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Less Physics Mo Problems

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Why am I writing this personal entry? Well, it is not an attempt to gain any sympathy. It attempts to show what is possible if a clear intention and goal serve the learner's needs.  In May of 2022 just near the end of another fantastic school year, I do not remember what happened. But, I was unable to finish the school year and was unable to teach the following year.  Why? On May 21st, 2022, I fell down a flight of 16 stairs (luckily carpeted) from the 2nd to 1st story of our home.  I was found at the bottom of the stairs. I was found foaming at the mouth. This would lead to a 2-month hospital stay which included an induced coma because my seizures would not stop, several rounds of lumbar punctures, and relearning basic physical movements like something as simple as being able to roll in the hospital bed. Simply put, when I was admitted to the hospital, I was diagnosed as being “critically ill.” Please take a moment and read those words: critically ill. They are not terms that are
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A World of Learning in 2018

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As 2018 comes to a close, I think of all of the great resources that have helped me reflect on and improve my practice. Although the year is over, I know these will continue to be wonderful resources to come back to in 2019 and beyond to continue growing. Ive inserted single slides so that the links would be live unlike a static image. So, please click on the names to access these amazing resources!

Blogs

Whether I read them on my phone or laptop, I always love reading the stories of bloggers. Blogs are the number one way I've grown my PLN starting with the first IMMOOC run by George Couros and Katie Martin back in the day.




BTW I'm still looking for the best way to curate the blogs that I follow on a mobile device so that I can keep up to date rather than relying on bookmarks and email newsletters. Who's got a good tool for that?

Presentations

I was lucky enough to attend several conferences this year. I heard some great presentations and had lots of great takeaways. But for me, there is nothing like a powerful keynote presentation. Yes, YouTube has some great inspirational videos to push thinking. But, there is nothing like feeling the energy in a room swell as it is being engaged and challenged.


Books

I love reading fiction and educational books. I read a lot of great books this year. Two educational books stuck out to me. One touched my heart as an educator. The other touched my aspirations as an educator.


Podcasts

Podcasts are my number one source of PD. I listen to over a dozen of them regularly. There is such variety out there that it's hard to pick just a couple. But, I limited myself to only 4. It was tough because I also love Barbara Bray's Rethinking Learning because of the stories it allows the guests to tell. But it didn't fit on the slide. Damn constraints. 



I hope you can take an opportunity to check these out. And of course, please share your favorites with me! PLEASE!
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