What did you GIVE in 2010?

On January 2, I posted on my facebook status that I was going to ask my students "What did you give in 2010?", (as opposed to what did they get) -- via @sanmccarron on Twitter
Here are a few of their responses:

Volunteer a lot of my time
Support to family
Love & Happiness
Friendship
Gift of Music
Respect
Blood
My life to Christ

Also at the beginning of the year I have students fill out a Bucket List of just 10 things they want to do/accomplish in their lives. This idea was adapted from Marcia Ritter at the 2009 MOEFACS Summer Conference. Here are just a few:

Save a life
Be the best teacher ever
Meet my dad
Aplogize for my mistakes & mean it!
Pass Personal Finance w/an A :-)
Give someone $1000 just because...
Learn the banjo
Visit every country in the world
Get over my fear of heights
Take over my father's business
Visit the 7 Wonders of the Ancient World
Pay for someone to go to college

Hope this improves your day!!!

President's Speech to Students

I usually don't use this space to espouse any political views. 

I would rather that this be a safe place to play.  

But I'm a little concerned by the current uproar created by good people afraid of the country turning Socialist if school students watch the President's speech tomorrow.

The White House has released 

the transcript of the intended speech 

and I've read through it.

I usually take issue with what he has to say (there ya have it).

But I want to applaud our President's determination 

to encourage kids to do their best so they can 

be their best, 

be their family's best, 

be their community's best, 

be America's best, 

be the World's best!

Read it for yourself. Watch it for yourself.  

The ONLY part of the speech I take issue with 

is that he says he has talked about 

parents' responsibility 

in the educational process.

 I am not aware of any past remarks in that regard, 

but then I usually don't stop all I am doing when he talks.  

So maybe he has already addressed the parents' part, 

but therein is where I believe the problem lies in 

American education. Parents.

Just my opinion, 

one mother, 

one Nana, 

one teacher, 

one American.

Check out the wordle I made of the words in his speech.