Focus

Photo: Wildflower spotted on a recent hike with Lil O; We think it is called Woods Rose.

Yet, another great quote from the Joy of Appreciative Living.

This summer, besides my summer goals here, I am really trying to work on a few self things.  You know, things to improve myself - my life, my parenting, my relationships, my level of joy, etc.

I notice I sometimes get hung up on things - things like money, he-said-she-said stuff, old relationship patterns, yadda, yadda, yadda.  Instead of focusing on what is not working or what I don't like, I'm attempting to shift my focus to be more in line with this quote.  

I'm focusing on the stuff that I want to grow.  The positive parts.  The joy.  The ideal - even if that means it is slightly imagined.

Want to join me?  

xoxo,

Jen

Love. This. Quote.

I blogged last week about the book I just finished.  The book that chose me.  This is one of my favorite quotes from the book, The Joy of Appreciative Living (affiliate link).

What a novel idea - being joyous brings more joy.

So simple,

Jen

PS - Lil O and I are studying wildflowers this summer.  At first, I thought those yellow flowers pictured above were a patch of arnica flowers, but looking through our field guides, I think it is a patch of cushion goldenweed.  If that's true (we are novices remember), those flowers have been used to treat all sorts of ailments from small pox to poison ivy.  Cool, huh?  If you happen to be a wildflower expert, please correct me and Lil O.

Love. This. Quote. {Mother's Day edition}

Happy Mother's Day to all you super mommies and moms-to-be.  I am completely grateful for my mom, my mom-sister and friends, and the opportunity to be a mom to a Lil O - who I love to the end of the universe and back.

xoxo,

Jen

PS - If you haven't caught up with this super mom-blogger-home-schooler-photographer, treat yourself.  Ashley Ann's blog is delightful and her five kids are way neat. I especially like the story of Little One.

A Jersey with a Message

Weeks ago on Facebook, I put out an all-call for short quotes to include on the team jersey.  There were so many great submissions like this one from life coach, Sue....

I also like this one from blog reader & college student, CR, "Believe you can and you're halfway there..." (Teddy Roosevelt).  Sadly, that quote is too long for the collar space.  Thus, I went with a quote from my aunt who is also an educator as it fits the space and speaks to the spirit of Upcycled Education....

I can't give it all away, but there are three other quotes included in the jersey design.  The only way to see them is to order a jersey & show your support for the team.  Ha!  

I love a good treasure hunt.

xoxo,

Jen

PS - Thanks for all the great quotes submitted.  I so appreciated your help.

UPDATE: JERSEY SHOP CLOSED TO PLACE THE FIRST ORDER.  

TO ADD YOUR NAME TO THE WAITING LIST, EMAIL JEN AT: 

JEN AT UPCYCLEDEDUCATION.COM

Love. This. Quote.

Ha!  I love this quote as it speaks to so many things in life. 

With my students, we use it to talk about the changes in neuroscience (and learning). Researchers have learned so much over the past decades about how our brains grow and process information.  However, like most things in life and in education, change (and new discoveries) are inevitable.

Best,

Jen

Love. This. Quote.

Sailboat photo found at Photo Pin.  Sadly, I closed the window before
I could see who the photographer was and give he/she credit.

I saw this quote on a Sweet Green window in D.C. and it chose me.

Sometimes quotes do that.  Don't you agree?

My very best,

Jen

Love. This. Quote.

Love. This. Quote.

I saw it on Crafterhours Facebook page.  Want to like Crafterhours, too?  Click here to like Crafterhours.

Or here to like Upcycled Education.

Or here to read the article from NPR that includes this awesome quote.  That's a lot of places to click, no?

Happy weekend, Upcyclists....You'll be missed, Dear Abby.

Jen

Time to Make Your Textbook Quotes

If you are like me and haven't started classes yet, you have time to prepare your textbook quotes for this activity from Professor KP - who is a busy bee working on her doctorate.  Yay, Ms. Smarty-pants, Professor KP!

Click here to see the original instructions.  Her idea is such a clever way to make the most out of those expensive textbooks students are forced to buy.

All the best,

Jen

PS - And yes, I struck-through the are forced to buy part on purpose.  You know how I feel about expensive textbooks.  I wish all students, who need textbooks, would use the frugal, discount buying options here.

Join me?

That's me for 2013.

Will you join me?

xoxo,

Jen

Love. This. Quote.

This seems fitting on a day where most college students (taking winter classes) and preK-12 children go back-to-school.  Don't you agree?

Best,

Jen

PS - Dr. Maxwell is former superintendent of Anne Arundel County Schools in Maryland - in case you were wondering ;)

Why I Dislike the First Day of School

Today marks the first day of school for all the public schoolers in our neighborhood.  Tomorrow, I meet my college students face-to-face.  This might come as a surprise, but I hate dislike the first day of school.  Yep, I'm a teacher and I just admitted it.  Here's why.

I teach because I like connecting with students.  Building a bond.  Building a relationship with students - the easy ones and the hard ones.  You know the hard ones.  The ones who don't trust you until one week before the semester ends.  The ones who never smile in your class even though you know that story you just told was funny.  The ones that make you realize the best things in life are worth your time and effort.

I teach because I want my students to know I care.  I genuinely want them to succeed and grow. John Maxwell's quote sums this up, "Students don't care how much you know until they know how much you care."  I care completely.  Most times too much.

So, tomorrow, college students, when I meet you for the first time, please know that behind my cup of Earl Grey tea, I am really excited to meet you.  I just prefer the second week of school.  You know.  When we know each other a touch more.  When we are more connected.

Deep breath.  Happy school year.

Jen

Textbook Quote Activity - Guest Blogger/Guest Upcyclist Series

Please welcome back, guest blogger/guest Upcyclist, Professor KP.  You might remember her from her Duck Pond post here.

Take it away, Professor KP....

Here is an idea I stole modified from your blog post, The Other Jen. The Other Jen had a post explaining how she uses quotes as a warm-up activity for a group.

Good idea I thought.

To make it work for my purposes, I took quotes from the upcoming chapters in our textbook.  I tried to choose quotes that were interesting, open-ended or just good conversation starters. I also included the page number in case students wanted to go back and reference the actual quote.

I printed the quotes on card stock, cut them into strips, and spread them out on a table.  Students were told to choose a quote that was interesting to them and share with a partner. As a whole class, we then shared quotes, too.

We had lots of interesting conversation.

The real treat, however, was the activity ended up generating motivation for the chapters students were assigned  to read for the upcoming week.  In education lingo we call that “Setting a purpose for reading."  Yes, a purpose was established and students' interest was peeked!

Professor KP, I love this idea!  I might need to make a quote collection for my upcoming Educational Psychology students.  Our new class begins in two weeks.

Thank you so much,

Jen