I had good intentions of blogging often, but work, kid, working out (or life I guess I could say) and the fact that I still do not really like to write have gotten in the way of the witty banter and pearls of wisdom I envisioned occurring here on a regular basis. So now, what to write?
I had this idea because I was wondering about haiku and I don’t hear syllables well. So my idea was wouldn’t it be cool if there was a syllable counter online, that could be useful, plug in a word, bing you find out it has 3 syllables. Well, don’t go thinking I will be getting rich from that idea, someone beat me to it. There is not one but many. I had fun with that for a few minutes, then my short attention span kicked in and I lost interest in haiku and syllables. And I have know idea where this whole train of thought even came from, none what so ever.
I moved on (in my brain, from haiku and syllables) to the books I have been reading and I was wondering why I have been reading so much lately (define lately as the last 9-12 months for this conversation). I have always read a lot, but it just seems like more than usual lately (see above definition). Maybe this is just confirmation bias and I can’t remember prior to 9-12 months ago. I have been reading a lot of professional books, some nonfiction, and a variety of fiction. I seem all over the place with my choices too, not sticking to one genre or topic. So I was wondering why? My working hypothesis is it is my Sony eReader that is causing the massive amount of reading, that and all the RSS feeds I get about new books (especially professional). The cool thing about the eReader is the sites for buying books are not easy to browse so I spend much longer looking for books and wind up in sections I would not at a book store. I also have around 10-15 books on my eReader at any given time, and sometimes I am reading more than one. As for the RSS feeds they give me the latest books, with the internet I can go to Amazon and check it out and bam, it is on its way to my house. The up shot of all this is I am reading a ton, so awesome. Below then are few of the books I read and someone might like and a haiku, hope they are helpful.
Books:
Professional First
· Readicide: How Schools Are Killing Reading and What You Can Do About It by Kelly Gallagher
· Teach Like a Champion by Doug Lemov
· Conferring: The Keystone of Reader's Workshop by Patrick A. Allen
· Writing About Reading by Janet Angelillo
· Catching Readers Before They Fall: Supporting Readers Who Struggle, K-4 by Pat Johnson and Katie Keier
· Differentiated Professional Development in a PLC by Bowgren and Sever
Nonfiction next:
· Open by Andre Agassi
· East to the Dawn: The Life of Amelia Earhart by Susan Butler
· The Life of Queen Elizabeth I by Alison Weir
· 59 Seconds: Think a Little, Change a Lot by Richard Wiseman
· Why Evolution Is True by Jerry A. Coyne
· Unscientific America: How Scientific Illiteracy Threatens our Future by Chris Mooney and Sheril Kirshenbaum
· Von Braun: Dreamer of Space, Engineer of War by Michael J. Neufeld
Fiction:
· The Lacuna: A Novel by Barbara Kingsolver
· The Help by Kathryn Stockett
· The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
· Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson (reread of a all time favorite)
· Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith
· Hastur Lord: A Novel of Darkover by Marion Zimmer Bradley and Deborah J. Ross
The haiku (I know this is what you are waiting for):
Thunderstorm thrill me
Lightning thunder rain in sheets
Severe exciting
Still no idea where this hiaku thing came from but hopefully it won't come again.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Keeping our Eyes Open to Science
As both a teacher and a mom I am very concerned about creating adults who are scientifically literate. In a perfect world I would love to see more kids, especially girls going into the STEM careers but I would settle for adults who can think and understand basic science. As a nation who has been a leader in science and technology it is disheartening to see that we are losing that lead.
The last couple of weeks I have been giving the CSAP (the high stakes test in Colorado). I give the oral presentation to 5th graders who cannot read at a 5th grade level. I read the math and science tests to them so we can test what they know about math and science without their poor reading skills getting in the way. I have been astounded at their lack of knowledge in basic science. They didn’t even get the sample questions right, which are the easy ones that get them started. Interestingly my daughter and I had just been talking about one of the topics for the sample questions and she knew all about it, turns out she had learned it in preschool (she is four). She told me in great detail what the fifth graders did not know. Was it because it was a factoid that was fresh in her mind and after all those years the fifth graders had forgotten it? I don’t think so, it was very basic concept. By the way I am deliberately not saying what it was because I do not want to give away any test secrets, enough to know it was a question a 4 year old could answer.
My daughter is smart (what else would I say) but she is not some sort of amazing science genius (I cannot prove or disprove that statement, yet.). So why can she answer it but not 5th graders? Perhaps it is because she comes from a scientifically literate home. What does a scientifically literate home look like? Simple. We observe the world around us, we talk about science, and we do a little kitchen science. Do you have to have a degree in science to do this? No. Here are some examples:
o We went for a walk yesterday and we heard woodpeckers pecking. We stopped to listen, determined where the sound was coming from, found the woodpecker in the tree, watched it and wondered why it was doing that. It took 2-3 minutes to observe and wonder.
o We got some dry ice in a package and so we didn’t let it go to waste, I went online and found a quick and easy experiment, we played all evening and learned about the properties of dry ice.
o We made water rockets, a great summer activity. I didn’t explain rocket science, but we talked about the water as a “fuel”, and the need for the fins to make it stable.
o We observe pill bugs, ants, praying mantis, and daddy long legs all the time. We talk about them and what they do, if we have questions we search in books or the internet for answers.
The main thing we do is activate our sense of wonder, kids already have it, as and adult I just need to find mine, and that often happens by looking through her eyes.
Some research just came out about when scientists decided to become scientists. The answer, elementary school. Why? They had an experience that they never forgot. Here is a link about the research: http://www.virginia.edu/uvatoday/newsRelease.php?id=11207.
So maybe the dry ice, the woodpecker, the water rockets or the praying mantis might be the catalyst for my daughter’s future career. Even if it is not, she is curious and asks questions, she likes science. She may keep her mind open to it, learn about it. She will be able to read and article in the paper about science and understand it. How hard is it to give all kids that chance? It is also a great excuse to have a little fun as an adult!
Dry ice and water rockets!
The last couple of weeks I have been giving the CSAP (the high stakes test in Colorado). I give the oral presentation to 5th graders who cannot read at a 5th grade level. I read the math and science tests to them so we can test what they know about math and science without their poor reading skills getting in the way. I have been astounded at their lack of knowledge in basic science. They didn’t even get the sample questions right, which are the easy ones that get them started. Interestingly my daughter and I had just been talking about one of the topics for the sample questions and she knew all about it, turns out she had learned it in preschool (she is four). She told me in great detail what the fifth graders did not know. Was it because it was a factoid that was fresh in her mind and after all those years the fifth graders had forgotten it? I don’t think so, it was very basic concept. By the way I am deliberately not saying what it was because I do not want to give away any test secrets, enough to know it was a question a 4 year old could answer.
My daughter is smart (what else would I say) but she is not some sort of amazing science genius (I cannot prove or disprove that statement, yet.). So why can she answer it but not 5th graders? Perhaps it is because she comes from a scientifically literate home. What does a scientifically literate home look like? Simple. We observe the world around us, we talk about science, and we do a little kitchen science. Do you have to have a degree in science to do this? No. Here are some examples:
o We went for a walk yesterday and we heard woodpeckers pecking. We stopped to listen, determined where the sound was coming from, found the woodpecker in the tree, watched it and wondered why it was doing that. It took 2-3 minutes to observe and wonder.
o We got some dry ice in a package and so we didn’t let it go to waste, I went online and found a quick and easy experiment, we played all evening and learned about the properties of dry ice.
o We made water rockets, a great summer activity. I didn’t explain rocket science, but we talked about the water as a “fuel”, and the need for the fins to make it stable.
o We observe pill bugs, ants, praying mantis, and daddy long legs all the time. We talk about them and what they do, if we have questions we search in books or the internet for answers.
The main thing we do is activate our sense of wonder, kids already have it, as and adult I just need to find mine, and that often happens by looking through her eyes.
Some research just came out about when scientists decided to become scientists. The answer, elementary school. Why? They had an experience that they never forgot. Here is a link about the research: http://www.virginia.edu/uvatoday/newsRelease.php?id=11207.
So maybe the dry ice, the woodpecker, the water rockets or the praying mantis might be the catalyst for my daughter’s future career. Even if it is not, she is curious and asks questions, she likes science. She may keep her mind open to it, learn about it. She will be able to read and article in the paper about science and understand it. How hard is it to give all kids that chance? It is also a great excuse to have a little fun as an adult!
Dry ice and water rockets!
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
BIke Lust II
This is a time of 2 bikes, one of little note and another that fits my growing geeky personality. My wonderful green and white bike was replaced with a brown 3 speed from Sears. Not much to say about a brown bike from Sears, it has none of the coolness of my previous bike, but it was a bike. We never bonded like I have with so many other bikes, I had different interests, it didn’t have it as bikes go. I had one really good crash on it, an over the handlebar type landing on my shoulder, I still have a nice scar from the road rash. So this bike is more of a foot note in my long bike history.
The other bike of the time is a bit embarassing to mention. Everyone was is a little odd during their middle school years right? I seem to have taken odd to the extreme. I dressed as Mork from Ork and had the unfortunate idea at the time that I would become a clown as my future career. So to get ready for that career my next bike was a unicycle. I certainly liked it better than the brown 3 speed, it spoke to the geek that was me at that moment in time.
I worked very hard to master one wheel. And to compound the difficulty level I learned to ride in deep gravel, just like with my other bikes. I could actually stay up a few feet, pedaling like crazy before the gravel and gravity slowed me and I fell.
I think I will just leave those two bikes at that, enough said, it was a strange time.
The other bike of the time is a bit embarassing to mention. Everyone was is a little odd during their middle school years right? I seem to have taken odd to the extreme. I dressed as Mork from Ork and had the unfortunate idea at the time that I would become a clown as my future career. So to get ready for that career my next bike was a unicycle. I certainly liked it better than the brown 3 speed, it spoke to the geek that was me at that moment in time.
I worked very hard to master one wheel. And to compound the difficulty level I learned to ride in deep gravel, just like with my other bikes. I could actually stay up a few feet, pedaling like crazy before the gravel and gravity slowed me and I fell.
I think I will just leave those two bikes at that, enough said, it was a strange time.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Herbal Remedies
This is an example of why the what's the harm argument around herbal remedies is a problem for me:
http://consumerist.com/2010/02/morning-sickness-remedy-found-to-contain-lead-and-arsenic.html
I frequently talk with people who see no harm in using herbal supplements without really knowing much about the actually quality and quantity in the supplement. They say that if it doesn't work, it at least doesn't hurt right? Well as this link shows it can cause harm. Do you really want to ingest lead and arsenic, especially while pregnant? That is the harm. And on a nit picking note, this isn't really an herb, it is actually a mineral made up mostly of fossilized seashells, but it falls into that same loop hole category.
http://consumerist.com/2010/02/morning-sickness-remedy-found-to-contain-lead-and-arsenic.html
I frequently talk with people who see no harm in using herbal supplements without really knowing much about the actually quality and quantity in the supplement. They say that if it doesn't work, it at least doesn't hurt right? Well as this link shows it can cause harm. Do you really want to ingest lead and arsenic, especially while pregnant? That is the harm. And on a nit picking note, this isn't really an herb, it is actually a mineral made up mostly of fossilized seashells, but it falls into that same loop hole category.
Friday, February 12, 2010
Bike Lust 1
This is the first piece in a series about the bikes that have been important in my life.
The first one I remember well was under the Christmas tree one year. She (all my bikes are she, no idea why) was white and green, with a sparkly vinyl banana seat. She had high handle bars and best of all no training wheels. I don’t remember if I asked Santa for a bike but it was a spectacular surprise to see that shiny fast bike next to the tree.
I spent several summers with that bike, riding through the deep gravel in our yard. There are some very stylish pictures of me in a sun dress and cowboy boots perched happily on that bike. I often rode with my trusted sidekick, Lambchops, a very large sheep I had as a pet, he trotted along dutifully behind me as I pretended my way through a multitude of adventures.
As I got older my mom would drive me to town, and I would be allowed to ride to softball practice and the library by myself. The freedom was intoxicating, just me and my bike with my softball glove on the handlebars. I was trusted to get somewhere on my on and I loved that feeling. I also use to ride up to the corner store to buy candy and comic books. The sense of independence was amazing. That wonderful little bike helped me find that freedom and independence.
The first one I remember well was under the Christmas tree one year. She (all my bikes are she, no idea why) was white and green, with a sparkly vinyl banana seat. She had high handle bars and best of all no training wheels. I don’t remember if I asked Santa for a bike but it was a spectacular surprise to see that shiny fast bike next to the tree.
I spent several summers with that bike, riding through the deep gravel in our yard. There are some very stylish pictures of me in a sun dress and cowboy boots perched happily on that bike. I often rode with my trusted sidekick, Lambchops, a very large sheep I had as a pet, he trotted along dutifully behind me as I pretended my way through a multitude of adventures.
As I got older my mom would drive me to town, and I would be allowed to ride to softball practice and the library by myself. The freedom was intoxicating, just me and my bike with my softball glove on the handlebars. I was trusted to get somewhere on my on and I loved that feeling. I also use to ride up to the corner store to buy candy and comic books. The sense of independence was amazing. That wonderful little bike helped me find that freedom and independence.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Death
Not a happy topic, but it has been on my mind lately. The date of my dads death just past, I can't call it the anniversary because I think of those has happy times. So that always leaves me feeling a little raw, even after all these years. I am now older than he was when he died and he has been gone longer that I knew him, so that is weird. I am always told I look like him, but now that I am older than he was I find myself puzzled when I look in the mirror, I see my mom now, where did that come from? I wish he had been around to see so much but especially to have been here for Anna. What would they have thought of each other?
The other reason death is so on my mind is my grandma. She had a stroke this last week, is no longer eating, and will probably not last much longer. So there is that. She is old, 91. I guess I should feel glad she lived so long and know it is time, but that sucks I think. Who really can wrap their head around death of a loved one. Whether too soon, like my dad, or of old age, like my grandma, it still just reminds me that our life is short. I should be doing more, living bigger I guess.
All those death thoughts have me wondering how to talk with Anna about it all. Death is scary to me so what must a 4 year old think? I don't really want to feed her the line of heaven and all that. I would feel a hypocrite telling her something when I don't buy it. So I guess we will just be honest, simple, and straight forward.
So, this was a depressing post. It could have been worse though, I have been on the edge with tears and deep sadness for several days, I could have dumped that all out here I guess, didn't seem necessary though. I said enough.
The other reason death is so on my mind is my grandma. She had a stroke this last week, is no longer eating, and will probably not last much longer. So there is that. She is old, 91. I guess I should feel glad she lived so long and know it is time, but that sucks I think. Who really can wrap their head around death of a loved one. Whether too soon, like my dad, or of old age, like my grandma, it still just reminds me that our life is short. I should be doing more, living bigger I guess.
All those death thoughts have me wondering how to talk with Anna about it all. Death is scary to me so what must a 4 year old think? I don't really want to feed her the line of heaven and all that. I would feel a hypocrite telling her something when I don't buy it. So I guess we will just be honest, simple, and straight forward.
So, this was a depressing post. It could have been worse though, I have been on the edge with tears and deep sadness for several days, I could have dumped that all out here I guess, didn't seem necessary though. I said enough.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Is the placebo effect worth $6.99 a tube?
Do you take Airborne? You know that tasty fizzy miracle that will clear up that nasty cold. The one invented by a school teacher. It has vitamin c and other important ingredients. You’ve tried it, I’ve tried and it doesn’t work. But still it gets used. Why?
We want to believe just like Fox Mulder and hey, it was invented by a school teacher right? They must know something about germs they are around them all the time, kids are gross. That is a weird argument from authority, I usually listen to people like, oh I don’t know, maybe doctors when it comes to being sick and teachers when I am worried about my kids ability to read.
We still use it, we still believe, even after a class action law-suit was brought against the makers for false advertising complaints, they settled for around $23.3 million. I don’t know, if I had the cure for the cold, I wouldn’t have settled, I would have fought because I was right. Part of the false advertising stemmed from their claim that it was tested in clinical trials, turns out they paid two guys who started up a business just to test Airborne. There were no doctors or scientists, who know what the protocols were. One of them did almost graduate from college though. Again if I had the cure for the cold I would want rock solid proof if worked I would have hired the best to run the trials….hmmmm.
We can’t even say well all that vitamin c is good for a cold, that hasn’t been proven. Do a search for vitamin c on pubmed, most of the scientific research is not looking good for vitamin c.
I don’t take Airborne anymore, I can’t take the false hope, or giving my money to people who seem to be knowingly deceptive. Other people do, I won’t make fun, they believe and the placebo effect is powerful, who am I to mess with people’s anecdotal evidence?
Here are some places to find out more about Airborne, they will link you to even more info about the lack of efficacy:
http://www.everydayhealth.com/blog/zimney-health-and-medical-news-you-can-use/airborne-tablets-scam-costs-company-22-million-a-scambuster-update-2/
http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/03/04/makers-of-airborne-settle-false-ad-suit-with-refunds/
Want to look up studies on pubmed about vitamin c?
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/
We want to believe just like Fox Mulder and hey, it was invented by a school teacher right? They must know something about germs they are around them all the time, kids are gross. That is a weird argument from authority, I usually listen to people like, oh I don’t know, maybe doctors when it comes to being sick and teachers when I am worried about my kids ability to read.
We still use it, we still believe, even after a class action law-suit was brought against the makers for false advertising complaints, they settled for around $23.3 million. I don’t know, if I had the cure for the cold, I wouldn’t have settled, I would have fought because I was right. Part of the false advertising stemmed from their claim that it was tested in clinical trials, turns out they paid two guys who started up a business just to test Airborne. There were no doctors or scientists, who know what the protocols were. One of them did almost graduate from college though. Again if I had the cure for the cold I would want rock solid proof if worked I would have hired the best to run the trials….hmmmm.
We can’t even say well all that vitamin c is good for a cold, that hasn’t been proven. Do a search for vitamin c on pubmed, most of the scientific research is not looking good for vitamin c.
I don’t take Airborne anymore, I can’t take the false hope, or giving my money to people who seem to be knowingly deceptive. Other people do, I won’t make fun, they believe and the placebo effect is powerful, who am I to mess with people’s anecdotal evidence?
Here are some places to find out more about Airborne, they will link you to even more info about the lack of efficacy:
http://www.everydayhealth.com/blog/zimney-health-and-medical-news-you-can-use/airborne-tablets-scam-costs-company-22-million-a-scambuster-update-2/
http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/03/04/makers-of-airborne-settle-false-ad-suit-with-refunds/
Want to look up studies on pubmed about vitamin c?
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/
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