keep your feet on the ground, and keep reachin' for the stars

<span style="background-color: white;">Oh Casey Kasem. You were the Confucius of our time. Now we are stuck with Ryan Seacrest. But this is a (worthy) discussion for another time.</span><br /><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br /><span style="background-color: white;">Today I'm talking gold. I'm loving it. I need it. Since finishing my <a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2012/07/pinterest-challenge-dipped-in-gold.html" target="_blank">glitter vase</a> for the Pinterest Challenge, I've been looking for something else to dip in gold and it didn't take me long to find my next <strike>victim</strike> subject. </span><br /><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br /><span style="background-color: white;">You all might remember </span><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2012/03/estate-sale-strikes-again.html" style="background-color: white;" target="_blank">these little honeys</a><span style="background-color: white;"> I picked up at an estate sale several months back.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguQAj1titkl9OvBl5RBrKz7Wef7VVHD3SqeZ3kFnvXKZlqqlKUR3AFCGZR1hHtqg1TJH2-KeiiaOZB6mNLdDRHNP9IJBvox7-XK8cMotFBTPMtySrkZZKTJqaPml4jZeiQhrEXpSDn9HDm/s1600/P3064968.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguQAj1titkl9OvBl5RBrKz7Wef7VVHD3SqeZ3kFnvXKZlqqlKUR3AFCGZR1hHtqg1TJH2-KeiiaOZB6mNLdDRHNP9IJBvox7-XK8cMotFBTPMtySrkZZKTJqaPml4jZeiQhrEXpSDn9HDm/s640/P3064968.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>The stars, my favorite detail of the tables, were just screaming for some gold.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPmFJZFCnICM0poVT2ERIR8uAH03dnFkVWsnKOXQlIyLoAImvSh0jTxzxgREg31pEPDOZXaz2OON_0_5aIn140SWV6uYZ2n32zoqz-YFeHGLaAyXBX-cLFgaOvfmwR5y-vhmXN7V3Egm4k/s1600/P3064972.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPmFJZFCnICM0poVT2ERIR8uAH03dnFkVWsnKOXQlIyLoAImvSh0jTxzxgREg31pEPDOZXaz2OON_0_5aIn140SWV6uYZ2n32zoqz-YFeHGLaAyXBX-cLFgaOvfmwR5y-vhmXN7V3Egm4k/s640/P3064972.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><span style="background-color: white;">I've had the tables in my living room for several weeks now, on approval from the basement, trying out the current finish. And although it wasn't bad, it wasn't working for me.</span><br /><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br /><span style="background-color: white;">So the first step was to take the table out and gave it several light and even coats of my trusty black </span><a href="http://www.rustoleum.com/CBGProduct.asp?pid=400" style="background-color: white;" target="_blank">Rust-oleum Painter's Touch Ultra Cover</a> spray paint.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMJQzDpNTWrzxrR3cGhiw3Rcx8A3vrTmgCCqjCyjrHf8PPMqQPPmy3QiAOejz8F_5qzy6iVKJhpzm31O_WNDPolnn0OvudcFLzyIkRjDMiyPDFMhGO-GRlTx_Lj4nSvIhxwzYBRchLWSpI/s1600/midspray.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMJQzDpNTWrzxrR3cGhiw3Rcx8A3vrTmgCCqjCyjrHf8PPMqQPPmy3QiAOejz8F_5qzy6iVKJhpzm31O_WNDPolnn0OvudcFLzyIkRjDMiyPDFMhGO-GRlTx_Lj4nSvIhxwzYBRchLWSpI/s640/midspray.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The table after her first coat of black</td></tr></tbody></table><br />After 4 coats of black and a day of sunbathing to dry, my stars were ready for their closeup.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO0Z_DwdEifLhMg4U9qLckMm65VI-9JQW8sA0SfZ3ZTJYtdaM7gI90zg2T94R_MUAYrbqJ7HRq9FkAZITpb76IyRgwiUrLa2hhH6LRCMtp3h-ZeZyinrEFLBJQRwrXvbffj1oS9fex15KR/s1600/KrylonGoldPen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO0Z_DwdEifLhMg4U9qLckMm65VI-9JQW8sA0SfZ3ZTJYtdaM7gI90zg2T94R_MUAYrbqJ7HRq9FkAZITpb76IyRgwiUrLa2hhH6LRCMtp3h-ZeZyinrEFLBJQRwrXvbffj1oS9fex15KR/s640/KrylonGoldPen.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="background-color: white;">I got a </span><a href="http://www.krylon.com/products/leafing_pens/" style="background-color: white;" target="_blank">Krylon Gold Leaf Pen</a><span style="background-color: white;"> at Michael's and went to town. I love this pen. It is like a marker for grown ups. I put a napkin under the star to protect the rest of the table and then just sat down and colored. (That star spins, I know pretty cool, so I would just paint the part of the star that was on the napkin, spin and repeat.) </span><span style="background-color: white;">And it dries super fast so I was able to do several coats rather quickly.</span><br /><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9R_-J85hJ6B6fP_CCkoe5ktQu53hx0tzD-TQjAJ5R15uvty09xRuzVBSX1_jyppsoGGO6vmRd7Q5ijcA52eh5JVDkpAsprgfXytGwsqShnGPLkYQO1XZCmq9NS0Q2uFjSRkhkTaOhj4GD/s1600/GoldStar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9R_-J85hJ6B6fP_CCkoe5ktQu53hx0tzD-TQjAJ5R15uvty09xRuzVBSX1_jyppsoGGO6vmRd7Q5ijcA52eh5JVDkpAsprgfXytGwsqShnGPLkYQO1XZCmq9NS0Q2uFjSRkhkTaOhj4GD/s640/GoldStar.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Just the pop I was looking for. You can see these suckers from across the room. Not in a bad 'what the hell are those' way though, more in a 'who is that hot man across the room' way. The gold would have never stood out as well on the mahogany-ish finish.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmJ7uCwaNeEkhCSJjOcVRXmvfaoCjmJZFNTdVCsbA1r-ywB7YEaFWM8wRlWgvS1sgcVjG7xzaLrVd38NU0A__E5MZMP0NlW9EkmFvYoUTOtRl18ino7Whv4X1kr_W63GI9MAwycaQk9WDY/s1600/starclose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmJ7uCwaNeEkhCSJjOcVRXmvfaoCjmJZFNTdVCsbA1r-ywB7YEaFWM8wRlWgvS1sgcVjG7xzaLrVd38NU0A__E5MZMP0NlW9EkmFvYoUTOtRl18ino7Whv4X1kr_W63GI9MAwycaQk9WDY/s640/starclose.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="background-color: white;">Looking good Mr. Carter. But it wasn't enough to give me my fix, I needed more than just the four stars. Speaking of, have you ever tried to take a picture that shows all four ends of a rectangle? Don't bother, it can't be done.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMJbFZj-PRHOLZdvxRfd0iBbQlIsnNkU0WuaYP0-SOT59LCN8lYQdD4n40eFMCxMEiEpNjPWu1LS-4-c7nr9ihnL1Eq0adj27BIdVukDO9mGWGyq_PwGCHsjXvofQKq-O7We4rpD16sHz0/s1600/GoldStarAfter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMJbFZj-PRHOLZdvxRfd0iBbQlIsnNkU0WuaYP0-SOT59LCN8lYQdD4n40eFMCxMEiEpNjPWu1LS-4-c7nr9ihnL1Eq0adj27BIdVukDO9mGWGyq_PwGCHsjXvofQKq-O7We4rpD16sHz0/s640/GoldStarAfter.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">So to up the gold factor, I 'dipped' the legs. Obviously they aren't technically dipped as I can't fit those thick legs into a tiny little pen, but you get the idea.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYZaNkvibTYNHGlBqRxpyv6VDo-05qpFNXFU9Rzy-6EoY7URTd7QD2icOc6Hc_N0OXiVElAHTEFgomXl1wP9qv0yDm332r9bmq4pVxNwyXsn4SH9Ua4dN65EyoVbrrbau-L8P4wi8FlCWa/s1600/legcloseup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYZaNkvibTYNHGlBqRxpyv6VDo-05qpFNXFU9Rzy-6EoY7URTd7QD2icOc6Hc_N0OXiVElAHTEFgomXl1wP9qv0yDm332r9bmq4pVxNwyXsn4SH9Ua4dN65EyoVbrrbau-L8P4wi8FlCWa/s640/legcloseup.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Yes, my floors need to be refinished but that will have to happen another year. Look at the legs instead. They are pretty. They are gold. Oohhh. Ahhhh.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzQzS9kvgUnl7-eFDhJ67skmjp_ZzQS2EN6phZ4ooHeplbCJEvgigY3mF5XnBDYG9GOtBYFjdZg-oen71KelgoCvWL7pGAt-uFTK7ll3HDlPeI3-R4ws1JfAxhWDhIRuNtO3tgZBlonOQR/s1600/BlueTable2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzQzS9kvgUnl7-eFDhJ67skmjp_ZzQS2EN6phZ4ooHeplbCJEvgigY3mF5XnBDYG9GOtBYFjdZg-oen71KelgoCvWL7pGAt-uFTK7ll3HDlPeI3-R4ws1JfAxhWDhIRuNtO3tgZBlonOQR/s640/BlueTable2.jpg" width="416" /></a></div><span style="background-color: white;">I love it. So much so that I know move the table all ove the house, changing it up each time. Good thing I have another one in the basement.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOznLraMV9bu5X2G1DTS0qE0NLFSffMjtbLFT6eFXeYZYQ25HpS0Lw6uUHmOcBDR-ET9ig2xNlaiGX5Z-QtOYDY7b8d6VMpeya6-KM0aWvCwuw4Z2cdcyZ7ZB2v1LetIufM0ovnWNX-_9x/s1600/tableafteryes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOznLraMV9bu5X2G1DTS0qE0NLFSffMjtbLFT6eFXeYZYQ25HpS0Lw6uUHmOcBDR-ET9ig2xNlaiGX5Z-QtOYDY7b8d6VMpeya6-KM0aWvCwuw4Z2cdcyZ7ZB2v1LetIufM0ovnWNX-_9x/s640/tableafteryes.jpg" width="442" /></a></div>And a quick public service announcement about the glitter used earlier in the week - make sure you store all glitter in a locked cabinet, just like your liquor, or your children will get a hold of it and 'dust' the table with it.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGmfmakkjE2NY207oU18pHCuilcUaKbstJo2QzkBqOuIWnKFxnkPgyV7hW-fK8pKhZy7W8izsLAN6PhhpCmmH1kszwHEBbO5yZyiNu5B60XVK8ICdKDjokiqKe5ZwNsl26oYXM-CXU74Rp/s1600/topshot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="548" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGmfmakkjE2NY207oU18pHCuilcUaKbstJo2QzkBqOuIWnKFxnkPgyV7hW-fK8pKhZy7W8izsLAN6PhhpCmmH1kszwHEBbO5yZyiNu5B60XVK8ICdKDjokiqKe5ZwNsl26oYXM-CXU74Rp/s640/topshot.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt6yyI0OThDuKsItTNJrjfCPqHc_7V8Trp1zD-hD5XAfaeX1OkC50xQgb5pPM9Z7Ea9Ocjm7P29nN-qS0AYIP40us_TJfaU9VmkJkgShZjp0aQYrurxQBlLUFJKxOFoOhzJx6zkU2uHde1/s1600/tablestraight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt6yyI0OThDuKsItTNJrjfCPqHc_7V8Trp1zD-hD5XAfaeX1OkC50xQgb5pPM9Z7Ea9Ocjm7P29nN-qS0AYIP40us_TJfaU9VmkJkgShZjp0aQYrurxQBlLUFJKxOFoOhzJx6zkU2uHde1/s640/tablestraight.jpg" width="520" /></a></div>One dipped table completed, one more to go.<br /><br />Have you tried the Gold Leaf pen? Found yourself slapping a new to you color on anything that will stand still? Don't be surprised if my girls have been painted gold by the end of the summer.<br /><br />Linking to <a href="http://www.serenitynowblog.com/2012/07/weekend-bloggy-reading-link-up_13.html" target="_blank">Serenity Now Weekend Bloggy Link Party</a> , <a href="http://chiconashoestringdecorating.blogspot.com/2012/07/flaunt-it-friday-110.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:%20blogspot/SRimK%20(Chic%20on%20a%20Shoestring%20Decorating)" target="_blank">Flaunt It Friday</a> and <a href="http://primitiveandproper.blogspot.com/2012/07/poww-97-furniture-link-party.html" target="_blank">Primitive & Proper Furniture Link Party</a>.</div>

keep your feet on the ground, and keep reachin' for the stars

Oh Casey Kasem. You were the Confucius of our time. Now we are stuck with Ryan Seacrest. But this is a (worthy) discussion for another time....

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Planning to teach from A to Z

As you plan to create a place of teaching and learning, think through these aspects of your classroom. I've shared some important points of teaching and a tip for each as well as books that I love that help me in each area. Feel free to add your favorite letter in the comments or on your own blog!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/cheesy42/1874677681/" title="Letter A by cheesy42, on Flickr"><img alt="Letter A" height="200" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2047/1874677681_bcc4ea2866.jpg" width="200" /></a><br /><h2> Attitude</h2>You are the beginning and ending of your classroom and year. Your attitude. Your attitude is your decision and there's not an app for that. The fact is that <a href="http://awesome.good.is/transparency/web/1203/teacher-morale/flash.html" target="_blank">only 44% of American teachers</a> are happy in their job. This may be the number one issue we have facing education today. <i>I own my <a href="http://coolcatteacher.blogspot.com/2011/08/att-i-tude.html" target="_blank">Att-I-tude</a>.</i><br /><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br /><span style="background-color: white;">While I have some bones of contention with administrative issues surrounding my job, I have to keep from letting it choke my desire to teach. It is a decision to move on and control what you can control. </span><a href="http://coolcatteacher.blogspot.com/2006/04/fight-for-attitude-preservation.html" style="background-color: white;" target="_blank">I must fight </a><span style="background-color: white;">to preserve my own attitude. <i>(This relates to one of my favorite poems  <a href="http://coolcatteacher.blogspot.com/2011/10/teaching-starts-in-my-room.html" target="_blank">Room in My Classroom</a>.)</i></span><br /><br /><span style="background-color: white;"><i><b>Tip</b>: I put a saying or focal quote on my monitor so I see it every day all day to help remind me of who I want to be.</i></span><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/double-m2/3898414936/" title="Letter B by Double--M, on Flickr"><img alt="Letter B" height="192" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3480/3898414936_3bce3bdd49.jpg" width="200" /></a><br /><h2> Back to School</h2>Get every back to school idea you can right now. <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/" target="_blank">Pinterest </a>and <a href="http://www.sharemylesson.com/" target="_blank">Share My Lesson</a> (and its sister site <a href="http://www.tes.co.uk/" target="_blank">TES</a>) are my favorite places to find free ideas.<br /><ul><li><a href="http://www.sharemylesson.com/ResourceCalendar.aspx?nbday=1&nbmth=8&nbyr=2012&evcode=7" style="background-color: white;" target="_blank">Back to School Ideas</a><span style="background-color: white;"> - </span><span style="background-color: white;">Here are some back to school ideas you can download and use. </span></li><li><a href="http://www.sharemylesson.com/teaching-resource/Back-to-school-factfile-6055535/" target="_blank">Back to school factfile</a> - <span style="background-color: white;">If you like to ask your students questions when starting school, here is a 4 page "factfile" handout you can use with them. Adapt it as it is a word doc. (For grades 1-4) </span></li><li><a href="http://www.sharemylesson.com/teaching-resource/Classroom-Planning-Materials-50000221/" target="_blank">Classroom Planning Materials</a> - <span style="background-color: white;">Materials for planning your first day and classroom procedures are available for download as you plan your fist day of school.</span></li><li><span style="background-color: white;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/search/?q=classroom+rules" target="_blank">Examples of Classroom rules</a> on Pinterest</span></li></ul><i><b><span style="background-color: white;"> </span>Tip:</b> On the first day, Ishare my basic 4 rules which are Be Honest, Clean your Desktop, Respect Everyone, and Be Excellent on top of our principal's one rule "Do Right" but then have the students write the guidelines and details for what this means in a Google doc which we tweak and have them print out and take home. </i><br /><br /><ul></ul><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/42dreams/73841514/" title="The letter C by Mel B., on Flickr"><img alt="The letter C" height="133" src="http://farm1.staticflickr.com/34/73841514_1ba9db8a49.jpg" width="200" /></a><br /><h2> Cooperative Learning</h2><div>I <a href="http://coolcatteacher.blogspot.com/2007/02/how-i-started-in-wikis-flat-classroom.html" target="_blank">started using wikis</a> and co-created the first <a href="http://www.flatclassroomproject.net/" target="_blank">Flat Classroom project</a> because I had to use cooperative learning strategies in my classroom. Educate yourself using resources like Jerry Blumengarten's <a href="http://cybraryman.com/cooperative.html" target="_blank">Cooperative Learning Page</a>, Robert Marzano's book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0131195034/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0131195034&linkCode=as2&tag=httpwwwbrighc-20">Classroom Instruction that Works: Research-Based Strategies for Increasing Student Achievement</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=httpwwwbrighc-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0131195034" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />, Jennifer Robert's <a href="https://sites.google.com/site/robertsonwriting/home" target="_blank">Writing Response groups</a> resource or <a href="http://www.sharemylesson.com/TaxonomySearchResults.aspx?area=resources&keywords=cooperative+learning" target="_blank">a search on Sharemylesson</a>. (In December if you teach writing, you'll want to check out my book, <a href="http://www.eyeoneducation.com/Collaborative-Writing-Project" target="_blank">Collaborative Writing in the Cloud</a> which is also aligned with Common Core Writing standards. <a href="http://www.eyeoneducation.com/Collaborative-Writing-Project" target="_blank">Sign up</a> to be notified when it comes out.)<br /><br /><i><b>A tip: </b><span style="background-color: white;">I have a set of poker chips in a coffee cup of four different colors and have written letters on one side of the chips and a number for each seat in my room - using these in the mug, I can divide up in a variety of ways including a jigsaw (i.e. Meet with the letter groups to discuss your part of the topic and move to your color group to explain your part to the group.) Otherwise, I have computer numbers and can say "odd do this and even do that" if necessary. (If I have less than my maximum, I can easily see which chips to remove based on the number.)</span></i></div><h2> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/willsisti/7248062550/" title="Liz sits on the letter D by Flyinace2000, on Flickr"><img alt="Liz sits on the letter D" height="200" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7239/7248062550_85ecee5d2b.jpg" width="112" /></a> </h2><h2> Discipline Plan </h2><div>The book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0965026329/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0965026329&linkCode=as2&tag=httpwwwbrighc-20">Fred Jones Tools for Teaching</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=httpwwwbrighc-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0965026329" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> helped me with the discipline issues I had early on. The truth is, if I have discipline issues, it is most often because I didn't have the self-discipline to handle issues early, the moment they happen when they were small. Fred Jones' book teaches the importance of "the eyebrow" and "the look." I rarely have to send students to the office but if I do, it is usually a gross offense requiring a trip (like profanity or dishonesty.)<br /><br />Tell students up front the consequences and issues, but keep them simple. Introduce them on the first day clearly but you could add some humor (like showing the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qTIGg3I5y8" target="_blank">"Share it, Maybe" </a>video parody from Cookie Monster.) Some great places to look include:<br /><br /><ul><li>My <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/124060164705892111/" target="_blank">favorite classroom rules poster</a>, I'm designing something similar for my room.</li><li><a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=examples+of+classroom+rules&hl=en&tbo=1&prmd=imvns&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=Utr8T6PkLIT48wSpm5TjBg&ved=0CEUQ_AUoAQ&biw=1920&bih=995" target="_blank">Examples of classroom rules</a> (Google Image Search) - when looking for graphics, a Google image search is a marvelous way to find ideas but now Pinterest is gaining.</li><li><a href="http://www.cybraryman.com/classroom.html" target="_blank">Classroom Planning</a> - by Jerry Blumengarten @cybraryman1</li><li><a href="http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/lesson/lesson274.shtml" target="_blank">10 Activities for Establishing Classroom Rules</a> by Education World</li><li><a href="http://www.sharemylesson.com/TaxonomySearchResults.aspx?area=resources&keywords=classroom+rules" target="_blank">19 Ideas for Classroom Rules from Teachers</a> via @sharemylesson</li></ul><i><b>Tip:</b>  Proximity is one of the fastest ways to deal with misbehavior. Don't say a word but go near or beside a student misbehaving. If you have to put your hand on their shoulder then do so, but the closer you get, the more likely the perpetrator will realize you've seen his behavior and stop. Be careful about words. The more you use words for discipline the less they work.</i><br /><ul></ul></div><h2> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21560098@N06/4577219576/" title="The letter "E" by Nina Matthews Photography, on Flickr"><img alt="The letter "E"" height="200" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3362/4577219576_80831df45e.jpg" width="133" /></a> </h2><h2>  Environment</h2><div>Your classroom walls, door, and organization send a message. What messages do you want to send?<br />Again, turn to <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a> (see D<a href="http://pinterest.com/dedith/decorative-classroom-doors/" target="_blank">iane Shroer's board</a> or search for "<a href="http://pinterest.com/search/?q=classroom+door" target="_blank">classroom door</a>") and <a href="http://msooey.tumblr.com/post/22488345490/kbkonnected-fantastic-idea-coolcatteacher" target="_blank">Tumblr </a>for ideas, but create your own. I was discussing this morning <a href="https://www.facebook.com/coolcatteacher" target="_blank">on my Facebook page</a> some ideas I have for this year. Plan your workflow - where will students put their work and how will you return it (both face to face and online.) I went as <a href="http://coolcatteacher.blogspot.com/2011/08/tales-from-paperless-as-possible.html" target="_blank">paperless as possible</a> last year and didn't regret it a bit. Don't forget the outdoors. We have an outdoor garden and classroom and elementary classes each have a bed with a certain type of plant to maintain, weed, and care for throughout the year as well as a compost pile, and fish to feed.<br /><br /><i><b>Tip:</b> For the last several years I've had an iTouch screen that my sister scanned and blew up door-sized. It had icons that I made for all of our major projects like Flat Classroom, Digiteen, and the wikis we use and said "iTouch the future." Now, I'm thinking of having a #youmatter theme with a mirror and a quote underneath. The point is to think about what you want to stress and encourage - you should have posters and reminders of those things. Inside my room, I'm minimalistic because the students make the motivational posters for the room with their words throughout the year.</i></div><h2> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/78528924@N00/3277557371/" title="Friday by pdugmore2001, on Flickr"><img alt="Friday" height="240" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3516/3277557371_4a6d144f2c_m.jpg" width="203" /></a> </h2><h2>  Flatten Your Classroom</h2><div>You can no longer have a world class education without connecting to the world. When you flatten your classroom, you connect students with each other, with people of all generations and locations outside of the classroom and with themselves. (See Chapter 3 and 4 of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0132610353/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0132610353&linkCode=as2&tag=httpwwwbrighc-20" id="static_txt_preview" target="_blank">Flattening Classrooms, Engaging Minds</a> for more on the Connection Planning tool to help you visualize this.) Plan rich experiences and get involved in <a href="http://connectededucators.org/" target="_blank">Connected Educator Month</a> in August, the <a href="http://k12onlineconference.org/" target="_blank">K12 Online Conference</a> and <a href="http://www.globaleducationconference.com/" target="_blank">Global Education conference</a> coming up online to get ideas. (Of course reading my book is a great start too.)<br /><br /><i><b>Tip</b>: Connect your classroom at least once a month. While you can use the ideas in my book, try the <a href="http://vickidavis.me/post/21326819678/the-mystery-skype-caller-is-a-concept-where" target="_blank">mystery Skype caller.</a> Skype in a guest and let your students as the guest questions to determine where the guest is located and/or what the guest does. This is a fun way to connect with fascinating people from around the world.</i></div><h2> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wwworks/6743691777/" title="G by woodleywonderworks, on Flickr"><img alt="G" height="240" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7163/6743691777_b9f3bd1dff_m.jpg" width="240" /></a> </h2><h2>  Goals</h2><div>Set 3 clear, concise goals for this year. Read over them first thing each morning. Keep them close at hand.<br /><br /><b><i>My current draft of my goals for this year:</i></b><br /><ol><li>Integrate passion based 20% time projects (like last year's <a href="http://www.sharemylesson.com/teaching-resource/Year-Long-Technology-Project-US-Grade-9-6138167/event/22/" target="_blank">Freshman project</a>) into every course I teach.</li><li> Update the school website and deploy Powerschool and school marketing/ promotions onto mobile devices.</li><li>Position our school to deploy a 1:1 tablet program within the next year including infrastructure, stakeholder support, and school-wide teaching practices.</li></ol><i><b>Tip:</b> Goals aren't attitudes. They should be Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Timebound according to the <a href="http://www.projectsmart.co.uk/smart-goals.html" target="_blank">"SMART goals" strategy</a>.</i> <i>I take goals further in that every goal has habits that I do every day. I also recommend <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Barbara-R.-Blackburn/e/B001JP4CC2/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0" target="_blank">Barbara Blackburn</a> and her work on Rigor when you start looking at the goals and objectives of individual courses.</i></div><div></div><h2> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jimwinstead/50039978/" title="letter by jimw, on Flickr"><img alt="letter" height="240" src="http://farm1.staticflickr.com/32/50039978_7eecb24a0a_m.jpg" width="233" /></a> </h2><h2>  Habits</h2><div>You are what you do. If you want to achieve something new, change what you do! I now set routines and checklists using my <a href="http://coolcatteacher.blogspot.com/2011/08/routine-of-being-amazing.html" target="_blank">HomeRoutines app</a> on my ipad/ iphone.<br /><br /><i><b>Tip</b>: Oneof the most powerful things you can do for yourself is to make a small checklist of things you need to do at the beginning of your planning period or break that make a big difference. My list: check paper in printers, check ink, 5 minute room clean up, restock paper if necessary, wash boards, put up anything the students didn't put back, check my inbox in the lounge, heat up my lunch, and whisk back to my room. This 10 minute routine makes a HUGE difference and everyone sees it.  Keep your list SHORT, doable, and trackable as you check off that it is done. I do this BEFORE I eat lunch so I don't linger.</i></div><br /><h2> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/bundscherer/2588182950/" title="I by Bundscherer, on Flickr"><img alt="I" height="320" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3004/2588182950_9c9a16351e_n.jpg" width="240" /></a> </h2><h2>  Interests</h2>Make sure you integrate your interests and those of your students with everything you do.Angela Maiers has popularized the term <a href="http://www.angelamaiers.com/2011/07/guidelines-of-passion-based-learning.html" target="_blank">passion based learning</a> and has written some books on this including <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1935542621/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1935542621&linkCode=as2&tag=httpwwwbrighc-20" id="static_txt_preview" target="_blank">Classroom Habitudes</a> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1596671599/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1596671599&linkCode=as2&tag=httpwwwbrighc-20" id="static_txt_preview" target="_blank">The Passion-Driven Classroom</a>. Just remember that you can share your interests but you should also be interested in things that interest your own students. Just remember that students are as diverse as all adults. Some adults mistakenly think that sports are relevant to all teenagers, this is NOT the case but neither are movies, music, hobbies, or television shows. But as you integrate a variety of pop culture and hobbies, you're reaching more students as you diversify.<br /><br /><i><b>Tip</b>: I do this with my 20% time <a href="http://www.sharemylesson.com/teaching-resource/Year-Long-Technology-Project-US-Grade-9-6138167/event/22/" target="_blank">project</a></i><i>, but with everything I teach, I work to find things interesting to the students. I talk about things that happen to me and also admit when they are teaching me something new. This doesn't mean we "play all day" or goof off - it does mean we have things that are naturally interesting to the students that I customize (as the <a href="http://coolcatteacher.blogspot.com/2006/11/classroom-is-flat-teacherpreneurs-and.html" target="_blank">teacherpreneur </a>that I am) to the interests of students.</i><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/pinksherbet/3902278156/" title="Letter J for Jellybeans by Pink Sherbet Photography, on Flickr"><img alt="Letter J for Jellybeans" height="320" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3047/3902278156_5cfe7134c8_n.jpg" width="213" /></a><br /><h2>Joy</h2> Some of you are cringing as I say this word. Joy? Really? Are you kidding?<br /><br />If Julia Child can find the Joy in Cooking, I can find the joy in teaching and learning! No. I'm not kidding. Maybe that is our problem. With as much time as you spend at work, you should be able to find joy in what you do. But let me tell you a secret. The common denominator of teachers I know from every type of school is that no matter what goes on outside the door, good teachers are able to close that door and create the environment in their own room. Every day at every school there is drama. Face it and learn to shelter your students. If you don't have joy, find it again. Seek it. <br /><br /><i><b>Tip</b>: Get excited yourself. I find Ron Clark's book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005X4909K/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B005X4909K&linkCode=as2&tag=httpwwwbrighc-20" id="static_txt_preview" target="_blank">The End of Molasses Classes</a> a book full of joy, excellence and the nobility of teaching as well as Todd Whitaker's <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1596671998/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1596671998&linkCode=as2&tag=httpwwwbrighc-20" id="static_txt_preview" target="_blank">What Great Teachers Do Differently</a> both get me pumped up and ready to go!</i><br /><br /><h2> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dumbledad/2240930819/" title="The Letter "K" by dumbledad, on Flickr"><img alt="The Letter "K"" height="240" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2201/2240930819_1d2b503db6_n.jpg" width="320" /></a> </h2><h2> Kindness</h2>A kind teacher isn't a wimp, a pushover or a laissez-faire loser. A kind teacher pays attention to students and is sensitive to the unique needs of that student, looking for a chance to be kind or helpful when it wasn't even asked for. A school with kindness is a school where people care. People find their favorite soda appear on their desk with a note, or someone takes their spot at gate duty because something has arisen in their personal life. Kindness is cheap but the lack of kindness is costly to the attitude of everyone.<br /><br /><i><b>Tip</b>: You can read <a href="http://coolcatteacher.blogspot.com/2012/06/10-inexpensive-ways-to-be-kind.html" target="_blank">10 inexpensive ways to be kind</a> but I loved the idea I saw at my church's Vacation Bible School this year and am dying to try this with a class. It was called "Special Ops." Children are told that they are invisible as long as they wear their sunglasses and are quiet and don't make a sound. They have signs that say things like "You are loved" and "You are special" as well as candy bars and other goodies. The adults are in on it so when we see them coming, we pretend like the candy bars and signs appear. Sometimes the kids sneak in and give a hug. The point is that it is a very quiet way to encourage and spread sunshine and the kids LOVE it. Think of every way you can to be kind and make it a habit.</i><br /><br /><h2> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/csessums/4713385816/" title="Letter L Elle El by cdsessums, on Flickr"><img alt="Letter L Elle El" height="318" src="http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4021/4713385816_382a9b3076_n.jpg" width="320" /></a> </h2><h2>  Layout of the classroom </h2>The best way to prevent technology misbehavior is to make sure you can see every screen from your desk. Small things like the location of the printer and in and out boxes will save you time. I make a list of my biggest traffic/ workflow problems and my husband and I sit down and figure out what needs to change. For example, I figured out that people were cutting behind my desk to get to the printer and the constant fact that people were running into me as I sat at my desk was becoming a big irritant. We moved a side desk and turned my configuration into an "L" so people had to go around the front and moved the printer closer to the door and my problem went away.<br /><i> </i><br /><i><b>Tip</b>: I always visit the teachers of a new class that I've never taught before to find out who should never sit together. This one thing (separating those who aren't a great influence on each other) is easy to handle even without a seating chart. I just direct those students gently to different parts of the room (I'll tell them if I have to.)</i><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tinkerroll21/2701998418/" title="The Letter "M" by downing.amanda, on Flickr"><img alt="The Letter "M"" height="236" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3239/2701998418_b8cd810490_m.jpg" width="240" /></a><br /><h2> Memories</h2>"Memory, all alone in the moonlight." Memories give meaning to life. I always keep messages from my children, photographs with notes from them, and journals about their life. These things give meaning. As we discuss in Chapter 9  of Flattening Classrooms, Engaging Minds, helping students leave a legacy is a lasting part of teaching. Teachers who help children find their own legacy become legends we talk about. I think every annual should have a DVD sleeve in the front full of electronic memories from the year for students to look back upon later.<br /><br /><i><b>Tip</b>: My students have a drive on the server. When they leave, I encourage students to take a copy of their files with them or to upload everything into their personal dropbox so they can access the files later.</i><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/bredgur/2276250354/" title="n by bredgur, on Flickr"><img alt="n" height="180" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2107/2276250354_186d9a03ed_n.jpg" width="320" /></a> <br /><h2> Nobility</h2><br />One day when we're retired and we look back on these days we'll be able to reminisce<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">"Yes, they cut everything -<span style="background-color: white;">preplanning, </span><span style="background-color: white;">my pay, </span><span style="background-color: white;">my professional development</span><span style="background-color: white;">...but I loved those kids so much I went in and preplanned anyway - </span><span style="background-color: white;">I still gave it my all -- I still went online and read like crazy to learn.</span><br />Those days were tough but IN the midst of it all I was a teacher and knew that the future was IN my hands. It wasn't the kids fault that these adults had screwed up the budget and spent their future for our past.<br />So, I gave something that was more valuable than money -- my heart, my time, my life."</blockquote><span style="background-color: white;">Your reward will be far greater than those teachers who let bitterness and resentment devour the best years of their lives. In the great Depression, people got up and WORKED. They got busy. We're facing a great depression, not necessarily of money, but of attitude. We HAVE to change but how we feel about change is vital. </span><span style="background-color: white;">Keep the faith my friends -- never let anyone steal your nobility - it is NOT for sale. IT cannot be taken -- no one can give it away but YOU.</span><br /><br />The person who can make it through this time will truly be the heroes of our generation. May it be that we are found to be the greatest generation of teachers - a generation that could not be discouraged by dumb decisions, foolish spending, and paralyzing pride. We can be a generation of humble, noble servant leaders but we're not going to be that by slacking off or whining.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/goodspeed/223152682/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Green O by Dave Q, on Flickr"><img alt="Green O" height="150" src="http://farm1.staticflickr.com/93/223152682_52e750b574_n.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><h2> </h2><h2> </h2><h2> </h2><h2> <span style="background-color: white;"> </span></h2><h2><span style="background-color: white;"> </span></h2><h2><span style="background-color: white;"> </span></h2><h2><span style="background-color: white;">Oh!</span></h2>Oh my goodness! Oh, wow! Oh boy! These are the O's that should be in your classroom.<br /><br /><i><b>TIP</b>: When the Oh's happen, share them with parents, share them with others, invite in administrators to see, or just celebrate.Get excited too! </i><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/matt_molina/2959029433/" title="P by OMFGmatt, on Flickr"><img alt="P" height="200" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3289/2959029433_17cccee476_n.jpg" width="150" /></a> <br /><h2> Party</h2>Celebrations around the world are a great excuse to do something special and help students become globally competent. Make parents aware that you're studying about the cultures on those days but not necessarily "commemorating" those celebrations so that when some celebrations for different cultures are part of your lessons, you don't get pushback. <br /><br /><i><b>Tip</b>: Global celebrations and holiday lesson plans are one of my top uses of <a href="http://www.sharemylesson.com/resourcecalendar.aspx?nbday=0&nbmth=8&nbyr=2012" target="_blank">Share my lesson</a> and <a href="http://www.tes.co.uk/ResourceCalendar.aspx" target="_blank">TES resource calendars</a>.</i> <i>More than just celebrations, find ways to make things fun. I've seen <b>golden toilet seats</b> given as awards for having a clean bathroom and <b>chicken chucking</b> contests (rubber chickens) entered by kids who kept their lunchroom area clean that week. (They throw the chicken and the prize goes to the child who chucks the chicken the greatest distance.)</i><br /><br />  <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chiacomo/2178270085/" title="P1060066 by NathanReed, on Flickr"><img alt="P1060066" height="150" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2181/2178270085_e1a6942d17_n.jpg" width="200" /></a><br /><h2> QR codes</h2>Quick response codes are barcodes that let handheld devices like smartphones and iphones go to websites without having to type in addresses. They are very useful and can help you grade faster and do some incredible scavenger hunts.<br /><br /><i><b>Tip</b>: Be sure to check out my <a href="http://coolcatteacher.blogspot.com/2011/05/qr-code-classroom-implementation-guide.html" target="_blank">QR Code Classroom Implementation Guide</a> and don't be confused.</i><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mugley/440178954/" title="how R you? by mugley, on Flickr"><img alt="how R you?" height="160" src="http://farm1.staticflickr.com/161/440178954_69278cfa9a_m.jpg" width="240" /></a><br /><h2> Results</h2>Everyone clamors for results. Now is not the time to be quiet about your students. Give them opportunities to show off their learning. The reasons many parents put so much weight on test scores is that it is one of the only things they see that their children do that is significant besides those monstrous projects that you ask them to do at home that most of them do for their children. Plan ahead to show off projects done at by school by your children. Create an online repository of what they are doing and include links in emails to parents.<br /><br /><i><b>Tip</b>: I've found that "push" tools like emails and text messages are more proactive and better with parents. I work hard to email every 10 days to parents about what I'm doing with students, upcoming projects, and links to what the students have done online. Give things for parents to brag about. Let them attend online presentations (my students like to present for online conferences like the Global Education Conference.) Parents lean on test scores because we've given no other quantifiable results from the other work we're doing. Of course, you must also produce results in the form of test scores but remember that you have to look at the overall health of your classroom ecosystem as you strive for this. Those who pursue test scores at the expense of everything else could be like the morbidly obese that turns anorexic in order to lose weight. Many would applause the results but the poor health will harm the person in the end. We need healthy classrooms that encourage learning and retain students while fostering a love of the technology and engineering that are demanded in today's world.</i><br /><br />  <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/toofarnorth/4372407950/" title="s53 by TooFarNorth, on Flickr"><img alt="s53" height="240" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2703/4372407950_4dfb03d21b_m.jpg" width="151" /></a><br /><h2> Schedule</h2>A combination of electronic and physical calendars will make your school year flow. When you're in the busy-ness and crazy-ness of school you'll be lucky to remember what you're eating for dinner tonight much less when you need to be done with a unit and start another. Have a master calendar for classes on paper near your desk and a weekly paper calendar to note lesson plans and activities. <br /><br /><i>Tip: I use Google calendar that syncs with school and my phone. I have a calendar for each course and put lesson plans and links on the calendar and my students add it to their iGoogle page (sadly iGoogle is being phased out so we'll transition to NetVibes.) Additionally, I have each school sport and activity on a Google Calendar and help the students subscribe to the calendars as school begins. (See <a href="http://coolcatteacher.blogspot.com/2008/08/kicking-off-school-year-web-20-style-w.html" target="_blank">Kicking off the School Year</a>)</i> <i>Calendars must be linked with their cell phones and mine or they are useless.</i><br /><h2> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dan4th/129433263/" title="060416alewifelogo by Dan4th, on Flickr"><img alt="060416alewifelogo" height="180" src="http://farm1.staticflickr.com/53/129433263_9a615c37fa_m.jpg" width="240" /></a> </h2><h2>  Teaching</h2><div>Teaching is something you do not a job title. We have teachers who aren't teaching. We also have some with bad judgement and others are in such confused, micromanaged, systemically broken systems that they are fighting to have the time to teach. Plato taught because he showed up every day to do it. You are what you do every day. While you can use videos to teach if you only show videos, you're not teaching, you're babysitting. While you can use just about anything to teach, your job is to be the teacherpreneur who combines all of the apps, videos, activities, projects, and needs into a classroom where people learn including you). <a href="http://coolcatteacher.blogspot.com/2012/01/i-am-teaching.html" target="_blank">I am teaching</a> every day. Are you?<br /><br /><i><b>Tip: </b>Build a PLN on Twitter, Pinterest and use your RSS reader. I take 15 minutes, three times per week to learn and schedule this on my calendar during my break. Selecting your "<a href="http://coolcatteacher.blogspot.com/2006/12/how-to-create-your-circle-of-wise-how.html" target="_blank">circle of the wise</a>" is vital to your professional development.</i> <i>Good teachers are also learners. <b>If you won't learn, you shouldn't teach because you're a hypocrite:</b> you're asking students to do what you won't do yourself.</i></div><div><br /></div><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/toofarnorth/5501620794/" title="u striped by TooFarNorth, on Flickr"><img alt="u striped" height="240" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5258/5501620794_495198b515_m.jpg" width="206" /></a><br /><h2> Understanding</h2>There are two important kinds of understanding in the classroom. The kind of understanding that comes from truly comprehending the subject matter. There's also the kind of understand that comes from truly comprehending another person's intent, life, and circumstances. A good classroom needs both.<br /><br /><i><b>Tip</b>: Look every student in the eye as they enter your classroom every day. The eyes speak volumes about a person: what kind of night he had, the emotions she's feeling, his mood, etc. This valuable piece of information sets the context for what I'm going to be able to do. My goal is to stand at my door, look every student in the eye and call every student by name as he or she enters. This also tells the students I'm paying attention and notice.  </i><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/stevendepolo/5596528203/" title="O P U V Letter Puzzle Library Macros April 02, 20112 by stevendepolo, on Flickr"><img alt="O P U V Letter Puzzle Library Macros April 02, 20112" height="213" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5146/5596528203_406e433f3d_n.jpg" width="320" /></a> <br /><h2> Versatile</h2> One who is versatile is "Able to adapt or be adapted to many different functions or activities." You must be flexible and adaptable. You now have a plan, a discipline structure, and so many things in place. Unfortunately, you will often deal with people who are totally clueless about the work you have to accomplish in the classroom and who disrespect your time. As a teacher, I plan, prepare, and prepare but when things go haywire at the last minute, I've learned to adapt and save myself a heart attack.<br /><br /><i><b>Tip</b>: Take time every month (I do this at least 5 days before month end) to review the calendar where I've plotted out the learning objectives for each week and month and adapt to what actually happened. It is vital to adjust and adapt the original plan or you'll find yourself frustrated and upset. Also, I plan to finish everything by the last week in April because I know that unexpected assemblies, etc. will interrupt and then, I have the freedom to push things back or add cool new projects. This is hard to do but if you don't plan ahead for flexibility, you'll crack under the pressure.</i><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/psycho-pics/4648487891/" title="W by wsilver, on Flickr"><img alt="W" height="132" src="http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4062/4648487891_8b91bd7085_n.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><h2> Willing</h2><div>Betty Shiver, my curriculum director, says that teaching is one of the professions where you can start over every year. It is a gift to start over, but if you're not willing to make a fresh start, you've got old baggage weighing you down.Be willing to let people change and improve. Be willing to start over. Be willing to try something new. Be willing to put exercise into your routine!</div><div><br /></div><div>One of the obstacles that has IT directors and administrators most upset is that some teachers are unwilling to try new things or discuss new ideas. We must be willing to move forward because epaper, apps, cloud resources, and collaboration are vital to having a school that is relevant into the future. If your school becomes ineffective you're out of a job. See: <a href="http://coolcatteacher.blogspot.com/2011/08/start-of-new-year.html" target="_blank">The start of a new year</a><br /><br /><i><b>Tip</b>: To keep from getting in a rut, I work hard to try new things. This summer I rode a Segway, went ziplining, and rafted down a new river. Although this isn't for everyone, sometimes even going to a new restaurant or visiting a new place is enough to trigger the endorphins in your brain that will boost your mood and help your attitude. Your students are faced with new things on a daily basis. By pushing yourself to try something new, you can identify with them more and enjoy your life!</i></div><div><br /></div><h2> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/aturkus/468936714/" title="X by aturkus, on Flickr"><img alt="X" height="213" src="http://farm1.staticflickr.com/213/468936714_57bce09ea4_n.jpg" width="320" /></a> </h2><h2>  Xtra</h2><div><span style="background-color: white;">Pardon the reach, but right now we all need to give "Xtra." This is an exceptional time and it is going to require exceptional effort. Heroes don't lift light burdens. Epic stories happen amidst problems of epic proportions. You can't be epic and heroic with nothing to overcome. Give extra in ways that make you more productive, effective and be that hero your school needs right now. </span><br /><br /><span style="background-color: white;"><i><b>Tip</b>: My learning lab director, Mrs. Grace Adkins, has taken home three folders of students every weekend to ponder and pray over. Every Monday she'll make phone calls to the parents about their child with ideas to help the child. I want to be like her. As the recipient of such a phone call, it makes me  know that she cares. I work hard to call parents when they need it, especially if a child has done something great when that child is having a hard time in another area. If I know that a child is doing a great job for me, but I overhear a problem somewhere else, I'll often call the parent just to say "Hey, your child is doing this well." Compliments must be genuine but it is my goal to find something that every student does well in my class. It must be true. A lying compliment is flattery and fake and undermines your authority. Most people can tell a lie and these parents live with the child, they'll know it.</i></span><br /><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/geishaboy500/3118005051/" style="background-color: white;" title="Red Silk Alphabet Y by geishaboy500, on Flickr"><img alt="Red Silk Alphabet Y" height="320" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3226/3118005051_2dc7223158_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><h2> You</h2><div>Take time for yourself. Look at your goals and put habits into your life to help you reach your goals. Take care of your health. Mrs. Adkins, mentioned in the letter "X", is over 80 and mentioned this book that has impacted her called <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0761134239/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0761134239&linkCode=as2&tag=httpwwwbrighc-20" id="static_txt_preview" target="_blank">Younger Next Year: A Guide to Living Like 50 Until You're 80 and Beyond</a>. She now rides 120 miles on her stationary bike a week (1 hour a day watching the news.) She has deaged years and gets around better than most 50 year olds. <br /><br /><i><b>Tip</b>: I spend a lot of time doing for others but 5 am to 7 am each morning is mine. I have my quiet time, pray, read my Bible, do situps and pushups, and write on this blog. I've let early morning meetings encroach on this time, but I'm going to work to limit those this year. Schedule yourself on your own calendar. You're worth it and you live your own life. It is YOURS. There's an older book that has helped me called <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0060505389/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0060505389&linkCode=as2&tag=httpwwwbrighc-20" id="static_txt_preview" target="_blank">8 Minutes in the Morning </a>with great quick workouts in the back. I also make my bed every morning after I found out about the statistics that it builds self control and helps attain goals as discussed in the book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0055PGUYU/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0055PGUYU&linkCode=as2&tag=httpwwwbrighc-20" id="static_txt_preview" target="_blank">The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business.</a></i><br /><br />You matter. You are important. You're unique and here for a purpose. Find it. Do it.</div><div><br /></div><h2> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/toofarnorth/2481754615/" title="zooming z-sf3 by TooFarNorth, on Flickr"><img alt="zooming z-sf3" height="240" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2296/2481754615_a537162f1d_m.jpg" width="240" /></a> </h2><h2>  Zip!</h2><div>All that is left is to zip it up and go on, but I think of school a lot like the ziplining I love to do during vacation. If you know what you're doing, have good guides, and good equipment you can have the experience of a lifetime. All that is left to say is "Yahoo." The school year zips by so fast and you'll find yourself with another year under your belt. Plan well and equip yourself during the short pauses you have (like now) - it can make a big difference on the kind of zip you'll have.<br /><br />So, I'll end this post that is now the post that has taken the single longest amount of time of any post in the history of this blog with a little celebration of my own. This is me and my family after finishing our last zipline a few weeks a go.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo8no-OSLWzU5gbQrJJ8-8BkzIJbakLBIsmKY2wbF7RaTA0aXzXVEW4_QP03iPFBF9r8QWFu5qD_aA2Zkr2Vyj8z7Wjs4vwMPf1MGrH2AfIr4_zl0cuUVgRv5LcAkIxsPwbIdfe3fVKVO5/s1600/Zipline+2012+%281%29.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo8no-OSLWzU5gbQrJJ8-8BkzIJbakLBIsmKY2wbF7RaTA0aXzXVEW4_QP03iPFBF9r8QWFu5qD_aA2Zkr2Vyj8z7Wjs4vwMPf1MGrH2AfIr4_zl0cuUVgRv5LcAkIxsPwbIdfe3fVKVO5/s640/Zipline+2012+%281%29.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I want you to feel like this at the end of your school year!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><br />Oh yeah! Zip it! Rock it! You can do it! Teach well, my friends! ROCK THE CLASSROOM! </div><br />

best practices Teaching Planning to teach from A to Z

As you plan to create a place of teaching and learning, think through these aspects of your classroom. I've shared some important points...

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30 Days of Web tools: #7: Use Tweetchat to take part in Twitter discussions

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://encrypted-tbn1.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ5QMYnMi8TMm1XSS-MqFOOY0dBM2aTsU5YP96UpQY5QZO8GVDTGw" /></div><br /><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></div><br /><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></div><br /><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></div><br /><br /><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">All it took was a set date, a topic, and a hashtag, namely <i>#edchatsa</i>. SA teachers who were on Twitter were then notified that a tweetchat for SA teachers would take place every Monday night from 8:30pm – 9:30pm; and so our regular and popular tweetchat was born! Arthur Preston from Elkanah House put this all into motion. Very soon teachers told other teachers and so the news spread and the numbers are growing steadily. If you would like to know more, Arthur has set up a website <a href="http://www.edchatsa.co.za/">http://edchatsa.co.za</a> with all the necessary information. This website is also the place where we go during the week to vote from the choice of topics for the following Monday night’s chat. A new development is that the chats are being summarised each week by volunteers using Storify. You’ll notice these summaries on the website.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>What is the point of a Twitter chat for teachers?</b></span></div><br /><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">There are quite a few educational Twitter chats that take place around the world, the two most well-known (to me) being #edchat and #ukedchat. Basically educationists get together to air their views and opinions on matters of education. Education world-wide is going through a major revamp and rethink! It is vital to cross-pollinate with teachers from other locations and share ideas and is so worthwhile when teachers prioritize and make time for this valuable interaction. </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>How does one follow a Twitter chat using Tweetchat.com?</b></span></div><br /><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The best application for following a twitter chat is Tweetchat. (<a href="http://tweetchat.com/">http://tweetchat.com</a>.) <br />Sean Hampton-Cole, one of the <i>#edchatsa</i> tweeters kindly sent me a PowerPoint on how to use Tweetchat which I am embedding below. </span></div><div id="__ss_13621990" style="width: 425px;"><b style="display: block; margin: 12px 0 4px;"><a href="http://www.slideshare.net/Schoolnetsa11/how-to-use-tweetchat-for-a-twitter-discussion" title="How to use Tweetchat for a twitter discussion">How to use Tweetchat for a twitter discussion</a></b><object height="355" id="__sse13621990" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://static.slidesharecdn.com/swf/ssplayer2.swf?doc=edchatsahowto-120712182125-phpapp01&stripped_title=how-to-use-tweetchat-for-a-twitter-discussion&userName=Schoolnetsa11" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /><embed name="__sse13621990" src="http://static.slidesharecdn.com/swf/ssplayer2.swf?doc=edchatsahowto-120712182125-phpapp01&stripped_title=how-to-use-tweetchat-for-a-twitter-discussion&userName=Schoolnetsa11" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object><br /><div style="padding: 5px 0 12px;">View more <a href="http://www.slideshare.net/">presentations</a> from <a href="http://www.slideshare.net/Schoolnetsa11">Schoolnet SA </a>.</div></div><br /><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Benefits of using Tweetchat</b></span></div><ul style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><li><span style="font-size: small;">You can tweet to the chat without typing the hashtag, as well as <i>retweet,</i> <i>reply to</i> and <i>favour</i> others’ tweets as you chat. </span></li><li><span style="font-size: small;">You can adjust the refresh speed to 5 seconds which is the minimum available </span></li><li><span style="font-size: small;">You can keep everything on one screen easily so as to focus on the discussion that is taking place. </span></li></ul><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Join us on a Monday night</b></span></div><br /><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">So why not open up Tweetchat on a Monday night, type in the hashtag <i>#edchatsa</i> and join the conversation? </span></div></div>

30 days of web tools Tweetchat Twitter Web tools 30 Days of Web tools: #7: Use Tweetchat to take part in Twitter discussions

All it took was a set date, a topic, and a hashtag, namely #edchatsa . SA teachers who were on Twitter were then notified that a tweetchat f...

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Woody Allen, Master of Suspense?

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHdCBaLPwrWstMYKgqVUZM_xuVsHIQNCkQZuYuSLh2zXabu9mcf5iU-E_0abwSR9B0rB_CZOfm9C0L3L4SfDff7c5sCJqvQnVqqS1cykTo8TtWaIo64BiWZTUcSiNcFT6oCGPYqY20pROW/s1600/movie+poster+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="343" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHdCBaLPwrWstMYKgqVUZM_xuVsHIQNCkQZuYuSLh2zXabu9mcf5iU-E_0abwSR9B0rB_CZOfm9C0L3L4SfDff7c5sCJqvQnVqqS1cykTo8TtWaIo64BiWZTUcSiNcFT6oCGPYqY20pROW/s400/movie+poster+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">This post is my contribution to The Best Hitchcock Films Hitchcock Never Made blogathon hosted by Tales of the Easily Distracted and Classic Becky's Brain Food. <a href="http://doriantb.blogspot.com/p/best-hitchcock-movies-that-hitchcock.html" style="color: #cc0000;" target="_blank">Click here</a> for more information and links to participating blogs.</span></span></i><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">~</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: small;">On the face of it, the only thing Alfred Hitchcock and Woody Allen seem to have in common is the distinction of being aknowledged as preeminent auteurs. As Michael Newton put it in <i>The Guardian</i> earlier this year, </span><span style="font-size: small;">"Along with Alfred Hitchcock, Allen must be the most recognizable director in the history of cinema."</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span><br /><a name='more'></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: small;">Hitchcock, who spent most of his career working within the studio system, developed the habit early on of planning and shooting his films so carefully that they were virtually immune to being re-cut by anyone else. Then, in 1954, he entered into a deal with Paramount that allowed him to work autonomously, provided generous production budgets and gave him ownership of those films he both produced and directed. Allen‘s career as a director took off in the 1970s, just as a new generation of independent-minded filmmakers swept into Hollywood. Almost from the beginning he had a remarkable arrangement with his financiers and distributors: as long as he stayed within budget he would have complete artistic freedom. Hitchcock, who began in the silent era, was influenced by German expressionism and Soviet montage theory and approached film as visual storytelling. Allen began as a writer and, naturally, has relied more on dialogue and use of the long master shot in his films. Hitchcock became synonymous with big movies with high production values while Allen has made films </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: small;">with an "art house" sensibility and appeal</span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: small;"> on relatively small budgets. </span><br /><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-size: small;">And yet, in 2005 Woody Allen made a film of distinctly “Hitchcockian” elements. <i>Match Point </i>is a sexy thriller about luck and morality set in modern-day London. The film showcases two intensely magnetic stars, Jonathan Rhys Meyers (<i>Bend it Like Beckham</i>, <i>Mission Impossible III</i>, <i style="color: black;">The Tudors</i>) and Scarlett Johansson (<i style="color: black;">Lost in Translation</i>, <i>Iron Man II</i>, <i>The Avengers</i>).</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: small;"> </span> <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ZCcRkBMhllI" width="420"></iframe> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">With a little luck it goes forward and you win. Or maybe it doesn't, and you lose...</span></div><br />Chris Wilton (Rhys Meyers) is a former professional tennis player hired by a posh London tennis club as an instructor. There he meets Tom Hewett (<span style="color: black;">Matthew Goode</span><span style="color: red;"></span>), scion of an extremely moneyed British family. The two become friendly and when Tom discovers Chris enjoys opera, he invites him to join his family in their box at the Royal Opera House for a performance of <i style="color: black;">La Traviata</i>. There Chris meets Tom’s parents and his eligible and instantly smitten sister, Chloe (<span style="color: black;">Emily Mortimer</span>); romance blooms. Soon after, Chris meets Nola Rice (Johansson), Tom’s luscious fiancée, an aspiring American actress. While the Hewett progeny are attractive enough physically, their wealth, position and lifestyle of culture and privilege are even more appealing. Chris and Nola are good-looking, charismatic creatures and, much as each knows they are onto a good thing with their respective lovers, sparks fly between them.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT2n2OOyQbXoQjCnWP-juxIsmlGPLNEEJ8hZZxfsC9DdVxZvavvsFSDCp_qXYQ0r20RhyphenhyphenvGOazvLJ5q7vo9BRGOcpQZA9i0peKjDIzf_8GTF7L1nnM-tpGEuG7d7eon3svGLATz_hH4Or5/s1600/Woody+Allen+blonde.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT2n2OOyQbXoQjCnWP-juxIsmlGPLNEEJ8hZZxfsC9DdVxZvavvsFSDCp_qXYQ0r20RhyphenhyphenvGOazvLJ5q7vo9BRGOcpQZA9i0peKjDIzf_8GTF7L1nnM-tpGEuG7d7eon3svGLATz_hH4Or5/s320/Woody+Allen+blonde.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Scarlett Johansson as Chris Wilton and Nola Rice</td></tr></tbody></table><br />This Woody Allen-penned, Oscar-nominated story could easily have appealed to Alfred Hitchcock who knew not only the value of a good, well-scripted story, but also made two films about tennis playing protagonists with problematic relationships and status issues who become involved in murder. In <i style="color: black;">Strangers on a Train</i> (1951), competitive tennis player Guy Haines aspires to a loftier position in life and hopes to divorce his small-town floozy wife so he can marry the daughter of a U.S. senator. In <i>Dial M for Murder</i> (1954), retired tennis player Tony Wendice, who has discovered that his wealthy wife has been carrying on a serious love affair, fears he may lose his meal ticket and cushy lifestyle.<br /><br />But before any inkling of murder surfaces in <i>Match Point</i>, Chris, who is headed for marriage to Chloe and a good job with “one of” her father’s companies, develops a fascination with Nola. When, one day, he runs into her on the street, the two end up having drinks together. They talk about themselves and their relationships with Chloe and Tom and the elder Hewetts. Nola remarks that Eleanor, Tom and Chloe’s mother, hates her but that Chris is more fortunate, he’s “being groomed.” </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: small;">Nola: You’re going to do very well for yourself, unless you blow it.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: small;">Chris: And how am I going to blow it?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: small;">Nola: By making a pass at me.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: small;">Chris: What makes you think that’s going to happen?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: small;">Nola: Men always seem to wonder. They think I’d be something very special.</span><br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqHduv9W5vE3va16FHrc2e6KXLo6eRZoR3h7Fm_hnEJ1TSCpENeuqZbX-pSoFqogmbn8Euom_aWidHRSOrFhyphenhyphenOQdQPxxqrQZ6OH0UZVCPNgFqGHXkl2AdSXc6MTJdHZ_Rd302iU8zQExGA/s1600/Chris+and+Nola.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqHduv9W5vE3va16FHrc2e6KXLo6eRZoR3h7Fm_hnEJ1TSCpENeuqZbX-pSoFqogmbn8Euom_aWidHRSOrFhyphenhyphenOQdQPxxqrQZ6OH0UZVCPNgFqGHXkl2AdSXc6MTJdHZ_Rd302iU8zQExGA/s320/Chris+and+Nola.jpg" width="311" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scarlett Johansson will portray Janet Leigh In "Hitchcock" (2013)</td></tr></tbody></table><span lang="EN" style="font-size: small;">The two laugh, but Chris is powerfully tempted. Scarlett Johansson's Nola Rice begins as an assured, almost taunting beauty confident of her sexual appeal. She isn't quite the Grace Kelly version of the <a href="http://eves-reel-life.blogspot.com/2011/08/hitchcock-blonde.html" style="color: #cc0000;" target="_blank">Hitchcock blonde</a>, but falls somewhere between the worldly hedonism of Ingrid Bergman at the beginning of <i>Notorious</i> (1946) and Kim Novak's subdued sultriness in <i>Vertigo</i> (1958). A blonde who flirts with danger, Nola is Hitchcock's kind of woman.</span><br /><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-size: small;">When fate eventually provides the moment, the two indulge in a frenzy of passion, but Nola warns, "this can't lead anyplace." Chris goes on to marry Chloe and Tom later breaks off with Nola (Tom: "mother poisoned the well"). Chris adapts to life on the corporate fast track, he and Chloe move into a spectacular, glass-encased apartment overlooking the Thames and she is soon fixated on becoming pregnant. The vitality begins to drain from Chris's life. As luck will have it, he and Nola meet again and this time she, who is beginning to lose her self-confidence and show slight signs of wear, is available. A torrid affair begins. As Chris embarks on a double life, the atmosphere quickens with tension. When his romance with Nola hits the wall of reality and she begins to pose a threat, unrelenting suspense mounts until a neatly executed plot twist brings unexpected resolution.</span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/NCNhPLortkk" width="560"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The man who said, "I'd rather be lucky than good" saw deeply into life...</span></div><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-size: small;">What helps to create the film's tension and suspense are themes and motifs that echo Hitchcock: </span><br /><ul><li><span lang="EN" style="font-size: small;"><i>The Wrong Man</i> - Occasionally Hitchcock turned this theme on its head and the innocent man accused would be a secondary character rather than the protagonist. This character's sudden death puts an end to further police investigation. The device is employed in both <i>Blackmail </i>(1929) and <i>Shadow of a Doubt</i> (1943)  - it also occurs in <i>Match Point</i>.</span></li><li><span lang="EN" style="font-size: small;"><i>Doubles </i>- A recurrent Hitchcock theme in which two characters seem kindred spirits until their bond is broken. Classic examples are the relationships between Guy Haines and Bruno Anthony in <i>Stangers on a Train </i>and "the two Charlies" in <i>Shadow of a Doubt</i>. Chris and Nola appear to be two of a kind when they meet over a ping pong table. But, as she learns, he plays "a very aggressive game."</span></li><li><span lang="EN" style="font-size: small;"><i>Obsession</i> - <i>Vertigo</i> is a virtual meditation on obsession, but Hitchcock contemplated fascination several times. Young Charlie is enchanted by her Uncle Charlie in <i>Shadow of a Doubt</i>, Bruno is obsessed with Guy in <i>Strangers on a Train</i>, two young men are enthralled with a philosophy in <i>Rope </i>(1948), </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: small;">in <i>Rear Window</i> (1954) </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: small;">L.B. Jeffries becomes obsessed with his neighbors' lives and his belief that a murder has been committed.</span></li><li><span lang="EN" style="font-size: small;"><i>The staircase motif</i> is an image Alfred Hitchcock used frequently - famously in <i>Suspicion </i>(1941), <i>Shadow of a Doubt, Notorious, Strangers on a Train, Vertigo </i>and <i>Psycho </i>(1960). Staircases are prominently featured in <i>Match Point.</i></span></li><li><span lang="EN" style="font-size: small;"><i>The dominant mother</i> is another Hitchcock trademark. Mrs. Bates is a powerful unseen presence in <i>Psycho;</i> in <i>Notorious</i>, Mme. Sebastian has all but emasculated her son<i>. </i>Outspoken Eleanor Hewett's disapproval of Nola in <i>Match Point </i>is pivotal.</span></li><li><span lang="EN" style="font-size: small;"><i>Landmarks</i> are common backdrops for important scenes </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: small;">in Hitchcock films - t</span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: small;">he list is long, from the British Museum in <i>Blackmail</i> forward. <i>Match Point </i>showcases London landmarks including The Tate Modern museum, The Royal Opera House at Covent Garden, the stunning Parliament View Apartments and The Queen's Club. Unlike Allen's treatment of New York in <i>Manhattan </i>(1979), <i>Match Point </i>is no homage to a city, rather, the attractions of London enhance the film's narrative.</span></li></ul><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_9cI720lOtaqflVMPBJ217t6ro2B7ht5inyWq1nbbPzTFLtVhJkFRMBnr_BrV7v3yRtqY4wB-AwRsDFp2jCZkQut_2Ah-4RXR9WkWlfWhP445TrHtYkbzyX42nbv98P_l4fR4zB1bh1tP/s1600/jonathan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_9cI720lOtaqflVMPBJ217t6ro2B7ht5inyWq1nbbPzTFLtVhJkFRMBnr_BrV7v3yRtqY4wB-AwRsDFp2jCZkQut_2Ah-4RXR9WkWlfWhP445TrHtYkbzyX42nbv98P_l4fR4zB1bh1tP/s320/jonathan.jpg" width="215" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jonathan Rhys Meyers</td></tr></tbody></table>As well known for his ability to cast a film as Alfred Hitchcock, Woody Allen has said that his philosophy is to “hire the best actors, shut up and get out of their way.” One of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Match Point</i>’s great strengths is its cast, especially Jonathan Rhys Meyers in the central role. His Chris Wilton subtly and evocatively transforms from a beguiling “boy from Ireland come to London” who would like to do something special with his life, to a remote and preoccupied rising executive with dark secrets on his compliant conscience. Rhys Meyer’s sympathetic introduction along with selective point-of-view camera work engages the viewer; Chris is captivating. By the time he has fallen into desperation and is entangled in murder, we find ourselves complicit and anxious about his fate. Hitchcock managed this trick many times with his proclivity for point-of-view editing and masterful casting. Who could help but identify with Robert Walker’s Bruno Anthony in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Strangers on a Train</i> as he struggles to retrieve a lighter from a drain so that he can plant it as false evidence? Who doesn't share the nervousness of Anthony Perkins’s Norman Bates in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Psycho </i>as he waits for a car to sink after he’s pushed it into a swamp? <br /><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Woody Allen was elated with <i>Match Point </i>and was widely quoted at the time of its release in 2005 that he considered it his best film to date. Everything had come together, he said, and the production had been blessed with luck. Every actor exceeded his expectations, there was no trouble gaining access to desired locations and even the weather cooperated. He reflected that the storyline lent itself to the film medium and he’d been able to take advantage of that, focusing on action as much as dialogue. The movie, best described as a “moral thriller,” was his first successful drama and reinvigorated his career. Allen’s screenplay was nominated for an Oscar and Jonathan Rhys Meyers was awarded the Chopard Trophy at Cannes.</span></span><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQOL6IHJ0NTX2F3qAzyslae25Hj15HoUtQUsU9nrcKarhXkvM-H_-8l2msWJmH3U_wPb3-nbfhnyCy2R5oAOE2pGXgu7g6SbTwdk2Tvscf83K3sp58aqhSJEECyWWAjHFbCJ-VMbF49-QP/s1600/woody+and+his+blonde.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQOL6IHJ0NTX2F3qAzyslae25Hj15HoUtQUsU9nrcKarhXkvM-H_-8l2msWJmH3U_wPb3-nbfhnyCy2R5oAOE2pGXgu7g6SbTwdk2Tvscf83K3sp58aqhSJEECyWWAjHFbCJ-VMbF49-QP/s320/woody+and+his+blonde.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Filming <i>Match Point</i>: Scarlett Johansson and Woody Allen on the set</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">~</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><u><b>Sources</b></u>:</span></span><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><i>Conversations with Woody Allen</i> by Eric Lax, Knopf (2007)</span></span><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><i>Woody Allen: cinema's great experimentalist</i> by Michael Newton<i>, The Guardian</i>, January 13, 2012 (quote only)</span></span></div></div>

Alfred Hitchcock Blackmail Dial M for Murder Jonathan Rhys Meyers Match Point Notorious Psycho Scarlett Johansson Shadow of a Doubt Strangers on a Train The Lady Eve (author) Vertigo Woody Allen Woody Allen, Master of Suspense?

This post is my contribution to The Best Hitchcock Films Hitchcock Never Made blogathon hosted by Tales of the Easily Distracted and Classic...

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NAVAL SABRE RATTLING IN THE EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN SEA

<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJTe3CbftwUlF3UximXVaxXQO4LLsDwQgNanDLRGmVkIfbBTJr9kP6eMiEJwdg3_J9T7xLemkiRrc6IgR3zYQuVVAVfaN9ihhhRbaJzPGaqsrdp_a4oVfuNCEdG6xUy1nnpCTWR-4MnKH2/s1600/turkish-navy.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJTe3CbftwUlF3UximXVaxXQO4LLsDwQgNanDLRGmVkIfbBTJr9kP6eMiEJwdg3_J9T7xLemkiRrc6IgR3zYQuVVAVfaN9ihhhRbaJzPGaqsrdp_a4oVfuNCEdG6xUy1nnpCTWR-4MnKH2/s400/turkish-navy.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="rteleft"><b><br /></b></div><div class="rteleft" style="color: blue; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>NAVAL BUILDUP IN THE EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN SEA</b></span></div><div class="rteleft"><br /></div><div class="rteleft"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-weight: normal;">TURKEY once again has angered CYPRUS for holding Naval Maneuvers south of CYPRUS this week, an area that has drawn attention in recent past due to its gas findings and exploration activities by CYPRUS and ISRAEL. </span></b></span></div><div class="rteleft"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-weight: normal;">See: </span></b></span></div><div class="rteleft"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/02/new-mediterranean-oil-and-gas-bonanza.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/02/new-mediterranean-oil-and-gas-bonanza.html</a></span></b></span></div><div class="rteleft"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/02/geo-strategic-dynamics-in-eastern.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/02/geo-strategic-dynamics-in-eastern.html</a></span></b></span></div><div class="rteleft"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/02/eastern-mediterranean-sea.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/02/eastern-mediterranean-sea.html</a></span></b></span></div><div class="rteleft"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/03/cyprus-emerging-geo-strategic-key.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/03/cyprus-emerging-geo-strategic-key.html</a></span></b></span></div><div class="rteleft"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2011/12/energy-games-in-eastern-mediterranean.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2011/12/energy-games-in-eastern-mediterranean.html</a></span></b></span></div><div class="rteleft"><br /></div><div class="rteleft"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-weight: normal;">CYPRUS claims that TURKEY is obliged to ask permission to hold Naval Maneuvers in its territorial waters, something TURKEY will never heed to. </span></b></span></div><div class="rteleft"><b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">See: </span><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyprus_dispute">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyprus_dispute</a></span></span></b></div><div class="rteleft"><br /></div><div class="rteleft" style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>JOINT BRITISH AND ISRAELI NAVAL MANEUVERS TO BE HELD SOUTH AND SOUTH EAST OF CYPRUS </b></span></div><div class="rteleft" style="color: red;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhZ0BQG3hkHNQ4oCj_JP4DoORd-PbqmanQBDz70IITTCeqJVSjxDtIXQQKCql9ydLa9wp6RUliKamLX5-g5RUsu6ksjS3CRAQ_lQTtgz_V3RETupKiHc1GzaKhXmQnN2t1BDnneymuBLI9/s1600/lebanon-cyprus-israel-eez-map.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhZ0BQG3hkHNQ4oCj_JP4DoORd-PbqmanQBDz70IITTCeqJVSjxDtIXQQKCql9ydLa9wp6RUliKamLX5-g5RUsu6ksjS3CRAQ_lQTtgz_V3RETupKiHc1GzaKhXmQnN2t1BDnneymuBLI9/s320/lebanon-cyprus-israel-eez-map.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="rteleft"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-weight: normal;">TURKISH Naval Maneuvers in question are part of a NATO launched joint exercise in the Mediterranean, comprised of TURKISH, GERMAN and FRENCH warships conducting “anti – terrorist drills” along the SYRIAN border, whereas </span></b>TURKEY'S warships will be heading for Gas drilling Block 12, Block 2 and Block 3, 8 and 9 of CYPRUS' EEZ.<b><span style="font-weight: normal;"></span></b></span></div><div class="rteleft"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-weight: normal;">To add more “complexity” to the South Eastern Mediterranean Naval buildup, a joint Naval exercise with BRITISH and ISRAELI navy elements will be held at the same time south of CYPRUS. Contrary to TURKEY, ISRAEL and BRITAIN had the courtesy to ask CYPRUS for permission to stage their naval maneuvers in CYPRUS’S Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)</span></b></span></div><div class="rteleft"><br /></div><div style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>THREE MONTH RUSSIAN NAVAL EXERCISE IN THE EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN SEA, TIMED TO COINCIDE WITH NATO AND ISRAELI NAVAL MANEUVERS</b></span></div><div style="color: red;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;">Furthermore there are reports of six RUSSIAN warships on their way to the Eastern Mediterranean towards SYRIA, travelling from the Baltic and Black Sea fleets, timed to coincide with above mentioned NATO and ISRAELI naval maneuvers.</span><br /><br /><div style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>THREE MONTH EXERCISE </b></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi48KKTE_7vcF2qc8VHsG96h9s6e_aM9rXc2aNk3nuBIQBFe18yNE5b_ShsJyVraGaqIdmrtwchSko-D6EmMSM1rPre6UaIQE2RpQ3zp5iyb9dXll3Bm6oJxGzX8AXK8ZCF1JGdyiczW99W/s1600/tartus-port.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi48KKTE_7vcF2qc8VHsG96h9s6e_aM9rXc2aNk3nuBIQBFe18yNE5b_ShsJyVraGaqIdmrtwchSko-D6EmMSM1rPre6UaIQE2RpQ3zp5iyb9dXll3Bm6oJxGzX8AXK8ZCF1JGdyiczW99W/s200/tartus-port.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Syrian-Russian Naval Base in Tartus</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;">The anti-submarine ship Admiral Chabanenko, the Alexander Otrakovsky, Georgy Pobedonosets and Kondopoga large amphibious assault ships, as well as the Nikolai Chiker and Sergei Osipov support vessel are amongst the vessels heading towards the area to participating in a joint three-month exercise. The group is to visit the SYRIAN port city of Tartus, where a RUSSIAN base is located. </span><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b style="color: red;">TURKEYS AMBITIONS  AND ISRAELS TACTICS  </b></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Interesting to note is that ISRAEL and BRITAIN are conducting a joint naval exercise using BRITISH Bases in CYPRUS as point of origin. This could be an indicator that ISRAEL indeed is looking forward to establish a military presence on the island in order to compensate for "strategic loses" sustained after relations with its former ally  TURKEY turned sour because of ISRAEL initiating joint gas drilling activities with Cyprus. (TURKEY claims the Gaza flotilla incident as the official reason for breaking ties with ISRAEL.) Furthermore TURKEY speculated that breaking political ties with ISRAEL would boost its respect among ARAB Nations and thus emerge as the new key player in the Middle East.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">See related articles:</span><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2011/09/turkeys-middle-east-chess-game.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2011/09/turkeys-middle-east-chess-game.html</a></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/05/turkey-everyones-enemy.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/05/turkey-everyones-enemy.html</a></span><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/05/cyprus-and-turkey-never-ending-story.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/05/cyprus-and-turkey-never-ending-story.html</a></span><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/01/see-no-evil-hear-no-evil.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/01/see-no-evil-hear-no-evil.html</a></span><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2011/11/syria-international-war-mongering-or.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2011/11/syria-international-war-mongering-or.html</a></span><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2011/09/middle-east-energy-wars.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2011/09/middle-east-energy-wars.html</a></span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2011/09/seismic-shift-in-middle-east.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2011/09/seismic-shift-in-middle-east.html</a></span></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div>

NAVAL SABRE RATTLING IN THE EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN SEA

NAVAL BUILDUP IN THE EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN SEA TURKEY once again has angered CYPRUS for holding Naval Maneuvers south of CYPRUS this week, a...

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