TeachPower Educator Library

I was reading this interesting article on MSNBC on cell phones in school. The link is here:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35063840/ns/technology_and_science-tech_and_gadgets/
Our school allows cell phones but they have to be turned off until the end of school.

I was thinking an innovative idea to incorporate the cell phone into my science class by allowing the students to type their notes for the lesson I am teaching for the day. Seeing as the teenagers have a higher WPM texting than adults do these days, I could get them to write the required notes down faster and have more time for discussion and debate.  The students can then wirelessy beam it to their computer when they get home and print each classes notes out.  The Techie Age is not going to go away… lets embrace it and turn it into educational energy =).

What do you think? How does your school handle cell phones?

We were having a class discussion about helping people and serving others.  My middle school students had the basic idea they would love to help people but sometimes its “yucky and smelly”.  I [no God] put into my thoughts the following poem that I read a long time ago.  Once I read it to them they had a different outlook on serving others.

As I faced my Maker at the last judgment, I knelt before the Lord along with all the other souls.

Before each of us laid our lives like the squares of a quilt in many piles;  an angel sat before each of

us sewing our quilt squares together into a tapestry that is our life.

But as my angel took each piece of cloth off the pile, I noticed how ragged  and empty each of my

squares were.  They were filled with giant  holes. Each square was labeled with a part of my life that

had been difficult, the challenges and temptations I was faced with in every day life. I saw hardships

that I endured, which were the largest holes of all.

I glanced around me. Nobody else had such squares. Other than a tiny hole here and there, the

other tapestries were filled with rich color and the bright hues of worldly fortune. I gazed upon my

own life and was disheartened.

My angel was sewing the ragged pieces of cloth together, threadbare and empty, like binding air.

Finally the time came when each life was to be displayed, held up to the  light, the scrutiny of truth.

The others rose; each in turn, holding up their tapestries. So filled their lives had been. My angel

looked upon me, and nodded for me to rise.

My gaze dropped to the ground in shame. I hadn’t had all the earthly fortunes. I had love in my life,

and laughter. But there had also been trials of illness, and wealth, and false accusations that took

from me my world, as I knew it. I had to start over many times. I often struggled with the temptation

to quit, only to somehow muster the strength to pick up and begin again. I spent many nights on my

knees in prayer, asking for help and guidance in my life. I had often been held up to ridicule, which I endured painfully, each time offering it up to the Father in hopes that I would not melt within my

skin beneath the judgmental gaze of those who unfairly judged me.

And now, I had to face the truth. My life was what it was, and I had to accept it for what it was.

I rose and slowly lifted the combined squares of my life to the light.

An awe-filled gasp filled the air. I gazed around at the others who stared at me with wide eyes.

Then, I looked upon the tapestry before me. Light flooded the many holes, creating an image, the

face of Christ. Then our Lord stood before me, with warmth and love in His eyes. He said, “Every

time you gave over your life to Me, it became My life, My hardships, and My struggles.

Each point of light in your life is when you stepped aside and let Me shine through, until there was

more of Me than there was of you.”

May all our quilts be threadbare and worn, allowing Christ to shine through!

God determines who walks into your life….it’s up to you to decide  who you let walk away, who you

let stay, and who you refuse to let go.”

Teach Power educational community now has a Twitter and Facebook pages as requested by our community!  Go to TeachPower.net and click on the Twitter and Facebook buttons on the top of the page to join us and stay connected on all the latest news additions to the educational resource library that is constantly growing!  Now is a great time to be part of our education community as most schools like ours are currently working on science projects.  We are also accepting donations for the relief efforts in Haiti and donating a portion of all sale proceeds as well.

I was just wondering as most schools are coming up on the time of the year that we begin the 2 month long process of science projects and really focusing on the scientific method as a guide for the students, how the rest of us educators handle this large daunting task?!

Do you let the students pick their own project topics? make them pick from a list?

How involved are the parents in this project with the teacher?

Overall do you think the students glean a better understanding for the scientific process after this project?

Anything that stands out concerning this topic… let me hear what you have to say =).