Two years ago, I decided the best way to teach my kids (1 and 4) to appreciate the Olympics was to have a mock Olympics in our backyard with our friends. We began with a torch relay across the yard, held appropriate events (i.e., the running while making swimming motion w/ your arms relay) , and had a medal ceremony. Being in a University town, we have a very international population, so we put a flag of the country each child's parents (or in some cases they) were born to show how international the games are. We sang the National Anthem during the medal ceremony and followed with a Greek pot luck.
I wanted to do something similar this year to celebrate the Winter Olympics in Italy. I didn't have time to do something over the weekend, so I approached Sarah's kindergarten teacher about doing a multi-week unit about Italy and the Olympics. Thankfully she was in agreement.
We are doing this in 2 class sessions.
One week we will learn about the Olympics (I'm trying to video tape events to show in class) and Italy and if we have time make a no-cook Italian dish (pasta so the kids cook it at home? tiramisu? ANY OTHER SUGGESTIONS WELCOME!).
One week we will have a torch relay from the classroom to the "site" of the games (we are hoping the gym teacher will let us use the already scheduled gym class for this event). I was thinking about games such as:
a ski race using traffic cones to create the flags
a speed skating race with sock feet
floor hockey if the school has the equipment
maybe the luge or skeleton if they have flat things w/ wheels
Then we will have a medal ceremony. We have already asked parents to let us know if they or their kids were born outside of the US so I can make the medals international again.
I can't wait! Neither can Sarah.
I'm so grateful Sarah's teacher is open to parents taking over her class.
Tuesday, January 31, 2006
Sunday, January 29, 2006
Lessons are everywhere
One thing that is nice about teaching is that if you keep your eyes open, there are lessons everywhere. When you are teaching freshman, you have to be careful how you present things as their experiences usually aren't plentiful. It makes it a challenge to present abstract concepts.
So, I spend a bit of time trying to find examples that the students can relate to. I also try to keep the examples (at least initally) in their environment.
This week, events on campus have given me a great example of how organizations face adversity.
Each winter, our campus has a winter festival, complete with snow sculptures. These sculptures are begun as soon as the students return to campus for the spring semester and take a month to build. Many of them have components that are 2 stories tall. This week, temps have approached 40 degrees. Not great for sculptures. This is the 2nd year in a row we have faced this. Last year, some groups abandoned their scultures, others built modified versions. They were still amazing, but not what was intended. You could feel the frustration from the students that their vision was not met.
It's a great way to talk to my class about how organizations react to adversity - do they go to plan B and continue to work toward their prize (in this case bragging rights), or do they decided that there are more important ways to spend their time (i.e., studying, sleeping) and move to another project.
I'll be interested to see how the students in my class will view the fish or cut bait discussion. Many of them tend to view things in black and white. The fun of my job is helping them see the shades of grey.
And speaking of facing adversity, check out my girl Jenelle who decided to sit in a chair for her brother's (Birthday Boy) party. Check out the pics on Kelly's blog or you can go directly to Jenelle's Journey to see her story
So, I spend a bit of time trying to find examples that the students can relate to. I also try to keep the examples (at least initally) in their environment.
This week, events on campus have given me a great example of how organizations face adversity.
Each winter, our campus has a winter festival, complete with snow sculptures. These sculptures are begun as soon as the students return to campus for the spring semester and take a month to build. Many of them have components that are 2 stories tall. This week, temps have approached 40 degrees. Not great for sculptures. This is the 2nd year in a row we have faced this. Last year, some groups abandoned their scultures, others built modified versions. They were still amazing, but not what was intended. You could feel the frustration from the students that their vision was not met.
It's a great way to talk to my class about how organizations react to adversity - do they go to plan B and continue to work toward their prize (in this case bragging rights), or do they decided that there are more important ways to spend their time (i.e., studying, sleeping) and move to another project.
I'll be interested to see how the students in my class will view the fish or cut bait discussion. Many of them tend to view things in black and white. The fun of my job is helping them see the shades of grey.
And speaking of facing adversity, check out my girl Jenelle who decided to sit in a chair for her brother's (Birthday Boy) party. Check out the pics on Kelly's blog or you can go directly to Jenelle's Journey to see her story
Friday, January 27, 2006
Enron & Harley Davidson
I love the flexibility this class allows. My topic is the study of organization culture (I chose Corporate, Religious and Political Cultures), how they change, what barriers exist to change, and how understanding all three can help you effectively introduce change into those organizations.
I get to chose the readings, movies, guest speakers, etc.
For this next week, we are going to talk about the Enron scandel and how the corporate culture encouraged the circumstances that led to it's downfall. Sometimes it just amazes me how all this could happen.
If any of my readers are from Texas or have strong opinions on Enron, please feel free to share.
The other company we are discussing on Tuesday is Harley Davidson. It amazes me how they sucessfully changed from a top down, union vs. management corporate culture. The evolution was not made without resistance and skeptisim, but has stood the test of time.
I wonder sometimes if Ford or GM would introduce some similar changes if they could become more profitable.
One thing I have observed in my almost 20 years of employment is managements inability to trust the opinion of their own employees. They hire them because they are interested in their skills, but then constantly hire outside consultants to review their organizations to become more efficient. Sometimes this is necessary as it's easier to implement decisions that have been recommended by someone without a vested interest, but other times you learn exactly what you have been told by your own employees.
Sometimes I wonder why management is so interested in the outside opinion.
I get to chose the readings, movies, guest speakers, etc.
For this next week, we are going to talk about the Enron scandel and how the corporate culture encouraged the circumstances that led to it's downfall. Sometimes it just amazes me how all this could happen.
If any of my readers are from Texas or have strong opinions on Enron, please feel free to share.
The other company we are discussing on Tuesday is Harley Davidson. It amazes me how they sucessfully changed from a top down, union vs. management corporate culture. The evolution was not made without resistance and skeptisim, but has stood the test of time.
I wonder sometimes if Ford or GM would introduce some similar changes if they could become more profitable.
One thing I have observed in my almost 20 years of employment is managements inability to trust the opinion of their own employees. They hire them because they are interested in their skills, but then constantly hire outside consultants to review their organizations to become more efficient. Sometimes this is necessary as it's easier to implement decisions that have been recommended by someone without a vested interest, but other times you learn exactly what you have been told by your own employees.
Sometimes I wonder why management is so interested in the outside opinion.
Thursday, January 26, 2006
For Becky - How to sponser a blood drive
Becky,
You asked about how to sponsor a blood drive, and it was a little more that could fit on a comment.
It was easy in some respects, time consuming in others.
First you need to find the organization you want to work with. The Red Cross is one, your local blood bank is another. You can call your local hospital to find out who services them.
For my drive, I had to:
locate a place,
coordinate volunteers to help set up/clean up, help check people in, give out snacks, etc.,
schedule donors.
The blood bank pretty much did the rest. They:
provided marketing materials for me to distribute
brought in the equipment
Brought snacks, drinks, etc.
If you have more questions, feel free to email me at timestep05@yahoo.com
Reminds me, I need to schedule my drive for this spring.
Kirsten
You asked about how to sponsor a blood drive, and it was a little more that could fit on a comment.
It was easy in some respects, time consuming in others.
First you need to find the organization you want to work with. The Red Cross is one, your local blood bank is another. You can call your local hospital to find out who services them.
For my drive, I had to:
locate a place,
coordinate volunteers to help set up/clean up, help check people in, give out snacks, etc.,
schedule donors.
The blood bank pretty much did the rest. They:
provided marketing materials for me to distribute
brought in the equipment
Brought snacks, drinks, etc.
If you have more questions, feel free to email me at timestep05@yahoo.com
Reminds me, I need to schedule my drive for this spring.
Kirsten
Wednesday, January 25, 2006
I took my own advice!
In my last post, I suggested that everyone contact a teacher and thank him or her. Well, I took a different twist on that and I searched until I located the email of one Gary Glick who made an off hand comment one day that I should pursue teaching at a small college or community college when I left the D.C. consulting arena.
It was truly an off-hand comment made to a woman who was looking at leaving the career she'd known for 8 years and facing the unknown. But, that comment inspired me to find a way to make the idea work.
Sometimes you never know what you can accomplish until someone suggests it to you.
So, let people know when you think they can do something. You never know what you will inspire.
It was truly an off-hand comment made to a woman who was looking at leaving the career she'd known for 8 years and facing the unknown. But, that comment inspired me to find a way to make the idea work.
Sometimes you never know what you can accomplish until someone suggests it to you.
So, let people know when you think they can do something. You never know what you will inspire.
If I only knew then what I know now
When I was in college, I never realized how much work it was for the professors.
Last night, I was reminded of this. My students were commenting about how much work I had assigned. I see them once a week. During the course of the class, they have to write approximately 40 pages double space, typed. About half is informal writing - page or two, limited research. The other half is formal papers.
My students might not realize that I have a calendar where I planned out each lesson, reading and papers to try to keep most work on an even keel. Sometimes things don't work out quite that way - this was one of those week. But, there is a method to my madness. Their first paper is due on Feb 17th. Students are notorious for waiting until the last minute, so they have to turn in parts of this paper in stages. I'm only doing this for the first paper so they have time to work slowly.
Unfortuantely, in order to fill a 2 hour and 20 minute class block, we have to have enough reading material to hold an active class discussion. That means lots of readings.
What I didn't realize as a student is that the professor puts in about the same amount of hours outside of class as the students do - sometimes more. If they spend 5 hours writing a paper and 3 hours pretending to write, I'm spending 1/2 hour grading it. BUT, I have 23 students so, overall I spend more time.
So, your challenge today is to email an old professor or teacher and thank him or her for investing the time in your future. Tell them how they made a difference. I have 2 professors I plan to contact today.
Last night, I was reminded of this. My students were commenting about how much work I had assigned. I see them once a week. During the course of the class, they have to write approximately 40 pages double space, typed. About half is informal writing - page or two, limited research. The other half is formal papers.
My students might not realize that I have a calendar where I planned out each lesson, reading and papers to try to keep most work on an even keel. Sometimes things don't work out quite that way - this was one of those week. But, there is a method to my madness. Their first paper is due on Feb 17th. Students are notorious for waiting until the last minute, so they have to turn in parts of this paper in stages. I'm only doing this for the first paper so they have time to work slowly.
Unfortuantely, in order to fill a 2 hour and 20 minute class block, we have to have enough reading material to hold an active class discussion. That means lots of readings.
What I didn't realize as a student is that the professor puts in about the same amount of hours outside of class as the students do - sometimes more. If they spend 5 hours writing a paper and 3 hours pretending to write, I'm spending 1/2 hour grading it. BUT, I have 23 students so, overall I spend more time.
So, your challenge today is to email an old professor or teacher and thank him or her for investing the time in your future. Tell them how they made a difference. I have 2 professors I plan to contact today.
Tuesday, January 24, 2006
How do they always know
For those of you with kids, have you ever noticed that the minute you decided "I'll get up early to finish this," THAT is the moment some force allows your kids to wake in the middle of the night?
While I was working on my lesson plan for today's class, I realized that I had set up my lecture so the students first learned about corporate culture, then we discussed the chapter about Enron Corp. that they read (It came from The Smartest Guys in the Room which is a GREAT book about the actions that lead to the downfall of Enron. Some of it is so unbelievable). After discussing the culture of Enron, then they would discuss in small groups the chapters read from More than a Motorcycle, the Leadership journey at Harley Davidson.
Well, last week I realized I forgot to get them the chapter. I thought we would just move it a week not realizing how it would affect my lesson plan until last night. So, I went to bed with the sole intent of getting up early to fix my lesson plan and exercise.
At 2:00 DD#2 wakes up. Change in plan. I did manage 15 min of exercise (very proud of this) and will fix my lesson plan at lunch.
How do they always know!
While I was working on my lesson plan for today's class, I realized that I had set up my lecture so the students first learned about corporate culture, then we discussed the chapter about Enron Corp. that they read (It came from The Smartest Guys in the Room which is a GREAT book about the actions that lead to the downfall of Enron. Some of it is so unbelievable). After discussing the culture of Enron, then they would discuss in small groups the chapters read from More than a Motorcycle, the Leadership journey at Harley Davidson.
Well, last week I realized I forgot to get them the chapter. I thought we would just move it a week not realizing how it would affect my lesson plan until last night. So, I went to bed with the sole intent of getting up early to fix my lesson plan and exercise.
At 2:00 DD#2 wakes up. Change in plan. I did manage 15 min of exercise (very proud of this) and will fix my lesson plan at lunch.
How do they always know!
Monday, January 23, 2006
Blood Donation: The life you save might be your own
Three years ago this month, I almost died. All the medical expertise available to me could not save my life - without the availablility of blood products. I was lucky, I only used about 6 products to save my life.
Every day, I'm thankful for the people who donated. The man (I don't know his name, but I do know it's a he) working to blood storage room at our local hospital who noticed we only had 2 or 3 units of my blood type and asked if he should call our surrounding hospitals to obtain more, the other hospitals who sent their supply so my life might be saved. I'm grateful that our hospital system uses a central supply system so blood products can be easily tranported between hospitals to meet needs.
Blood donation has taken on a new meaning to me. When I donate, I wonder who will recieve my blood. Will they think it's as strange as I did? Will they silently thank me as I did to those before me? One year after receiving my transfusion, I organized my first blood drive. I still have 5 more to sponser before I will feel my debt is paid.
January is Blood Donation Month. Please donate. If you can't donate, encourage others to donate or volunteer at a local blood drive. Better yet, organize your own.
Please pass the word! You never know when it will be your life saved. I never expected that it would be mine.
http://www.redcross.org/article/0,1072,0_497_2144,00.html
Every day, I'm thankful for the people who donated. The man (I don't know his name, but I do know it's a he) working to blood storage room at our local hospital who noticed we only had 2 or 3 units of my blood type and asked if he should call our surrounding hospitals to obtain more, the other hospitals who sent their supply so my life might be saved. I'm grateful that our hospital system uses a central supply system so blood products can be easily tranported between hospitals to meet needs.
Blood donation has taken on a new meaning to me. When I donate, I wonder who will recieve my blood. Will they think it's as strange as I did? Will they silently thank me as I did to those before me? One year after receiving my transfusion, I organized my first blood drive. I still have 5 more to sponser before I will feel my debt is paid.
January is Blood Donation Month. Please donate. If you can't donate, encourage others to donate or volunteer at a local blood drive. Better yet, organize your own.
Please pass the word! You never know when it will be your life saved. I never expected that it would be mine.
http://www.redcross.org/article/0,1072,0_497_2144,00.html
Saturday, January 21, 2006
I should be grading
On Tuesday, my students will be looking for their first papers to be returned. They will also be looking for a great lecture. Unfortunately, after starting to read various blogs, I decided I needed to join the trend.
I started reading blogs partially because I'm using blogs as something that has created change in the cultures of multiple organizations in our world. It allowed me to express how change is made across various organizations.
I tend to jump into new experiences and challenges w/out looking. My mom always joked that I wanted to be either a brain surgeon or a tap dancer. Becoming a doctor never took off, but I did start taking tap lessons 2 years ago after the birth of my 2nd daughter. Hence the name Timestep.
But, I probably should get back to work as Tuesday will come sooner than I want.
I started reading blogs partially because I'm using blogs as something that has created change in the cultures of multiple organizations in our world. It allowed me to express how change is made across various organizations.
I tend to jump into new experiences and challenges w/out looking. My mom always joked that I wanted to be either a brain surgeon or a tap dancer. Becoming a doctor never took off, but I did start taking tap lessons 2 years ago after the birth of my 2nd daughter. Hence the name Timestep.
But, I probably should get back to work as Tuesday will come sooner than I want.
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