in the front seat

Rules :  Each team of no more than three members, must bake and decorate enough cupcakes to share 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/so...

Test anxiety is a common problem for many students.  Here are some things that can be done to reduce anxiety. Ask for help . Just talking to someone about test anxiety can make you feel better. Describe what happens to you when you're taking a test and these people can help you figure out some solutions.  Be prepared . Pay attention in class. Do your homework. Study for the test. On test day, you're more likely to feel like you know the material . Expect the best . Once you have prepared, think positively. Say to yourself, "I studied and I'm ready to do my best." Block bad thoughts. Watch out for any negative messages you might be sending yourself about the test ("I'm no good at taking tests" or "I'm going to freak out if I get a bad grade"). These thoughts can make anxiety worse and make it harder for you to do well on the test . Accept mistakes . Everyone makes mistakes. Be more forgiving of your own mistakes, especially if you prep...

I enjoy reading a good infographic.  This one addresses the historical stages of "the geek".  It is fitting to find this now as my students are finishing the first drafts of their papers on how things have changed. The Evolution of the Geek [infographic]

David Pogue: 10 top time-saving tech tips | Video on TED.com

Malala Yousafzai addresses United Nations Youth Assembly

Harry Potter Myers-Briggs Chart [infographic]

Pope Francis has called for a day of prayer and fasting for peace in the Middle East.  Perhaps we could recite and reflect on this prayer. World Peace Prayer Lead us from death to life, from falsehood to truth, from despair to hope, from fear to trust. Lead us from hate to love, from war to peace. Let peace fill our hearts, let peace fill our world, let peace fill our universe. Amen. Thanks to Mike Amodei at Ave Maria Press who created a simple activity for a classroom.  It can also be uses by anyone reflecting on peace. Pray for World Peace | Ave Maria Press

Labor day came and went, and it was a wet one.  Why do we celebrate Labor Day?

We've all seen or heard of great gurus who can uncover the deepest aspects of someone's personality from a simple sampling of their handwriting.  There is no clearcut perfect method for doing this, but it is always interesting to see what you can learn from someone's penmanship.

Soda, soda, soda, how good you were.  

Its a refreshingly simple idea, focus on "one thing".  Personally, life is busy.  One of my greatest challenges it making time for everyone, everything, every job, myself, and God.   The One Thing , by Gary Keller  is a book that forces you to be introspective about what is important, God, family, work, and play so that you do your best at each.  This sounds like a good summer read.

Today most of us have Gmail accounts.  Personally, I've come to rely on my two accounts.  What I most like about Google's services is that there are so many good tools.  What bothers me most is the constant changes.  I didn't like the new tabs in Gmail.  Use this link to one of my favorite blogs to show you how to disable these new tabs. Free Technology for Teachers: How to Disable Tabs in the New Gmail Layout

Your credit report is essentially your financial report card. It serves as a way for banks, insurance and lending companies to gauge your credit-worthiness and whether you’re likely to miss payments or default on a loan. It’s also common for landlords, employers and government agencies to check your credit before approving an application or confirming a transaction. But, do you know where the information on your credit report comes from? What Really Influences Your Credit Score? | Zillow Blog

What is the difference between a "value" and a "virtue"?  Take some time to reflect on what you value.  Do you possess as many "virtues"? Dr. Edward Sri, Provost and Professor of Theology at the Augustine Institute in Denver, Colorado, talks about “Value vs. Virtue” at the 2012 Applied Biblical Studies Conference here on campus in Steubenville, Ohio. Faith and Reason | Value Vs. Virtue | Catholic videos on faith and reason presented by Franciscan University of Steubenville : 'via Blog this' .

Summer vacation is almost here, and both students and teachers feel the anticipation, though for different reasons.  Most students are simply looking forward to the time away from school and the lazy summer months.  Educators do look forward to this also.  In addition to relaxing, many educators work second jobs, catch up of home project that were put off during the busy months of May and June, and most engage in serious professional development.  In fact, most educators come up with their biggest ideas during this time. Well, in addition to relaxing, planning, working, pursue our own studies, and doing whatever it is that we like to do during summer vacation why don't we spend some time growing in faith.  Joe Paprocki, a Catholic Educator and author of " Sharing My Journey of Teaching the Catholic Faith ", has called on fellow educators to do this.  Additionally, last Friday, our faculty retreat our administrator asked us the very same question. ...

What's your name?  Who named you?  Who were you named after?  What does your name mean? Is your name biblical?  Do you share your name with a saint? Every year, the U.S. Social Security Administration compiles a list of names that new parents gave their children that year, coming up with a top 10 and a top 20, and so on. The SSA just this week released the list of most popular names for 2012. What is in a name? We all know that first names are meaningful and that parents choose them carefully. It is interesting to note how many parents choose biblical names or saints’ names whether they choose them for that reason or not. Interestingly, more parents give their sons biblical or saints’ names than they give their daughters. Looking at the top twenty names for 2012, sixty percent of the boys’ names are also in the Bible: Jacob (1, most popular), Noah (4), Michael (8), Daniel (11), Matthew (12), Elijah (13), James (14), Benjamin (16), Joshua (17), Andrew (18...

At this time of year most students have academic goals.  Some want to pass while others are looking to make honors.  We used this chart and worksheet in class to compute what will be needed this trimester to attain those goals. Click here to download Excel worksheet.

This video was produced by Mr. Ed Sirois.  It along with others is available on his YouTube page. A New Pope - YouTube : 'via Blog this'

When I began teaching (student teaching) in 2005 I rarely used a computer.  As I spoke with other teachers I discovered how helpful computer technology could be.  Since them I have come to rely more and more on computer technology for work.  Though, often I've referred to the computer as both a blessing and a cure.   A few years ago I spilled a drink while walking in my living room.  The normal reaction would be to say "O No", put the drink down, an clean up the mess.  That was not my initial reaction.  It seems that I had been using the computer too much too often, because my reaction was a desire to click "edit" and "undo".  Since them I have called into question how and when I use technology.  I also challenge student to do the same.  I talk to them about using the dictionary or phone book instead of looking for their device, and putting the devices away ...

So Pope Benedict XVI resigned.  What will happen to the office of the pope?  Someone must sit in the Chair of Peter.  Who?  How will the Church decide?  This infographic first published on http://dailyinfographic.com/ will hopefully clear up the how.  We will only know the who when we see the white smoke.

We've known for some time that the North East States have the highest cost of living when compared with the rest of the country.  This morning I came across this simple graphic illustrating that high cost.  Consider first that each adult works to live.  By live I mean we must pay for housing, food, utilities, clothing, transportation, education, and if possible our enjoyment.  Too many adults these past few years have been forced to work part-time jobs to pay for those costs.  Many others work a two to three part-time jobs because they cannot secure full-time employment. One night I went to my local dollar store to pick up batteries, striking up a conversation with the clerk, I discovered that she works three jobs and was beginning another that week.  This greatly bothered me.  According to this graphic a person/household must work 96 minimum wage hours to pay for the average rent for and apartment in Rhode Island. Graphic was...

Taken from Word Among Us blog. To All Our Brothers and Sisters: As you probably know, Pope Benedict XVI announced that he will resign at the end of this month....The weight of responsibility that he has carried on his shoulders these past eight years is simply overwhelming. ... Throughout his papacy, and especially during this Year of Faith, Pope Benedict was persistent in his call for Catholics to commit themselves to a New Evangelization. Here again, as in so many other ways, we see the Holy Father’s desire to encourage us to live for Jesus and to further the mission of the Church. 

Each year, Google invites kids to draw original works of art for its Doodle 4 Google contest . In this video, the Doodle team shares their advice for young artists. To learn about the Doodle 4 Google contest, visit doodle4google.com . Submissions are due by March 22, 2013 . This year, we ask students to exercise their creative imaginations around the theme, “My Best Day Ever…” One talented student artist will see their artwork appear on the Google homepage, receive a $30,000 college scholarship, and a $50,000 technology grant for their school along with some other cool prizes Download the Entry Form

My sister,  Theresa, who is discerning a vocation to the  Capuchin Sisters of Nazareth drew this for us.  It is funny how many people made Lord of the Rings comments, but it was Theresa who made it fit a wedding. Two rings to rule them.   Two rings to find them.   Two rings to bring them,  and in LOVE and PEACE, bind them. January 12, 2013

My family was not one of the first to dial-up and start surfing the internet.  I  remember using the internet first in 1993.  We had a large white screened Gateway computer with three dial-up services: AOL, Prodigy, and Comp-u-Serve. Also at this time, adults (including my parents) were all discussing what to do about chat rooms.  Its much the same at today's discussions about Facebook, Google+, and other such sites.  We are trying to figure out how to allow our children safe and teach them how to communicate appropriately. I was reminded of this because of today's "Daily Infographic".

Artwork from one of my students.   I'm sure we will see the resurrection of the bunny this Spring.