April 18:

Wow, I surely got behind on blogging. Right before break things were crazy since it was the end of the marking period. Then we were off for about 10 days. This week I've been playing catch up with everyone, checking their individual progress, so no time to blog about class and no time to research blogging. One interesting thing I found about blogging for exprienced traditional journalers - while they may like trying their hand at another form of communication, they may abandon and go back to their comfort zone -pen and paper. Kim decided to go back to her journal, and if it means more regular entries, I'm all for it.

Day 37:

Was able to help out a couple of my students with their projects in small ways, but hopefully will help take them to the next step. Tried out Randy Pausch's advice about not being afraid to ask for what you want. He writes, "Ask those questions. Just ask them. More often thand you'd suspect, the answer you'll get is, 'Sure.'" Clarissa needed lots of coupons. So when I was at my regular Wawa coffee stop yesterday I asked if I might be able to have the inserts of coupons from the Sunday papers that don't get sold before they get picked up by the newspaper distributor. While it wasn't something the manager on duty at the time could do herself, as she would not be in teh store at that time, she said "Sure." And arranged for the midnight manager to collect the inswerts which she would have ready Monday AM. And guess what? She did as she said and there was a nice full bag of coupons to bring Clarissa today. Also, as I knew Kim's progress was hinged upon a letter from the principal substantiating her race as a school project that was insured, and because I knew she hadn't received the letter yet, when I saw the principal today, I just asked if he could prepare it asap as she needed this before she moved forward. He said "Sure" and by 9th period today she had the letter in her hands. The lesson is this: people can be great; our reluctance sometimes prevents us for asking for their help and so we just don't give them enough opportunities to show it.

Day 36:

Spending some time getting caught up on everyone's journals/blogs. Most are staying up to date. had to talk with a few about journaling every day. I am having some problems getting my comments to post on some of their pages. Either a message comes up that process has been aborted or the comment, while it looks like it published, never finds its way there. Somethihng technical I will have to figure out. I seemed to have less trouble accomplishing this task from my laptop at home.

Day 35:

Used today to catch up on blog viewing and commenting of the students in my class. They are to be reflecting in their journals on The Last Lecture as Pausch's words relate to their projects.

Day 34:

Kids have a lot of energy today - feeling their creative juices flowing. Evan is moving along with setting up his "assistanceship" at Springfield Elementary - that is exciting.

Day 33:

Not much to say today. This is a sign-out day, so I only have 2 students here. They are blogging as I speak(type). Daniele did her first flash mob today. Apparently didn't go so well, as there were too many other activities going on around her. But she did say her phone interview went very well. Kim showed me the certificate of insurance she needed from the board office to be able to host her 5k run. That is super exciting news.

Day 32 (Thursday):

Visited Gabby Arenge's blog about her African Peace Project : http://gabriellearenge.blogspot.com/. I really like the way she is using her blog in many ways. She is definitely using hers as an effective forum to record and document;She includes artifacts of her process/experiences. Also demonstrated in her entries are efforts at planning. But what I like best, and think will resonate most for her later, are her reflections on what she has done, is doing, and will do in Africa. As can be expected from such an prolific journaler, Gabby's ideas are expressed both thoroughly and honestly. I can hear her actual voice in her writing, and that is a very engaging characteristic for an audience of a blog, I would think.