Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Social Networking....it's here to stay!

If you know me at all, you know that I am REALLY into social networking. I network with other music and technology educators, I network with friends, I network to get information about personal interests and hobbies. I follow blogs, I follow news feeds, I follow the weather! So much of how I keep in touch with friends and family is primarily through social networking. I do write traditional letters, and make traditional phone calls, but only out of necessity. My first choice is always to send a message on Facebook or to text someone. I am able to keep up with the lives of my friends and family in ways that I couldn't do otherwise. I LOVE IT!

I also post about my own life, and I think sometimes even have some good iI encourage you to take a look at this infographic shared by Search Engine Journal which illustrates the phenomenal growth of social networking.

As educators, we are just now learning how to integrate these networking tools into our classrooms in valuable, real time, ways. This is where our students are at. This is their language. If education is going to make sense to them and be transferable to their lives, then we need to stop being afraid of new technology and instead embrace it, learn about it, and USE IT! Have a great Thursday!

Want to "try your hand" at playing the piano?

Check this site out! http://www.thevirtualpiano.com/

Monday, August 29, 2011

Tuesday Tech

With the resignation of Steve Jobs from Apple, it creates an opportunity for us to take a look at the evolution of the Apple family of products throughout the years. Here's a slideshow that does the job: http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/slideshow/apple-products-years-14378859#.TlacqTKpv4c.email

Do YOU know the words to the Star Spangled Banner?

Do you know the words to our national anthem?

How about all four verses?

If you're like 70 percent of Americans, you don't know even the first verse.

Later set to the tune of an old English pub song, it was popular years before taking on added momentum during the 1917 World Series, when it was sung in honor of the armed forces fighting in the Great War. In 1931, Congress proclaimed it the U.S. National Anthem.

So how many of the words do you know?

For the record, here they are:

Oh, say, can you see, by the dawn's early light,

What so proudly we hail'd at the twilight's last gleaming?

Whose broad stripes and bright stars, thro' the perilous fight,

O'er the ramparts we watch'd, were so gallantly streaming?

And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,

Gave proof thro' the night that our flag was still there.

O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

*******
On the shore dimly seen thro' the mists of the deep,

Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,

What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,

As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?

Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,

In full glory reflected, now shines on the stream:

'T is the star-spangled banner: O, long may it wave

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

******
And where is that band who so vauntingly swore

That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion

A home and a country should leave us no more?

Their blood has wash'd out their foul footsteps' pollution.

No refuge could save the hireling and slave

From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave:

And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

*******
O, thus be it ever when freemen shall stand,

Between their lov'd homes and the war's desolation;

Blest with vict'ry and peace, may the heav'n-rescued land

Praise the Pow'r that hath made and preserv'd us as a nation!

Then conquer we must, when our cause. it is just,

And this be our motto: "In God is our trust"

And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Saturday, August 27, 2011

Matthew 16:21-27

Jesus began to show his disciples
that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer greatly
from the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes,
and be killed and on the third day be raised.
Then Peter took Jesus aside and began to rebuke him,
“God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you.”
He turned and said to Peter,
“Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me.
You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.”Then Jesus said to his disciples,
“Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself,
take up his cross, and follow me.
For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it,
but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world
and forfeit his life”
Or what can one give in exchange for his life?
For the Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father’s glory,
and then he will repay all according to his conduct.”

Eric Whitacre's Virtual Choir 2.0 - Sleep

Friday, August 26, 2011

Happy Birthday Phyllis!

My sister-in-law has a landmark birthday coming up! Her 70th! We are having a party for her tomorrow....

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Monday, August 22, 2011

It's a MUSICAL MONDAY!!!!

Sept. 13 is the anniversary of the writing of our national anthem, The Star-Spangled Banner. The lyrics come from "Defence of Fort McHenry", a poem written in 1814 by the 35-year-old lawyer and amateur poet, Francis Scott Key, after witnessing the bombardment of Fort McHenry by the British Royal Navy ships in Chesapeake Bay during the Battle of Fort McHenry in the War of 1812.

Friday, August 19, 2011

Martin Centennial 5K Fun Run

...was last Saturday. We had a great turnout, including some of our grandkids!

Thursday, August 18, 2011

iPads and Orangutans!

Think technology is just for humans?  Check out this article!  http://kotaku.com/5830764/these-orangutans-play-with-ipads/

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

First Day Of School!

We've been reading "Pete the Cat" books in music today! The kids love them, as do I!

Friday, August 12, 2011

Fab Fam

Today I want to feature my loving husband, Jerry.  Life would not be the same w/out him!  This pic was shot a few days ago, as he looked through the sunflower field.  Thank you, Dear, for being my husband, my friend, my confidant.  I LOVE YOU!

Thursday, August 11, 2011

Shortcut Keys! Do you know these?


Maximize window    Double click title bar  
Quick Exit Alt+F4
Date and Time Shift+Alt+D = Date
 Shift+Alt+T = Time
Show taskbar WK (Windows key)
Shows desktop WK+M
Ctrl Key Combinations
 CTRL+C: Copy 
 CTRL+X: Cut 
 CTRL+V: Paste 
 CTRL+Z: Undo 
 CTRL+B: Bold 
 CTRL+U: Underline 
 CTRL+I: Italic
 CTRL+P: Print 
 CTRL+K: Add hyperlink
 CTRL+E: Center align
 CTRL+L:  Left align
 CTRL+R:  Right align
 CTRL+ :  Zoom in Internet
 CTRL- :  Zoom out Internet

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Monkey Machine!

Explore rhythm patterns using percussion instruments on this Monkey Machine! Improvise to your heart's delight!  You can create drum loops and provide a rhythmic accompaniment if you want!



Friday, August 5, 2011

Fab Cute Cousins

Some of the grandkids have been visiting this week...always fun to play with them and hear their stories!  Here are a few pics:
We LOOOOVE to swim!  Martha, Mia, Olivia

Playing School

4-wheeling is a favorite thing!

Can't get much cuter!

Thursday, August 4, 2011

Old Time Radio Programs



I came across this site the other day on the Free Technology For Teachers blog.  The Old Time Radio Network Library is a free resource for Old Time Radio (OTR) fans. There aree over 12,000 OTR shows available for instant listening. You can find shows ranging from Amos and Andy to a recording of Les Miserables!  This is work checking out and adding to your resources.  Find it at Old Time Radio Network Library.

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Drums Alive

Have you heard about the Drums Alive program?  I tried it out with my kiddos last spring and they LOVED it!  This program combines simple dynamic movements with pulsating rhythms of the drum. Kids learn movement, rhythm, and concentration, in addition to integral stimulation.  All that's needed are balance balls, drum sticks and tubs!  Here's a site to check it out with:  http://www.drums-alive.com/.

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Ask a Tech Teacher....

Here's a cool site to check out:  http://askatechteacher.com/
The author covers everything from lesson plans to great websites, to timely tips for your computer.  Great resource for a daily tip for educators, parents and students.  You can subscribe through your RSS feed such as Google Reader or connect through Facebook, Twitter, Flickr or Linked In.

Monday, August 1, 2011

Music at MGS

We are on break, of course, but school is approaching quickly!  I'm looking forward to a fun year and have been gathering lots of cool new projects for us to try!