California DEN

They were wanted in several states.  It wasn’t uncommon for them to shoot up the local saloon in search of their men.  They were the toughest cowpokes in all of the Wild West and they were simply known as The Wild Bunch!

It didn’t take them long to find their men in Vallecito, California.  The men had just cleaned out the town bank and were looking for trouble with two of the town’s more well-known saloon girls.

It was high noon when The Wild Bunch issued their final challenge.  With guns drawn, they made it clear that it was time for the men to go for their guns or to go quietly with them.  Would they fight for their freedom?

It was a day of wild, western dress-up and technology combined.  Each person in this group of hardy and adventurous DEN members came from miles away to try their hand at movie making.  Some of them left the comfort and security of their homes at 5:30 AM to make the dusty trek to California State University-Stanislaus.  At 7:45AM they circled the wagons for a brief breakfast of donuts and coffee — the breakfast of all true cowboys!

But there was no rest for the weary.  By 8:00AM, the wagon train headed into the hills toward the goldrush town of Vallecito.  Tucked away, down a rough, dirt road, was the western set known as Millerosa.  Not sure what awaited them, they continued forth bravely. 

The NorCal DEN members stuck close together (there was safety in numbers) as they were introduced to Jim Miller and his wife, the owners of Millerosa.  The DEN was instructed to follow Mr. and Mrs. Miller down a steep staircase.  But, as they reached the bottom of the stairs, all eyes grew wide!

Suddenly, and without warning, this group of one dozen adults all became seven years old again.  It was time for dress-up and the ultimate game of make-believe!

After HOURS and HOURS of some serious play… it was time to head deeper into the mountains to the "NorCal DEN Family Cabin."  They had a fabulous time, and it was hard to say good-bye to their new-found friends, but they wanted to be done by sundown.

Even with a beautiful backdrop of pine trees and lungs full of fresh mountain air, they could not be distracted from the task at hand.  Heads were together and thumbdrives were flashing fast and furious between them.  And so, "The Wild Bunch" movie began production.

Good food, great friends, and huge laughs were the order of the day.  A wild (western) time was had by all!

If you would like to be a star for the day… please visit www.millerosa.com!

Thanks for a wonderful day, Jim!!

There is only 1 word that comes to mind….. WOW!!!! 

DEN members from around Southern California braved the crazy LA traffic (there was a HUGE accident that added another hour to most of their commutes!) to attend the WORLD PREMIERE Screening of DISCOVERY ATLAS!

The night began with a walk up the red carpet at Hall Davidson’s home in LA. (A HUGE Thank You to Hall, Gina, and Sherry for all your help!) After their long drive 50 DEN members with their families and friends joined together for dinner, networking, and fun.  From high up in the tree house to poolside, the teachers chatted away about the excitement of the night.  (Let’s just say that there were a few teachers who actually took the day off of school just to get ready!)

Then it was time…. teachers took one final trip down the red carpet (even pretending to be movie stars and avoid the cameras) and carpooled with  new friends that they had made down to the Arc Light theater!

The BIG MOMENT had arrived and we were greeted by the Discovery team, who made sure we had the appropriate wristbands for access to the after party and led the group to our private theater!  Everywhere you looked across the theater you could see our teachers! 

It started with a welcome from the Executive Producer and Discovery’s very own CEO Judith McHale.  Her speech was inspiring as she spoke about the true purpose of Discovery….. "Discovery of Your World."  The crowning jewel was when Judith addressed our DEN teachers… thanking them for their work and letting them know how excited Discovery was to have them as special guests!

We enjoyed the screening, which featured an overview of the next 4 ATLAS shows… China, Italy, Australia, and Brazil.  Immediately the teachers felt connected with the characters and wanted to learn more.  They CAN’T WAIT to watch the full episodes!

  Just when we thought it was over, we were instructed to head toward the 7th floor…. Of course not before I took our "DEN Family" photo in front of the theater.

Up the elevator we went and when the doors opened…. WOW!!!!  Teachers now walked down a sparkly black carpet and took photos in front of the official "ATLAS Premiere" backdrop.  This is also where we ran into the brain child behind ATLAS… Shannon! We spoke with us for a few moments and introduced us to their team!

Further down the carpet we entered the dome!  Each of the 4 countries featured had a cutout shape projector screen that played clips from the episodes.  In the center of the room, performers from each of the countries entertained…. and to the teachers delight, servers carried around appetizers that matched the performers country!

Our DEN was definitely AWE STRUCK as they hob nobbed with Discovery Channel Executives and even spoke and enjoyed Tiramisu with CEO Judith McHale! 

And as the evening came to and end… teachers did not leave empty handed as goody bags were waiting by the door and we took and savored 1 final moment letting the real stars from deep inside us come out!

An INCREDIBLE night was had by all.  I have let several details out and know that my TERRIFIC DEN is chomping at the bit to tell you all about it.  So… let us know what you thought of the evening.  Let us know a new DEN member you met?  Who from Discovery Headquarters you were able to talk with? What was your favorite part of the show?  What episode are you most anxious to see? What was the highlight of the after party?

I had planned it to be the most decadent of DEN events.  It was supposed to be rich, luxurious… the "Royal Caribbean" cruise line of events, so to speak.  But, suddenly, it was beginning to feel more like the Titanic! 

Hang on, let me back up a month…

I had the place:  The Culinary Center of Monterey on Cannery Row. 

I had the catchy title and description:  "The Culinary Institute of Monterey Jamaic-an-Take — Caribbean cooking instruction, steel drum music, and a completed project using unitedstreaming ready for the new school year… Does that sound like a delicious way to end the summer?"

I had insomnia:  I sent out the email invitation at 2AM and within SIX MINUTES!!! (I kid you not!) I had my first RSVP.  That RSVP led to a 30 minute succession of emails, each of us asking why the other was up at such an ungodly hour.

By 10:30 the next morning, I had a full list of eager attendees and a waiting list too.  This was looking good! 

The week before the event, I called the Culinary Center just to check in and wondering if they had decided on some of our Caribbean recipes yet.  (And this is where I caught my first glimpse of that iceberg!)  I was told that they had fired our chef and were desperately looking for someone else!  (Insert Bad-Mommy-Word here.)  I was promised that they would find someone, not to worry, they wanted it to be perfect for us.

I didn’t want to alarm my "guests" so I sent out the usual, upbeat, "here’s-what-you-can-expect" email.  I tried to calm myself with some UN-usual "this-will-all-work-out" conversation in my head…no need to panic, right? But then, I started to receive some replies from my guests.  Most of them were the "I’m-so-excited-I-can’t-wait" emails that always make me smile, but I also started to receive some very unhappy responses … some "I can’t attend" emails!!!  Worse yet, they were unable to attend because of big things like an injury (three broken toes!), employees quitting, incomplete school construction, and job stress overload!  I think we’re heading straight for that iceberg!

And then, CRASH!  Two days before the event, I was in excruciating pain!  I was having lunch at my home away from home, the Mother Land…Starbuck’s, when I felt like I had been stabbed in the stomach.  It couldn’t be food poisoning from my happiest place on Earth!?  Nah, it was nerves, I’ll be fine (some more of that unusual self-help conversation.)  But I wasn’t fine.  I had a lengthy drive ahead of me and I was trying really hard not to cry.  Look, I’ve had two babies and I was not about to let a tummy ache stop me from a three-hour drive home!  Now, don’t get me wrong, I love my doctor… but I don’t want to go see ANY doctor, if I don’t have to.  I tried to convince myself that the stomach pain would go away all on its own, but by the time I arrived home I was asking to be taken to the emergency room.  Four hours later (every patient that came through the door was a bleeding child, dammit!) I was finally being seen by the ER doctor.  His tentative diagnosis, gallstones, but I needed to see my regular doctor.  Armed with something resembling morphine pumping through my veins and a prescription for pain medication should I have problems again, I was sent home.

Now, I’d like to think a weaker person would have just thrown in the towel at this point.  But not me!!  (Truth be told though, I don’t think I’m so much strong as I am just plain, old stubborn.)  I was not going to cancel this event! 

The day of our "Jamaic-an-Take" arrived.  The sun was shining in Monterey.  My DEN members showed up in tropical attire, ready with smiles and hugs.  I was introduced to our charming chef for the day.  The kitchen classroom had a full wall of windows that looked across the street and out onto an oh-my-gosh view of Monterey Bay!  We spent the morning cooking up the most delicious recipes (Plantain Bisque with Lobster Tails, Jerk Pork, Banana Macadamia Pandowdy with Ginger Cream… to name just a few!)  We drank dark rum out of coconut shells and danced to steel drum music. After our decadent and delicious meal, our ladies sat down and got to work on creating a unitedstreaming project all while chatting and sharing with their newfound friends.  And even though I had another attack (umm, I guess maybe I shouldn’t have indulged in all of the phenomenal, spicy and rich recipes.  But it was soooooo worth it!) our dedicated DEN members (just like the Titanic’s band kept playing) kept right on working and networking.  Thanks ladies for a FABULOUS time.  It was delicious!

Look closely at the first picture! Ha!

Here’s some inspiration for all of us this year!

DEN Member Linda Rood, of Saddleback Valley Unified School District, 2nd graders are award winning podcasters!!! That’s right!  Even 2nd graders are getting swept away in the podcasting craze! You have to check out some of their podcasts at

http://web.mac.com/lrood/iWeb/Site/Podcast/Podcast.html

What I love the most about their site is all the different types of podcasting that they did.  Check out their mother and father day gifts!  What parent wouldn’t love that?!?

Congratulations for a job well done Linda!

Ughh… Honestly I found myself pretty down today.  I listened to people’s conversations at tables around mine at breakfast, my husband came back with reports that it was definitely the "water cooler" topic at his work.  Seriously, is this legend gone?!? By the time I arrived home all I wanted to do was curl up on the sofa and I clicked the television to a place that I have found entertaining, educational, and comforting over the past few years.  Yep… Animal Planet.  They were showing one of Steve’s episodes of his expedition to Antartica. I was thinking as I watched, children around the nation have come to rely on him as good clean educational entertainment.  I wonder how they are coping.  What are they saying on the playgrounds around the world.  It was then that I opened my email and received the following from DEN Member Brett Harvey… better grab a kleenex first… 

"Our staff development meeting last week was on getting kids do some expressive free writing even in science. So today being the first day back, I showed some old clips of some of Steve’s classic dangerous encounters - the spitting cobra http://animal.discovery.com/fansites/crochunter/expedition/dispatch_07.html - click on Close Call Clips to see videos - none on Unitedstreaming but this worked OK. Then I had them write on the prompt, "What impact has Steve Irwin, the Crocodile Hunter had on education around the world? on you personally?" Amazingly all the kids were writing solid for 6 minutes - no pens stopped!

A lot of the news agencies are trying to capture his mark on society by writing about his catchphrases like "Crikey" but I think more it was his ability to bring the world of wild animal life into your home through your television. Watching Steve got me excited to teach my kids about biology and motivated me to even bring my own animals in and give kids an more authentic experience. He had a passion for learning that was an example to all educators. He was the kind of person that made you want to do what he did for a living. That’s not true of most other jobs! Right after visiting the news pages I found myself on the DEN site reading out your blog and finding out what the reaction was from friends on the inside of Discovery. How cool was it to read your story and the same emotions that many at Discovery probably have? It made DEN take on another dimension, for at least a moment.

Thanks Brett for reminding us how to bring real world situations to our classroom and allowing the students to have a voice in this tragedy. 

Feel free to have your students post to the blog about their favorite episodes and memories of our favorite Crocodile Hunter.

This was one of those moments… I heard and saw the headline and my first reaction was to think, "What?"  I wasn’t able to wrap my head around what I was seeing or hearing.  For a brief moment there was disbelief.  Then the flood of questions… the hows and whys??  Still more disbelief.  How can this have happened?

I watched the interviews throughout the day.  So many people shared their favorite memories of Steve Irwin.  And then there were those who said his death was to be expected.  He tempted fate every day and put himself in danger.

I never met Steve Irwin or his family, but I can’t begin to fathom the loss being felt by his wife and children.  His wife must be dealing with so many questions herself right now and in the days to follow… so many "What ifs" and "Why didn’ts", and then the horrible "If onlys".

Whether you agreed with his style, method, or philosophy, Steve Irwin was an exuberant and enthusiastic educator.  His classroom was the television and we were his students.  Millions of us watched him, and for many of us, he may have changed our perspective a bit regarding some of our planet’s less-cuddly animals.  His death came too soon.

Discovery Communications will be trying to find ways to express their gratitude to this environmental educator.  Billy Campbell, president of Discovery Communications, has stated that the gardens outside of the Discovery Headquarters will be renamed "The Steve Irwin Memorial Garden." In addition, Discovery is looking at the creation of a fund which will be affectionately called, "The Crikey Fund," to honor Steve’s passion for conservation and the animal kingdom.  The fund will allow people from across the globe to make contributions in his honor to support wildlife protection, education and conservation.  The fund, in addition to contributions by Discovery, will also aid Steve’s Australia Zoo in Breewah, as well as provide educational support for his children Bindi and Bob Irwin.

May God bless the Irwin Family.

To read more about Steve and to post your condolences: http://animal.discovery.com/

Special thanks to DEN Member Sharon Rief (LAUSD) for pointing out this great website "RAINFOREST maths" for interactive math activities for Kindergarten through 6th grade!  You have to take a look… it has activities for all the different types of standards! Check it out and let us know what you think.

http://www.rainforestmaths.com/

Podcasting with Audacity and Garageband are probably the 2 most requested Webinars and Workshops for me to host.  And one of the number 1 questions is… is this recorded somewhere?!?!

Well, I just received word that Atomic Learning has free video tutorials until Sept 15th.  So hurry up and check this one out! Might even be a good idea to let some of your students follow along.  Let us know what you think!

http://www.atomiclearning.com/podcasting

One of my very 1st Discovery memories involves Steve Irwin, affectionately called my many "The Crocodile Hunter" so you can’t imagine the shock when I got the text message this morning that he had been killed by a stingray.  I immediately woke up and turned on the news to learn that he passed away by shooting a documentary.  His director and friend (yikes, I don’t remember the name) shared that he had died in a peaceful state doing what he loved doing the most.

I had the GREAT pleasure of seeing Steve at Discovery Communication’s 20th Birthday Celebration, only a week after I had been hired on. They put him on the big screen, pretending he was "shooting on location" when seconds later he burst through the door.  Running up the aisle he tripped over the television cables and in total "Crocodile Man Fashion" embraced the opportunity, fell to the ground and began wrestling the cords as if they were crocodiles.

So, immediately this morning I went to his website… mostly to ensure that I did not misspell "Crikey"…. the website is currently not working… I am sure due to an overwhelming amount of traffic….  But I did find a great wiki of his life and accomplishments.  Check it out by clicking here   Or visit his Discovery Site by clicking here.  There is lots of interesting trivia facts, etc for your kids to check out!

So in honor of him…. "Go CROCS!"

I just saw this on the National Blog…. Science teachers, especially, this is an opportunity you won’t want to pass up… Read on…

"The DEN is looking for a few educators who would like to participate as beta testers for Discovery Education Science Connection. As a beta tester, you would have access to Discovery’s latest classroom resource made especially for science educators. We will need your ideas and suggestions to help make Science Connection the best it can be. If you are interested in participating as a beta tester, please email

Matthew Seward

with your name, school name and address, subject and grades you teach, and phone number. He will be putting a group together in the coming weeks and will contact you with more info if you have been selected."