Sohne's Blog

Divine Intervention

2011-07-22T07:01:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I could have lost my beautiful daughter before her 18th birthday... but Divine Spirit intervened.

My daughter spends her life tirelessly working for others... her trainer, her family, her friends. She never says no... She loves to help others succeed!

Soooooo many Angels were by her side driving up that canyon... She didn't careen into oncoming traffic, she didn't go off cliff side, the rock wall was the passenger side... the empty passenger side (thank you sweet Angel for occupying the space in that seat - buffering my child), I got a text message from an area where there is no cell service....when others did not... because I needed the message.

A young man in a vehicle passes by - sees the accident and stops. She doesn't appear hurt, but he stays with her until help arrives. They talk. He's from Tennessee, went to the University of Tennessee... she is leaving in 2 weeks for UT-Martin.

A trainer driving up goes by the accident sees it completely blocking the road between her vehicle and those who have stopped to help. Signals the semi-truck headed in their direction to slow down.

State Trooper, from Tennessee, talks to her about school and her ambitions, gives her a break on her citation.

Her Dad and I arrive at the Horse Show Fair Grounds... just in time to help her tack up her horse and earn the "Blue Prize."

Tougher than nails, and far more brave than I ever imagined.

Estes 2011 will be a year to remember....

As I am shocked into a state of immense gratitude today I commit to a daily Gratitude Blog and to "paying it forward" for those are the Universal Angels in my daughter's presence.

Today I am deeply thankful for the incredible people who have influenced my daughter, helped to build her character, her strength. I know her contributions her have only just begun.

TIE Colorado 2011

2011-06-22T06:48:00.000-07:00

So I cannot believe that it has been 2 full years since I have posted
to this blog.

I wish I would take lessons from my students who know the value of
creating your own thought then expressing them.

Here I am at the TIE Conference in Copper Mtn CO gazing upon the sun
kissed, snow-blanketed mountain top ... Peace. Solitude. Despair and hope
all in the same image.

I suppose that summarizes my current sensations as well.

Peace is certainly attainable when one considers the magnitude of that
which surrounds them... Rockie mtns, vastness, world-wide
connectivity. All that is beyond the human mind, yet the heart knows
well.

Solitude... Not foreboding alone, yet consider the lives of those
incarcerated to such a destiny. Is it fate? Is it deserved? Regardless
every one of us experiences that sense of isolation.

Today I spent the day at the TIE conference... primarily alone. Is
that truly the most full-filling life?

Despair... Why so alone? Perhaps my life has been too all alone for
the last couple of years. I sense humans fade intodisparity when they
have no connections. No one they perceives genuinely cares for them
and supports them beyond a surface level, no significant contribution. This can occur personally
and professionally. It may not always depend upon caring for you but
most likely extends to the sharing domain. Do you share my ideals and
beliefs? Are they the hill you will die upon? Or at least make me
believe it is so... Have I fought too long for nothing? What do I need
to do differently?

Hope... How can one not feel kissed by Angels on the mountain top? It
is indeed the universe, the Greater Power, Spirit that asks us to turn
our vision inward when amongst Mother Nature. We are asked to examine
why we do what we do, why we behave as we do? Why we hold on to
patterns that no longer serve us positively. In this moment I know
that as the future entwines with today each and every one of our
futures is bright!

Estes Park "True - isms"...

2009-07-16T19:41:00.000-07:00

The Equestrian world is just a microcosm of educational truths.....

"Success Breeds Success"
"Positive Reinforcement"
"Meaningful and Timely Feedback"
"Practice makes Perfect"
"Relevancy and Purpose"
"Connectedness and Ownership"

But in the end, we are dealing with the human spirit - a delicate and complex being. How much criticism can the Ego withstand? How much pressure can an individual place upon themselves? And truly when do we accept that all that occurs is exactly what is meant to occur; that the lessons are laid before us for the experiencing?

So I suppose, "green" horses learn to stand still to be braided and "green" riders perfect their body position to yield the best performance from their animal. Young riders are mentored by the more experienced amateur riders. And in some cases simply must find the strength within themselves to trust in the moment for exactly what it is... even if not accompanied by the coveted blue ribbon.

So, in the world of education, what is the "blue ribbon" for our learners? Is it the "A" on the report card? Is it the bragging rights to valedictorian? Or is it the internal knowledge that as an individual being you know more today than you knew yesterday?

Oh, the human spirit, the psyche, the ego... what complicated and beautiful creatures we are... especially in concert with our 4-legged friends.

Memories are made, friendships are strengthened, emotional maturity is tested.

But the magic continues to stir the fire in the hearts of these riders, these learners, these animals to be the best they can be, to achieve at greater heights even if only within the individual.

The lines blur between teacher and student and isn't that the truth of life....

Dotsero...

2009-07-01T20:42:00.000-07:00

A country song or band..., right?

Passing through this small mountain town, headed ever so much closer to suburbia... these thoughts enter my consciousness.

The houses, rectangular and perfect, reminded me of a "Premium Crackers" box. Oh, and music again... Toby Keith, "Live Like You Were Dying" (might need to become my motto... :) ) shuffles through the iPod. Immediately, I am reminded of Brett, Mykaela's trainer who passed away all too young...

So, we watched the Big Dipper - found the Little Dipper and kept driving. We lost ourselves and found ourselves - repeatedly... Love, yes, love.

Homeward Bound

2009-06-30T15:38:00.000-07:00

So I haven't kept up very well but I couldn't help taking a moment as the passing landscape invites me to gently transition back to reality...

Jimmy Buffet on the iPod and "A Pirate Looks at Forty" takes me thirty years back to Scott's Dad's red Toronado, a bottle of Riunite and blissful young love. Ahh, the power of music :)

As we drive Eastward, kissing the sandstone mesa's goodbye... we realize, "Wow, white puffs in the sky... haven't seen those in a while..."

We take breather in Glenwood to relish the last of our country connectedness... a farmers market. We sample some "to-die-for" Colorado cherries and pick up a variety of salsa's and pickled veggies from the Clark Family Orchards. We allow the blue-grass to linger in our ears... and wish, we too, lived the perfectly "cared for" life of our canine friend...

Ute Canyon Hike

2009-06-29T16:35:00.000-07:00

So, here I sit in a beautiful place of contemplation... back home now on my covered deck I allow the rhythm of the rain and the colors of the roses to guide my mind back to our Ute Canyon hike.

Ute Canyon began with a greeting from our 4-legged friend - the Bighorn Sheep.... (It should have been my first indication that Spirit would travel near today.)

Before.... After.... 3 hrs and approx 7 mi.

Yes, dirty socks, forgot the others in the hotel - trying to be gypsies - but needing a home base - gypsies would be totally fine with dirty socks... so were we :)

As we approached the trail head, I happen to glance at a nearby tree... and sure enough I was blessed with the perfect walking stick - left by those who had been here before....

Just the right height. As I allowed it to rotate in my palm the half-moon shape settled comfortably within the digits of my four fingers allowing my thumb to rest and steer from above. We headed down the rigorous decent... filled with numerous switchbacks and steps carved into the sandstone.

We were amazed at the difference in terrain only a few bends away from our previous hike. We deeply inhaled the scents from the Pinon Pine forest and cussed the tall reeds and grasses as they lashed at our shins and calves. (Smarter hikers would wear long pants... :) ) Yet we both announced out loud how grateful we are for the abundance of moisture this spring.

The longer we hiked the more thoughtful our conversation became - a wonderful dose of therapy (didn't pay $75.00 an hour for it either - thank you Mother Nature!) We began to review the chapters of our life - from a distance now... filled with fewer judgments and less pain. (30 years now we have known one another...hmmm) We contemplated our childhoods, our own children (of course questioned if we'd done things right). We examined the theory of nature vs nurture and wondered just how much of life's journey we do and do not control... amazing sensation of spirit here... we are truly blessed.

That day we took time to "smell the roses," to take in nature, to believe and to live in the moment... Oh, if we could only slow down long enough to do that every day!

So, I thanked my walking stick and left it in the exact same place...hoping it would share its' spirit with the one next to deeply need it....

Colorado National Monument - not the Gypsy type...

2009-06-29T16:28:00.000-07:00

So we had full intentions of jumping around from local to local as the wind blows across the Western slope, but discovered we're just not much for living out of the trunk of the car... needed a place to call homebase... Wine Country Inn it is - amazing breakfasts, great pool, wine tasting of Friday and Saturday... truly tough to beat.

Drinking in the desert landscape we decided to hike in the Colorado National Monument.
Monument Canyon Trail required steady knees as we descended the cliff side about 600 feet to the canyon floor.

The "Coke Ovens" formation is easy to spot for much of the hike.

But we debated over the "Kissing Couple"... any help?

No wildlife joined us today... that we know of anyway... except the lizards leading us down the path... "Catch me if you can, catch me if you can," they teased scurrying away.

Day 3 - between the vapor caves and the heat of the dessert, I am finally melting into a space of health and rejuvenation :)

Powderhorn Hike

2009-06-29T16:17:00.000-07:00

Our first morning in Palisade finds us heading back up the mesa in search of a little alpine adventure. Winding our way up, we found ourselves questioning just where one might actually ski around here... Continuing around the bend, we came across our first wildlife siting... a Whistle Pig! And a well fed one at that:)

We parked at the base lodge, dawned our hiking boots and set out up the slopes of Powderhorn Mountain (after some gentle reminders from the shop owners about the moose and bear). Of course my imagination gets the best of me as we begin to find evidence of some 4-legged hiking buddies. So... I wonder what was sleeping here?
After our hike, we stopped at a wonderful vineyard and winery called Canyon Winds.... a beautiful facility..... we relaxed and continued to unwind as we left our work lives further and further behind.

Ahh, yes, the bennie's of a convertible:)

Glenwood Springs - Vacation '09

2009-06-29T15:55:00.001-07:00

So now that I can download my pix (left the cable in Denver), I am sorry, but I must rewind....

We spent Thursday night in Glenwood Springs, at the Hotel Colorado - just because we've spent 46 years in Colorado and never stayed there :) Wow! Have they done some renovation... who knows who might have stayed in our room - Molly Brown, or perhaps some other, less famous, renegade feminist (since we did not stay in a suite).

The next morning took us across the bridge to a lovely street-side breakfast at the Haute Plate Bistro. My eggs benedict were wonderful... Rainy day, though, so we decided on a spa day and the Yampah Spa right down from the hotel - truly the best way to begin the unwinding process I look for in my vacations. The vapor caves set the tone for a day of massage and relaxation as we traveled to our next destination.

On our way West bound... I am fumbling with camera and realize it is on timer mode ( which I do often in order to capture both Scott and I together, when traveling alone) - looking back, the end result set in motion a number of conversations remeniscing about our past and refelcting upon our beginnning... the diamond that was my original engagement ring as it hangs suspending around my neck.

We continued to drive west, escaping the rain and heavy cloud cover, arriving in Rifle... made a short detour to Rifle Falls upon the recommendation of the receptionist at Yampah Spas. Water thundering in the trees led us to a most spectacular hidden delight... green and mesmerizing.

Still heading west... in search of sunshine :)

Our journey landed in the wine country of Palisade... and the vast canyons, much in contrast to our suburban home.

As the Wind Blows...

2009-06-27T06:55:00.001-07:00

Vacations take us to a myriad of places sometimes in our own backyards....

After a couple of days filled with the stress of conference presentations and work related agendas, we finally found time to decompress, unwind and enjoy.

Our journey took us from the peaks of Copper Mountain to the the hot springs oasis of the historic Hotel Colorado where we reveled in the idea of living like Molly Brown or "Doc" Holliday.

Some spa time grounded us in the Rocky Mountains, rejuvenated our spirits, and reminded us of our true connections.

We traveled to Rifle Falls, not yet "top down", to escape the overhang of darkness in the sky. Upon reaching the falls, out came a ray of "Colorado Sunshine" to warm our faces - what an amazing display of nature at play :)

We journeyed west to Palisade.... our exit took us up to the top of a mesa on the south side of I-70 where we found the Colorado Cellars Winery. They have a merlot that is "melt in your mouth" yummy.....

We wound our way through town to find the Wine Country Inn... a relatively new hotel that serves breakfast each day, BBQ outside on Friday and Saturday, and includes a wonderful pool and jacuzzi tub... very nice for relaxation....

Dinner took us into town where we found the Palisade Cafe and Grill..... and owner Margie Latta. The Cafe is an amazing place, one would never expect to find in a small farm town, but Palisade is putting on a new face and Margie intends to fill the niche. Walking into the Palisade Cafe and Grill feels like stepping into any upscale place in Washington Park. The team gutted an old diner revealing the original wood floors and brick walls. The service was amazing, the people were great. The menu offered anything from Ahi tuna salad - beautifully plated I might add - to cheese burgers. We began with incredible homemade tortilla chips and 3 different salsas. Everything was fresh, crisp and artistically displayed. My compliments to the chefs and owners: Lisa Carr, Aaron and Sara James. Oh, and by all means, save room for dessert. The Chocolate torte pairs fabulous with the local Merlot and the crust on the triple berry pie is to die for! Palisade Cafe and Grill should totally be featured on the Food Network's show, "Diners, Drive-ins and Dives."

It's a MUST stop in Palisade next time you are passing by the orchards...

TIE 2009 Keynote

2009-06-23T14:01:00.001-07:00

Dr. Tim Tyson...

Wow! What an inspiration.... and what affirmation that eDCSD is right on track!

One of our key phrases at eDCSD is, "Participation is Key!". Dr. Tyson shared movies made by middle school students illustrating the power of authentic learning environment, self-directed students, project based instruction, problem-solving, collaboration, relevancy and certainly the use of technology. Students chose topics of interest to them... large topics like stem-cell research, and transplant recipients... issues and ideals that extend much beyond the classroom.

These students certainly took ownership of their own learning.

At eDCSD we often talk about narrowing the gap between how students "live" and how student "go to school."
An excerpt from the eDCSD Vision....
"Our vision is to create a community of learners where the walls of the school may be virtual, but the relationships are real. eDCSD is founded on a student-centered belief that learning environments should be authentic—filled with relevancy, connectedness, collaboration, forward-thinking, and continuous conversations. Such environments empower students to actively hone skills in critical thinking, leadership, ethics and self-motivation."

"Within our learning community students will stay connected socially. They will research and create. They will collaborate, problem-solve and support one another where all learners have an equal voice; where individual potential is honored; where responsible citizenship is fostered as we learn today and lead tomorrow."

Dr. Tyson is visionary in his efforts to push all of us to change our perspective, to accept the gift the techological age has brought forth, and to truly live in the most magical and influencial educational time.

What does teaching look like?

2009-02-21T13:50:00.001-08:00

Classroom Instruction that Works

Robert Marzano and team identified 9 instructional strategies that impact student learning:

Identifying Similarities and Differences
Summarizing and Note taking
Reinforcing Efforts and Providing Recognition
Homework and Practice
Cooperative Learning
Nonlinguistic Representations
Setting Objectives and Providing Feedback
Generating and Testing Hypotheses
Cue, Questions and Advanced Organizers

Data tells us we are spending more time with Ques and Practice than anything else.... Perhaps a product of high-stakes testing.

Is this what we are doing in our online classrooms? Or, are our students truly moving beyond the understanding level of taxonomy and truly applying that information in new and meaningful ways. Are we encouraging our students to collaborate through the use of wikis, Google Docs and social networks?

I challenge even online teachers to turn the virtual classroom "upside down" through quality instruction using a variety of tools.

I invite teachers and students to respond to this post with examples of how students "personalize" the content and take ownership of their learning.

Better yet, if you don't feel this is happening in your educational experiences....

What are the barriers?

What should be our top priorities?

What is the "low-hanging fruit" that might encourage these strategies to bloom?

Recognizing One's True Potential...

2009-02-02T22:32:00.000-08:00

I am wondering if, as parents, we sometimes hamstring our children's true potential. Do we try to protect them to a degree that we remove the valuable learning associated with failure? I see this all too often in schools - but perhaps I should turn my lens inward.

Perhaps the "Mama Bear" syndrome has taken over as I try to support my own daughter through the grief associated with losing her horse and opening her heart to love another.... and my son through his broken heart.

I never considered myself to be a "helicopter mom"... but when I see the pain in my own children some primal instinct boils to the surface that makes me want to heal their wounds.

And with that, I recognize that the greatest medicine is love - simple, unconditional, non-judgemental LOVE!

What is truly important?

2008-10-27T20:47:00.000-07:00

As I prepare to attend the T+L Conference sponsored by the National School Board Association, I find myself reflecting on an excerpt from "The Last Lecture" by Randy Pausch.

"It is an accepted cliche' in education that the number one goal of teachers would be to help students learn how to learn. ...... But in my mind, a better number one goal was this: I wanted to help students learn how to judge themselves. Did they recognize their true abilities? Did they have a sense of their own flaws? Were they realistic about how others viewed them?"

This stuck with me as I recall the amazing essays and illustrations portraying "Why I Want to be a Part of eDCSD." I recognize that a traditional instructional vehicle may not push students to recognize their true potential. I realize that the adaptability and 1:1 instruction and mentoring available in an online approach my drive students to see their own flaws. I am convinced that in an online approach to instruction, students have less room to "hide" from who they are, what they desire, and the image they leave behind... because the must engage to benefit.

I am eager to see what others in our nation are doing to provide such an opportunity to our children.

Blogs from AHS

2007-11-12T12:38:00.001-08:00

The Fisch Bowl

As you know, we are all faced with the challenge of ensuring our students will be competitive in a global economy.

How refreshing to read the comments of several folks I have worked with over the years, knowing we are still totally committed to meeting the needs of all learners!

Assessment

2007-11-07T14:33:00.001-08:00

Quality assessment drives instructional change and intern allows us to know what students truly know.

VSS 07 LMS Open Source VS Vendor

2007-11-06T10:19:00.001-08:00

Panel discussions - Moodle, eCollege, Angel, Blackboard

Sharing courses within state
Learning Object Repository

Key Characteristics in an LMS
eCollege Solution
Integrated Calendar
Clear Navigational Structure
Create Stability

Currently uses Blackboard and eCollege - Wisconsin
Teacher productivity
Customer Support
Control of management features (passwords to new sections) (Blackboard prohibits adjustment of sections)
Reporting features
Student eMail

Current - Moodle
Flexibility
Versatility
Cost
Security
Ease of Use

"Get out of the business of technology"
- too much time spent of dealing with technology
- from the teacher perspective would not like to spend unnecessary time clicking, classroom set up

Re-focus on education - efficacy of curriculum

Using our own system was intensely time consuming

Moodle behind Web CT, eCollege
Moodle doesn't have bells and whistles
Moodle requires a tech person to keep it all up and running
Moodle does run eLluminate
Changing the "skin" is simple in Moodle and No Cost

3 technicians to serve 2,000 kids on Moodle - tried blackboard cost prohibited

What improvements are needed?
Anything to increase teacher productivity and enable them to better interact with students
Tools to better serve individual needs of students - must use the data, so really need reporting
When enhancements are needed, it drives up costs
Gradebook always need improvements
SIS integrated with LMS (eCollege doesn't have it)
Technical support for Learning Object Repository

Best Practice for Teaching Online

2007-11-05T11:53:00.001-08:00

Teaching Online - Glenn Moses

Reflections from VSS session 2 - Web 2.0 tools

2007-11-05T11:46:00.001-08:00

Here's my ah-ha.... Web 2.0 needs to replace TV... you actually have to think critically, display some leadership skills, discuss and communicate - challenge your beliefs, assert an opinion - not just tune out :)

VSS - Web 2.0 Tools Presentation

2007-11-05T11:31:00.001-08:00

Web 2.0 Tools presentation - Allison Powell

aliooplv.pbwiki.com

password = vss07

Free web 2.0 tools

Social Bookmarking:
bookmarks are saved on the web
Flickr - awesome for art history class
Google Suite

OK, so just like anything else, to become proficient one must have a desire and then practice :)

VSS 07 links, blogs etc

2007-11-05T11:29:00.001-08:00

Delicious search for VSS2007

Allison Powell's Wiki

Ben Wilkoff's Discourse about Discourse

Glenn Moses - Presenter of Social Learning Environments

Edu-links

2007-11-05T11:03:00.001-08:00

http://del.icio.us/edtechtalk

Ben Wilkoff: Discourse about Discourse

2007-11-05T10:52:00.001-08:00

http://yongesonne.edublogs.org/

Glenn Moses Website

2007-11-05T10:47:00.001-08:00

http://mrmoses.org/

NACOL VSS 2007

2007-11-05T09:44:00.000-08:00

Opening Comments:
Susan Patrick, CEO NACOL
Take Aways:

China continues to challenge the status quo - pushing the US to stay on her toes

China gets it - they know if they can learn to apply their knowledge creatively, innovatively, express their opinions they have a chance to dominate
China's collaboration with the UK to provide online education

We must continue to work with state legislatures to break down the models established to support the industrial age and develop new ways of thinking to support the information age

Four reasons for developing an online educational options

Expanding options for kids
Rapidly Growing as a viable option
Effective
Improves teaching

Key Note Speaker: Jacki Huba

The church of the customer -
The power of one person

I recognize the power of one person - much like the Tipping Point suggests, word of mouth may be the best marketing strategy

First Blog

2007-10-13T08:52:00.000-07:00

So here I am sharing my thoughts about learning, about education, about life as a creative journey....

I've come to know that I process through conversation - whether it be in the form of a piece of artwork, written prose, or speech...

So, I've jumped into the 21st Century and enthusiastically look forward to observing how blogging enhances my world!