I want to wish William Shakespeare a belated happy birthday. He was born (historians surmise) on April 23, 1564 and died April 23, 1616 (how efficient of him). Test your knowledge of the Bard on the web site listed below.

http://shakespeare.about.com/library/quiz/bl_quote_quiz.htm

Universal Design for Learning

I'm reading Timothy D. Green's book Making the Most of the Web in Your Classroom and he speaks on Universal Design for Learning(UDL). The concept of UDL began in the field of architecture where engineers design buildings. An example he had was the automatic door openers. How this one invention aided not only those in wheel chairs but the larger population as it aided those carrying packages, carrying children, and generally making it easier for everyone to enter and exit stores - flow of traffic. This applies to the classroom, too. According Green's book he quotes, D.H. Meyer, that the three principles in the UDL framework for classrooms are:

1. Representing information in multiple formats and media.
2. Providing multiple pathways for students' action and expression.
3. Providing multiple ways to engage studetns' interest and motivation.

Web projects fit right into these principles. The following web site can give more information regarding UDL classrooms:

http://www.cast.org/. Center for Applied and Special Technologies (CAST).

April is National Poetry Month. The site below is a link to Poet.org. A wonderul site filled with information for all who are interested in poetry. Great links for teachers, too.

Below is a fun poem. Happy Poetry Month. (:

http://www.poets.org/page.php/prmID/41


Your Catfish Friend

by Richard Brautigan
If I were to live my life
in catfish forms
in scaffolds of skin and whiskers
at the bottom of a pond
and you were to come by
one evening
when the moon was shining
down into my dark home
and stand there at the edge
of my affection
and think, "It's beautiful
here by this pond. I wish
somebody loved me,"
I'd love you and be your catfish
friend and drive such lonely
thoughts from your mind
and suddenly you would be
at peace,
and ask yourself, "I wonder
if there are any catfish
in this pond? It seems like
a perfect place for them."

Work/Life Balance

In my quest to find interesting information for our Work/Life component of PALOOZA I found the video of Randy Pausch's "Last Lecture". It is a bit long but well work your time. Is is phenomenal. (:


http://www.ohiomeansbusiness.com/work_life/index.php#videos