Books

March 18, 2014 Photo (077/365): "Books"

"I still find each day too short for all the thoughts I want to think, all the walks I want to take, all the books I want to read..." - John Burroughs. To read or not to read -- that is the question! I have so much to do this week!  It feels like I'm drowning in sea of educator effectiveness, Google, mobile apps, and social media. Over the next five days, I will make four presentations at two state conferences.  At tomorrow's EE EdCamp, I will be facilitating a discussion on gathering artifacts to demonstrate proficiency in Domains 1 and 4 of the Danielson Framework. Next week, I will be at the Wisconsin Educational Media and Technology Association (WEMTA) conference speaking about using mobile devices and applications in school (iCommunicate, iCollaborate, iCreate...iLEARN), creating Google Sites, and developing a Personal Learning Network (PLN) via social media. My presentations for next week are far from ready, yet this afternoon, rather than working on these projects, all I want to do is read! Last week, I started Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand, "A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption." As I learn about Louie Zamperini's harrowing ordeal, I remember the stories my dad told of his own experiences during the war and I wonder about what he didn't share with us. These days, I relish the start of my American Literature class when my students and I are allowed ten minutes to simply read -- what a luxury! Will things ever settle down long enough for me to read more than a chapter at time? OK, enough procrastinating! Back to work!