Thing No. 4

Commenting like conversation helps build relationships. The more we comment and contribute the better the relationships! When posting blogs one must consider the reader and be able to create ways to make commenting easy among the group. I have learned through facebook how to get readers interested and importantly responsive. I do this by utilizing many of the things I read in the article “10 Techniques to Get More Comments on Your Blog”. My experience on the particular social network has allowed me to consistently see what works and does not work among the readers…in this case my “friends”. So, In reading the article it was interesting to see what I had discovered through the experience of trial and error. The article discusses how to invite comments, ask questions within the blog and how to leave entries open ended. I feel like this is great advice as I have seen that it makes the common observer feel the need or desire to contribute. Also, I completely feel the emotions behind comments. I believe perception issues will always exist and there is no way around that but being humble and gracious on your blog is very important. It sends a message that the commenter insight is of value and respect…even if dealing with a controversial topic. Meaningful comments are key to making an impression and leaving a piece of yourself with the group. Thought out and educated responses along with humble honesty goes along way. Commenting is the only way to make blogging a productive entity within a group setting…efficiently contributing forms a true sense of community among the group that will make a blog the glue that holds a virtual community together.


Names of Blogs I chose to follow from my EDUC 5540 group

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Outside blogs
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Thing No. 3

Reflection is going to be a consistent tool that I bring to surface within my efforts to finish my teacher education program. A blog is probably the best way to make reflection a structured process. I have an evolved “talent” of thinking about tasks before, during, and after I complete them. A talent I am hardly proud of because I tend to completely over think everything I do. A blog is a great tool for someone like me that needs reflection to be more compacted into a session of writing rather than a daily obstacle. A blog is journaling our lives in away that is productive when used as a practical approach to recognize one’s strengths and weaknesses. Also, blogging goes a step further than a simple journal. It allows followers and readers insight to our thought processes and if recognizable: behaviors. Collaboratively, a blog allows us to reflect and also allows others to influence through perception, based on their personal life experiences. Interesting enough, as colleagues we can learn an array of information simply from communicating with one another through blog format. Insight to who a person is and establishing related connections forms a respectable level of understanding among a group that becomes a valued asset among its users. Basically, a blog builds relationships that can create a sense of community inside a classroom. Reflection and a source of communication within a group are two practical uses of a blog that create knowledge and skills that go way beyond the classroom

Thing No.2

I have to admit that this is the first blog I have ever created. It was simple enough for me to realize I have had no excuse for not already being part of the blogging community. So, I am very excited about this new journey. When I joined the program at Austin Peay becoming a reflective practitioner came easy for me. By nature, I am very reflective. Looking at choices, realities, and reactions from daily life helps me move forward with acknowledgment of how I can create a better “ME” for tomorrow. Reflection allows a person to grow beyond measures…blogging those steps along the way seems to be a very therapeutic way to track success.

My Avatar illustrates my love stroy. When Dave spoke to God for the first time in heaven; I know he told him to watch over his princess…well, that’s probably not the case but, I have a pretty awesome story to share….
It was my 27th Birthday…wow the big 30 is next month so, it been 3 years ago that I came home from being in class at APSU and my husband and two little boys had prepared a birthday dinner for a “PRINCESS”. The boys dressed up like waiters and made a menu that they handed me when I walked in the door. It was so sweet. My husband had went online and found amazing recipes, then he went and bought all the groceries to prepare the dinner for me…before this night I had only known him to cook delicious browned eggs and wow, I know there were other things but I can not remember right now…so, anyway… He made marsala chicken, homemade garlic potatoes, an exotic fruit salad and of course a birthday cake. The dinner was a royal treat. The most significant part of this story is the princess party decorations he picked out for me including a beautiful light up tiara…lol… Looking back…My husband was nothing less than God’s perfection.
The entire year was perfect…my prince and I had finally come to embrace the hard times we had been through that had brought us to the happiest time during our marriage. We experienced the beauty of seeing ourselves as complete soul mates. We could complete each others sentences and know exactly what the other one was thinking…in fact, we were completely synchronized in all aspects of who we were…two had become 1 and it was an amazing feeling to experience. Unfortunately, our time here one Earth was cut short on September 11th of that same year. I went from princess to widow at 27 years old. My life became unidentifiable from my personal perspective and furthermore, it was a complete nightmare that I knew I would never wake up from. Fortunately for me, many friends helped me get though the darkest days of my life and my 28th birthday was no exception. They prepared a surprise party for a local restaurant here in town…my favorite restaurant if anyone in class likes to do lunch…I am your girl :). My friends took it upon themselves to go all out and without having any…zero knowledge of what Dave had done the year before…they threw me a “Princess Party”. The best part is they didn’t forget the tiara either…it was the identical one Dave had given me…as well as the exact decorations he had bought. I ask my friends all night…”How did you guys know?’…and they were like “What are you talking about?”…I discovered it was a complete coincidence that I had celebrated my 27th and 28th birthday knowing I am Dave’s princess that was blessed with a true “Happily Ever After”….
Be a part of the next chapter of my life.....I would like to take this time to invite all of my new friends in this class to my 30th Royal Ball at Beachaven Vineyards and Winery…October 30, 2009 at 6pm. The love I have for my husband lives on though the memories and happiness I create with all the wonderful people in my life. All of you are no exception. The support from all of you is helping me feel like myself again. It is nothing I have the words to explain…just know…you do more for me more than anything I could ever do for you!

"Thing no.1"

The video on 7.5 things was an insightful experience to my own values on education and life in general. I have personally developed these traits over the past 10 years and pride myself in being a life long learner. I can not foresee my future or any goal in life that doesn't include me putting every effort into making it successful. Today, my efforts are at their lowest peak. I am hoping momentum is gained as I learn how to pick up a few pieces and move forward in my life. I never planned for tragedy during my process of growing and developing a career plan, unfortunately, it chose me. Consequently, I face a new entity of challenges that as we "speak" I am learning to overcome. I have never viewed the aspects of a life long learner in a more clear defined way than the given illustration. The 7.5 habits create a simplified perspective to organize one's thought process of making life long learning a reality. Teaching and Mentoring others allows one to give back to life in a way that makes all efforts of learning worth while.