Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Before September Ends
The month of September has been productive and busy in many good ways. Progress has been made on several fronts although there are still existing frontiers out there to explore. That's part of the pleasure of being an academic.
On the personal front, the situation at Dad's house is much more stable. We no longer have to worry about personal possessions and toilet paper going out the door. Dad is also feeling like getting to various tasks in and out of the house that have been on his list for a bit. We gathered together as a family last night and enjoyed a nice dinner.
Today I'm off to work with grant teachers to discuss Westad's The Global Cold War. Westad is a prolific scholar and also impresses the teachers who attend his Gilder Lehrman Institute Summer Seminar for Teachers on the Cold War. Getting together teachers from diverse nationalities is always a good thing. They not only learn from one another, they are often surprised by how much they have even common even when they live on opposite sides of the world from one another.
On campus, the week can be encapsulated in one word - meetings. But that is a major part of my duties now. I'm still, however, doing my part to request agendas in advance so that we all know what we are doing and have time to think before discussions and, even more importantly, before voting. Most importantly, I enjoy helping colleagues achieve their goals even if they do not always realize it.
The weather has finally turned cool, at least in the evenings. The crisp fall air is quite enjoyable despite the rampant allergens surrounding us here in Kansas and the Midwest.
The new fall season actually has some interesting shows - at least more than one or two that seem to have been the limit in previous years.
There's my contribution to ensuring that this blog does, indeed, include tangents.
On the personal front, the situation at Dad's house is much more stable. We no longer have to worry about personal possessions and toilet paper going out the door. Dad is also feeling like getting to various tasks in and out of the house that have been on his list for a bit. We gathered together as a family last night and enjoyed a nice dinner.
Today I'm off to work with grant teachers to discuss Westad's The Global Cold War. Westad is a prolific scholar and also impresses the teachers who attend his Gilder Lehrman Institute Summer Seminar for Teachers on the Cold War. Getting together teachers from diverse nationalities is always a good thing. They not only learn from one another, they are often surprised by how much they have even common even when they live on opposite sides of the world from one another.
On campus, the week can be encapsulated in one word - meetings. But that is a major part of my duties now. I'm still, however, doing my part to request agendas in advance so that we all know what we are doing and have time to think before discussions and, even more importantly, before voting. Most importantly, I enjoy helping colleagues achieve their goals even if they do not always realize it.
The weather has finally turned cool, at least in the evenings. The crisp fall air is quite enjoyable despite the rampant allergens surrounding us here in Kansas and the Midwest.
The new fall season actually has some interesting shows - at least more than one or two that seem to have been the limit in previous years.
There's my contribution to ensuring that this blog does, indeed, include tangents.
Labels: administration, Cold War, fall, teachers, Westad
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Summer in TAH Land
For most of this decade, Teaching American History grants have dominated my summer responsibilities and taught me as much as I ever learned in any formal schooling. We just finished up our fourth grant, TAHPS (Teaching American History with Primary Sources), with a trip to Boston the first week of June. With a week in between at home to mow lawns, water flowers and gardens, and other various duties, I'm now preparing to go to Andover for a the first summer institute with our new group of teachers. This is the first grant we've had where teachers are all from the same district so it will be a new experience regarding curriculum coordination. It's a growing district and I'm looking forward to getting to know the teachers.
We've set up a Google groups account since the education service center is moving away from Blackboard and we didn't want to be stuck with various transition issues. It's also a way to more fully utilize Web 2.0.
Our Logistics Director is on maternity leave but has made arrangements for most everything we need this month. Two critical members of the team are two veteran teachers who compose part of our Teacher Leadership Team. Will has been with us since our first TAH grant, Project Mine. In fact, that's how I first met him. Kevin was a former student who also possesses keen insight into what works for teachers and what doesn't. The informal feedback they continually provide throughout the grant is as crucial as the formal feedback.
Through our partnership with the Gilder Lehrman Institute, David Blight and a master teacher will be joining us to share his expertise on slavery, the Civil War, Reconstruction, and the Civil War in modern memory. They will be with us Tuesday through Thursday. On Monday, Kevin and Will will be sharing what they have learned about teaching with primary sources from their involvement in previous TAH grants and how they have implemented more primary sources into their classrooms. The teachers will do some presenting of the work they have put together on Friday. This fall, we will have an online class focusing on historical cognition and then in the spring we will have a spring institute and three reading seminars where they can get together to discuss significant monographs in American history.
The weather looks good for next week, too - always an added bonus.
We've set up a Google groups account since the education service center is moving away from Blackboard and we didn't want to be stuck with various transition issues. It's also a way to more fully utilize Web 2.0.
Our Logistics Director is on maternity leave but has made arrangements for most everything we need this month. Two critical members of the team are two veteran teachers who compose part of our Teacher Leadership Team. Will has been with us since our first TAH grant, Project Mine. In fact, that's how I first met him. Kevin was a former student who also possesses keen insight into what works for teachers and what doesn't. The informal feedback they continually provide throughout the grant is as crucial as the formal feedback.
Through our partnership with the Gilder Lehrman Institute, David Blight and a master teacher will be joining us to share his expertise on slavery, the Civil War, Reconstruction, and the Civil War in modern memory. They will be with us Tuesday through Thursday. On Monday, Kevin and Will will be sharing what they have learned about teaching with primary sources from their involvement in previous TAH grants and how they have implemented more primary sources into their classrooms. The teachers will do some presenting of the work they have put together on Friday. This fall, we will have an online class focusing on historical cognition and then in the spring we will have a spring institute and three reading seminars where they can get together to discuss significant monographs in American history.
The weather looks good for next week, too - always an added bonus.
Labels: Andover, Blight, Boston, Gilder Lehrman Institute, TAH, teachers, Teaching American History, USD 385
Monday, October 06, 2008
Monday
It's not looking like it will be a good day in the markets for any of us. I guess we just keep our fingers crossed and hope the people who made the mess will help us figure a way out of it instead of disappearing with their multiple-million dollar golden parachutes. I know you need highly talented people that are also risk-takers but they shouldn't be so well-supported forEVER even if they monumentally screw-up and ruin peoples lives in the process. (On the other hand, consumers and speculators not understanding and/or acknolwedging caveat emptor is still a very valid core problem to this whole mess.
Working with pre-service teachers today, however, should restore my faith in mankind.
Working with pre-service teachers today, however, should restore my faith in mankind.
Labels: economy, markets, teachers
Thursday, September 11, 2008
"Drawing Wisdom from the Tragedy of 9/11"
A financial article this morning takes a retrospective look at 9/11 seven years ago. I'm sitting where I was sitting then. Earlier in the morning, NPR had reported something about the World Trade Center and, I thought, why are they talking about 1993?
A little later, watching CNBC, I watched the second plane hit. Only then did we even surmise that it might be something more than a small plane that hit the first tower. I was away from everything but the radio news most of the day and people panicking about gas prices and gas shortages made me wish I hadn't left town with less than half a tank of gas earlier that day. I was with my best friend that day and she headed home with a sense of disbelief of what had happened on what we thought was just another normal day.
Those lost and their families and friends are still in our thoughts and prayers. I thank God that there hasn't been another similar attack since that fateful day. Only much later from now will we actually find out how many attempts were actually made - both big and small - and how they were thwarted. That's the part of history that can't be revealed until much later, if ever at all.
I grew up during the Cold War and was a high school history teacher when the Berlin Wall came crumbling down as the physical symbol of the end of the Cold War. The students in my classes today are barely old enough to remember 9/11 except that they talked about it in school. The world has changed so much. I grew up knowing who the enemy was and that they were over "there" (Soviet Union). After 9/11, we know they can be anywhere. Living in a rural area and not anywhere near a major population center provides some sense of safety but none of us ever knows.
Tears came to my eyes as they just had a moment of silence on the stock exchange and in Washington DC to remember the time the first plane hit. We are so lucky to be living in America.
A little later, watching CNBC, I watched the second plane hit. Only then did we even surmise that it might be something more than a small plane that hit the first tower. I was away from everything but the radio news most of the day and people panicking about gas prices and gas shortages made me wish I hadn't left town with less than half a tank of gas earlier that day. I was with my best friend that day and she headed home with a sense of disbelief of what had happened on what we thought was just another normal day.
Those lost and their families and friends are still in our thoughts and prayers. I thank God that there hasn't been another similar attack since that fateful day. Only much later from now will we actually find out how many attempts were actually made - both big and small - and how they were thwarted. That's the part of history that can't be revealed until much later, if ever at all.
I grew up during the Cold War and was a high school history teacher when the Berlin Wall came crumbling down as the physical symbol of the end of the Cold War. The students in my classes today are barely old enough to remember 9/11 except that they talked about it in school. The world has changed so much. I grew up knowing who the enemy was and that they were over "there" (Soviet Union). After 9/11, we know they can be anywhere. Living in a rural area and not anywhere near a major population center provides some sense of safety but none of us ever knows.
Tears came to my eyes as they just had a moment of silence on the stock exchange and in Washington DC to remember the time the first plane hit. We are so lucky to be living in America.
Labels: 9/11, CNBC, history, New York City, rural, September 11, stock market, students, teachers, terror, terrorism, terrorists
Tuesday, July 01, 2008
The First Day of July
As the calendar turns to the second half of 2008, it's clear that this summer is not only flying by but is ultimately less stressful than almost any in my adult memory - which includes going to graduate school, sponsoring cheerleaders (what seems a lifetime ago), making major life changes (school and jobs), and running teacher institutes.
The biggest lesson I'm still learning is to find the line between what situations I can improve and those over which I have no control.
Thanks to the growth of area farmers' markets, especially a farmer near Lamar and the market in Webb City, I'm eating much healthier - at least when I'm home.
I'm gradually winning the weed war at the farm and think I am winning the water war at home given that it looks like the city is finally fixing the 2-year-old drainage issue well beyond my control.
It's still a weird feeling, however, given that every summer since 2002 I have had something in July to be in charge of. Instead, this year, I am attending a conference on games and learning and evaluating a grant plus taking care of other mostly fun business in New York City. Then there is still almost a month before school starts plus another birthday to celebrate.
Perspective really does make a difference in how we view and deal with life but why do we have to learn the hard way - through time and experience?
The biggest lesson I'm still learning is to find the line between what situations I can improve and those over which I have no control.
Thanks to the growth of area farmers' markets, especially a farmer near Lamar and the market in Webb City, I'm eating much healthier - at least when I'm home.
I'm gradually winning the weed war at the farm and think I am winning the water war at home given that it looks like the city is finally fixing the 2-year-old drainage issue well beyond my control.
It's still a weird feeling, however, given that every summer since 2002 I have had something in July to be in charge of. Instead, this year, I am attending a conference on games and learning and evaluating a grant plus taking care of other mostly fun business in New York City. Then there is still almost a month before school starts plus another birthday to celebrate.
Perspective really does make a difference in how we view and deal with life but why do we have to learn the hard way - through time and experience?
Labels: grants, life, teachers, weeds
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Is It Sunday Again Already?
We had a great week in Chicago with teachers learning about European immigration, Asian immigration, and World War I redux. I've done quite a bit of family stuff this weekend as well as just taking care of me - esp. with the bounty from the farmer's market.
We're at the farm - time to weedeat and weedkill again - plus have the time to spend more than one night out here.
There's lots on tap tomorrow morning but it is all doable.
We're at the farm - time to weedeat and weedkill again - plus have the time to spend more than one night out here.
There's lots on tap tomorrow morning but it is all doable.
Labels: chicago, TAHPS, teachers, weedeat, weekend
Monday, June 23, 2008
Summer TAHPS Institute
Friday, June 06, 2008
Friday
I've just finished up most of the tasks to prepare for the summer institute for one of our TAH grants. We've worked with this group for a year and a half and have enjoyed getting to know their diverse personalities.
It looks like the weather may allow a trip to the lake later today after all. I've been anxious to get down there.
We went to see Sex and the City last night. It was outstanding and kept twisting and turning all the way through. Anyone who liked the series will like the movie. There was one storyline I didn't like but out of four, that's not bad. And, those who haven't seen the series regularly might miss a lot of the "backstory" that makes particular scenes more fun and/or more interesting.
Molly is continuing to feel more comfortable in her environment and communicating with me as dogs do that she is excited about joining the family.
It looks like the weather may allow a trip to the lake later today after all. I've been anxious to get down there.
We went to see Sex and the City last night. It was outstanding and kept twisting and turning all the way through. Anyone who liked the series will like the movie. There was one storyline I didn't like but out of four, that's not bad. And, those who haven't seen the series regularly might miss a lot of the "backstory" that makes particular scenes more fun and/or more interesting.
Molly is continuing to feel more comfortable in her environment and communicating with me as dogs do that she is excited about joining the family.
Labels: grants, Molly, Sex and the City, TAH, teachers
Sunday, July 22, 2007
The Horizon
There are some interesting possibilities on the horizon and lots of things to consider. It will be interesting to me to see what actually develops. Sabbatical has been more than fruitful and I am excited about the options ahead of me - especially for publication and additional interaction with colleagues across the country.
It was very satisfying to finish our first TAHPS institute. By incorporating what we have learned from all past TAH grants (as well as my involvement in/interaction with others throughout the country), more of our goals were achieved in Year 1 - which means we can reach even higher in Year 3. There is real commitment evident on the part of the teachers - something we haven't had from the majority of the group since Project eHIKES. The MA work tied them together and only part of this group is doing that but the group work and expectations of performance made all the difference. Next year will be even less stressful given that they will know more about what to expect from their work with us.
It was very satisfying to finish our first TAHPS institute. By incorporating what we have learned from all past TAH grants (as well as my involvement in/interaction with others throughout the country), more of our goals were achieved in Year 1 - which means we can reach even higher in Year 3. There is real commitment evident on the part of the teachers - something we haven't had from the majority of the group since Project eHIKES. The MA work tied them together and only part of this group is doing that but the group work and expectations of performance made all the difference. Next year will be even less stressful given that they will know more about what to expect from their work with us.
Labels: Kansas, TAHPS, teachers
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
TAHPS Institute Week #2
We're off and running with the second week of the teacher institute for TAHPS. We did economic history yesterday and today we're moving to the Harlem Renaissance.
The teachers were great at digging into technology yesterday - we did Google Docs and Picassa in addition to the blogging they are already doing. They already got into Second Life - at least the intro video from YouTube.
Today should be fun with all the media stuff Cary is going to show them.
The teachers were great at digging into technology yesterday - we did Google Docs and Picassa in addition to the blogging they are already doing. They already got into Second Life - at least the intro video from YouTube.
Today should be fun with all the media stuff Cary is going to show them.
Labels: Harlem Renaissance, TAHPS, teachers
Saturday, July 14, 2007
TAHPS First Week Institute
We finished a successful first week of our institute. Everyone is getting to know one another and they all worked really hard this past week. For the most part, they are diving right in and making the most of the opportunity.
We spent 3 days at the Liberty Memorial and then traded off days at the Eisenhower Library and the National Archives in Kansas City. I think this group will make the most of the online resources available from the National Archives. We'll also have more regular interaction with them online as we incorporate more group projects online via Google Docs and through other forms of social networking.
I enjoyed sleeping in my own bed last night. Most of all, I"m enjoying time with Shadow. I've structured the institute so that I'm not so overwhelmed for two solid weeks and yet we're getting the same type of measured responses we need for grant documentation to the federal government.
Next week, we'll primarily be in Topeka with a one-day visit to the 18th & Vine Museums and to see Eric Langhorst. Meanwhile, it's time to wash the car and mow the lawn once the dew dries off. I may even make it to the swimming pool later today.
We spent 3 days at the Liberty Memorial and then traded off days at the Eisenhower Library and the National Archives in Kansas City. I think this group will make the most of the online resources available from the National Archives. We'll also have more regular interaction with them online as we incorporate more group projects online via Google Docs and through other forms of social networking.
I enjoyed sleeping in my own bed last night. Most of all, I"m enjoying time with Shadow. I've structured the institute so that I'm not so overwhelmed for two solid weeks and yet we're getting the same type of measured responses we need for grant documentation to the federal government.
Next week, we'll primarily be in Topeka with a one-day visit to the 18th & Vine Museums and to see Eric Langhorst. Meanwhile, it's time to wash the car and mow the lawn once the dew dries off. I may even make it to the swimming pool later today.
Labels: history, Kansas City, Liberty Memorial, NARA-KC, Shadow, TAHPS, teachers, Topeka
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Teaching American History with Primary Sources (TAHPS)
We've just started our fourth Teaching American History grant with teachers that are primarily from northeast Kansas. We're at the Liberty Memorial for 3 days and the teachers are enjoying their Gilder Lehrman Institute on the Cold War with Professor Thomas Heinrich of Baruch College and Mike Fienga of the New York City Public Schools.
Labels: Gilder Lehrman Institute, history, Kansas, TAHPS, teachers
Subscribe to Posts [Atom]