March Math Madness

Each year, Pi Day becomes more of an exciting learning opportunity for students, teachers and a growing number of the general public. The day can be a culminating experience or a jumping off spot for learning all the cool math surrounding Pi that is appropriate to your grade level. Next to the 100 Day (Zero to Hero) celebration, I think Pi Day is one of the most celebrated math days in schools.

If you participate in Pi Day, please share your links or descriptions of your celebrations...including pictures.

If you haven't started using Pi Day as a jumping off point for great learning and an opportunity for greater technology integration, you can start by reading Pi R Not Square, Pi R Round!. You will find a variety of ideas that can be implemented right away, as well as ways to make your celebration coordinate with others in your Professional Learning Network.

Opportunity Revisted: Email Part 1

Opportunity is my professional development focus for 2009. I will examine various aspects of opportunity. Today, opportunity revisited is the topic. My first opportunity to revisit is EMAIL. Despite the problems with viruses and spam, it still remains a viable mode of electronic communication.

Email, or electronic mail has existed in various formats, since the mid-1960's, yet many people commonly using the internet today, began regularly sending and receiving emails in the 1990's.

When I took a non-scientific poll of my Professional Learning Network on Plurk, a series of common dates emerged: 1996, 1998 or more generally in the 1990's. Some used the earlier forms of email, as they had access to university or business related email systems. One was called ARPANET, later renamed NSFNET. Others created simple programs that allowed message sharing, sometimes known as email. All were actively using email by the beginning of the 21st Century.

When did you began using email?

Leading America Back!

Hillary Clinton, Secretary of State in President Barack Obama's cabinet takes this OPPORTUNITY to address professionals at the United States of America State Department. She shares President Obama's to lead America back to our core beliefs and values as a nation among nations.



Here is a short excerpt from Secretary Clinton's address on her first day at work leading the State Department of the United States of America.

Opportunity Abounds

Would you go through that door? by The Rocketeer
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs License

Opportunity abounds all around us. Let's work this new year to see it, while we decide to take it and use it. Opportunity defines our lives in so many ways. People in all walks of life, throughout history, make life changing choices based on Opportunity.





The discussion of this important idea, it history and implementation in education will be a major focus of my 2009 professional development discussions. My most important Opportunity of 2008 was the creation of my Professional Learning Network, and my Personal Learning Network. These wonderful people have been the embodiment of my greatest Opportunity in many years, and I thank them for their knowledge, collaboration, collegiality, friendship and improved Opportunities.

What does Opportunity mean to you?

For song writer, Pete Murray, Opportunity presents a fine canvas to write a song of powerful feelings.

For General George Washington, America's first president, Opportunity was the result of making himself available to accept it. It is widely known that learning about soldiering was an opportunity that his brother provided through fencing lessons and instructions in arms, his service in the French & Indian War and Viriginia militia. As a standing colonel in the Virginia militia, Continental Congress representative George Washington presented himself at the meeting wearing his military uniform. He took his experiences to continue opportunities to serve, and he was nominated by John Adams to be the commander-in-chief of the Continental Army. He took Opportunity and used it for the benefit of our country.




For author, Malcolm Gladwell, Opportunity is the core of his new book on success, Outliers. You can listen to Charlie Rose interviewing Malcolm Gladwell about his latest book and the ideas that support it.

Welcome to the new year. "Opportunity is what you make of it!"