Twilight craze

I guess just like the students I too got interested in the Twilight series books. I mainly got "sucked" in by the hype of all the students. I like to stay up on the latest books they enjoy as to try to make a connection with them and any links to classroom material that I can use are an additional bonus. I read the first book only and have now seen both the first movie as well as New Moon this weekend. I enjoy the books because they go into so much detail and you get to create the characters in your own mind. I must say that several people in my classroom have made comments that the books are much better than the movie and I was impressed that they have been reading them. Maybe due to all the hype and wanting to see what is going to happen before it actually does. I get impatient while waiting for movies but hate to spoil them by reading ahead. I read the books after the movies. I guess that is a bit backwards but always seems to keep me interested in the books and the movies. So on to the review.... I like the fact that the book describes Forks in so much detail in the book. This is the place Bella has chosen to go to live with her boring dad. She did this so her mother could be happy to travel with her boyfriend, a selfless move on Bellas part. She thinks more of othersa than herself. This theme continues throughout the book as she seems to have no fear or concern for the outcome of herself. I think it went on for four to five pages aboutForks, as well as the part about the vampire skin and how it shines like diamonds. The first was needed to enhance the story the second about their skin was a bit cheesy and over the top if I am being critical. Overall, I liked the book better than the movie because of the details. You get a better understanding of Bella and her family in the book. In the book she is really witty and stubborn, she is very clumsy and seems to be fun. The information about the Cullen family is so well written it makes you get really into their life and want to know more about them. I love how Edward Cullen is so drawn to Bella not only because he can read all minds but her. Also, because she appeals to him as a snack saying "he can smell her clear across the room" and he makes reference to wanting to eat her so bad. As this love story builds it is well written and it doesn't imply any sexual conduct like most books and movies today. In fact, each time he touches Bella in the book you are amazed, like wow he touched her cheek. I love that it makes you so happy for their romance and how it progresses slowly and respectfully. I also love that about the book, the suspense builds as they take their love very slowly and get to know each other very deeply. I love how these books are popular with several age groups and it is very rewarding to see students walking around reading a large book like this, a challenge so many pass on these days due to video games and other forms of enertainment. Things come so easily now days and it stifles creativity. I would say this is a vampire book for all types of people even those who hate vampire stories can appreciate a love story with such a great story line! I encourage you to get "sucked in" as well!

Preparing for End of Course Exams

Next week we will be off the whole week for Thanksgiving Break! I am so excited about this and I know the students are as well. After we return we have to get ready to take the state EOC exams. My students are dreading them about as much as I am. I think the best way to prepare is to do some review and then go over the vocabulary again with some quizzes. I think we will try to cover the material in a fun way like Jeopardy or another game that will be fun but act as a review to the material. Any ideas from others on what you do in these cases? I have to test three of my six classes. Desktop Publishing, Marketing, and Fashion Merchandising all have to take these exams.

Confessions of a Shopaholic Book Review

Rebecca Bloomwood lives in one of the trendiest neighborhoods in London, she has a fantastic job writing for a Financial press "Successful Savings", she has all of the seasons must haves and the latest fashions lining her closet. You would think by looking at her that she had the perfect life. As you read this book you will find out that Rebecca tries to act intelligent and she is bored to death by her job. She has all of the latest and greatest clothing but piles of credit card bills to go with them. She appears to have it all together but yet she seems to be going crazy as she tries to make up one lie to cover the other about her financial situation. She sees no way to get out of her desperate situation and she comes up with very humorous schemes to avoid the bill collectors. This book will have you laughing but also feeling very sorry for Rebecca and you really want her to get her problems all worked out. See what happens to Rebecca by reading this book. It is a very fun book. Follow Rebecca as she attends meetings, tries to budget, deals with love interests and best of all as she tries to avoid her extreme stories and urges to purchase!

Fashion Field trip

My Fashion Merchandising class is taking a Field trip to the Pinnacle Hills Promenade mall tomorrow. We had hoped for nicer weather but maybe it will warm up a bit. We will be hearing a marketing speech and get a tour of the stores and the store managers have agreed to talk to us as well. The students are excited. We will be doing a store questionaire and scavenger hunt type worksheet to tie in our design principles and marketing strategies. I will post pictures after we go!

The Last Lecture- Book Review

This is the best book! It is so inspiring and it makes you want to help others and be a better person. It is about the life of a man named Randy Pausch. He was suppose to deliver a speech at his college. This was a common thing done by professors and when he was asked to take his turn he was somewhat prepared and he thought about what he would say. He at that time was going through the motions to prepare a good speech. He found out after committing to do the lecture that he was dying of cancer. He could have backed out and all would understand but he decided to view the challenge as a chance to present a speech to inspire the people he was leaving behind, pay tribute to the people who had inspired and influenced his life, and leave somewhat of an instruction manual for his children who would never get the chance be taught by their dad. What kind of impact would you want to leave if you were in his shoes? What would you say if you only had one last chance to say it. He delivered his speech with such power, conviction, and inspiration. He then wrote this book as the background info and to inform the people exactly what was going on while he prepared for the speech of a lifetime. This is an easy read, like a life's little lesson book. I promise this will make you want to be a better person and it will be something that makes you laugh, makes you cry and makes you think. I hope you will decide to take a journey with Randy Pausch through this book and be inspired and truly thankful you decided to read it. It has recieved national recognition and millions of hits on Youtube! Don't you want to know why?

Getting Artsy in Business Classes!

Everything from typing to art in my classes! I am so thankful that I have such an array of topics to teach! I have a web design class where we do a lot of intense work and it stays pretty quiet and focused but I also have Desktop Publishing and Fashion Design where I feel like a kid doing art projects again. It is so much fun to design and create! We have an activity cart and it has markers, colored pencils, glue sticks, rubber cement, magazines, paper, posters and all kinds of other things. I assigned a lesson yesterday and told the students to create a PowerPoint to show 5 outfits that were inspired by a song in history. We did "Beat it" by Michael Jackson, "Material Girl" by Madonna, "Purple Rain" by Prince, "Unforgettable", and others suggested by the Fashion guide and students. The students actually asked me if they could ALSO do posters to showcase the designs on our wall! I was so excited and made the activity worth additional points so they could be creative and decorate the class. They LOVE this. I let each class take a few weeks and we put up their work and then we rotate to my other classes. They like the friendly competition and try to outdo each others designs. Some goes inside and some goes in the hall to showcase for the whole school. What a great year I am having....despite the hectic schedule!!!!!!!!

Ipods! Help or hinderence?

We have had several discussions at our school about the use of ipods and other technology devices. One of the biggest disagreements has been over the students use of ipods. Some teachers feel like the students are distracted by them and they can not possibly concentrate with them in their ears. I say it depends on the class, environment and teacher preferences. I let my students use them and it has been a great tool for them. I do attendance and give my lessons while students must be paying full attention with no use of devices. I then give them time to work as I monitor the room and I allow them to use them. They put them in and get busy. The room is quiet and the students stay busy. I too enjoy music while I work so it is not a problem for me. I tell them if all work is done and it is great work then the use of them can continue. The point they become a distraction, then they must be left at home. Several students even use them to incorporate into their projects such as downloading music to PowerPoint and adding in clips to projects. How does everyone else feel about theses things? Maybe I approve because computers and technology go hand in hand in my opinion but I see why other subject matter would discourage the use of them. It would be difficult to learn history or science while listening to music. Here is a pic of one of my students working away with one ear bud in and one out so he can hear me. My students have been very respectful with them. Just thought I would blog about this because its been a topic of discussion several places lately.