Three things that will "hippen"? you up:
1) O.K. Go!! The most creative music video group in the biz. Their music is alright, but their videos are pure genius. On top of that, the junior high kids get a kick out of attempting to duplicate the videos. A couple years back they made a video choreographed on tread mills! Even your grandmother would like these guys. Plus, you can now gain the respect of your class by knowing what a Rube Goldberg machine is. Lucky you.
2) Have a Portable hard drive with you at all times. Even if you don't use it, need it, or or even know how to use it; simply having it in your possession walking around the school gloating to students "I got 500GB right here" just commands respect. Even more so if you follow that up with "Whatchoo got...320?". Watch out though as the student might pull the nirvana of responses and zing you back with "Mine? Oh its one terabyte." There will be a hush over the room like in the movie Twister when poor Bill Paxton's wife asked about the F5 tornado, but all you have to do is say "Your face" and walk away. Once again, no more problems.
3) Matt Harding. The guy who dances around the world in videos titled "Where the he** is Matt?" He took a creative idea from one of his travel companions and turned it into 32 million views on youtube (not much money, but views man!). He used the universal language of dancing and invited people from around the world to join him, and they did! If I ever need inspiration I spend 4 minutes and 29 seconds watching this. Far and away my favorite youtube video. Enjoy.
Three things about teaching:
4) The debate between tracked vs. untracked classes. I had heard of tracked classes but wasn't fully aware of the impact they have on the school environment. Upon looking it up online, I really had to filter out all the "track and field" classes that are out there. Finally I turned to my good pal Wik E Pedia. He offered me this definition: "Tracking (also called streaming) is separating pupils by academic ability into groups for all subjects within a school." Of course I said. Then I read on while I refilled my orange juice. Check it out. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tracking_(education)
5) The Wing Luke Asian Museum:
A fabulous museum in the heart of Seattle's China Town. The staff has done a great job of taking the history of this four block radius and capturing it for school kids to see and hear for themselves. Artwork, stage shows, original apartments, and HUGE amounts of historical facts are waiting to have a group of kids come and enjoy their bounty. Plus I got to experience, for the first time in my life, a Spring Roll. Not just any spring roll, one from "Green Leaf", the famous restaurant that puts a little crunchy thing in the middle of each roll.....yum. The Staff at the museum are top notch and made us feel totally at home. An experience I will remember for some time. http://www.wingluke.org/
6) http://www.blackpast.org/ In one of my classes we are putting together resources for information about different cultures around the world. My group is focusing on African Americans and we quickly found the website listed above. From historical figures to current sports stars, this website has information covering anything you might need to help run a lesson or unit on this subject.
Three totally random things:
7) Fantasy Basketball 2010 is about to kick off!! Just like the WSOP (you all know what that is now right?), a stats heavy classroom would be in number heaven following a fantasy sports team. Even if you weren't into the sport, the math behind all the calculations is intoxicating. If you haven't owned a fantasy team before....well...that's just not cool man. I would have put this in the "hip" section but playing fantasy anything really does have the opposite effect.
8) Team America - That is one weird movie...and one great lesson for all of us trying to get a step up in the world. You need to have a montage!! Sell yourself in 1 minute to anyone, just get yourself a montage.
I won't even link the video. This one you'll have to work for yourself....but get yourself a montage!!
9) Celine Deion is about to have her twins early next month at St. Mary's Medical Center in West Palm Beach Florida. This is just a precaution that came about when it was mentioned to the hospital staff the Mrs. Deion was playing her songs to the unborn children through the womb. The staff quickly called The Deion household and said "Those babies are going to want out ASAP, you might want to get in here."
Funny for the day:
A doctor and a lawyer were talking at a party.
Their conversation was constantly interrupted by people describing their ailments and asking the doctor for free medical advice.
After an hour of this, the exasperated doctor asked the lawyer, "What do you do to stop people from asking you for legal advice when you're out of the office?"
"I give it to them," replied the lawyer, "and then I send them a bill."
The doctor was shocked, but agreed to give it a try.
The next day, still feeling slightly guilty, the doctor prepared the bills.
When he went to place them in his mailbox, he found a bill from the lawyer.
Their conversation was constantly interrupted by people describing their ailments and asking the doctor for free medical advice.
After an hour of this, the exasperated doctor asked the lawyer, "What do you do to stop people from asking you for legal advice when you're out of the office?"
"I give it to them," replied the lawyer, "and then I send them a bill."
The doctor was shocked, but agreed to give it a try.
The next day, still feeling slightly guilty, the doctor prepared the bills.
When he went to place them in his mailbox, he found a bill from the lawyer.
Cheerio!
Thanks TeeTime - your post made my daughter and I laugh out loud!
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