When I found out it was my turn to write the blog, I came up with all sorts of great advice I was going to give. I was going to talk about graduation, and the future. Stuff like that.
Then yesterday, I went to Maricopa to attend the first PATH elementary Science Fair. I decided then that I needed to write about the great time I had. The projects were wonderful, the presentations were awesome, and I learned many new things.
For those who may not know, Maricopa’s Distance Learning program includes a day where students come together to learn new things in a classroom setting. They also have PE and music during this time.
With Jenny Radigan, our elementary PATH director, the students have been focusing on the scientific method this semester. The end result would be a Science Fair.
So I can choose any topic for this blog. That should be easy. There is so much going on the world, from economic hardship, to immigration laws, to voting on propositions. All of the above would make great blog topics. I just don’t feel passionate enough to speak on any of them. But what I am compelled to write about is potty training. What? You say. Yes, you heard me, potty training. See I have a two and a half year old and this is what we are dealing with.
A breakthrough came today and I would love to share it. He asked to use the “big potty.” “Hip hip hooray!” I thought to myself as I rushed him in to the restroom. As soon as we reached the restroom door, he says, “No use big potty” and I see he is standing in a puddle. How can this be? He had a goal of using the big potty and he stopped or fell short of his goal.
Today I would like to express my views on communication and relationship building. Being able to effectively communicate with other individuals is a very important trait that everyone should possess because it plays such a vital role in all areas of everyday life.
We communicate in many ways, from calling a play on the field, to showing a presentation, to instructing a student how to solve a math problem. As a educator/mentor/coach, I feel that having good communication skills goes hand and hand with forming good relationships. Sometimes one form of communication works fine with one individual but not the next. That's why diversity in today's world is also key. I have spent over half my life traveling and living around the world and I found this to be very true.
Imagine a high-wire act. There is a man standing on a platform 100 feet above the ground. He picks up the long pole that helps him maintain his balance and steps onto the wire. But something is wrong. When he wasn't looking, someone had filled one end of the pole with a few pounds of lead. People really can be cruel, can't they? He steps... wobbles... shifts his grip on the pole from the usual position, and is able to go on with the show unharmed.
Sometimes our balancing pole is tampered with by others, and sometimes we sabotage ourselves. Maintaining balance in one's life is essential for happiness and conducive to success. If we are not willing to make adjustments, the results can be devastating.
Happy April! I hope all of you in the AZDL family are enjoying the springtime weather!
With state testing upon us, I've been thinking about some of the ways that my elementary students can be most successful and have a good testing experience. I hope that you all have zero or minimal testing anxiety. It can be a scary thing to walk into a testing location and have an unfamiliar face proctoring the test and/or unfamiliar faces sitting all around you. I hope to give you some suggestions that will make it a comfortable experience.
Right here on the AZDL homepage, you can print off practice tests and get an idea of what to expect on testing days. These sample tests can help with confidence tremendously. To some of the newer homeschool students, the "fill in the bubble" concept may be unfamiliar, so these sample tests can also help you to become more comfortable with it.
To Enroll in Arizona Distance Learning follow the steps on our district site, sequoiachoice.org. Remember to fill out all three forms and fax in all records to (480) 890-4106.
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