New Tool to Provide Tech Inventory for Common Core

Online testing for all students on common academic standard achievement could arrive sooner than we think: New Tool to Provide Tech Inventory for Common Core.

Thoughts to consider: Will this type of testing overwhelm district infrastructure?
Where will the $$ come from?
How will this impact those states still deciding on adoption of Common Core Standards (currently @45 states, with Minnesota, the 46th only opting for ELA standards).

ED 240 - Technology

Today is the first day of eD 240 - and I am excited to learn about the many ways I can integrate technology into my teaching. I have a particular passion for SCIENCE and this is an area that is advanced with the ability to connect the students to life happening outside the classroom. Therefore, the web is a powerful tool for videos and other visual aids to assist students in making these connections! I am also particularly fascinated about early reading instruction and the iPad software programs that have been developed and has assisted thousands and millions of new readers. Technology is a powerful tool!

2011 - In Recap

Well, ALOT has happened since my last entry, I'll try to bridge the gap with a brief little recap.
I traveled to Chicago and ran the best marathon of my life - more than a 3 minute PR, coming in at 3:35:26.....yes for all you Boston Marathon scholars, exactly 26 seconds short of a spot in Boston, given their new time requirements. Bummer? Yes. But I was too psyched on a PR, and our wedding which was just 11 short days after.We got married at The Condor's Nest Ranch and it was a day truly above any other. From there, the Mitchell newlyweds took off first class to Kauai, for a stay in Princeville. Relaxing, romantic, perfect. We got home, finished moving in together...and unwrapping wedding presents and started construction on our Christmas Tree Lot, which we ran along with our full-time jobs for twenty-eight consecutive days. A successful season; installing stands, delivering trees, marketing, late nights, loading cars, fast food three times a day, zero working out and meeting new customers and returning customers. Then, we brushed off the pine needles, donated our remaining trees, locked up the gate and left Newport at midnight to hit the trails of Cottonwood Arizona, hunting on Christmas Day. We spent 4 relaxing days there, then took Fargo's buck home in tow to catch a flight from LAX to Indiana for a winter wedding honoring his older brother (Steve & Jen). Phew. Today, it's January 2nd, 2012 and I can't wait to tell you what's in store for this year!

Challenges

At what point do you stop growing? I think never. I love to challenge myself, because this is where I attribute my biggest growing moments. Some of my challenges land within the distance running community.

When we decide to take on a challenge for ourselves, it has to be just that, for ourselves. No one else will carry you through those difficult moments. If I ran marathons for someone else I would have stopped along time ago. I realized the shift a few years ago, as a 26.2 mile finish became no-surprise to others. When you are on the brink of accepting a challenge, something you have never done before, and something that is undoubtedly harder than anything you have been a part of, in making the decision you must ask yourself, ‘Why am I doing this?’ If it’s for you, for your soul, you’re in, and there’s no passing it up.

One thing I truly live for is challenging myself to complete tests of endurance, some that sound totally impossible. However, at the same time, I acknowledge my imagination dreams up my next challenge, so I have to be careful in evaluating the outcome. This is usually where my ‘better half’ comes in. He is able to determine the realistic angles of it, and I welcome his help, (sometimes that is a challenge for me).  We all have our motives, the will that drive us. For an example, I am running the North Face 50 Mile Endurance Challenge on December 3^rd, 2011. Why did I sign up for a 50 mile run? Well, I was reminded of one of the reasons when the butterflies hit my tummy as the online registration screen read, ‘Please wait, Credit Card Authorization in Progress’. I love those moments in life.

As I write this I have just accepted my biggest challenge to date, and it is less than 3 weeks away.  I have accepted the opportunity to be the fourth man on a crew team, for runner Rochelle Frazeur in the world’s toughest foot race, the 2011 Badwater Ultramarathon that takes runners from 120 degree heat in Death Valley, California to Whitney Portal, California. The runners run from the lowest point in the northern continental to the highest. Rochelle plans on finishing within 40 hours. The challenge will be being in good enough shape to withstand the extreme conditions in order to aid Rochelle. Ice down her bandana, monitor her hydration, deliver salt tablets,  wipe her sunglasses, feed her pretzels, talk her through hallucinations, all while experiencing the heat, lack of sleep and exhaustion along the sweltering roadside for 135 miles, 48 hours, where your sweat doesn’t have time to appear before it evaporates. Your question, I am sure is ‘Why?’ One reason is to be out there with other people who wouldn’t ask the question. Those who understand. Another reason... because I know I can, and I am obligated to that ability.  Another reason....  I’ve wanted to since the minute I saw the first runner come across the finish line in 2009 before climbing Mt. Whitney.  In fact, in a weird way I envisioned myself out there doing it in the coming year. I just knew I would.
I read the following quote in the novel, ‘Once a Runner’,

“The desire to keep running until the task is completed or the goal is achieved is so great that it overrides our better knowledge”. So, I suppose I am committing the sin of knowing better.

I know I will walk away from this opportunity, bestowed upon men and especially women who have jumped their own hurdles to get to the start line.

Rather than going for the next ultra race, I intend to take this opportunity to stop, and see what I can gather from their experience, and undoubtedly gain the motivation to get out there and do it myself. I believe the primary drive in life is not pleasure, as Freud believed, but the discovery and pursuit of what we find meaningful.

I will certainly keep you updated on the Badwater Ultra Experience - coming July 9th - July 13th

Stepping it Up

It has been four solid weeks since the OC Marathon. I can finally attest to the case for 'rest', something hard for any active person to grasp. I feel like I cheated because I (was) injured, so not running wasn't so hard. I did go for a run here and there, and at a peak ran three solid days in a row in a 8, 5, 3 daily mile sequence. What I did do to stay active despite the injury was new activities such as spinning and hiking.
Typically, injury or no injury, it's standard to take a break after a marathon. Especially given the training schedule that went into the 26.2. When I first started running marathons, I just needed that 'mental' break after a marathon. Now, I finish one and keep running to the next. This, I realize has been a blessing.

So, it's summertime. And lately, I have been interfaced with more and more people, who don't normally run,  heading out for a run. They say, 'I ran for 31 minutes yesterday! I'm sore, but it was great!' Or, 'I've been going for jogs around my neighborhood, and I have decided to sign up for a half marathon next year!' I love hearing this. But I also know how hard those early miles are. I hope they can hang on to that high and stay consistent long enough to see the improvement. Because you gotta build. Many people head out for a run...get up to 1 mile..... and absolutely don't enjoy it and quit. Heck, I'll go out for a run and totally and completly crawl through that first mile....but your body is just getting warmed up!!! For any of you out there who fall in this category, (you know who you are) I challenge you to the following running week, as I challenge myself to build back to a 50 mile (and eventually, a 100 mile) running week.
For week beginning Sunday June 12:
Go for this beginning runners:

Sunday:
Monday: 2
Tuesday:0
Wednesday: 2
Thursday: 0
Friday: 2
Saturday: 3
TOTAL: 10
(#'s in miles)

For those intermediate runners who want to join me:
Sunday: 5
Monday: 5
Tuesday: 6
Wednesday: 4
Thursday: 5
Friday: 5
Saturday: 10
TOTAL: 40
(#'s in miles)

It's summertime! That means it's lighter longer, and vacations are planned! Make the most out of your week and get outside!!