general, I really need to catch the second wind to make sure I can finish the year strong, because I am feeling a bit fatigued in the calm before the storm. I have been trying to indulge some of my own intellectual interests to facilitate this revolving around new media literacies, games in education, and journalism. I am looking forward tot he summer where I get to plan a new co-taught course on 21st century journalism. Finally, I am getting into the presentations and workshops game, a bit; so I am starting to prep for some of that kind of work.

What can I say, no rest for the wicked, I guess.

[Connie Weber]

Nope, no rest for you--and why should there be, when you have such important contributions to make?! Fred, you've got so much going. Screenplays and student-research, investigations in new media literacies, games, 21st-century journalism. And all the involvement in Net Gen Education Project/Challenge... Wow! Hey, please tell us about your projects, often. How about asking (the amazing) Vicki Davis and Julie Lyndsay to put something up here, too?
We value your presence on Fireside greatly. Keep up the great work, and share news of it when ever you can, ok?

[Reuven Werber]

Hmm - Caught me at a good time! I"m packing up my house to move in to a 40sq. meter caravan for 6-8 months while my house is being remodeled. Have to move EVERYTHING out of the house. So far packed and moved 80 boxes of books. Trying to decide what to dispose of. Stressing experience.
Beyond that, running a history research project with ninthh grade. Taught them how to phrase a research question and how to find relevant authoritative articles in University of Haifa Index of Hebrew Periodicals.

Tomorrow will be running A PD session for school staff on how two effectively use the new Promethan interactive whiteboards we just installed.

[Connie Weber]

Hi Reuven,

I find getting rid of stuff to be stressful, too. But keeping it is even more stressful! Maybe we can make a support group for each other in that area. Lively stuff going on at school... it's obvious that a lot of learning's going on!

Very good to hear from you.

[Kiki]

Preparing a paper for publication, meeting with my students to discuss research progress. My graduate student has just presented overview of his thesis to his Ph.D. committee; he did a nice job (phew...).

Classes here are already over, and I am on sabbatical in the fall.

[Connie Weber]

Hi Kiki,
What's your paper about? Glad your graduate student is doing so well--I know he has excellent support, from you. Can't believe your classes are over and you're on an extended break. Nice!

[Kiki]

Hi Connie,

Happy Mother's Day!

Thanks for the kind words. The paper describes kinetics of phase boundaries in a class of "smart" materials called shape-memory alloys. Perhaps you have seen eye glasses frames that can be easily twisted? They are made from SMAs. These materials are very flexible and can "remember" their shape. They are used mostly in medicine but also in other applications, such as aircraft deicing, orthodontics etc. A lot of my work aims to develop models that help to understand their remarkable properties. I am sure this is more than you wanted to know ;-)

[lydia vivi]

Hi all!
As laura, I also inundated with school work, campus work etc. Final Exam begins next week, and grading afterward. Following to that by May 15th, the syllabus for the next school year must be done for two semester at once and the lesson plan as well. While in my study, I still owe 2 papers that must be done by next week. I also plan to go to London this summer to take TESOL and another teacher training host by pilgrims. And another paper works also needed....looking for accommodation that fit my budget especially is the most difficult part for me right now. So if anyone of you has relatives or friends who lives in London nearby 51-55 Waterloo Rd SE 1 8TX London and in 4-6 Orange Street Canterbury, pleaseeee inform me. Hope they willing to give me a room with good price. Just for your information my budget for accommodation is only 400 pounds per month. The accommodation in the Waterloo from June 25th - July 25 then go to Canterbury from June 25th - Aug 1st. To look for this accommodation, I've searched at anywhere including to the gumtree website or accommodation in london website...the answer are vary but the price was offered a bit high from my budget. But I won't give up..keep looking for other possibilities.
Some of your sharing and thoughts from this community are really encouraging for me. Let's keep doing best in our work for our beloved students.
Thanks

[Connie Weber]

Hi Lydia,
Yes, indeed, let's keep doing our best, and let's keep supporting each other, all for the good of establishing multiply-interconnected communities of learners. It's a powerful concept. And it's nurturing! Thanks for sharing. You've got so much going on!