Monday, August 29, 2011

Bilingual Baby, A Possibility

As a brand new grandma, I pay very close attention when some new research comes forward that may shape the wonderful new life I call my grandson. I read with interest the article, Bilingual Babies' Vocabulary Linked to Early Brain Differentiation, http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/08/110829070559.htm
I wonder what would happen if my daughter kept her never-off TV turned to a Spanish speaking channel? Would the background language in the room be enough to provide the exposure to Spanish needed to keep his brain open to sounds in both languages? Interesting question, I wonder if I can convince her to give it a try.

Hot Pink, Wedge, Open-toed Crocs, everyone needs at least one pair

Welcome to my new blog. This is my second attempt at providing interested people with great words of wisdom and ESL knowledge. I'm glad that you decided to give me a chance, I hope I don't disappoint.

I feel the need to first explain the picture I'm using on this blog and my Twitter account. My hot pink, wedge, open-toed crocs have a special meaning to me, so important that I risk putting my legs out for all the world to see. My belief is that all of us need to have one pair of shoes that helps identify a turning point in our lives. Mine just happen to be too youthful and wild for a person of my build and age. Oh well, maybe even more of a reason to wear them proudly.

Two years ago I had an awakening, a revelation, or whatever you may call it. I had spent my entire life thinking of others, not a bad thing in itself, but when there's no room for self, there is a problem. I no longer knew who I was, what I wanted or where I was headed. Family events, a change of jobs, poor health and the realization that time was slipping by faster that an east bound train, all collided one day  in the middle of the shoe department of my favorite store. There they were, on the sale rack, the cutest shoes for less than it costs to buy a skinny latte. They fit, they felt great, but no, they weren't me. Suddenly, the question of why not me screamed across my mind and before I could take control and be responsible for my actions, I was in my car with the box of shoes that changed my outlook on the world around me and how I fit into it.

Let me tie this all together because at this point you are either going to check back to this blog to see what other ramblings this crazy woman has to offer or you are going to value you time and move on. Either way I'm going to finish my thought, with or without you.(hot pink moment)

As an ESL teacher I've met, taught, and counseled many students who didn't know what their lives were going to offer them. They had been taken from their normal, sometimes violent homes and put into an environment of promise. However, without the language to be successful and often times with little or no idea how to get started. In my hot pink wedge moment, I realized how they must feel; the unknowing, the fear, the hope of something better, more rewarding.  I have decided that my professional who is someone that can make a difference to these ELs, even if it's in a small way, but hopefully in a ginormous way. In this blog my hope is to steal ideas from anyone and everyone then pass them along to you. I plan to give you links to really useful sites that can impact your teaching and way of thinking.

There is no way I will know everything, I'm still learning. Still searching for the next pair of really cute shoes, I wonder what I can find in yellow.








Thursday, August 25, 2011

Very Helpful Apps

I'd like to share one of my favorite blogs: Career Tech Testing Center,  http://careertechtesting.blogspot.com/
Take a look at their current post for "Apps in Education." There are many that would be very helpful for all teachers. You can also follow Career Tech Testing Center on Twitter.

An earlier CTC blog referenced  

"iPad Apps" and "Google Apps and Tools" Meet Bloom's Revised Taxonomy

Kathy Schrock has provided two great resources:  Bloomin' iPad and Bloomin' Google.

Check them out, very cool.



Bringing myself up to speed with the latest in social networking has become a professional development goal. I guess I'll know if I've reached that goal when my computer screams "Uncle, I give! I've had enough!" But until that time more exploring needs to be done, more twitting to be twitted, and more blogging to be blogged.