Like a Rollercoaster....

Moving fast, backing off, being thrown a major curve, feeling like I don't know if I'm up or down...
rollercoaster emotions!

Keep Both Hands On the Wheel

"Driven" is the word that keeps coming to my mind when I think about how I'm feeling these days! Might be that I've spent lots of time behind the wheel recently, or maybe it is truly the"pressing forward, not letting up for rest" that I am experiencing as I complete Month 10 and am constantly counting the laps before I'll reach the finish line of EMDT. I really loved Joe Bustillos' analogy of these next couple months being like merging into traffic on a busy freeway and that we needed to keep both hands on the wheel!

Silly Staff in Udutu

SILLY STAFF

Here is the link to my Silly Staff unit in Udutu. I am very excited to use this with my students next spring!
Much appreciation to Renee Hanson (Mentor Extraordinare) for her patience and help! :)

Journey

Poetry in motion just for fun! The inspiration that came from my photo quest day!

illusions

illusions, fragile as wispy clouds
knowledge, but how deep?
a catch in a voice signaling distress,
but no way to see...
no touch except that on a keyboard.
troubled spirit, the wetness of tears,
alone, a hurting heart...

Some Summer Introspection

This is the first summer that I can remember not being bogged down with "just a different kind of busy". The girls are so independent, and I am just home. My fso course work is easily managed and I have time for friends and lots of time to play WoW.

I've also had a lot of time to think...about fso, about what I'm learning, about my present job, about the future...
When I try to describe to others what this fso journey has meant to me, I fail miserably (but I'll keep trying!)

There are the obvious components...relationships, skills, new ideas, opened eyes, mind and heart-
and I can laugh at myself and with my friends that I am a "card carrying member" of the "Click it Off" club...definitely an overachiever, first born thing!
But if I look a bit deeper, and listen to my husband who says I "sell myself short" all the time, perhaps my over achiever-ness is a result of a fairly low self esteem.

My journey with fso has given me CONNECTIONS (a very vital part of who I am) and unashamedly I will say that one of my goals is that when I'm at graduation, each of my course directors will remember me because of the connections that have been made..., the chance to explore new areas, achievements to be proud of, and amazing encouraging feedback from course directors and classmates. I have a strong sense of wanting to "give back", and that is why I have, and will happily take on projects to help promote EMDT to others.

But as the countdown continues I find myself wanting to stop time, to just stay in the moment, not let go...
I'm so thankful that already I have options to stay connected to EMDT, that auditing will be possible, and that lifelong friends have been made. Looking at my present job, truly this was only the beginning of what I can continue to do to incorporate more and more technology in my every day classroom teaching.

Most importantly of all, I need to remember to be open, to embrace the winds of change, to never say never, and to have fun along the way...

Big Confessions

Hi my name is Kathy Kellen, and I am a GAMER...
who knew??!! I guess it sort of makes sense to me as I remember playing Sim City and the Sims for HOURS, but I was able to break the habit back then and move on to other things.
Then there was Farmville...and Treasure Island...and now, World of Warcraft...

Seriously, I didn't think I would even like World of Warcraft, but I didn't dare admit that during GSM, because that would have meant an epic fail! I really didn't intend to play past the free 10 day trial...but have upgraded to the full version.

So what have I learned?
I've learned to keep an open mind and give everything I try my very best effort. I've learned that I am very competitive, but also really love to work on quests with my friends and help them succeed. I've learned that I can use WoW as a reward after my less exciting tasks are finished.

I've learned that the very best kind of teacher is one who encourages continually, reminds you to have fun, engages and immerses you in the material, tells you to get to work (when needed), and gives extra challenges to help you stretch and grow.

Here is the result of one of those challenges: