Clif’s Notes

Favorite Dr. Seuss Story

I decided to begin building My Google Library so that I can:

• Share my favorite books with our own children.
• Easily access books, images, citations, etc. during class, presentations, workshops, etc.
• Share and suggest resources with other educators

When it came time to add my favorite Dr. Seuss books to my library I realized that I would have to add most of them, so I decided to try and narrow it down to my very favorite book. It took some reflection and deep soul searching (I’m exaggerating.) but I was able to identify my very favorite (Thanks to a technicality that I’ll share in another post.) Seuss story.

I remember the first time I read Too Many Daves (from The Sneetches and Other Stories). I was sitting at a table in my elementary school library with two of my friends. I read the book silently and the ridiculousness of one naming all 23 of her children the same thing just sent my imagination spinning. It remains one of my favorite poems all these years later. I’ve included the poem below in case you’re unfamiliar with it. Unfortunately, I can’t also include the artwork because it really sales the story - as is typical of all of Seuss’ work.

Discussion
What is YOUR favorite Dr. Seuss story? Why?

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TOO MANY DAVES
From: The Sneetches and Other Stories
By: Dr. Seuss

Did I ever tell you that Mrs. McCave
Had twenty-three sons, and she named them all Dave?

But she didn’t do it. And now it’s too late.

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To You and Yours…

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Sleep Well Walsh Family

“Every child abduction is a tragedy but the 1981 kidnap and murder of one six year old boy ultimately would provide the parents of thousands of missing children with a glimmer of hope amid their despair.” (Source: ABC’s Nightline, 12/16/08)

John and Reve Walsh lost their six year old son, Adam, 27 years ago and the crime has gone unsolved. During that time John Walsh has redirected his grief and heartache in positive directions and taken on the cause of helping other suffering parents to find justice. The Walshes have helped start a number of centers for missing and exploited children, have helped reform related legislation and John’s TV show America’s Most Wanted has helped capture more than a thousand fugitives. The Hollywood (Florida) Police Department announced the perpetrator of the crimes against Adam and declared the case closed today.

Thankfully, I’ve not had to endure the suffering with which John and Reve have had to live. I can only imagine that it has been 27 years of unrest. Everything that comes to mind just sounds trite and cliche, so I’ll simply say, “Thousands and thousands of prayers have been answered today. Sleep well Walsh family. Sleep well.”

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Middle School Student Makes Scientific Breakthrough

Thirteen-year-old William Yuan…

….began working with solar cells two years ago, after science teacher Susan Duncan encouraged him to tackle an engineering project. He spent hours searching the Internet, brainstorming with Duncan, and talking with professionals before he found a topic that piqued his interest: the global energy crisis. Building on research from Georgia Tech and Notre Dame universities, Yuan found a way to improve the conversion efficiency and yields of solar cells.

Most solar cells absorb visible light to produce electricity, but his design harnesses both visible and ultraviolet light. That’s particularly helpful in cloudy areas, such as where he lives in the Pacific Northwest, because the solar cell can continue to generate electricity even when clouds obscure the Sun. To achieve this result, Yuan applied various coatings, integrated nanotubes, and added specialized nanostructures to a typical solar cell. Experts have given his method a thumbs-up. (Source: Edutopia)

A Few Thoughts

• Please consider reading the full story.
• Congratulations William!!! Not only am I impressed by your discovery, but your diligence and ability to collaborate with others in resourceful ways is inspiring.
• I send my respect and appreciation to Susan Duncan, William’s science teacher from 2 years ago, who seems to have played an instrumental and ongoing role in William’s personal work. I’d like to find her blog, website, etc. if it’s out there.

Discussion

• What lessons can educators and parents learn from this?
• What can other young people take away from William’s journey and scientific breakthrough?

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Did You Hug Your Kids Today?

photo credit: shc32

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Kids Do the Darndest Things

I ran across this YouTube video and it cracked me up. This fellow should be thankful that he had the video camera rolling.

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If I Had My Child to Raise over Again

I read this poem in a church bulletin in 1997. Although I was single it struck home with me as an elementary teacher and as a hoping-to-someday-be Dad. I saved it and read it from time to time. I thought some of you teachers and parents might like it.

If I Had My Child to Raise Over Again
By Diane Loomans

If I had my child to raise all over again,
I’d finger-paint more, and point the fingers less.
I would do less correcting and more connecting.
I’d take my eyes off my watch, and watch with my eyes.

I would care to know less and know to care more.
I’d take more hikes and fly more kites.
I’d stop playing serious, and seriously play.
I would run through more fields and gaze at more stars.

I’d do more hugging and less tugging.
I’d build self-esteem first, and the house later.
I would be firm less often, and affirm much more.
I’d teach less about the love of power, And more about the power of love.

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Newsletter on Educational Technology

Throughout the years many of the preservice and in-service teachers in my classes, workshops, and presentations have requested that I start an email newsletter. They indicate that in addition to this blog they would like to receive occasional emails sharing rich resources related to technology integration. I’m excited to announce that I have answered these requests.

Clif’s Newsletter on Educational Technology focuses on the effective integration of technology with teaching and learning. Subscribers of this free service will receive occasional emails providing valuable resources and information about lesson plans, activities, technologies, research, etc., related to educational technology.

OPEN TO PUBLIC
Subscription to this newsletter is open to everyone. You are encouraged to share this with everyone with an interest in education (teachers, administrators, homeschooling families, friends, classmates, co-workers, etc.). Everyone is invited to receive this free newsletter.

PRIVACY POLICY
Your email address will never be shared with others. You may unsubscribe at anytime.

MANAGING SUBSCRIPTIONS
You may subscribe or unsubscribe to this newsletter as you wish.

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• Developing Educational Technology Courses
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Claymation Video by Sixth Grader

Since childhood I’ve always wanted to learn how to do claymation, but I’ve never gotten around to it. Sixth grader, Charlie, has already figured it out and released his first video. Watch the video and then consider leaving Charlie a comment. EduBloggers might notice that Charlie is Neil Hokanson’s son.

Charlie and Neil, you should both be so proud!

Student projects like this always makes me wonder if we are underestimating what our students are truly capable of.

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Happy Mother’s Day

In honor of all the wonderful moms let’s set the blog color selection on pink (see top right) today.

A few of the things we love about the Mom in our home.

1. “I love it when she hugs on me…and kisses on me.” — Our middle child
2. “She takes care of me, and she makes me breakfast, and she sets my TV.” — Our oldest
3. “Kisses…hugs…TICKLES!” — Our youngest

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Awesome Song

I first heard this song over a year ago. I’ve listened to it oodles of times since: the kids and I have danced and jammed to it, I’ve sung it while commuting back and forth to work, I’ve hummed along with it at 30,000 feet on multiple occasions, and it has brightened many a dull day in the office. My iPod probably groans with boredom every time I select it and wishes I’d grow weary of it. I love this song - the message and the music. I’m sharing the very difficult to find live version as it’s best.

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photo credit: Squiggle

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More Favorite Children’s Books

I enjoyed our recent discussion of favorite children’s books so much that I wanted write a follow-up. A lot of teachers have mentioned that they have already bookmarked it for future reference. This blog exists for exactly that reason - to be a resource for teachers.

My favorite genre of children’s literature is wordless picture books. It’s fun to see kids get swept away in these books. The artwork is usually stellar and the author’s/ illustrator’s work typically invokes our creative interpretations. Wordless picture books can be a great way to encourage higher order thinking, creativity, and self-expression. They can often be used to practice the elements of a story (setting, plot, character, etc.) or to initiate activities in creative writing, art, drama, multi-media, etc. It’s often a good way to level the playing field with regard to student reading levels. Here are a few of my very favorite wordless picture books.

The Silver Pony - One of the very first books I “read” from my elementary school library. This book has many elements that I have always enjoyed: horses, Greek mythology, art, imagination and creativity. I wish I knew how many times I checked out this book. I need to go buy a copy for our family library.

Animalia - Another outstanding work by Graeme Base.

Tuesday - Mostly a wordless picture book about frogs.

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Favorite Children’s Books

Earlier this week I was a parent reader in the class of one of our children. Although I’m an elementary math and science teacher I do really like children’s literature. We read with our mother nearly everyday growing up. One of our grandmothers was an elementary school librarian and she kept us supplied with books, books on tape, magazine subscriptions, and more. I was also blessed with many teachers that loved books. I made a conscious effort to read books to my students because I wanted them to see books being appreciated by a man, a mathematician and a scientist. Now, our home’s bookshelves overflow with children’s books as we enjoy reading to our own children. All that to say, I always have a difficult time selecting the books to read in these types of situations. Here are some of the reasons.

1. There are so many great books with which I want all kids to be familiar.
2. There are some books that I really want to read to them, but am nearly certain that they’ve already encountered them (Where the Wild Things Are). I’m never completely sure, though.
3. I like to read a book that our son or daughter especially likes and point this out to his or her classmates.
4. Reading a book with a moral purpose is always desired.
5. I like to narrate the story (with character voices and sound effects) which limits the pool of potential books to some degree.
6. Books based on television programs, computer games, websites, toys, etc. pretty much are not going to make the cut.
7. I want all the children to fall in love with the book.

Do you see why I have a bit of trouble deciding what to read? It’s a great delima with which to be faced, though!

Here are some of the books that received strong consideration.

• Round Trip
• The Tale of the Three Trees
• Where the Wild Things Are
• Don’t Eat the Teacher
• Chugga-Chugga Choo-Choo
• Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
• Water Hole

I actually received input from many of this blog’s reader via Twitter. As a result, I thought it would be a useful idea and a lot of fun to mention and discuss your favorite children’s books here on the blog - thus, this post. So,…

What are your favorite children’s books?

UPDATE: Join this closely related discussion.

photo credit: ianus

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