Inspirational K

“Only 22% of the world finishes high school, and only 55% finish sixth grade. Those are just appalling numbers. As a species, we’re wasting almost four-fifths of the talent we produce. What if the person who invents a grand unified theory of physics is growing up in Africa and never gets a chance? What if the girl who invents a cure for ovarian cancer is growing up in some Cambodian fishing village and never gets a chance? I want to solve the access problem for the human race once and for all. We’ve always had this problem, and no one talks about it because we’ve always had it. Of the 1.25 billion kids in the world, a billion won’t finish high school. That’s a tragedy, a preventable tragedy.”

~Jose Ferreira, Founder and CEO of Knewton

Via Mashable 

9. It’s all borrowed time. You shouldn’t take anything for granted, not even tomorrow. I offer you the “hit by a bus” rule. Would I regret spending my life this way if I were to get hit by a bus next week or next year? And the important corollary: Does this path lead to a life I will be happy with and proud of in 10 or 20 years if I don’t get hit by a bus.

10. Don’t try to be great. Being great involves luck and other circumstances beyond your control. The less you think about being great, the more likely it is to happen. And if it doesn’t, there is absolutely nothing wrong with being solid.

I like these two the best, but you can read the others HERE.

~K

(via classroomcollective)

sbonander:

I think this is an interesting article, and I’m anxious to see more schools come out with these tests to measure how effective they are. 

http://www.loopinsight.com/2012/02/17/ipad-improves-kindergartners-literacy-scores/

Erroll B. Davis Jr, Atlanta Superintendent of Schools, NYT

(Source: The New York Times)

englishteachingtoolbox:

You can use Air Freshener to clean a dry erase board that just won’t erase (because the ink is very dried on) . Spray the board and wipe, it also helps “recondition” old dry erase boards.

What a great tip!

When will the bell ring, and end this weariness?
How long have they tugged the leash, and strained apart
My pack of unruly hounds: I cannot start
Them again on a quarry of knowledge they hate to hunt, 
I can haul them and urge them no more.
No more can I endure to bear the brunt
Of the books that lie out on the desks: a full three score
Of several insults of blotted pages and scrawl
Of slovenly work that they have offered me.
I am sick, and tired more than any thrall
Upon the woodstacks working weariedly.


And shall I take
The last dear fuel and heap it on my soul
Till I rouse my will like a fire to consume
Their dross of indifference, and burn the scroll
Of their insults in punishment? - I will not!
I will not waste myself to embers for them,
Not all for them shall the fires of my life be hot,
For myself a heap of ashes of weariness, till sleep
Shall have raked the embers clear: I will keep
Some of my strength for myself, for if I should sell
It all for them, I should hate them -
- I will sit and wait for the bell.

~D. H. Lawrence

Cute photo idea for kids! If you click on the photo, it’ll bring you to a page with several other Valentine’s Day craft ideas—all from Martha Stewart! Enjoy!

~K

I love Google. Besides it being the top search engine, I love everything that it stands for. Just watching today’s Google Doodle gave me a sense of love and warmth, as I’m sure many of you experienced as well. Google is also always cutting edge—from their Google Calendar to Google Documents to their Apps for Education—they’re simply magnificent.

Now, teachers, schools, and educators out there—I want to spread the word about one of their amazing opportunities: Doodle 4 Google. Even if your school doesn’t win the grand prize, any number of your students might still become finalists—in which, it’ll be great publicity for the school and the arts community.

This year, they are choosing 250 state finalists, whose Doodles will be displayed on an online gallery. Then, one finalist from each state would be chosen, which will be displayed on the Doodle 4 Google website. Following that would be 5 national finalists, who will participate in an awards ceremony in NYC. And, the grand prize for one national winner is to have his/her Doodle be featured on the Google homepage, $30,000 college scholarship, trip to NY, Google Chromebook computer, Wacom digital design tablet, a t-shirt with his/her Doodle on it, AND $50,000 TO THE WINNER’S FULL-TIME SCHOOL FOR A TECHNOLOGY GRANT!

I encourage YOU to make your school aware of this opportunity. There are so many levels of winners that it’s not like you’re shooting into the blue with this. It’ll also be a fun project for your students in any class. The theme this year is, “If I could travel in time, I’d visit…” You can tell your students to draw based on a point in American history that you’ve gone over in class. Or, if you’re an English teacher, it could be a doodle of a time in any of the non-fiction books that you’ve read in class..or during a specific literary movement. In science class, it could be during any scientific feat—the invention of the light bulb for instance. Within several minutes, I came up with all of these projects. With a little bit of creativity, you can create a unique and fun project for your students too! And remember, it doesn’t hurt to try entering. It’s only when you don’t even try that you lose your chance at winning. =]

http://www.google.com/doodle4google/