Entry #1

So here it is a new start on a new blog. trying to get myself moving forward with writing out of the quagmire that is the perfetionistic procrastination of my my writing.

Inspired by a talk with todd yesterday about a strategy to write for 15 minutes everyday about the truth. just what is on my mind as it happens. without stopping about what is important and true.

i am frustrated with preparing the pad. it is such a waste of time. does it really matter. i am having a problem with it because it seems so archaic in nature. a 4 inch binder of stuff of paper in sheet protectors. what is it for? why can it not be electronic. I would feel much happier about it if it were digital.

I will perpare one that is also online and then give them both. to see which is preferred.

also wondering what it is that i am doing here. i feel fluctuation between being really useful and then being really stuck. or settling. but that is just me. the only thing or person that is holding me back is myself. i have tremendous freedom to do whatever, study whatever, produce whatever. there is no one telling me no.

I have to find a way to regain some clarity. to stay focused on what is important. to keep moving forward and moving ahead.

IDEAS that are interesting right now.

Google's 20% and its meaning for school
Today's students do not have the chance to OPT of technology.

It is sort of like saying, i am not going to learn to read. What would that look like? Are teachers opting out of technology? is this the same ones who would have said things like I am not good at math? is technology the new math?

Also - I like that I should spend 20% of my time on something that is creative and of interest to me. how should i set this time aside. Should it be daily? Weekly? How will I measure this? What type of activities will count towards this?

If spend 8 hours working per day that is 1 hour 36 minutes of time for just Googling. Or becoming Google. I think there should be a term for this.

I wonder if this is discussed in What would Google Do?

Ok - just checked - I am 10 minutes into this. Feeling pretty good.

So what else? Where do I go from here?

15 minutes is a long time to be famous -

I want to look at my day and how I spend my time.
I want to begin tracking the moments and looking at where the day goes.
There is a lot of waste. I could be more productive.

What is it that I really want to do with my time / life? Watch the Steve Jobs commencement speech brought this on. I should look back at his 3 main points. One must do what they love. I want to wake up every morning and be grateful for what it is that I have to do. I have a tremendous set of opportunities and should be open to the experience.

I am excited about the Chester Project and heading off to Alaska.

I feel like i have gotten away from gifted ed. But what is it really about? How does gifted education differ from regular ed? Is it that Joe and Sally have "watered" it down? Is there really anything to do in gifted ed? How do we continue to support these kids? Or is it about creating opportunities for all students? Or for students that are interested in accepting challenge and for wanting to rise with the tide?