Richter's Random Thoughts on Your Recent Posts

I finally got around to reading everyone's posts from the last few blogs ... I really enjoyed reading all of them - a lot of humorous ones, some serious and thought provoking ones, some passionate ones and of course a few silly ones!

It was great to read about some of your favorite class activities (last Friday's post) - I encourage you let your teachers know when you do something that you really enjoy in class .. we love positive feedback! (Also, if you have a reputation of letting them know about the good lessons you can safely tell them about the occasional bad ones.)

The vast majority of you were against computers taking over the role of teachers ... a few of my favorite posts:

"i think all kids should go through the old fashion way where they shut up & listen to the teacher"

"no body needs to teach any one ... getter done"

"Hell no cuz if u get lost u wont know what to do."

"So yea...i believe with the right set of kids teachers could be replaced by computers...they have to want to lear and they couldnt be students that wont payattention and slck off every chacne they get."

"I think that it can but only in some countries.It would be hard in the US because they're use to having teachers.But some part of the world its hard for people to get education and if you place a computer there they could really learn alot from that."

... Finally, Wednesday's Topic - favorite quotes - was low in quantity by high in quality! I highly recommend you take a minute and read through the quotes and reactions - some really good ones. A few of my favorites:

"The difference between school and life? In school, you're taught a lesson and then given a test. In life, you're given a test that teaches you a lesson."

"this quote made me think not to follow the path where you know everyone is taking, take the path where you see less have attempted to trail and make it into something worth while, make the path and yourself a success:)"

"No thought needed here, I shouldn't complain so much. I'm not dead in a feudal war for no real reason and I have a home, a family, no draft, food, and no impending painful death."

"A patriot must always be ready to defend his country against his government." - this one kinda scares me :-0

"A pair of powerful spectacles has sometimes sufficed to cure a person in love." -Friedrich Nietzsche ... LOL

Wednesday - Peace Work and Quotes

Thich Nhat Hanh says, "If in our daily life we can smile, if we can be peaceful and happy, not only we, but everyone will profit from it. This is the most basic kind of peace work."

Mr. Jason shared the above quote as his signature in a recent email he sent out to staff. It made me pause and think for a minute - am I doing enough peace work right her in my little corner of the world each day? Are other's profiting from my efforts?

Can you find a quote online that gives you pause, that makes you think for a minute about how you can make a small change to improve your life? Share your quote and why you chose it.

Monday - Can computers take the place of teachers?

Check out this article on CNN:

Can computers take the place of teachers?

Do you agree with the article - just give kids free access to the internet and they'll organize themselves into a learning community?

TGIF! Favorite Activity of the Week

We made it to another Friday ... Three weeks have already flown by - can you believe it? What thing that makes time fly is doing interesting activities in class.

Write about one of the more interesting things you did in one of your classes this week.

Wednesday - A Child is Dead .. Who is Responsible?

Check out this tragic article about an 11 year old Georgia baby sitter who is being charged in the death of the two year old she was watching:

http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/09/21/georgia.baby.sitter/index.html?hpt=T2

Should a parent entrust an 11 year old to watch over a 2 year old? Should the parent be held responsible for the death? Should they both share responsibility? What do you think about this preventable tragedy?

Network is Down - Favorite Sites to Kill Time

What are some of your favorite sites to kill time on? Why?

After the Weekend

So how was your first weekend of the school year? Did you have a lot of hmw? Do anything fun? I went to a rock party (literally, a party all about rocks) and also went to an outside dinner at MSU in the middle of their gardens ... it was pretty cool.

First Impressions

What are some of your first impressions of your classes / school so far?

IB Learner Profile Warm Up

Please take a minute and review the IB Learner Profile here:
Learner Profile

Pick any one of the traits and that interests you and write a little about why. (For example you could pick the trait that you think you are weakest in and write about why you want to improve in it, or write about the trait that you think teachers do the worst (or best) job of developing in class, or ... etc.