in the front seat

While catching up on the news this morning, I came across a new Android app, detext .  Many applications for smartphones have an entertainment or productivity element to them.  This one is all about safety.  The creators say that it "uses GPS  to monitor for speed. When the phone is in motion, detext automatically restricts text messages, phone calls, and other apps that may distract the driver." This life saving app works on Android 2.2 and higher devices.  Parents cannot only stop texting-while-driving, they can also monitor their teen's speed.  My big question is, what happens if your teen is a passenger in the vehicle?   Detext has that covered too.  If your teen is a passenger and they receive a text, all they have to do is solve a simple puzzle to respond.  Remember you can customize these options and it's all free.

If you followed the song "12 Days of Christmas" how many people would you own?

Well, it seems safe to post this picture.  I came across this a party store and loved it so much that I wanted to share it with all of you.

This video was shared with me.  It starts off as a regular Christmas flash mod but ends with a nice touch.  Our Holy Father has spoken about new evangelism, well this reached people where they were, and the memory will last longer than any sermon. 

The Scripps National Spelling Bee is an educational promotion sponsored by The E.W. Scripps Company in conjunction with sponsoring newspapers and organizations around the world.  Its purpose is to help students improve their spelling, increase their vocabulary, learn concepts, and develop correct English usage that will help them all their lives. The school level spelling bee will be on January 16.  Prior to that a bee will be conducted in our classroom sometime after the new year.  If students wish to prepare, they may visit the "Students & Parents page" .

C upcake C hallenge Rules :  Each team of no more than three members, must bake and decorate enough cupcakes to shared with members of the class.  Three to five judges will evaluate  your best cupcake based on the following criteria.   Flavor This tasty cupcake is of exceptional flavor, neither overly sweet nor lacking in flavor.  (40 pts) This cupcake is of average taste resembling the quality normally found in a store- bought package. (30 pts) This cupcake either lacks flavor or is too sweet.  (20 pts) Presentation This attractive cupcake represents the “winter” theme exceptionally well making use of color and other elements of design.  (40 pts) This cupcake adequately represents the “winter” theme resembling the generic quality normally found in a store bought package. (30 pts) This cupcake lacks artistic elements, color, and/or fails to represent the “winter” theme. (20 pts) Texture This cupcake is the ideal texture, neither too moist/soft nor dry/firm. (20 pts) This c

You Are the Historian: Investigating the First Thanksgiving  is an interactive exploration of the facts and myths associated with the story of the First Thanksgiving. You can explore the facts and myths through the eyes of a Native American or an English Colonist. Through the eyes of each character you will discover the culture of giving thanks in the Native American and English cultures.  My favorite part is the "path to 1621".  In that part you can see the different  perspectives  about the same issue.   Students are encouraged to go through each step.  At the end "share what you've discover".  

These "50" words were originally posted on " Ave Maria Press" Engaging Press blog for religious educators.  It is part of a lesson plan on describing God's plan for salvation. The Bible in 50 Words God made Adam bit Noah arked Abraham split Joseph ruled Jacob fooled Bush talked Moses balked Pharaoh plagued People walked Sea divided Tablets guided Promised landed Saul freaked David peeked Prophets warned Jesus born God walked Love talked Anger crucified Hope died Love rose Spirit flamed Word spread God remained

Check out this infographic summarizing a  recent study at Brown University on dating and politics.  Pay close attention to the initial premise - that two of the most important criteria for a perfectly matched couple are their agreement on politics and religion or church attendance .  As you will see, the study indicates that most adult couples refrain from discussing and sharing their political opinions as they try to "win" the affections of their potential mates.   Why is agreement on political and religious positions so important for a perfectly matched couple? Why might we conceal our political and religious opinions when looking for a marriage partner? Is is dishonest to willfully withhold our political and religious opinions if they are so important to us?  What are your thoughts? Why is agreement on political and religious positions so important for a perfectly matched couple? Why might we conceal our political and religious opinions when looking for a marri

Read & Write for Google Docs is one of my favorite Chrome applications.  Once installed, a user will have a tab that opens a useful list of features including a dictionary, visual dictionary, fact finder, my favorite a text to speech reader.  Check out the many useful features.  If you are using Chrome, visit the Chrome Web Store and install this free application today .

A few days ago I came across Daily Infographic , a website devoted to publishing infographics.  The first time I heard the term infographic, I dismissed it as just a new educational term, a trend that simply re-packaged an old idea.  Well to some degree this is true.  An infographic visually presents complex information.  It is quite similar to an informational poster, a picture essay, and a digital poster.  In fact, if combine each of these you will have an infographic.   This infographic is about choosing a good password.  Most of us have many online accounts and with each new online service we are forced to create a new account with and password.  After reading this many of us may wish to rethink our existing passwords   

Today a recruiter from St. Patrick's came to address the eighth grade class.  St. Patrick's is a relatively new Catholic High School.  Originally, St. Patrick's' opened as an  elementary school which closed in June, 2009.  It re-opened that September 2009 as St. Patrick Academy and is transitioning into a four year, coeducational high school.     St. Patrick's is a small academy with a capacity of 100 students that means there are only 25 students per grade.  The average class size is 19, makes the teacher-student ration 1;6.  The tuition is roughly around $4000.  They offer a resource library, new science lab, academic support, a tutoring program career awareness, special education, and a mentoring program. Open House will be Sunday, November 4,  from 2:00 until 4:00 pm

Google, for whatever reason has chosen to create an interesting site with some very high quality images of their data centers.  What I find very interesting is that the traditional Google color scheme of blue, red, yellow, and green is carried on throughout some of the buildings. For more information visit this link Data centers – Google Data centers : 'via Blog this'

Political advertisements are coming at us from every media.  We see ads on television, radio, mail, newspaper (that is if you still read a printed paper), email, and web ads.  Your list may be longer but this is the media that I frequent.  Well, if you want to get a little experience and deepen your understanding about political campaign advertisements check out PBS Newshour's "Make Your Own Campaign Ads"   Unfortunately,  this is not for everyone, to use it you do need a Facebook account to log in.  I know, shame on PBS for limiting it to Facebook users .  For this reason, I will not be using it with my students, but eighth grade students are encouraged to give it a try. 'via Blog this'

Teaching prayer can sometimes be dry and sterile.  It is not a topic that leads itself to the vibrant engaging activity.  Well that is what I thought until last year when I decided to change how I approach the topic of Chirstian Prayer.  The main goal is no longer for students to know the difference between a petition and intercession, or private and corporate prayer. It is more important for each student to pray, to try new ways of praying, to see me pray, to hear and share stories of praying, to get comfortable praying from the heart and mind alone and with others .  Don't get me wrong I still teach "prayer vocabulary", but we speak and write prayers while learning term. Most recently, my students finished a simple project in which they created visual Our Father slide-shows .  Once they are finished, we use student visual prayers to begin class.  It has produced a deeper insight  into the meaning behind each word of the prayer.  This was only done after weeks of caref

The New York Times has created a great game to measure your reaction time while driving and texting.  Apparently, my reaction time is .32 seconds slower while texting. Gauging Your Distraction - Interactive Feature - NYTimes.com : 'via Blog this'

Most of us are familiar with Bloom's Taxonomy.  Teachers begin new lessons by introducing  the basic knowledge which students must memorize and understand before challenging students to use their new information in creative ways. Well, it seems that this traditional model is being questioned.  Educators Dr. James Norwood recently suggested that we flip this model.   In this model, students create before the basics of the lessons are introduced and cemented.  This speaks to an old question.  Should educators introduce a new lesson with an activity or use the activity after introducing terms and concepts.  A good case can be made for both options.   I've never really used Bloom's Taxonomy as a road map when designing a lesson or unit.  Instead I've tried to do what was best for each topic.  Sometimes introducing a vocabulary, concpets, and facts first is necessary before challenging students to evaluate and create.  Other times, though not often, I'

Video game designer Jane McGonigal presents a TED Talk suggesting that by boosting our physical, mental, emotional, and social resilience  we will live longer, happier, and healthier lives.  At the end of this video McGonigal engages the audience in four simple exercises to boost each resilience.  

A recent Gallup report found that the majority of people who regularly attended Mass or Worship service on the weekend were happier that those who did not. The churchgoers' positive emotions are especially high on Sundays -- while everyone else actually sees a  decline  in mood on that day, according to the findings of  the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index .   The researchers found that people who frequently attend church had 3.36 positive emotions a day, on average. However, the positive emotions among people who never go to church numbered 3.08 per day, on average. The difference in positive emotions remained true even after researchers adjusted for factors like income, age and education. Most of us have intuitively known this for years.  We try to keep Sunday as a day for family, visiting, playing games, talking to those we love, sharing a home cooked meal, and most importantly giving time to thank and praise God.  This is a low stress day.  God gives to those who love