Tag: School’s out Friday

Posted on

School’s out Friday

I saw “I’m reading a book” tweeted by Kim Yeomans yesterday and thought it would make the perfect School’s out Friday post. I sent it to a teacher who was looking for a way to motivate her Exploring English class today and she used it with them. They loved it, and recognised Julian Smith from some of the other 59 videos he has posted to YouTube. My son watched it with me last night and asked if it was a Top 40 song! It’s certainly got appeal.

Just for an extra treat, being the end of the first week back and all, I thought I’d share another video with you. This one was sent to me by my good friend Tania Sheko, and it’s the latest improveverywhere mission. This time it’s an ice skater in New York’s Bryant Park. I walked through Bryant Park last year as they were dismantling this ice rink for the season. It’s a lovely park situated behind the New York Public Library if you ever get the opportunity to visit.

Ahhh…..the end of a busy week. A week that saw our students embrace their new library space, something I’ll try to post about over the weekend. A week that saw my son start high school, a week that saw a new stage of life for him, and me too. All up, exhausting. Time for bed.

Enjoy the weekend ahead. Relax, and drink a glass or two of the good stuff. We all need it. ( I do, anyway!)   🙂

 

Posted on

School’s out Friday

I was watching our television news tonight, and was amazed to see this footage of Ambam, a bachelor Western Lowland gorilla at Port Lympne Wild Animal Park in Kent, England who apparently loves to walk around like this. My first reaction was to wonder if it was a man dressed in a very lifelike gorilla suit, and it brought to mind a prank delivered by Australian comedians Hamish and Andy. Take a look at their very funny effort at the Werribee Open Range Zoo.

The kids are back at school next week, just as the hot weather arrives. I’m guessing our air conditioned library just might be the destination of choice on their first day back next year!

If you’re in Melbourne, stay cool this weekend. Chill out, literally!

Posted on

School’s out Friday

Improveverywhere have posted their 2011 No Pants Subway ride, an event that has grown in size and stature over the last 10 years, and saw participation from people in 50 cities globally this year. I loved the view of Union Square at the end of this video. It brought back happy memories of my time in New York last year, when Union Square was the closest Subway station as I made my way to the many magnificent sights that make up that wonderful city. In fact, it was exactly this date last year that my plane landed at JFK airport in New York. I’d love to make a return visit one day – sooner rather than later I’d hope. Who knows? Sometimes the things you wish for do come true!

In the meantime, I’ve been unbelievably busy this week back at work getting the new library at my school organised for the school year. We took possession of the building on Monday, and I’ve been there every day, except for Tuesday when my time was punctuated with a bout of Gastroenteristis! Just what I needed- NOT! Today was huge. All of the books were stacked on the new shelving and everything, office supplies, digital equipment, the small amount of furnishings we are bringing over with us, were placed in the building. We had specialist removalists helping thank goodness, or there’s no way I’d be typing this now. In fact, it’s pretty surprising I’m doing this at all, because I am thoroughly exhausted. Time for bed methinks.

I’ll see if I can get a post happening where I include some pics of the building. In the meantime, here’s my favourite space at the moment.

Posted on

School’s out Friday

This animation from Guy Collins made me smile. Do you ever have to hold your tongue as you watch people search the net? I know that I’ve spent time with students explaining how to use quotation marks around phrases and other tips and tricks related to search, and I see them ignore everything I’ve said and do it their way regardless! Doesn’t mean I won’t stop trying. It’s my job to persevere and repeat myself over and over. : ) I just have to keep a smile on my face and not get exasperated like the comic figure above.

I’ve just followed a link in the back of my blog to Jo McLeay‘s ‘The Open Classroom‘. Her post today called, ‘What makes an effective blog post, or how to write so readers want to read‘, describes my blog as”an oldie but a goodie”. It fills me with much joy to have my blog described this way. This week marked the three year anniversary of this blog. I started writing on January the 12th 2008. It actually slipped my notice until today, and Jo’s post prompted me to mention it here. So much has happened in that three year span, and the core of it all has been the sharing that takes place in this small corner of the Web. Writing is important to me; I think I’ve got better at it, and even when I write a post that I think is good, but gets no obvious feedback (take this week’s Our Ephemeral Web as a case in point!), there is satisfaction in knowing I’ve stuck my neck out and said what I thought needed saying. It may sound corny, but writing like this makes you feel stronger somehow, a little more armed to face the world and the critics out there. It does for me anyway.

But, there are bigger and more important things than this blog. Australia, and Queensland in particular, have seen some extreme weather conditions this week and there are people hurting in my country. My heart goes out to them. It goes out for the people in Brazil as well, who are also struggling with heartache due to floods and landslides. Our world certainly presents some of us with challenges that seem unfairly distributed. What has been encouraging today, in Australia at least, is the kindness of strangers. People who reach out to others in need, for no reward other than the satisfaction of helping others who are struggling. We have seen some examples of the best in people and it makes my heart glad.

Thanks Jo for making my day. Thanks readers for reading. : ) Enjoy what comes your way this weekend.

Posted on

School’s out Friday

I used to love watching ‘The Two Ronnies‘ in the 1970’s and 80’s. Ronnie Barker passed away in 2005, and I didn’t know Ronnie Corbett was still performing. He’s 80 now, and has been involved in ‘The One Ronnie‘, where he has joined up with leading British comedians for the BBC.  As can be seen from the video above, he’s lost none of his classic timing and delivery.

If you want to see something truly joyous, and you’d be one of the few who hasn’t, visit Garr Reynold’s Presentation Zen blog and read his post, ‘The power of a voice, hope and second chances‘. I’d considered using Ted Williams’ story as the basis for School’s out Friday this week, but Garr  has done a wonderful job articulating why his story is so inspiring for us all that you should visit there instead. If you’re perplexed as to who Ted Williams is, then the following video will introduce you to this tale. Watch that and then visit Garr’s blog to see how the story unfolded.

Ted Williams’ story should make us all reconsider how we view the anonymous people who frequent the sidewalks of our towns. Everyone has a story, and perhaps we need to know those stories before we make value judgments about the lives of others.

Have a great weekend. Enjoy life. : )

Posted on

School’s out Friday

Happy New Year! This was the 8.30 pm round of Fireworks from Sydney Harbour. There will be another spectacular show in both Sydney and Melbourne at 12.00am  to launch 2011.

While we wait, enjoy this one. : )

2011. Wow. The end of a year always puts me in a speculative mood. Have I achieved all I wanted to? What was a hit and what was a miss in 2010? Most importantly, how have my family and friends travelled throughout the year? Lots to ponder, but not much to regret I’m pleased to say. Let’s hope 2011 is kind to us all.

I seem to be in a blogging hiatus at the moment. I think of things to write about, but am finding it hard to commit the time to penning ideas down. It is holidays after all, and I think it’s OK to have a rest from the keyboard for a moment or two. I do have a post in draft form and hope to get it up in a day or two. By that time it will be old news, but I’m determined to get it posted regardless!

Do have a Happy New Year. Stay cool my friends in Australia, and stay warm my friends in other parts of the globe. Enjoy the start of 2011. : )

Posted on

School’s out Friday

It’s actually Christmas morning here (1.36am to be precise!), but it’s still Friday in parts of the world so I’m feeling justified, if not a little bit crazy, for getting School’s out Friday out at this time. This is North Point Community Church’s iBand, playing Christmas tunes using iPads and iPhones. Just imagine if a group of kids could do something like this for a school music concert. There’s another thing to dwell on for the 2011 school year! Thanks Allanah for sending me this link tonight. You saved me a lot time searching for something. : )

Christmas Eve party is over, dishes are done, presents are wrapped. Time for bed methinks!

Merry Christmas to you all, loyal readers, whoever you are. Hope you have a wonderful holiday season. : )

Posted on

School’s out Friday

This ‘Digital Story of the Nativity‘ just had to be the pick for School’s out Friday this week. It came to me from a tweet from Dean Groom, and it does make you think how things would be played out if Mary and Joseph were hunting for accomodation and the three Kings were sourcing gifts today. Well worth watching in my opinion.

Can’t write any more. I’m off on the hunt for a mouse in my house. Just what I need!

*Back – mouse successfully escorted from the premises, but not before me saying, “Where did it go?” and my son replying, “It’s on your foot.” And that’s exactly where it was! I don’t think I’ve moved quite so quickly all year – could be a new land speed record.

Enjoy the weekend. The last before the Christmas onslaught. Good luck with the shopping. : )

Posted on

School’s out Friday

I don’t know how I missed this one. It’s another improveverywhere MP3 experiment mission filmed in October. On this occasion, improveverywhere agents downloaded the same MP3 file and played it at the same time, all following the instructions outlined in the recording. The results are great to watch. I really must get involved in a Melbourne based improveverywhere type mission someday. If one is on your radar, let me know!

My son had his graduation ceremony from Primary School tonight. Where did those years go? It seems like just a short time ago he was having his photo taken on his first day of Prep. Next year, High School. I must be getting on! (As an aside, how did these events evolve in Australian society? When I left Primary School, there was nothing like this!)

A couple more days of school for me next week and then it’s school holidays. I am very much looking forward to some downtime. We’ve spent the year in a temporary library and have been immersed in planning for a new library due to open at the start of the 2011 school year. Two ‘E’s apply to this experience – excitement and exhaustion. Right now, it’s the latter of the two that have taken over. I am definitely in need of revitalisation!

Hope the weekend holds something special in store for you. Enjoy it. : )

Posted on

School’s out Friday

Thanks to Rhonda Powling for tweeting out the link to A Creative Commons Christmas Carol. Those of us trying to impress on others the importance of using a Creative Commons Share Alike licence will be singing along to the chorus. Watch for featured performances  Scotty Iseri of scottygotanofficejob.com, Matthew Latkiewicz of zendesk.com, Lawrence Lessig, Leo Laporte, Cory Doctorow, Dick DeBartolo, Zadi Diaz, Kevin Kelly, and Mark Frauenfelder.

My reports are finished, exams are marked, no correction to be done. I’ll be living the life this weekend!

Enjoy what comes your way this weekend. : )