My summer vacation

31. July 2008 · 1 comment · Categories: blogging · Tags: ,

Seventh-grade writing prompts aside, I had quite a busy summer both personally and professionally. As I get things ramped back up here at the Universe, I thought it would be fitting to bring some closure to what’s been going on since my last post some time ago. Feels good to get back into the blogging habit and I think I’ll start modestly, shooting for a couple posts a week.

Personally

  • Moved the blog to a new host and gave it some new, simple digs. I also decided to include my proudest blogging accomplishment to date: nomination for membership in Dan’s club. I decided to put that badge on my sidebar to remind me why I do this job. Of course, it’s “for the children.” But it’s also for the teachers who bust their butts day in and day out to raise the level of play in their classrooms. To innovate in ways that change the game for themselves and their colleagues.
  • Took an amazing family road trip (our first ever!) to Cody, Wyoming, and Yellowstone National Park. Lessons learned include: if/when you decide to take that step of buying a minivan get the DVD player!
  • Got involved (rather serendipitously) in a project with some of the guys I knew from the days when the forums at 43 Folders were the place to be for productive folks. We launched a new blog and forum called Work.Life.Creativity. Head over and sign up!
  • I’m a bike commuter.
  • I didn’t buy an iPhone 3G.
  • I really want a Kindle.

Professionally

  • I’ve Tweeted about this a couple times, but I’m actually teaching a class next year! While I act like this is a major hardship, what with my administratorial responsibilities and all, the truth is I’m really psyched. Since I’ll be teaching in the IB program (I’m sorry – I meant IB Programme), that meant mandatory summer training in St. Petersburg, Florida. Lesson learned: Even though I grew up in Florida, it’s dang humid down there! Bad for my hair.
  • I forgot how to do lesson plans.
  • I submitted proposals to present at both the K12 Online Conference in October and FETC in January.
  • A Kindle would really streamline my professional reading, don’t you think? And it would pay for itself after 10 or so books. If I could get my grad school textbooks on the thing, it would pay for itself after, like, two books.

Sundry

  • Dabbled in Plurk. Meh.
  • Decided that pretending Twitter has applications for the classroom is a bit of a stretch. I have, however, acknowledged that it has expanded my professional network and given me unprecedented access to the brains of a lot of people whom I like and respect.
  • Finally, Edupunk? Seriously? Edupunk on Wikipedia? Put down the Kool-Aid, people. There’s nothing “punk” about effective, engaging instruction.
  • On the other hand, if calling yourself “Edupunk” makes you feel hip, or more importantly teach better, go for it.

So I’m getting things warmed back up over here at the Universe. If you’ve dropped me from your readers or blogrolls, hook it back up! Starting a new year and teaching a class will make for some interesting blogging, after all.

In the coming week, I’m going to start the year off with a “How I Work” series, partly inspired by this great video of Mr. Meyer‘s and partly by my participation at WLC.