tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44287125193117280232024-03-21T12:49:21.972-04:00Change Bound~Perspectives on life experiences and personal growthDenise McGahahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03409270544050303757noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4428712519311728023.post-37705754140179054762016-06-21T11:20:00.002-04:002016-06-21T12:17:56.294-04:00A Lazy, Leisure, Lavender Day of Summer in East Tennessee<h3 class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i>The Lavender Festival</i></h3>
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<i>June 18, 2016</i></h3>
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<i>Historic Jackson Square</i></h3>
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<i>Oak Ridge, TN </i></h3>
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<span style="color: #d9d2e9;"><i>“There are some things, after all, that Sally Owens knows for certain:
Always throw spilled salt over your left shoulder. Keep rosemary by your
garden gate. Add pepper to your mashed potatoes. Plant roses and
lavender, for luck. Fall in love whenever you can.”
~Alice Hoffman, <u>Practical Magic</u></i></span><br />
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I'm such a sucker for all things that are unique, and handcrafted by someone who creates something because of love. So, when I go to events like <a href="http://www.jacksonsquarelavenderfestival.org/" target="_blank">The Lavender Festival </a>in Oak Ridge's Jackson Square, I am experiencing one of the best things in life as far as I'm concerned. I won't spend time highlighting the event, attach charming recipes (even though I'm pretty tempted to), or write a history about Lavender. No, since I decided to practice my hand in photography at the event, I will attempt to share some of its ambiance with minimal explanation and information. How's that? <br />
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<i><span style="color: #d9d2e9;">Smoky Mountain Lavender</span></i> </h2>
Track down fresh cut Lavender grown in the fields of East Tennessee and Western North Carolina from these Lavender farmers all through the summer at any local farmer's market. For more information, visit their Facebook page @<a href="https://www.facebook.com/smokymountainlavender/?fref=ts" target="_blank">Smokymountainlavender</a><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The coveted Lavender preparing to be bundled</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lavender bundles sold for $5 each and were a hot commodity</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grow your own Lavender, flowers, and herbs</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Garden decor from JB Katz</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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While I was browsing the booths, I kept hearing someone play a banjo. When I would look around, I couldn't tell exactly where it was coming from until I walked up to this booth stock full of sticks and strings attached to (that's right, you got it!) a can. What type of can, you may wonder? Any type of can! There were soup cans, SPAM cans, bean cans, you name it, and their creator was strumming away songs from a song book he also sold with them. The CANJO was the "coolest" item in the place! </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Music from a can!</td></tr>
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Just take a listen if you don't believe me! </div>
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And speaking of "hunny," my unique<span style="color: #0000ee;"> </span>find<span style="color: #0000ee;"><span style="color: #0000ee;"> </span></span>for the day were these Bee's Wax Candle Lanterns by <b><i>Spring's Eternal </i></b>located in Athens, Tennessee. Yes, they are made from bee's wax and designed with homegrown pressed flowers from where they gather their nectar. The lantern I took home has Dogwood flowers on it!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spring's Eternal Bee's Wax Candle Lanterns</td></tr>
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Last, but certainly not least, I found all the homemade Lavender products I wanted at the LoCo Lavender booth. Located in Loudon County, Tennessee, their products contain Lavender that is "grown, harvested and distilled on their farm." For more information, visit their web page, <a href="http://www.locolavender.com/" target="_blank">LoCoLavender</a> or their Facebook page @<a href="https://www.facebook.com/LoCo-Lavender-961549477243334/?fref=ts" target="_blank">LoCo Lavender</a>.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguc7AtkH0EqFLhQnMsU8pOupmQqtIIxvqNJtKQawBv_G8I0NubYAm-Q_IjU_MN5-RpKZixkjYpFqRSDzRLSnAMUJV6PkjE-yqDmZa04v_Iuw2wruh2JQi71tBtzuXrQ08_g7KFmCwUExs/s1600/P1010499.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguc7AtkH0EqFLhQnMsU8pOupmQqtIIxvqNJtKQawBv_G8I0NubYAm-Q_IjU_MN5-RpKZixkjYpFqRSDzRLSnAMUJV6PkjE-yqDmZa04v_Iuw2wruh2JQi71tBtzuXrQ08_g7KFmCwUExs/s400/P1010499.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Have a Lovely, Lavender day! </h3>
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</span>Denise McGahahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03409270544050303757noreply@blogger.com0Historic Jackson Square, Oak Ridge, TN, USA36.0103561 -84.269644935.804742100000006 -84.5923684 36.2159701 -83.946921400000008tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4428712519311728023.post-54706235474245687762016-04-06T22:42:00.001-04:002016-04-06T22:47:38.954-04:00A MTSU Senior Recital<h2>
<i>~Music can change the world because it can change people. </i></h2>
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<i> ~Bono </i></h2>
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On April 5, 2016, my youngest son, Dustin McGaha's musical work at Middle Tennessee State University was summarized in one hour. That's right, one hour. How do you fit all of the work of a Bachelor's degree in Musical Performance into one hour? Below are some sound bits from the night.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Recital Program 4/5/16</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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Dustin's first piece of music was Bach's <b><i>Prelude and Fugue in EB Major, WTC Book II</i></b> followed by Beethoven's S<b><i>onata Op. 10 No. 1 in C Minor, I. Allegro molto e con brio, II. Adagio molto, III. Pretissimo</i></b>. Here is a clip from Part I.<br />
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The Beethoven piece was his longest piece of music, so after completing it, there was a brief intermission. The next piece was Chopin's energizing <b><i>Fantasie -Impromptu, Op. 66</i></b>.<br />
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He followed up with Bolcom's <b><i>Graceful Ghost Rag.</i></b> Then, to round out the evening, Dustin's final two songs were jazzed up in a trio with his friend and drum instructor, Jed Smith, and friend, Tyler Enslow on the bass. Setting the mood with Cole Porter's <b><i>Night and Day</i></b> followed by the final song (below) by Sammy Cahn (arr. Oscar Peterson), <b><i>Saturday Night (is the Loneliest Night of the Week)</i></b><br />
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Hence, the culmination of five years of work in one, extraordinary hour. Needless to say, this is one proud mom! :)<br />
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Denise McGahahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03409270544050303757noreply@blogger.com0MTSU Blvd, Murfreesboro, TN 37130, USA35.8488038 -86.36047200000001635.8359333 -86.380642000000009 35.8616743 -86.340302000000023tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4428712519311728023.post-46274502132138603362016-03-18T17:54:00.004-04:002016-03-19T08:38:41.860-04:00Springtime at the Knoxville Zoo: Animals in Transition<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">African Lion</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
In honor of the last, official day of my spring break for the 2015-16 school year, I decided to take a trip to the <a href="http://www.zooknoxville.org/about/conservation/" target="_blank">Knoxville Zoo</a>. My spring break has been spent at home catching up on the chores that I'm sure to neglect during the busy school year. In addition to catching up on much needed doctor appointments, I also caught up on a lot of other activities that I enjoy as well. On this day, I opted to get out the house and take some pictures of other creatures in their habitat also making a seasonal transition.<br />
<br />
During my visit, I managed to take about eighty pictures, which is less than what I would have liked, but many of the animals are just getting back into the swing of sunshine and warm weather. Here are some jewels that appeared in my photo stream. Enjoy! <br />
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<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirW7VLsK90zv8Mp9Y7nwOqetwi4Z9YHOgqC6aj3pM9pczL0Ike3DgKk7EtK7iMtbsRMtaFa-YwHDJ3tSGDnvQ10BhYoSXVL2XX7xa0VU3zfQM3TZbEzdzQMCPy5MyPi0jriinY_jg-6vg/s1600/P1010403.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirW7VLsK90zv8Mp9Y7nwOqetwi4Z9YHOgqC6aj3pM9pczL0Ike3DgKk7EtK7iMtbsRMtaFa-YwHDJ3tSGDnvQ10BhYoSXVL2XX7xa0VU3zfQM3TZbEzdzQMCPy5MyPi0jriinY_jg-6vg/s400/P1010403.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hamadryas Baboon</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbAdvNLEug-KXI3at1Yi5Nhs-fB6tX_foDUsS-ParCQt3n6C3SZpZwW6zmD8h8wfIEqFQCHdPeJ2PFGesluNvwfcgczHu-FoEwu3Y5dPC2pWy6gwi8Ns_ISwKA9ZTGf9sdxVn9l5abc2o/s1600/P1010404.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbAdvNLEug-KXI3at1Yi5Nhs-fB6tX_foDUsS-ParCQt3n6C3SZpZwW6zmD8h8wfIEqFQCHdPeJ2PFGesluNvwfcgczHu-FoEwu3Y5dPC2pWy6gwi8Ns_ISwKA9ZTGf9sdxVn9l5abc2o/s400/P1010404.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hamadryas Baboon</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxEwqioGpTLM6b68XsLVXlLm-yzL1oLLvQs3ovZaCVt-3eS1Uc70rnmrRB3H4acQoAPXsa_eHaXvaKjpJocZNg6MVgO0czN1_8RopaizY8zfczaIvgTrC6y-kjrais5BtjIB0CrEOkVQY/s1600/P1010411.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxEwqioGpTLM6b68XsLVXlLm-yzL1oLLvQs3ovZaCVt-3eS1Uc70rnmrRB3H4acQoAPXsa_eHaXvaKjpJocZNg6MVgO0czN1_8RopaizY8zfczaIvgTrC6y-kjrais5BtjIB0CrEOkVQY/s400/P1010411.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">African Lion</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGj-wj9JCsoC5RJErAHWikHJUPrmJxbq8vruQmQI2tIE8tu6P-OIejbGKZJfXIV-35N3KoIB8LHA2Vws6JbWlTi0jcTa4_jP9yvlqGJxsHiAyNpu5TL_4mVU0ZJRpZlM8MjTWpuIiBdeY/s1600/P1010418.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGj-wj9JCsoC5RJErAHWikHJUPrmJxbq8vruQmQI2tIE8tu6P-OIejbGKZJfXIV-35N3KoIB8LHA2Vws6JbWlTi0jcTa4_jP9yvlqGJxsHiAyNpu5TL_4mVU0ZJRpZlM8MjTWpuIiBdeY/s400/P1010418.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Western Lowland Gorilla</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUiPxIwtYuoh1DWQTkGDJc49QJqQW5ip3506z2Q7ggx7qmMU710_1EVC2A3PpL9cZ8Uo_80SMzzfmMYC2VxBCa8HkTP21iVuKf2QXJA1SG4p9RPM0-YelCEhS2RFGskAHbzwzlmAB7vl8/s1600/P1010423.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUiPxIwtYuoh1DWQTkGDJc49QJqQW5ip3506z2Q7ggx7qmMU710_1EVC2A3PpL9cZ8Uo_80SMzzfmMYC2VxBCa8HkTP21iVuKf2QXJA1SG4p9RPM0-YelCEhS2RFGskAHbzwzlmAB7vl8/s400/P1010423.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another Western Lowland Gorilla</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioVxlTrjU8rj0XUcISW3FRD0VlnbvBvT2OeAJGBXp7wIDPQ101jP35BriRHsqMmPc7wc4G3WcJove-iFkou8I5Pv3vyFcN0UqH-_iJ06GMRQWrRO4SmAThHHvXG0E6w0TJwdYwS32tSrw/s1600/P1010380.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioVxlTrjU8rj0XUcISW3FRD0VlnbvBvT2OeAJGBXp7wIDPQ101jP35BriRHsqMmPc7wc4G3WcJove-iFkou8I5Pv3vyFcN0UqH-_iJ06GMRQWrRO4SmAThHHvXG0E6w0TJwdYwS32tSrw/s400/P1010380.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Southern White Rhino</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHSWV2dD_C8tah4EtHLg6a0Q2aI5LBZULB3x2LVcRSBh-SCanHAgeYfTNBK3nwYEjB-YYe4yPAU1ppJD2AatIz1cIq0dJVE9We-95AvB5M6uhvfbeLcQHV1i3cbMaNYY3MHd19b9WrhuA/s1600/P1010432.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHSWV2dD_C8tah4EtHLg6a0Q2aI5LBZULB3x2LVcRSBh-SCanHAgeYfTNBK3nwYEjB-YYe4yPAU1ppJD2AatIz1cIq0dJVE9We-95AvB5M6uhvfbeLcQHV1i3cbMaNYY3MHd19b9WrhuA/s400/P1010432.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">African Elephants</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Like the rest of us humans, the animals are getting ready for the warm weather and bright sunshine. Many of the animals, notably, the black bears, and the Malayan tiger were "sacked" out in the shade. Neither time nor the screams of excitement from all the kids could disturb their sleep, so there are no pictures of them, yet. There are several of the outdoor reptiles who have not made it back into their exhibits yet, such as the Aldabra Giant Tortoise. And the otters were not quite ready to swim. In spite of those few absences, it was a great day to visit the zoo.<br />
<br />
For more information about the Knoxville Zoo and its hours, please visit the <a href="http://www.zooknoxville.org/visitor-info/hours-and-tickets/" target="_blank">Visitor's Information. </a><br />
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<br />Denise McGahahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03409270544050303757noreply@blogger.com0Knoxville, TN, USA35.9606384 -83.92073920000001435.5493479 -84.566186200000018 36.3719289 -83.27529220000001tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4428712519311728023.post-3952618794008809712015-07-18T13:48:00.001-04:002016-03-19T08:28:32.985-04:00A Warrior's Voice: This is My America<div class="_5pbx userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">
<br />
Guest Blogger: Corporal Chad Reep, United States Marines<br />
<a href="http://tinyurl.com/pkmd4pk" target="_blank">Facebook Post, 7/18/2015</a> <br />
Clinton High School, Class of 2005<br />
Email: <span class="null">creep@vols.utk.edu</span> <br />
<br />
Today.
Today I am saddened. Today, I hauled around a heart that was heavier
than it may have ever been before. Today I woke up confused – confused
of my surroundings – confused of the environment I have been living in –
confused of the people I encountered. Today is the day I realized
that we truly are in peril.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAv1aogGEdqeFY_ZMbHFot1Dk_97aAhrnzEtTqGvqZMQNwFHiSoZ07jIQrN3VdDZz6UOPkCdnNXgjnO-xRHwZyaa1ZMjBRmdq4rFU6167hwI8cnkAFfxAxWSF6dJS9Ftevsej5EYhI-BA/s1600/IMG_1862.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAv1aogGEdqeFY_ZMbHFot1Dk_97aAhrnzEtTqGvqZMQNwFHiSoZ07jIQrN3VdDZz6UOPkCdnNXgjnO-xRHwZyaa1ZMjBRmdq4rFU6167hwI8cnkAFfxAxWSF6dJS9Ftevsej5EYhI-BA/s400/IMG_1862.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Courtesy of Corporal Chad Reep </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
When I woke up today, I expected it
to be just like any other day – except that it wasn’t. The events that
happened the day before stuck with me all through the night, and into
the early morning. Four of my brothers died. While I never served with
these men while I was in the Marines, they were my brothers. These
were men that embarked on the very same journey that I found myself on
only ten years ago - a journey that has still to this day been the
definition of my life thus far. When I joined the Marines as a naive 19
year-old, I was nowhere close to being the man I already thought I was.
That journey, along with the trials that came with it, not only taught
me what it was to be a man, but it also taught me what it was to be an
American – a proud one at that.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV1AK1uY2VrayAKmWEvSXEkNJuOr0bHuGQBxxbAcvEq4cL04r1jBflsO23sK6HMrnOsUkUJhrMd8cqTJJBksNjkSTBE-xLX4QcuI6QqLVVtXWlg9g1T26k7_ix59zE_a2pd3H_vqQcSVA/s1600/IMG_1861.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV1AK1uY2VrayAKmWEvSXEkNJuOr0bHuGQBxxbAcvEq4cL04r1jBflsO23sK6HMrnOsUkUJhrMd8cqTJJBksNjkSTBE-xLX4QcuI6QqLVVtXWlg9g1T26k7_ix59zE_a2pd3H_vqQcSVA/s320/IMG_1861.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Courtesy of Corporal Chad Reep</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
That same journey taught me
what it was to be honorable – to speak the truth even when it was not
popular – to be loyal when being disloyal was so tempting – to have
empathy – to give all that I could with no expectation of anything in
return – to stand firm in my beliefs no matter how unpopular – and to be
able to forgive others for just about anything.<br />
<br />
That same
journey taught me what it was to be courageous – to accept fear, but to act
anyways – to make difficult decisions in a time of need – to be a
leader.<br />
<br />
That journey taught me what it meant to be committed – to
give my whole self to something with all that I have – to see things
through until the end no matter how miserable I was. Those who I served with will forever be my brothers and sisters. We share the same blood. We share the same heart.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN8HT9EIArNf6DOmlI01sb0XyWvjQHKU_RrSG5i2XRvM1m1gLUXjuCDwzx6UaxFOragaibjqTGV_OmvFrb8I_ucV7GSeacwfezhlpYudHmPp_upk4Fnc8Wv4RhGG4bfGvJ1KH1yLfVY0E/s1600/IMG_1864.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN8HT9EIArNf6DOmlI01sb0XyWvjQHKU_RrSG5i2XRvM1m1gLUXjuCDwzx6UaxFOragaibjqTGV_OmvFrb8I_ucV7GSeacwfezhlpYudHmPp_upk4Fnc8Wv4RhGG4bfGvJ1KH1yLfVY0E/s320/IMG_1864.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Courtesy of Corporal Chad Reep</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This is not the America I grew up in. This is not the America that
allowed me, as a child, to wander as far as I wanted outside of the
confines of my parent’s supervision in order to explore the world around
me without fear– in order to learn independence – on my own. This is
not that America. America, as I knew it back then, no longer exists.
We were proud. We were exceptional. <br />
<br />
Today, we are in a
shameful America – an America full of victims, bottom feeders, and dare I
say it, Anti-Americans. We are a reactive America – a sad America. We
are an America where criminals get eulogized, and patriots demonized.
We are an America where millions of people will change profile pictures to
support the breakdown of society as we know it, but won't do the same
when four of their protectors are killed by an enemy combatant. We are
an America that has created an environment where it is no longer noble
or honorable to fight for the very things that make us American.
Rather, we are in an America filled with the very people who aim to take
away the values and beliefs that have separated us from the rest of the
world- the same values and beliefs that have attracted immigrants to
this great nation generation after generation.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqVqA9ZBjC6lXvOHGh_0J2o3zjry4eS8FeOrR62XNTqJKFnZ8qVyxHx_WFI6MWDn-DLDCTchy-c8219e5iPSLwaDoE9Kpo1XpCjQhg2kqwr5_kY1M_1UhQKg3eSoAp7KqfpQSa2ABfgug/s1600/IMG_1863.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqVqA9ZBjC6lXvOHGh_0J2o3zjry4eS8FeOrR62XNTqJKFnZ8qVyxHx_WFI6MWDn-DLDCTchy-c8219e5iPSLwaDoE9Kpo1XpCjQhg2kqwr5_kY1M_1UhQKg3eSoAp7KqfpQSa2ABfgug/s400/IMG_1863.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Courtesy of Corporal Chad Reep</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Sadly, the
America we now live in is one that educates its children to be
anti-American. It’s an America that is now full of college campuses
that not only bad mouths the nation that has given them the opportunity
to learn any skill they choose and have the opinions they do, but do so
with such ease and freedom.<br />
<br />
These campuses are the very ones
where our veterans find themselves alienated from the very people they
have attempted to shield from the true evils of the world while cashing
in on the well-earned education that they hoped for after their service
was over. These same campuses are the ones full of students, who
no longer believe that America is exceptional, but rather it is a plague on
the world. To them, America is the problem. In the state we
are in right now, can we even call our once-great nation America? Do we
deserve to even call these borders that we live within America? In
this America we don’t!<br />
<br />
The America we live in now is not even
America at all. America was not built by whites. America was not built
by blacks. America was not built by the Irish, the Chinese, or the
Mexicans. America was built by Americans! It was built by us! It was
built by people who shared the same image of a free and secure nation,
neither of which we see in today’s America.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
In my heart, America
STILL is exceptional! America still is the freest nation in the world!
It is still the only nation where individuals are allowed to travel
across borders unmolested. It is still a nation that has endured
tragedy after tragedy, while always coming back stronger than ever. No matter what race, gender, sexual preference that you are, this is
still our America. This is MY America. It’s time we start acting
accordingly.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicUFZKnJ_M7G3Po4hrBsKnjUTkzx_4C-7U8gSzcK98Ta8c2K1fw4KbLqVOVS-5wP0oo2bKyPkZgPDnpfQc2x-NJTpxZAhxr4xoTuKDHEXCc_eRVgqNKeqcMovIFtbnV6KfBxyfqh0ye2A/s1600/Reep.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicUFZKnJ_M7G3Po4hrBsKnjUTkzx_4C-7U8gSzcK98Ta8c2K1fw4KbLqVOVS-5wP0oo2bKyPkZgPDnpfQc2x-NJTpxZAhxr4xoTuKDHEXCc_eRVgqNKeqcMovIFtbnV6KfBxyfqh0ye2A/s320/Reep.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Corporal Chad Reep, United States Marines</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="null">Corporal Reep will graduate in 2016 with a degree in Political Science</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="null"> from the University of Tennessee Knoxville. </span> </div>
<br /></div>
Denise McGahahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03409270544050303757noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4428712519311728023.post-56065855186110246922015-02-08T13:48:00.000-05:002015-02-08T15:03:24.807-05:00Delta Kappa Gamma Xi State Legislative Symposium<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ-UVHK5YzWPJkB-QzGSKCWh_24YL8VyGFvIkHkAGHeL0YxhSHNJWg8cpknaSGIgdq2YZ9sDy6ZC7nWxg3S2UZNaYD9AMAfsM2yOULNcFIEjTr76hC4qeyY7S0IFaOItqocqzLbCIdjuk/s1600/DKG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ-UVHK5YzWPJkB-QzGSKCWh_24YL8VyGFvIkHkAGHeL0YxhSHNJWg8cpknaSGIgdq2YZ9sDy6ZC7nWxg3S2UZNaYD9AMAfsM2yOULNcFIEjTr76hC4qeyY7S0IFaOItqocqzLbCIdjuk/s1600/DKG.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a><br />
<b>"Cultivating Educational Relationships with Legislators"</b><br />
<b>February 3rd & 4th, 2015</b><br />
<b>Millennium Maxwell House Hotel</b><br />
<b>Nashville, TN</b><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>Xi State Legislative Panel Forum, Tuesday, Feb. 3rd </b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
As the Legislative chair of the Knoxville Zeta Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma, I had the wonderful opportunity to travel to Nashville for its yearly Legislative Symposium. As a participant in the symposium, I, along with our chapter president, Dr. Tricia Jones, attended the Xi State Legislative Panel Forum on Tuesday evening at 7:30pm. This year's moderator was Beta Kappa's, Teresa Brown and members of the panel included the following:</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<ul>
<li>Representative <a href="http://tinyurl.com/n35gjf5" target="_blank"><i><b>Raumesh Akbari</b></i></a>, member of the House Education Committee</li>
<li>Representative <a href="http://tinyurl.com/qjhqqfl" target="_blank"><i><b>Johnny Shaw</b></i></a></li>
<li>Senator<a href="http://senatordoloresgresham.com/" target="_blank"> <i><b>Dolores Gresham</b></i></a>, Chair of the Senate Education Committee</li>
<li><a href="http://tinyurl.com/phzm5zd" target="_blank"><i><b>Donna Cotner</b></i></a>, Executive Director of TN Retired Teachers' Association</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://tinyurl.com/q666vfs" target="_blank"><i><b>Jim Wrye</b></i></a>, TEA Government Relations Office</li>
</ul>
</div>
There were approximately ten questions posed to this year's panel that ranged from topics about BEP funding, teacher raises, more spending for school technology and internet access, graduation requirements and common core state standards, teacher preparation programs, teacher retention, the impact of Governor Haslam's Tennessee Promise program, charter schools, and Tennessee's "on-time" graduation rates.<br />
<br />
<i><b>Notable comments:</b></i><br />
Representative <i><b>Raumesh Akbari</b></i> stated that Commom Core State Standards are not an example of "federal intrusion" since they were not developed on the federal level. She also stated in support of the standards since state training has already begun and that there has been positive change. She reported that teachers she has talked to are supporting these changes, and notably according to the <a href="http://tinyurl.com/p5pzg8l" target="_blank">National Assessment to the Education Process (NAEP)</a>, Tennessee is the #1state in student growth. <i><b>Donna Cotner</b></i>, Executive Director of TN Retired Teachers' Association added that "reform must occur in the classroom in order for students to compete nationally." With regards to charter schools, <i><b>Donna Cotner</b></i> also stated that statistically, charter schools have not done any better than current public schools and that "management by desertion is poor management." <i><b>Jim Wrye</b></i> also added that charter schools have "high attrition rates," and that he is especially concerned about those rates as they relate to elementary schools.<br />
<br />
<b>Xi State Legislative Breakfast, Wednesday, Feb. 4th </b><br />
On Wednesday morning at 6:30am, symposium participants attended the Music City Breakfast Buffet<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Dr. Candice McQueen</b></i> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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with keynote speaker, and newly appointed Tennessee Commissioner of Education,<i><b> <a href="http://tinyurl.com/lmtu8ox" target="_blank">Dr. Candice McQueen</a></b></i>. <i><b>Dr. McQueen</b></i> emphasized three key points in her Legislative Symposium Breakfast Address. Those key points were as follows:<br />
<ul>
<li>Ensure that we move from the bottom half of all states according to NAEP by 2019. This goal is the right direction for creating an educated workforce for the state of Tennessee.</li>
<li>Majority of students will go to post secondary schools. There is a very small success rate for students after graduating high school and their average salary is $9,000.</li>
<li>Improving ACT scores and aligning our standards to the ACT standards.</li>
</ul>
<i><b>Notable comments:</b></i><br />
Early childhood reading rates must show that students are on reading level by 3rd grade. Also, there must be more accountability in PreK schools to help ensure that students are appropriately ready for Kindergarten. <i><b> Dr. McQueen</b></i> also noted that older students are a concern as well. Data shows that there is very little change in literacy rates between the 8th and 12th grade years. <br />
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<i><b>Pictured are: Jessica Holman, Alpha Mu President; Nancy
Irwin, Alpha Tau President; Beverly Smith, Xi State President; Linda Garner,
Alpha Tau; Dr. Tricia Jones, Zeta President; Denise McGaha, Zeta; Christine
Furman, Alpha Mu</b></i></div>
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The overall atmosphere of the symposium was very positive and many participants were able to attend the state's capitol for meetings that were scheduled with elected legislators. The emphasis here is the belief that contact from a district's constituents can have an important role on legislative votes. <i><b><a href="https://www.dkg.org/" target="_blank">Delta Kappa Gamma Society</a> </b></i>offers these five important things to remember when contacting your legislator.<br />
<ol>
<li>Know how a bill becomes law.</li>
<li>Know the bill number.</li>
<li>Know their schedules and agendas which are posted at the Capitol and on the internet.</li>
<li>Know their committee assignments.</li>
<li>Be simple and be brief.</li>
</ol>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
Denise McGahahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03409270544050303757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4428712519311728023.post-40472875046612825532014-05-30T18:04:00.000-04:002016-03-19T08:19:50.167-04:00Experience the Art of Letting Go<div style="text-align: center;">
<h3>
<b>“One person with a divine purpose, passion and power is better than 99
people who are merely interested. Passion is stronger than interest.”
</b></h3>
<h3>
<b>―
Israelmore Ayivor<i> </i></b></h3>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Set in suburban Powell, Tennessee, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Hands
in the Air: Jim Kennedy and the PHS Singers</i></b> is a movie that captures
the heart of its audience, and the passion of one music teacher through its
intimate look at the creation of one of Tennessee’s top high school singing
groups. The movie begins with the group’s final 2013 spring showcase
performance that is highlighted by Mr. Kennedy’s resounding message, “how are
they going to grow, if we don’t let them go.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It will be this message that threads the movie together as the film
documents auditions, retreats, practices, festivals, performances, and interviews
from both current and former members of the program. From the moment he makes
the decision to cut one of the veteran singers to the movie’s final
performance, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Hands in the Air</i></b> offers an insightful look into one teacher’s program
that develops the dynamics of being a group, supports them to excel in performance,
and ultimately, watches them <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>meet his highest
expectations. Audiences will laugh, cry, celebrate, and be inspired by this
real look at a successful approach to teaching.</span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" height="218" mozallowfullscreen="" src="//player.vimeo.com/video/92358183" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="500"></iframe></div>
Denise McGahahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03409270544050303757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4428712519311728023.post-63613753194481418132013-06-12T04:34:00.001-04:002016-03-19T08:20:43.123-04:00Teens and Summer Jobs: Working to Cure the Summertime Blues<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/G9x0wbKHos0?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Much
like the lifestyles associated with differing genres of music, country
music has always glorified traditional perspectives of American life,
embodying traditional values of patriotism, religion, romantic love,
traditional marriage, and living as a working class man. Appreciated by
both young and old, country music echoes trials and tribulations,
lessons learned, and represents the art of combining music with story
telling. In 1994, </span><span style="line-height: 115%;">Georgia born, country music singer and song writer, Alan Jackson, known as much for his country boy image as his music, </span><span style="line-height: 115%;">placed his southern, honkytonk sound on Eddie Cochran's 1958 hit song,
<i><b>Ain't No Cure for the Summertime Blues</b></i>. </span></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="line-height: 115%;">I'm gonna
take two weeks, gonna have a vacation</span><br /><span style="line-height: 115%;">
I'm gonna take my problem to the United Nation</span><br /><span style="line-height: 115%;">
Well I called my congressman and he said quote</span><br /><span style="line-height: 115%;">
"I'd like to help you son, but you're too young to vote"</span><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /><span style="line-height: 115%;">
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><i><b>Obvious Extrinsic Reward</b><b>s</b></i> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Such are the words that many vacationing high school
students can relate to especially if they are cramming in hours for summer
jobs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> In fact, teens with summer jobs probably relate to living as a working class man too. </span>Many teens take on the work to earn dollars for important matters like helping out with their car insurance, paying cell
phone bills, buying trendy, new clothes, and many other reasons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After
all, everybody who is anybody in the world of teenagers must possess some essentials before earning the right to be
recognized as a modern teen.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><i><b>Identifying Intrinsic Rewards</b></i> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">While
these are all good motivators for teens to work
summer jobs, there are a few good lessons that we, as their parents,
their
teachers, their bosses, and their political leaders should consider.
What is it about a summer job that motivates teens to remain dedicated
to wearing uniforms on a daily basis, keeping a calendar with their work
schedule written on it, interacting with strangers, working overtime,
staying engaged until the shift is done?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most would say “it’s all about the
money.” However, considering the fact that teens want to be the “driver” of not
only their own cars, but of their own lives as well, it should also be
considered that teens might actually be motivated by the sense of
accomplishment they receive when that paycheck comes their way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></span></div>
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<tr align="right"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="line-height: 115%;">http://baskins.com/boots.htm</span></i></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">The
fact that two weeks of consistent, steady work
habits have resulted in a monetary reward might also make them feel
successful and
valued. When we translate those ideas into educational thought, isn’t it
possible that at
the core, it can also be said that teens are motivated by results that
give them a sense of accomplishment, and make them feel successful, and
valued. Yes, it definitely is not only possible, but probable as well. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">This is a
lesson for high school leaders and educators to remember when these students arrive back in
our schools and classes next fall. Ideally, when a student receives a grade in a course, the
grade should provide the same satisfaction. But as we know, sadly, not all
students perceive this result with the same value. So the question is, how can
students connect the intrinsic rewards from earning dollars to earning good grades?</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><i><b>Translating Extrinsic Into Intrinsic</b></i> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Imagine the type of grades
students would receive if teachers could harness the same passion and fervor teens
demonstrate for monetary rewards when it comes to completing their school assignments.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> We thought about h</span>ow classroom teachers could lasso this aspect of student motivation and bring it into classroom accomplishment? We also began to consider how to maintain retention for our Honors/AP courses? The answers to these questions are exactly what inspired the creation of our Honors/AP Summer Reading groups. With an understanding that Honors students are most likely the ones who are more motivated by intrinsic rewards, we realize they still struggle with completing the summer assignment, and, as a result, with already one incomplete assignment, their struggle to remain in the course continues even after school begins. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Apart from selecting easier books to read, our teachers grappled with the type of activities that should accompany the assignment. They considered written assignments that would promote engagement and motivation. They thought about the weight of the grade. In spite of many good strategies for accountability, all proved unsuccessful as students returned from summer break only to schedule appointments with their counselors to get their schedule changed to another class in efforts to avoid starting out with failing grade.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Consequently, e</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">ducational
research
indicates that while teaching strategies are important, the number one
factor
influencing positive student achievement is high student engagement. We concluded that what suffers the most over the long, summer break is student engagement, because many teens still need structured guidance with time management. As a way of coping with the lack of structure guidance during the summer, teens replace school with a job, their teachers are replaced with bosses, their social interactions with those of co-workers, and content study is replaced with labor!</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><i><b>Focusing on Intrinsic Rewards </b></i></span> </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">The main
purpose of the groups is about supporting student engagement with the assignment and not mandating expectations. </span>We
decided that the key to this support would be a structure that offered
students the encouragement throughout the summer. As a result, we designed a
program that would support Honors/AP students
with weekly meeting times with an English teacher who would support them with goal setting, annotating
texts, informal discussions about their books, question answering,
reflective writing, reading logs, and positive interactions with peers. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">While
students participating in our summer reading groups will not receive
any monetary (extrinsic) reward for their work, they will also not be
penalized for choosing not to participate either. But, it is our hope
and expectation that the experience of successful completion of the
assignment, and positive academic discussion with their peers will help
promote the type of intrinsic rewards students need to maintain interesting, satisfying, and challenging coursework throughout the rest of their high school years.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">What are some other successful ideas that promote student engagement during long breaks? </span></span></span><br />
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<pre><i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Well my mom and pop told me, "Son you gotta make some money,
If you want to use the car to go ridin' next Sunday"
Well I didn't go to work, told the boss I was sick
"Well you can't use the car 'cause you didn't work a lick"
Sometimes I wonder what I'm a gonna do
But there ain't no cure for the summertime blues</span></span></i></pre>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">Resources:</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><a href="http://www.tmcnet.com/channels/performance-management/articles/39417-what-motivates-employees-intrinsic-vs-extrinsic-rewards.htm" target="_blank">What Motivates Your Employees? Intrinsic vs. Extrinsic Rewards</a> </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><a href="http://www.angelamaiers.com/2008/04/engagement-alph.html" target="_blank">26 Keys to Student Engagemen</a>t </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><a href="http://www.edutopia.org/project-learning-teaching-strategies" target="_blank">Ten Steps to Better Student Engagement</a> </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><a href="http://blog.stenhouse.com/archives/2012/07/23/blogstitute-week-5-reducing-instruction-increasing-engagement/" target="_blank">Reducing Instruction, Increasing Engagement </a></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.metrolyrics.com/summertime-blues-lyrics-cochran-eddie.html" target="_blank"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">Eddie Cochran's original lyrics</span></span></a></span></span></div>
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Denise McGahahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03409270544050303757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4428712519311728023.post-73999129525822054922013-02-03T13:39:00.003-05:002013-02-03T13:41:35.534-05:0012 Great Facebook Pages for Educators<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhsRgxRkWSrzC7FY4toTkpmn56OaMGeS02-t9gdbQSBzAuuxxLItLtdqGZtaabAhJoyV2NdqI434ZYOvwpbcycq4ItxcW-09Jf4KCGDY_Vu1v5SuKiRjKCSk92k6WpxoX_4UpzxOO7xTU/s1600/science-men-physics-albert-einstein-scientists-gray-hair-great-man-relativity-theory-2560x1440-hd-wallpaper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhsRgxRkWSrzC7FY4toTkpmn56OaMGeS02-t9gdbQSBzAuuxxLItLtdqGZtaabAhJoyV2NdqI434ZYOvwpbcycq4ItxcW-09Jf4KCGDY_Vu1v5SuKiRjKCSk92k6WpxoX_4UpzxOO7xTU/s400/science-men-physics-albert-einstein-scientists-gray-hair-great-man-relativity-theory-2560x1440-hd-wallpaper.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Learning is not the product of schooling, but the lifelong attempt to acquire it. ~Albert Einstein</span></span></i></b></div>
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The digital age has reaped huge benefits for the educational profession, and its impact is felt globally as well. Educational collaboration extends beyond contract hours and for an educator, lifelong learning truly becomes a way of life. While there are many opportunities available through website browsing and navigation, the question for many educators is how to quickly access this reserve of educational information. Where does networking start? How does one get connected with educational vendors and fellow educators from around the world?<br />
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The answer begins with social media. The most commonly used social media among educators today include Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and blogging. The most common of these is Facebook. While it does cause frustration and headaches to its million users because of format changes and updates, Facebook also encourages its users to remain up-to-speed with new capabilities. Additionally, it can link educators, as well as parents, to many educational resources that include products, activities, information, ideas, and content.<br />
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Facebook offers a variety of ways of connecting with other educators through pages and groups. The following is a list of Facebook pages that offer a wide variety of educational resources.<br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Education.comFanPage" target="_blank">Education.com </a>-An excellent resource for both parents and teachers providing developmental information and ideas about children.<br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/ScholasticTeachers" target="_blank">ScholasticTeachers</a> -Provides updates and resources for reading and reading interventions.<br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Education-World/39995035895" target="_blank">Education World</a> -Resources for classroom teachers at all grade levels. Also, provides links to informational teacher blogs.<br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/education" target="_blank">Facebook in Education</a> -Discussion and information about how educators can use Facebook as a resource.<br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/K12inc" target="_blank">K12 Inc.</a> -Provides a variety of educational resources for parents and teachers in the way of activities, information, and educational links.<br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Teachers.Net" target="_blank">Teachers.Net</a> -Provides teachers with educational updates on strategies, activities, content, and lesson plans.<br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/creativeteachingpress" target="_blank">Creative Teaching Press</a> -Updates on educational products and supplies for the classroom.<br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/TeachingforChange" target="_blank">Teaching for Change</a> -Provides teachers and parents with educational tools for teaching students reading, writing, and how to change the world. <br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/ReadWriteThink.org" target="_blank">ReadWriteThink.org</a> -Resources for teachers on materials, literature, and other educational content for the classroom.<br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/LessonPlanet" target="_blank">Lesson Planet</a> -Teacher resources for curriculum planning, educational updates, and products for the classroom.<br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/edWebnet/42640703050" target="_blank">edWeb.net</a> -Online professional learning network for educators.<br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/EducatorInc" target="_blank">Educator</a> -Provides relevant content for activities and lessons.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8DhKec6UO9Nj8TGnLS2fkgI4n8V5daDnnFOWjghc4wglY__H7gGnPGpDXAVYfRxaHA6znzQQmkkzmYBxhveepU69-fcuV5GbEJd_TuLdblNVHOwVPYmZe76VJbhZXW9Z6-eWhQQoFqc8/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8DhKec6UO9Nj8TGnLS2fkgI4n8V5daDnnFOWjghc4wglY__H7gGnPGpDXAVYfRxaHA6znzQQmkkzmYBxhveepU69-fcuV5GbEJd_TuLdblNVHOwVPYmZe76VJbhZXW9Z6-eWhQQoFqc8/s200/images.jpg" width="140" /></a></div>
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<br />Denise McGahahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03409270544050303757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4428712519311728023.post-76716706999385467952012-12-20T21:00:00.000-05:002013-01-14T19:45:39.899-05:00The Reality of DreamsGuest Blogger: Tyler Morrow<br />
Email and visit Tyler's blog at <br />
<a href="http://www.free4thought.blogspot.com/">http://www.free4thought.blogspot.com/</a><br />
<span class="go" style="color: #3b5998;"><a href="mailto:free4thought@gmail.com">free4thought@gmail.com</a></span><br />
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;">“Each man should frame life so that at some future hour fact and his dreaming meet. “</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;">- Victor Hugo</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Some people would argue that success is best measured by the number in their bank account statement while some would counter that it’s more about the number of credentials attached to the end of your name. Maybe it’s my naivety that rejects these measures, but I believe that the only true confirmation of one’s success is in having achieved the dreams and aspirations that are unique to your own soul.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a recent college graduate, perhaps my lack of experience distorts my opinion, but I think that our culture needs more optimism like mine. In a world where conflict and economic strife are the headlines of the daily news, the only thing that we can hold onto is our hope that things will get better. One of my strongest personal beliefs is that we each have, within us, the power to shape our world and to determine the direction that our lives will take. Call it cliché, but this idea has always been a driving force in my life</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguvefX2NP6iXJj8iNExAy2sg-FBc9s54RvyCF_e0h4GRhZ0K8sskB8Yu9u1fIfE4jTr14YhN47DTTher71J4lumuujk93o8EPRCKzCQercFfAoZFj0f8V3wtZ48T99kACI15o1Cq4q9gc/s1600/Tylerchs.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguvefX2NP6iXJj8iNExAy2sg-FBc9s54RvyCF_e0h4GRhZ0K8sskB8Yu9u1fIfE4jTr14YhN47DTTher71J4lumuujk93o8EPRCKzCQercFfAoZFj0f8V3wtZ48T99kACI15o1Cq4q9gc/s320/Tylerchs.JPG" width="320" /></a>As a psychology major at Emory University, I was a research assistant and I studied the development of memory in children. One major bullet point that I retained from that experience was the pivotal role that socialization plays in molding a child’s developing mind. In many ways, the brain of a child is like a molten lava flow; it is vibrant and energetic yet ultimately shaped by the environment through which it flows. For me, as a child raised in the tiny town of Clinton, Tennessee, it would have been easy to accept the idea that my future was restricted to my hometown like so many of my classmates were led to believe. Luckily, though, I was fortunate enough to have a vibrant imagination, a family that encouraged my innate passions, and a few great teachers that taught me that my strongest attributes were my heart and my mind.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b> </b></span>Much of my own childhood was spent living vicariously through the characters of books that I read, but in the real world, many would say that I was sort of an outsider among my classmates. Understandably, being excluded had a profound effect on me, but not so much in a negative way. Maybe it was my natural disposition, but I believe that it helped to breed in me a desire to work harder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I learned to read people and understand situations much more quickly than my peers because I was constantly attempting to fit into their socially constructed roles. By the end of high school I had constructed a life of which I could finally be proud, and while I was unaware of it at the time, I now understand that much of that success was due to the self-confidence that came with believing that anything was possible. I have never been afraid to try the improbable, and I suppose my comfort on the road less traveled is one of the aforementioned perks of being a wallflower. So I took that road to Atlanta, GA and attended Emory University.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmc-hY0TduEOA8_QnhZv6bgwQQ5olwrXUQIjtE-0VT3n9zZkaXI5KAl7hX94iqKR3WhoYy0ju7xiRKXq-WkQ5bKM8L6QxfiiG5PYeKQ3jA0D3KmzpSpHvi_-ryHkH9xE5puOcYC1smkOc/s1600/tylercollege.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmc-hY0TduEOA8_QnhZv6bgwQQ5olwrXUQIjtE-0VT3n9zZkaXI5KAl7hX94iqKR3WhoYy0ju7xiRKXq-WkQ5bKM8L6QxfiiG5PYeKQ3jA0D3KmzpSpHvi_-ryHkH9xE5puOcYC1smkOc/s320/tylercollege.jpg" width="320" /></a> Needless to say, sometimes our dreams take us to places that seem more like nightmares upon first glance; I was a small-pond-fish among big-ocean-sharks, and I slowly began to understand the cold realities of our society. Money, which until this point was a foreign language to me, was the ultimate distinction between my classmates and myself: namely I had little and they had lots. While it was difficult without the constant comforts of home, I managed to use my inner strengths to my advantage and make a few good friends while doing well in my classes. Predictably, though, I lost my self-confidence at some point in the chaos, and its disappearance became a near disaster for me. I took a leave of absence from school to find myself again, but it wasn’t easy. My father fell extremely ill during this period of time and the fear of losing him made me question even my deepest held values. Yet the one faint glow in that darkness was that faint optimism left from my youth; the belief that I possessed everything I needed within myself. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I worked harder than ever and I managed to rekindle my passions. With renewed vigor, I finished my degree and proved to myself that the once clear image of my future was, in fact, attainable all along<b>.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaLuNP09Eq19AcTgGBcEBQGNhfYCmF8msL1fmECW18zET-8Qf3JvTwJZrHYxKkF1lgjX2dQJOhuN9OffwDNfePhAGEov11zMCNu1MOSzqWGq6M5TitlCghijwYFDgzfpTK3G_cPCuL0MQ/s1600/tylerimage.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaLuNP09Eq19AcTgGBcEBQGNhfYCmF8msL1fmECW18zET-8Qf3JvTwJZrHYxKkF1lgjX2dQJOhuN9OffwDNfePhAGEov11zMCNu1MOSzqWGq6M5TitlCghijwYFDgzfpTK3G_cPCuL0MQ/s1600/tylerimage.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS 明朝'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> So what would be my advice for dealing with life’s unpredictability? Well, I always keep some of that “molten lava” from my childhood burning so that when my environment inevitably changes, I am able to mold myself to it without breaking. In all seriousness, sometimes we forget that children possess the hope that many of us so desperately need. We spend a lot of time teaching them the things we want them to know, but I know, for me at least, there is a lot I could learn from my younger self. The biggest challenges in my life have always been and will always be in keeping my dreams alive long enough to attain them and in allowing my life to change without believing that “who I am” has to change with it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
Denise McGahahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03409270544050303757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4428712519311728023.post-11857559621084063142012-11-10T11:59:00.003-05:002016-03-19T08:29:21.036-04:00I Make a Difference<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Guest Blogger: Lindsay Kennedy, PHS English/Language Arts teacher</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Contact Info. Lindsay.Kennedy@knoxschools.org </span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><b>
<i>WHAT DO TEACHERS MAKE </i></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><b><i>He says the problem with teachers is<br />What’s a kid going to learn<br />
from someone who decided his best option in life<br />
was to become a teacher?</i></b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><b><i></i></b></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Being a young teacher with fewer than five years of experience, I am often asked the age-old question “Why do you teach?”
It’s a thought provoking question. Why did I put myself
through five years of college and chalk up twenty-six thousand dollars worth
of debt? I think part of me thought I would never be where I am today.
Asking an eighteen-year-old to decide what she
is going to do for the rest of her life is a huge decision, and these
decisions rarely ever play out the way anyone hopes they will. I guess I
got lucky, which is why I am here deciding to answer the question, “Why
do I teach.”</span></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguOpeB3o7uX5EYQOdbkE5m6t1V1LrYA9gCGvueMbJx6HOP-rxn0BYYvygGx6nOvp0iPkylTomsSIJtAyPSgmWeu09wM8qN42nGY9bHf8Ff9Zd1_SMor3GRQP6ogBhcV1Z0Qn6RSJ_ZFi0/s1600/CHSSwim.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguOpeB3o7uX5EYQOdbkE5m6t1V1LrYA9gCGvueMbJx6HOP-rxn0BYYvygGx6nOvp0iPkylTomsSIJtAyPSgmWeu09wM8qN42nGY9bHf8Ff9Zd1_SMor3GRQP6ogBhcV1Z0Qn6RSJ_ZFi0/s320/CHSSwim.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Trained to be a team player in high school</i></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Truthfully,
I ask myself this question every day, rhetorically, of course. For as
long as I can remember, I’ve wanted to be a teacher. At first, it was
because in my six-year-old mind I loved
the idea of being the “boss.” Nothing sounded better than forcing my
imaginary students, or real students depending on who I could convince
to be yelled at, to do fake homework and fussing at them for refusing to
participate. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">As I progressed thru middle school and high school, the fact that I
actually LIKED to learn influenced my decision to pursue teaching in
college, along with having some pretty amazing teachers along the way.
I think the thing that is the most appealing about teaching now is I am
still learning. Yes, I attend workshops where we are taught about which
methods work best in certain classrooms. I read through articles where
research shows method X is most helpful in
situation Y with students 1, 2, and 3. I sit through lectures where I’m
told that evaluations count for 50% of my total score, 35% comes from
my students’ test scores, and 15% comes from different aspects of
professionalism. </span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>I make kids work harder than they ever thought they could.<br />
I can make a C+ feel like a Congressional Medal of Honor<br />
and an A-‐ feel like a slap in the face.<br /><i>How dare you waste my time<br />
with anything less than your very best.</i></b>
<b><br />
I make kids sit through 40 minutes of study hall<br />
in absolute silence. <i>No, you may not work in groups.<br />
No, you may not ask a question.<br />
Why won’t I let you go to the bathroom?<br />
Because you’re bored.<br />
</i></b><b></b></i></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">However,
learning doesn’t always have to do with facts found in textbooks or
this week’s best research-based practice article. Every day we as
teachers are given the opportunity to learn
about our students. Situations always present opportunities
to get to know students a little better every day. Without this, the
chances drop of having a successful classroom. But, the effort has to be made
in order for this learning to take place. I
wouldn’t know that quiet girl in the second row who played the flute in the marching band without
going to the game on Friday night. I also wouldn’t know my class clown scored
a touchdown, or that over half my class
enjoys standing on the bleachers to watch a basketball game. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlPFNkIswNLd1HTEKt-Arnfj9PpJoB0GbHNRwtaJ0UfuV82tztP_94x6_8yBh4GE1tEhxWXniKQJhUfDV4T3RvJRiESJZblzQZuUIhtYPbpdaff5_tHh4KLnstPjbmR5e5yNW-3KjqRKQ/s1600/Pantherpride.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlPFNkIswNLd1HTEKt-Arnfj9PpJoB0GbHNRwtaJ0UfuV82tztP_94x6_8yBh4GE1tEhxWXniKQJhUfDV4T3RvJRiESJZblzQZuUIhtYPbpdaff5_tHh4KLnstPjbmR5e5yNW-3KjqRKQ/s320/Pantherpride.jpg" width="276" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>New team, but always a team player</i></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I love being able to strike up a conversation with my students because we share
common ground. Eventually, struggles at home, requests for extra help emerge from the students who have seen me as something more than just a classroom teacher. Just when the progress has begun, the semester ends and I start all over with a new class. Once again, I’m faced with my own new learning because I barely recognize any
of the new names on my roster. When the new students start to pile into my room, my
anxiety begins to recede because I recognize faces.
I know that kid from watching the band. I saw that kid sing in the Christmas program.
Those kids were at a few of the basketball games. It<i><b> </b></i>doesn't take long to earn their
respect and trust simply because they recognize me. They all seem to "know" me from our common ground.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><b>And you don’t really have to go to the bathroom, do you?</b></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><b>
I make parents tremble in fear when I call home:</b></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><b>
Hi. This is Mr. Mali. I hope I haven’t called at a bad time,</b></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><b>I just wanted to talk to you about something your son said today.</b></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><b>
To the biggest bully in the grade, he said,</b></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><b>
“Leave the kid alone. I still cry sometimes, don’t you?</b></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><b>
It’s no big deal.”</b></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><b>
And that was noblest act of courage I have ever seen.
</b></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><b>
I make parents see their children for who they are</b></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><b>
and what they can be. </b></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">This
is learning at its best every day. It’s simply taking the time to learn about the students who
belong to me. It makes for a much better classroom
atmosphere, better lessons, fewer discipline referrals, and lifetime
connections. It allows a kid to know his teacher cares about him.</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2CGxrjv6Na_oPSmffRIsHOzjt14KFKwWIzVtc_6IZK3_FRiRE0ilKsfuUJLZWmmo_ZD1NYtu2xb-juZVKO4YxLXbSzqfplVKwesEOIteIVrDPSiwh7pc9Wc30GuhaSfwOzTjaFBxhhEQ/s1600/Grad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2CGxrjv6Na_oPSmffRIsHOzjt14KFKwWIzVtc_6IZK3_FRiRE0ilKsfuUJLZWmmo_ZD1NYtu2xb-juZVKO4YxLXbSzqfplVKwesEOIteIVrDPSiwh7pc9Wc30GuhaSfwOzTjaFBxhhEQ/s400/Grad.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>My Graduation card to my <span style="font-family: "calibri";">all of</span> Seniors</i></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"> All
in all, this is why I teach. I do it for the kids, the things they can
teach me about other kids, life lessons, and as selfish as this sounds, I
do it for what they can teach me about
myself. Education isn’t life-long learning about core subjects. It’s
life-long learning about life. All of that other stuff just fills in the
gaps.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<i><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><b>Here, let me break it down for you, so you know what I say is true:<br />
Teachers make a difference! Now what about you?</b></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><b><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><b>~Taylor Mali, "What Teachers Make" </b></span></b></span></b></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Poem excerpt from:</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Mali. Taylor. “What Teachers Make.” <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/What-Learning-Leaves-Taylor-Mali/dp/1887012176/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1321453997&sr=8-1" target="_blank">What Learning Leaves</a></i>. Newtown, CT: Hanover Press, 2002. Print. (ISBN: 1-‐887012-‐17-‐6)</span></span><i><b><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><b><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><b><i> </i></b></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><i><b><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><b><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><b><i> </i></b></span></b></i></span> </b></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><i><b> </b></i> </span></div>
</div>
Denise McGahahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03409270544050303757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4428712519311728023.post-84195049557640819992012-06-10T17:11:00.000-04:002012-06-11T00:03:46.356-04:00Summertime: Breaking Away from the CompetitionNot only is summer a great time for the kids, it's also a great time for teachers and parents. In many cases, teachers are parents who are spending summer vacation time with their kids. Proudly, I am included in that scenario. While my own sons were growing up, much of our summer was spent at some ball field or gym. Participating in summer sports is the situation for many parents and kids that can consume their time and energy. Therefore, finding the time for relaxation and different types of fun can be a difficult mission. It took a conscious effort for my family to break away from the chains of organized sports and do some activities that did not require a uniform, equipment, and a ball.<br />
<br />
While the lessons of organized sports are important, spending time with family and friends in an uncompetitive way is also important. So what are the sorts of things that families can do for summer vacation that will enrich their understanding of the world? What follows is a list of suggested activities to enrich both the worlds of the young and the young at heart. Some are very affordable, others take some planning.<br />
<br />
1. Hiking, biking, and whitewater rafting. (In Tennessee and North Carolina, the <a href="http://tinyurl.com/alwld3" target="_blank">Great Smokey Mountain National Parks </a>offer a variety of outdoor activities for all. In Tennessee and Georgia, the <a href="http://tinyurl.com/7x4nkox" target="_blank">Ocoee River Region</a> is home to whitewater rafting as well as fishing and rock climbing.)<br />
2. All day trip to a terrific amusement park. (Notable mentions are <a href="http://tinyurl.com/dqys4" target="_blank">Dollywood</a> in Pigeon Forge, TN and <a href="http://tinyurl.com/bqu7" target="_blank">Cedar Point</a> in Sandusky, OH.)<br />
3. Visiting relatives both far and near. <br />
4. College visits in other states (My oldest son and I visited four college campuses during the summer prior to his senior year.)<br />
5. As many visits to as many museums and memorials as humanly possible. (Notable mentions are <a href="http://tinyurl.com/yz2oazc" target="_blank">The Alamo</a> in San Antonio, TX, <a href="http://www.nps.gov/alca/index.htm" target="_blank">Alcatraz Island</a> in San Francisco, CA, <a href="http://tinyurl.com/2drakq2" target="_blank">The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame</a> in Cleveland, OH, and the <a href="http://tinyurl.com/9ujgxe" target="_blank">battleship memorials</a> in Pearl Harbor, HI. And in Anderson County, TN, <a href="http://tinyurl.com/83qv98p" target="_blank">The Green McAdoo Cultural Center </a>, the<a href="http://museumofappalachia.com/" target="_blank"> Museum of Appalachia</a>, and in Oak Ridge, TN, <a href="http://www.amse.org/" target="_blank">The American Museum of Science and Energy</a>.)<br />
6. Any type of activity that involves water from beach trips, skiing and boating at the lake, to a visit to the local swimming pool. ( Although, I've not yet experienced <a href="http://www.petoskeyarea.com/beaches-34/" target="_blank">Beach Side</a> in the Great Lakes, MI, I have been told by several reliable sources that the resorts are simply amazing.) <br />
7. Going to a zoo, an aquarium, or any other wildlife preserve.<br />
8. Going to a profession baseball game.<br />
9. Travel to many states or countries. <br />
10. Eating out, going to a movie, shopping with friends and family.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf2OkoaWGRJ0YgBLkv6QsjuNr1p4wiIsSwHck6e7uEYih9xAHVrfli9-vST0dRq8OK5D1Zj4OHAm61lrWwIbPsp8kHorM9hJhXRcEUUm23pHNI3nUz_nTRckif6M4Hy2Zu0rxuOGZIWow/s1600/winning.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf2OkoaWGRJ0YgBLkv6QsjuNr1p4wiIsSwHck6e7uEYih9xAHVrfli9-vST0dRq8OK5D1Zj4OHAm61lrWwIbPsp8kHorM9hJhXRcEUUm23pHNI3nUz_nTRckif6M4Hy2Zu0rxuOGZIWow/s1600/winning.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
These activities allow everyone to bring home a winning trophy! <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Denise McGahahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03409270544050303757noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4428712519311728023.post-4347629580529253202012-03-18T19:18:00.001-04:002012-03-18T19:36:37.806-04:00Common Core State Standards: Here They ComeThe state of Tennessee has adopted and will begin implementing the <a href="http://www.corestandards.org/about-the-standards" target="_blank"><i><b>Common Core State Standards</b></i></a> for all grade levels in Mathematics and Language Arts beginning next year. As administrators, teachers, and students get ready for that change, it has become necessary to begin accessing tools and resources in order to familiarize everyone with the expectations. In light of all of those efforts, I wanted to place the information on the this blog and with the help of MasteryConnect, an app is now here to help. In addition to this page, there is also a widget to the right of the blog for easy navigation.<br />
<br />
Authors: National Governors Association Center for Best Practices, Council of Chief State School Officers<br />
Title: Common Core State Standards (insert specific content area if you are using only one)<br />
Publisher: National Governors Association Center for Best Practices, Council of Chief State School Officers, Washington D.C.<br />
Copyright Date: 2010<br />
<br />
<br />
<div id="_MC_ccapp_embed" style="display: block; height: 600px; width: 480px;">
<script src="http://www.masteryconnect.com/learn-more/cmsjs/embed.js">
</script></div>Denise McGahahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03409270544050303757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4428712519311728023.post-61354237275562838832011-12-07T03:55:00.000-05:002016-03-19T08:17:24.672-04:00Remembering Pearl Harbor the Powell High School Way<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp2-zpbbzOEg9aG9cRrcFOF0c5RgOHToyS0MUhrSZtvK65ReyemgbDhzPjt_ZRn_dTYXl36JUr1NoWENKPZMAMNb_5V-Cjv1bE8tDx5NYtQV65BovVmZAUPviGMVlTIRWKQn-NXxIT02g/s1600/IMG_2139.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp2-zpbbzOEg9aG9cRrcFOF0c5RgOHToyS0MUhrSZtvK65ReyemgbDhzPjt_ZRn_dTYXl36JUr1NoWENKPZMAMNb_5V-Cjv1bE8tDx5NYtQV65BovVmZAUPviGMVlTIRWKQn-NXxIT02g/s400/IMG_2139.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Pearl Harbor, Hawaii</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
On December 7th, seventy years ago, the attack on US Naval base in Pearl Harbor marked the US's entrance into WWII. Today, we commemorate the anniversary of that tragic day and honor the US military survivors who were forever scarred by the losses of that day. <br />
<br />
As a part of that commemoration, the Powell High School Panther Marching Band was invited to participated in the Waikiki Holiday Parade to honor and represent the USS Tennessee, one of eight battleships docked at Pearl Harbor on that fateful day.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrNQxMQn8sJtQ3Jfn8KC8DLM0AlYKyMA_GqvlNEz_PV3pon6GqAzo-6izMLX7rJltkkScXIDNr6eOcJXz40oVrs24zfaJ2mUAudmOjwyOgp-oEtrP113DZzItKhdF8BiQuw8PuB6JY17o/s1600/IMG_2160.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrNQxMQn8sJtQ3Jfn8KC8DLM0AlYKyMA_GqvlNEz_PV3pon6GqAzo-6izMLX7rJltkkScXIDNr6eOcJXz40oVrs24zfaJ2mUAudmOjwyOgp-oEtrP113DZzItKhdF8BiQuw8PuB6JY17o/s400/IMG_2160.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The Panther Marching Band conducted by MJ Robinson</i></td></tr>
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On Monday, November 21st, on the grounds overlooking the<a href="http://www.pearlharboroahu.com/"> Pearl Harbor</a>, the Panther Marching Band played a series of war related songs in honor of the historical time period. Afterwards, the crew took a walk back in time to the 1941 bombing of Pearl Harbor and honor those who died unexpectedly. As a part of our visit to Pearl Harbor, a PHS wreath was laid at the USS Arizona's wall with the 1,177 names of the dead.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The wreath honoring the names of the soldiers</i></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Memory wall located inside the USS Arizona memorial</i></td></tr>
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Marked as the attack that changed the course of history, we will never forget those who unexpectedly died and are entombed beneath the waters of the memorial. We will will continue to honor their names throughout history.Denise McGahahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03409270544050303757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4428712519311728023.post-80980963138521609192011-09-24T14:09:00.000-04:002016-03-19T08:18:24.148-04:00Nothing like high school football time in Tennessee!<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="225" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/28961259?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="400"></iframe><br />
<a href="http://vimeo.com/28961259">Powell vs Oak Ridge</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/milestonepics">Milestone Pictures</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.Denise McGahahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03409270544050303757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4428712519311728023.post-87447792453589847772011-04-13T19:02:00.000-04:002016-03-19T08:19:10.535-04:00Harnessing the Power of Nuclear Energy<div class="MsoNormal">
by: Kristy Homburger, PHS Science/Chemistry teacher<br />
Contact info.<a href="mailto:kristy.homburger@knoxschools.org"> <u>kristy.homburger@knoxschools.org</u></a><br />
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In the classroom it is not uncommon to hear “Why do I need to know this?” As a chemistry teacher I get to teach a very short lesson on nuclear chemistry. During this lesson I always try to introduce the nuclear disasters of Chernobyl and Three Mile Island. Some students become interested and others show no interest. Those who show no interest almost take the attitude of “This is History. Why I am learning this in Chemistry?”<br />
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Unfortunately, the very sad event of the nuclear meltdown in Japan at the Fukushima Plant is the perfect illustration of why we should teach nuclear chemistry. Especially since the level of radiation leaked at the Fukushima Plant has reached the same level as what was reached at Chernobyl. Now my students want to know everything about nuclear energy, nuclear plants, safety and the history of nuclear disasters. History now has major relevance to my chemistry class. <br />
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Many students have entered my classroom with questions like how bad is it; should we be afraid; is it going to reach us, etc. Then they talk about what the media is reporting, and they want to know how accurate it is. Not only do they see what the media is reporting, but they hear what the “officials” are saying, and they question the facts based on their own knowledge and understanding. <br />
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Through this unfortunate disaster, I have been able to educate about the facts so that they will not just rely on the information provided by the media. They question; they probe for answers. It is vital for everyone to know what poses a health threat, and when to be concerned. In doing my own research, I have come across a few sources for additional ideas and lessons to help me educate my students on nuclear chemistry and energy. Please refer to the following links for further information:<br />
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Argonne National Laboratory has a site titled “Nuclear Energy Resources for Schools” (<a href="http://students.ne.anl.gov/schools/us.php">http://students.ne.anl.gov/schools/us.php</a>) and it provides multiple resources for teaching about nuclear energy in the classroom and at different age levels.</div>
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“Teachable Moment: Morningside Center for Teaching Social Responsibility” (<a href="http://www.teachablemoment.org/high.html">http://www.teachablemoment.org/high.html</a>) This website address current domestic issues by including articles and discussion questions.</div>
Denise McGahahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03409270544050303757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4428712519311728023.post-22105801015930952762010-12-10T17:46:00.000-05:002016-03-19T08:22:16.272-04:00Up Close and Personal<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I am so proud of our Powell High School band. In the winter of 2011, our band will represent our state of Tennessee well in not only music, but as students of history as well. There's nothing like the opportunity to offer hands-on learning to students. In this case, the history of Pearl Harbor will come to life. Special thanks to our band directors, Mr. Ricky Shaw and Mrs. MJ Robinson as well as our middle school director, Janet Roach, for the dedication and work they contribute toward making our high school band one of the best in the state.Denise McGahahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03409270544050303757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4428712519311728023.post-80444751884220241842010-11-03T19:43:00.000-04:002016-03-19T08:23:46.105-04:00Sparkles, Smiles and Cheers!<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><span class="body">People are like stained - glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within.</span> ~<span class="bodybold">Elisabeth Kubler-Ross </span></i></b></div>
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<a href="http://www.wbir.com/news/article/140807/207/Powell-cheerleaders-provide-moment-that-will-take-your-breath-away">WBIR's "Moments"</a></div>
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From the time I was called over my summer break by these wonderful young ladies and their sponsors to please come let them in the school to practice, to the bright, shiny happy faces seen is this video, it has truly been a blessing to watch this simple act blossom into the special moment it has become. Congratulations to a wonderful bunch of young ladies who make our Powell community proud! Everyone should be so lucky as to enjoy our shared experiences of happiness! Enjoy!<br />
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For more information about how to become involved, visit <a href="http://www.thesparkleeffect.org/quickstart.html">The Sparkle Effect</a> website.Denise McGahahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03409270544050303757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4428712519311728023.post-81020704795738043332010-10-24T21:21:00.000-04:002016-03-19T08:27:35.168-04:00Holding out for a hero<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i><span class="body">You can't relate to a superhero, to a superman, but you can identify with a real man who in times of crisis draws forth some extraordinary quality from within himself and triumphs but only after a struggle.</span></i> <i>~ Timothy Dalton<span class="bodybold"> </span></i><i> </i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;">I</span> had the wonderful opportunity to have lunch today with several young ladies who not only went to graduate school with me, but are also public educators. After our luncheon, I thought it would be an appropriate time for me to see the latest film, "<a href="http://www.waitingforsuperman.com/">Waiting for Superman</a>," written and directed by "An Inconvenient Truth" director, Davis Guggenheim. The film has taken the nation by storm with its talk of teacher unions, tenure, and failing schools. What better way to lure this public educator to the theater to see the next "attack" on the job that public school teachers are doing in America.<br />
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The good news about this film is that as a public educator, I did not feel attacked by its message. Indeed, I felt rather inspired at knowing how much our students/someone's children are loved by the adults in their lives. They are loved so much that some parents will do anything to help their children receive the best education possible. For the parents of the children in the film, that meant applying for a lottery where a drawn number decides which child is accepted to smaller <a href="http://www.kipp.org/">prep schools</a>, charter schools, or private schools. <br />
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This film looks everyone in the eye declaring that it's not about adults and delivers a <b>RESOUNDING</b> message that all children are entitled to the best education possible. With consideration to that message, audiences will be forced to look at how adults are creating a mindset for kids through attitudes, actions, and choices. Therefore, everyone (parents, students, educators, community members) will benefit from seeing this film. <br />
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While everyone will more than likely relate and identify their own situations with bits and pieces of the perspectives presented in this film, no one will escape blame in this film for failing our kids as students. This film is a reminder to all that these children will one day inherit our nation. They entrust all of us, their <i>SUPERMEN</i>, to prepare them for the world to come. Public schools should not be viewed as the enemy of learning but rather a vehicle for the best learning available to our children.<br />
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Denise McGahahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03409270544050303757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4428712519311728023.post-88278420338294947262010-09-25T09:00:00.000-04:002016-03-19T08:24:57.343-04:00College Planning WorkshopThe following presentation was created by Powell High School guidance counselor, Kelly Nash. This is the first of several workshops that our guidance department will be presenting for both students and their parents for college planning.<br />
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Denise McGahahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03409270544050303757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4428712519311728023.post-45028700503282115902010-09-08T21:24:00.001-04:002010-10-10T23:58:48.631-04:00The Real World in a Classroom<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixg4_7o2E9eiqP3CRlNGsqD4N1pAX_htuN8y69rfsqRnBuLGS3gj5p06OceqVFB9vJKkpnSLrGNltxsx689WGxgXwfcE6Gskw9aT5DmhKy4a0HSMWVtkDDH-JPEsdZmYPr-OjRyoC3TTI/s1600/courage.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixg4_7o2E9eiqP3CRlNGsqD4N1pAX_htuN8y69rfsqRnBuLGS3gj5p06OceqVFB9vJKkpnSLrGNltxsx689WGxgXwfcE6Gskw9aT5DmhKy4a0HSMWVtkDDH-JPEsdZmYPr-OjRyoC3TTI/s400/courage.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Courage! What makes a king out of a slave? Courage! What makes the flag on the mast to wave? Courage! What makes the elephant charge his tusk in the misty mist, or the dusky dusk? What makes the muskrat guard his musk? Courage! What makes the sphinx the seventh wonder? Courage! What makes the dawn come up like thunder? Courage! What makes the Hottentot so hot? What puts the "ape" in apricot? What have they got that I ain't got?</i> </div><div style="text-align: center;">~The Cowardly Lion</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">One of my all time favorite movies when I was growing up was <i><b>The Wizard of Oz</b></i>. I can vividly remember as a six year old getting ready for the yearly, evening time broadcast on our family television. Oh! If I could have only had some of those ruby slippers, the places I might have gone. As I got older I soon realized that there was no such thing as ruby slippers and if I wanted to go anywhere, then I had better figure out how to drive a car and make some money.<br />
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Decades later, I've never forgotten the lessons that Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man and the Cowardly Lion learned on their way to see the Wizard of Oz. And as the Cowardly Lion so eloquently puts it in his quote, having the courage to step out and try new experiences is a lesson that all teens should master if they truly wish to reach their personal goals.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Much like Dorthy and her travel companions, who each had different reasons for seeing the wizard, students in the classroom need to be accepted for being different and having different life goals. This acceptance is established when the teacher implements activities that are specifically meant for helping students to become familiar with each other and eliminating fears of acceptance. There are countless resources and websites devoted to<a href="http://honolulu.hawaii.edu/intranet/committees/FacDevCom/guidebk/teachtip/motiv.htm"> helping students overcome fear</a>, but I found the most useful way as a classroom teacher was to create experiences that challenged them to step outside their comfort zones and "just do it."<br />
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In addition to these challenges, students should be supported through encouragement, teamwork building, and through a positive environment that allows them to feel comfortable and accepted by not only the teacher, but most importantly, from their peers. This effort proves beneficial in creating a lasting bond among students in the class. Even the Wicked Witch from the West was unable to keep Dorthy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion from fulfilling their unique, personal goals. Did they really need the wizard anyway?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6e7bPyoE7Cm_FX6tfegXZKSp1McY-vptptwXI_9mG9hbHitNG5mSN2ZFaD1JOn665AvqZ9unijsv8hIYFkuMiwko-q3AQPVLymqD6kp9Lw_tyyBou13ILDD9iJBw_8JVdCkJ-Jv1BIkE/s1600/Wizard-Of-Oz-Prequel1.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6e7bPyoE7Cm_FX6tfegXZKSp1McY-vptptwXI_9mG9hbHitNG5mSN2ZFaD1JOn665AvqZ9unijsv8hIYFkuMiwko-q3AQPVLymqD6kp9Lw_tyyBou13ILDD9iJBw_8JVdCkJ-Jv1BIkE/s320/Wizard-Of-Oz-Prequel1.jpg" width="320" /></a>With regard given to rigor and high expectations, I always tried to give assignments that challenged students to create and to produce a little more each time. If I wanted students to give a presentation that included a visual aid, on the first day of class, I paired them up with a buddy and made them introduce each other to the class. If I wanted them to write a persuasive essay, I made them write one and read it to the class. If I wanted them to conduct research on a topic, they researched and gave a presentation that included a visual aid. Every assignment was created to scaffold succeeding assignments and designed to motivate each student to become more confident in researching, speaking, questioning, and presenting their knowledge. By the end of the semester, when an assignment was due, students knew it would include a paper, a presentation, and a visual aid. So much for being the "wizard." I almost felt sad because they no longer needed me to tell them what to do.<br />
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As for<b><i> The Wizard of Oz,</i></b> I'll never forget how sad I felt at the end of the movie each time I watched it. I'll also never forget how much I thought about how the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion looked like those men who worked for Dorthy's Uncle Henry and Auntie Em. Comparatively speaking, I've often wondered if students have ever had experiences after high school that reminded them of lessons they learned in class. I know I have. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div>Denise McGahahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03409270544050303757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4428712519311728023.post-79368734354286763242010-08-15T11:02:00.000-04:002010-10-10T23:57:16.700-04:00Exciting TransitionsTomorrow is the first day back to school for freshman in our district. In fact, tomorrow is the first day back to school for all students entering the sixth grade as well. Making transitions into new schools have become the focus for school districts across the nation simply because educators, parents, and communities have come to realize the importance of those years when it comes to student success. Research indicates that schools do themselves a favor when they focus on helping students through transition years.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj91_TSAMG0uJMT8FeiInlafbn6UsFfFzxE2V3-qFQ04Udtwoun_ALP8MyDyp4t4mIPtCuuBFJtdEvEMkCD662FRcD3ISd9BslV_xY-rRi8l9k2JBZTKYmqiy9T8AXVdbsltpc3XiRW5s/s1600/FBImage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj91_TSAMG0uJMT8FeiInlafbn6UsFfFzxE2V3-qFQ04Udtwoun_ALP8MyDyp4t4mIPtCuuBFJtdEvEMkCD662FRcD3ISd9BslV_xY-rRi8l9k2JBZTKYmqiy9T8AXVdbsltpc3XiRW5s/s320/FBImage.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>According to <a href="http://www.mdrc.org/publications/428/execsum.html">educational reform research</a>, students who are strongly supported during the freshman year have a much better chance of succeeding academically throughout the remaining high school years. Students making a transition to a new school may often worry about getting lost in the building, not knowing who to ask for help, and being overwhelmed by all of the "new" rules. As a result, middle schools and high schools are implementing an orientation day specifically designed to help students transition into their new school.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP9FppHMP8FmiFrg3sITEWg8y3H1h_XxgrHhpP4lme3cEzJAavDu-DETmj22b58Lsi6Hgk5R-51YfCgm6Amv4p9fzoVdraMYZZdZrLasSRD8HQiFjNo-57shy_6njjKfJO1ki3nZsNjNs/s1600/schoolofrock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP9FppHMP8FmiFrg3sITEWg8y3H1h_XxgrHhpP4lme3cEzJAavDu-DETmj22b58Lsi6Hgk5R-51YfCgm6Amv4p9fzoVdraMYZZdZrLasSRD8HQiFjNo-57shy_6njjKfJO1ki3nZsNjNs/s320/schoolofrock.jpg" width="287" /></a></div>For our students coming to the high school level, this process began last spring when students were still in eighth grade. Prior to the start of course registration, eighth grade parents and their students were invited to the high school for a presentation on the school, its staff, programs, clubs and athletics, and an introduction to the registration process. Information packets were provided regarding the school and course work. Additionally, counselors discussed new graduation requirements, freshman course offerings, and then allowed students to schedule an appointment to register for their freshman classes. While informative, this presentation is the first of many discussions that students and parents will engage in regarding their upcoming high school experience and their academics.<br />
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There are many other programs that have been set up to address the freshman transition year. Some include the following: <br />
<ul><li><i><b>Freshman Academy</b></i> model where students have common, subject-area teachers, are provided a framework for academic structure which may include in-depth work on study skills, consistent discipline with understood consequences, and participation in a curriculum designed to meet high expectations and standards.</li>
</ul><ul><li><i><b>Adviser/Advisee</b></i> programs that offers a specific time for students in grades 9-12 to meet with teacher advisers. During the Adviser/Advisee period, students participate in activities designed specifically for supporting all students and addressing their concerns at each grade level. <b> </b></li>
</ul><ul><li><b> <i>Peer Mentor</i></b> programs also offer important help to rising freshmen when it comes to getting to know the school and its culture. Often these peer mentors are instrumental in helping younger students in overcoming the fear of not fitting in at a different school.</li>
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Regardless of which approach a school offers, as long as there is recognition that the transition year sets the tone for the remaining years, schools will encourage confident students and a successful school experience.Denise McGahahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03409270544050303757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4428712519311728023.post-87399677550926131152010-08-05T05:36:00.000-04:002010-10-20T20:16:28.232-04:00Motivating Higher Order ThinkingI recently came across a link on Twitter that I found very interesting about what motivates us. The research presented in the video comes from a study conducted by MIT on how people are motivated to think conceptually and creatively. Who would want to know more about how to motivate highly intelligent individuals than a school filled to the brim with them. According to Daniel Pink's <a href="http://fora.tv/2010/01/27/Daniel_Pink_The_Surprising_Truth_About_What_Motivates_Us">The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us</a>, there are three factors that motivate individuals to perform at high levels.<br />
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The first factor is<i><b> AUTONOMY</b></i>. According to Pink, individuals are motivated when given the freedom and opportunity to be self-directed. As an educator, I tried to think about how to teach self-direction. Can you teach a student to be self-directed? <br />
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The second factor Pink discusses is <i><b>MASTERY</b></i> and uses an example of why people like to play the guitar on the weekends. While the person may never make a public performance, he still enjoys learning to master the skills for his own satisfaction.<br />
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The final factor discussed in the video is<i><b> PURPOSE</b></i>. He concludes the presentation by using a "what if" scenario and then proceeds to illustrate how the "what if " is indeed a viable conclusion.<br />
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Intelligent and concise, I believe the video offers some excellent ideas for educators to consider when it comes to creating activities, assignments, and projects that will motivate their students to conceptualize and think creatively.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9jrDIhM6yaR6ttFSSPcE318ozHIvZ_8cmtEQwqsuBCEQjODiZryRQ3T5HTsblUZgRykQdyqBhpZ2G_rgNs3ly2w-vSkYs2iIYZoTvIvInfislL_Plb-AwxrSaI6vpGOg4PN5_xC8n8fs/s1600/light.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9jrDIhM6yaR6ttFSSPcE318ozHIvZ_8cmtEQwqsuBCEQjODiZryRQ3T5HTsblUZgRykQdyqBhpZ2G_rgNs3ly2w-vSkYs2iIYZoTvIvInfislL_Plb-AwxrSaI6vpGOg4PN5_xC8n8fs/s200/light.gif" width="200" /></a></div>Denise McGahahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03409270544050303757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4428712519311728023.post-24278338456256609282010-04-03T18:47:00.000-04:002016-03-19T08:25:58.947-04:00Professional Learning Community Experts<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>This job is a test. It is only a test. If this had been a real job you would have had:<br />
- Recognition for good work<br />
- Pay commensurate with your expertise & results<br />
- Promotions to greater responsibilities. - (unknown author)</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYBbtq7EbnLQ3pc1VUqBIF9kLcu9pBeW9vL3UAveXWTED43Axey5qxMy8rCGxd-E3RxM14B8zWNNxx10mmP7L5dv3qz9sOytaLzjEJyxkHBHCk_cnpgqrH54oDAcUYr1zX68tzIzftuN-g/s1600/IMG_0565.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYBbtq7EbnLQ3pc1VUqBIF9kLcu9pBeW9vL3UAveXWTED43Axey5qxMy8rCGxd-E3RxM14B8zWNNxx10mmP7L5dv3qz9sOytaLzjEJyxkHBHCk_cnpgqrH54oDAcUYr1zX68tzIzftuN-g/s400/IMG_0565.JPG" width="400" /></a>April has been a fun filled month when it comes to new experiences and professional growth for me. For this blog, I have chosen to write about my trip with several other Knox County School employees to <a href="http://www.d125.org/about/default.aspx">Adlai Stevenson High School</a> in Lincolnshire, Illinois. It was a short and sweet trip, but it offered many rewards when it comes to my job as an educational leader/administrator.</div>
To kick the month of April off, I was scheduled to visit one of the best high schools in the nation with my new colleagues in Knox County schools. A visit to <a href="http://www.d125.org/about/default.aspx">Adlai Stevenson High School</a> provided me and several other principals and assistant principals as well as teachers, counselors, and other central office personnel the opportunity to see researched based instruction and the structure of learning communities in action. <br />
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I was particularly impressed with both the staff and students in this 9-12 high school of 5,000 students with its own superintendent included. The school prides itself on promoting leadership among its students and welcoming visits by educators from across the nation. During our particular weekend, Knox County employees were accompanied by educators from Rhode Island, Texas, Oregon, and Florida to name a few. Our visit began promptly at 7:15am in the school's smaller auditorium. <br />
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We were scheduled for numerous sessions that included observations of teacher meetings for collaborative work on curriculum within departments, student-led tours of the facility, a question and answer session with teachers and students, a presentation by the Freshman Mentors (aka..FMPs), and in-class visits with freshman advisories. It was truly a wonderful opportunity for our high school administrators and school personnel to observe and interact with a high school that has and is making a difference in student lives.Denise McGahahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03409270544050303757noreply@blogger.com0