Rob's Rantings

   Our children are our responsibility and no one elses.  It is great that others reach out in love and concern for us, but love and care starts at home first and then it extends to the larger community.  I'm not talking about this subject as an expert.  I'm just a parent and former teacher with concerns.  I noticed that I did not expose my own two daughters enough to the rich and bountiful history that we have---I have failed them and myself, but it doesn't stop there.  Admitting guilt and shame is the first step, I now have to actively change it.  Thus, I have decided to do just that.....I've created a program called "History through Design," and wrote a folktale titled "How Colored People Got to be Black," which helps all children celebrate our unique physical features. I also noticed during African American History month, which should be ALL year long, that we as African American parents and caregivers did not do such a great job of passing o

Just attended a seminar today about Design and how to make a beautiful bed. Since I am changing careers, these workshops become major strengths in helping me transition. I am learning a lot and have even been able to network with others who are doing the same thing. I am so excited about this journey as I am bringing out more of my creativity--a lot which was hidden. Presently I am having my poetry placed in frames and made decorative, I am doing a line of specialty greeting cards, I am making bookmarks and I am attempting to create home decor products using African textiles and my own printing designs. A new venture, a new journey.....come join me.

Image via  powerpointfan.blogspot.com Been thinking about ways to get my students motivated. I came up with an idea I believed would help them to learn and to see how learning takes place. My students had to create a learning template using Powerpoint . They were instructed to teach others how to do something. We started off with a topic as simple as how to brush your teeth. They had to include videos they made themselves using Windows Movie maker as well as find a video online. Lastly, they had to link the PowerPoint to a website that would help give more instruction on the topic. They began this assignment by choosing a topic and writing down three things they wanted the person to learn. They used these subtopics to create questions which they then answered by linking to the above media. It was a great assignment. The students as well as myself learned something new about the topics and we even found information that we didn't know existed. I love educational technol

Hard at work or hardly working? You ever have those days when your body just doesn't want to move.....your mind is racing with all the things you need to do but your body is saying "no way Hosea, I'm not doing anything?"  Suffice it to say that I had one of those days today.....and they're beginning to get pretty frequent. I think I overwhelm myself.  I'm such a dreamer that I spend most of my time thinking up what I want to do and be but spend only a little time making that dream a reality.  I think that I want too much.  Maybe just simply enjoying each day as it comes is a better alternative and let the divine speak to you to show you what to do daily. I'll admit this is a difficult task for me as I am a doer.  Nevermind the doing could just be busy work but at least I'm moving.  I'm learning to assess my situations a little more-------relaxing and letting it come to me instead of going through the chase.  Also, I'm learning to ask

Here are some writing ideas to get you started on helping students write more effectively, clearly, creatively and concisely. The three C's. Using the "Dream Journals"©, have students journal these ideas daily. Here is a link to pics of my Dream Journals: My Future Husband/Wife Students write a paragraph on their future husband or wife, giving as much detail as possible using strong verbs and adjectives that modify. Friendship Acrostic Poem Write a word for each letter that describes a friend. Write a paragraph of a special day with your friend; write alliterative sentences using your friends name or characteristics; write a paragraph explaining why friendships are important; write what's special about your friend. Contrast Comparison/Persuasive Argument I believe in God/I don't believe in God. Write down five reasons why you believe and five why you don't believe. Write a persuasive paragraph that convinces me to believe or disbelieve. Artist

I have found a slice of heaven on earth at least for me that is. I decided that I needed to get closer to God so I started communing with him at the beach everyday--early in the morning. What was so great about this was when I finished reading, praying and praising God, I got so much clarity about my life and life in general. It was a great experience, one I wondered why it took me so long to figure out. Anyway, after going to the beach I decided to up the anty and try a well-known garden hide-away in Chicago called the Japanese gardens. I have been going there for about a week now and decided, since I'm a somewhat amateur photographer to document my time there in my journal and through pictures. Here are a few pics I took--I could not possibly capture all the magic and wonder of this place, but I did my best. I hope you like them. And yes, the place is as surreal as it looks. From this experience, all I can say is find a "special" place to meet with God daily. Yo