tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69055331220271774112024-03-04T21:01:53.639-08:00The Dream Of The KingSpecial Education & Online LearningThe Dream Of The Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802213259363787791noreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6905533122027177411.post-31151743660945019592021-05-12T06:03:00.003-07:002021-05-12T06:03:36.782-07:00Educational Technology Websites - EDUC 639 Wk 4<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="358" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GWuYp0ywD20" width="497" youtube-src-id="GWuYp0ywD20"></iframe></div><br /> <p></p>The Dream Of The Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802213259363787791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6905533122027177411.post-27146391348250413252021-05-11T13:42:00.001-07:002021-05-11T13:42:25.088-07:00Educational Technology Websites - EDUC 639 Wk 3<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="350" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CRu4Lwu4wUY" width="421" youtube-src-id="CRu4Lwu4wUY"></iframe></div><br /><p></p>The Dream Of The Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802213259363787791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6905533122027177411.post-3471507553473441892021-05-06T12:29:00.002-07:002021-05-06T12:29:25.191-07:00EDUC 639: Security of Student Data<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.dcsdk12.org/about/our_district/departments/information_technology/i_t_security/student_data_privacy" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="298" data-original-width="899" height="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9wnwQ4-HN-XU60rztOHFtLxYjcfU3L9rOMm5OO6caG2JCW_zGyk0UpPLU6REJhUOLBuq9w7ys9eWBXqAiMLrQFtzBNaNQv-vcOsV0BrccMgADuJJmHJhmChXGEFs_PE20VIlD8RQsclep/w439-h146/Student-Data-Privacy-banner.jpg" width="439" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Security of Student Data</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The terms <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="https://www.webopedia.com/definitions/data-privacy/#:~:text=Data%20privacy%20is%20the%20confidentiality%20and%20protection%20of,person%20that%20identifies%20or%20clearly%20refers%20to%20them.">data privacy</a></i></b> and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="https://www.ibm.com/topics/data-security#:~:text=Data%20security%20is%20the%20practice%20of%20protecting%20digital,access%2C%20corruption%2C%20or%20theft%20throughout%20its%20entire%20lifecycle.">data security</a></i></b> sound synonymous, but they are not. Data privacy is an ‘umbrella
term’ that covers many aspects of this issue. Largely it is made up of state
and federal laws, and the expectation of the privacy of individuals. Those expectations
might be, but not limited to, no unauthorized access, use, loss, or destruction
of data. This may seem simple, but when you start thinking about where
companies and municipalities, school districts store their data and who they
pay to manage it, it can get quite complicated. How do you legislate “The Cloud”?
(SPI Briefing Room, 2015) Where are these databases actually stored? Are they
in your city, state, or (even) country?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">This has been a growing issue for school districts
around the world for some time. However, under the conditions that learning has
been happening the last year or so of the global COVID-19 pandemic, this issue
has blown up to almost a crisis level in many school districts. Matthew Ketchum,
director of EdTech, Modesto City Schools, has some great advice for educators.
He suggests that we remain ever mindful as we continue to add new technology apps,
tools, and programs to our repertoires. Seek out our local and federal state laws
for guidance, making certain that vendors have a clear, accessible, privacy
policy to avoid the possibility that student data could be sold. (Dyknow, 2020)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Tools
to help check student privacy compliance:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Common Sense Education’s <a href="https://privacy.commonsense.org/evaluations/1">privacy evaluation tool</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">iKeepSafe <a href="https://ikeepsafe.org/">Badging
System</a> for vendors. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Student Data Privacy Alliance <a href="https://sdpc.a4l.org/">CA & Nationwide Database</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Code of Virginia § 22.1-20.2. <a href="https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title22.1/chapter2/section22.1-20.2/">Student
data security.</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">References<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 27.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 3.75pt; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -.5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Dyknow. (2020, September
3). <i>A Crash Course on Student Data Privacy</i> [Video].
YouTube. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4CjhqieFns"><span style="color: black; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4CjhqieFns</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 27.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 3.75pt; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -.5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">SPI Briefing Room.
(2015, July 20). <i>Data Privacy vs. Data Security</i> [Video].
YouTube. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frFVppv2Q8k"><span style="color: black; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frFVppv2Q8k</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>The Dream Of The Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802213259363787791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6905533122027177411.post-22348918905971129282021-05-03T13:40:00.000-07:002021-05-03T13:40:11.619-07:00EDUC 639: Fostering Digital Citizenship in our Students <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.edsurge.com/news/2016-08-03-how-to-take-digital-citizenship-schoolwide-during-the-2016-17-school-year" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="648" data-original-width="1600" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYi4um2NhLT4diZlWiHcockVbBvZz7ab5XPuTIIQ4qarpQTgtn2jj7HyqmUt-YuoYJmgthSplVeD-uQNuCa1yAlBojiefrZ2hM4fChIFy1-YDrYM-OFTnxSmyrxcweF0xkv_c-7VtnXhkT/w513-h208/Digital+Citizenship.jpg" width="513" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Blog: Fostering Digital Citizenship in our Students<span style="mso-tab-count: 5;"> </span>EDUC
639<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Digital
citizenship is a hot topic in education today. As educators, how can we teach and/or
encourage our students to responsibly participate in and contribute to the
digital world? The <span style="color: #ffa400; font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://www.iste.org/standards/for-educators">ISTE
Educator standard 3b</a> </span>suggests that we “establish a learning culture that
promotes curiosity and critical examination of online resources and fosters
digital literacy and media fluency”. Okay, that sounds great, but how exactly
do we accomplish that? One very vital way to begin to establish this learning
culture that fosters digital literacy and media fluency is to get our students’
parents on board as collaborative allies. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Empowering
parents with the support they need to understand the importance of digital
citizenship will also foster literacy and fluency. Keeping up with
their student’s apps and social media can be overwhelming to parents and
teachers alike. That is why it is important to become each other’s allies and
we can all grow our digital citizenship together as we teach our students how
to do the same.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Keegan Korf had some wonderful suggestions in this
TEDxOmaha video. </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ztgSr42CSEI" width="320" youtube-src-id="ztgSr42CSEI"></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: -0.25in;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: -0.25in;">Listen</span><br /><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: -0.25in;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: -0.25in;">Educate Ourselves (Parents and Teachers)</span><br /><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: -0.25in;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: -0.25in;">Seek out resources available to manage
digital literacy</span><br /><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: -0.25in;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: -0.25in;">Investigate digital laws with your child(ren)/students,
for example Sexting Laws</span><br /><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: -0.25in;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: -0.25in;">Explore social media your
child(ren)/students are using to better help them navigate those waters more
responsibly</span><br /><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: -0.25in;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: -0.25in;">Set screen time limits, such as charging
all devices in parent/guardian’s room at night after 10pm.</span><!--[if !supportLists]--></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">References<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p></p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">ISTE Standards for
Educators. (n.d.). https://www.iste.org/standards/for-educators</span><div><div style="text-indent: 48px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">TEDxTalks. (2017,
November 14). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztgSr42CSEI</span><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></p></div></div>The Dream Of The Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802213259363787791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6905533122027177411.post-74561634481589191162021-04-22T10:48:00.001-07:002021-04-22T10:48:30.639-07:00EDUC 639 Blog: Digital Rights <p> </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.freeimages.com/photo/that-lock-again-1472739" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFUgxUJgmpwkdHJydU6KeC2PKbJKah1EyXhB_dnWEhfP2HvI9F942Gn5ep4kFNswcDuBkhU_kHTgRD3V61aBBGZfVhKHPH7FXr9Z7otDXvkTs6k8tSZGM9GQxF9fWwdcXrsC9ET1zvtbB3/s320/Privacy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">How
do we guard our privacy in this digital age? It is a common misconception that “we”
(Americans? Humankind?) have the <a href="https://legaldictionary.net/inalienable-rights/">inalienable right</a> to our privacy. Is this a
basic human right? Is it due to the <a href="https://legaldictionary.net/4th-amendment/">4<sup>th</sup> amendment</a> (search and seizure)?
The answer is a definitive, “No.” Privacy is a concept that is protected only
by legal fiction. With each advance in new technology our concept of privacy
has been and continues to be eroded. In a TEDx talk in 2016, Nicholas Martino
said that “If we can not protect ourselves we can not be ourselves.” (TEDx
Talks, 2016)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Five years after the fact, I’m wondering what this
speaker would have to say about our new virtual and hybrid classroom environments
that have evolved this past year since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in
the spring of 2020? Many questions go unanswered even today as we are screaming
up on the end of the 2020-2021 school year. Is it legal (or ethical) to
live-stream a classroom? Is remote learning itself legal? Must cameras be “on” for
virtual learning? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I don’t have all the answers to these questions, but I
can share with you some of the disadvantages of virtual learning. When we do
not require cameras to be on in the virtual classroom we are attempting to protect
student privacy, but we are also giving them license to walk away and disengage
from the learning content being taught. Many students lay their heads down on the
table, lay down in bed, or on the couch intending to ‘listen’ and fall asleep. With
cameras off, there is nearly zero connection between students or between
teachers and students. No eye contact, and certainly no non-verbal behavioral
cues. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>It has been my practice to ask for cameras to be on to
take attendance, and then I encourage them to stay on so that we stay engaged in
our learning together. I do not require the camera to stay on, mostly because
that is not a hill I’m ‘willing to die on’. Pick your battles, but encourage
that visual interaction! <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Resources<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .25in; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">TEDx Talks. (2016, January 21). </span><em style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Privacy in the Digital Age | Nicholas Martino | TEDxFSCJ</em><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> [Video]. YouTube. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PuhifEL5VsU" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background: white; color: black; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PuhifEL5VsU</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><br /><p></p>The Dream Of The Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802213259363787791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6905533122027177411.post-75936010336949475612021-04-19T11:09:00.002-07:002021-04-20T08:49:08.328-07:00EDUC 639 - Blog: The Importance of Teaching Media Fluency/Literacy<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="hhttps://images.search.yahoo.com/yhs/search;_ylt=AwrJ6wp3pX1gk2EAiyM2nIlQ;_ylu=c2VjA3NlYXJjaARzbGsDYnV0dG9u;_ylc=X1MDMTM1MTE5NTcwMgRfcgMyBGFjdG4DY2xrBGNzcmNwdmlkAzY2QXlEREV3TGpMQ0p4RzVYNk1HaGdhNE5qUXVOUUFBQUFBMkVrdVQEZnIDeWhzLWliYS1zeW4EZnIyA3NhLWdwBGdwcmlkA3RfSUc0OUFLUldlLlQuQVJ1cW5ZVEEEbl9zdWdnAzAEb3JpZ2luA2ltYWdlcy5zZWFyY2gueWFob28uY29tBHBvcwMwBHBxc3RyAwRwcXN0cmwDBHFzdHJsAzIzBHF1ZXJ5A21lZGlhJTIwZmx1ZW5jeSUyMGltYWdlBHRfc3RtcAMxNjE4ODQ3NDgz?p=media+fluency+image&fr=yhs-iba-syn&fr2=sb-top-images.search&ei=UTF-8&n=60&x=wrt&type=asbw_8923_CHW_US_tid32019&hsimp=yhs-syn&hspart=iba&param1=qBILe6yS5E921ds4gRsqxZyE0009UsU7XvZueBJvJRnfh5SjQuO%2BTOJeUj1aPrHe&param2=9dUI1n2R0BLDxNuWfiP4aSFOTltNdSPoIx38%2BUf%2FiXrvPdoGmStdlfwLFZYDvqkAJrWWk4yNReCLnBD%2FqPsDZd7olTZcV8HMx1G%2Fk786sE2Tis1g8dJd8zxVWs%2BbKztBnq1TfqUiqPYK9pXifXmJF23GuXP%2F%2FuMqmznMxQq%2BppAvijYgp4vajboZ8eiG3jJbU9%2BAgTU8EQFi%2FY64xPxzMl5TbHDPQdsXluAE7uv1Yb6ZpsiUZ6Ya6d1%2B1xrkwHBVzIqjZA0W1ddJp0oqwQhjnw%3D%3D&param3=NwVEMR%2FzKcG52XsVBYEh2zk2Yklq85vdfspZPoqz2M1qypHRDDTed5vIiOf0QJloIYNIhURx5ygk43IbuWBmnSO6VJi0Lg%2BHXK15j4L%2FFbtWkrI4tZva2CSdO%2BO8zcxNbLhvWNCxu7qqZlXKkcHyRPN8c2QWtrzFj7yR%2BjUl7%2FxFnGVztkAZQ14Y31QLTova&param4=v9Iyb5Ypfz0h4zaiDV1DNYLsRFeB88ElF0F1htiV7ys%3D#id=38&iurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.lboro.ac.uk%2Fmedia%2Fwwwlboroacuk%2Fcontent%2Flibrary%2Fphotos%2Ftopics%2FDigital%2520fluency.jpg&action=click" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="757" data-original-width="1920" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgooSbZUwDb-Ip6zlgtWWjziGSD72WvywDauwj06ppt22aFh5fUJ9UgTltssB1UrHY5AnVVIoqdscbNbQY7A3-mu9jsFqNrC5qu8k_IRIqhMWgAUnjIrASV4Ksu2Yfnm3LejUphL5JpGXtv/w599-h235/Digital+fluency.jpg" width="599" /></a></div><div><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Promoting
Media Fluency in the Classroom<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span> </span><span> </span>We all can recognize the
fact that the number of hours most of humankind spends a day in front of media
of some sort has skyrocketed in the last decade, the amount of time our children
and youth spend, even more so. I can not imagine how those numbers have
multiplied over the last year since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The
face of our work and school lives has transformed this past year into
something we could not have imagined just 12 months ago. What we have found is
that we are no longer merely consumers of media but producers as well. In order
to continue to excel in our work and school lives, humankind has a deep need to
become fluent in all avenues of media literacy. “Today we need to be able to
communicate as effectively with graphical and multi-media formats as we do with
words and text. Media fluency helps us to develop these abilities.” <span style="background: white; color: #333333;">(Wabisabi Learning, 2016)</span></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"> As educators, we have a weighty burden to not only provide
media literacy education for our students, but in many cases, we must bridge
that gap for ourselves first! Becoming media literate means we must teach
students to “apply critical thinking to media message and” “use media to create
their own messages”. This is “a key 21st-century skill. Media
Literacy is critical to” students’ future educational endeavors and their “future
participation in the civic and economic life of our democracy”. <span style="background: white; color: #333333;">("What is media literacy?", 2014)</span></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"> Media fluency demands critical listening skills, the
ability to analyze, verbalize and verify information, separating facts from opinions.
We need to be fluent also in the ‘wrappers’ the information reaches us in, the specific
medium utilized. Acquiring next the skills to respond or communicate using that
media’s form, flow, and align it correctly for the audience at hand. Becoming
media literate means we have the ability to interpret the media message
(wrappers and all), evaluate the impacts of those messages on thoughts,
feelings, and behaviors, and then be able to produce our own media thoughtfully
and diligently. <span style="background: white; color: #333333;">("What is
media literacy?", 2014)</span></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"> Becoming media fluent or literate is imperative for
students as they approach their future educational and civic endeavors, it will
empower them to engage in a global media environment. “Today’s messages come in
many forms and literacy can no longer refer simply to the ability to read and
write.” <span style="background: white; color: #333333;">("What is media
literacy?", 2014)</span></span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GIaRw5R6Da4" width="320" youtube-src-id="GIaRw5R6Da4"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.5in;"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">(Media
Literacy Now, 2017)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: -0.5in;"></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">References<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: -0.5in;">Media Literacy Now. (2017, January 17). </span><em style="box-sizing: border-box; text-indent: -0.5in;">What is Media Literacy?</em><span style="text-indent: -0.5in;"> [Video]. YouTube. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: -0.5in;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIaRw5R6Da4" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background: white; color: black; text-decoration-line: none;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIaRw5R6Da4</span></a></span></p></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Wabisabi Learning. (2016, February 16). </span><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Media Fluency</em> [Video]. YouTube. <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myYUGyAjqII" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background: white; color: black; text-decoration-line: none;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myYUGyAjqII</span></a><em><span style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></em></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;"><em><span style="background: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">What is
media literacy?</span></em><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"> (2014, January 28). Media Literacy Now. <span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><a href="https://medialiteracynow.org/what-is-media-literacy/"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: black; text-decoration-line: none;">https://medialiteracynow.org/what-is-media-literacy/</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div> <p></p>The Dream Of The Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802213259363787791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6905533122027177411.post-41965506346611657182021-04-18T12:52:00.000-07:002021-04-18T12:52:04.740-07:00EDUC 639 Wk. 3 - Blog: Learning Culture <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGngL2wdJGL6bqA_diPGhwH5663Nt-USs918JvWvp-kDcwWZNqMIdoVuQ2d1JWS77aWeH1KPDb0quESCJt1WPd5dYj863Xij122q1hbEA02LmXfObEXd_1SPv1cH1ktGnWfIdv7XXSWASA/w451-h300/new+normal.jpg" width="451" /></div><p><br /></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">One
thing that remains constant in this world of ours is change. Hand in hand with
this truth of humankind is that when it comes to change, we always struggle against
it. We go long stretches of time and we get comfortable and complacent with how
we live, work, or worship. Then something big comes along, like a world-wide
pandemic, and we all must learn to approach our lives work differently to
survive. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">In the past, we have been known to take a very one-dimensional approach to learning
‘from’ technological sources. We cannot simply read excerpts or watch video clips
and answer multiple-choice questions to demonstrate authentic learning. This ‘learning’
is only in our short-term memory long enough to pass the quiz. Learning ‘with’
technology perpetrates a much different outcome. One where people can use technology
as a cognitive tool and complete authentic tasks with the learned skills and
solve problems that occur in real-world scenarios. (Carr-Chellman &
Rowland, 2017)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Nigel
Paine reminded us this week in our video content, that no matter where we work it
is far better to establish a learning culture within our workplace, rather than
to take that one-dimensional approach of the read/watch + multiple-choice quiz
to demonstrate learning or knowledge. This approach might be appropriate for
formative assessments to inform instruction, but not summative assessments
where we need to see knowledge and skills demonstrated authentically. Paine describes
learning culture as managing change and transformation, that can take insight
from an outside source and quickly incorporate it into policy, and quickly acting
on it. This produces workers who feel confident in their growing skill sets,
and therefore, more competent. Paine implies that having confidence in your
ability to execute your duties then creates an ongoing culture of competency as
your working skills improve and increase. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Paine, 2019)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Resources<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 28.35pt; text-indent: -28.35pt;">Carr-Chellman,
A. A., & Rowland, G. (2017). <i>Issues in Technology, Learning, and Instructional
Design</i>. Routledge. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 28.35pt; text-indent: -28.35pt;">Paine, N.
(2019). <i>What is a Learning Culture?<br /></i>.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pn9AAw3vcXs. <o:p></o:p></p><br /><p></p>The Dream Of The Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802213259363787791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6905533122027177411.post-62391649653191576442021-04-10T09:09:00.000-07:002021-04-10T09:09:13.779-07:00The Social Responsibility of Educators as They Guide Young Learners<p> </p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://www.pexels.com/@mary-taylor" imageanchor="1" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1215" data-original-width="1880" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Crvew75LxuKG8ywZhOpH_bXdFoszD4x4oSPvCIUNNdwAgR6ZQnY5ZBXU6Y3sa9k8owDOTkGJwJ2-DlAApgoK4PfIWrwzuAR-2fRug256x-18RdErJ5Jko5PSIAV0Xb57FNMaKVDQ56lB/s320/pexels-photo-5896502.jpeg" width="320" /></a></b></div><b><br /></b><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;">The Social Responsibil</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">ity of Educators as They Guide Young Learners<o:p></o:p></span></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Educators at every
level have the weighty responsibility of designing and executing learning for
students with very wide arrays of personal variables. Not only must educators consider
students' individual learning challenges and needs, and linguistic/cultural
differences, but also remain sensitive to variables such as sexual identity,
race, socio-economic status, and variances in familial lifestyles. How these
variables are addressed in the educational environment affects a student’s
academic development and shapes their future identities as citizens. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“How can we successfully teach and reach all students, from
all backgrounds, while fostering a desire for increased social responsibility
and awareness within them?”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> (Gangone, 2019, pg. 1) <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Clearly, we live
in a time of unprecedented insensitivity to many social-difference-related
issues even though the United States has been working through many of these
same issues for generations. There is a deep desire within the education
community to grow up new generations of Americans who can cope with their own
social responsibilities and support others while they do the same. The development
of basic social skills early in life may be the key to the social changes many
of us are desperate for. Enveloping lessons on cooperation, communication,
conflict management, and role-playing perspective-taking (Berman, 1990) into the general curriculum at every level of education could be an excellent start. Learners
of every kind need these valuable tools in their coping skills repertoire.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Resources<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-indent: -.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Berman,
S. (1990). Educating for Social Responsibility. Educational Leadership, November,
75–80. http://www.ascd.org/ASCD/pdf/journals/ed_lead/el_199011_berman.pdf<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-indent: -.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Gutierrez,
A. (2020, February 12). Educators and Social Responsibility: What This
Means to Informed Citizenry. American Association of Colleges for Teacher
Education (AACTE). <a href="https://aacte.org/2019/08/educators-and-social-responsibility-what-this-means-to-informed-citizenry/"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">https://aacte.org/2019/08/educators-and-social-responsibility-what-this-means-to-informed-citizenry/</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>The Dream Of The Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802213259363787791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6905533122027177411.post-22608138654915738252021-03-11T12:39:00.003-08:002021-03-11T12:39:40.047-08:00EDUC 630 - Technology Trends Infographic <p> <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin3jXw_tzN5SlvuCxk-esYhnzren_0W4edAo1pU3OCGsAwbMAH4hyphenhyphenkNz_lhjBdLDaKbT0XqQYr7sLs2jHDHasAcb4qk31y-XzhyRWdt78g5oye-aET5WRdtwBgPf_cIX60wBKdzVOrddtF/s639/Tech+Trends+Infographic+EDUC+630+-+Traci+Best.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="639" data-original-width="489" height="739" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin3jXw_tzN5SlvuCxk-esYhnzren_0W4edAo1pU3OCGsAwbMAH4hyphenhyphenkNz_lhjBdLDaKbT0XqQYr7sLs2jHDHasAcb4qk31y-XzhyRWdt78g5oye-aET5WRdtwBgPf_cIX60wBKdzVOrddtF/w566-h739/Tech+Trends+Infographic+EDUC+630+-+Traci+Best.jpg" width="566" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></p>The Dream Of The Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802213259363787791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6905533122027177411.post-66395122236590725732021-03-10T13:06:00.000-08:002021-03-10T13:06:23.400-08:00EDUC 630 Web-Based Assessment Assignment - Following Isabel on Instagram (Chains)<p> </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/w93GIXG02g4" width="320" youtube-src-id="w93GIXG02g4"></iframe></div><br /><p><br /></p>The Dream Of The Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802213259363787791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6905533122027177411.post-28806794782658229872021-03-07T05:51:00.000-08:002021-03-07T05:51:03.366-08:00EDUC 630 VDB Week 7: Assistive Technology<p> </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxGghAT-BLEOFhZiPCreRkTcEGSZKX9AXfXNCqAMnXB8hJjK9bLXGqSEtgUjRsmg3zQlwcvTvstQprSDZueFg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Discussion Board Week 7:
Assistive Technology<span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"> </span>EDUC
630<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Roblyer & Hughes (2019)
discuss <span style="background: white; color: #333333;">considering opportunities
to teach online</span>. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>I teach
developmental reading to a small group of ninth-grade special education
students. During remote learning this school year under the pandemic conditions
of COVID-19, I had to devise a way to read a book with my students and do activities
and answer questions without being able to physically put a book into their
hands. Choosing a book that we had classroom copies of, I went out to Amazon and
purchased the Kindle and the Audible versions of this book. All of our students
have a division-issued Chromebook that they use to access our learning
management system and zoom classroom links, and if necessary, each student is
provided a portable hotspot for Wi-Fi. Each class meeting, I would share my
screen where I was displaying the text of the reading as large as I could, and
we would read along as we listened to the Audible version read to us. We would
move through chapter by chapter, prereading the chapter comprehension questions,
reading the chapter together, and then discussing the answers to the
comprehension questions for that segment of the story. I am certain that my attempts
at providing equitable access for all of my students to these resources had a
positive impact on their reading fluency and comprehension, despite the
pandemic climate we still find ourselves in. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">References<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 15.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 15.0pt; text-indent: -.5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Roblyer & Hughes (2019) Integrating
educational technology into teaching. New York, NY: Pearson. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><br /><p></p>The Dream Of The Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802213259363787791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6905533122027177411.post-21903873576876450422021-02-21T12:05:00.000-08:002021-02-21T12:05:09.132-08:00EDUC 630 Technology Lesson Demonstration - Traci Best<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SZCLPOsErDA" width="320" youtube-src-id="SZCLPOsErDA"></iframe></div><br /> <p></p>The Dream Of The Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802213259363787791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6905533122027177411.post-59307135522040446042021-02-19T13:47:00.005-08:002021-02-19T13:52:18.910-08:00EDUC 630 VDB Week 5: Gaming<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="344" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Cv5e4W-KCx4" width="414" youtube-src-id="Cv5e4W-KCx4"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p><a href="https://thedreamoftheking.blogspot.com/2021/02/educ-630-vdb-week-5-gaming.html" rel="noopener" target="_blank">https://thedreamoftheking.blogspot.com/2021/02/educ-630-vdb-week-5-gaming.html</a> </p><p><strong>VDB Wk 5: Gaming EDUC 630</strong></p><p> Utilizing gamification in the classroom has definite advantages and disadvantages. Gaming can be used in many ways such as to connect to prior knowledge at the beginning of a whole group lesson or facilitate group review of a lesson or a whole unit of study. In these types of applications gaming activities can be not just fun but motivating because students often enjoy competing with each other. The nature of this collaborative application also encourages interactivity and offers immediate feedback for correcting wrong answers. </p><p>There are challenges though to using gaming in the classroom. Not just any game is going to necessarily be a good fit for a lesson. Roblyer and Hughes (2019) remind us that the objectives or purposes of some games may not align with the learning goals and objectives for our lessons. Also, it is always possible that students may start to lose the purpose for which they are gaming and be more focused on the competitive fun’ aspects as opposed to keeping the focus on learning and be tempted to get too rowdy and out of control.</p><p>Personally, in my classroom, I like to keep control of gaming activities by utilizing things I know are going to be teacher-directed such as a Kahoot game. I recently used this app to run through a 47-question unit review for my English 9 class. It was a fun way to cover the material that will be on the unit test, fix any misconceptions the students have about the material and expose my students to test wording prior to the actual exam. This bolsters confidence in test-taking and eases testing anxiety. It also allows the students to practice test-taking strategies.</p><p>Gaming is probably not going to be appropriate for testing itself, or graded work, particularly in the virtual school environment. Often internet connections are interrupted, and students may make mistakes in responses that would be difficult or impossible to change in that format rather than a traditional written test. Additionally, gaming-based testing might be ill-advised due to the possibility of programs being vulnerable to hacking for the purpose of cheating.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Resource</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
</p><p>Roblyer & Hughes (2019) Integrating educational technology into teaching. New York, NY: Pearson.</p>The Dream Of The Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802213259363787791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6905533122027177411.post-9252026588748875282021-02-06T08:27:00.003-08:002021-02-06T09:23:01.321-08:00EDUC 630 Professional Development Presentation - The Value of Profesional Organizations<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxIfXYEqSQDxd-imT18ln4P8LPbwlvKhMk_U0f3SXXJSVsrZ9bql8Nqk6zMTbxtRLvkJSgmiabP7w48nuq7eQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><p><br /></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.25in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Transcript: Professional Development Presentation EDUC 630<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Hello.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My name is Traci Best.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is my Professional Development presentation
for EDUC 630 at Liberty University.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Why
is PD important, and why should you join a professional organization?</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">a.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Educational
development & continuing education is necessary for certifications and
other required credentials</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">b.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Awareness
of the newest research and development in your field.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">c.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Vehicle
to demonstrate your developing skills, to <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>make new professional connections, and pave
the way for future job advancement. (Frederiksen, 2016)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">International
Society for Technology in Education (ISTE.org) is a professional association
for educators. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level2 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Home to a passionate community of global
educators who believe in the power of technology to transform teaching and
learning, accelerate innovation and solve tough problems in education.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level2 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">ISTE inspires the creation of solutions
and connections that improve opportunities for all learners by delivering:
practical guidance, evidence-based professional learning, virtual networks,
thought-provoking events and the </span><a href="https://www.iste.org/standards"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">ISTE Standards</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">(ISTE.org,
2021)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">ISTE Publishing – Books<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">ISTE </span><a href="https://id.iste.org/connected/resources/searchresults?mediaType=book&_ga=2.173154403.13475771.1592683237-1606039970.1592683237"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">publishes
books </span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">by teachers for teachers to help each other put themselves
at the forefront of knowledge and best practices in educational technology. (ISTE.org,
2021)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">This is an example of a
book I purchased recently to add to my professional toolbox for special
learners who struggle to connect with subject content in meaningful ways.
(Carter, 2019)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">ISTE
Publishing – Peer Reviewed Journals<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“The </span><a href="https://www.iste.org/learn/edtech-research"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Journal of
Research on Technology in Education</span></i></a><a href="https://www.iste.org/learn/edtech-research"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">(JRTE)
publishes articles that report on original research, project descriptions/evaluations,
syntheses of the literature, assessments of the state of the art, and
theoretical or conceptual positions that relate to the field of educational
technology in teaching and learning and inform P-16 school-based practice”
(ISTE.org, 2021).</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“The
ISTE </span><a href="https://www.iste.org/learn/edtech-research"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Journal
of Digital Learning in Teacher Education</span></i></a><a href="https://www.iste.org/learn/edtech-research"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">(<i>JDLTE</i>)
is a refereed journal published in partnership with the ISTE Professional
Learning Network for Teacher Educators. <i>JDLTE</i> provides access
to the growing body of research addressing the use of digital technologies in
teacher education. Articles highlight contemporary trends and effective,
creative and innovative uses of digital technologies that prepare preservice, in-service
and teacher educators for teaching in technology-rich learning
environments. <i>JDLTE</i> digital issues are published quarterly
(ISTE.org, 2021)”.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">ISTE
Publishing Blog utilizes a YouTube channel to deliver ideas, content &
resources for leading-edge educators every month, deliverable by monthly
round-up email or simply by subscribing to the ISTE channel. (ISTE.org, 2021)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">7.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">ISTE
– EdTech Conference 2020 was November 28<sup>th</sup> – December 1<sup>st</sup>,
2020 in Anaheim, California. There were thirteen speakers this year presenting
a wide variety of topics. I’d like to share with you a couple talks that
interest me:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">9. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 22.8267px; text-indent: -27px;">Dr. Desiree Alexander of Educator Alexander Consulting, LLC<i> </i>presented Digital Equity and the Innovation Inequity Paradox: Unintended Consequences and Future Planning.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt; text-indent: -27px;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">10. Sophia Mendoza of Los
Angeles Unified School District is presenting <i>Leading with Equity and the
ISTE Education Lead Standards</i> for educators, pre-k through 12. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;"><span style="background: #FEFEFE; color: #424242; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“Explore how PK-12 instructional leaders leverage the ISTE Standards
for Education Leaders with the lens of equity and citizenship advocacy to
ensure that all students of color have skilled educators who strategically use
technology to meet student learning needs.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: 38.25pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -20.25pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">“Technology can fuel innovation,
foster creativity and create engaging learning environments. At its worst,
though, poor educational technology and instruction can punish our poorest and
most vulnerable students. Explore the relationship between innovation and inequity
and examine inequity challenges that are arising amid ongoing innovation. (ISTE.org,
2021)</span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 38.25pt; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><br /><p></p>The Dream Of The Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802213259363787791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6905533122027177411.post-78752915431588888022021-02-04T13:20:00.004-08:002021-02-04T13:24:10.243-08:00VDB 2: EDUC 630 - Traci Best<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxhCEjQ2AziCgDShoE_tRu1e8sUggAHiGsXqdBfSBtOFID9fFnwMAkmyRdgsQy_s0cjsOGw8IXcT7Qv77xu0g' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 200%;">VDB #2: Data Collection
& Analysis EDUC
630<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 200%;">Collecting
data and analyzing it to inform instruction is a pretty basic principle of the
modern classroom. One very rudimentary example of that would be to assign an
exit ticket activity at the end of a lesson. Students would be required to
identify key elements of the lesson objective and state them briefly in either
an electronic app-based program or with something as simple as a post-it note
or index card and pencil. Teachers could then use the information to direct their
lesson planning and make decisions such as whether a whole-group review was
required, or maybe follow-up with a small group of students to review before
the next lesson. The information from the lesson exit ticket could also be used
to connect to previous learning at the beginning of the next lesson. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 200%;">Roblyer
& Hughes (2019) suggests that s</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 200%;">tudents might collect and
analyze data from science experiments to test hypotheses or generate box and
whisker plots to visually display data distributions. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 200%;">Resource<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 15.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 15.0pt; margin: 15pt 0in 15pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 200%;">Roblyer & Hughes (2019) Integrating
educational technology into teaching. New York, NY: Pearson. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><p><br /> </p>The Dream Of The Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802213259363787791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6905533122027177411.post-68172482961286102342021-01-28T13:16:00.000-08:002021-01-28T13:16:26.432-08:00EDUC - 630: Video Discussion Board #1 <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="348" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5CM883ZwawI" width="419" youtube-src-id="5CM883ZwawI"></iframe></div><br /><p><br /></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 2.25pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-outline-level: 3;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="https://learn.liberty.edu/webapps/blackboard/content/launchLink.jsp?course_id=_629236_1&content_id=_40050033_1&mode=view"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #003366; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Video Discussion Board 1</span></a><span style="mso-tab-count: 6;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>EDUC 630<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 2.25pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-outline-level: 3;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 2.25pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-outline-level: 3;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">An effective teacher balances the demands of standards-based
curriculum and the individual needs of each student by employing technology in ways
to: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 2.25pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; mso-outline-level: 3; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Time-manage<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 2.25pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; mso-outline-level: 3; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Vary instruction, assessment, and learning artifacts<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 2.25pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; mso-outline-level: 3; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Organize collection and analysis of student data (Roblyer &
Hughes, 2019)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 2.25pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-outline-level: 3; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Several tools we have at
our disposal to help us comply with both the demands of standards-based
curriculum and the needs of individual students are hardware-based
technologies, such as:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: 2.25pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; mso-outline-level: 3; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Wireless network – to access the internet<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: 2.25pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; mso-outline-level: 3; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Laptop or desktop computers - for administration, teachers and
students<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: 2.25pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; mso-outline-level: 3; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Hand-held technology – cell phones, tablets, or e-books <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: 2.25pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; mso-outline-level: 3; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Display technology – used in whole class or large group
instruction from a computer<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 2.25pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-outline-level: 3;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Other tools are software-based
such as productivity software that allows “teachers and students (to) plan</span><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">, develop materials, communicate, collaborate,
and keep records. These might include word processing, spreadsheet, databases,
and email programs as well as a variety of other materials generators and data
collection/analysis, graphics, and research and reference tools.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">” (Roblyer & Hughes,
2019, pg. 8)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 2.25pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-outline-level: 3;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: .4pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>A technology-based best practice that
I have repeatedly employed in my lessons is audio-assisted reading. Although it
is found by some to be redundant a drain on cognitive load, and completely unnecessary
(Jonassen, 2008) I have found that in the light of learners with disabilities
and/or special needs it is very valuable. Whether you are working with English
language learners, struggling readers, or emerging readers audio-assisted
reading can increase comprehension, fluency, and sight word recognition (Stevens,
et al., 2017).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 15.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 15.0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: .4pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">References<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<h1 style="background: white; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 15.0pt; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -.5in;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: .25pt; line-height: 200%;">Jonassen, D., Spector, M.
J., Driscoll, M., Merrill, M.D., van Merrienboer, J., & Driscoll M.P.
(2008) </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: .35pt; line-height: 200%;">Handbook of Research on Educational
Communications and Technology: </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">A Project of the
Association for Educational Communications and Technology. New York, NY: Taylor
& Francis Group, LLC. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 15.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 15.0pt; text-indent: -.5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Roblyer & Hughes (2019) Integrating
educational technology into teaching. New York, NY: Pearson. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<h1 style="background: white; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -.5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 200%;">Stevens, E.A., Walker, M.A., and Vaughn,
S. (2017) The Effects of Reading Fluency Interventions on the Reading Fluency
and Reading Comprehension Performance of Elementary Students With Learning
Disabilities: A Synthesis of the Research from 2001 to 2014. <i>Journal of
Learning Disabilities, </i>50(5) 576–590, DOI: 10.1177/0022219416638028</span><i><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></h1><br /><p></p>The Dream Of The Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802213259363787791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6905533122027177411.post-79838782907442378412020-06-23T12:50:00.001-07:002020-06-23T12:51:04.970-07:00Video Discussion Board #4 - EDUC 630<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/h3oq90AR2O8/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/h3oq90AR2O8?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16pt;">Video Discussion Board
#4 EDUC
630<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> In order to provide equitable access to digital technology
for every student, school districts, administration and teachers must ensure
adequate access to resources. (Roblyer & Hughes, 2019) In my school
district, many schools have a one to one ratio of Chromebooks for students. Some
schools only have a 1 to 2 ratio of Chromebooks to students and must share or
rotate devices in the classroom. During the COVID-19 Safer at Home Order, our
school district made sure that all students either had a Chromebook assigned to
them or had access to another device at home to access the internet. In
addition to this, mobile hotspots were provided for students whose families were
unable to acquire internet access of their own. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> “Technology equity is a major concern for state lawmakers
and leaders. States continue to work to eliminate a wide disparity among
individual districts as to how they use technology.” (Whitehead, Jensen &
Boschee, 2013) Often educators are left to their own devices to find ways of
meeting their students' needs in the classroom with their own resources such as
utilizing defunct or outdated smartphones to provide applications for extra play-like
practice for struggling learners. Many
districts are fortunate if they have a SMARTboard or other such device in
their classrooms to assist teachers with interactive group rotations, or
video/other media presentations to keep their learners engaged. The endless
uses of the SMARTboard can save those educators hours planning and executing
lessons that don’t have to be recreated by hand on a whiteboard each new school
year. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Resources<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 200%;">Roblyer & Hughes (2019) Integrating
educational technology into teaching. New York, NY: Pearson. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 200%;">Whitehead, B. M., Jensen, D. F., &
Boschee, F. (2013) Planning for Technology. Thousand Oaks, CA: CORWIN</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />The Dream Of The Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802213259363787791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6905533122027177411.post-55693416017709084442020-06-22T11:23:00.001-07:002020-06-22T11:23:40.428-07:00Professional Development Presentation - EDUC 630<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />The Dream Of The Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802213259363787791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6905533122027177411.post-36440861175489676012020-05-21T10:23:00.001-07:002020-05-21T10:23:05.173-07:00Video Discussion Board 1 - EDUC 630<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxmrwxHd_w4dZ3miyy-COPpuxG54Sx2abCVeT9TXtLbECxY-Kt3H6vwRHlrxdesWuO739f_4S8Krh-D1rdSQA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://learn.liberty.edu/webapps/blackboard/content/launchLink.jsp?course_id=_629236_1&content_id=_40050033_1&mode=view"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #003366; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Video Discussion Board 1</span></a> EDUC 630<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"> </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">In our text, Roblyer & Hughes (2019) tell us that the
effective teacher balances the demands of standards-based curriculum and the
individual needs of each student by continually seeking to acquire and maintain
technological, pedagogical and content knowledge skills that will prepare them
to meet each new challenge as they arise in this ever-expanding digital
educational age. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"> In our reading this week </span><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: 0.25pt; line-height: 200%;">Jonassen</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"> (2008) speaks to several tools we have at our
disposal to help us comply with both the demands of standards-based curriculum
and the needs of individual students. Hardware-based technologies, such as eye-tracking
technology provides evidence of the learners’ attentiveness to the lesson by
tracking what they are looking at on the computer screen. This eye-tracking data
can be used as the foundation for supervising and supporting learners during
the learning process, guiding their learning to increase engagement. This information
could allow teachers to redirect those who are off task, possibly without the
learner realizing they are being redirected. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"> <span style="letter-spacing: .4pt;">The best practice I am
implementing in my classroom regarding technology, ideally, is to create a
classroom culture that is enthusiastic and supportive of technology use. If my students
see that I am comfortable and confident in using my chosen tech devices, then those
feelings will convey to my students also. My excitement and confidence in
utilizing technology will be contagious. (Catucci, 2020)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.4pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">References<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.4pt; line-height: 200%;">Catucci,
C., (2020) <i>Best practices when using technology in class. </i>Retrieved
from: </span><span style="line-height: 200%;"><a href="https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/teacherzone/best-practices-using-technology-class/"><span style="color: black; text-decoration-line: none;">https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/teacherzone/best-practices-using-technology-class/</span></a></span><span style="line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<h1 style="background: white; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 15.0pt; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; letter-spacing: 0.25pt; line-height: 200%;">Jonassen, D., Spector, M.
J., Driscoll, M., Merrill, M.D., van Merrienboer, J., & Driscoll</span> M.P.
(2008) <span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt; line-height: 200%;">Handbook of Research on Educational
Communications and Technology: </span><span style="line-height: 200%;">A Project of the
Association for Educational Communications and Technology. New York, NY: Taylor
& Francis Group, LLC. </span><span style="line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></h1>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 200%;">Roblyer & Hughes (2019) Integrating educational
technology into teaching. New York, NY: Pearson. </span><span style="line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br />The Dream Of The Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802213259363787791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6905533122027177411.post-68823999016610535592017-11-14T06:36:00.000-08:002017-11-14T06:36:13.168-08:00Important Lessons: In case of an accident<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvhW6g9hNlTZo3bvV2DPW8J84MO8xMBumB2DiuhVAtrMX1CMlrNv6h_SUXnGyHazV6oHLEb2nqJm2S3JmlIywTGa635TJfr6cIb7ldffCxvH_NE7EGzi36g5kToyZlonsDvurnVIf01U17/s1600/civic+damage.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvhW6g9hNlTZo3bvV2DPW8J84MO8xMBumB2DiuhVAtrMX1CMlrNv6h_SUXnGyHazV6oHLEb2nqJm2S3JmlIywTGa635TJfr6cIb7ldffCxvH_NE7EGzi36g5kToyZlonsDvurnVIf01U17/s320/civic+damage.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Some
important things I have learned this past week:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt;">If
you loan your car to someone to drive out of state, notify your insurance
company beforehand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Common sense, Traci.
Hello.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Insurance companies get a little
testy about stuff like that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They will
grill both you and the driver individually, recorded deposition style and make
you feel like a common criminal to get at the truth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fortunately, our (true) stories matched.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(AND we are sticking to it!)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt;">If
you loan your car to someone to drive out of state, make sure you have copies
of all those important papers in the glove box.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You may never see them again and insurance people may hound you until
you hunt down the receipt from your most recent oil change for verification of
the true mileage of the car. (Right!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>David has always changed his own oil.) Fortunately the Civic was in at the dealer this summer for a recall on the airbags so we have that to fall back on. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Keep
copies of all service records and receipts separate from the vehicle, not just
shoved in the glove compartment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If your
car is totaled and you have bought a new battery or tires (or other things) in
the last year and can prove it with receipts they will add that prorated amount
to the total value of your vehicle! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt;">It
is very fortunate that I had thought ahead enough to text the driver our
electronic insurance cards prior to leaving on the trip.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That little detail probably went a long way
toward convincing the officer who worked the accident that the driver had permission
to have possession of our vehicle and operate it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even for day to day use I think it is
important to keep an electronic version or picture of both sides of your
insurance card available in an app on your phone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe a good place to keep medical insurance
cards too. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt;">- First-Aid kits, emergency blankets and other 'In case of' items are important. Make sure your vehicles are stocked. A cold, dark, wet night on the side of an interstate would be a lot more pleasant if you had a way to keep warm and help keep yourselves from going into shock.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt;">In short, be more diligent in your record keeping and accident preparedness than I have been! We are so thankful that the accident wasn't any worse than it was. Thankful for friends to be able to call on to help us pray for safety while they waited for help to come. Thankful both precious driver and passenger were unharmed except for bumps and bruises despite the fact that none of the airbags deployed. (!) Thankful our insurance company didn't deny the claim.</span></div>
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<br />The Dream Of The Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802213259363787791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6905533122027177411.post-17972923222772853232017-11-09T07:06:00.001-08:002017-11-09T07:17:27.645-08:00Wendy's Wonderful Kids <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLSNvHGXFZG4f49PNwyNykrLT647DXg0NZVQuuj9B8yPPAg_r2Q3IvDuinIYNyslZBTK5CZrhPtktlc0t6Ne8xyO1UCni_psu3Mp77e7LUPa7yL9WNzisO0OImIkqNypgq9kN4G26qiMXp/s1600/family+shot+gotcha+day.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="827" data-original-width="992" height="332" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLSNvHGXFZG4f49PNwyNykrLT647DXg0NZVQuuj9B8yPPAg_r2Q3IvDuinIYNyslZBTK5CZrhPtktlc0t6Ne8xyO1UCni_psu3Mp77e7LUPa7yL9WNzisO0OImIkqNypgq9kN4G26qiMXp/s400/family+shot+gotcha+day.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Placement Day 01.21.2014</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Last month I was approached by the director of marketing for the Dave Thomas Foundation. She asked if we would share our adoption story for future Wendy's Wonderful Kids promotions in Wendy's restaurants in central Indiana. I love sharing our stories of adoption. Of course I knew I had to participate and support this incredible opportunity to encourage others in their adoption journeys.</span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">First Overnight Visit, December 2013</span></div>
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</span><span style="font-size: small;">In the early
spring of 2013 I sat at my desk in our schoolroom one day in our rental house
near Greenwood, Indiana.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our three
seventh graders were working quietly on their school work while I worked at my
desk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I took a break from my work and
flipped through Facebook for a minute.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>While I was there I was compelled to click on a link to the
<a href="http://adoptuskids.org/">AdoptUSKids.org</a> website.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Soon I was
scrolling through a list of children eligible for adoption through foster care.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I looked around me at the huge house we had
been blessed with and was overcome by the knowledge that we had it within our
power to do more than we were currently doing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I paused on the profile of a sibling group and thought…with just a few
tweaks we could adopt again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just need a
little bigger vehicle, a couple sets of bunk beds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was totally doable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My girls noticed I was teary and sniffing and
they asked me what was wrong?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I said,
what would you think about adopting again? </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Fast forward to
the late summer that year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>David and I
had finished up our foster care/adoption home study.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our family had been Special Needs Adoption
Program certified.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>David and I had
already interviewed for one sibling group of three…but there were several
families that were interviewing for that group.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We were in ‘wait and see’ mode.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
went out to the mailbox that day and had a little packet from a <a href="https://davethomasfoundation.org/adopt/wwk/">Wendy’sWonderful Kids</a> recruiter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She introduced
herself and congratulated us on this big decision to grow our family through
adoption.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She also included a number of short
biographies of current WWK children and encouraged us to read through them and
see if we felt any sparks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I flipped
through the pages.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most of them were
single adoptions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All were older
children with varying medical and or behavioral issues. One page stood out to
me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Two little brothers who loved Legos,
Star Wars and Star Trek.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I’m telling
myself there is NO WAY, I picked up my phone and called our WWK recruiter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I remember leaving her a voice mail and
telling her we wanted more information about Elijah and Nate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Emails were exchanged.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our recruiter sent me pictures and
videos.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In one of the videos Elijah was
holding a few Legos that he had fashioned into the shape of the starship
Enterprise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His foster Mom was asking
what characters he liked on the shows and he said: “I love all the
Captains.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All the heroes.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are huge Star Trek fans, and that kinda
cemented it for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their WWK recruiter
tried to explain to us as best she could about their challenges, medications,
doctors and background.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We made an
appointment to meet with the boys’ team including their CASA and their case
worker.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We found out later that the boys
had been eligible for adoption for a couple of years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They had been through eight previous foster
homes and two failed pre-adoptive placements.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Their challenges were many, behaviorally and educationally.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>David and I walked out of that meeting that
day and said to each other…These boys need us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If not us, who?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If not now,
when?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We knew the other sibling group we
had interviewed for had several other families interested.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The boys did not have that luxury.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>David and I both felt convicted this was what
we were to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Visits were
initiated pretty quickly after that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
had the boys for overnight weekend visits for 4-5 weeks and then a longer visit
over several days at Christmas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our
placement date was MLK day in January 2014.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We never looked back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every month the boys’ CASA and case worker
would make visits to us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every month
they would look deep into my eyes and ask me how things were going?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would tell them the truth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The challenges.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The sweet moments.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The homework struggles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every month I think they were looking to see
if or when we were going to cry ‘uncle’ and try to escape our commitment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t see that as an option then.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I only had one goal in site:
Finalization.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In November of that year
we finalized their adoption on National Adoption Day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>November 21</span><sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">st</span></sup><span style="font-size: small;">, 2014.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was on that cold and drizzly day just
before Thanksgiving that we officially became a family of se</span><span style="font-size: small;">ven.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Anniversary of D, B and HJ's placement July 1, 2017</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: x-small;">photo courtesy of Martin Walker at <a href="http://martywalkerimages.zenfolio.com/">http://martywalkerimages.zenfolio.com/</a></span></div>
<br />The Dream Of The Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802213259363787791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6905533122027177411.post-73710446697529992062016-04-23T07:28:00.000-07:002016-04-23T07:33:23.617-07:00Weariness<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Galatians 6:9</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"> (NIV)<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><b style="color: white;"><sup><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 9pt;">9 </span></sup></b><b style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Let us
not become </span></b><b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: cyan;">weary</span></span></b><b style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> in doing good, for at the proper time we
will reap a harvest if we do not give up.<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/Lexicon/Lexicon.cfm?strongs=G1573&t=KJV">**to
be utterly spiritless, to be wearied out, exhausted</a> </span><b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">How many times have I read
that verse?</span></i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> It was only within the
last week or so that it dawned on me that this first line “Let us not become
weary…” implies that we have a <b><i>choice</i> </b>if we are going to become
weary or not. (!) <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: white;">I have
always viewed weary as tired. How can
you avoid getting tired? But as I was
walking this morning it occurred to me that we have a choice as to whether or
not we are going to “give up” and sink down into the weariness…or if we are
going to press on and finish the task with excellence.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: white;">This
realization comes along on the heels of a very difficult last few weeks for
me. I’ve been beat down and struggling
over every element of my life it seems.
Pain has been a constant companion.
It came to a head last night. I
started to kneel by my bed and I just collapsed on the floor under the weight
of it all. I felt alone. I felt bruised and beaten. I cried, I pulled my comforter over my head
and curled up in a ball. I was
done. If I had a place to go I would
have fled. It felt as if an iron door
falling into place with a loud *thunk*.
Shut down, log off, I can’t leave but I am checking out. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: white;">I was
allowing myself to sink into the weariness.
It was a ginormous pity party.
Did I have many good reasons to feel beaten down? Yes!
Was allowing myself the luxury of wallowing in the mire going to fix
it? No.
Thankfully God’s mercy is new every single morning. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span class="passage-display-bcv"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">James 1:2-8</span></span><span class="passage-display-version"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> (NIV)</span></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></h1>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span class="text"><b><sup><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 9pt;"><span id="en-NIV-30269" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">2 </span></span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,</span></b></span><span class="text"><b><sup data-fn="#fen-NIV-30269a" data-link="[<a href="#fen-NIV-30269a" title="See footnote a">a</a>]" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 7.5pt;">[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+1%3A2-8&version=NIV#fen-NIV-30269a" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer;" title="See footnote a"><span style="text-decoration: none;">a</span></a>]</span></sup></b></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"> </span></b></span><span class="text"><b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">whenever you
face trials of many kinds,</span></b></span><span class="apple-converted-space"></span><b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"> </span></b><span id="en-NIV-30270" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="text"><b><sup style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 9pt;">3 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">because you know that the testing of your faith produces
perseverance.</span></b></span><span class="apple-converted-space"></span><b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"> </span></b></span><span id="en-NIV-30271" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="text"><b><sup style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 9pt;">4 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Let perseverance finish its work so that you may
be mature</span></b></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"> </span></b></span><span class="text"><b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">and complete,
not lacking anything.</span></b></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"> </span></b></span><span id="en-NIV-30272" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="text"><b><sup style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 9pt;">5 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God,</span></b></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"> </span></b></span><span class="text"><b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">who gives generously to all without finding
fault, and it will be given to you.</span></b></span><span class="apple-converted-space"></span><b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"> </span></b></span><span id="en-NIV-30273" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="text"><b><sup style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 9pt;">6 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt,</span></b></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"> </span></b></span><span class="text"><b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">because the one who doubts is like a wave of the
sea, blown and tossed by the wind.</span></b></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"> </span></b></span><span id="en-NIV-30274" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="text"><b><sup style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 9pt;">7 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.</span></b></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"> </span></b></span><span id="en-NIV-30275" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="text"><b><sup style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 9pt;">8 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Such a person is double-minded</span></b></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"> </span></b></span><span class="text"><b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">and unstable</span></b></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"> </span></b></span><span class="text"><b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">in all they do.</span><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></span></span></div>
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<i><span style="background-color: black; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: white;">Lord Jesus, thank you for
the hard things in life. Thank you for
using them to make us realize we must persevere past the temptation to give in
to weariness so that we may reap the good harvest at the proper time. We
want desperately to keep reaching for maturity and completeness in you and you
alone. We believe you for your
promises. Please forgive our
unbelief! Protect us from the enemy as
he seeks to divide us, discourage us and destroy our relationships. Protect us from the spirit of doubt that
seeks to chip away at our solid foundation.
May we never be blown and tossed by the wind this way and that. Make our foothold in you secure and strong,
stable in every storm.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: black; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: orange;"> Keep doing hard things. Perservere. Look for the joy in the trial. Don't allow yourself the luxury of wallowing in the weariness.</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="background-color: black; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: orange;"><br /></span></span></b>
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The Dream Of The Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802213259363787791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6905533122027177411.post-31866147184937981302015-07-25T08:51:00.000-07:002015-07-25T08:51:17.029-07:00Pre-Adoptive Foster Placement Failure: The Why<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Pre-Adoptive Foster Placement Failure: <span style="color: orange;">The Why</span></span></b></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I have been struggling all week trying to deal with what
happened the last several weeks in regard to the failed pre-adoptive placement
of J & M.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To put it in round terms
and not be terribly specific the only thing I can say with any authority is
that I believe they are both pretty severe<span style="color: orange;"><b> <a href="http://amzn.to/1MtoHi2">RAD</a></b></span> * children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(I was never given this diagnosis for them;
this is totally my opinion from my own experience.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>J & M are victims of unthinkable neglect;
which of course put me into high gear immediately.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I want to help, I want to fix, I want to make
it better. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Unfortunately we discovered over the course of a couple
weeks that we are not going to be able to give them what they need.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In order to attempt this huge feat and survive myself, I knew one cost to make it happen would be to
put all the kids in public school…and even then I’m not sure that we would all
come out the other end sane.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>E & N
could go to public school for a few more years…but secondary school is pretty
much out of the question in my mind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What
then?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> E & N's</span> need for attention is already pretty high. How could we continue to fill their emotional cups every day and do the work it would take too to get J & M what they need? B & HJ have no desire whatsoever to go to
public high school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(They witnessed it
with me at the parent meeting at North yesterday for D's orientation. The girls practically RAN from the building afterward.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To make them go to public high school at this point is heart
breaking to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could not do
that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had to make a difficult
decision.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had to admit I do have limits to what I can
do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b id="yui_3_10_0_1_1437839150843_86">"Son</b>, <b>your</b> ego <b>is writing</b> <b>checks</b> <b>your</b> body <b>can't</b> <b>cash</b>.") I’m sure you can imagine how
devastating that is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">One good thing I guess I can say I discovered in this
process is I now know what my limits are.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I can better articulate to our Foster Care Specialist what we are able
to do, what type of child we can help.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>What strengths and weaknesses I have as a parent. Before, I basically said bring it on, anything and everything, I'll do it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The most awesome thing did come out of the experience though too… an
online homeschool friend and I had been texting back and forth about her
pre-adoptive children for some time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Actually since before they had custody.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This friend reached out to me in
the midst of this mess with J & M (One of those zero sleep days.) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and asked for advice about her RAD child.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I had not been in the throes of it myself,
I’m not sure what I would have said to her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I probably would have been pretty wishy-washy not wanting to speak with
any authority on the situation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because
I was hip deep with J & M the moment she contacted me I spoke boldly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I told her to go right to her children’s team
and speak to them that moment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Be honest and open and tell them everything that is happening, what isn’t working and ask them to advise you how to proceed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Yesterday afternoon as I was pushing a cart dragging myself through Target…totally
dejected, weak, tired, worn from this experience…I got a text from her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
issue had been resolved!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Decisions had
been made and plans were in action.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
had such great joy in that moment for her and her family…<span style="color: orange;"><b>THIS was the why</b></span>...it made all the
heartache over J & M worth it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The timing of it all could not be coincidental. God
is good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His timing is perfect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His plans are always far better than my own. To him, all the Glory.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Don’t be afraid to follow your heart, to take that huge step
out into the unknown.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Be a foster
parent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Be an adoptive parent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Get out there and make a difference.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t
listen to the excuses the enemy tries to whisper in your ear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t be thwarted by the opinions of
others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is your life and you live
it as you know you should. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: orange;"><b><a href="http://blog.asha.org/2013/07/11/kid-confidential-what-reactive-attachment-disorder-looks-like/">* What Reactive Attachment Disorder looks like. </a></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8P2FlSmW7K15WiYDYL5lI3ijnGBrzwrdodK53wilMKFugekrcnNcqTIh_8DoR57gNcJ6f2uVjLfwTUyP0NrO8rsyv_3xCg9tNWb9mn10-kMG6jyuH2gFAqrpOCZa3UWowVE5i3n-_pO4v/s1600/Traci+2+Signature.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8P2FlSmW7K15WiYDYL5lI3ijnGBrzwrdodK53wilMKFugekrcnNcqTIh_8DoR57gNcJ6f2uVjLfwTUyP0NrO8rsyv_3xCg9tNWb9mn10-kMG6jyuH2gFAqrpOCZa3UWowVE5i3n-_pO4v/s1600/Traci+2+Signature.png" /></a></span></div>
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The Dream Of The Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802213259363787791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6905533122027177411.post-67732113061965082942015-07-13T08:33:00.001-07:002015-07-13T08:33:53.340-07:00Even in the storms I'll follow you. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfjxnBXrq19OBOWc_MEe2ajlYkqUqNoBkMjRPBza8oYLp0Ou5DGnqWCelX_UAwT5Rh_sza5Z5ID1UlqkSamkIdfTKxv4YJW_StC4m-Ng4qz1ldTTMthiGG_B2D5cD8-VQBg78UrmcSjTzz/s1600/First+Visit+J+M.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfjxnBXrq19OBOWc_MEe2ajlYkqUqNoBkMjRPBza8oYLp0Ou5DGnqWCelX_UAwT5Rh_sza5Z5ID1UlqkSamkIdfTKxv4YJW_StC4m-Ng4qz1ldTTMthiGG_B2D5cD8-VQBg78UrmcSjTzz/s400/First+Visit+J+M.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">E (10), B(14), M(5), J(9), HJ(13), N(9), D(14) </span><b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: orange;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">07/10/15</span></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: orange;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">1st Overnight Visit </span></b></span></div>
<br />
<br />
This past weekend we had our first overnight visit with J & M our (soon to be placed) pre-adoptive foster children. Our new children. Our new babies. I did not give birth to them, but I think of them as mine already anyway. My only thoughts this whole weekend was what THEY needed next. What we as a family needed next. What is the next thing that needs to be done? It was completely overwhelming and THE hardest weekend of my life to date. It was also so good too.<br />
<br />
The first night, Friday night, they were happy, excited, wild. Pushing the limits, seeing how far they could go before I stepped in. Testing me to see if I mean what I say. (I do.) Bedtime was pretty rough. We got home just in time to start bedtime routine. That went okay, the routine itself...but neither of them were ready to go to sleep when it was time. M was nothing short of a hot mess. She is sharing a room with B & HJ. I was up and down the stairs many times. I think she finally fell into exhausted slumber around 1am. David and I had decided to sleep on the couches that first night so we would hear if anything were amiss. (Our bedroom is like a fort. I often don't even hear it storming outside much less hear any of the kids making noise.) <br />
<br />
<span style="color: orange;"><i>I was so tired.</i></span> My day had been so stressful leading up to the 5 hour drive to Anderson to get them. (Did you know that I-69 is a parking lot on the north side during rush hour? I knew it, forgot it, didn't anticipate it. Oy.) The drive was chaotic. The excitement, the stress. The drive home was long. They are not used to riding in the car so long. As I laid on the couch and tried to close my eyes for the hundredth time the anxiety started to rise up. Doubt started to creep in. I had to sit up and get a drink, breathe deep and will the anxiety away. I started singing a song in my head to help me refocus. It is a song that some of my Selah Sisters and I used to sing all the time in college...in a round. (I can hear you laughing) I just kept singing it over and over in my mind. <br />
<br />
<b><span style="color: orange;"><span class="ann-annotated" data-id="18487">Father, I adore You<br />
I Lay my life before You<br />
How I love You</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: orange;"><span class="ann-annotated" data-id="18487"><br />
Jesus, I adore You<br />
I Lay my life before You<br />
How I love You</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: orange;"><span class="ann-annotated" data-id="18487"><br />
Spirit, I adore You<br />
I Lay my life before You<br />
How I love You</span></span></b><br />
<br />
<span class="ann-annotated" data-id="18487">The anxiety would ebb and I felt better but I still could not sleep knowing he wasn't asleep. </span> <br />
<br />
At 1am I knew that J was still awake. He was playing quietly with toys on the floor in his room. I decided that no amount of talking was going to 'make' him go to bed until he was ready...so I just let him play. He was happy, he was not being willfully disobedient...he just wasn't ready to get into that bed. His exact words (at 4am!) were..."but my eyes just are not sleepy yet." He was so sincere. He was surrounded by a whole Lego diorama he had built on ever side of him. (LOL) I said okay. I listened and it finally got quiet between 4:15 and 4:30. I finally fell asleep for a little while after that. <br />
<br />
At 6am a dump truck rumbled down the road past our house so loudly it rattled me awake. I sat up and all I heard was silence. I crept over to his bedroom door and to my surprise ALL the toys were picked up, put away in the correct places. (!) The floor was as clean as a whistle...and a certain little boy was in his bed...with the covers pulled all the way up to his chin. He looked absolutely angelic. I stood there with my mouth agape for a bit...then pulled his door shut and went back to the couch. <br />
<br />
<span style="color: orange;"><b>Psalm 30:5b</b></span><br />
<span style="color: orange;"><b>"<span class="text Ps-30-5">weeping may stay for the night,</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-30-5">but rejoicing comes in the morning."</span></span></b></span><br />
<br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="text Ps-30-5">All I could think was how YES LORD, your joy comes in the morning. Thank you. Praise you Lord Jesus. Yes. You are good. Your love endures forever. This is the work you have given my hands for this season and (Lord, help me) I want to do it, and do it well. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="text Ps-30-5">Then David stirred on the other couch. I looked at him and said "He is finally asleep, if you do anything to wake him, I will hurt you." LOL David is not known for his ability to be stealthy. :D </span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="text Ps-30-5">Our day moved on from there...it was chaotic. I shed some tears. I struggled with doubt still. But I just kept thinking of that quiet moment at 6am when I saw God's word in vivid living color. In a little boy. Who desperately needs to call me Momma. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="text Ps-30-5">I believe and I will follow you. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="text Ps-30-5">This is the new song we sang in worship this weekend. I do not believe in coincidences. (click the song title to listen to it.)</span></span><br />
<br />
<h2 class="content-subhead">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OezS0Gzml10">JON GUERRA lyrics : "I Will Follow"</a></h2>
<span class="indent-1"><span class="text Ps-30-5"><br /></span></span>
<span class="indent-1"><span class="text Ps-30-5">When the sea is calm and all is right<br />
When I feel Your favor flood my life<br />
Even in the good, I'll follow You<br />
Even in the good, I'll follow You<br />
<br />
When the boat is tossed upon the waves<br />
When I wonder if You'll keep me safe<br />
Even in the storms, I'll follow You<br />
Even in the storms, I'll follow You<br />
<br />
I believe everything that You say You are<br />
I believe that I have seen Your unchanging heart<br />
In the good things and in the hardest part<br />
I believe and I will follow You<br />
I believe and I will follow You<br />
<br />
When I see the wicked prospering<br />
When I feel I have no voice to sing<br />
Even in the want, I'll follow You<br />
Even in the want, I'll follow You<br />
<br />
I believe everything that You say You are<br />
I believe that I have seen Your unchanging heart<br />
In the good things and in the hardest part<br />
I believe and I will follow You<br />
I believe and I will follow You<br />
<br />
When I find myself so far from home<br />
And You lead me somewhere that I don't wanna go<br />
Even in my death, I'll follow You<br />
Even in my death, I'll follow You<br />
<br />
When I come to end this race I've run<br />
And I receive the prize that Christ has won<br />
I will be with You in Paradise<br />
I will be with You in Paradise<br />
<br />
I believe everything that You say You are<br />
I believe that I have seen Your unchanging heart<br />
In the good things and in the hardest part<br />
I believe and I will follow You<br />
I believe and I will follow You
</span></span><br />
<br />
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<br />
<br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="text Ps-30-5"> </span></span> <br />
<br />
The Dream Of The Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802213259363787791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6905533122027177411.post-86416390826744721212015-07-07T10:31:00.000-07:002015-07-07T10:31:06.220-07:00“May I ask what all of this is FOR?” <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1rhBwKywiwjQcpzZUFZ951o2ZP7dqhuLb46wQ8exo85Vb4Nx9Gj1nisgVTdMPbg2WPBNPjh-jgIUBna-0hKGtUnCD6Hz_W-x4RLeNIamAwzJETdKAzpxPmChAsnQiIQ4nE_QK9RkAKuXW/s1600/hotdogs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1rhBwKywiwjQcpzZUFZ951o2ZP7dqhuLb46wQ8exo85Vb4Nx9Gj1nisgVTdMPbg2WPBNPjh-jgIUBna-0hKGtUnCD6Hz_W-x4RLeNIamAwzJETdKAzpxPmChAsnQiIQ4nE_QK9RkAKuXW/s400/hotdogs.jpg" width="297" /></a></div>
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<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Missy (my older sister and next door neighbor) went to do her shopping today and took the 13 year old HJ to help. They called me from the store to tell me that Kroger had a big sale on hotdogs and bologna again this year. (10 for $10) Missy asked me how much I wanted…and I asked her “Are you sure you won’t be embarrassed?” LOL I had her get 20 packs of hotdogs and 10 of bologna. When they were checking out a very rude lady (other customer) poked her head around HJ and said <span style="color: orange;"><b>“May I ask what all of this is FOR?” </b><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">In a very condescending who-do-you-think-you-are? tone of voice.</span></span><br /><br />Let me be clear, there was a huge cold case full of these sale items. We did not take so much that it was going to keep anyone else from getting all they wanted too. There was no limit stated. They are ADVERTISED as 10 for $10. Why shouldn’t I buy a few sets? I have a chest freezer, upright freezer and two fridges with freezers. We have that particularly so we can buy meat in bulk when we get a good price. Truth be told, I’m planning to go to the other Kroger later this week and buy a few more sets. <br /><br />We are still finishing up the ones we bought last year at this same sale and put in the freezer. They are still very good. No quality loss. So this is an opportunity not to be missed as far as I'm concerned. In a situation like this sale it is my policy to always buy as much as we can:</span><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: orange;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto auto; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">1.) <i>reasonably</i> store </span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: orange;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto auto; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">2.) to last as long as possible </span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: orange;">
</span></span><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: orange;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto auto; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">3.) at the<i> very best price</i>! </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<br /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">As a family we go through 2-3 packages each time we make hotdogs. 20 packs will only last minimum of 10 meals over the course of a year. We eat hotdogs at least once a week for a lunch or dinner. Call me crazy if you want to lady, but I’m the one who is responsible for our budget. I am not bothered at all by what you think of how we do things.<br /><br />Missy might not want to shop for me anymore though. LOL ;) </span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span>The Dream Of The Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802213259363787791noreply@blogger.com0