"I Learn, You Learn, We Learn" Blog

Thanks to RJ Stangherlin, PA Leadership Council and DEN Star Educator, you can read a summary of the Discovery webinar held last night featuring Dr. Larry Rosen.

Visit http://tinyurl.com/2dxn2sq .

An archived recording of the webinar will be available soon on the DEN National Blog.

Discovery provides teachers, students and parents and the entire school community with all kinds of tools for a successful school year. From clip art  and homework help, to eating healthy and being safe; Discovery’s  Classroom Resources and Homework help make going back to school fun! Check out these free resources at http://school.discoveryeducation.com/index.html.

”Clip art licensed from the Clip Art Gallery on DiscoverySchool.com”
Cross posted from NY LC Blog

Here’s a blog full of websites, tips, and tools for you to peruse for ideas for using the SMART Board in your class.  Be sure to click on and read through some of the older posts as well. There are still some great resources hiding on previous posts.

Website: http://mrscoggin.edublogs.org/

I came across this saying today that relates to the stresses many of us are going through as we, here in upstate NY,  had the official start to our school year today. Although we had just district and building meetings and no students until Tuesday, the stress of  some major changes in building structures and building construction (which is not quite finished) are taking their toll on some.

So the quote goes like this ” INCH BY INCH, LIFE IS A CINCH. YARD BY YARD, LIFE IS HARD.” You can obviously draw the conclusion that having small realistic, attainable goals is going to be  more of a success to you than big,  impractical and unreachable goals. 

So to all my friends and colleagues as we start a new year with students and families who are counting on us: take things in small, manageable and realistic chunks. Reap the benefits from those small things, because in the end they will add up to a huge success for both you and your students as you progress through the school year.

For more inspiration on success, view a short movie clip at http://www.simpletruths.tv/store/movies.php?movie=TNOS.

 Momentum

“If you’re coasting, you’re either losing momentum or else you’re headed downhill.”~ Joan Welsh

“We are either progressing or retrograding all the while. There is no such thing as remaining stationary in this life.”~ James Freeman Clarke

“The great thing in the world is not so much where we stand, as in what direction we are moving.”~ Oliver Wendell Holmes

“Momentum is the most unstoppable force in sports. The only way to stop it is if you get in your own way, start making stupid mistakes or stop believing in yourself.”~ Rocco Mediate

“Commitment is the igniter of momentum.”~ Attributed to Peg Wood

Because I am in the Historical Capitol of the US, it seems fitting for me to share with you this inspirational movie from Simple Truths. Enjoy.

Sometimes reading a quote or two can provide those “aha” moments  about values you believe in or things you want to achieve. Here is a book of quotes that can be a great gift or just something for you to read and enjoy.

http://www.simpletruths.com/flash_files/ibMOTQ/ibMOTQ.html

If you love nature, beautiful photographs and inspiring music…you’re going to love this short inspirational movie.  

Click here to watch movie

Personal Growth

“It is one of the paradoxes of success that the things and ways which got you there are seldom those things that keep you there.”~ Charles Handy

“For everything you gain, you lose something.”~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Most of us plateau when we lose the tension between where we are and where we ought to be.”~ John Gardiner

“It is the capacity to develop and improve their skills that distinguishes leaders from followers.”~ Warren Bennis & Bert Nanus

Ken Blanchard…the best selling author of The One Minute Manager said this:

“Every once in a while a small book comes along that deals with a profound subject in a simple, elegant way.

A Peacock in a Land of Penguins is that book!”

Follow Perry as he makes his journey from the Land of Learning to the Land of the Penguins and ultimately the Land of Opportunity. This story echoes one that is unfolding each and every day in organizations all across the country – how to build a corporate culture of creativity and capture the talent, energy and commitment of all employees.

To watch the short inspirational movie , visit http://www.perrythepeacock.com/ 

From SimpleTruths.com

Mark Sanborn’s new book, The Encore, effect is truly an encore to his previous releases: The Fred Factor and You Don’t Need a Title to be a Leader. It is scheduled to be available to the general public tomorrow.   While on vacation a few weeks ago, I decided to take the preview copy (see previous blog at  http://blog.discoveryeducation.com/tstandhart/2008/08/23/something-new-and-remarkable-is-coming/ )to the beach and begin reading. A few hours later I finished up with a sunburn (because I don’t tan and I wasn’t paying attention) and more of Mark’s remarkable wisdom for leaders, and people in general, in any profession. It would be easy for me to highlight each of the chapter in the book, but that would spoil it for all you Mark Sanborn fans. So I’ll just give you a little peek at what you can expect.   One of the reasons why I like Mark’s book so much as he provides simple, attainable steps in his books supplemented by real life stories. The Fred Factor is about the real Fred the postman and the quality and caring he puts into his profession. In You Don’t Need a Title to be a Leader, Mark’s Six Principals of Leadership are followed by stories of real people like Andrea, the office aide in a school who was a true leader.  In In The Encore Effect, Mark starts off by saying there is no silver bullet to success by just reading what he writes about; you learn by applying his lessons and discovering how they work for you. He talks about how the group The Eagles: John Wood, a Microsoft millionaire; and Sammy Koenigsberg, a produce farmer in Matthews, NC use Marks lessons to “give encore performances” and become truly remarkable in their profession.   I am a teacher of Family & Consumer Science, a course in which students learn life skills; including leadership and self actualization skills. My students will benefit tremendously through what Mark writes in his book. Mark’s Pyramid of Possibility will be a poster in my room for my students to focus on while learning about his 6 areas to become “remarkable” people.  Not only will my students benefit, his lessons inspire me and will my colleagues as well. Although many teachers have heard some of his lessons previously, it doesn’t hurt any of us to hear these again: “ You have to reach those you teach”, “ Give feedback and encourage” ,“Engage your audience.” For anyone who wants to move from the ordinary to extraordinary, Mark’s new book is for you. Once you read it, you’ll want to go back often to tap into the number of ways you can become a “remarkable” person.  

Leadership Failure

“The majority of men meet with failure because of their lack of persistence in creating new plans to take the place of those which fail.” ~ Napoleon Hill

“Losers visualize the penalties of failure. Winners visualize the rewards of success.” ~ William S. Gilbert

“I cannot give you the formula for success, but I can give you the formula for failure: which is: Try to please everybody.” ~ Herbert B. Swope

“A failure is a man who has blundered but is not capable of cashing in on the experience.” ~ Elbert Hubbard

Google Teacher Academy – Vicki Davis – Keynote Part 2

View SlideShare presentation (tags: google gta flat)

From Vicki Davis’ Blog at  http://coolcatteacher.blogspot.com/

” In my 63 years on this earth, I have come to realize the difference in success or failure is not chance, but choice. Because when adversity strikes, it’s not what happens to us, but how we react to what happens that will determine our destiny.” ~ Mac Anderson of Simple Truths

Every once in a while I like to view and be inspired by these short movie clips. Here’s one called Finish Strong . View the movie at http://www.finishstrongmovie.com/