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Throughout my tenure as a golfer, three talented instructors have helped me to develop my skills. From creating the perfect grip to chipping from a dreaded sand trap, they’ve taught me rituals, routines, and rhythms (their voices combine to make a “choir of caddies” each time I address the ball). But one thing they could never teach me, I learned through experience. All of the routines in the world were useless until I learned to relax.

What is it about the simple act of taking a deep breath that changes our state of mind? How powerful to recognize that our current state is one of anxiousness and fear and decide to make a change. When I quiet the voices echoing advice and pause the negative dialogue in my mind, I inevitably swing more smoothly and make better contact with the ball. A simple idea, yes, but one that I overlook more often than I’d like to admit.

Relax. It’s a message I send to myself when my list seems too long, the day seems too short, the deadline seems too close, or when the flag seems too far to reach. It’s a choice I make to combat the anxiety and the fear. The immediate effects—dryer palms, consistent heartbeat, relaxed shoulders—pale in comparison to the long term effects. When I am relaxed, I think more clearly, react more patiently, and behave more confidently. In other words, I am more likely to meet with success, on the golf course…and in life.

While I continue to be grateful to those fantastic instructors, I’ve learned that only I have the power to control my state of mind. Though golf continues to be a love-hate relationship in my life, I am appreciative of the life lessons it’s taught me. Slow down, trust your abilities, take deep breaths, and relax.

A poster hangs in the corner of my classroom at Trinity. It’s small and unobtrusive. Most likely, it has gone unnoticed by the countless students, teachers, and parents who enter my room on a daily basis. The photograph that accompanies the quote is of a young boy looking out onto an empty baseball field. In his left hand, he holds his glove, his bat is propped on his right shoulder, and his jersey, perfectly tucked into his pants, is white, clean, and crisp. Although I can’t see this young boy’s face, I am certain that I know what lies ahead for him. It’s what any beginning brings.

When I was in junior high, I decided to try out for the volleyball team. I had never played volleyball before, I didn’t know the rules, and I definitely didn’t have any of the equipment (shoes, kneepads, etc) necessary to “look the part.” After a valiant, three-day effort, I learned that I missed the cut and did not make the team.

The next fall, when I was a ninth grader, I decided to try again. I had a better idea of what to expect, I pleaded with my mother to buy special volleyball shoes and kneepads, and I spent the week before tryouts practicing in my back yard with anyone who offered to help. I stayed up late, woke up early, and did my best to master the game of volleyball in seven days. Although I hadn’t put forth much effort over the course of year, I had improved and was determined to make the team.

After three days of try-outs, again, I missed the cut.

There was something about the sport of volleyball that was contagious. Although I had failed to make the team two years in a row, I was determined to try out one more time. Over my ninth grade year, I spent countless hours in my backyard practicing passing, setting, and hitting. I went to junior varsity and varsity volleyball games. I made an appointment with the varsity coach and talked to her about summer camps. I registered for two volleyball camps and gave 100% effort at both. As I tenth grader, I walked into try-outs with only one thing on my mind. I was going to make the team.

And, I did.

As I look at the poster on my wall, I realize that we often see images of successful professional athletes “making it look easy.” My favorite one portrays Michael Jordan gracefully dunking from the free throw line. These types of posters, although inspiring, don’t tell the whole story. They leave out the years of practice. They leave out the hard work and disappointment. They leave out the total failures. They leave out the discipline, perseverance, and risk-taking required to be successful and to become an expert.

Even today, I am certain that I am not an expert at volleyball. It’s probably in the top five things “that I am great at,” but I am far from an expert. However, I am also certain that because of discipline, perseverance, and risk-taking, I am not a beginner either.

This I know for sure: Becoming an expert is a process, and every process begins with a first step. First steps can be embarrassing. Practice can be hard. Experiences as a beginner can be difficult- especially when we are compared to the experts.

I like this poster because it captures a young boy’s first step. It reminds me of the many “first steps” that I have taken to get me where I am today. It inspires me to look for places to begin finding new passions, new friendships, new experiences.

What first steps will you take today?

The pouring rain began just as my left blinker stopped clicking and I slid to a stop at the entrance of the mall parking lot. The pounding water blurred what I knew lay before me: No parking spaces and a horde of shopping inhumanity. I didn’t need to flick on my windshield wipers to see the colored shapes and headlight halos from the holiday shoppers. It would only add clarity to what I already knew: I should not have procrastinated to do my Christmas shopping.

In one swift, angry motion, I cranked the dial and the wipers began their monotonous reminder in swishing, repetitive tones.

You…Should…
Not…Wait…
To…Shop…

You…Should…
Not…Wait…
To…Shop…

I whipped the car towards the few remaining parking spots at the back of the lot, resigned to my situation and resentful that my wipers sounded too much like my nagging mother. The dinner bell appeal of a 19×9 oasis in a sea of shopping fanatics did not go unnoticed by the car behind me or the car speeding up the next aisle, flinging sheets of water on helpless families scurrying inside. I mashed the accelerator, ignored sensible driving rules, and made a beeline for what was quickly becoming my one and only goal: Find a spot.

I careened into a parking space amidst blaring horns and wild, obscene gestures from new enemies. I didn’t care.

A deep breath later and a couple of glances over my shoulder brought a slew of new problems. Where’s my umbrella? Why did I quickly walk out of the house without my raincoat? How far is it to the mall, my safe haven against the frigid, wet rain?

The rain drummed a new song. A screaming song.

Arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh…
Arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh…
Arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh…

I unbuckled my seat belt and fell forward, resting my forehead on the steering wheel. Seconds seemed like minutes as frustration and anger sped through my body. My mother’s nagging voice. The holiday shopping insanity. The rain.

It was oddly prophetic to hear the rain lessen at the same time that I asked myself, “When did Christmas and shopping become such an unpleasant experience?” I remembered years past when going to the mall meant an afternoon with my busy father, a time when we would smile picking out the perfect gift for my mother and top the day off with a movie and some popcorn. I recalled the warm feeling of unbridled joy when I discovered that I needed to buy a baby gift for my unborn nephew. “Why should this year be any different?” I thought.

I opened my car door and let the rain drizzle on me as I casually felt for my keys. The wet drops were cleansing. The previous five minutes washed down my cheeks, over my jeans, and into the rain gutter. I slipped the key into the lock, turned, and made my way across the parking lot.

I sidestepped a few puddles and noticed, inside the reflective pools of water, quite a few open parking spaces that were much closer to the mall’s doors.

—-

I was inspired to write this post after reading Delivering Newspapers and Smiling in the Rain.

Photo: http://farm1.static.flickr.com/228/453625659_a10ff5588c.jpg?v=0

47 Reasons to Surf the Internet

Below you’ll find a sampling of blogs that are free for you to explore. If you can think up a topic, there is almost certainly a blog out there to meet your interest. See if these blogs that might peak your curiosity…

1. This very popular ESPN website includes over eighteen different blogs by different sports writers, some you may already know if you’re an avid sports reader.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/blog/main

2. If you enjoy the Harry Potter series of book or movies, this is a great place to read the thoughts of other Harry Potter lovers.

http://harrypotter.savvy-cafe.com/

3. This blog is a commentary on the latest news reports going on in our country and around the world.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/

4. If you’re interested in high school football or are interested in playing in the future, this is the blog for you.

http://hs.beloblog.com/

5. This blog is for anyone who follows U.S. Women’s Soccer and is a fan of the sport.

http://womenssoccerusa.blogspot.com/

6. If you are really into Apple products, this is a great place to read about the latest Apple releases and updates.

http://theappleblog.com/

7. This is an interesting blog that focuses on the culture of Japan.

http://hereandtherejapan.blogspot.com/

8. If you love horses and riding and want to meet others who share your passion, this blog is for you.

http://www.igallopon.com/

9. This recipe blog offers tons of recipes and tips, plus ideas on new dishes to try at home.

http://recipeblog.co.uk/

10. If you are a lover of animals, this is a fun blog to watch videos and read about them.

http://www.theanimalblog.com/

11. This is a blog where you can learn tips and tricks on how to play chess.

http://gambit.blogs.nytimes.com/

12. This is a great spot to learn about the latest technology in our world.

http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/

13. If you’re a seasoned runner or you’re just beginning to jog, this is a great place to go for inspiration to run even more!

http://completerunning.com/running-blog-mark/

14. This is a great hiking blog written by seasoned hiker Tom Mangan.

http://tommangan.net/twoheeldrive/

15. If you’re a fan of the Atlanta Falcons and football, this is a great blog for you.

http://www.ajc.com/blogs/content/shared-blogs/ajc/falconsfans/

16. This is a unique blog about the birds of Northern Ireland.

http://peregrinesbirdblog.blogspot.com/

17. This is a great place to go if you love soccer and like watching clips of the latest men’s games. There are also written posts about star athletes and features on up and coming players.

http://www.soccerblog.com/

18. This is a great way to “travel” all over the world via pictures, videos and interesting articles about unique places all over the world.

http://www.fun-travel-blog.com/

19. If you enjoy birds, either watching them or listening to their beautiful calls, this is a great place to go and appreciate their beauty.

http://birdofprey.info/

20. Ayusaki Photographs are all taken by a 22 year old photographer living in Australia. This photographer takes amazing digital photography and utilizes the program Photoshop to really make these photographs outstanding.

http://ayusaki.com/

21. This “green diary” has great posts about various environmental concerns going on in the world, along with ways our world is becoming more “green.”

http://www.greendiary.com/

22. If you ever wondered what a blog would look like written from the perspective of a college students, this is a great one to check out. The writer basically gives her thoughts about all sorts of things, including sports, goals she has, what it’s like living in New Zealand, and other interesting insights.

http://tinyurl.com/5suqhj

23. Our First Horse tells the story of a family’s experience with first time horse ownership.

http://www.ourfirsthorse.com/

24. An educational technology expert writes about learning from a teacher’s perspective.

http://www.weblogg-ed.com

25. The name of this blog really speaks for itself. If you enjoy looking at adorable animal photos, this site can become an addition!

http://cuteoverload.com/

26. This is an amusing blog written by a grandmother who is obsessed with her poodles.

http://www.daisyandwaverly.com/

27. If you love children’s books, this is a blog where a librarian writes about books she enjoys.

http://chickenspaghetti.typepad.com/chicken_spaghetti/

28. This blog is all about the NBA and is written from the perspective of a student. This is a great place to see how a student can give a great sport commentary.

http://www.basketballnotesbyalex.blogspot.com/

29. A classroom in New Zealand has a communal blog where they post their thoughts about all sorts of topics and worldly events.

http://room3tai.edublogs.org/

30. TreeHugger is the top environmental blog out there. It covers general environmental news, events and products in a really interesting and informative way.

http://www.treehugger.com/

31. This blog has some great ideas of ways you can create a smaller “eco-footprint” on the earth. There are some simple ways we can change the way we live that will have a positive impact on our planet!

http://lighterfootstep.com/

32. This blog has a wide variety of interesting stories and news articles that are relevant to the environment and being green. It pulls articles from various other blogs out there on the internet, so you can get a different writing style with each post you read.

http://www.hugg.com/

33. Here you can find all kinds of delicious recipes that are geared towards kids and picky eaters. This is a great one to share with your parents, especially if you find yourself to have a very picky palate!

http://kidscooking.about.com/b/

34. The name of this blog speaks for itself; this gives some really tasty recipes in a fun, almost silly way. The writer gives a small back story to her recipes, and provides lots of pictures of each step of the cooking process. So if you try to make any of them at home, you and your parents can follow along with the pictures.

http://frantichomecook.com/

35. You’ll find some of the posts on this blog familiar, since it’s actually create by the same reporter who is in your weekly CNN Student News video. Reading a blog like this helps you stay current with news around the world, and each post is short enough that you can browse through it daily, without having to read a lengthy news article.

http://cnnstudentnews.blogs.cnn.com/

36. Here is a great description from the writers of this blog: “This is the story of our lifelong experience of the ocean (with photos). We have a strong affinity for the sea and everything in it and about it. Some might call this a passion or an obsession. We call it ‘ocean devotion.’”

http://therightblue.com/

37. Latest information on anything you want to know about scuba diving. From scuba travel to scuba equipment, it’s all about scuba diving! You may hear the latest scuba news, find the latest scuba gear or discover interesting scuba diving sites.

http://thescubazone.blogspot.com

38. This site is a “photo blog” where the articles are short descriptions of photos. The photography mostly has to do with

http://www.skolaiimages.com/journal/

39. A blog about what is fun and funny with the English Language and added with lots of poems, games and puzzles.

http://www.idiocrasiesoflanguages.blogspot.com/

40. Chess tactics, Chess games, Chess news, Chess videos, Chess history…If you have an interest in this mind bending game, this is the place for you!

http://chessgambiter.blogspot.com/

41. Here’s one blog where you can put your passion into action, if you’re into puzzles that is! Each post contains a new puzzle or game that you can both read about and play. This is a great way to keep your mind active, while still having fun.

http://www.passionforpuzzles.com/blog/

42. If you are amazed by the wonders of Google Earth and all it has to offer, this blog is definitely for you. The site gives you a look into how Google Earth works, along with some interesting new ways to use the program.

http://www.gearthblog.com/

43. This blog has some really fascinating photos. If you enjoy history, or just appreciate the art of classic black and white photography, this is the place for you. The blog is packed with high-definition photos from various points in history. You can even view galleries of photos separated into categories, such as the Civil War or Aviation. There is a brief description about each photo, but a picture is worth a thousand words.

http://www.shorpy.com/

44. Here’s another great photo blog. This one doesn’t have a particular theme, rather, it just give a new and unique photo each day.

http://photografr.com/

45. If you’ve ever wondered when off-roading became an extreme sport or who invented the first parachute, this is a great place to learn some interesting facts about almost every sport out there.

http://1001sportsworld.blogspot.com/

46. This blog gives you the latest news, reviews, and commentary on the current guitars & guitar gear.

http://www.electric-guitar-review.com/

47. The name of this blog really speaks for itself. If you enjoy looking at adorable animal photos, this site can become an addition!

http://cuteoverload.com/

The goal of our first lesson was to build excitement about the world of blogging and to assess sixth graders’ initial understanding of this Web 2.0 tool. Through class discussion and an interactive powerpoint presentation, the sixth graders brainstormed the ways in which blogs can promote community, encourage reflective writing and critical thinking, and establish networks. They learned that blogging in a way to CONNECT. Throughout this in-depth unit, we will encourage students to think about reading and writing through a new lens.

As each slide on the powerpoint was displayed, we asked the students to think about how the image related to the subject of blogging. Their insights were extraordinary and quite thought-provoking:

The computer made students think about…connecting with others through the virtual world…the web is a tool to help communicate with others…developing friendships.

The computer made students think about…connecting with others through the virtual world…the web is a tool to help communicate with others…developing friendships.

The “thinking man” made students think about… blogging requires thinking (reading and writing)…the ways that internal thoughts can be shared with others…thoughts come out onto a blog and are shared with others.

The mirror made students think about… reflecting is an important part of blogging… when one writes on a blog sometimes people respond (reflecting)…bloggers can see similiarities with others…sometimes bloggers reflect on things other people are blogging about.

The hands and clapping sound made students think about… bloggers can have an audience who appreciates each individual post…. confidence grows through comments on a blog post…blogging can be a source of pride.

The seeds made students think about…ideas are like seeds – they grow into something bigger…bloggers can plant a seed in a community and it can grow into another seed for others… “don’t spill the beans” – don’t put something personal on a blog…bloggers can gain an audience (more and more people will read it) and blog popularity will grow.

The binoculars made students think about…searching and being selective about writing topics…blog is a public space…readers can see past the surface…it’s important to read between the lines…bloggers can look closely – small things can turn into big posts/ideas.

The symbols made students think about…bloggers can write about anything- a world of choices…bloggers must respect other people’s beliefs and ideas…blogs can be “melting pots”…bloggers can use passions and write about what they know…on blogs, one will find a wide variety of opinions, ideas, and thoughts.

The conversation bubbles made students think about…bloggers have to “think outside the box” and search for inspiration….bloggers can have face to face discussions about your blogs.

The boy, computer, and books made students think about…bloggers can write about academic topics (specific subject, book you’ve read)…sometimes blogs can be intimidating (wanting to read many different blogs).

The fire made students think about…bloggers may get comments from others that challenge you… blogging takes a lot of thought…there is a mature way to handle hot-button topics (ie: politics, disagreeing with teachers).

The people and the world made students think about…bloggers are connected with everyone in the world (bloggers can find people in other countries with same interests)…everything bloggers say is public: both in the Trinity community and around the world…bloggers can blog about anything.

Where Should I Live?

Advantages and Disadvantages

of Geographic Features

Last week, you and your classmates brainstormed a list of possible advantages and disadvantages of living near specific geographic features and climate zones. Your teachers were so impressed at the inferential thinking you did! Now, based on the thinking you did, you will select a feature, develop your understanding of it, and take a position: Do the advantages of living near this feature outweigh the disadvantages?

Use the following websites to help you with your research:

**Ecology and Society (an online journal): you can use this to search a variety of journal articles (http://www.ecologyandsociety.org/search.php)

VOLCANO:

http://library.thinkquest.org/C003603/english/volcanoes/theadvantages.shtml

http://www.fema.gov/hazard/volcano/index.shtm

http://volcano.oregonstate.edu/education/index.html

http://library.thinkquest.org/03oct/01186/dangers.htm

SEA LEVEL:

http://geology.com/sea-level-rise/venice.shtml

http://carbon-based-ghg.blogspot.com/2008/02/sea-level-low-in-venice.html

http://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/sltrends/sltrends.shtml

http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/fs2-00/

http://geology.com/articles/rebuilding-new-orleans.shtml

RIVER:

http://classgeo.blogspot.com/2008/08/advantages-of-living-near-river.html

http://www.ecologyandsociety.org/vol10/iss2/art15/

PLATE BOUNDARY:

http://scign.jpl.nasa.gov/learn/plate4.htm

http://geology.com/plate-tectonics.shtml

http://www.geodyn.psu.edu/research/americas/sanandreas.html

http://oceansjsu.com/105d/exped_shakin/11.html

MOUNTAIN:

http://videos.howstuffworks.com/hsw/13438-american-geography-

the-mountain-states-volume-ii-video.htm

TROPICAL ZONE:

http://www.irrigationfutures.org.au/zones.asp?ID=6

http://www.srh.noaa.gov/srh/jetstream/tropics/tropics_intro.htm

http://www.pbs.org/journeyintoamazonia/teacher_levels.html

HARBOR/BAY:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Francisco_Bay

http://www.savesfbay.org/site/pp.asp?c=dgKLLSOwEnH&b=479739

ISLAND:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Island

http://tinyurl.com/3vs8le

FOREST:

http://tinyurl.com/4dm5hc

http://www.ecologyandsociety.org/vol12/iss1/art18/

http://www.ecologyandsociety.org/vol13/iss2/art2/

MOUNTAIN:

http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/Stories/PeoplePlaces/Sherpa

http://www.ecologyandsociety.org/vol10/iss2/art14/

PLAIN:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salisbury_Plain

http://www.nps.gov/archive/jeff/LewisClark2/TheJourney/Geography.htm

The sixth grade teachers have been conducting a three-day Tablet Workshop where students rotated through different lessons in small groups, instructed by a variety of teachers. As I think about the past three days (as crazy and hectic as they were), I am certain that it was time well spent.

When asked to reflect, one student noted that on Tuesday, the word “nervous” came to mind. Nervousness about technology and tablets is normal and this student explained that much of the anxiety came from the fact that “I knew I didn’t know as much as the others did.” The same student provided a different word to describe Wednesday, the second day of using tablets. The word “enthusiastic” described the day because the student “was excited…and knew so much more about the tablet.” By “trying new things and going to new places,” the comfort level with the once foreign and intimidating piece of technology was growing. Finally, on the final day of the Tablet Workshop, the student chose to use the word “confidence.” Because of the thoughtful approach to the training, the student felt “proud and comfortable” and noted the desire to explore even more outside of school.

To grow from anxious to excited to proud in three days…wow.

In Ewan McIntosh’s Keynote, he asked us to think about three questions as the week progressed. I wanted to include them here, as I’ll try to address them in my mind and hopefully in writing over the course of the next couple of weeks.

1)      What simple tools make learning become remarkable?

2)      How can one create a shared awareness of learning goals?

3)      What changes could be made to get small, passionate groups creating themselves?

Overall, I am most excited about the connections I made this week. I already feel as though my network is expanding, and I am anxious to learn more about teaching and technology from people like John Davitt, Laura Deisley, Clarence Fisher, Darren Kuropatwa, Ewan McIntosh, Brian Mull, Bob Sprankle, and others.

I am challenged by so many of the things I learned as well. Alan November’s presentation (and book) on Webliteracy has inspired me to teach the grammar of the internet with the same gusto that I teach English grammar (and sentence diagramming!). Jessica Flannery’s KIVA presentation on Wednesday caused me to re-think the way I teach my students about community service. I see the implications of this new approach directly affecting the focus of my explorations class next year. My conversation with John Davitt at lunch (as well as his presentation) inspired me to think about how my students can live in both the digital world and the real world. How can their writer’s notebooks, art sketchpads, and blogs be combined to capture and reflect on the world as they see it? 

Although it’s tempting to broaden the scope of my thoughts to Trinity School and the total sixth grade experience, I know that I need to think about 2246 and my class of sixteen students. I want to make a measurable difference by changing and shifting, not by adding. To do this, I have a lot more thinking to do…

Luckily, I have many miles to travel before I sleep…

This blog post specifically serves as my warm up for the Building Learning Communities Conference in Boston next week, which will definitely stretch my thinking in amazing ways. I’m excited and ready to make connections, explore possibilites for next year, and strengthen best practices from last year.

And, as if I need another excuse for being a blogging slacker, I’m trying to keep my mohawk dog, Maisie, from destroying my house!