Now that Christmas is officially drawing to a close, there is time for reflection. The man in the red suit must have been quite warm last night as he busied himself for all his runs.
While we have no children in the house now, Santa still makes his debut in the neighborhood the Sunday before Christmas flanked by many fire engines. On Christmas Eve, he is seen brining good cheer.
Happy Holidays from my house to yours!
You can see many presents under my Christmas tree but one is missing. Since I had some computer problems this week, the Autumn's Palette Gallery that was scheduled to be unveiled tonight is delayed. It will be launched this weekend with good cheer as a gift of the season.
At Live Your Poem, Irene Latham is hosting Poetry Friday and recapping her 12 Days of Kindness. Please visit Irene's site to hear her deliver a Christmas Eve poem.
The digital revolution is far more significant than
the invention of writing or even printing.
~Douglas Engelbart
Whether you agree or disagree with the above thought, it is true that the digital revolution has changed the face of classrooms across the world.
The information age has caused multitudes of messages to be carried across the internet at a fast pace. No longer do learners need to spend hours searching for information. Feedback is instantaneous but with that opportunity comes the responsibility of being a respectful digital citizen and meaning maker. Using social media and technology appropriately is a call to action. What is needed for digital change?
Active, passion-filled learning spaces where knowledge is shared and created on a daily basis
Respectful, collaborative communities of ethical digital citizens flattening the walls of learning
Outreach across the globe via technology
A chorus of voices united in purpose as creative problem solvers, decision makers, and innovators
Continual professional learning opportunities/professional development to seamlessly integrate technology with other subject areas
End Result for digital change:
Students become owners of their learning, meaning makers, and collaborators as they connect their voices with others across the globe.
Where do we begin?
The classroom is the learning place for digital citizenship. Laying the groundwork for students to be explorers of their own learning is key. But first, the teacher's voice needs to be heard as the heartfelt model of responsible citizenry. As teacher's voice crescendos, student voice follows. What do teachers who are digital change agents do differently? Teachers who embrace the growth mindset become the guides on the digital journey of learning, discarding the old school image of sage on the stage. They should:
Passionately engage students in active learning environment
Provide choice
Carefully evaluate resources and gather the best in their literacy toolboxes
Encourage voluminous reading and writing opportunities
Create digital portfolios and containers to hold student work
Send student voice across the globe to real world audiences
Celebrate learning
Ultimately teachers "help students think and act at a local, global, and digital level simultaneously". ~Marialice Curran, co-founder of DigCitSummit
Is the learning only in the hands of teachers? Parents are stakeholders in their children's education. Therefore, they also need to monitor the digital horizon to provide safe passage for their children. As the first teachers, they have the opportunity to provide language-rich environments. Curiosity and creativity are nurtured in households where collaborative talking time and reading are honored. Parents who are invested in early language development provide a basic foundation in literacy that is continued in the school environment. How can student voice be promoted in this digital age? For student voice to rise, cultures of trust, engagement, and innovation are needed. In these safe, risk-taking environments collaborative conversations develop as students become voluminous readers across genres. Background knowledge and information gathered lead students to not only notice more about topics of interest but wonder as they follow multiple pathways to discover answers to questions posed. Diverse perspectives broaden, ideas flow, and voice rises in both oral and written forms. Teachers who facilitate authentic learning during project-based activities, genius hour, makerspace, 20% time, and passion projects allow students to become explorers of their own learning who share their work school-wide and with local and global communities. Call to Action: Adults have a responsibility to students to provide them with access to a world where learning is about being creators of information as opposed to merely being consumers. Now is the time for all stakeholders, schools, parents, community members, and students to join hands and become part of the #digcit revolution for a positive digital change in the world of learning.
Beyond the influx of information,
journeys of passionate noticings evolve
within rich, authentic learning environments
of collaborative conversation and trusting relationships.
Inside passion-filled learning spaces
teacher facilitators nurture, guide, and lead
youth through avenues of complex information
to create innovative ideas built on collaboration and choice.
From these quarters authentic voices rise,
depths of knowledge shared beyond classrooms,
regional walls flattened, and diverse thoughts sent
out across the universe so new horizons can be reached.
It is within collaborative communities that learners
evolve as articulate and purposeful difference makers
who bravely cross the digital expanse to be the digital change.
Support all learners's potential in a wold of unlimited possibilities!
As part of a growing community of connected educators and a member of the #DigCitSummitUK team, I support the efforts of William Jenkins, Digital Citizenship Summit UK organizer, to bring an awareness of digital citizenship and student voice to a global level.
http://www.digcitsummit.com/
PLEASE NOTE:
On January 18, 2016, #NYEDChat will feature Marialice Curran, co-founder of the Dig Cit Summit and co-organizer of #DigCitSummitUK, as the guest host to lead our convo, Be the Digital Change. Join us!
This past week autumn's temperatures once again gave rise to elevated feelings of happiness and peace. Fall seemed to be hanging on to its last days of glory and I was drawn into its warmth and persistence as a season of brilliance. To celebrate good weather and happiness, I took a detour from life's tasks. After a stressful bit of time in the dentist's chair, a midday walk was necessary to recharge my batteries. With a mouth numb from novocaine, I sauntered over to a favorite resting place to let my mind and spirit notice and wonder about life.
Upon first glance, I found an interesting gathering of waterfowl meandering in the pond water as if they were finishing an important meeting. While I captured a celebration of nature, the words that were to validate my thoughts did not come as readily as I would have liked. After a couple days of drafts and revisions later, I decided that the digital composition below would represent what an autumn day between the seasons might offer.
Perhaps you would like to take a short break from preparing for the holidays to reflect on autumn 2014's gallery of expressive thoughts. You can access that gallery here. Quiet midday moments often help me reframe my thoughts on life's daily tasks. I hope they do the same for you. Please visit Celebrate This Week with host Ruth Ayres for additional thoughts by the communities' bloggers who find the positives in life.
As the season of autumn officially comes to a close, I have seen unusually warm temperatures, intense fog, and today the rains came. I have enjoyed the variety of weather changes during this season of brilliance that has now changed its shades to grey.
Being in the last stage of designing Autumn's Palette Gallery, I look back on the season and rejoice in the poetry that will be showcased soon.
Please visit Poetry Friday where the gift of poetry is evident each week. Diane Mayr is hostessing this week at Random Noodling.
"What we are waiting for is less important than why we are waiting. We must be patient as we wait."~from a homily at St. Agnes Cathedral
Throughout the month of December, small gifts come our way. They are not material ones but gifts full of spirit, kindness, and good will. Are we aware when they arrive or are we too caught up in the hurried lifestyle of shopping, gifting, decorating, and preparing? What can we do to slow down our pace so we listen to each other and open our hearts as we prepare for Christmas? This past week, I was fortunate to have received two gifts of words that allowed me to stop and ponder the meaning of gifts. Bobbie Ann Taylor, a Spiritual Journey Thursday colleague, sent me a small poetry pad filled with inspirational poems that she compiled and had printed. This accompanied a beautiful a Christmas card. The gesture touched my heart. In return I created the following.
Today, I read a slice by my colleague Linda Baie. In it she quoted Charles Dickens.
Have a heart that never hardens, and a temper that never tires, and a touch that never hurts.
Linda's gift of words was sent out to the world and I happened to not only see if but be touched by it. The gift of words is a treasure that provides contemplative thought at a time when the hustle and bustle of life may not.
I thank my two friends, Linda and Bobbie, for their gift of words as I patiently wait for another arrival on Christmas day. Once again, it is not the material gifts that may be under the tree, but the spiritual ones that can find a place in my heart. May you wait patiently to see the small gifts that come your way.
Here is a lovely song about a heartfelt gift that you may enjoy.
Please visit Spiritual Journey Thursdayhosted by Holly Mueller to hear other bloggers' thoughts on the topic of gifts.
It seems to be at this time of year, I am overwhelmed by the amount of tasks that it takes to bring me closer to the holidays. Hustle and bustle days only lead to the overdramatizing of what is necessary to be accomplished. Because I love the holidays, I overthink what needs to be done, instead of going with the flow.
I am pleased to say that I did take the time to pause, notice, and converse with my husband about a simple beauty of nature that will become part of my Christmas edibles. The sight of the fresh pumpkin reminds me that conversations are important at this time of year. Holidays are times for laughter and cheer rather than the accomplishments of way too many tasks.
A colleague, Anthony Davidson, sent out a simple message this morning that started me thinking about slowing down.
Renewed in spirit to start a new day on a note of positivity, I write today alongside two communities that make the most of their days:
Autumn does not want to leave Long Island but I hear the same from colleagues from here to Iowa. For today's poetry challenge, I am in the midst of designing my newest gallery of artistic expressions: Autumn's Palette. I am requesting an audience of listeners and doers to showcase the fall season.
Artists paint the world in color.
Writers splash words across the page.
Dreamers spread dandelion wishes throughout nature.
Take up your pen and create alongside me as I welcome autumn into my collection of galleries of artistic expressions. If interested, artists, writers, poets, and dreamers send in your finest strokes to accompany the welcome sign below that will adorn the walls of Autumn's Palette.
Requirements: A burst of color, hearts full of golden dreams, passion for life If interested, please send sketches, drawings, photographs, poems, digital inspirations, poetry, or quotes today to cvarsalona at gmail dot com.
While playing with words, take a stroll over to Mary Lee Hahn's Poetrepository to read the haikus that are being created. Last year's Finding Fall Gallery can be accessed here.
The world is a place of contrasts. What supposes to be the transition to winter, is really a lingering autumn on Long Island. As I begin the process of designing my gallery, Autumn's Palette, I observe a world of leaves still strewn about, Indian summer-like weather, and birds chirping. Is the world staying in the moment so I can have just the right conditions to create? Perhaps this is my gift today.
As a last thought to close the autumn season, I capture the early morning fog, round two. I begin to word weave my thoughts with the following steps in mind.
I turn to one of my beloved poets, Carl Sandburg, who wrote a poem, Fog, to see how my thoughts compare to his. His poem becomes my mentor text.
I look back at the first poem I created on Friday's fog before creating the second one. You can read the first poem here.
I look closely at the picture of the fog for poem #2 and decide that it needs to be digitalized to capture my morning thoughts.
original photo
After many renditions,
Fog #2
the fog creeps inland
hovers with eerie, strange glows
awaits its welcome
Fog #3
the fog creeps inland
prances-hovers-awaits
sun's marching orders
I settle on the following micropoem to mirror Carl Sandburg's text.
Reflective Moment: While I thought that the day would be darkened with fog, the sun decides to take-over. Sunlight and warmth greet the afternoon. Would you like to judge if I captured the morning fog or if I need revisions. I rely on self-assessment and other's thoughts to determine if the digital compositions I create are sound or needs revisions. When the #findingfall gallery, Autumn's Palette, is launched, the poems embedded in digital compositions can be used as mentor texts for writing.
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Today is Digilit Sunday hosted by Margaret Simon so take a stroll over to Margaret's site.
Also, Mary Lee Hahn has been inspired to write daily haikus. A small community of writers have joined her. Please take another stroll to Mary Lee's site, Poetrepository.
Tonight, I am the guest host at #TMchat. Connie Hamilton invited me awhile ago and I have been busily preparing for the topic, "Using Mentor Text." Besides adding my thoughts to the questions I created for the chat, I offer insights on my process of creating a digital inspiration from a mentor text.
Traveling on Long Island is usually a unique experience
in managing and maneuvering traffic.
Back in Time During my college days, I remember visiting my roommate's family who lived in the western part of Long Island. I was shocked at the busy traffic patterns and the amount of drivers on the road. When I returned to capital area region i thought about the drivers who could capably manage the craziness of the multi-lane highways. Little did I know that one day I would be part of the Long Island morning and evening routine rush hours. Fast Forward to 2015 Yesterday while traveling to a workshop on Long Island during the morning rush, a dense pocket of grey matter hovered over the highway. My quiet time that I set aside for reviewing the day's events and observing nature was over. I needed to pay attention to driver safety rules and be cautious and mindful of how to maneuver my car when exiting the parkway. Luckily for me, I was not in the thick of the soupy fog as others were. The fog crept in and walked out silently with the travelers all arriving safely to our destination.
Life is to be celebrated each day. Being mindful leads to clearer insight.
Move from the fog into the clearing!
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Each week the blogging community, Celebrate This Week led by Ruth Ayres, writes about their weekly celebrations. Please visit the site here.
Also please visit Mary Lee Hahn's Poetrepository where Mary Lee is encouraging all to create haikus and poetry alongside here. Please visit that site here.
On Christmas Day in 1865, Longfellow heard church bells ringing Christmas tidings. While stricken with grief for the loss of his wife and his seriously wounded son, Longfellow struggled with the message of the season. As the Christmas bells chimed, he took up his pen and wrote. How often do writers feel misgivings about life but use their voice deep inside to pen a message? It is the urging of the heart that meets the mind to weave words. Perhaps, the process of moving thoughts from the heart to the mind to the pen is how Longfellow created his poem, Christmas Bells.
While you are reading Longfellow's poem Christmas Bells, please listen to Casting Crown's version.
Christmas Bells By Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
I heard the bells on Christmas Day Their old, familiar carols play, And wild and sweet The words repeat Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
And thought how, as the day had come, The belfries of all Christendom Had rolled along The unbroken song Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
Till ringing, singing on its way, The world revolved from night to day, A voice, a chime, A chant sublime Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
Then from each black, accursed mouth The cannon thundered in the South, And with the sound The carols drowned Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
It was as if an earthquake rent The hearth-stones of a continent, And made forlorn The households born Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
And in despair I bowed my head; "There is no peace on earth," I said; "For hate is strong, And mocks the song Of peace on earth, good-will to men!"
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep: "God is not dead, nor doth He sleep; The Wrong shall fail, The Right prevail, With peace on earth, good-will to men."
For those who enjoy reading back stories and seeing primary documents of Civil War history please view the video here. You can listen to a dramatic reading by Edward K. Hermann telling the story of Longfellow's Christmas Bells with the Morman Taberncacle Choirhere.
Confetti-like lights lit up the town square. Singing, hot chocolate, Salvation Army bells, and red kettles signaled the season of lights arrived. Feelings of cheer filtered through the air. Peace on earth was not a fleeting thought, but a universal message shared by all on one dark night in November.
Peace is such a beautiful and needed gift for a world in strife. Let us remember this as we start to wrap presents for the holidays. Be mindful that during the season of giving, peace is a simple gift we can give to our families.
It is #ThankfulThursday so I am giving thanks for those who are members of my Spiritual Journey Thursday community led by my friend and colleague, Holly Mueller. To them, I offer wishes of peace on earth. Please visit Holly's siteto read the other bloggers' perspectives on the topic of gifts.
"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!"
Luke 2:14
There is peace in words, thoughts, and deeds. Please visit Poetrepository by Mary Lee Hahn to read her inviting haiku and those of her community.
As we proceed in the rush to manage life, we need to reflect on how the pace is influencing our time and decisions. Being mindful at this hectic time of year is necessary.
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Take a moment in your busy day to visit Mary Lee Hahn's Poetrepositoryto read her haikus and the responses from the small community of writers.
