Week 3, #6

I looked at several APIs and found the FD Toys' Trading Card Maker to be the most intriguing. I created a trading card using a stock photograph of a cat sleeping on a book and added my balloon containing the comment: "I love to curl up with a good book!" The application I envision is create trading cards or perhaps some form of bookmarks incorporating student photographs. For our library bookfair this year we are offering a contest where students can submit photographs they have taken of readers in interesting surroundings. Prizes will be awarded and some of the photographs will be incorporated into our publicity efforts. This application would expand the use of such photographs and I certainly will consider revisiting this site next year when there is more lead time to incorporate its use.

Dick and Jane/Week 3, #5

How wonderful to find an image of the basal reader that started me down the track to reading. The "Dick and Jane" books were used to teach reading from the 1930s through the 1970's. The books were reflections of the times and until 1965 did not show characters from other races and cultures. In addition, I attended a seminar on early readers many years ago and discovered many of the images showed stereotypes of girls and boys. Boys were usually shown in some aggressive role while girls were frequently in the background, standing demurely and watching the boys roughhouse. Although many of us learned to read using this and similar series, unfortunate expectations of the roles of male and female were undoubtedly imparted from these stories. Television also reinforced these expectations. Shows such as "The Donna Reed Show," "Ozzie and Harriet," and "Father Knows Best," led many of us to expect our better halves to be waiting in full make-up in a gown at the door with a drink as we returned from work. Reality was indeed quite a shock! By the way, these books are now collectibles.

Images is as follows: http://www.flickr.com/photos/backhomeagain/2489188707/

Week 1, exercise 2

I believe the easiest lifelong learning habit for me is to accept myself as a "competent and effective learner." Many years ago I took a test called the Cooter Preference test. This test involved taking a pin and pushing it through multiple choice answers for questions that were to lead one to the best possible career. Although it is true that it was a "take-home" test and many of us completed it on the bus ride home which likely caused the pin to occasionally pierce the incorrect response, the result came back to me that I should follow the career path to become a milliner. Now a milliner in case you do not know it is a hat maker. Now even though this test was given during the "Happy Days" epoch, one would have starved making hats. I set aside this suggestion and probably had several guidance counsellors roll over in their graves by entering education, teaching at various levels including university teaching and garnering several diplomas and certifications. So the real lesson in this is to sometimes take the suggestions of counsellors with a grain of salt and also to have confidence that despite some early assessments, you can indeed maximize your potential by study and dedication.

The most difficult competency for me to currently pursue at this stage of life is to find time to play. The play that concerns me is the time to "play" with technology. Many of my students have the innate ability to use technology that often requires me to study manuals and I believe this is because they spend so much time with computers. I believe some children are placed directly on keyboards that are underneath their crib bedding. When I retire, I hope I have time to play but I suspect it will be at the beach and have little to do with technology unless it is reading a GPS on a boat.

Hello!

I am pleased so far that my re-entry into blog cyberspace is working. If I am fortunate, I will be able to republish my avatar which was a suprising likeness of me. Regards!

Greetings!

Hello. This is my second attemp to create this blog. My first attempt was lost and perhaps still exists in cyberspace. If you discover it, please fire a photon torpedo into it. Regards.