Newport Lights April 12, 2008

Tobacco and chemical mixture in a cylindrical form…

Frantically she searches

For a source of fire

To extinguish the nicotine craving

that has engulfed her.

A burning tinge of sulfur infiltrates the air

The anticipation…

Inhale…Exhale…

Mellow.

So much depends on a cigarette…

Kids Are Kids April 12, 2008

Pretty dress, new shoes…

dirty from head to toe,

The tomboy had a typical day

at preschool.

 

Enter Mr. Bubble:

Swirling, twirling,

Creating a foamy play land.

Gleeful giggles,

Smells of fruit, flowers and innocence fill the air

 

So much depends on a bubble bath…

 

April 12, 2008

Finger wRap

 Sittin’ in art class, cutting on a project

Accidentally did something I regret

Almost sliced my finger in half

No really—don’t laugh

I dashed to the nurse and thought

I might need a hearse

Called my Mom and Kevin from there

Because I knew they would care

The nurse said my finger was going to need some work

Boy do I feel like a jerk

We went to the doctor, but he couldn’t do it

gave me some pain meds though so I wouldn’t feel it

Got back in the car and went to the ER

Good thing it wasn’t very far

Gave me a few shots to make it numb

No really, I’m not dumb

And I sat there crying while they stitched me up

Couldn’t stop crying, it felt like I was dying

It didn’t hurt at all in class when I was trying

I was real surprised my mom didn’t start weapin’

I said, “Congrats, Mom, you didn’t shed a tear,

But I could tell you had a lot of fear.”

Then she whispered in my ear, “It’s all over, dear, I’m here.”

The nurse cleaned up my thumb

It was all bloody and stuff

Mom said I had been real tough

I guess so, but I have had enough.

Mary J. Blige in the ELA Classroom April 2, 2008

Children learning with technology January 16, 2008

 http://www.kennesaw.edu/

http://www.myspace.com/

http://www.facebook.com/

Text Effects January 14, 2008

This assignment is to create a new post that uses text effects to my blog. 

Benefits of Using Blogs in the LA/English Classroom:

1. Medium that secondary students can relate to 
2. A means of perhaps bridging the gap between teacher and student
3. A fun and non-traditional way for teachers and students to communicate
4. Encourages students to write more and pay closer attention to detail

Smoothing the Relationship Between Parents and Their Children Through Technology January 9, 2008

We live in a technological society and with such inventions as the personal computer, cell phones with text message capability and most specifically, the Internet, we have access to a myriad of information.  Secondary students and even younger students often times may make use of Facebook, MySpace or other such sites in order to communicate with eachother. 

 It is my belief that technology can help reconnect parents and their children.  Parents should be actively involved in their children’s “cyber lives” in order to educate and protect them.  Why not shoot your son an email asking him to take out the trash or send your daughter a text reminding her of her dentist appointment after school?

Children will not look and think of their parents as being so out of touch and “uncool” if parents learn to communicate with their children on their level and in ways the child is likely to be interested and engaged in.

 Technology has certainly helped to smooth the bond that my adolescent  son and I share.  If more parents got involved with their children in this way perhaps we could be on our way to bridging the generation gap.