Festina Lente (Make haste slowly)

Lots to do in a short time, and it needs to be done deliberately.

The beginning of Iron Lady is going well.  Margaret Thatcher is quite the interesting character to read about.  Since I was a teen when she and Reagan were ruling, I have vivid memories of discussions from classes and in my home about her. I am enjoying getting to know her as a young woman, her years in Grantham, and what made her who she would become.  Perhaps it's the "context" in me that's making it resonate.


Personal mission statement is slow going.  I have lots of notes, but getting it into a coherent whole is a challenge.  That's okay, it will be worth it.


Going my own on technology, that I administer remedies to myself, is actually going well!  After an hour of working around a glitch at 2:30 AM last night, had a breakthrough and celebrated by dancing on the beach.  And it's my victory.  (Well, I have to give credit to all the people who taught me along the way, but hey, my little victory, right?)  Thanks to the people who taught me to fish instead of just serving me fish.  (like tech guy and K.G. and K.D.)

Finally, being with family (all 24 of us) at the beach for the annual vacation is same as ever-reaffirming!  Shout out to one member of the family who couldn't make it because he's in Afghanistan.  Go, S.Z.!

Blue Highways (Viae Caeruleae)

Blue highways are great most of the time. And there is something about letting go and just taking to the open road that is so scary it's exciting.  Flying without a net. Triple-A might not find you out here.

I'm going it alone.  No school-supported technology for me, I've decided to work without the limits and see what happens.

Just like a "Bring your own Technology" philosophy for schools, I'm trying out the teacher version. I had to weigh the pro's and con's before I handed in my tablet and walked away.

Pro	Con
I can download anything I want without guilt or retribution.  (things like “fences” and “Jing”)	If I mess something up on this computer, the school I.T. facilitators won’t be there to help me clean up.
When I fix things on my own I get the credit and no grief.	-----------
I can really be a transparent teacher and show how the Latin never stops when I’m out of the classroom	------------
The “academic year” doesn’t control my access to technology.	------------
I can go beyond the basic expectations in order to make progress.	I have to stay on top of all the updates that are necessary to meet the expectations of my school district-there is no one who will complete this task for me.

So here I go!  Nothing bad yet. . . hmmm.  Maybe it will succeed?