Cathy Nelson’s Professional Thoughts

Some of my fellow colleagues and friends have inquired about my eye surgery progress, so I’m writing about it here. Today marks five days since eye number one (my right eye) was surgically “fixed” with a synthetic lens replacement. The left eye was done four days ago. Today I have accumulated most of my distance vision and a lot of my midrange vision back. Reading distance though is still very blurry. The reading glasses help some, and the ability to enlarge text on my computer has been a godsend! But I have to share my favorite tool! It’s a book marker that I got somewhere at a conference–I wish I could remember where. It is clear and has a hotel logo on it (Hilton Columbia Center / Hampton Inn Downtown Historic District in Columbia SC). This makes me want to think perhaps I got it from the SCASL conference in March? Anyway, it is clear but has a miniature fresnel lens of sort on it. If you are not sure what a fresnel lens is, the easiest way to make you understand is to refer to that old dinosaur overhead projector that many of you probably no longer use. The lens sits in the projector and enlarges the clear transparency on an overhead screen. Anyway, here is the handy little tool I am using. It enabled me to get through the Payroll/Benefits meeting this morning–you know, the one where you fill out your I-9 form, or W-4 forms, deductions, insurance, retirement, and all that necessary stuff in order to get a paycheck. The text on those documents is microscopic. This little tool was a lifesaver today as I used it to read and complete forms and text-messaged my husband from the meeting to ask those hard questions (like what his and the boys’ social security numbers were, and things like that.) It felt weird having to use it in front of other people–I sort of felt handicapped! But use it I did! I also have a pair of super-sized solar sun glasses that you see many “mature” women wearing. Well I’m wearing them too, as the surgery has made my eyes extremely sensitive to the bright sunlight. I can’t even describe the nighttime lights with their weird halos. Driving at night is absolutely impossible and downright unsafe for me right now. I sound so OLD! But in two more weeks I’ll be glasses free, which hopefully will take at least five years off! Here’s a picture of the tool I used today.

Ms Tina, a new friend from the blogosphere and from SL, tagged me with the 8 Random Things Meme. I don’t think I have interesting facts to share, but here goes.

First, I am to post the rules:

• List 8 random facts about yourself
• At the end of your post, choose (tag) 8 people and list their names, linking to them
• Leave a comment on their blog, letting them know they’ve been tagged

My Facts:

1. I hated the library in all my schooling, from kindergarten through high school, and even college, yet i am a school library media specialist (teacher librarian.)

2. I have three college degrees, and am enrolled for a fourth. But I have not been inspired to try for a doctoral degree—yet.

3. I’ve never taken the SAT (egads!! How did I ever get into college in the first place)

4. I met my husband during college while working at Burger King.

5. I recently wrote an eloquent letter to the editor of our local paper, and they wanted to publish it, but I chickened out and wouldn’t allow it. (job security)

6. I have six brothers and sisters, but I married an only child of an only child. Family “get-together’s” are interesting and my only child husband really has to warm up to it when we are all around.

7. I love my Lord, Jesus Christ.

8. I made more money last year than my husband (but only because of National Board certification,) and we are both educators in the South Carolina public school system.

Now I am tagging the following:

• Kitty Forbus
• Mary Haddon
• Barbara Barreda
• Diane Hammond
• Melinda Miller
• Chris Craft
• Lisa Durff
• Doug Johnson

Observation:

I had to sit through the standard Payroll/Benefits meeting for new hires today, even though everything remained the same since all my information transferred from Rock Hill (my former place of employment in the South Carolina public education system.) The last part of the meeting was for the new hires to watch a sexual harrassment and bloodborne pathogens video that showed what to look for and how to handle such incidents. Riveting information to be sure–the videos are the same each year it seems. Same ol’ same ol’. I understand why I have to view it and sign off that I have received staff development on the topic, and I don’t mean to make light of it. It is a necessary part of today’s world.

Problem:

What did bother me about the content of the videos is how the typical “classroom” is portrayed. Students, bookbags, pencils, rows of desks facing the front, a teacher (bespectacled, no less!) and even a corny looking outdated administrator wearing his navy blue blazer, khaki pants, and a tie. School was portrayed exactly as adults remember school.

Action:

This calls for action. Over the years I’ve been taught that it’s okay to complain as long as you offer a viable solution to a problem. I will be teaching one class of video production this fall, and I think I will show these videos to my class. I plan to challenge them to create a video that has a more modern look at school, one that demonstrates the many unique ways students learn. Maybe I’ll even have them add a segment on cyberbullying for the sexual harassment video. I want schools to look more realistic, and I’d much rather the typical classrooms showcased in the scenes be modeling “best practice” rather than the same ol’ same ol’. I realize there are MANY classrooms out there that look JUST LIKE the picture above, and there may not be a lot of “best practice” experience in my students. I hope to open their eyes to authentic learning and making a meaningful video by immersing them in the planning and executing of this video. Who is their target audience? We will begin with our own student body. Everyone in my meeting this morning agreed students really should view the same video we watched, just so they are knowledgeable about the topics. I agree, but I think most kids would tune it right out since the content is dry and boring in composition. I hope my students can make something that is informative, high interest, factually correct, and useful to our student body. Maybe we’ll submit it to the district office for them to use in their next “new hire” orientation.

Werdmuller, Ben. “Classroom” Ben Werdmuller’s Photostream. 21 December 2006. 6 August 2007 <http://www.flickr.com/photos/benwerd/329570782/>.