Brownies are the Best!

This year marked another of Hallie’s 1st grade rites of passage (besides loosing the first tooth) - becoming a Brownie Girl Scout. She was too young to join as a Daisy because she started kindergarten at 4 so this year she joined a troop filled with many of her friends. It was a perfect fit since last year they had asked her last year when she would be in their troop.

She had meetings every other week beginning in September and participated in lots of fun activities besides. The Brownie troop cooked, crafted and crazied their way into earning a variety of badges (Try-its for those of you out of the scout loop) and had so much fun together.They made s’mores, saw High School Musical 3, went Christmas Caroling at the convalescent hospital (the same one mom visited as a scout) and celebrated International Night.

They marched in a parade, sold cookies, and had a sleepover. They went camping (due to a variety of circumstances, the least of which being a overly comfortable bear, Hallie has yet to spend the night but we did everything up until bedtime). They tied knots, learned knife safety and cooked yummy meals in a dutch over over coals (for which Hallie was really the only one to taste, eat and not complain. They performed skits, sang camp songs (where is that squeegie anyway?)
Hallie loves the scouting so much that she is signed up for 2 weeks of Girl Scout day camp at the local campsite. She was willing to go even though she knows she won’t have any girls she knows at one of the sessions. That would not have been either of her parents, that’s for sure. Our guess though is that, she’ll like it so much, she’ll want to go back for more.

All Done!

So, as promised by Azusa Pacific University, 15 months of hard work and all but physical attachment to the computer, has resulted in a new line item for Mom’s resume. Master of Arts in Educational Technology

I am definitely impressed and humbled by the quality and quantity of instruction and information given to my cadre mates and I throughout the program. This is a topic and a field of study that faces the extreme challenge of staying current in a world in which technology and our use of it is changing and expanding by the hour. I will also admit that, for a s much as I use online resources on a daily basis, I have turned my nose up at online degrees. This program was of interest and the thought of not having to try to make it through 5 hour classes after a full work day was a big draw. I also would not have to miss seeing my girls between school and bedtime - I wasn’t willing to lose that time on a regular basis. That combined with the facts that the school was willing to accept my previously acquired advanced education units (which was like a tuition coupon) and my classroom is equipped with much technology made this the time to log on. Still skeptical, I was able to justify it because it made absolute sense for this program to be delivered and participated in digitally. So, now having experienced it, I can tell you. I worked hard and really had to earn it.

I’m sure there are weak, online Master’s factory programs out there that still outnumber the quality ones but since high schools and even middle schools are providing online course offerings, it’s time to pay attention. Now, I absolutely do not believe that online is the way to go to school overall. There are far too many experiential benefits of a campus/live interaction experience. But, to really create a complete program, and provide for all the differing learning styles and especially for a focused area of study - a web based course or series of courses should be considered. The design of a program such as the one I joined at APU is exemplary and should serve as a model for others who are interested in designing an online learning environment. Thanks to APU for a great experience and a valuable piece of my education.

Splish, Splash!

This year we were particularly excited about swimming lessons because it meant that Hallie would be improving on her skills and Anna would officially get to go in the pool with her own teacher. We signed them up ASAP for both 2 week sessions. We were very lucky this year where weather was concerned as well. We only had one day of thunderstorms - they were HUGE - but only one day and make-ups were arranged. The girls’ teachers were both amazing and did a great job. They worked really well with the girls, knew how to get them motivated and could really teach the skills. They also were sweet to let them have a few minutes at the end of each session to let them be sisters and play together. In addition, they encouraged them show each other what they learned or practiced that day.

Here are the details about swimming in the girls’ own words.

Anna - “I love playing on the stairs. I was kicking. My teacher was Mackenzie. She was helping me kick and go under. She swam with me and went under by herself. I jumped into my teacher’s arms. I liked it. Next time when I’m bigger I will go under.”

Hallie - “I like swimming lessons a real lot and I like dunking my head under a lot. I like swimming and jumping off in the deep end and doing the pencil dive. When I’m done with all the work I have some fun time with my swimming teacher who is Courtney this year. I learned to jump off the diving boards and she taught me how to swim with my head under the water and helped me twirl. Each year when I get a swimming teacher I like whoever they are a real lot.