"Do not ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive." - Howard Thurman

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Computers 9 News Broadcast

Due date: November 23rd.  This gives you 5 classes after today to finish your filming, import the rest of your video clips into iMovie, edit your project, add music and/or sound effects, and export your project before handing it in to the drop box.

Sunday, October 28, 2012

An adventure in Level 1 Theory binders.....

This morning I got up and ate some toast, then went to sing at church.  After church I thought, "I'll go to school and spend a couple hours printing, photocopying, and compiling binders for Level 1 theory." How nonchalant.... it turned out to be an 8 hour ordeal, but anyway, here's the journey in picture form!

I got to school today around 12:20pm.  After about 3-4 hours of editing documents, printing, copying, hole punching, and organizing, I had a pile that looked something like this:

Do these colours look like marshmallow candy to anyone else?
The side view of an entire year's worth of theory... x40 students...
Mrs. Ikert and Miss Wilson spent a long time at school today too.  Mrs. Ikert volunteered to take this picture of me after I had taken over the entire staff room table space:

At this point I'm thinking, "What have I gotten myself into?!"
 After 8 very long hours, I had compiled 40 binders with one year's worth of theory lessons, resource sheets, assignments, and quizzes.  Check it out!

40 Level 1 Theory binders: Almost as good lookin' as the staff room couch!
The aerial view of my (very) long day of work
Complete with snazzy cover design!
I may look happy to be done, but really I'm just smiling in excitement of
finally eating something after 10 hours of no food...

So there you have it!  Level 1 Theory binders are good to go!  Whew!

Now onto Level 2, 3, 4, and 5....

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Kuh-THUNK!

Check out the awesome piece we've learned in Level 4 Band - after 2 classes we've got it worked out, and almost memorized!  It's called Kuh-THUNK! and it's part of a series of six short pieces called "Bucket Beats" by Chris Crockarell and Chris Brooks.  It's a ton of fun to play too!

IP 10 blogging due date

Blog posts for both IP 10T and IP 10IC are both due by (technically) Saturday morning.  Your last class to work on your blogs will be this Thursday, October 25th.

Your blog post archive (and activities on your blog) should include the following:

1. Customized template, fonts, colours, layouts, backgrounds, etc.
2. Countdown widget
3. Photo post and write-up
4. Video post and write-up
5. Things to do for fun on a limited budget
6. Your dream travel destination (this is the major assignment of the IP 10 blogging unit and should include the most detail)
7. Someone you admire
8. Odd jobs profile

Click here for a more detailed description of each assignment's requirements.

Tuesday morning - Oct. 23rd

Level 2 Band - Music theory games on Music Tech Teacher (linked on the side of my blog under "Useful Links"), or practice for your playing tests in the music room
Level 1 Band - same plan as Level 2 (Music Tech Teacher or practice in the music room)
IP 10IC - Our blogging unit is coming to an end.  Please finish any outstanding blog posts, and/or finish your "odd jobs" profile post if you haven't already.  If you need clarification, check the link on the side of my blog called "IP 10 blog post archive 2011-2012" (it has been updated even though the title is old).  If you have completed everything, please do a blog post of your own choice.

Monday, October 22, 2012

Online safety questions - Computers 7C

1. What are some of the dangers of giving out personal information on the Internet?  List as many as you can think of.
2. What are some of the strategies you can use to avoid being involved in cyber bullying?
3. What are some safety tips that you could give others about using Facebook?
4. Social media is a tool, and it is up to the user of that tool whether it will be used for good or evil.  Give at least two examples each of social media (facebook, twitter, etc.) being used for good and evil.
5. What advice would you give to people who are becoming new users of the Internet in order to ensure that they keep themselves safe?

Sunday, October 21, 2012

Monday morning plans, Oct. 22nd

Music 7(2) - Music theory games on Music Tech Teacher (linked on the side of my blog under "Useful Links"), or practice for your playing tests in the music room
Computers 9O - News Broadcast project (filming, editing in iMovie, etc.)
IP 10T - Our blogging unit is coming to an end.  Please finish any outstanding blog posts, and/or begin your "odd jobs" profile post if you haven't already.  If you need clarification, check the link on the side of my blog called "IP 10 blog post archive 2011-2012" (it has been updated even though the year is old).  If you have completed everything, please do a blog post of your own choice.

I will be back this afternoon if there are any problems.  Have fun!

Friday, October 19, 2012

Bedtime kisses and giggles from Avery and Emily!

Check out the ladies and their daddy at bedtime last night!  My sister sent me this video and it was too cute not to post.  If you need a smile, push play and turn up your speakers!


Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Bobby the Original (IP 10 "Someone I admire" post)

Hi IP 10!  Here is an example of a "Someone that I admire" post.  I wrote this one in May, right after losing my grandpa to bone cancer.  He was a gem, and so I felt inspired to write this blog post in the weeks following his passing.  Here is it, as an example of something that you might do for your assignment (yours may not be this long, and that's ok).

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Those close to me know that a week and a half ago I lost one of the most amazing men in my life, my grandpa Orris Steinburg, or "Bobby" as he was referred to by my sister and me.  It was only a couple posts ago that I wrote about losing my grandma Connie, and in real time it was only 7 months ago... it seems so unreal to have lost both of them in the same school year.  Those of you who knew my grandpa would have known him as a gentle, kind, and witty man.  An artist.  A musician.  A family man.  The most gentle and sweet guy you've ever known.  The kind of man that cried at the end of "The Little Mermaid" when King Triton sent Ariel away to be with Eric because he knew that she loved him, even though it was hard for him to let go as a father.  That kind of guy.  A total softie.

So today I put on my new "Happy Hat" because I was on Face Time with my mom and I thought I'd show her.  I took a picture of me wearing it, then edited it online.  The quote that I put on it reads "You were born an original... don't die a copy."



And then it struck me.  You know who was an original his whole life?  Bobby.  The use of those art terms is also so fitting for someone who painted for his whole life too... right up until almost the day he died.  I had done some abstract painting with him when I went to visit in February.  I wanted some "Lauren and Bobby" originals to hang on the wall of my jacuzzi bathroom in my new (perpetual renovation-zone) house.  He had never done it before, but at age 85 he decided to give it a shot.  We bonded over our painting sessions in his studio, he gave me tips on how to blend the colours and where to put other colours to balance the whole thing out.  Even though he was achy and sore with bone cancer (a diagnosis he had received only a few months prior), he still kept such a positive attitude and helped me out with my project.  They now proudly hang in my still-unfinished bathroom, signed on the back in our own handwriting, "Lauren and Bobby."  (We also did a little pink one for Avery and Emily, signed "Auntie Lauren and Great Bobby" - seen below.)




When I went to visit him in Hamiota again on March 30th, he asked for help putting a scanned image of a sketch he had just done into Photoshop.  Now that I had gotten him on the wavelength of abstract painting, he wanted to experiment with some abstract combined with the realism of the string trio he had just drawn (he was always up for a new challenge or learning something new at any age).  So I helped him open his image in Photoshop, and off he went on his new project.  And, after our brief but meaningful visit, off I went, back home to Saskatchewan.

After he passed away on April 28th, I immediately took a week off of teaching and drove to Hamiota for the third time in only 2 months.  When I arrived there the house was empty - Auntie Donna, mom, and Karyn had taken the twins to Brandon for the day and weren't back yet.  I walked around the house, just taking it all in.  In my grief, everything seemed so still and empty, despite the mess that was left from two busy 18-month-old girls and a house full of people trying to prepare for a funeral.  In my wandering, naturally I walked into grandpa's studio, which he affectionately dubbed "Studi-O" for Orris.  The sight that greeted me got me instantly choked up.  There on his easel was the project he had started, unfinished.  Mid-process.  As though somehow magically he was going to come around the corner with a handful of freshly-washed brushes and get right back to work on it.



And if that, ladies and gentlemen, isn't the best example you've ever seen of someone doing something they love for their whole life, then I don't know what is.  Here is a man who had cancer in every bone in his body, who was widowed twice, and despite all of his hurting he made the most of every day of his life, even right until the very end.  I don't think he could have left a more poignant gift than the unfinished musician painting.  This will stick with me as one of the best life lessons my grandpa ever taught me.

This man was an "original" for his whole life.  He inspired others by just being himself.  He did everything he could to make sure that all of the important people in his life knew that he loved them.  He came to graduations, musicals, concerts, sporting events... everything.  He would tell silly jokes and do funny things to make us laugh.  He was never ever a "copy," just the one and only Orrie, Bobby, grandpa.  He was an original in every sense of the word.

"You were born an original... don't die a copy."  It strikes me now more than ever that even mere days before he died, this man was CREATING another original.  If I can take one lesson from his passing, it is to be eternally grateful for all of the blessings that I have in my life, and to keep on doing what I love even in the face of adversity.  If I can be half the person that Bobby was, I will be very proud.  He was a great man, and the best darn original I've ever known.

Monday, October 15, 2012

Band playing test dates and materials

Level 1 Band

1. #10 - The Fab Five (with CD)
2. A note with good tone
3. Technique (tonguing - winds; rest stroke - bass; roll - percussion)
4. Any song of your choice (preferably past #10 in your book - with CD)

Dates: Tues. Oct 16th (optional - during theory), Fri. Oct. 19th (P2), Tues. Oct. 23rd (P2)

Level 2 Band

1. #44 - O Susanna (with CD)
2. #48 - High School Cadets March (with CD)

Dates: Mon. Oct. 15th (P1), Wed. Oct. 17th (Gr. 8s only - during theory), Fri. Oct. 19th (P1)

Level 3 Band

1. #3 - Thailand Lullaby (with CD)
2. #8 - Wearing of the Green (with CD)

Dates: All tests have been completed, except for one clarinet (you are aware of this - we will do your test during theory on Tues. P1) - if anyone wants to re-do a test, please see me.

Level 4 Band

(Stay tuned for score excerpts for "New York, New York" and "Newport Overture")

1. Concert Bb
2. Concert Eb
3. Concert F
4. Concert Ab
5. Concert C

You will be required to pull 2 scales out of a hat.  Be prepared for any of these 5 major scales, as you won't know what your test will entail until you pull your scales.  You will also have the opportunity to play the relative minor scales for each of your major scales for extra credit (natural, harmonic, melodic).

Dates: Mon. Oct. 22nd (P6), Tues. Oct. 23rd (P4 - during theory)

Halloween beans!

Welcome to Monday!  I think we all need a little pick-me-up to start the week.  Here's mine!  My hilarious and adorable nieces, Avery and Emily, have their new Halloween costumes!  Check them out:

Miss Avery makes a lovely flower, don't you think?
Emily in her awesome new "zeeba" costume.  I'm loving the hot pink accents!

Happy Monday, everyone!


Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Storytelling - Drama 10

Hello actors and actresses!  Here are some links that you may want to check out when searching for your story-telling material:

Grimm's Fairy Tales:
http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~spok/grimmtmp/

Fables, Fairy Tales and Nursery Rhymes:
http://www.ivyjoy.com/fables/

American Folklore Spooky Stories:
http://www.americanfolklore.net/spooky-stories.html


Your story should take approximately 3-6 minutes to tell.  Test the length by timing yourself reading it in your head.  Once you have that time recorded, add about 1 minute to the performance length, as you will take pauses and slow your speech down when you perform it for an audience.

This is a major project for this semester, and it will require a lot of memorization work.  That being said, you will have sufficient class time to work on this project.  Please make note of which story you will be telling, then print a hard copy of the text for you to start studying.

Guidelines for story selection:

1. Is it school appropriate?
2. Is it told from the perspective of a narrator rather than 1st person perspective (I, me)?
3. When I read it, does it take approximately 3-6 minutes from start to finish (approx. 1-2 pages in Microsoft Word)?  If it is significantly shorter, you will need to choose another story.  If it takes significantly longer than 6 minutes, you will have a lot of memorization work on your hands for the amount of time you will be given for this project, and may need to reconsider your choice.
4. Can you memorize this text?
5. Can you tell this story with an expressive voice and face?  Are you interested in this story?  Your audience will buy into it if you do!

Thursday, October 4, 2012

Happy beanday to the ladies!

My fabulous nieces (or "the beans" as we call them) are 2 years old today!  They are getting funnier and more talkative every time I see them.  They also have learned how to hit and bite, so it's a good thing my sister and her husband are good and diligent parents!  Haha.  Most of the time they are best friends though, laughing together and running around holding hands and giggling.  They are learning how to sing too, which is super entertaining for musical Auntie Lauren.  Happy birthday ladies!!!!

Emily eating ice cream with her bare hands on her 1st birthday
Avery discovering her yummy icing - October 4th, 2011
Double birthday fun!
The picture of birthday happiness!

Athens and Cairo, July 2013!

To put together some of our new knowledge as bloggers, the IP 10 classes are creating a post about their dream travel destination, including: 3-4 photos of the destination (more is ok, and if they are interesting photos then they can really add to your presentation), 1 video, flight costs, tourism information (what to do once you arrive, how much tourist attractions cost, hours of operation, etc.), and a rationale explaining the appeal of your destination.  Sell it!

******

I chose to highlight a trip that I am planning with one of my best friends, Scott, for 10 days in July of 2013.  We are going to take off around July 21st for Athens, Greece, then make a side trip to Cairo, Egypt before returning home on August 1st.  Here are some of the potential details (we haven't booked anything yet):

Departure: 6:33am from YXE (Saskatoon) - July 21st, 2013
Arrival: 1:25pm at ATH (Athens, Greece) - July 22nd, 2013
Layovers en route: 31 minutes at YQR (Regina), 3h15min at ODR (Chicago), 3h25min at ZHR (Zurich)
Airline carriers: United Express / Skywest DBA / Swiss International Air Lines

Total cost per person: $1,745 (includes airport taxes and fuel surcharges)

Departure: 5:00pm from ATH (Athens) - July 28th, 2013
Arrival: 7:00pm at CAI (Cairo) - July 28th, 2013
Layovers en route: None (direct flight)
Airline carriers: Egyptair

Total cost per person: $465 (includes airport taxes and fuel surcharges)

Destination #1 - Athens, Greece


The Parthenon, atop the sacred rock of the Acropolis


Ancient Theatre of Dionysus
Present day remains of the Ancient Theatre of Dionysus

Our first stop will be in Athens, the historical capital of Europe.  I am so looking forward to all of the rich history and ancient architecture that will be waiting for us when we get there.  I can only imagine the awesome photos I will get as well!

Here's a video that outlines some of the most famous Athenian tourist attractions.  I am wondering after watching it if that second photo (above) is actually the Theatre of Herodes Atticus.  I'm hoping so, as the remains of the Ancient Theatre of Dionysus look pretty sad.



Destination #2 - Cairo, Egypt


The Sphinx and the Great Pyramids of Giza, just outside of Cairo


Riding a camel... I may just try this and test my allergies!



 I am anticipating that seeing the pyramids up close will be a very surreal experience.  I have no idea what to expect of Egyptian culture, but I have a friend in Cairo named Mostafa who has invited Scott and me to stay with him while we're there.  He will be a great tour guide, and he has a lot of national pride so I'm sure he will show us some pretty amazing things in his home city and surrounding areas.  We are planning on staying there for about 4 days before heading back to Athens to catch our flights home.

And according to my countdown timer that I embedded as a gadget a few assignments ago (on the left column of my blog), there are only 289 days until I embark on this awesome adventure!

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

7C potluck and garage sale

Hi ladies!

I have exciting news in the world of 7C socializing.... We are going to have a potluck on Friday, October 12th!  Not everyone needs to bring something (if they do, we will have WAY too much food).    That being said, if you want to bring something, comment below and let us know what you're planning on!  If you aren't bringing something, comment below and give us ideas about what we should do at our potluck (board games, etc.).  We will also be celebrating the birthdays that happened between September and now!

The assignment for this Computers 7C class is to create a poster advertising our garage sale, using Microsoft Word or Pages.  Also, please remember to bring something to sell so that we can make more talent money!  While we're at it, why don't you also comment below telling us what items you may be able to bring?

Happy commenting!

PS - Here is an example of the 7C garage sale poster that I made using the application "Pages" - you can find it in your applications, in the folder called "iWork '09."