#YOUMATTER

Big Huge Labs, Big Huge LIFE

 

Created with BigHugeLabs.  Here is an earlier post I wrote about the tool:  http://vicariosityblog.blogspot.com/2012/05/say-right-thing.html

Neighborhood Treasures

Little Free Library, Delray Beach, FL

LITTLE FREE LIBRARY STORY

http://littlefreelibrary.org/

New Year's Resolution: Read More

Need help with your 2014 resolution: Read More?  

Try reading your favorite classic novel, one email at a time!  Subscribe to DailyLit.com and you will “receive short book installments by email or RSS feed.” Just “find a book you want to read, enter your email address and click subscribe.”  It’s that easy!  You can even “follow a group reading the same book together on Twitter (and RSS).”  Perhaps you could create your own group? Read your selection from your desktop, laptop or cellphone! 

DailyLit also “features forums where you can discuss your favorite books and authors.”   They also have a gift service complete with “a personalized message written by you” with each installment. No time to read?  Not anymore!

This is a re-post from my original blog post on the  IL Blog.

Happy reading!

A Special Thanks to Bloggers Users Group...

Thanks for sharing with BUGs and Happy 3rd Anniversary to US!  I hope you continue to help others grow and learn by blogging and sharing- THANK YOU!

Word cloud created with Wordle 

Find Your Drum. Play Your Song and the World Will Dance...

 A story from my friend Lungala...

 

ANGELA MAIERS #CHOOSE2MATTER

 

TEDx Delray Beach: Livestream!

Michele Hunt: Transformation Catalyst

"Find your passion, put it to work with a collection of people and do something great!" ~Michele Hunt .  This was originally published in Huffington Post, I wanted to add this to my collection of inspiration.

Thank you Michele Hunt and Carlos Dominguez, Senior Vice President, Cisco 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/carlos-dominguez/the-power-of-continuous-transformation_b_2583500.html 

 http://youtu.be/5pZD8Shxbng

Sugata Mitra, Holes in the Wall, Granny Clouds

Sugata Mitra, winner of the 2013 TED prize, shares his study that reveals scientific proof: Encouragement, resources and mentoring enhance critical thinking and learning in children.  Indeed, traditional education is evolving and kids are amazing!

As seen on TED: http://on.ted.com/TEDPrize2013

 

Community Building in the Classroom and World Peace

Mandalas are used by Buddhist monks as a sacred ritual.  My friend and artist,Russell Maier is using mandalas to promote world peace and "oneness." The circle and symmetry can unify a group when created collaboratively.I used a mandala  activity as I was inspired by Russel.  

Creating a class mandala for a community building activity is easy  and fun to do. It can be done in a face-to-face or online environment.  Here is how to create a mandala with your online class or group:

1. Ask individuals to choose and share a geometric shape (PowerPoint is easy for this)

1. Collect these using Google Docs or via email

1. Arrange the shapes in a circle, using symmetry-try using Snagit or snippet

1. Save as Jpeg

1. Share with the class!

The mandala above is an example of a mandala that my students and I created as a group.  My students were so excited they had printed t-shirts!

Enjoy and Namaste!

This topic originally posted (by me) this on the Innovators' Network, aka IL Blog: http://innovationslab.wordpress.com/2011/02/12/mandala-love-circles-back/

Heroes and Holiday Thanks

As the holidays approach, I am sending a personal  "thank you" to our heroes and a heart-felt thanks to the military families that make sacrifices for all of us!

Originally posted Dec 17, 2012: The Innovator's Network

Send a letter to a soldier: Forgotten Soldiers

“Most. Awesome. Teacher. Ever.” *

Now I see why many individuals, including myself, choose teaching as a profession. While imparting knowledge of a stringent, logical topic, such as mathematics, we have license to pepper our delivery of instruction with creativity and wit in order to amaze our audience and create an environment ready for learning. That’s just what Matthew Weathers did for his Nature of Math class at Biola University.
I think this Youtube text comment sums it up best:

“Most. Awesome. Teacher. Ever.”

I don’t know about you, but I wouldn’t mind having my chairperson read that type of comment on my next student survey.

This video is inspiring as well as entertaining! Check this out- if you dare! Muah! Ha! Ha!

Matthew Weathers' Nature of Math class at Biola University

*This was originally posted on Innovator's Network January, 2010

TEACHERS: DEFINITELY BEAUTIFUL!

TAYLOR MALI: WHAT TEACHERS MAKE

 

My cousin Pegi shared a Poem by Taylor Mali with me and I cannot believe this was the first time I've seen any version of this.   I wasn't going to share here because I thought the few readers I have who are teachers probably have already seen it. If you have, it is worth another look.   I thnk this is a must-see for all teachers, novice, veterans or aspiring.

My favorite part is what Mali shares about bullying.  Also, here is an amazing fact from Mali's bio on his site: "Taylor Mali is...one of the few people in the world to have no job other than that of poet." Definitely Beautiful!

Taylor Mali's performance and commentary

 

YouTube version with a slideshow by Ethos3.com (uploaded by Gleeekin)

 

Text version on Taylor Mali's site

A big thanks goes out to all teachers especially the ones who teach (or who have taught) my kids.

 

International Dot Day: Make Your Mark!



 YMYL DOT



Skype + Choose2Matter + International Dot Day

 

and

 

YOU!

 

Read more on Angela's Blog...

 

Angela's Hope

Suicide is a difficult topic to read about and discuss.  Of course, one cannot compare this with the aftermath of experiencing such a horrible tragedy.  

 

I am sad to share that the brother of my friend, Angela Maiers, very recently took his own life.

Angela is dedicating her Choose2Matter cause to her brother, Chrissy.   Please take the time to read her post and share it with others.  At the very least, tell your loved ones they matter. 

Even if you think they already know, look into their eyes and tell them.  It is Angela’s hope to raise awareness and help others who are suffering and let kids know that their genius is valued.   

Please help us spread the word.  Read the article Angela dedicated to her brother.

#YOUMATTER

#CHOOSE2MATTER

#THANKYOU

Choose2Matter: My Personal Story

Angela Maiers shared her important message on a TEDx talk: YOU MATTER.   Her intent was to raise awareness and motivate others to make a difference in the world.  No action is too small. Angela’s message has transformed lives and motivated others to share her message and make a difference. 

I shared Angela's video with my children.  They were immediately motivated and in an effort to help Angela spread the word, my kids invited their friends over to watch Angela's video.  After they watched the video, the group met Angela via Skype.  See the You Matter Young Leaders' video response and conversation with Angela.

You Matter has now developed into a non-profit organization and a movement: Choose2Matter.  We hope you will join us.   You can help spread the word by telling others face-to-face, joining the Choose2Matter Facebook Group and following the conversation/sharing on Twitter by using the hashtags #YOUMATTER  and #CHOOSE2MATTER.  Not sure how to use these on Twitter?  I'd be happy to show you!  Just ask! :)

My friend and Choose2Matter team member, Sheri Edwards shares about Choose2Matter on her blog: What Else?

Global events are coming soon.  Stay tuned!

YOU MATTER!

#140edu: Where Technolgy Meets...Witchcraft and Wizardry!

Thanks to all the  #140edu speakers as they were all awesome and inspiring.  One tidbit of info that stood out to me most was when Alex Benepe (@Benepe) mentioned that  100% of PE participation in a UK school was reported  due to including Quidditch as part of the school curriculum.  Read more here in The Telegraph. 

Thanks to The International Quidditch Association,  the magical game of Quidditch can now be enjoyed in the Muggle world.  Wingardium leviosa! 

Exploring the State of NOW: #140edu

What is the next best thing to sitting in the audience of the 140 Character Conference at the 92nd Street Y in NYC?  Why, watching it via Ustream and participating via Twitter, of course!  Thanks to @WayneNH, I caught a bit of the conference while I was working today and I am looking forward to tomorrow's line up! 

Listen/watch #140edu here, live:  http://bit.ly/MxYKvY and follow the hashtag on Twitter.  Thanks to all who are Tweeting out from #140edu in the Big Apple!