iHeart my iPad

A month or so ago, a co-worker and I were told that we would both be provided with iPads for classroom use and for home use. Mine was delivered on Friday afternoon right before I left for spring break. The instructions were...USE IT. Use it at school, use it at home, use it however you can as long as the activities fall within the school's internet usage policy. How is Jeri Lynne feeling about this, you ask? Can you say excited?!?! I had never even laid hands on an iPad before, much less used one. Needless to say, I have spent a bit of time over the past week at home figuring out some apps that I think the kinders will enjoy, and also experimenting with some apps for me as well. How fun is this? 'Cuz I so needed a new gadget to play with *insert heavy sarcasm here*!

This little guy helped us try out some preK - K apps. He was pretty excited to try it out!

Chester Drawers

Yep. That's his name. He is a retired performer out of Branson, MO. In his 'retirement,' he has been writing children's book and touring elementary schools as a children's comedian to promote his books, as well as encouraging a healthy lifestyle and making good choices. Mr. Drawers visited our school on Wednesday morning. Now I will be honest. Always Normally at these little assemblies, I am bored to tears. With this guy, I was actually LOL'ing. Really. When his presentation was over, he signed autographs and let us take pictures of some of our kinders with him. What a fun guy. I just can't figure why his parents would've named his Chester Drawers. *wink*

The kinderbabies (along with the pre-k and firsties) had a ball watching, listening, and singing along.

Autograph and photo-op time!

Look at her sweet little hands, with the pink fingernails :-)

Having so very much fun!

I wish they paid this close attention in class!!!
He had all eyes on him 90% of the time...it was the most attentive I have ever seen at an elementary assembly.
Impressive.

Challenge Day 20/30...I'm A Teacher For Heaven's Sake!

Of course I think that education is important. Very important. I think that every person has the capability to become educated...perhaps not to the same degree as the next person or the person before...but educated in some manner. Sometimes the highest level of education is learning life skills; sometimes it is training to be an astro-physicist; sometimes it is educated in less desirable skills...street smarts. For the most part, children value what their parents value...whether they realize/admit it or not. If parents are learners, children typically will be curious and interested in learning new things as well.

The workforce is becoming increasingly more competitive year after year. Colleges and prospective employers look at GPAs, extracurricular involvement, community service, and how much time/effort/consistency/commitment was devoted to the various activities. The desirable students/employees are the ones that have been trained in college and career preparatory course work; students that seek out opportunities to enhance their learning and performance. Employees that have been around awhile without furthering their education or having some professional development along the way may get pushed aside, to make way for some young up and comer that does have all of the 'new' knowledge of how things work and should be done. Technology is a prime example of a skill that young workers have, but old-timers may be lacking in. Be vigilant about education...strengthen your brain...grow some brain cells!!! They may die if you don't use them...the brain needs exercise just as much as the rest of your body!

At a different level, and more personally, I am a lifelong learner. I love to learn new things. My nose is typically in a book (kindle) or googling something. Lefty is the same way. I love that she loves to learn the way I do. I feel stagnant when I am not actively learning something new. It may be a new skill, new information, or just an extension of something that I already knew...but I feel better about myself...more excited and alive...when my brain is engaged. Both of my parents are educators; my dad has multiple master's degrees. I was raised hearing jokes about 'professional college students' (the ones that keep going back for more...they never are done). That will be me. I have already started work on my first master's...took a break to get settled in my Knight Life...but am getting the itch to start up again. The mind is feeling idle.

I believe that I am rambling. I probably shouldn't have even started this post, as I know that I am not doing it justice! I have tired eyes...allergies...must get rest...

Quilt class starts tomorrow!!! Once again, learning something new!!!