30-day Countdown til school starts -- Day 29

When I got this bright idea I knew it was ambitious.  I'm actually stating that I will give updates on preparing for back-to-school EVERY day.  As productive as yesterday was, I must admit today was not as "productive" on paper. The realization that being a teacher, and being a parent and the energy that goes into my ALL my kids is not easily balanced. This is a task that plagues me during the school year too.  All the more of a reason to plan out the school year when things come up unplanned in your daily life. 

Today I planned to make an outline for AP CSP, instead I went shopping for vacation, went to yoga class, collected 45 text messages as an exchange in preparation for prom in which I'm an adviser for, and I went to the county fair for the 4-H winners' review. While at the winners' review a statement was made by the executive director of the fairgrounds when he presented the awards for the flower beds.  The statement paraphrased to the best of my recollection was: earlier today couples filled this room celebrating 50 years or more of marriage and one couple shared 73 years, and this commitment was a positive in a world where the media is sharing so many negative circumstances. Tonight this room is filled with hope for the future as we celebrate the achievements of 4-Hers via the winners review.  One example of this hope is all the work the 4-H clubs do to maintain the flower beds at the fairgrounds.  Today a group from Washington State visited Ohio for the first time and they came directly from the airport to the Clark County Fairgrounds and after seeing the facility including the beautiful flower beds they think Ohio is great!


As I reflect on how I'm going to move forward in my plans and how to best prepare for the new school year I will choose to prepare an openness that celebrates small achievements that develop into a big picture. The overall Fair and fairgrounds have many elements, many individual flower beds that go into making it a place you want to visit. 

1. What can we do as educators to develop many individual experiences into a fulfilling course?  
2. What can we as teachers to to inspire individual students as life-long learners? 
3. What is it that will leave students saying "CS is great!"?