What's the best gift for a teacher?

It is that time of year again when the students start to ask, "what is your favorite store" and "where do you like to eat".  I work in a very fortunate school where almost all students present me with a present and a generous one at that.  The giftcards are always plentiful.  Now, having had worked in schools that were not as fortunate as the one I am in now, I realize that family struggle and can not afford a present for their teacher. 

Whenever a student asks me what I want, I always respond - "make me a card".  I give them paper and tell them that, that means more to me and that I can always hold on to it and remember them.  No one feels left out because they can or can not afford a gift for me.  At the end of the day, I dont want presents from my students.  It is always nice to get a gift unexpectedly but it should not be expected.  Some teachers I know get nothing and some get more than they need.  It just goes to show you that there is economic divisions between schools and families. 

Keeping Track of What You Read

I found this to be useful information posted on Google Reader.  I believe it would be helpful to students to know what they have looked at and to help them remember their sources.  Vice versa, it would be beneficial for a teacher to see what sites students have viewed and utilized. 

Middle school students and up should know how to bookmark a page as their work entails more research and papers.  This would be just be teaching them another way to be proficient while using the computer.  I have found bookmarking a page to be beneficial for me during this course as I have to go back and weekly research different blogs being posted.  Once it is bookmarked, I can easily go back to where I left off.  It saves time too, which is always a positive!

No Surprise to iPhone Users, as Consumer Reports Calls AT&T Worst Carrier

I have to admit, as much as I love the iPhone, it literally has the worst service I have ever experienced.  I do not own the iPhone but I have used others to see the applications and understand what it offers.  I think it is amazing and I would totally get the phone for myself but the coverage is horrible.  Whenever I call family members who own the phone, I can almost guarantee that I will have a hard time talking to them because of the coverage. 

The last I heard, Verizon Wireless was suppose to pick up the phone and offer them their service.  Now, I have Verizon and I love my service.  I am nervous that if iPhone comes to Verizon their coverage will to be suffer when so many people switch over.  The phone itself is amazing but how good is a phone if you cant actually talk on the phone, its real purpose.

This article was great to read and I would suggest it to those who are interested in getting the iPhone. 

Project-Based Learning: A Case for Not Giving Up

I think project based learning is a cooperative attempt for students to work together for the better of a cause.  When I think of project-based learning, I think of oppotunities for students to work to help a community or another individual out.  This time of year is a great opportunity for students to adopt another student or family and help them financially by providing gifts or food. 

My school does a food drive for Thanksgiving and continue it into Christmas.  We have a program in which individual can adopt a family and provide items that they can not afford.  I think this is a great thing for students to do and it allows them to help others out.  I promote the schools program and encourage my students to participate and volunteer there time anyway that they can.